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Quick thoughts from NFC West players via Twitter regarding whether the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler should have played through a knee injury in the NFC Championship Game:

• Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman: "If I'm on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room!"
• Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks linebacker: "You dont not play in the NFC championship game cuz your knee hurt, only way I'd come out is if my knee is jus shattered"
• Curry again: "Dear Cutler, you need to finish this game!! If ur knee hurt, take it to the locker room #carpediem"
• Kerry Rhodes, Arizona Cardinals safety: "Cmon cutler u have to come back. This is the NFC championship if u didn't know!"
• Raheem Brock, Seahawks defensive end: "Cutler u little siSsy...how does it feel that ur back up's backup is the only 1that can put pts on the board!I bet cutler comes back now!"
• Brock again: "Cutler...wut a sissy! This is the NFC Championship game! Guaranteed if it was brett farve..he would still be in the game!"
• Michael Robinson, Seahawks fullback: "Hanie...great job. Great heart..they should have given you the reps during the week"
• Hamza Abdullah, Cardinals safety: "If Jay Cutler came back In the game would fans (and you) boo him or applaud? Honestly, I don't know what I would do."
• Trumaine McBride, Cardinals cornerback: "Cutler better get back in the game because Chicago fans are ruthless!"

Questioning an athlete's toughness without knowing details about his injury strikes me as unfair. The St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson might agree.

Said Jackson via Twitter when asked about his restraint: "yeah, somethings you shouldn't comment on. (let's that what I believe)"

Seeing Cutler warm up on a stationary bike, stand on the sideline and even open the second half under center created powerful visuals -- particularly with Philip Rivers having played a postseason game despite a torn ACL, among other examples of NFL players fighting through injuries.

Also: Cutler's teammate, Brian Urlacher, defended his quarterback.