ESPN

Without knowing the extent of his injury, critics fired on Jay Cutler for not playing the second half of the NFC title game. Even current players joined the chorus on Twitter, until later learning the QB sprained his MCL and tried to return. The Bears lost to the Packers. Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in history. Jim Hendry was fired and replaced by Theo Epstein, who hired Dale Sveum as manager. Ozzie Guillen left the Sox with a few games remaining in the season and joined the Marlins. The defending champ Hawks lost in the first round to the Canucks. Adam Dunn had a historically bad season while Devin Hester set a historically good punt return record. Tom Thibodeau won coach of the year honors.