"Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher vehemently defended the toughness of quarterback Jay Cutler, who left Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter with an injured left knee.

The Packers won 21-14 as the Bears were forced to play third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie after second-stringer Todd Collins was ineffective.

Cutler said he will undergo an MRI on Monday.

"Jay was hurt," Urlacher said. "I don't question his toughness. He's tough as hell. He's one of the toughest guys on our football team. He doesn't bitch. He doesn't complain when he gets hit. He goes out there and plays his ass off every Sunday. He practices every single day. So, no, we don't question his toughness."

Cutler tried to test the knee by riding a stationary bike on the sideline, where he remained throughout the game.

Shortly after the game, fans began calling sports talk shows to question Cutler's toughness. Urlacher was told that some players around the league were doing the same via Twitter.

Arizona's Darnell Dockett posted on his Twitter account, "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! #FACT."

Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew added his thoughts, tweeting, "All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee... I played the whole season on one..."

"Nothing like jealous people who are sitting home watching," Urlacher said. "Players around the league you said, right? Yeah, love jealous people when they're watching our game on TV while their season is over."

In a postgame show on Fox, Urlacher again defended his quarterback when told fans were critical.

"Who cares what they think?" he said. "That's my response to them. They are not playing in this game. Jay was hurt, obviously. There's no reason for him to be out there if he can't get it done. He was obviously hurt pretty bad or he would have played."