Michael C. Wright, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Trestman: Bears looking to 'move on'

NFL, Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman said Wednesday his team has moved past the loss to the Miami Dolphins andĀ Brandon Marshall's subsequent locker room rant, and placed the focus where it mattersĀ most: preparing for Sunday's road matchup against the New England Patriots.

"When you watched our practice today, when you watch the demeanor of our players, and the focus that they have, it's clear that what we know as coaches and players that things don't linger and we move forward," Trestman said. "That's what happened today."

In the aftermath of a the club's 27-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins, a game in which Jay Cutler threw an interception and was credited for two fumbles, frustration boiled over and yelling by Marshall could be heard outside the locker room. A source inside the locker room said some of Marshall's remarks were pointed at the quarterback.

Later, Marshall vented his disappointment with the team's performance and penchant for committing turnovers, and noticeably left out Cutler when pointing out that he and several other players on the offense remained confident.

Asked whether Marshall's postgame comments could galvanize the team in its quest to avoid losing four out of its last five outings, Trestman called Marshall's "showing of emotion" "a good thing as long as it's not directed at any one person or any one side of the ball."

"That was never the case," Trestman added. "It was honest emotion, heartfelt, and we have to be non-judgmental in those times. This goes on all the time. It just so happened [that] somebody heard it this time. But it's really part of the job and part of the day. It happens every week, and players do what I've seen them do throughout their careers, and that's they move on to Wednesday."

Miami scored 10 points off two of Cutler's turnovers against the Dolphins, and in the club's four losses, opponents have scored a total of 37 points off the quarterback's giveaways. In the team's three wins this season, Cutler didn't commit a single turnover.

During a conference call with reporters covering the New England Patriots, running back Matt Forte said the team is "not worried at all" about potential fallout from the drama that played out inside the locker room after Sunday's loss.

"You know how the media is," Forte said. "They really kind of blow stuff up bigger than what it really is. It wasn't really an issue after the game."

Linebacker Lance Briggs, during his weekly TV show on Comcast, however, said he missed a portion of Marshall's rant because he left the locker room.

"It was an emotional moment for a lot of us, and I started to hear ... people started to get loud in the locker room, and I got out," Briggs said. "I just left because I could see where things were kind of going. I knew that when you get emotional there are moments when you're in an argument and both people are emotional, you're not going to get anywhere when you continually argue. A lot of times I truly believe [there's a need to] sleep on it and come back with a clear head, and discuss how you feel or discuss things we need to correct or move forward."

Defensive end Jared Allen said moments like Marshall's can turn out positive results.

"There is always a fine line from someone just spouting off and acting crazy, but that sure as heck didn't happen in our locker room," he said. "That was just raw, good emotion. I respect guys like that. I respect guys who have passion for the game. Everybody handles things differently. The bottom line is that can't linger. You have to come back and go to work. If that frustration turns into motivation, that's great. But if it turns into shutting down, then obviously that's a different avenue you have to try and avoid."

^ Back to Top ^