Bears running back Marion Barber is still avoiding most of the Chicago media, but he did talk to the team’s official web site today, in his first public comments since two huge mistakes lost the Bears the game against the Broncos.
“We’ve just got to go ahead and move on like I said, and just learn from it and just go on to the next game remaining enthusiastic about finishing out the season strong,” Barber said.
Barber certainly needs to learn not to go out of bounds while the Bears are nursing a lead late in the fourth quarter, and not to fumble while fighting for extra yardage while the Bears are already in field goal range in overtime. Those two mistakes cost the Bears the game on Sunday, and since those two mistakes he has refused to talk to the media, despite NFL rules requiring all players to make themselves available to reporters. Today Barber spoke only to the team’s web site and one local radio station.
Barber did say that teammates, especially Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, have been supportive since the loss to the Broncos.
“Guys here are great,” Barber said. “That was a blessing and that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day because that’s who we are. I believe that being here even though it’s been for this short period of time, the fellas in there, you’ve got some big dogs, ‘Lach, Briggs, the offensive line, and it’s just great to have that going to the next game with that on your shoulders, knowing that guys have got love for you.”
It’s been largely overlooked that beyond those two huge mistakes, Barber was the Bears’ best offensive player on Sunday: He was responsible for more than half of the Bears’ yards from scrimmage and scored the Bears’ only touchdown. Unfortunately, no matter how much Barber wants to move on to the next game, no one is going to forget the two mistakes that cost the Bears the last game.
