Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher believes the Jay Cutler controversy could pull the team even closer together next season as it attempts to build off its NFC Championship Game berth.

Urlacher was the first to defend Cutler, who left Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers with a sprained left MCL.

"We're such a close team, and I think we know how to put things behind us," Urlacher said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "Stuff in the media just makes us stronger as a team, pulls us closer together, gives us something to build on."

Urlacher said he was upset when he was told during the postgame press conference that other players were questioning Cutler's toughness via Twitter.

"It [ticked] me off," Urlacher said. "I didn't think it was warranted.

"Anyone who knows Jay and has played with Jay and seen the hits he's taken in his career knows he's not a sissy. He's a tough guy. He goes out there every day and doesn't say anything about what's going on, just practices and plays and goes about his business. It really frustrated me. I didn't think it was warranted, but that's just the way -- with all the social networking now -- it's the way things go."

Cutler often has been criticized for body language that suggests he's aloof or disengaged. That perception was enhanced Sunday when he was sitting next to third-stringer Caleb Hanie in the fourth quarter and didn't seem to be encouraging the young quarterback, who later said Cutler did offer advice and encouragement.