Cutler, DJK, and millions of judges who never get impeached

Sometimes I wonder if we ever know the real stories. Or if we care that we do.

I don't know the real story about Jay Cutler, or about Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, or whether that woman really is Oprah's half-sister.

Cutler, the Chicago Bears quarterback, became the most famous quitter since Richard Nixon Sunday in millions of minds when he left the NFC title game early in the second half with a knee injury.

He was raked over the coals by some other NFL players on Twitter. Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew wrote this:

“All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee ... I played the whole season on one ...”

“Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now ... When the going gets tough........QUIT..

UPDATE: Jones-Drew said it was just a joke.

From former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks: “BEARS fans I am so SORRY, I have to be crawling and cant get up to come off field, Josh Freeman would not come out, MEDS ARE AVAILABLE”

It was revealed Monday that Cutler had an MCL sprain in his left knee. Whether he should have continued playing or not, I have no idea. All I know from watching the game is he wasn't playing very well, and that the Bears wouldn't have beaten the Packers had he stayed in the game. At least I think I know that.

Here's what I'm sure I know: The Bears should have gotten this guy some crutches, pronto, and made him look seriously hurt. Instead, Cutler just stood sullenly on the sideline. The perception he quit became reality to millions.

Did he quit? A guy who got sacked 57 times this season and kept coming back for more? Someone who was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at age 24 and proceeded forward? How could we really know?

I watched those two NFL playoff games Sunday and wondered how anybody was able to walk off the field other than the officials. Shonn Greene of the Jets was crumpled in pain on the sideline after one run against Pittsburgh, and I was furious with CBS for glossing past it. I was afraid it might be the last carry of his career.

He was back on the field a few plays later.

Let's switch to a possible future NFL player, Johnson-Koulianos. He had all but the least of his drug charges dropped Monday and was granted a deferred judgment. If he completes one year of unsupervised probation without further violations, his marijuana-possession charge will be stricken from his record.

So was all that hoopla in December just a lot of noise about very little? The state had alleged Johnson-Koulianos was also in possession of cocaine and high-level prescription drugs. What about that? Yet again, I don't know. I'm no lawyer, I'm no cop.

Was Johnson-Koulianos prejudged too harshly in too many circles, including this space? I don't rule out the possibility.

But he did injure his team and the Iowa program. Doing something to get kicked off the team before a bowl game wasn't good. The national publicity from his arrest wasn't good.

This too shall pass. Iowa won its bowl game for a feel-good end to last season and proceeds ahead. Recruiting is the story right now, the future instead of the past. And Johnson-Koulianos should be able to continue to pursue his goal of playing in the NFL.

He has expressed remorse to Iowa fans on social media outlets. He also had been steadfast in his optimism all along, as if he were fully confident this kind of legal resolution was coming.

Johnson-Koulianos had an interesting Twitter entry of his own early Monday afternoon: If nothing else. This entire deal has brought me closer to my hawkeye family. Aside (from) my ex-coaches.

He has said he will hold a press conference after he returns from a college all-star game in Texas on Feb. 5. Perhaps NFL teams will watch and judge from a distance.

But some are probably more interested in surmising if he could help their teams. Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis and many more have been involved in investigations and/or arrests for things way more serious than anything Johnson-Koulianos was charged with several weeks ago. They also had already proven they could play high-level pro ball.

So ... on we all go. Meanwhile, if Oprah wants to claim me as her half-brother, I can be in Chicago in no time to help her spend our family fortune.