Brandon Marshall

As Bears fans know, Jay Cutler can make a grown man cry.

The offense learned that Monday in a meeting room at Halas Hall when offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer made an emotional and tearful apology for criticizing the quarterback in a private conversation at Soldier Field with an NFL Network reporter last week.

Four sources told the Tribune that Kromer adamantly denied he said anything about the franchise having buyer's remorse for Cutler's blockbuster contract and assured players that portion of Sunday's report on NFL Network did not come from him. With Cutler in the room, Kromer did admit however to being frustrated with the quarterback's play management and expressing that to Ian Rapoport as he left Soldier Field on Dec. 4 after the fifth loss in seven games.

Cutler shook his head during Kromer's apology, one source said.

"I'm still kind of trying to sort my way through this to be honest," one player said. "It's one of the most (messed) up things I have ever seen."

"It's a (messed) up situation," another player said.

The Bears are a mess right now and it's not clear how the team -- specifically Jay Cutler and the offense -- will respond against the Saints this Sunday. It's a great matchup, and garbage time production is always a possibility, but Cutler will be without Brandon Marshall in the lineup, and he's always a risky fantasy start, even in the best of times.