Whether it’s leadership, common sense or just survival, good for Jay Cutler

I don’t know if you’d call it leadership or common sense, but it’s about time someone on the Bears called out the guys who confuse fighting with football.

And look at that, it was Jay Cutler calling for his teammates to stop the stupid.

He also might’ve been doing it because things are getting scary.

Cutler’s sick of the fighting during training camp practices, saying the Bears are gravitating towards being a dumb team, and good for him. Glad someone woke up to the idea that if fighting were a good thing, it wouldn’t be penalized.

Cutler’s comments seemed to be aimed at All-Pro Kyle Long and All-Fight-Club Ted Larsen after the brawl at “Family Fest” in Soldier Field on Saturday.

Long apologized for his part in the brawl, which you expected. Larsen, not so much, which you also might’ve expected.

Larsen defended his role in his many training camp fights by saying he’s “not a guy who’s going to take crap from anybody or stand down.” Yes. Well. Some say real toughness is pulling a punch and beating someone clean on the next play. And the play after that. And…

There also might be something else shaping Cutler’s comments: a survival instinct.

Cutler must know he can’t afford to lose any more offensive linemen after starting center Hroniss Grasu tore an ACL on Saturday and was lost for the season. Who knew how good Grasu might’ve been, but he was a third-round draft pick, and if you believe-slash-pray that GM Ryan Pace isn’t an idiot, then Grasu should’ve been reliable if nothing else.

But now with fewer options, the Bears offensive line returns one starter at the position he played for the team last season, and that’s 2014 seventh-round pick Charles Leno Jr. at left tackle.

Yes, Long has played guard before and played it at a Pro Bowl level, but the Bears’ line still ventures into dangerous territory with two free agents unwanted by a good team and a rookie filling three of the five spots, and one of those free agents, Larsen, is now your starting center.

No wonder Cutler wants to stop the fighting. He doesn’t need fighting, he needs blocking.

Imagine how stupid these claims about fighting as a bonding agent among teammates will sound if Cutler gets sacked and injured because of a missed assignment.

And remember, these protection questions come at a time when Cutler is missing his top three targets.

Zach Miller remains in concussion protocol, leaving an already substandard tight end spot maybe the worst in the league.

Eddie Royal is keeping Miller company in concussion protocol, depriving Cutler of the most experienced wide receiver on the roster.

And then of course, Cutler is missing the new Alshon Jeffery because he’s still the old Alshon Jeffery who’s either really hurt or easily derailed by what coach John Fox would call an “owwie.”

And meanwhile, there’s a real football game against a real opponent coming up, ready or not, and I’m thinking “not” when it comes to the Bears offense.

I wouldn’t want to play Cutler at all Thursday, but I know I’d have to let him establish some game rapport with Larsen on snaps and line calls.

So, figuring the Broncos will start what’s left of their Super Bowl-deciding defensive line, here’s what I’d do, clip and save:

Cutler stays on the field for no more than three plays, and they’re all running plays, and they’re all behind Long and Bobby Massie.

Much to my surprise, I cheered in my living room when Indiana’s Lilly King beat the cheating Russian woman in the 100-meter breaststroke Monday night. Then I read where the cheating Russian woman broke down at the post-race news conference over the whole thing. Nyet, cheaters don’t get the play the sympathy card.

Then NBC focused on Michael Phelps and his ninja opponent, and it’s like swimming has become the WWE.

The U.S. men’s basketball team beat Venezuela 113-69, and it appears the U.S. is slipping or Coach K might be losing control because the Americans didn’t cover the 49 1/2-point spread.

What’s up, Shawn Boskie?