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Rep. Paul Ryan Takes Shots At Jay Cutler

CHICAGO (CBS) -- U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has gained nationwide attention for his ultraconservative budget plan, but now, he's also gaining attention among Bears fans for taking some shots at Jay Cutler.

CBS Sports' Andy Benoit reports Ryan recently delivered a speech at the Economic Club of Chicago, and Fox News Channel reported his icebreaker for the evening was, "I want to thank you all for inviting me to speak. It was especially gracious of you to host me, even though I'm a Packers fan and I assume most of you are Bears fans. But that doesn't mean we can't work together. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, I stand ready to do whatever it takes to help you re-sign Jay Cutler."

He continued that he had come to talk about the economy, and "the need for four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not."

Benoit has doubts about whether Ryan is really an "educated fan."

"The last dig at Cutler was a clever reference to the NFC Championship knee injury controversy, but any common fan is still aware of that story," Benoit wrote Tuesday night. "Ryan's first dig is more enigmatic. He mentions re-signing Cutler, which isn't a relevant issue given that Cutler is signed through 2013. But to say you're a Packers fan and you're willing to do all you can to help the Bears re-sign Cutler could be a veiled way of saying 'Cutler stinks.'"

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