Shortly after signing with the Bears today, guard Matt Slauson addressed the play for which he’s best known: The blindside hit to Brian Cushing’s knee that ended Cushing’s 2012 season while Slauson played for the Jets.
Slauson told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times that he still plays that play over in his head, and still feels terrible that his hit caused Cushing to suffer a torn ACL. Slauson also said he attempted to call Cushing but couldn’t get through to him.
“I tried,” Slauson said of calling Cushing. “But it didn’t work out. I wanted to let him know that I was really sorry. I heard he’s a great guy, and I wish him all the best, and I’m sure I’m going to be seeing on the field again.”
Slauson, who was fined $10,000 for the hit, said he hasn’t forgotten about it.
“I think about it all the time,” Slauson said. It was just unfortunate the way it happened, Brian getting hurt. I didn’t want it to happen. I was just trying to do whatever I could to win. And unfortunately, it worked out very badly. It was a frowned upon block. But I think about it all the time, and I’m really sorry the guy got hurt for it.”
That Slauson has been unable to reach Cushing suggests that Cushing isn’t ready to accept Slauson’s apology.