John Fox mocks ‘hot-dog-laden press box,’ admits WR was open

Even though he eventually agreed with the assertion that receiver Alshon Jeffery was open on the Bears’ final play of Sunday’s game, coach John Fox bristled when asked about quarterback Brian Hoyer not looking in his direction.

“It could have been an option,” he said Monday. “I don’t know that you can be super-critical. When you’re out there playing quarterback it looks a little different than when you’re up in the press box having hot dogs.”

Fox’s jab drew laughter from some that were gathered — and from himself — at Halas Hall.

Jeffery was visibly agitated after not being thrown the ball in single coverage down the left sideline on fourth-and-8 from the Colts 28. Hoyer, who falsely assumed Jeffery would be double-covered, threw behind Cam Meredith with the Bears down six with 1:02 left.

Asked if that play illustrated the difference between Hoyer and injured starter Jay Cutler, who has thrown more frequently in Jeffery’s direction, Fox again railed against the critique.

And, again, he referenced tubed meats.

“Well, I’m not going to get into this as far as the difference between two guys,” he said. “It would have been an option that, had we had the coolness of the hot dog-laden press box we might have gone there.”

Told Jeffery looked open from the press box, Fox agreed.

“Yes,” he said. “He was open from that film I just looked at, too.”

After going 5-11 in his first season, Fox is 1-4 this year. His Bears are -41 in aggregate scoring, a mark that is second-worst in the NFC, trailing only the Buccaneers, and fourth-worst in the NFL.

Despite totaling 522 yards Sunday, the Bears scored only two touchdowns in the 29-23 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I think our demise,” Fox said, “has been the collection of points.”