Josh McCown Proving Chicago Bears Made Right Call

Sep 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jonathan Babineaux (95) hits Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown (12) forcing an interception during the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

More than a few people wanted very much for the Chicago Bears to keep Josh McCown as the starter.  It hasn’t taken long to disprove that theory.

Starts By McCown and Jay Cutler Prove Bears Right

One thing about quarterback controversies is it excites the public.  It creates rivalry and puts something at stake within the typical competition of football.  Inevitably the doubters of the starter, and they always exists, greedily flock to the unassuming backup who might be playing well and immediately trumpet him as an improvement.  That is what happened in 2013 for Josh McCown.  A journeyman veteran at age 34, he was brought in as the starter midseason after Jay Cutler suffered groin and ankle injuries.

What followed was a remarkable run in which McCown could do little wrong.  He posted over 1,800 passing yards, 14 total touchdowns and just one interception.  Yet when the time came, Bears head coach Marc Trestman stuck by what he’d said from the very beginning.  Cutler was the starter when he was healthy.  Jay returned and McCown went back to the bench.

Consequently, the following off-season he used his success in Chicago to sign a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former coach Lovie Smith.  The Bears never made an attempt to keep him, and instead chose to give Cutler a seven-year, $126 million extension.  McCown lovers were crushed, believing the team had given up the wrong guy.

At same time, many analysts and experts warned that the success Josh enjoyed last season was a mirage, created by the talent on the Chicago offense as well as the quarterback-friendly system implemented by Trestman.  For all his success, McCown had never been much more than a backup most of his career, and wasn’t even close to being as talented as Cutler.

Time has proven them and the Chicago Bears brass correct.  Through the first two games of the season McCown has 395 total yards, 2 touchdown passes and three interceptions.  He’s also fumbled twice.  His quarterback rating stands at 75.1.  What’s worse, he exited week 3 on Thursday night against Atlanta with an injured hand after going 5-for-12 for 58 yards and an interception returned for a touchdown.  The Buccaneers trailed 35-0 by the time he left.

Conversely, Cutler has gotten off to a much different start.  Through two games he has 550 total yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  He has also completed 68.7 percent of his passes and boasts a quarterback rating of 99.7.  What separates him from McCown though was on display on Sunday night in week 2 when he was able to lift his team from a 17-0 deficit with four touchdown passes for a stunning 28-20 victory over the 49ers in San Francisco.  Only quarterbacks with his talent can put a team on his back like that.

Josh McCown will remain a folk hero in Chicago, but Jay Cutler is rightfully their quarterback.