Time For the Chicago Bears To Turn Up The Heat On Jay Cutler
By Erik Lambert
Dec 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) in their game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s the thing. For the past five seasons the Chicago Bears have done everything right in regards to Jay Cutler. They gave him an offensive line. They fired the coordinators and head coach he didn’t like and replaced them with Marc Trestman, a guy known for catering to quarterbacks. They built arguably the most talented offense the franchise has ever constructed with Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett to give him weapons. On top of that, they gave him security with a seven-year, $126 million contract.
Nobody can default the Bears for not making an honest effort to help Cutler become the quarterback he should be. So how does he repay them? By leading the NFL in turnovers and taking an offense that scored the second most points in 2013 to ranking 18th in that same category a year later. There is also, of course, the 5-8 record and missing the playoffs for the fifth time in his six seasons with the team.
Bears have "serious case" of buyer's remorse with Jay Cutler (via @Rapsheet): http://t.co/KlphKkB4tM pic.twitter.com/Ab0c9I5HlK
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 7, 2014
There should be little surprise that many within the Bears organization are upset with Cutler, feeling he isn’t what they traded and paid for. He has yet to demonstrate the qualities of an elite quarterback and at age 31 it isn’t looking like he ever will. That leaves one reality left.
If pandering him wasn’t the answer, then the time has come for the Chicago Bears to put his job on the line. That means competition. At present the team will select in the top 10 for the 2015 NFL draft next April. That puts them in prime position to possibly get a quarterback of the best quality like a Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston or Connor Cook. Not only would it grant them insurance for the long-term, but it would put the pressure squarely on Jay Cutler. Either he wakes up to the situation and plays better or he finds himself looking for a new home in the near future.
Fans won’t care which because they’ve already made their judgments regarding his time in Chicago.