Chicago Bears Can No Longer Let Jay Cutler Dictate Policy

Nobody can fault them for not giving an honest effort.  The Chicago Bears have done everything within their power to give Jay Cutler a chance to thrive as an NFL quarterback.  Don’t believe it?  Recall the facts.

• Gave him a top 10 defense under Lovie Smith
• Gave him a Pro Bowl running back in Matt Forte
• Tried four different offensive coordinators
• Fired a proven head coach for one specializing in quarterbacks in Marc Trestman
• Gave him Pro Bowl receivers and a good tight end
• Gave him $54 million in guaranteed money

What has he given them?  Excuses.  If it’s not one thing, it’s another with Cutler.  There is always some little reason why the quarterback can’t win more games and at age 31 it’s time for that to stop.  If GM Phil Emery manages to survive this off-season, then he has to shift his mode of thinking.  No longer can he let Cutler, for all his physical talent dictate what is best for the Bears.

Regardless of his contract and regardless of the position he plays, the next head coach Emery brings in has to be about the success of the franchise, not a singular player who has done nothing to earn that kind of respect.

With that in mind, who is the best option for Chicago?  Based on recent rumors, here are the candidates to watch.

Jim Harbaugh

Honestly, who isn’t at least a little bit interested in Jim Harbaugh.  The guy turned the San Francisco 49ers into a powerhouse virtually overnight, managed to trade Alex Smith for two second round picks after everyone labeled him a bust and made Colin Kaepernick into a viable pro quarterback.  So what are the perks and pitfalls of bringing him in?

Pros

• Excellent motivator, passionate and disciplined in his approach.
• Good with quarterbacks
• Played quarterback for the Bears for seven seasons
• Winning record against the Green Bay Packers

Cons

• Abrasive personality can wear on players and front office
• Expensive to get for an ownership notorious for penny-pinching
• Never won a championship as a player or coach

Mike Shanahan

One of the marquee names NFL fans have come to know in the coaching profession over the years.  Mike Shanahan has blazed what many might believe is a Hall of Fame career.  He was a superb coordinator in San Francisco, helping Steve Young get his ring in 1994 and then did it again for John Elway in 1997.  There isn’t anything he hasn’t seen in the league.

Pros

• Two Super Bowl rings as a head coach
• Turned Jay Cutler into a Pro Bowler in 2008
• A master at building strong running games

Cons

• 62-years old
• Has a hard time building strong defenses (average ranking of 20th since ’05)
• One playoff win since 1998
• Can have combative relationships with ownership

Todd Bowles

One of the best assistant coaches in the NFL for a long time.  Todd Bowles has had success wherever he has landed in the league.  His units always improve when he arrives and he has become one of the best defensive coordinators in the league as evidenced by their allowing just 18.6 points and 102.2 rushing yards per game.  Good for 4th and 8th in the league respectively.  He’s level-headed, respected by his players and experienced.

Pros

• Consistently elevated every defense he has coached
• Understands locker room chemistry having been a player himself
• Learned under Bill Parcells, Andy Reid and now Bruce Arians
• Went 2-1 as interim head coach with team that was 4-9 prior to that

Cons

• Never been hired as a head coach at any level
• Never won a playoff game as an assistant or coordinator
• Personality would be viewed as another Lovie Smith/Marc Trestman