So the Bears Are Stuck with QB Jay Cutler, Now What?
Published by Zach Kruse on March 10, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Maybe the Chicago Bears actively tried to trade quarterback Jay Cutler over the last few weeks, only to find the task impossible enough that a spin campaign is already in the works.
Or maybe the Bears did no active shopping, but instead took their time in evaluating the entire situation at quarterback before deciding Cutler would remain on the roster through 2015.
Either way, the Bears are likely stuck with Cutler as the team’s starting quarterback—a reality reported by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen early Tuesday.
According to Mortensen’s sources, the Bears “fully expect” Cutler will be the starting quarterback in Chicago next season. He also refuted reports of Cutler being on the trade block. In fact, Mortensen reports new offensive coordinator Adam Gase has been “enthusiastically” creating an offense tailor-made for Cutler and his strengths and weaknesses.
UPDATE (3/11, 2:45 p.m.): According to Adam Hoge of 720 WGN, general manager Ryan Pace confirmed Jay Cutler as the team’s starting quarterback moving forward:
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also notes he couldn’t find a team that discussed a trade for Jay Cutler with the Bears:
Either the Bears are covering their tracks in an attempt to keep harmony between staff and quarterback, or the team genuinely never gave credence to the idea of moving Cutler. It’s also possible the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
It’s even within the realm of possibility that a desperate team will come along at some point in the future and give general manager Ryan Pace an offer just good enough for him to take.
For now, the Bears locking Cutler in as the starter in 2015 should come as no surprise. His contract is borderline unmovable, but just as importantly, the free-agent quarterback market is a barren landscape with precious few options, and the draft might only be two-deep in legitimate long-term starters.
Another $10 million in 2016 will be guaranteed on Cutler’s contract if he’s on the roster Thursday, adding to the $15.5 million he’s already guaranteed in 2015. But given the massive cap hit and the empty quarterback market, there was little chance Chicago would release Cutler before March 12.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Bears are being forced to stick with the status quo.
At some point, the Bears staff will need to make a public statement on the future of the team’s quarterback position. It’s certainly needed after both Pace and head coach John Fox dodged opportunities to commit to Cutler at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Once that happens, the real work begins. Fox, Gase and the offensive coaches need to find some way to get the most out of a quarterback dripping in talent but equally soaked in disappointment.
The first order of business for Gase should be simple. His job will be to implement a working system for Cutler, likely one based on the run game with Matt Forte and the downfield passing game with big targets such as Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Marquess Wilson.
Gase then needs to go alpha dog on Cutler and ensure his offense is run exactly how he wants it run.
According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago, former teammates and coaches of Cutler called him a “divisive figure,” who was more “renegade” than good soldier in terms of playing within the confines of the offense. A sense of detrimental catering to Cutler from coaches emanated from the scathing review.
Time will tell how this new staff treats Cutler. Per Wright, Cutler and his new offensive coordinator had a working relationship prior to the Bears hiring Gase. And Cutler is still very close with new quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, a personal friend who he had hoped the Bears would hire in the past.
Early indications are the two won’t be bending over backward to coddle their new quarterback.
According to John Mullin of CSN Chicago, Gase and his staff are preparing to “shrink the game” for Cutler, taking a less-is-more approach. This will include stripping Cutler’s ability to audible at the line of scrimmage, while also reducing his decision-making processes after the snap.
Under Marc Trestman, Cutler was given run-pass options at the line. That power backfired in a major way.
Late in the season, an anonymous source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Bears were suffering from “buyer’s remorse” on Cutler, in part due to the quarterback’s inability to check out of bad plays before the snap. The source turned out to be offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer.
It was an awkward turn during the most disappointing of seasons for the Bears, who were widely expected to make a run at the postseason in 2014. Instead, Cutler produced a league-high 18 interceptions and 24 total turnovers, and the Bears limped to a 5-11 finish. Trestman benched Cutler in Week 16, only to return him to the starting lineup for the season finale after backup Jimmy Clausen suffered a concussion.
Eliminating his propensity for turnovers is probably not realistic at this stage in his career, but it is worth noting that Cutler played some of his safest football under the strict hand of former offensive coordinator Mike Martz in 2011. Gase possesses the personality and confidence necessary to replicate some of what Martz was able to accomplish.
The situation certainly isn’t a perfect one. Trade rumors swirling around a starting quarterback isn’t good for anyone involved. The Bears are denying those reports, but it’d be crazy to think Pace wasn’t at least entertaining the thought of moving the polarizing, overpaid quarterback he inherited from former general manager Phil Emery.
And it’s still not ridiculous to think Pace could field an offer for Cutler at some point later this spring or summer and jump at the opportunity. He’d be off his rocker if a chance to offload a huge salary and start over fresh at the quarterback position was ignored.
Then again, the Bears have surrounded Cutler with two coaches he’s familiar with, and moving him now—or at any point in the next few months—would leave Chicago with a sad state of affairs at the quarterback position. There’s simply no viable replacement for Cutler available at this point.
The Bears are stuck. But being in this difficult position doesn’t preclude Chicago from making the very best of the situation, which is likely only possible if Cutler the renegade is finally tamed by a capable staff.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com
