Jay Cutler is the best quarterback in the history of the Chicago Bears and he hasnt even taken a snap yet.
The Bears shocked the NFL and their fans when they traded for the disgruntled All-Pro quarterback on April 2. The Bears traded Kyle Orton, the No. 18 pick in the first round of the NFL draft, a third-rounder (84th) and next years first-round choice for Cutler and a fifth-round pick.
Since the punky QB Jim McMahon led Chicago to a Super Bowl championship, the Bears have went through a carousel of 23 quarterbacks. Any one remember Rick Mirer, Will Furer, Moses Moreno, Henry Burris? How about Jim Miller, Erik Kramer, Kordell Stewart, Steve Walsh and Steve Stenstrom?
The Cubs Billy Goat Curse is well documented, but the Bears futility at quarterback has held the team hostage for decades.
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo after the Bears crashed in a season finale loss to Houston last year, said the team was fixated on fixing the quarterback position.
I came to the conclusion I felt like I needed to pursue this, Angelo said of the Cutler trade talks. And I decided if we were going to get in it, we were going to get in it to win it.
Some chastised the Bears for giving up too much for Cutler. Others point out that Cutler will not put up the 4,526 passing yards and near 30 TD passes with the Bears. He likely wont put up the gaudy passing numbers as he did in Denver because the Broncos defense proved to be one of the worst in the league and Cutler had to pass often to give his team a chance to win. Cutler passed 616 times last season, which was the second most in the NFL. For the Bears, Cutler doesnt have to set NFL passing records, he just has to keep teams honest and give the Bears the legitimate threat of a long pass.
Some NFL gurus including former Colts coach Tony Dungy question Cutlers leadership and contend quarterbacking is more than throwing a deep out or a tight spiral. Some are concerned that if Cutler is not shown the love as the man at quarterback, his relationship will sour with the Bears just like his stalemate in Denver.
My advice is to not believe everything you read coming out of Denver. There were no Cutler is a cancer and demoralizing the team stories coming out of Broncos camp last season with longtime coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan was fired and the Broncos hired Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator last year. The Bears should be in-debted to McDaniels since he butted heads with Cutler in his alleged deal to trade for Matt Cassel.
Many now contend the question mark and missing link for the Bears offense is beefing up the wide receiver position. Devin Hester is not a true No. 1 WR no matter how much the Bears think he will improve. The Bears are banking on developing young wide receivers like Earl Bennett, who didnt even see the field as a rookie, but the team is expecting him to emerge now. How many people heard of Brandon Marshall before Cutler took over the quarterback duties for the Broncos?
It will be an adrenaline rush to finally see the Bears with a quarterback capable of directing a game-winning drive in the last two minutes. For too long as a Bears fan, I have watched other quarterbacks Brett Favre, John Elway and Joe Montana guide their teams to game-winning drives. The Bears offense will get a jump-start. Cutler and the new offensive line featuring Orlando Pace at tackle should open up some big running lanes for running back Matt Forte. Im just hoping Tommie Harris can rediscover his play as an elite defensive lineman instead of the one who has been overpaid as the Mark Prior of the Bears after battling injuries the last two years.
The Cutler jersey my wife, Anna, ordered me for Fathers Day should be on the way. Now Bears fans have to cross their fingers and hope the franchise quarterback doesnt get hurt. Because the back-up plan now includes Caleb Hanie.
In the Sunday Night Football season opener, Im expecting a shootout between the Bears and Packers. It will be the first battle between Cutler and Aaron Rodgers. It may be the most anticipated game this season until Brett Favre comes back to Lambeau Field with the Vikings and beats the Packers.
The Bears shocked the NFL and their fans when they traded for the disgruntled All-Pro quarterback on April 2. The Bears traded Kyle Orton, the No. 18 pick in the first round of the NFL draft, a third-rounder (84th) and next years first-round choice for Cutler and a fifth-round pick.
Since the punky QB Jim McMahon led Chicago to a Super Bowl championship, the Bears have went through a carousel of 23 quarterbacks. Any one remember Rick Mirer, Will Furer, Moses Moreno, Henry Burris? How about Jim Miller, Erik Kramer, Kordell Stewart, Steve Walsh and Steve Stenstrom?
The Cubs Billy Goat Curse is well documented, but the Bears futility at quarterback has held the team hostage for decades.
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo after the Bears crashed in a season finale loss to Houston last year, said the team was fixated on fixing the quarterback position.
I came to the conclusion I felt like I needed to pursue this, Angelo said of the Cutler trade talks. And I decided if we were going to get in it, we were going to get in it to win it.
Some chastised the Bears for giving up too much for Cutler. Others point out that Cutler will not put up the 4,526 passing yards and near 30 TD passes with the Bears. He likely wont put up the gaudy passing numbers as he did in Denver because the Broncos defense proved to be one of the worst in the league and Cutler had to pass often to give his team a chance to win. Cutler passed 616 times last season, which was the second most in the NFL. For the Bears, Cutler doesnt have to set NFL passing records, he just has to keep teams honest and give the Bears the legitimate threat of a long pass.
Some NFL gurus including former Colts coach Tony Dungy question Cutlers leadership and contend quarterbacking is more than throwing a deep out or a tight spiral. Some are concerned that if Cutler is not shown the love as the man at quarterback, his relationship will sour with the Bears just like his stalemate in Denver.
My advice is to not believe everything you read coming out of Denver. There were no Cutler is a cancer and demoralizing the team stories coming out of Broncos camp last season with longtime coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan was fired and the Broncos hired Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator last year. The Bears should be in-debted to McDaniels since he butted heads with Cutler in his alleged deal to trade for Matt Cassel.
Many now contend the question mark and missing link for the Bears offense is beefing up the wide receiver position. Devin Hester is not a true No. 1 WR no matter how much the Bears think he will improve. The Bears are banking on developing young wide receivers like Earl Bennett, who didnt even see the field as a rookie, but the team is expecting him to emerge now. How many people heard of Brandon Marshall before Cutler took over the quarterback duties for the Broncos?
It will be an adrenaline rush to finally see the Bears with a quarterback capable of directing a game-winning drive in the last two minutes. For too long as a Bears fan, I have watched other quarterbacks Brett Favre, John Elway and Joe Montana guide their teams to game-winning drives. The Bears offense will get a jump-start. Cutler and the new offensive line featuring Orlando Pace at tackle should open up some big running lanes for running back Matt Forte. Im just hoping Tommie Harris can rediscover his play as an elite defensive lineman instead of the one who has been overpaid as the Mark Prior of the Bears after battling injuries the last two years.
The Cutler jersey my wife, Anna, ordered me for Fathers Day should be on the way. Now Bears fans have to cross their fingers and hope the franchise quarterback doesnt get hurt. Because the back-up plan now includes Caleb Hanie.
In the Sunday Night Football season opener, Im expecting a shootout between the Bears and Packers. It will be the first battle between Cutler and Aaron Rodgers. It may be the most anticipated game this season until Brett Favre comes back to Lambeau Field with the Vikings and beats the Packers.
