Tuesday, December 10, 2013

State of the Quarterback: Chicago Bears

The Bears players and head coach Marc Trestman have stated that Jay Cutler is the starter quarterback even though Josh McCown has been playing very well but regardless of the talk this situation makes for a very interesting future for Jay Cutler.

Cutler has only played one full season as the Bears starter and that was in 2009 and has played in two 15 game seasons which were 2010 and 2012, but in the 2011 and 2013 seasons he has had health issues.  This season would probably not have been so bad for him so far if not for how Josh McCown is playing for the Bears, McCown is 3-2 as a starter and has 13 touchdowns to 1 interception.  Cutler is 4-4 as the starter and has 13 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, while it seems logical to keep Cutler around because of how much was invested in him and I believe he will be kept around he may not land a big contract.

Cutler to me is deserving of a contract close in size to those of Tony Romo and Joe Flacco, sure that might sound crazy but Cutler is finally in a great system that has seen his number of times being sacked decline and his offensive weapons being used to their fullest.  Those reasons should be enough for Cutler to stay, but how much will the Bears give him?  Cutler also had the Bears on the verge of the Super Bowl before injuring his knee in the 2010 season’s NFC title game against the Green Bay Packers.  Cutler’s work in Chicago speaks for itself, he works hard and wants to win and now has the right coaching and offensive scheme to help him out.

I don’t see McCown as the future for the Bears, but he is a great insurance policy to Cutler, and if you ask me Cutler deserves a 5 year contract with 40 to 45 million guaranteed, I don’t see him getting in the 50 range because of his health and again because of McCown’s play. 

The one argument that could be made against McCown’s play affecting Cutler’s chances to land a big contract and stay in Chicago can be how long Cutler has been in the system, he has seen changes in Chicago.  He has been beaten up and injured because of what used to be a porous offensive line, but in the 8 games he has started he has only been sacked 11 times.  Cutler will continue to grow in this system, he has Matt Forte who is a 1,000 yard rusher and two 1,000 yard receivers in Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall to help him out.  

If Cutler can come back and help lead the Bears to the playoffs and make some noise there he will help his chances to get paid.  Cutler is a guy I like as a QB and I think he stands a great chance to succeed in Trestman’s offense. 


We will have to wait out and see what happens in Chicago this offseason, but I see great things ahead for Cutler.

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