Jay Cutler is still Jay Cutler, and he will always be Jay Cutler
By John Crist
The rocket-armed quarterback is who he is at this point of his disappointing career, and another new coach in the Windy City isn’t going to change that fact
This was supposed to be the season that the Chicago Bears would not only challenge the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, but that quarterback Jay Cutler would finally realize his full potential and be a legitimate MVP candidate.
Blessed with as much pure physical talent as any passer in the league — nobody has ever questioned the Howitzer attached to his right shoulder, plus he’s always been more nimble both in and out of the pocket than most people realize — he also had a dependable offensive line, a dual-threat tailback, a beast of a tight end and possibly the best wide-receiver tandem in the game. Coach/QB whisperer Marc Trestman had gotten the most out of the likes of Bernie Kosar, Steve Young, Jake Plummer and Rich Gannon during previous stops on his NFL résumé, so Cutler appeared to be on the verge of a breakout year.
Instead, the Monsters of the Midway ended 2014 dead last in the division at 5-11 after closing the campaign with a five-game losing streak, plus Cutler was so inefficient that he got benched in favor of the previously forgotten about Jimmy Clausen in Week 16. Cutler wasn’t all that bad statistically compared to his previous numbers, as he set career highs for completion rate (66 percent) and touchdown passes (28), but he threw 18 interceptions — tied for most in the league with a more-effective Philip Rivers — and fumbled the ball an additional nine times to cement his reputation as a turnover machine. Trestman and general manager Phil Emery were sent packing after just two seasons, which is saying something since the Bears historically are not an organization that cuts big checks in order to hit the reset button.
And yet Cutler still remains at Halas Hall, just an offseason removed from signing a $126.7 million contract extension that paid him more this year than superior signal callers Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
Chicago sent a king’s ransom to the Denver Broncos in 2009 just for the opportunity to field what had the look and feel of a franchise quarterback — no more Rex Grossmans or Kyle Ortons handicapping coach Lovie Smith. Armed with a takeaway-happy defense and the most prolific special teams in football, Cutler’s presence alone was supposed to enhance what had been a poor aerial show on an annual basis.
Eighty-two starts later, he has posted a Jim Harbaugh-like 44-38 record and taken the club to the playoffs only once in six tries.
The Bears have burned through offensive coordinators at a dangerous pace in order to appease Cutler. Ron Turner didn’t throw the ball vertically enough. Mike Martz didn’t protect him enough. Mike Tice wasn’t imaginative enough. Aaron Kromer — really Trestman, since it was his offense — wasn’t unpredictable enough. Not one of them could put Cutler in the Pro Bowl.
Then it was the offensive line that needed an upgrade, as Cutler was taking too much punishment waiting for those opportunities downfield to develop. Former Pro Bowler Jermon Bushrod was inked in free agency. Kyle Long was taken in Round 1 of the draft and became a Pro Bowler. In 2013, the Midway Monsters had the same five players along the O-line start all 16 games. Cutler still got hurt — journeyman Josh McCown was arguably the better QB when called upon — and missed five games.
“Cutler’s problems — horrible footwork, a lack of field vision and anticipation, and a penchant for game-killing turnovers — continue to haunt him.” — Jeremy Stoltz
Maybe he required more weapons at his disposal, as enemy defensive backs weren’t exactly trembling pre-snap when asked to cover Earl Bennett, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. A trade was made for potential Hall of Famer Brandon Marshall — the two of them were basically unstoppable during their time together in Mile High. A second-round selection was spent on Alshon Jeffery, who turned into one of the better big-play wideouts in the NFL by Year 2. Major free-agent coin was thrown at Martellus Bennett, a “black unicorn” disguised as an imposing tight end in the middle of the field.
Nevertheless, it’s always the same Cutler, time after time, teasing us with dizzying highs but then falling into another maddening pattern of cavernous lows.
“For years, Jay Cutler supporters lamented his lack of a supporting cast,” says Jeremy Stoltz, the publisher of Bear Report Magazine and BearReport.com. “They said the leaky offensive line, the sub-par wide receivers and incompetent coordinators were holding him back.”
Cutler’s offensive line has gotten considerably better since he first came to Chicago. The receiving corps — not to mention pass-friendly running back Matt Forte — is perhaps the most explosive in football. And say what you will about Trestman, but he showed up in 2013 after a five-year stint in the CFL and instantly orchestrated the most high-flying passing attack in Bears annals.
But Cutler still lazily threw off his back foot, recklessly forced the ball into double coverage and continually deflated Soldier Field with soul-crushing INTs, all of which had precious little to do with blocking, catching or coaching.
“Cutler’s problems — horrible footwork, a lack of field vision and anticipation, and a penchant for game-killing turnovers — continue to haunt him,” says Stoltz.
Chicago goes on with its search for a new coach, and the front office is surely trying to sell a storied history, a passionate fan base and an enviable array of skill-position stars to prospective hires.
That said, whether it’s a proven winner like John Fox, a familiar face like Mike Shanahan or a new kid on the block like Teryl Austin, there is no reason to believe that Cutler will somehow harness his inner John Elway and lead the Bears — the team of his youth in Santa Claus, Indiana — to the Super Bowl. He simply is who he is, and he has 126.7 million reasons to keep being who he is.
“The one common denominator throughout Cutler’s career has been Cutler,” says Stoltz, “and, at 32 years old, no coach is going to fix him.”