The clock is ticking on a decision from the Chicago Bears on Jay Cutler but continue to actively shop him on the trade market with the hopes of getting a reasonable offer for the veteran quarterback.
Jay Cutler has worn out his welcome in Chicago and it would be in the best interests of both the Bears organization and for Cutler to sever ties and get a fresh start.
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Chicago has until Thursday to trade Cutler before his guaranteed money kicks in for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, so it would behoove new Bears general manager Ryan Pace to act swiftly and act on the best offer he has on the table for his struggling and overpaid quarterback.
The Bears have made no secret about their lack of commitment to Cutler, including new head coach John Fox who hasn’t endorsed Cutler as his starter one year after he signed a seven-year, $126 million deal shortly after the end of the 2014 season.
That deal was extended by former general manager Phil Emery who saw something in him in former head coach Marc Trestman’s offense to give him Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning money. The Bears are hoping a team will give them a “reasonable offer” according to WSCR’s Dan Bernstein, but the offers haven’t been satisfying to date.
Source: #Bears actively shopping Cutler, would move him for "reasonable return." Offers to this point have underwhelmed.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) March 9, 2015
The Bears traded former Pro Bowl receiver, Brandon Marshall for a fifth round pick, so what type of offer would they consider “reasonable” for the perennial underachiever?
Quarterbacks are more valuable than receivers north of 30 years old, but with the few free agent options on the street quickly finding homes and two teams likely to fill their need at the position with top picks in Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, this likely leaves the Bears without many options to dumb Cutler.
Would the Bears consider attaching a sixth-round draft pick in addition to Cutler for a fifth-round pick? The bigger question should be if the Bears simply release Cutler before Thursday and wipe their hands clean of the situation.
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