5 starting quarterbacks facing do-or-die seasons

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

While Kaepernick’s contract looks pretty bad, the seven-year, $126.7 million deal ($54 million guaranteed) Jay Cutler signed with the Bears in 2014 is far, far worse. Since arriving in Chicago prior to the 2009 season, Cutler has been the definition of an average NFL quarterback (who occasionally veers into the “terrible” category). In fact, Cutler’s continued presence in the Bears’ locker room has become a bigger distraction than Scott Walker’s bald spot.

From 2009 to 2014 Cutler threw 129 touchdowns, but also gave away 93 interceptions while posting a pedestrian 84.3 quarterback rating. In those 82 games he had a 44-38 record, cost two coaches their jobs and was sacked a whopping 205 times (and no, you can’t put all of those on his offensive line). His Total QBR has only been higher than 57.7 once (it was 67.1 in 2013) and he is coming off a horrendous season during which he was benched in favor of Jimmy Clausen. Yes, that Jimmy Clausen.

In 2014, Cutler completed 66 percent of his passes (that’s good!) and had a career-high 28 touchdown passes (not bad!) but also threw 18 interceptions (that’s bad) and fumbled the ball 12 times (that’s really bad). As always, Cutler showed tremendous potential with an incredible arm but screws things up with his head. At 32 years old and in his 10th NFL season, there’s no reason to expect him to finally “get it.”

If Cutler doesn’t show the Bears something this season they simply have to move on. For years the franchise made excuses for him, but it’s time to realize that the one constant in Chicago during the past few underachieving seasons has been Cutler. He exemplifies what’s wrong with that franchise right now. If he can’t finally live up to his immense talent, the Bears need to go find someone else to lead the team.

Next: Kirk Cousins