July 25, 2014: Cutler or Bust

7 years 126 million dollars. 54 million dollars guaranteed.  18 million dollars average per year.  5th highest paid player in the NFL.   3rd highest paid QB in the NFL.  The Bears are ALL IN with Cutler.  Is he worth it?

Let’s flashback 5 years.  When the trade became official sending Jay Cutler our way, I was ecstatic.  I was still in LA, and I remember sharing my joy with everybody back home.  This was AWESOME news!  We finally have a QB!  My Raider friend quickly tried to rain on my parade, saying he ain’t that good.  They saw him 2x per year, a lot more than I did.  He wasn’t impressed.  Still, nothing was going to bring me down on that day.  I just knew Cutler was our man.

Year 1 started off promising enough.  We started 2009 with a 3-1 record; we then lost 8 of the next 10.  Jay Cutler led the NFL in interceptions with 26.  I remember the San Francisco game that year.  We almost never play well in San Francisco.  The only game I can remember us winning there was in the Super Bowl year.  In 2009,  I think it was a Thursday night game…  Cutler threw 5 INTs and 0 TDs.  (We play there this year in week 2 this year as San Fran opens their new stadium.)  It was only Cutler’s first year with us; I gave him a pass.

The 2010 season marked the hiring of Mike Martz.  I was happy about that news too.  Here is an offensive guru who will work with Cutler and help bring the best out of him.  We started as planned 3-0.  Then came week 4 in New York vs the Giants; do you remember that game?  Cutler got tossed around like a rag doll to a tune of 9 first half sacks, sustained a concussion, and sat out the next week.  2010 was a pretty good year though… 11-5, NFC North champs, and a first round bye.  THIS is what I’m talking about it.  This is what I expected from Cutler.  In Cutler’s 1st playoff game, he had 2 passing & 2 rushing TD’s, as we beat the Seahawks 35-24.  NFC Championship game here we come!  This is Cutler’s defining moment!  We have a shot to go back to the Super Bowl.  I just knew we were going to win that game… against Green Bay.  In all of our history, this was arguably the BIGGEST game between the 2 franchises.

Well, when I make my list of all-time worst games, this will be on it.  In my book, this WAS Cutler’s defining moment.  It’s a blur now, and I don’t want to rehash that day, but I do remember the most important thing:  Cutler STANDING on the sidelines in the 2nd half; he was injured and out for the game.  What!?!  He looked fine.  I mean, he is standing up.  He didn’t get carted off.  This is the biggest game of his career.  This is for a shot to go to the Super Bowl.  This is against the Green Bay Packers!!!  Get your ass back in there Cutler.  OK, didn’t want to go into detail, but from that day, there is only one way Cutler can get in my good graces again.  There is only one way I can forgive him for that day.
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2011-2012 led to 8-8 & 10-6 records; both playoff misses.  Caleb Hanie, Jason Campbell, & Josh McCown all played time during those years.  The Cutler injury vs the Chargers, his bickering with Martz, and his inconsistent play, are what I remember most from him those 2 years.  Although, we did have the addition of Brandon Marshall:  Jay Cutler’s boy from Denver.  With 2 straight years out of the playoffs after the GB debacle, it was time for the Bears to move on… from Lovie Smith and his coaching staff.  Cutler remained.  Welcome Marc Trestman.

Last year was more of the same, sort of.  Another 8-8 year.  Another playoff miss.  Another Cutler injury.  However, I did see improvements with Jay Cutler last year under Marc Trestman.  Another good start to the season had the Bears at 4-2.  Cutler was very good too.  For the first time in his career, he had 4 straight games with a passer rating over 90.  We were 3-0, and almost came back against Detroit in week 4.  More importantly than the numbers for me, was a perceived improvement in his on-the-field attitude.  I know people say that there is too much made of that, but I disagree.  He is our QB.  He is our leader.  He needs to get that droopy look of his face when something goes wrong, and lead this team.  His leadership needs to come through in every aspect on Sundays.  I saw signs of that.  I think Trestman not only helped his offensive game, but he got him to buy into being a leader.  I’m not sure that’s something you can teach, but I saw promise there last year.  An injury vs Washington in week 7 led to the Josh McCown QB controversy.  Cutler eventually came back, and we lost 2 of the last 3 games to miss the playoffs again.

So with this body of work over the past 5 years, we committed to Cutler long term.  A recent ranking of QBs has Cutler at #19!  I’m not sure I agree with that, but I’m not sure I would rank him in the top 10… yet.  I guess it’s make or break this year for Cutler.  He’s had every excuse in the book the past 5 years, from different offensive coordinators, to horrible offensive lines, to no wide receivers to throw to, to his injuries.  Enough of the excuses!  This year’s Bears team is LOADED on offense.  In year 2 of the Trestman era, Cutler and the Bears offense are primed to explode.  We need to… HE needs to.

So at the age of 31, Jay Cutler begins year 6 in Chicago.  We have high hopes for this team, and for Cutler.  Everything is laid out for Cutler and the Bears to be successful.  What about the defense?  What about another injury to Cutler?  I don’t want to hear any of that.  I want to see Cutler be the best he can be.  I want him to make me as happy as I was when we traded for him.  I want to see him show us he was worth all that money.  I want to see him get a NEW defining moment:  winning a Super Bowl.  It’s now or never Jay.  This is the year.  It’s Cutler or bust; let’s see what you got.