On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears made a stunning headline when word leaked that Jimmy Clausen would be the starting quarterback on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Ordinarily, the news would be mundane when the first-stringer leads the league with 24 turnovers and has a 5-9 record. However, when your starter is Jay Cutler, a man in the first season of a seven-year, $126 million deal, it’s front-page and back-page worthy.
Chicago believed in Cutler, a former first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos back in 2006. Cutler was dealt to the Bears in 2009 for two first-round choices, a third-round selection and Kyle Orton. The hope was Cutler would become the franchise quarterback which has eluded Chicago since the departure of Sid Luckman, all the way back in 1950. Since 1964, the Bears have seen only one Pro Bowl year from under center (Jim McMahon, 1985).
Clearly, the Cutler experiment is a failure. In six years as the starter, Cutler has presided over one playoff win in Chicago. He’s drawn the considerable ire of fans with his sulking nature and failure to learn from mistakes, consistently throwing into coverage. Many have compared Cutler to Jeff George, another strong-armed gunslinger with a questionable attitude and a penchant for losing; and it is an apt one.
Chicago has to make a decision on Cutler soon, but first must finish out this dismal campaign and likely fire head coach Marc Trestman, if not general manager Phil Emery. The 2015 league year begins on March 7, and if Cutler’s deal is not terminated by March 10 his 2016 base salary of $16 million becomes guaranteed. If the Bears plan on making a clean break from him, it would come before that date. As it stands, Cutler is due $15.5 million in 2015, with a $16.5 cap hit. If Chicago outright released him, its cap would take $19.5 million in dead money.
In other words, the Bears will desperately try to trade Cutler. If they can pull off a deal, his contract becomes another franchise’s problem while Chicago can rebuild its roster with those savings. Perhaps one interested team would be the Tennessee Titans. If head coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to pull a quick turnaround off a disastrous first season, maybe he convinces general manager Ruston Webster to offer a draft pick or two. Considering Cutler’s age (32 in April) and contract, the Titans would only have to offer a mid-round selection.
It’s a lot of money to take on, but after 2016 Cutler can be chopped off the books with no penalty. Whisenhunt might see it as an opportunity to groom a younger quarterback while being competitive for two seasons, then inserting the new face of the franchise.
The boos are loud and clear in the Windy City. Trestman must, and will, go. Soon, Cutler will need to follow if the Bears’ brass wants a satisfied contingent in Soldier Field next season.
