Hey remember when everyone was shocked, confused and laughing when the Chicago Bears gave quarterback Jay Cutler that giant contract extension? Well yea, now the Bears are feeling that sentiment, well except the laughing part. Unlike exchanging an unwanted or poor holiday gift, the Bears are stuck with Jay Cutler.
via NFL.com:
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL GameDay Morning that the Bears are having a “serious case of buyer’s remorse.”
Shhhhhhhhh. You hear that? It’s all of Chicago laughing, painfully.
The Bears signed Cutler to a seven-year, $126.7 million contract this offseason, including $54 million guaranteed, which was met with skepticism from Windy City fans the day the ink dried.
According to Rapoport, there is serious doubt within the organization that Cutler can lead them where it wants to go — namely, the Super Bowl. Rapoport added that one big problem for Cutler comes in the run game, in which he too often does not check out of bad plays — a reason for ground issues in Chicago.
There is a serious “frustration” with the way Cutler has played this season, and, according to Rapoport, the team considered benching him during his dismal showing versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers three weeks ago. However, the Bears didn’t, mainly because Jimmy Clausen is the backup.
If the Bears were able to trade Cutler, they’d save $12.5 million against the salary cap next year. Two problems with that scenario: Who is going to trade for your mistake? And, what’s Plan B? Clausen 2015?
Cutler isn’t the only reason behind Chicago’s struggles this season, but he’s the man who will be under the most heat in the next several months.
