Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery told reporters Wednesday that he doesn't anticipate signing any of his players to contract extensions during the 2013 season. The subtext, of course, is Jay Cutler. The team's starting quarterback is walking into a contract year under the direction of new coach Marc Trestman, who's opting for a wait-and-see approach before hitching his wagon to Cutler. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that Cutler, in essence, must prove he's worth a long-term deal, according to a source in regular contact with the passer. Per the source, the Bears and Cutler's representatives haven't discussed a contract extension since the new regime took over. "At the end of the season, we'll see what happens," said the source. "The ball is in their court." Source: NFL.com
Oh, you mean Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, Chad Hutchinson, Jonathan Quinn, Brian Griese, Jim Miller, Shane Matthews, Henry Burris just to name a few? I laugh when people crap on Cutler because they tend to forget the QB mess before the Bears traded for Cutler.
I totally disagree with Cutler having to price himself before getting an extension. If the Bears want to be competitive, they're going to have to pay Cutler and with all these other QBs getting signed, Cutlers value is only going up. Better to wrap him up now than having to pay more later. $15M a year is a bargain at the moment... Who would they bring in that is better than Cutler?
I want to know what happens if he has a disappointing season. Surely they'll have to extend him anyways, right?
The comical part of this is the perception that it's a 1 way street where Cutler has to fit in Trestman's system. Part of Trestman's role is to tailor his scheme to Cutler's strength also. If Cutler doesn't 'fit', does that mean we go back to the Dark Ages having a 'great system' but no QB to run it? What basis would you even use to assume it was a great system if there's no success? These type stories are the slow news days, nothing more. They're both on the clock as far as I'm concerned...
The Bears are a team that doesn't like going over the salary cap. If they're over the cap, it's not by much at all. Last I heard which was yesterday, the Bears are only $1.6 million under the cap which isn't crap. I honestly didn't think Flacco was all that before the Ravens Super Bowl run. I'm not saying Cutler will be Joe Flacco in 2013 but this is a make or break year for Cutler. IF he has a damn good year, then he wins. IF Cutler has a bad year, then both him and the Bears are hecked.
