Monday, April 6, 2009

Bears sign QB Jay Cutler


Call it Da Deal.

Not since the beer-and-brats days of Jim McMahon, Saturday Night Live spoofs and the Super Bowl Shuffle in the mid-1980s have the Chicago Bears fielded a bona fide star quarterback. They will now.

It took a king's ransom — including two first-round draft picks and incumbent starter Kyle Orton — but the Bears outmaneuvered a slew of suitors Thursday to land Denver's Jay Cutler.

Suffice to say, all the criticism being heaped upon Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo for his team's free-agent inactivity this offseason has ended. Angelo knew he had to offer a better package than quarterback-starved teams like Tampa Bay, Washington and the New York Jets. He did exactly that.

After wasting years trying to develop youngsters like Orton and Rex Grossman with only a modicum of success, Chicago finally has the real deal under center. Say what you will about how Cutler handled the rift with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels that led to his departure, but there's no denying Cutler is magic on the field and has the arm strength to thrive at windy Soldier Field.

In 2008, Cutler reached the Pro Bowl in just his third NFL season. He almost single-handedly carried a team with a porous defense and decimated running back corps into the playoffs.

Cutler now faces a similar challenge in Chicago. This deal betters the Bears, no question. But improvement from last year's 9-7 record isn't a given.

While he will be working with an outstanding young running back (Matt Forte) and a decent enough offensive line after Thursday's free-agent signing of tackle Orlando Pace, Chicago still fields one of the NFL's worst wide receiver corps. Devin Hester has blazing speed but isn't nearly as complete a wideout as Brandon Marshall, Cutler's favorite target in Denver. Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd were mediocre at best in 2008. Earl Bennett — a 2008 third-round pick who didn't have a catch last season — was working with the starters during a recent Bears minicamp.

The defense isn't what it once was either. The Monsters of the Midway were more Mothra than Godzilla in 2008. The Bears ranked 21st and 16th respectively in yards and points allowed. Chicago was especially poor against the pass, which explains why opponents attempted more throws against Chicago (622) than any other NFL team.

The Bears struggled to pressure quarterbacks, exposing an injury-riddled secondary that wasn't all that great even when healthy. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher — the face of the franchise before Cutler's arrival — looked old. Oft-injured safety Mike Brown broke down again and was released in February. And defensive tackle Tommie Harris has yet to prove worth the four-year, $40 million contract extension he signed last offseason

The fact Chicago almost reached the playoffs last year was largely a testament to the NFL's best special teams units, Forte's production and Orton's efficient quarterbacking until a midseason ankle injury.

The drop-off from the Super Bowl defense Chicago fielded two seasons earlier was so great that some Bears fans can still be justifiably upset at Angelo for not acquiring a quality quarterback when the unit was in its prime.

Angelo still has plenty of time for more personnel upgrades before the regular season begins. Maybe the Bears will continue dipping into free agency — cornerback Ken Lucas took a visit Monday — or can strike gold in the draft like in 2004 when Harris, defensive tackle Tank Johnson, wide receiver Bernard Berrian and cornerback Nathan Vasher were the team's first four picks. Maybe the defense will rebound with head coach Lovie Smith now calling the plays. Maybe an aged starting roster has enough left in the tank for a championship run in what is considered a wide-open division.

I just wouldn't be expecting a Ferris Bueller-like parade down the streets of Chicago in February quite yet, even though the Cutler acquisition itself is reason to celebrate.

By

Alex Marvez

15 comments:

Per Head Services said...

I still have faith that Cutler will become one of the great QB's of all time.

I may be blinded by how much of a fan I am of him, but only time will tell if I am right or wrong.

Collin Williams said...

Jay Cutler is a cry baby I heard that when the Broncos actually got rid of him he started to say that he never reilly wanted to leave the Broncos. It's to late now Cutler

Collin Williams said...

I think Jay Cutler's a great Quarter back but I don't see why he left the Broncos

arizona bankruptcy attorney said...

The Bears are hungry for a star QB and Cutler will be huge in Chicago if he can go far in the playoffs. Super Bowl? He'll be a star beyond recognition.

FOOTBALL MAN said...

Jay Cutler is a bust.

without prescription said...

Jay Cutler is a Joke.

Joseph Cooper said...

I think that the Bears defense will be improved from last year. I think the Bears will be a playoff team this year. Cutler wants to get more respect, and I think Urlacher wants to prove he's still got it. I bet they go 10 and 6, and get a wildcard spot. Checkout my site at footballfanaticjoe.blogspot.com

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Ian DeMartino said...

Cutler looked more like Rex Grossman then John Elway for the first half this sunday. In the Third quarter he looked better but then gave the game away with that forth quarter pick.

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super bowl 2010 tickets said...

Its good decision taken by Bears, Now they will be more strong from last year

Chicago Bears tickets said...

Go Bears! Time will show Bear take right decision

Mitch Saulsberry said...

I think Chicago can rebound from 2009, but Jay Cutler needs to get his act together in 2010, or I don't know what the Bears will do. I honestly think that the Bears have great talent somewhere in there. Check out my blog-cowboys9msaul.blogspot.com

Maurizio Spagna said...

SPIRA UNA SPIRALE

…IL QUARTERBACK ,
il controllo al di sopra del gioco,
nel delirio degli schemi, il lancio, l’illuminazione.
Nello stagno delle yards,
l’anatra imprendibile corre verso il suo destino con il suo difficile compito…


Uuhhhh,

Lontano dal corpo difeso
Tendevo le ali del lancio
E la visione ripresa nei lacci
provocava le yards ostinate.
Lontano sul campo appreso
Lo schema rispondeva al delirio
E chiudendo gli occhi
Sospiravo il lancio nel buio.
Allato del mio simile accline
Chiamavo i passaggi di corse
Fino alla fine del tunnel
Ancora e ancora di man forte.
Ma è per muschio e maschio
Che leggenda del greve sibilo
L’anatra ferita a volte
Sussurra un volo pregiato
E libera…
Spira una spirale
Per vedere in quante mete
E’ rimasto il suo pelame alato.

Uuhhhh.


“Quarterback vincenti
Della NFL
E del SUPER BOWL”

2009
Ben Roethlisberger
(Pittsburgh Steelers)
2008
Eli Manning
(New York Giants)
2007
Peyton Manning
(Indianapolis Colts)
2006
Ben Roethlisberger
(Pittsburgh Steelers)
2005
Tom Brady
(New England Patriots)
2004
Tom Brady
(New England Patriots)


Da “Uomini da Slam”
di Maurizio Spagna
www.ilrotoversi.com
info@ilrotoversi.com
L’ideatore
paroliere, scrittore e poeta al leggìo-

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