Bears re-sign Jay Cutler - 7 years, $126 million with $54M guaranteed

[BritPat]

Breaking news all over the place. They've also re-upped Tim Jennings for four years.

 

[nabwong]

Re: OT: Bears resign Cutler for 7 years

Breaking news indeed. Bears just broke their playoff chances for the next 7 years. The NFC north must be loving this news.

 

[Big-T]

It's like they're trying to not win anything!

Wouldn't be shocked at all if it's ridiculous money of Flacco levels too.

 

[BritPat]

It's like they're trying to not win anything!

Wouldn't be shocked at all if it's ridiculous money of Flacco levels too.

I've just said elsewhere that in reality it's likely for something akin to 3 years with decent guaranteed $$. Those are the main numbers to look for anyway.

 

[patsinthesnow]

-No starting QBs in free agency
-Potentially two new patriot HCs in mcdaniels and obrien.

It's now or never to trade mallett.

 

[varjao]

It's still a better move than signing Romo for 6 years.

 

[Rob0729]

 

[everlong]

Another 7 years of torture for Bears fans with Jay "Romo" Cutler.

 

[jmt57]

Chicago was in a difficult position.

What exactly were their options if they did not retain Cutler?

Go with another soon to be free agent.
Consider who else is available: Michael Vick, Josh Freeman, Chad Henne, Matt Flynn, Kellen Clemens, Josh McCown. Seems like any of those choices are all downgrades of various degrees.

Go with a draft pick.
The Bears have the 14th overall pick, and right now there may be as many as seven teams picking ahead of them that may be looking to draft a quarterback. Meanwhile there are probably only four players that most are considering of being worth drafting in the first round.

Trade up for an earlier draft pick.
Now you're really rolling the dice by not only using a first round pick on an unknown commodity, but also giving away extra selection(s) to do so. And that's before considering all their other free agents to be that might not be re-signed, and will need to be replaced.

 

[BritPat]

Reports are that the deal has a guaranteed figure of $50M-$55M for the first three years.

The Bears have also re-signed Matt Slauson (who I was interested in as an FA) and Tim Jennings, both for four years.

 

[JackBauer]

I know finding a franchise QB is extremely difficult, but I really don't think teams like the Ravens or Bears are doing themselves any favors by throwing money and years at mediocre quarterbacks like Flacco and Cutler.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Chicago was in a difficult position.

What exactly were their options if they did not retain Cutler?

Go with another soon to be free agent.
Consider who else is available: Michael Vick, Josh Freeman, Chad Henne, Matt Flynn, Kellen Clemens, Josh McCown. Seems like any of those choices are all downgrades of various degrees.

Go with a draft pick.
The Bears have the 14th overall pick, and right now there may be as many as seven teams picking ahead of them that may be looking to draft a quarterback. Meanwhile there are probably only four players that most are considering of being worth drafting in the first round.

Trade up for an earlier draft pick.
Now you're really rolling the dice by not only using a first round pick on an unknown commodity, but also giving away extra selection(s) to do so. And that's before considering all their other free agents to be that might not be re-signed, and will need to be replaced.

The Bears may have the best RB-WR-WR trio since Faulk/Holt/Bruce. Look how they made McCown look! They could of just signed McCown cheap and use him while they develop a QB and a defense. IMO, McCown is better than Cutler in the bears system.

Johnny Football with those three would of been the greatest show on turf. The Bears guaranteed mediocrity for 7 years instead.

 

[varjao]

I don't think Cutler is that bad, I didn't watch a single Bears game this season, but I remember on the past he barely had time to throw. He needs protection and better coaching.

7 years is too much though.

Maybe he gave a discount, he's from Chicago, was a Bears fan when kid and wanted to stay.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I know finding a franchise QB is extremely difficult, but I really don't think teams like the Ravens or Bears are doing themselves any favors by throwing money and years at mediocre quarterbacks like Flacco and Cutler.

Kaepernick is next.

 

[Rob0729]

Everyone killed McDaniels for trading away Cutler, but he was right in that aspect. He is not a QB who will win you anything. Cutler is a selfish jerk who is too much like Brett Favre in terms of gunslinging without Favre's talent (well, he is like Favre in the selfish jerk part too).

I don't get why Chicago would lock this guy up like this. They would be better off letting him go and taking a chance on a rookie in the draft and using McCown for the short term. If they were smart, they structured the deal so that they can get out of the contract sooner than later.

The Ravens were forced to go with Flacco because he just won them a Super Bowl and it would have been tough to let him go in that situation. The Bears had no such reason to keep Cutler.

 

[Nikolai]

I know finding a franchise QB is extremely difficult, but I really don't think teams like the Ravens or Bears are doing themselves any favors by throwing money and years at mediocre quarterbacks like Flacco and Cutler.

I guess both teams are hoping for the "Eli effect". Mediocre during the season, but hope they catch fire in the playoffs. Flacco has shown it, and IF he can get you there, I guess there's a chance. Cutler hasn't shown anything in the regular season even.

 

[BrickPat]

Bears fans congratulations! You just re upped Jeff George Jr.

 

[ivanvamp]

Breaking news all over the place.

Sooooooooo stupid….. (signing Cutler for 7 years)

 

[Christiancat]

Deus Irae posted the following below in another thread:

Just a follow up on the Broncos thing:

Jay Cutler, years in NFL - 8
Jay Cutler, playoff appearances - 1
Jay Cutler, playoff wins - 1

Tim Tebow, years in NFL - 3
Tim Tebow, playoff appearances - 1
Tim Tebow, playoff wins - 1

Credit Deus Irae for another informative and accurate post.



The following in this paragraph is by me CC: My thoughts they would have been better off looking for another QB through the draft or free agency. If they don't want to look outside the current team than I would make McCown the starter over Cutler. Why keep a QB like Cutler who over the course of many years has done little to get the Bears into the playoffs. I mean if it hasn't worked with Cutler for this long than why not try someone new?

 

[ivanvamp]

The Bears may have the best RB-WR-WR trio since Faulk/Holt/Bruce. Look how they made McCown look! They could of just signed McCown cheap and use him while they develop a QB and a defense. IMO, McCown is better than Cutler in the bears system.

I agree. And don't forget, their defense just last year was 3rd in points allowed and 5th in yards allowed, so I don't think it would take that much to become an elite defense again.

For reference's sake, here are their 2013 numbers:

Cutler: 11 GS, 224-355 (63.1%), 2621 yds, 19 td, 12 int, 7.4 ypa, 89.2 rating
McCown: 5 GS, 149-224 (66.5%, 1829 yds, 13 td, 1 int, 8.2 ypa, 109.0 rating

Johnny Football with those three would of been the greatest show on turf. The Bears guaranteed mediocrity for 7 years instead.

Holy cow that would be so fun to watch.