From ESPN:
Jay Cutler is the highest-paid quarterback this season, and Brian Urlacher says that's the only thing elite about his former teammate."Financially, he is one of the elite guys in the NFL. ... He just hasn't produced like an elite quarterback," Urlacher said.
"You look at the Bradys, the Mannings, the Rodgers, the Brees, those guys win every year, even with no one around them," Urlacher said. "[Aaron] Rodgers has no offensive line. He wins. [Tom] Brady has no receivers. He wins.
"And you look at Jay. He's got Brandon [Marshall], Alshon [Jeffery], Matt [Forte], this great offensive line, Martellus Bennett, and they can't seem to put it together, for some reason. I'm not sure if that's his fault, but for some reason, they just can't figure it out."
Cutler has thrown for 14 touchdowns with 7 interceptions this season with all of the picks coming in the Bears' four losses. He has just one turnover (a fumble in a Week 3 win over the Jets) in the team's three victories.
Urlacher was a long time leader on the Pears and he was a staunch supporter of Jeff Cutler but he's right. Cutler hasn't produced. He has weapons around him but he isn't getting it done and isn't living up to his salary.
He also makes a great point about how elite QBs (e.g., Rodgers, Brady, Mannings) make up for their teams shortcomings and find ways to lead their teams to wins.
Equally at fault with the Pears is Trestman. He was supposed to be a QB/offensive guru and he hasn't elevated Cutler's game. With Marshall's outburst after the last game (and I don't think it was entirely unwarranted), Trestman is on the brink of losing the team if he hasn't done so already. He may be in over his head taking on a storied franchise in a big market with big heads and big expectations.
Bottom line is Cutler better improve or it will only get uglier in Chi-town. You can bet talk radio is going nuts over there with Cutler and Trestman. Urlacher just added fuel to the fire.
2 comments:
I am not really impressed with Cutler. He is an above average QB and sure he makes some impressive throws, but he is not a team player. He seems like the type that doesn't care about a loss as long as he is getting paid his chunk which is $22.5 mil. That is rough equivalent to Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte, and Lance Briggs salary combined. His demeanor and the way he carries himself just doesn't fit the traits of a leader as the QB is supposed to be. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that anyone would want to take a hit for. The guy has immense talent and a rocket arm and they will win some games but as long as he is the bears qb, they wont win anything significant. Last year Cutler was injured for a big part of the year. That McCown guy was playing QB at such a high level. Had Trestman kept McCown as the starter instead of Cutler, they probably would have been in the playoffs instead of Green Bay.
In a way he does remind me of Jeff George.
He is Jeff George reincarnated.
Big arm. Thinks he is better than he is. Appears indifferent in losses.
I think he has shown he toughness and I think he cares but he is polarizing.
He certainly hasn't played at the level to earn/justify his pay.
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