Cutler

[Smidgeon]

I love articles like this, the ones with extra insight into what happens behind the scenes.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2580349-why-i-drafted-jay-cutler-and-what-happened-from-there

[mraynrand]

article makes Cutler look like a victim of circumstances.

[sharpe1027]

Good read. Assuming the narrative is true, Cutler deserves some of the blame for not continuing to improve after moving to the Bears. It seems a bit biased toward Denver's program under Shanahan. For example, a blanket statement that his regression was partly due to Chicago having no interest in developing a QB? Really? The coaches didn't bother working to improve his game because they weren't interested in a project?

[denverYooper]

He should have known that Chicago is where QBs go to die.

[denverYooper]

He fell victim to one of the classic blunders!

The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly well-known is this: Chicago is where QBs go to die!

[Fritz]

Almost makes you feel bad for Cutler.

Almost.

[run pMc]

I'd feel bad for Cutler if he went somewhere besides Chicago. Or Detroit. I thought that was where QBs went to die, but thinking about it, Chicago or Cleveland might be even worse.

[pbmax]

I'd feel bad for Cutler if he went somewhere besides Chicago. Or Detroit. I thought that was where QBs went to die, but thinking about it, Chicago or Cleveland might be even worse.

It used to be that Cleveland was good at developing QBs, better than Green Bay until Favre and Rodgers. Everything else was often a tire fire, but they did have somewhat unexpected QB success for a long time. Kinda like Purdue.

Now they are lucky if they just contract MRSA instead of Ebola.

[wootah]

Very good read, thanks for sharing.

Cutler @Denver was fun to watch, especially that rivalry with Rivers.

[Guiness]

The paragraph about McDaniels was interesting. Talking about tire fires, wow, was he ever one. I remember him bringing in a ridiculous number of FAs his first year. Wikipedia tells me 13, but I think it was even more because some of the UFA he brought in and gave a signing bonus to were cut during camp! After getting fired by Denver, he went to St-Louis, where it was announced he'd have no hand in personnel decisions, lol

The article is missing a pretty important part of the events/timeline from Cutler's exit from Denver, the episode with NE. McDaniels tried to get Cassel and the story broke, angering Cutler. Was that before or after the conversation between him, McDaniels and Cook that is recounted in the article? I'd guess before.

[Patler]

The article smacks of a guy justifying his significant investment in a QB who has proven himself unworthy of that investment.

I'm not sure who was duped worst:
Denver in trading up to draft him.
Chicago in trading to get him.
Chicago in signing him to a new contract.

We have another thread discussing Percy Harvin. It amazes me that guys like Cutler and Harvin keep getting the benefit of the doubt. Teams continue to invest significantly in them, and they continually fail to deliver. Yet, many are willing to make excuse after excuse for them. Then there are others who do deliver, but in a less flashy way, and fail to land the big reward.

[sharpe1027]

The article smacks of a guy justifying his significant investment in a QB who has proven himself unworthy of that investment.

I'm not sure who was duped worst:
Denver in trading up to draft him.
Chicago in trading to get him.
Chicago in signing him to a new contract.

We have another thread discussing Percy Harvin. It amazes me that guys like Cutler and Harvin keep getting the benefit of the doubt. Teams continue to invest significantly in them, and they continually fail to deliver. Yet, many are willing to make excuse after excuse for them. Then there are others who do deliver, but in a less flashy way, and fail to land the big reward.

Agreed on the tone of the article.

Even if you say Denver's trade up in the first round was a waste, they got enough from the Bears trade to cushion the blow. In total, Denver got a few decent years out of Cutler, then they got two first rounds picks, a third, and Orton (they also gave up a fifth rounder). Not too shabby of a return on their investment.

[Fritz]

It's about potential. Guys that seem to have the possibility of being a few cuts above the rest will get extra money and extra chances, over and over again - even in the face of evidence that they may have topped out. Oftentimes our perceptions formed previously are so strong that it's nearly impossible to change them. We've seen this over the years on this board, with people's perceptions of Ted Thompson (his reluctance to trade up, ever, to sign FA's at all, to take risks) and of Nick Perry.

I agree that it amazes, yet it's the way people seem to be wired. I think the same thing is happening in Detroit. People are still saying that Matt Stafford can get much better, that it's the coaching, or that it's the coaching carousel, or it's the offensive line. There is a perception that he still has potential that can be developed. If the Lions finish out the season on an okay note, and if they begin better next year, I would not be surprised to see Detroit re-up Stafford to a big extension.

Me, I see a guy who is in his seventh year now. He is what he is. Strong-armed, willing, but lacking in just that little oomph of attitude the great ones all have, lacking the ability to read defenses well, and maybe getting a bit gunshy, too

[mraynrand]

Cutler may have some flaws, maybe even fatal flaws, but he is every bit the franchise QB phenotype. The Dude really has it all, and Chicago was totally hurting without him in there. He looked pretty good against the Packers, and it took a good risk by Matthews to derail him.

Did any of you see that game against KC? Cutler was amazing in that game - avoiding the rush and dropping passes in the bucket in the second half. He won that game, straight up plain and simple.

I think there's something screwy there, a funny head-case thing, but for 80-95% of the time, Cutler is franchise QB, pro bowl material.

Fritz - yeah, there's a lot similar with Stafford, except that Cutler is a cut above Stafford in all the elements, except the head case thing. Stafford has a breakdown in mechanics that kills him, but I don't where that comes from.

[mraynrand]

If I had to compare Favre and Cutler, it would be their reaction to poor protection. Favre would be all like "Screw this, I'm gonna make a play!!" and maybe run around like a chicken, throw some great throws and TDs and maybe have a rash of INTs, but Cutler would be "Screw them, I'm gonna just chuck it up there anyway" and throw mostly picks, then walk off the field 'injured' because 'what's the point.' Just a difference in attitude and response to adversity, I think.