It's no sin to reserve judgment on Jay Cutler

Dear Mr. Morrisey:

You sound so defensive. Angelo's gamble was just that. There is risk-reward in evrything we do and the trade is no different. The way I see it, Cutler is a much safer asset than either of the two first round picks would have been and you can add some significant multiple if the Bears were to have chaosen a QB with either of them.

Before, we christen Dungy, let's remember that he didn't win the Super Bowl until his team hit the bottom and was able to get the first pick in the draft. They chose Peyton Manning (not to be confused with Eli, who showed very similar maturity issues when he was drafted). Also remember, Angelo was along for the ride with Dungy and so knows that winning a Spuer Bowl without a top-notch QB is very, very tough.

As we have all learned from the stock market crash, you can lose a lot when you take risks. But I wonder if those who have been investing in the market for years would have preferred getting 1.5% from a savings account all those years.

Me, I want a Super Bowl and Orton wasn't going to get us there. If Cutler falls on his face, the Bears will suck and maybe we will then get the pick that made Dungy such a genius.

Dalai Lama is a serflord, you idiot.

I was skeptical of the trade too. A lot to give up for one player. But then I asked myself, what would we have gotten with what we gave up. Probably a wide receiver that may or may not have helped us. Probably an O-lineman in the draft instead of Pace in free agency. Then next year we may still be looking at QB in the first or perhaps another wide receiver or help at defense. None of which would be tested or proven the way Cutler is. He may have a fragile ego but he has a canon for an arm, can make all the throws and is as solid or more solid than than any risk we may have grabbed in the draft. Draft a potential pro-bowler/potential bust or trade for someone with pro-bowler on his resume. Easy choice.

I'm not sure I'd put Cutler's "poor play in the final three games last season" solely on his doorstep. He had no defense and no running game. No QB, no matter how talented they are or how much leadership they possess, is going to win in that situation. Cutler knows that, which, I think, is the REAL reason he wanted out of Denver.

takdan wrote:

Dear Mr. Morrisey:
You sound so defensive. Angelo's gamble was just that. There is risk-reward in evrything we do and the trade is no different. The way I see it, Cutler is a much safer asset than either of the two first round picks would have been and you can add some significant multiple if the Bears were to have chaosen a QB with either of them.
Before, we christen Dungy, let's remember that he didn't win the Super Bowl until his team hit the bottom and was able to get the first pick in the draft. They chose Peyton Manning (not to be confused with Eli, who showed very similar maturity issues when he was drafted). Also remember, Angelo was along for the ride with Dungy and so knows that winning a Spuer Bowl without a top-notch QB is very, very tough.
As we have all learned from the stock market crash, you can lose a lot when you take risks. But I wonder if those who have been investing in the market for years would have preferred getting 1.5% from a savings account all those years.
Me, I want a Super Bowl and Orton wasn't going to get us there. If Cutler falls on his face, the Bears will suck and maybe we will then get the pick that made Dungy such a genius.

i agree with your point but Jim Mora sr. was the coach of the colts when they drafted peyton manning.

great post takdan!.... Ho Chi Minh City? International fan!

I feel like such a lemming getting sucked into Morrissey's pessimism. Yes, Morrissey, I know, even negative attention still is attention. It's how you make your money.
I pose one question to the more rational of the Bear's Nation. Answer me this: Morrissey projects 10 wins. Last year's Bears won 9 and quite likely should have won 11. We now have a MUCH more stabilized O-line. Some youth that is a year older and presumably better. And yes, we have Jay. To suggest that replacing caretaker Kyle (2972 yards, 58.5%, 18-12) with Cutler (4526, 62.3, 25-18) doesn't win us more than one game is beyond questionable. Enough of the hate Morrissey, it obscures what might be some decent football acumen. Go Bears!

So I'd rather have a guy who stands up for himself than one who's daddy won't let him play for a certain coach. I look at it this way, there's a guy who wanted to get out of a bad situation, lost his coach, had no running game and no defensive support, the organization is a mess, and the new coach doesn't quite know what he wants to build around. I'm sure his agent had some recommendations on how to get out of the situation. He wanted to be a Bear, that's no secret, he seized the opportunity. Why not look at it like that? Makes just as much, or more sense than simply being "immature."

ok so Cutler is 26 years old and has all the physical gifts a QB needs to succeed. first of all from what I have read, Cutler was lied to by his 32 year old interm coach and found out about it from the media. I think most in Cutler's position would be miffed too. as far as Dungy's "Leadership-Maturity " knock on Cutler, how long did it take Peyton Manning to "Lead/Mature" his way to a Super Bowl win? Let the 26 year old make his mistakes, winning solves most things.

The Elway example is the very definition of someone being "coddled" (go look it up, Rick)...
"That coach is too mean for my boy - I want to get him into a nicer situation."

As for Dungy - nice to know someone who got to coach Peyton Manning is now being critical of another team trying to get their own version of Manning!

I always enjoy reading Rick's column but sometimes I wonder if he's a bit too "preoccupied with himself." Living in Nashville and having watched four years (not three) of Jay Cutler at my alma mater, what I saw was a young man who was intensely devoted to his team, a young man with budding leadership qualities. He could have skipped his senior year and gone to the NFL but he was devoted to his teammates and wanted to better himself and his position in the draft. And he earned it too.

Now he's playing for his childhood team, where he wanted to play all along. Let's give this young man a chance, I think we'll all be surprised with the results.

C'mon Rick the guy was all forgiving of Michael Vick but Cutler, who has a clean record, has "maturity" issues. I like Dungy, but I wouldn't read too much into it. Besides, the first time you panned this trade it was right after you insisted they should go after T.O., the poster child of "maturity" issues, so why don't you make up your mind?

You are so annoying.

What's your point, dumbass? You sports hacks bitch and moan about everything. The man hasn't even played a down for the Bears yet and you're doing everything you can to make him feel like he doesn't want to. Nobody's perfect and they don't need to be unless they want to escape your judgmental crap of a column.

Dungy is right. The Bears took a big risk when they aquired Cutler in exchange for those draft picks, and no one knows if he'll be able to get us over the hump, but the excitement generated by that daring act is all this Bears fan needed to anticipate the upcoming season like a perfectly grilled full pound prime rib pipin' hot off the grill. I don't give a damn about what Dungy had to say or whatever happened in Denver. The only thing that matters is what the young Pro Bowl Qb does in Chicago from here on out. Period.

Morissey's down on cutler. Morrissey's down on orton. Morrissey's down on lovy. Morrissey's down on angelo. Morrisey's up on......?

I don't know how you expected Cutler to react in Denver. As a still very young quarterback, he has a pro bowl year. A new coach is brought in and looks to trade Cutler because he thinks he can find a better option. By the way, we're not talking about the better option being Johnny Unitas, for pete's sake. Why would you think Cutler could trust his new coach to support him and why would you think Cutler should be loyal to the Denver organization when they were clearly telling him "we don't think you're the right guy to lead us." As a young, star player with a lot of leverage, he reacted about like most would; "If you don't like my play, trade me to someone who does." I don't see anything wrong with that.

Morissey, you are one of the most unperceptive writers I've ever read. I think they pay you to press hot buttons 'cause your mind is so shallow.

Let me help you, clueless: Dungy's good buddy is McDaniel, who already has a rep as an idiot around the league, and Dungy wants to help is buddy.

McDaniel is only seven years older than Cutler. His first week as coach, he announced he wanted to trade for Matt Cassel.

Still with me?

When Cutler, uninformed, protested, coward and Fur Coat Moron and Bronco Owner Bowlen spinelessly did not jump to Cutler's defense, then pretended Jay should've opened his mouth wide, taken a big bite of manure, then chew and swallow. Willingly give up his starting job.

Rick, is your urine red?

Dungy is trying to get credibility, following his retirement as coach, for his new job as network broadcaster. That's why he took a dig at the QB hired by his friend Lovie Smith. All the already-whining people thinking Dungy would be a boring pushover, maybe now think he'll have some guts on the air.

We'll see.

I'm surprised you're this dense, Rick. Slow day without wits?

Please retire. I could write better coverage than you from my home in Colorado.

New coach is looking to replace you after you just went to the pro bowl in your second year? Yeah I'd be pissed and want out too.

This is unbelievable. I was/am an Orton fan but Orton is/was no Cutler. Cutler would have to fall below "flat on his face" (if that's possile) for this to be a flop trade for the Bears. Even if he somehow becomes a "caretaker QB" (CTQG), his arm strength alone makes him a better CTQB than Orton. He should make the receivers better and the running game should make him and receiving game better. Super-bowl or no,the Bears should be a significantly improved team this year. The improved offense should make the defense better - keep em off the field longer, more rested.