Poll: Is it Finally Time to Move on From Jay Cutler?
All of Chicago rejoiced when we heard the news that the Chicago Bears had acquired quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. WMVP ESPN Radio Chicago’s Waddle and Silvy had a bit they would do welcoming guests and callers with a “happy Jay Cutler Day” greeting. Fans thought, “FINALLY! WE HAVE A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK!”
Cutler arrived in Chicago after a trade of draft picks as well as fan favorite Kyle Orton was sent to the Denver Broncos in the summer of 2009. The heavy armed gunslinger had just made his first, and only, Pro Bowl and fans thought he would immediately return the Bears to a Super Bowl contender.
He almost did just that in 2010 when Cutler led the Bears to the NFC Championship game, which the team eventually lost to their rival Green Bay Packers after Jay left the game with a sprained knee. The following season, and after taking an incredible verbal beating from fans, opposing players in social media and in sports news programs and radio shows, Cutler performed at a near MVP level. Jay had led the team to a 7-3 record, and had won five straight games when he fractured his thumb attempting to tackle Antoine Cason after he had intercepted a pass with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a game the team would eventually win 31-20. His 2,319 yards and 13 touchdowns had put him on pace to beat his career marks, and his ability to lead the Bears offense was evident through the first 10 games of the season.
This Sunday however, we saw the dramatic ups and downs that Jay Cutler can show you on any given day. He can electrify the fanbase by finding a receiver open for a long touchdown throw, then after starting a game nearly perfect he will throw a heartbreaking interception that puts the team out of a game.
“The most inopportune time, it seems frequently,” Announcer Thom Brennaman called.
Well welcome to how Bears fans feel Thom. While not all fans have written off Cutler, and he won back some fans last season out in an act of sympathy after getting thrown under the bus by a completely inadequate NFL coaching staff, he still has many haters. And those haters want him out, now.
While he stands as the greatest quarterback the Chicago Bears have ever had, his erratic play has maddened some fans to the extent of burning his jersey’s, not showing up for games (average cost of a Bears ticket is $300 including the secondary markets), and just boycotting games completely. Fans have been calling for his benching since his first game in a Bears uniform when he threw five interceptions against the Green Bay Packers, and those calls have gotten stronger and stronger since that day.
So are we there? Is it time to call it a failed experiment with Cutler? Are you finally done with the QB that doesn’t seem to care? Let me know in the comments, and vote in the poll.
Not all of Chicago. There were a few of us that were not rejoicing and knew at that time it was one of the worst trades in franchise history.
This is my last year of supporting Jay, I feel other teams come to our city as a practice session, I remember when other teams feared coming to face the Bears aggressive defense! Jay isn’t the only problem, where is our DEFENSE. Maybe its even time for new ownership, Papa Bear Hallas is rolling over in his grave knowing were the laughing stock of the NFL.. There still my Bears and I love them until the day I die..