At age 31, Jay Cutler is experiencing something new. He had never been benched before.
With the news that the Chicago Bears replaced him as their starting quarterback for Jimmy Clausen, he has the same questions about his future with the team that everyone else has had.
“Yeah, of course. Everyone would wonder that,” Cutler said in a press conference Thursday that was broadcast on NFL Network. “That’s the natural response to wonder that. Going forward, it is what it is. Whatever happens at that point after the season, in March or whenever, we’ll cross that when we get there.”
The Bears’ offseason will be interesting, to say the least. It's safe to say that some major changes will be coming, whatever they are.
Cutler was shocked to hear he was being benched, then he was disappointed, he said. But he understood it. His $126 million contract he signed this past offseason raised the bar for his play, and he didn’t reach it.
"There’s a lot of money involved in my contract, which comes with a lot of expectations and a lot of responsibility," Cutler said. "Whenever you’re not winning and performing the way you should, there’s a likelihood that could happen."
Coach Marc Trestman answered everything vaguely on Thursday. Why was Cutler benched? Because the team needed more out of the quarterback position. What were his mistakes? Not going into that, just need more out of the quarterback position.
About as far as Trestman went to actually answering the question about his decision – and he made clear it was his decision – was to say that Cutler’s issues were “multiple.” But he still thinks Cutler can be the Bears quarterback, just not this week.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t work out,” said Trestman, who added that no decision has been made on who will be the Week 17 starter. “That’s where we are now. That doesn’t mean the process of Jay’s growth as a quarterback can’t continue and he can’t get to where we think he could be. Each quarterback is on their own journey and some people go through these times.
“There’s evidence historically, that players are 30 years old or 31 years old and haven’t reached their potential, and by the end of their career they have. Right now Jay is not at a good point, he’s not playing as well as he can play, I’ve said that starts with me.”
The list of quarterbacks who have not played at a high level consistently before age 31 who suddenly turn it on after that is incredibly short. Warren Moon had his best NFL seasons in his mid-30s, though he was great in the CFL before that. Joe Theismann and Jim Plunkett revived their careers and led Super Bowl winners in their 30s. Steve Young's work from his age 31 season and on with the 49ers is the reason he's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Cutler might follow a similar path, perhaps with the Bears.
Cutler’s contract, with $15.5 million guaranteed next year, might preclude a trade. If Cutler returns, as he said he wants to ("Going forward, this is where I’d like to be," he said), he said he could work with Trestman.
“Yes, yes," Cutler said. "I think I could. Umm .. “
At that point Cutler paused for a few seconds.
“Yeah, I definitely think I could,” Cutler continued. “We’d have to figure some things out through the offseason, which would be easy enough to identify and work on things but that’s not out of the question, in my book anyway.”
Trestman might not be around, though. There was a report earlier this week that he’s likely to be fired, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he is. Trestman’s flat tone and desire on Thursday to not answer anything specifically can lead to a lot of interpretation, and he never clearly said that general manager Phil Emery agreed with his decision to bench Cutler. He specifically mentioned multiple times that he decides which 46 players are active on Sunday, so the decision to bench Cutler was ultimately his. When he was finally asked if Emery supported it, he answered in a roundabout way, after a very long pause.
“I think that’s the way we are with each other,” Trestman said. “When we make decisions, we support it. We give our opinions, then we actively and passionately support each other with the decisions we have to make. That’s the way it’s been the last two years.”
Everyone’s future seems to be up for grabs in Chicago. When a team has bottomed out like the Bears have, going 5-9 with little offensive production, a terrible defense and plenty of drama off the field, no one should be safe. Earlier this year the team was all smiles when Cutler was signed to a huge contract that seemed to make him the Bears’ starter for seasons to come. Less than a full season later, Cutler was demoted behind Clausen.
“I want to play better,” Cutler said. “I wish I would have played better. Maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
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