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Jay Cutler is known for being a standout quarterback in his days playing for the Denver Broncos. He might be even better known for being what seems to be a bust for the Chicago Bears.
If he doesn't straighten up soon, Cutler's stay in Denver will be forgotten and he'll be remembered for his days in the windy city.
But should Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo keep Cutler in the organization? Should they give him the boot?
No.
Although Cutler hasn't shown the Bear's fanbase that he was worth the two first-round picks and third-round pick that were given up for him, fans shouldn't jump ship quite yet.
Let's hope his third year is a charm.
Not all the blame should be pushed onto Cutler though, one player can't take the heat for the entire team's play.
Cutler is a very mobile quarterback and proved so later in the season when he had finally given up on his offensive line. He rushed for a career-high 232 yards last season including 53 yards in the postseason, along with two touchdowns.
Compare that to the offensive line that he had in Denver, and one can see why Cutler hasn't been able to show Chicago his true potential—he spends too much time on the ground or throwing erratic passes. This past season, Cutler was sacked one more time than he had been in the three years that he stayed in Denver.
The group of receivers that Cutler had in Denver was much better than the ones that he plays with in Chicago. Brandon Marshall, Rod Smith, Javon Walker and Brandon Stokley were among the receivers he played with.
Who does he have in Chicago?
Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester would be considered the "best" in Chicago, but it would be unlikely that they'd start on any other team or even be the No. 2 receiver.
Chicago's wideouts also lack height. Earl Bennett is the tallest one at an even six feet.
What does this mean?
Jay Cutler will often overshoot the wideout leading to an incompletion or even an interception. Rushed passes or bad throws could easily go over their head and into the defensive backs hands.
Take Devin Hester for example, he came into the league as a special teams specialist/cornerback. What position does he play now? Wide receiver.
During his time as a Miami Hurricane, Hester caught only five passes. He only saw the field during trick plays.
Earl Bennett and Jay Cutler played college ball together at Vanderbilt and one can see the chemistry they have on the field. Bennett should be the No. 1 receiver and a keeper if the free agency ever calls his name to another team.
While Johnny Knox has been a big play threat on the deep ball and has a good return game, his receiving mechanics can sometimes lead to Cutler's interceptions. He'll often run behind the cornerback, immediately giving the CB the advantage to catch the ball first.
The Bears need a height upgrade at the WR position and should look to draft one come April. Or should they take a risk and sign Randy Moss?
Of course, Cutler is still going to have that monkey on his back and will always be reminded of how he "quit" during the NFC Championship game. For the naive ones, he was taken out by the medical staff and remained on the sidelines because of the injury.
That's where the argument should end as well. No claims about his manhood or heart for the game—it's over now.
The Bear's don't have a good enough backup at the QB spot anyways to throw Cutler overboard. We've seen just what Todd Collins can do under center, would Chicago fans rather have that then Cutler?
Caleb Hanie showed a bit of spark in the NFC Championship game, but fans shouldn't jump on his bandwagon yet. He's young and prone to mistakes. He'll only come onto the scene due to injury.
The point here is that the Bears have a very talented quarterback in their organization—they wouldn't have sacrificed three top picks and their quarterback for a scrub.
Chicago has many places to improve that will benefit both their team and Jay Cutler. With a better offensive line, he won't be sacked as much and will have more time in the pocket. Smarter decisions will be made and he'll spend less time on the ground or walking off the field with an injury.
Taller receivers and more experienced receivers wouldn't be such a bad thing to have either.
Only time will tell to see what Cutler folds out to be, but at this moment, it's far to early to make him walk the plank and be traded to another team.
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