The Chicago Bears Solution to the Jay Cutler Crisis
By Wes Booth
The Chicago Bears find themselves in a precarious situation. With Jay Cutler set to return in the coming weeks and Brian Hoyer filling in nicely, where does Jay fit?
Fans in Chicago, rejoice! The solution is here for your Cutler crisis. It won’t be easy and it may take several years to mould a contender out of your franchise, but the wins will come.
1985, the year that is practically engrained in each and every Bears fan. An iconic defense and team that the league has rarely seen before and since. Yes there have been some close to replicating this powerful juggernaut, but the jury is and always has been out on the ’85 Bears claiming top spot.
31 years, the amount of time it’s been since that magical season. A lifetime for some. Exceptional success, is a distant memory and something the entire population of Bears fandom thrive to witness once again. In order for this to happen the front office must do away with the poisonous cancer that is Jay Cutler.
The 33-year-old quarterback is coming off a thumb injury and is slated to return as a backup once healed. Labelled by many as “Smoking Jay” a complete contradiction of his true personality. Ex teammates from all positions have confirmed these claims, proving the naysayers right.
Mediocre stats with an urge to always blow the game, the team has been ready for his departure for quite some time. It would be shock to little if he was out of a job by Christmas.
Once they dispose of Jay and his dreaded contract they will be able to free up funds to hunt some O-line protection. Whether it be free agency or the upcoming few draft classes, the opportunity is now to make a change.
While most football pundits will look towards the projected star quarterback prospects of the upcoming 2017 draft. The problem with this theory is the fact that a sack filled, QB hurried season absolutely demoralizes a rookie. Time and time again we see rookie quarterbacks be selected as a starter and proceed to be slaughtered in their inaugural season. Lack of protection the main ingredient in almost every situation.
The potential in the upcoming draft is fairly decent when it comes to the field general position. There seems to be no shortage of talent, so the needs of several different teams could be met. Starved for more than a franchise quarterback, the Bears smartest decision would be to hold off until 2018 and look to other deficiencies.
The cupboards are far from bare as well, with rookies ready to take over in the locker room and on the field. Though riddled by injuries early on in his career, Kevin White should be a future pro bowl wide receiver for the team. Jordan Howard and Jeremy Langford have both stepped up huge in the absence of Matt Forte. On defence, Leonard Floyd will be the corner piece for years to come.
A severe lack of passion and overall desire to win is what’s lacking in the quarterback of this team, not the other 50+ athletes. It is absolutely crucial that the front office and scouting staff not overlook the imminent need to protect their stars. What better way than to draft O-line.
A team that can prove this theory right so far in their 2016 campaign, the Dallas Cowboys. They lost their version of Cutler in Romo, yet are 3-1 with a 5th round rookie as their starter. Due to their intelligent drafting of athletic powerhouses for their line in the last 5 years, they have enough protection for any QB to succeed. A winning recipe for a faltering franchise.
All in all, the time is now for the Chicago Bears to end the drama that is the one and only, Jay Cutler. Put faith in Hoyer for the time being and prosper in the upcoming draft classes. The fruits of that labour much more delicious than the unavoidable pungent taste of defeat year after year with Cutler.