Nov 8, 2013
If only McCown had a few weeks longer to prove his case to the Chicago Bears, many people keeping an eye on the quarterback situation in Chicago would be arguing and pleading such case for Josh to replace Cutler as starting quarterback for the Bears.
Even though it has only been a few weeks since Cutler suffered a groin injury to the hands of the Washington Redskins week seven into the 2013 season. In Cutler’s mind, he believes he will play next week against the Detroit Lions. Giving Bears fan’s a bittersweet feeling of knowing that in all likelihood the scope of their team is bound to change come season’s end.
For McCown, he seems to understand his position as back-up to Jay. “It’s a good thing,” McCown said. “There are a lot of banged up teams right now, and you want to get people back. You need people healthy, and so it’s a good thing that Jay is back and healthy and ready to go.”
Cutler’s career in Chicago began in 2009 in a midst of hype and extreme expectation, and in a roundabout way, has been able to sustain the starting position ever since despite carrying less than stellar numbers throughout his stay in Chicago. A mind-boggling statistic stands for Cutler, being that he is the first quarterback for the Bears to start five seasons in a row since Ed Brown started each season for them from 1955 to 1960. Back in those times a team found franchise quarterbacks out of necessity. Whereas today it seems to come along by less of a calling and more of a way to make ends meet season to season.
Cutler has been able to somehow lead the way for Chicago, notwithstanding the mediocre performances, on the field issues with other players and coaching staff, as well as not making the playoffs since 2010. So it goes without saying that the people within the team have put a lot of belief in Cutler, but choose to ignore the feelings amongst the fans that his stay here has been much less than fruitful.
That is where Josh McCown came in to show the franchise that Jay’s presumed talents was attainable to any person within the team, let alone the league or studly prospects that are set for professional careers following their collegiate years.
This could be good or bad news for Chicago.
With Cutler’s contract ending at the end of the 2013 season, word throughout the organization is that major changes are going to be made. This idea has been floating at large within the Bears for presumably the offseason in part for getting rid of Brian Urlacher and Lovie Smith. Jay Cutler is a free-agent regardless how well he does the rest of the season, and if the Bears make it deep into the playoffs it’s going to be even more interesting how the team reacts to their quarterback possibly jumping ship.
During last season, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a similar problem. In the end, Flacco got what him and his agent believed was justifiable compensation for his performance in the 2012 playoffs. Move forward into 2013 for the Ravens, and you can see why calculating a salary based upon a player’s last couple months is, at the least, very bewitching when it is as easy to see a player’s entire piece of work. The Bears need to act rightfully due to the circumstances they face and not act according to Cutler’s potential.
For McCown, it seems he will always be playing second-fiddle regardless his performance these last couple weeks and no matter what team he may play for in the future. Statistically for this season McCown has shown better numbers than Cutler, largely due to limited playing time. The team, however, believes strongly in moving forward with Cutler as quarterback this season. Likely because McCown’s limited performance in 2011 was a far cry from what we have seen from him this year. In retrospect, he has only thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He shows better out-of-pocket passing than Cutler, but believe it or not, Cutler shows more consistency. He shows consistency in a way that within the first few possessions you know whether or not Cutler is going to have a good or bad night.
Consensus throughout many NFL analysts is that because the NFC North has without question seen better years, the Chicago Bears are frontrunners to win the division. This gives Chicago great short-term ideals, but they show even greater long-term struggles for the team going further into the future. To date, the coach position looks to be solid with former CFL coach Marc Threstman doing an admirable job with the tools he has been given. The main concern is whether or not Cutler will return.
If history has taught any football fan anything, it is that a player you believe is replaceable will most likely be just that. The season is at its midway point and there is still no suitable answer to the crossroads Chicago finds themselves in. One thing is for certain, Cutler needs to begin playing for a cause if he wants to stay a Bear, because if the back-up quarterback can make anyone question your ability as a player, then all the blame falls upon you for allowing that to happen.
