National Football League

Cutler: Scrutiny all part of the job

Published Nov. 25, 2009 10:33 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jay Cutler's struggles the last two weeks have the critics howling, the theorists postulating and the scrutiny on the Chicago Bears quarterback more intense than ever. Is it mechanics? Is it mental? Is his confidence waning? Is he gun-shy because of his NFL-high 18 interceptions this season? Cutler threw five INTs two games ago against the 49ers. And on Sunday the strong-armed Cutler was erratic, overthrowing and underthrowing receivers as the Bears fell to the Eagles, their fifth loss in six games. "I haven't played up to my expectations. I think that's the most important part. I can play better. I know that," Cutler said Wednesday. "It's a process, though. I think everyone in the offense knows what we're trying to get done. We're dressing young guys. We've got some new guys and we're still trying to jell a little bit. It's going to come, though." As the message boards hum, Cutler said he knew he would be the center of attention for a team that has long been searching for a franchise quarterback. He was traded from Denver after a messy split with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. Kyle Orton, two first-round picks and a third-rounder were sent to Denver in the deal. "That's how it goes. When they made the trade, we knew it was going to happen," Cutler said. "They gave away a lot to get me here. Expectations were high, so it's something that comes with the territory, especially in a big market like Chicago with the fan base and how excited everyone was. It's nothing that I wasn't prepared for or didn't see coming." Cutler was the toast of the town after the Bears started 3-1. He got a two-year contract extension in October that runs through 2013 in a deal that included approximately $30 million in new money. But now it's all started to unravel. And to make things even more difficult, Cutler must find a way to improve in the toughest of settings - in the Metrodome against the Vikings (9-1), their aggressive defense and Brett Favre. Favre, as Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb did Sunday after Philadelphia beat the Bears, said Cutler will be OK and that all quarterbacks go through travails like what he's currently facing. "For Jay I know the expectation level obviously was high, as it would have been high in Denver," Favre said. "It comes with a lot of extra baggage, being the star quarterback. I'm sure he felt the pressure, as well all should at that position, to put up big plays, good numbers, but more importantly wins. You try to do too much. ... He'll be fine and I know he knows that." Cutler is playing behind an offensive line that's been ineffective at times. And the Bears running game has been stuck for most of the season. Matt Forte, who rushed for 1,238 yards as a rookie a year ago, has managed 516 so far. The receivers, with kick returner Devin Hester still developing and with young players like Earl Bennett and rookie Johnny Knox, are also a work in progress. Tight end Greg Olsen caught three TD passes against the Cardinals in a loss three weeks ago and has 40 receptions, tied for third best on the team. Olsen, Hester and Knox broke free Sunday night but Cutler overthrew all of them during a 24-for-43, 171-yard outing that ended with him throwing another INT. How do the Bears get Cutler back to the form he showed earlier in the season? "Keep doing what he believes in," said offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who's also a target of critics. "It's no different than a baseball player who is in a hitting slump. They go four or five games without hitting anything and all of a sudden they make contact and take off. "It's the same thing. He's done a lot of good things and we'll build on those. We all have a lot of confidence in him." Favre, known for his gunslinger approach especially earlier in his career, said he understands what Cutler is trying to do. "I know that Jay and the coaching staff and the fans there in Chicago would say, 'Yeah, I wish I had this play back or that play,"' Favre said. "But it's the next play and he makes a tremendous play and you go 'that's why we got him.' You have to be willing to keep shooting it. ... I don't think it's a bad thing to want to put it all on your shoulders and I know that's what he's thinking."