Chicago Bears

Why the Bears should NOT consider trading Jay Cutler

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Plenty have argued for the trade of polarizing Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, but that’s not the right move.

If you visit Twitter and search “Jay Cutler,” you’re probably in for a wild ride. You’ll probably find a couple tweets from fans calling for the quarterback’s head, a couple columns talking about how he should be traded, and maybe one or two people coming to his defense.

Just recently, the Daily Herald’s Mike North wrote a column expressing his opinion that now would be a good time for the Bears to shop Cutler. He makes some very valid points, but are we really sure this is the correct move for a team that is sure to struggle in 2016, regardless of who is under center? I’m not.

First off, the Chicago Bears have much more to worry about this season than their quarterback. For the season opener in ten days against the Houston Texans, the Bears are reportedly going to be without their top three cornerbacks, leaving a gaping hole in the secondary. DeAndre Hopkins is foaming at the mouth.

They also have a brand new offensive coordinator, no more Matt Forte, and they’ve already lost their starting center for the season to a torn ACL. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

Stable isn’t exactly a word that most Bears fans would use to describe Cutler, but in comparison to the rest of the Bears roster, it’s a necessary description. Cutler now has two straight season of 3,600+ yards and 21+ touchdowns. While those stats may be the result of the Bears playing from behind the majority of the time the past two seasons, it’s at the very least comforting that he’s capable.

Cutler has also continually been the bigger man in the face of criticism from former teammates. Shortly after his departure, former Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall claimed he was the only one who could keep Cutler accountable. Cutler then took the high road.

Oct 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA;Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) fist bumps Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) as Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) looks on after a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Then just about a month ago another former Bear, Martellus Bennett, ripped Cutler saying he’s the “worst quarterback in the NFL.” Yet again, Cutler didn’t create a stir.

Call him a wuss for not lashing back at either player, but Cutler has not taken the bait and has kept the focus on the team. Current Bears wide receiver Kevin White however did come to Cutler’s defense in Sports Illustrated, saying, “And it’s just not true at all. None of it. Jay is like the pretty girl that doesn’t wear makeup and doesn’t go out, so nobody really know that she’s pretty.”

Interesting comparison, Kevin. That right there should tell you that at the very least the current players believe in Jay Cutler.

Speaking of Kevin White, he’s entering what will be his first season playing in the NFL. Let me ask you Bears fans, do you want a new quarterback to start for the Bears, learn and adjust to a new system and mesh with his receivers? I would stick with the guy who has been around the team for years.

So let’s call Jay Cutler what he is, average. For the Bears in 2016, that’s okay. Oh, and by the way: Last year we saw a very average (based only on 2015) quarterback lead his team to a Super Bowl victory …

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