Former Bears GM Angelo Says Cutler Has 'A Lack Of Poise'
(CBS) Former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was bullish enough on quarterback Jay Cutler to bring him to Chicago in a 2009 trade from Denver, but he was more pointed in his criticism of the signal-caller in an article published Monday.
In grading every quarterback's play from the 2013 season for The Sideline View, Angelo rated Cutler in the third tier of NFL quarterbacks, along with Matt Ryan, Matt Stafford and Tony Romo. Here's what Angelo wrote about Cutler:
"Has all the physical tools, but inconsistent in the clutch," Angelo wrote on The Sideline View. "Mostly due to a lack of poise. He's not comfortable reading defenses and consequently locks onto a favorite or pre-determined target, that may or may not be the right choice. The less he's asked to see the better he is. A better half field general, than a full field one."
Angelo graded Cutler at 7.9, while Peyton Manning was tops at 9.0. Cutler's rank was 15th of the 32 starting quarterbacks for Angelo. Cutler threw for 2,621 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season, with a quarterback rating of 89.2.
Angelo gave Bears backup quarterback Josh McCown -- who performed admirably in Cutler's absence -- a 6.4 grade.
"Had the best year of any back-up at his position," Angelo wrote. "He played consistently and without having his coaches compromising the play book to get it done. He was well schooled and efficient moving the team."
McCown is a pending free agent. Cutler signed a seven-year contract extension worth about $18 million per year in January.
Angelo was fired by the Bears in January 2012.