Trestman On Cutler Benching: 'Need A Lift At Quarterback'
(CBS) In explaining why he's chosen to bench big-money quarterback Jay Cutler in favor of the unproven Jimmy Clausen, Bears coach Marc Trestman said Thursday he felt the move was "in the best interests of our football team."
"We need a lift at quarterback, we need a spark," Trestman said.
"We're not playing well enough at the quarterback position."
Cutler has a passer rating of 89.5 this season, but he leads the NFL with 24 turnovers and has been inconsistent in directing a Bears offense that has underachieved and not topped 28 points in a game. Many of his solid counting numbers (28 touchdowns, 3,640 passing yards) were accumulated because of Chicago's pass-happy offense and/or in garbage time.
The Bears are 5-9 this season.
Less than two weeks ago, Trestman supported Cutler as the starter, saying, "There's been no (indecision) there whatsoever" in considering a change. Asked Thursday what changed, Trestman was succinct.
"I changed my mind," Trestman said. "I think this is in the best interest of the team."
Trestman made it clear that the decision to change quarterbacks was his -- not the front office's -- and that it was "performance-based only." Clausen is playing "for this week" against the Lions, Trestman said, adding he hasn't thought about Week 17 yet.
Pressed about Cutler, Trestman said, "Jay's not at a good point."
"Every quarterback's on their own journey," Trestman said. "And some people go through these times. There's clearly evidence historically of players who are 30, 31 years old and haven't reached their potential, and by the time they conclude their career, they have.
"He's not playing as well as he can play. I've said that starts with me. That's an accountability issue with all of us as a team ... That's why we made the decision for this moment."
Cutler said he was "shocked" and "disappointed" by his benching, but in a nearly 14-minute press conference at Halas Hall, he otherwise took his demotion as well as he could.
Asked if he could play for Trestman next season, Cutler responded "yes" -- though he added they'd have to "work on things." He admitted the thought of his Bears tenure being over has "crossed my mind for sure" but was clear that his preference is to remain in Chicago.
"I would like to stay here," Cutler said. "I really like it here. I love the guys in the locker room that I get to play with. Clearly, it's different circumstances now, but going forward, this is where I'd like to be."
Like that of the coaching staff, Cutler's future with the Bears is cloudy, as he's owed $15.5 million for 2015 and would have $10 million of the $16 million that he's owed for 2016 kick in on March 12, meaning the Bears have much to ponder in the next three months.
"I'd rather get paid less and get to play on Sunday and play at a high level," Cutler said. "That's not possible right now.
"At the end of the day, I want to play better. I wish I would've played better, and maybe we wouldn't be in this situation."
As for Clausen, he's appeared in three games for the Bears this season, going 3-for-9 for 42 yards. He last started a game when he was a rookie with the Carolina Panthers in 2010, but he had little success then, going 1-9 in his starting stint. He struggled mightily that season, completing 52.5 percent of his passes while throwing three touchdowns against nine interceptions.