Emma: At Long Last, Bears Have Become Jay Cutler's Team
By Chris Emma—
(CBS) Jay Cutler has been portrayed as just about everything during his NFL career -- unusable, unlikable, unable to lead. Yet, after seven years in Chicago, Cutler has become unflappable.
Make no mistake, Cutler is the Bears' quarterback moving forward. General manager Ryan Pace made that clear following an efficient 2015 season for Cutler. While the Bears struggled to the tune of 6-10 in a rebuilding year, Cutler made them better.
There's no uncertainty surrounding Cutler's future this offseason. He will be back, with a strong belief that he can lead the Bears to the playoffs in 2016.
"Jay knows we have extreme confidence in him," Pace said in Monday's season-closing press conference.
Unwavering belief has rarely been in Cutler's corner throughout his polarizing NFL career, but rather suddenly, he's been given a fresh start as a franchise quarterback, with the changes surrounding -- not involving -- him.
After two head coaches, four offensive coordinators, four quarterbacks coaches and so many teammates have come and gone, Cutler is still standing in Chicago.
"Yeah, I want to be here," Cutler said last week. "Why wouldn't I?"
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Josh McDaniels arrived in Denver in 2009 with a brash and unwelcoming demeanor, ready to take the Broncos back to prominence. In turn, he ticked off Cutler. The first meeting between the new coach and franchise quarterback lasted just 20 minutes, a one-sided sit-down dominated by McDaniels that led to Cutler requesting a trade.
In Chicago, a franchise was desperate for hope at quarterback and quick to explore what Cutler could do. For two decades after "the punky QB" Jim McMahon left, the Bears had searched for their quarterback. Jerry Angelo, then general manager, made the trade for Cutler in spring 2009.
The Bears gave up two first-round picks and quarterback Kyle Orton to solidify their future with a budding star. For Cutler, the team offered a fresh start, plus personnel who believed in what he could do. It seemed to be the perfect match, but the storm clouds were building over Halas Hall.
Misfortune has clouded much of Cutler's career -- a miserable 2009 season, a severe knee injury suffered in the 2010 NFC Championship that led to questions of his toughness, then one too many bad offensive coordinators, like the controlling Mike Martz and out-of-place Mike Tice. In 2014, then-coach Marc Trestman benched Cutler last in the season in favor of Jimmy Clausen in an attempt to save face.
During those six seasons prior to 2015, Cutler garnered constant criticism. Cutler's body language showed he didn't care, some said. He wasn't tough enough, more argued. He couldn't lead and was a locker room cancer, far too many believed.
But those storm clouds cleared from Chicago during the offseason of 2015, when Pace opted to stick with Cutler, in part because he had no other options. There were two more years guaranteed on a seven-year deal offered by previous general manager Phil Emery, and the quarterback was there to stay. Cutler had to earn what was next.
Finally, Cutler was put in the right position to be more successful. That belief Chicago extended him six years prior finally held water.
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Cutler can hardly be blamed for frustration during the early parts of his career. His blowups on Martz or the shove of J'Marcus Webb weren't handled well, but the displeasure was warranted.
Ever since he was selected with the 11th pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, Cutler was given the title of franchise quarterback but wasn't treated as such. He was betrayed by McDaniels, Trestman and former Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, misled by Martz and Tice and let down by general managers who couldn't surround him with talent.
When John Fox replaced Trestman last January, the Bears brought in an offensive coordinator, Adam Gase, who knew what he was doing and could put Cutler in a position to succeed. They added Dowell Loggains, a hand-picked quarterbacks coach for Cutler who could bring continuity to the position. Pace dealt Brandon Marshall, formerly a Cutler backer who became a great problem for the Bears' locker room and namely for Cutler.
There was Matt Forte by Cutler's side, plus a slew of talented receivers in Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and the go-to target of Martellus Bennett.
In the end, this 2015 season finished with the Bears at 6-10, missing the playoffs for the sixth time in Cutler's seven years with the team. Cutler threw for 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. But for the first time in his career, he was really in a healthy place.
While the results of 2015 were unremarkable, what came of it for Cutler was important. The breakdown of personnel in the Bears' offense allowed Cutler to be viewed without unworldly expectations, and the support of terrific coaches allowed him to thrive within the Chicago offense.
Cutler had a poor support system of coaches surrounding him for the early part of his Bears career, then was supplied two terrific receivers, Jeffery and Marshall, which still wasn't enough to overcome the misguided tactics of Trestman and Kromer.
This season, Cutler was lauded for making the Bears relevant while working with replacement-level talent. He went from viewed as Chicago's villain to somewhat of a tragic hero, making the best of a poor hand dealt. The shirts stating "Cutler Makes Me Drink" were buried away in closets for the fall.
Cutler went into Kansas City and beat the playoff-bound Chiefs with Marquess Wilson as his top receiver. He led the Bears to Green Bay and beat the rival Packers on Thanksgiving night. While the results were largely incomplete due to Jeffery and Eddie Royal each missing seven games and White missing the entire season, Cutler showed what he could do as a leader.
Finally, Cutler thrived through his opportunity and earned praise, not criticism. Chicago began to embrace him.
"He's been under the microscope ever since he got here and throughout his entire career," Forte said of Cutler. "He's one of the toughest guys I've ever been around. I don't care what anybody says about him,"
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Rather fittingly, Cutler went into the season finale against the Lions and was missing his top four receivers and top two tight ends.
Gone were Jeffery and Wilson, placed on injured reserve, and White, the talented No. 7 pick of the 2015 draft, never took the field. Royal was missing in action, too. Chicago dealt with Detroit by simply hoping for the best.
"You have Deonte Thompson, Marc Mariani, Joshua Bellamy, Cameron Meredith -- those are the four guys we had out there," Cutler said after the 24-20 loss to the Lions. "I don't think anyone, when we started the season, would have pegged them as our four at the end of the season. They fought their butts off and I couldn't be more proud of their effort today and how they played."
Cutler deserved some credit, too. He threw for 245 yards and completed 17 of his 23 passes, racking up a 97.5 quarterback rating. While that was a far cry from his career-best 151 mark posted in the win over the Rams in November, it was noteworthy because of what he had to work with.
Through adversity this season, Cutler shined. He made the most out of a tough situation and made the Bears a better team. He earned that trust for the future.
Pace believes in Cutler, largely based off what the quarterback showed during Year 1 of a rebuild, with moving parts a constant. He didn't work miracles, but few could put in this position. Even with Gase likely on his way out the door to a head coaching opportunity, Cutler will still be fine with an experienced coach and excellent communicator. It remains possible that is Loggains.
With 2015 in the books, Cutler is thrilled to find what the future holds.
"Coach Fox, Ryan Pace, we got good people in place," he said. "They know what they're doing. They know the direction they want to go in."
The Bears' direction involves Cutler, the most important piece of the team's near-future. Pace is building around Cutler, a man who has been a potential trade piece on many occasions before.
In 2016, the Bears hope to have a healthy complement of talent around Cutler and the right support from his coaching staff. Fox and Pace will ensure their most important asset is comfortable. Then, we'll finally get to see Cutler at his best.
Cutler emerged in 2015 as the quarterback many projected. He still makes mind-blowing mistakes here and there, but he thrived in a comfortable situation. That belief many have placed in Cutler is finally being backed, coming from a decision-maker in Pace who didn't owe him anything.
Years past for Cutler have been difficult, but perhaps the best days remain ahead for the Bears' franchise quarterback.
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
