Jay Cutler Becomes A Bear: Maybe Everyone Wins

The travel weary Jay Cutler caravan has finally stopped in Chicago.  Sports outlets are reporting that the Denver Broncos traded Cutler late this afternoon to the Chicago Bears.  This ends a saga that has seen Cutler go from rising quarterback star, to wounded, petulant starlet. 

Now let the healing begin.  I believe once everyone regains their bearings—from the folks in star-struck Washington, to the frustrated fans in Denver, to just about everyone in Chicago, this may turn out well for all.  

What this means is that the Bears get a chance to prove the team won’t ruin a 4,000 yard passer.  There has never been a quarterback in the Windy City to even come close to throwing that far.   But the Bears have speedy receivers and a slick young running back and a defense that when healthy is pretty good.   Adding Jay Cutler to the mix now means that the Bears immediately are division favorites.  

Denver gets important top draft picks, and a pretty decent young quarterback in Kyle Orton, who while he may have some detractors in Chicago will reap the benefits of working with Josh McDaniesl as his new head coach.  McDaniels is the same guy who helped to tutor Matt Cassell into emergency stardom last season in New England and Denver gets rid of a disgruntled player in Cutler as well.  

Washington, which until the very end looked to be the winner in the Cutler sweepstakes, in the meantime is forced to stand pat with an improving quarterback already on their roster in Jason Campbell.  Campbell, who is perceived to be almost too laid back, may now have inadvertently gotten all the fire in the belly that he ever needed by discovering that he was expendable. 

The good natured Campbell has all the potential in the world and may now get to prove it.  He may ultimately have Cutler to thank if all of this confusion helps make him even better.