Jay Cutler: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Bears QB's Future

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been the subject of rampant trade speculation after getting benched for the team's Week 16 game in favor of Jimmy Clausen.

It was reported in December that Cutler was expected to remain with the team for the 2015 NFL season. New head coach John Fox, however, was noncommittal on Cutler at his introductory press conference.

Although it was reported the Bears expect Cutler to be their quarterback this season, the team was reportedly active in its attempt to move him. General manager Ryan Pace and Fox have since stated Cutler will be their starter.

Continue for updates.

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GM Pace Says Team Is Moving Forward with Cutler as Starter

Wednesday, March 11

Pace spoke to reporters and acknowledged Cutler as the team's starting quarterback.

"We're moving forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback," Pace said, via the team's official Twitter account.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided additional insight on the situation:

Fox said, "We made the commitment. Time will tell for all of us," via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.  

Fox added that Cutler "is capable of improving because he possesses intelligence and willingness to work," per the Bears on Twitter.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on March 10 that the "Bears fully expect Jay Cutler to be their QB this season, per Chris Mortensen."

On Monday, CBSChicago.com's Dan Bernstein reported the Bears were "actively shopping Cutler" and would trade him for a "reasonable return." Bernstein added that "offers to this point have underwhelmed."

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Jets Have No Interest in Cutler

Friday, March 6

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported the Jets have no interest in trading for Cutler despite acquiring former Bears receiver Brandon Marshall on Friday.

Albert Breer of NFL Network added that the Bears aren't likely to move the quarterback at all now, noting that he wasn't brought for Marshall trade discussions and that they assembled a quarterback-friendly coaching staff.

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Fox Remains Noncommittal on Cutler's Future

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that John Fox continues to be noncommittal regarding Cutler's future with the Bears: 

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First, Fox said they'd explore "all avenues" at quarterback from free agency to his roster to the draft. Cutler signed a seven-year, $126 million contract extension before last season and is guaranteed to make $15.5 million this year.

"I don't think there's any question there's ability and talent there," Fox said on Cutler. "But there's a lot more that goes into it and we're evaluating that as we speak."

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This has been Fox's position since being hired. On Jan. 19, Fox refused to take a stance on Cutler's future at his introductory press conference, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. 

Bears general manager Ryan Pace was also unwilling to commit to Cutler, telling Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, "We're going to take our time on this." He also would not commit to the quarterback as the starter.

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What Does Fox's Hire Mean for Cutler?

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Chris Simms and Jonathan Vilma discussed what Fox's hiring means for Cutler's future in Chicago:

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New Head Coach John Fox Noncommittal on Cutler

Monday, Jan. 19

The Chicago Bears are heading in a new direction with John Fox at head coach. It remains to be seen, though, if Fox will move forward with Jay Cutler as his quarterback.

Fox spoke briefly about Cutler at his introductory press conference, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, failing to take the opportunity to endorse the veteran: "It doesn't matter what player here (sic), we're going to start that process and I'm not there yet."

On Dec. 21, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported Cutler, not head coach Marc Trestman, was expected to remain with the Bears following the season:

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The benching of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler sent shockwaves around the NFL last week, but is hardly an indicator that he won't be back. While head coach Marc Trestman is all but certain of being fired next week and GM Phil Emery could meet the same fate, Cutler's hefty contract, his recent performance and other factors have created a climate where the Bears are effectively stuck with Cutler for two more years, numerous league sources said. ...

... Cutler has no inclination to alter his contract in any way to facilitate a deal, sources said, and he is waiting to see how the organization restructures for next season and who he will be working with on an offensive staff. ...

... Cutting Cutler costs $15.5 million and while the contract has offsets, which would allow the Bears to recoup money based on what Cutler would earn elsewhere, sources said that Bears ownership is nor (sic) prepared to explore those options.

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Chicago subsequently cut ties with Trestman and general manager Phil Emery on Dec. 29. The team hired Ryan Pace as its new GM and signed Fox as head coach.

Cutler's contract and drop-off in production last year are major talking points heading into 2015. It remains to be seen what direction Fox and Pace choose to go at the position.

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Titans Doing 'Homework' on Cutler

Sunday, Dec. 21

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Tennessee Titans began their research on Cutler when his benching was announced. He also weighed in on how a potential trade would impact the 2015 draft:

This is not the first time Cutler has been linked to the Titans, as reports surfaced on Dec. 18 as well.

Eric Ferguson of WTMX in Chicago reported a Cutler-to-Titans deal is "real."

Of all the possible landing spots, Tennessee would perhaps make the most sense. Cutler played his college football in the state while attending Vanderbilt University. The Titans also have uncertainty at quarterback. Jake Locker has struggled to stay healthy, and rookie Zach Mettenberger has a history of knee problems.

Even before his latest shoulder injury, Mettenberger hadn't shown enough promise to make the Titans believe they have their quarterback of the future. Andrew Perloff of The Dan Patrick Show and Sports Illustrated sarcastically supports Cutler's fit in Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt's system.

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Could Bears Give Up More to Trade Cutler?

Saturday, Dec. 20

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported a scenario regarding a potential Jay Cutler trade:

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Cutler Benching Fuels Trade Speculation

Friday, Dec. 19

Any time the NFL player with the highest base salary for the current season is benched for performance, there will be questions about his future. Such is the case with the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler.

Yesterday, per Schefter, the Bears decided to bench Cutler in favor of Jimmy Clausen:

Cutler's mammoth base salary makes the choice all the more startling. It comes off as a desperate move and a stunning omission of failure on the part of Bears management and the coaching staff. 

ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson quotes Bears head coach Marc Trestman giving his reason for benching his starting quarterback:

As embarrassing as it might be, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets, Cutler will get a pretty penny for riding the pine:

The question now is: Does the combination of Cutler's salary and his performance-based demotion make him untradable?

There are several theories and rumors floating around. Many believe a trade is on the horizon. The NFL Network ponders Cutler's immediate future:

At their best, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner took care of the football. That has never been Cutler's M.O. 

During the 2014 season, Cutler has thrown for 3,640 yards and 28 touchdown passes. However, he's also thrown 18 interceptions and fumbled nine times.

He leads the NFL in turnovers, and that's a tough pill to swallow from a quarterback of a proud franchise that had such high hopes for Cutler and this season.

It's easy to see why the Bears would want to move Cutler if the team has already decided he's not its franchise quarterback.

Beyond the overall underachievement, if the Bears can trade him by March 2015, per Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the team can save $16 million in guaranteed money. Florio suggests that benching Cutler could be about keeping him healthy for a potential trade partner.

Of course, any team willing to take on Cutler would have to absorb a ton of the financial burden that comes with the inconsistent quarterback. 

Cutler is 31 years old, in his sixth season with the Bears and ninth in the NFL overall. A team willing to make a move for him has to believe it can get out of him what the Bears could not. 

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I'm so Chicago.