Jay Cutler: From a Giant Promise to a Giant Mistake

The only time success comes before work, is in the dictionary. Or as the saying goes. 

That sort of statement was the talking point for Jay Cutler's 2009 season, as the 223-pound quarterback offered Bears fans with another "choke" style season.

Cutler, the former Vanderbilt quarterback who was drafted to the Denver Broncos in 2006, found himself south of his original hometown of Santa Claus, Indiana, and instead in a cold and unforgiving climate that is Mile High Stadium.

Broncos fans welcomed Jay, and he did deliver at times. Offering up great passing skills, fantastic vision, awareness, and of course the odd win here and there.

The luck started to run out in Denver, so a quarterback swap was needed. Kyle Orton for Jay Cutler was the decision, and it marked a day where things would change for the better for the Chicago Bears. At least that's what the fans thought.

When the Bears originally signed Jay, many fans thought that they'd seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, a quarterback solid enough and strong enough to carry the Bears on his back and possibly guide them to the Super Bowl once again. Rex Grossman had failed, Brian Greise had failed and a "third times the charm" type attitude was taken among fans.

The Bears 2009 campaign started out decent. With an opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Bears then went on a three game win streak before their bye week. With wins over Pittsburgh, Seattle and Detroit, the Bears weren't looking like the cursed team they once were. 

Remember when your Mom told you never to get your hopes up, and that you had to play the hand you were dealt? Welcome to the Bears' new-found attitude.

From what started as a 3-1 season, quickly turned into eight lost games out of the next 10 games. Top that all off with a quarterback interception-touchdown ratio of 11:20, and head coach Lovie Smith is now faced with a problem.

Things only continued to get worse.  Finishing the season with  twenty seven touchdowns and 26 interceptions, Jay Cutlers impressive 3,666 yards were quickly overshadowed his intent on throwing the ball to the opposite team.

Given, some of the turnovers weren't Jay's fault. Tipped balls and poor wide receiver play, can you really blame Jay for wanting to get rid of the ball in any way possible?

Well, not really.  But not all is to be forgotten in the windy city. A promise was made to Bears fans. Touchdowns were guaranteed and wins were promised to become the new future. That didn't happen, and all of a sudden the brown paper bags were lurking in the cupboards of Bears fans nationwide. Not the poorest team in the league, the Bears have gone from a great team, to a mediocre one at best.

Don't blame Jay, though, there is still some life in this old historic team. The Bears may be in the death roll at the moment, but like I said earlier, there is still some light left at the end of the tunnel. With a questionable decision made by owner Virginia Halas McCaskey to keep Lovie Smith at the helm, the Bears future seasons are 50/50 at the moment.

Expect Jay to get better though. This was his opening season with the Bears, and I do see a franchise type of quarterback in him still. Whether or not the Chicago curse does get to him and he becomes another laughing stock like the Cubs or White Sox, we'll have to wait and see.

There is some talent lurking somewhere, and if the interceptions get sorted out, we may see Chicago rallying again in a few years time.  Now though, the draft is Chicago's target.