Jay Cutler Needed to Be More of a Leader with Bears, Antrel Rolle Says

Longtime NFL defensive back Antrel Rolle believes former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who he played alongside during the 2015 season, could have enjoyed a more successful career in Chicago if he took on more of a leadership position.

On Thursday, Conor Orr of NFL.com passed along comments Rolle made on NFL Network's Good Morning Football comparing Cutler to another former teammate, New York Giants QB Eli Manning:

"

He was a little bit more laid back. He wasn't a front-row leader. Neither was Eli Manning, but Eli has a way about himself to lead every guy. I just felt like, honestly, if Jay involved himself more with the team, more with his receivers, I think he'd get more better results on the playing field.

Like I said I just honestly feel like he would get much better results if he involved himself more in the team collectively, with all individuals. It doesn't have to be offense, defense, special teams, but just everyone as a collective unit, I think he would get more out of his game for himself.

"

It's far from the first time the 33-year-old quarterback's laissez-faire attitude has been questioned.

Last October, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN replayed remarks outspoken tight end Martellus Bennett made on E:60 about his time with Cutler.

"Some people that you want to be a leader are not the guy that's the leader," he said. "And everyone in the locker room knows that this is not the leader, but this is what you want the face of the team to look like."

Cutler had previously downplayed the idea he wasn't a strong leader early in the 2016 season, per Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.

"This team, this offense—they make it easy. Everyone is eager to learn. There aren't any egos. Everyone works hard," he said. "So being able to push guys and demand more of guys comes easy."

Meanwhile, Cutler has remained a free agent since the Bears released him in March. Adam Hoge of WGN Radio reported there's a "strong belief" he won't play in 2017.

His status should come into greater focus following the NFL draft, which gets underway April 27, as the number of starting jobs up for grabs continues to dwindle.

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