Jay Cutler: Is the Chicago Bears QB Worth the Hype?

In middle schools across the country, nearly every school has one. The “it” girl who struts around in the newest clothes, collects shoes like text messages, and craves the spotlight. She’s often arrogant, rude, and self-centered, but everyone wants her or wants to be her, or at least she thinks so.

The NFL may not have the informal defined classes that adolescents create, but it isn’t without its equivalents. And whether he asked for it or not, Jay Cutler may be gaining the reputation league-wide as the over-hyped “arrogant little punk” that Denver TV analyst Scott Hastings once bestowed on him.

Last night on NFL Live, Trent Dilfer rolled the tape. Jay Cutler may have been sacked an astonishing nine times in the first half, but not all of them could be blamed on the inexperienced offensive line. The tape was revealing: a nice pocket, an open man streaking across the middle, and Jay Cutler holding the ball.  He stepped up, patted the ball twice, and was stripped from beyond as he was hauled to the ground.   

The quarterback the Bears gave up a slew of draft picks—including two first-rounders—and a steady, some say better, veteran quarterback for spent the second half off the field dazed from a concussion.

While the offensive line has been suspect, many looked at the performance and pointed to Cutler. 

"So much of it as a quarterback is just making quick decisions, understanding what's going on up front and that you can't sit back and just wait for the big play every time," Kurt Warner said on "The Mike & Mike Show" on ESPN Radio. "Sometimes you've just got to say it's not there initially, let's just get the ball out of my hands and let somebody else do something with it."

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka said in some form he would have lost his mind had his quarterback held the ball like Cutler.

“He looked like he was not even aware of the pressure around him. That's all part of football, the quarterback has to have that little clock in his head that says 'I have to get rid of the football.' Jay Cutler didn't have it yesterday, that's for sure."

It’s easy to remember when Cutler was drafted. Ron Jaworksi raved. Cutler could do no wrong. His arm strength and ability to make certain throws would make him the best quarterback in the draft. Many reverberated the same forecast. 

Although Draft guru Mel Kiper was a bit more skeptical, accusing the media of putting him in the Hall of Fame. The “overhype” was “forcing him to the bathroom,” it was “making him ill.”

Denver first embraced the strong-armed Cutler, but he caused some riffles when he claimed his arm was stronger than John Elway’s. His penmanship for mistakes and poor reads never left him either. 

Cutler’s always been interception-prone and, unlike Brett Farve, doesn’t make enough big plays to compensate for it. At what point should a young quarterback become a veteran? Last season he led the league in interceptions with 26. His next closest counterparts were rookies Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, who had six less.

Then, of course, there’s the trade. Some called him a cry-baby, others called Josh McDaniels stupid, but maybe the whole thing started when McDaniels was introduced as head coach. 

A press conference was held, but the team’s leader and starting quarterback was absent.  When word surfaced the team attempted to trade him, he was offended.  But at the same time, Denver media argued, “Have you even bothered to meet the guy?”

There are some who are looking at Cutler as the next Jeff George, a dreaded comparison that may not be that far-fetched. For all his physical gifts we are talking about a quarterback who’s never won a playoff game. Heck, even Vanderbilt didn’t end their bowl drought until after Cutler was drafted. Come to think of it, Cutler hasn’t played on a winning team since high school.

There are some players who are good and leaders. Those players, like Joe Montana, elevated the play of others. Then there are the franchise-killers, ones with great tangibles and lousy intangibles. Jeff George’s skills kept him in the league for a long time, but never amounted to much in the win-loss column

Of course there is that question to ponder: What if the Broncos never tried to trade him and just kept him? Would he have this target on his back?  Maybe not, but the “it” label is there, whether he asked for it or not.