Week 15: Bears (7-6) @ Browns (4-9) Noon, FOX

[Banedon]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bears-likely-to-let-Cutler-walk-in-offseason.html

 

Unless quarterback Jay Cutler is willing to take a club-friendly deal on his next contract, the Chicago Bears are likely to let Cutler become a free agent in the offseason, a source said Wednesday. The Bears would do that even at the risk of losing him.

 

“(The Bears) believe in (coach Marc) Trestman after what they’ve seen from (backup quarterback Josh) McCown,” the source said. “Between his system and the two big receivers (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery), you have a system where a quarterback can flourish. I don’t know if McCown is going to be the starter (next season), but I think the team would be fine letting Cutler test the market and then go draft someone if he left.”

 

The goal for the Bears is to not overpay for Cutler, who could be looking for a deal in the range of $20 million a year, particularly if the Bears put the franchise tag on him and then try to negotiate a long-term deal

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bears-likely-to-let-Cutler-walk-in-offseason.html

 

The goal for the Bears is to not overpay for Cutler, who could be looking for a deal in the range of $20 million a year, particularly if the Bears put the franchise tag on him and then try to negotiate a long-term deal

 

Odd phrasing there.

 

Are they saying he will look for $20m if they franchise him, but less if they don't?

 

I'm still thinking that a sub $20m/per deal is possible and likely.

 

Rich Campbell

‏@Rich_Campbell

Trestman: Cutler has been cleared by doctors enough to work out for the Bears today at full speed.

[Guest]

Sounds like Trestman expects Cutler to start. Decision will be made tomorrow.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

Really hard to read into this, as you could say this is a negotiation ploy by the Bears to see if Cutler would be willing to give a team-friendly contract. I never got the sense that Cutler was looking for a $20m/year contract, and I think other teams would be leery given the early results of Flacco's big deal. Realistically, what would be considered a team-friendly deal, $15m/year?

 

With Jeffrey and Marshall emerging as quite possibly the best WR duo in the NFL (still weird to say), I would it pretty surprising to see the Bears let Cutler walk as it would signal a minor rebuild on the offensive side of the ball. It's not hard to fathom that this offense is Super Bowl worthy, but much more difficult to imagine with a rookie QB and/or 35 year old-brought out of retirement-Josh McCown.

[Banedon]

Really hard to read into this, as you could say this is a negotiation ploy by the Bears to see if Cutler would be willing to give a team-friendly contract. I never got the sense that Cutler was looking for a $20m/year contract, and I think other teams would be leery given the early results of Flacco's big deal. Realistically, what would be considered a team-friendly deal, $15m/year?

 

With Jeffrey and Marshall emerging as quite possibly the best WR duo in the NFL (still weird to say), I would it pretty surprising to see the Bears let Cutler walk as it would signal a minor rebuild on the offensive side of the ball. It's not hard to fathom that this offense is Super Bowl worthy, but much more difficult to imagine with a rookie QB and/or 35 year old-brought out of retirement-Josh McCown.

 

Letting Cutler go probably means that Marshall would be gone after his contract is up too. Maybe even request a trade.

[rawaction]

20Mil isn't even an option. And I don't think Cutler will ask for that much. Romo only got an average of 18Mil per year. I think he'd ask for 17-18 and "settle" for 15-16 depending on how much he wants to stay here. I'd sign him for 5/80 right now and basically guarantee his first 2 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Really hard to read into this, as you could say this is a negotiation ploy by the Bears to see if Cutler would be willing to give a team-friendly contract. I never got the sense that Cutler was looking for a $20m/year contract, and I think other teams would be leery given the early results of Flacco's big deal. Realistically, what would be considered a team-friendly deal, $15m/year?

 

With Jeffrey and Marshall emerging as quite possibly the best WR duo in the NFL (still weird to say), I would it pretty surprising to see the Bears let Cutler walk as it would signal a minor rebuild on the offensive side of the ball. It's not hard to fathom that this offense is Super Bowl worthy, but much more difficult to imagine with a rookie QB and/or 35 year old-brought out of retirement-Josh McCown.

 

You never know with NFL contracts but I would think there's room to give enough guaranteed money to make $16-18m an option.

[Banedon]

How common are conditions in NFL contracts? Could he make more money if he reaches a certain number of games started or something? Could alleviate concerns about paying a lot to a guy that's been injured a lot.

[JonJayCutler]

A Bears loss Sunday at the hands of Cutler would result in the most epic meatball explosion this city has ever seen.

[jersey cubs fan]

How common are conditions in NFL contracts? Could he make more money if he reaches a certain number of games started or something? Could alleviate concerns about paying a lot to a guy that's been injured a lot.

 

Things like workout bonuses happen all the time.

 

I'm not so sure games played bonuses exist.

[rawaction]

Really hard to read into this, as you could say this is a negotiation ploy by the Bears to see if Cutler would be willing to give a team-friendly contract. I never got the sense that Cutler was looking for a $20m/year contract, and I think other teams would be leery given the early results of Flacco's big deal. Realistically, what would be considered a team-friendly deal, $15m/year?

 

With Jeffrey and Marshall emerging as quite possibly the best WR duo in the NFL (still weird to say), I would it pretty surprising to see the Bears let Cutler walk as it would signal a minor rebuild on the offensive side of the ball. It's not hard to fathom that this offense is Super Bowl worthy, but much more difficult to imagine with a rookie QB and/or 35 year old-brought out of retirement-Josh McCown.

 

Letting Cutler go probably means that Marshall would be gone after his contract is up too. Maybe even request a trade.

 

One good thing about the Cutler/Marshall relationship is that I'm sure Marshall would be willing to restructure (aka paycut) in order to fit Cutler in the cap, even at a franchise tag level.

[Banedon]

How common are conditions in NFL contracts? Could he make more money if he reaches a certain number of games started or something? Could alleviate concerns about paying a lot to a guy that's been injured a lot.

 

Things like workout bonuses happen all the time.

 

I'm not so sure games played bonuses exist.

 

Found an old Tebow article...

 

Citing a league source, ESPN reported Tuesday that Tebow has a clause in his contract that pays him $250,000 for each playoff victory, provided he has played in at least 70 percent of Denver's plays during the season.

 

Not quite the same, but it makes me think a clause about games played/started would be possible. Although Cutler may be unlikely to accept that.

[rawaction]

How common are conditions in NFL contracts? Could he make more money if he reaches a certain number of games started or something? Could alleviate concerns about paying a lot to a guy that's been injured a lot.

 

Things like workout bonuses happen all the time.

 

I'm not so sure games played bonuses exist.

 

Found an old Tebow article...

 

Citing a league source, ESPN reported Tuesday that Tebow has a clause in his contract that pays him $250,000 for each playoff victory, provided he has played in at least 70 percent of Denver's plays during the season.

 

Not quite the same, but it makes me think a clause about games played/started would be possible. Although Cutler may be unlikely to accept that.

 

Yeah, I don't know if you could do that with a guy that is going to be a starter and signing that big of a contract. It's basically adding an injury clause in his contract, which is not allowed.

[Banedon]

Yeah, I don't know if you could do that with a guy that is going to be a starter and signing that big of a contract. It's basically adding an injury clause in his contract, which is not allowed.

 

Ah, ok. I didn't know that wasn't allowed. You're right, it is basically an injury clause. Makes sense that'd be verboten.

[BigSlick]

Sad that its looking unlikely for Briggs to start. Hope we haven't seen the last of him

[Mark Priors Calves]

A Bears loss Sunday at the hands of Cutler would result in the most epic meatball explosion this city has ever seen.

http://www.tremendousupsidepotential.com/images/orton_grossman_courtesy_400.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I don't know if you could do that with a guy that is going to be a starter and signing that big of a contract. It's basically adding an injury clause in his contract, which is not allowed.

 

Ah, ok. I didn't know that wasn't allowed. You're right, it is basically an injury clause. Makes sense that'd be verboten.

 

I don't even see it as being all that necessary or useful. It's not like he's always missing lots of time. He's played in 15 or 16 games in almost every season of his career. And the full contract is already not guaranteed.

[Banedon]

Yeah, I don't know if you could do that with a guy that is going to be a starter and signing that big of a contract. It's basically adding an injury clause in his contract, which is not allowed.

 

Ah, ok. I didn't know that wasn't allowed. You're right, it is basically an injury clause. Makes sense that'd be verboten.

 

I don't even see it as being all that necessary or useful. It's not like he's always missing lots of time. He's played in 15 or 16 games in almost every season of his career. And the full contract is already not guaranteed.

 

He's gotten a knock from the meatball fans for being injury prone though. My only point in mentioning it would be that it could ease those concerns.

 

I'm surrounded by anti-Cutler types at work...it's tiring.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I don't know if you could do that with a guy that is going to be a starter and signing that big of a contract. It's basically adding an injury clause in his contract, which is not allowed.

 

Ah, ok. I didn't know that wasn't allowed. You're right, it is basically an injury clause. Makes sense that'd be verboten.

 

I don't even see it as being all that necessary or useful. It's not like he's always missing lots of time. He's played in 15 or 16 games in almost every season of his career. And the full contract is already not guaranteed.

 

He's gotten a knock from the meatball fans for being injury prone though. My only point in mentioning it would be that it could ease those concerns.

 

I'm surrounded by anti-Cutler types at work...it's tiring.

 

I don't think easing the concerns of that type of person is all that useful.

[BigSlick]

I have a feeling, backed by absolutely no evidence, that Cutler won't be back next year, for one reason or another. His saga will be of solidly above average quarterback play, an excellent record combined with very unlucky injury and tie breaker luck, and the undeserved scorn of a bunch of meatballs. And the football world will move on, as if nothing changed much.

 

I'd still always defend Angelo's trade for him as well. Took brass balls and was probably the boldest and best move he ever made. (Maybe Peppers? Finding Robbie Gould on a trash heap?)

[Rex Buckingham]

in case you were wondering, even Rick Reilly thinks Martellus is awesome. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10111744

[jersey cubs fan]

I have a feeling, backed by absolutely no evidence, that Cutler won't be back next year, for one reason or another. His saga will be of solidly above average quarterback play, an excellent record combined with very unlucky injury and tie breaker luck, and the undeserved scorn of a bunch of meatballs. And the football world will move on, as if nothing changed much.

 

I'd still always defend Angelo's trade for him as well. Took brass balls and was probably the boldest and best move he ever made. (Maybe Peppers? Finding Robbie Gould on a trash heap?)

 

One of these things, is not like the other.

[UMFan83]

I have a feeling, backed by absolutely no evidence, that Cutler won't be back next year, for one reason or another. His saga will be of solidly above average quarterback play, an excellent record combined with very unlucky injury and tie breaker luck, and the undeserved scorn of a bunch of meatballs. And the football world will move on, as if nothing changed much.

 

I'd still always defend Angelo's trade for him as well. Took brass balls and was probably the boldest and best move he ever made. (Maybe Peppers? Finding Robbie Gould on a trash heap?)

 

Throwing a ton of money at Peppers isn't necessarily a shrewd move or anything. Gould they got lucky with, I don't think it had anything to do with Angelo being a great evaluator of kicking talent. Especially because they had to sign him off the scrap heap because the kicker they started the year with was finished.

 

Best move would probably either be Cutler or the 2003 draft, although drafting Hester was a lesser move that paid dividends for several years.

[apete6]

I am a big time Cutler fan and hope he comes back, wins 3 in a row, and somehow gets them into the playoffs (and hopefully winning something) while playing extremely well. That being said, this performance by McCown is making it awfully difficult to justify a long term extension at Flacco/Ryan/Romo money for Cutler at this point. Besides some big throws and Red Zone play, McCown has outplayed him fairly obviously.

 

The logical compromise is the franchise tag, but Emery seems to be against using the tag for Jay. This decision and subsequent full offseason will probably define Emery's tenure as GM. If he chooses wrong and they miss the playoffs a couple more years in a row, it will ruin him.

 

I think the idea of tagging Jay and then trading him to a QB needy team such as Tennessee is probably the best option, but that would require using an extreme amount of applying the tag and not being able to complete a trade and hopefully they are willing to go into camp with a lame duck Jay who knew they tried to trade him, because it really is the best compromise--other than him taking a very big discount on a long term deal.

[Wilson A2000]

I want Cutler back, but do you want to be the Ravens, Cowboys, Giants and soon the Saints who are cap screwed and have good but not great teams due to overpaying? I understand doing that to pay a transcendent player, but I don't know if Cutler is. His injury is making things too difficult.

 

Gotta franchise him. All in with Peanut on a one year deal and keep Peppers for one more go around. See what Cutler is for a full year.