Will Jay Cutler Finally Get Real Help from the...

In three years, the Chicago Bears have done little to show their prized quarterback Jay Cutler they're serious about building an offense. Now after a painful NFL season collapse, is the team finally ready to wager its future on him?

Jerry Angelo almost got it right. His 2011 free agency group very nearly helped Cutler bring the Bears back to the playoffs. Players like Roy Williams and Marion Barber were producing. Coordinator Mike Martz had the team scoring touchdowns regularly. Even Sam Hurd made contributions on special teams. Then Jay broke his thumb. Williams started dropping passes. Barber suffered horrible mental lapses and fumbling problems and Sam Hurd got busted as a drug dealer. So once again the cheap route resulted in a colossal car crash for Chicago and Jay Cutler was an unwilling passenger. Now with the defense aging the team doesn't have the luxury of time. If ever a year the Chicago Bears needed to stop being themselves in the off-season it's 2012. Their goals are simple: put more talent on offense and get younger on defense.

Bears money and NFL draft picks to go after Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers

Chicago has a full stack of NFL draft picks, including an extra third round choice from the Carolina Panthers who had one of the worse records in football. This means Jerry Angelo, should he not get fired, will have bargaining chips to possibly trade with for players or more picks. Also at his disposal is a healthy chunk of salary cap space that went unused this season. Taking a look at the free agent class next year should open a bevy of doors for the Bears to make significant moves. Not only will some badly needed wide receiver help be available but also some young talent on defense as well. Among those options include receiver James Jones of the Green Bay Packers and defensive end Cliff Avril of the Detroit Lions. Seeing as Chicago will obviously have to go through both those teams to win anything next season, taking away some of their top talent seems only logical.

Mending his broken thumb remains top priority for Jay. However, he'll have plenty to keep him busy during the summer with wedding plans still in action to marry girlfriend Kristin Cavallari. In that time he can't let his old surly self reappear. He's won the respect he never got for how talented he really is and now his leadership will count more than ever. Jobs are on the line. The last time that happened he got to the NFC championship. Jay must not lose faith in the Chicago Bears, because their faith in him is stronger than ever.

The future of Mike Martz and Jerry Angelo remain big questions. What type of wedding dress Kristin Cavallari will wear at the wedding remains for tabloids to ponder. What matters now is the healthy return of Jay Cutler, hopefully to an offense ready for that critical championship step.

Comments: 6

Ali Hussein Lopez Jan 2, 2012, 2:10pm UTC

The Bears need help all over: Roy Williams, Sam Hurd (of course), and Marion Barber should be gone, but that doesn't free up much money. The heir to Urlacher can't be put off any longer, especially after his injury yesterday. They need a dependable third pass rusher, a decent backup QB, another DT, another corner, a BIG wide receiver, and of course more help on the offensive line.

One good thing that the Lions had going for them was so many years of mediocrity allowed them to accumulate high draft picks. The Bears would hopefully not have to go through this.

Erik Lambert Jan 2, 2012, 4:10pm UTC

The Bears are trying to reload on the run. Outside of the three you mentioned, Frank Omiyale and a Brandon Meriweather might be out too. Not a lot of cap space but it should accumulate to some extra spending money. I really think the Bears should go acter Cliff Avril. The Lions are over the cap and given their depth at defensive line they might consider him expendable. The Bears should sign him, grab a big receiver like James Jones from Green Bay and then use the draft to address linebacker, corner and offensive line.

I think they can afford to wait on DT because I like the upside of Stephen Paea and Henry Melton. I'm betting if they add a better pass rush on the outside those guys will flourish up the middle. Linebacker and corner must take priority. That aside, I think the receiving corps must be overhauled. It will be tough but the Bears have the ammunition to pull it off. I still think they should fire Angelo though.

Ali Hussein Lopez Jan 2, 2012, 7:55pm UTC

And Erik; you didn't mention the second biggest loss of the season, losing Matt Forte . The Bears need to take care of his contract situation. He was responsible for about 50% off the offense.

Erik Lambert Jan 2, 2012, 9:33pm UTC

The reason I didn't mention him is because everybody already knows that. The story has been bludgeoned to death. My money is the Bears will franchise him if he won't accept their offer.

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Gary C. Gibson Jan 2, 2012, 6:49pm UTC

It all might sound better if NFL Sports went to female-only broadcasters. Macho sportscasting isn't as interesting as the intelligent female approach. Obviously retired players have good insights, yet they should be coaches rather than on television and radio.

Erik Lambert Jan 2, 2012, 9:34pm UTC

Broadcasting has similar money opportunities and not nearly the amount of stress that comes with coaching.

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Will Jay Cutler Finally Get Real Help from the Chicago Bears?

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