With Jay Cutler deal Bears lock in future

Phil Emery was with the Bears when the team had a quarterback carousel that spun faster than amusement rides should go.

He was an area scout when Cade McNown was drafted in 1999. He did some of the primary work evaluating Rex Grossman when he was selected in 2003. He saw the club cycle through veterans such as Jim Miller Shane Matthews Chris Chandler and Kordell Stewart.

So it's not surprising that four days after the Bears' 8 8 season ended and 68 days before free agency opens March 11 the Bears struck quickly in signing Jay Cutler to a seven year contract. The team and/or Cutler could have waited to explore the open market but both were driven to get a deal done. The announcement kicks off an offseason now dedicated to reshaping a defense with so many questions that coach Marc Trestman couldn't say Thursday if defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is returning in 2014.

Related Jay Cutler Raw Bears GM on why Cutler was re signed Photo gallery Jay Cutler in action The many faces of Jay Cutler Cutler's statistics through 8 seasons Jay Cutler timeline Bears keep Jennings Slauson in fold See more stories Maps Halas Hall Washington Road Lake Forest IL 60045 USA Soldier Field 1410 Museum Campus Dr Chicago IL 60605

When Cutler made his first start for the Bears five years ago at Green Bay it was the 36th change in starting quarterbacks in a span of 156 regular season games a dizzying rate of one move every 4.3 games. Since he has solidified the position while taking over several of the club's all time passing records. Although the Bears have reached the playoffs only once in five seasons with Cutler they're far better than they used to be and ahead of where they would have been if they had attempted to go forward in Trestman's offense with a bridge player and a draft pick at the position.

Finding a caretaker while looking for a quarterback of the future isn't a blueprint for success in today's NFL. Clubs without franchise quarterbacks putter along while searching for one often costing coaches and GMs jobs along the way. There have been plenty of previous coaches left in Cutler's wake but following his best statistical season with the club there is no longer any question whether Emery Trestman and as importantly the McCaskeys view him as a franchise performer not with a reported value of $126 million on the Cutler deal with $54 million guaranteed the fifth highest guarantee for a current quarterback contract. He reportedly will earn $38 million in the next 15 months. The average per year of $18 million matches the Cowboys' Tony Romo for sixth among quarterbacks.

When you get down to it the Bears paid Cutler the going rate for veteran quarterbacks teams don't want to lose. There is only one kind of bargain at the position nowadays and that is a starter on a rookie contract such as Cam Newton Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Otherwise it's big business yet cost effective when you consider the alternative not having a franchise quarterback and constantly searching for one.

I don't feel a lot of pressure right now Cutler said. I just feel at ease. I know that I'm locked in here. The future is set. Now it's just about going out and being the best quarterback I can and helping lead this team in the direction we want to go.

Emery said he was sold on Cutler during the first month of the season.

Most importantly there's been a transformation in his demeanor his leadership working with his teammates and his coaches Emery said.

Trestman complimented Cutler for everything he has done to go along with his immense physical gifts.

He's an extremely smart guy he is very very selfless more than people give him credit for Trestman said. People in this organization know he does things inside this building quietly to bring a team together. And I've watched him do that without asking for anything in return. It all goes to toughness. Playing this position it's not about skill set you have to have the mental and physical toughness to be able to be at your best when everything is caving in around you.

Cutler is the only player in the NFL signed through 2020. It's impossible to say how he will do from here but he has a chance to become a Bears legend.

To be here for possibly 10 12 years hopefully we can win some championships he said. That's what it's all about. If we look back 20 years from now and say 'Hey I was here 12 years and we didn't win a championship ' we're going to be disappointed. I'm going to be disappointed by it and I think the rest of the organization is going to be disappointed.

bmbiggs tribune.com

Twitter BradBiggs

Articles Source here