Will Bears Make Play for Cutler?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Mar 17, 2009 7:00PM

Any time a halfway competent starting quarterback hits the market, or rumors that one might be on the move pop up, local sports fans and sports media alike begin fantasizing about what that guy might look like in blue and orange. Only weeks ago, Kurt Warner was all the rage. This time, it's no different -- well, except that the guy in question is used to sporting blue and orange.

With the relationship between the Denver Broncos and Jay Cutler souring by the day, it's looking more and more likely he could land elsewhere before opening day. And nearly everybody in town thinks it should be with Da Bears. The Trib's David Haugh makes his pitch today, as does Greg Couch over at the Sun-Times. Both note that the Bears need an upgrade under center and that GM Jerry Angelo has said he's "fixated" on the position -- that's understandable given that Kyle Orton's currently backed up by Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez.

Both examine the package of players and picks the Bears would need to offer to land Cutler -- if he's really on the market. Each suggests a combination of a star player and draft picks to pry the Pro Bowl quarterback away from Denver. Would Nathan Vasher and a first round pick be enough? Do they want Orton? Urlacher? Should the Bears offer anything and everything to land a Pro Bowl QB?

Steve Rosenbloom is perhaps the lone contrarian in town these days, suggesting that Cutler's recent pouting says a lot about his character. Of course, this is coming from the same Rosenbloom who was quick to call for a Cutler trade a couple weeks ago.

So do the Bears have any hopes of landing Jay Cutler and truly fixing the position that's been a glaring hole now since the days of Ditka? Or is this just the latest episode of fantasy island for Chicago sports fans? If the Broncos do intend to move their disgruntled quarterback and the Bears don't end up with him, Angelo will have a lot of explaining to do. But we suspect that Cutler and new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels can patch things up.

Photo by AP