Cutler, Pace Improve Bears Offense
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Apr 3, 2009 2:40PM
Wow.
In a move that stunned all Bears fans, GM Jerry Angelo managed to land quarterback Jay Cutler just one day after Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen officially declared they were shopping the disgruntled QB. Some are saying that a man known for who he didn't sign or trade for just consummated the "trade of a generation."
The Bears gave up Kyle Orton, their first and third round picks in this year's draft (18th and 84th overall), and their first round draft pick in 2010 in exchange for Cutler and a fifth-round pick in this year's draft (140th overall). Was that too much? It may sound like a lot but 25 year old Pro Bowl quarterbacks don't hit the market very often. Or ever. If he is the Bears answer at the most important position for the next decade -- there's no reason he shouldn't be -- then Angelo was more than justified in giving that much up. The Bears have started 23 different quarterbacks since Jim McMahon left town. It's time for some stability, dammit!
The price also doesn't look quite so dear when one considers the list of players the Bears have selected in the draft's opening round. With a list of busts like Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman, Cade McNown, David Terrell, Curtis Enis, and Marc Colombo in the past decade they've struck out just about every time they've tried to draft on the offensive side of the ball.
So why was Denver willing to move Cutler in the first place? Cutler wanted out of Denver after the team's new head coach apparently tried, unsuccessfully, to trade for New England's Matt Cassel. His performance in Tom Brady's absence last season made him a hot commodity (where were the Bears in his bidding, BTW?). When Cutler got wind of the Broncos' interest in Cassel, he was understandably miffed. Meetings to diffuse the situation had the opposite effect, and ultimately the relation was irreconcilably damaged. But the Bears claim to have done their due diligence to determine that Cutler's character is right for the team and that Denver situation was an isolated one. And the Santa Clause, Indiana native gets to play for the team he cheered on as a kid.
With the NFL draft approaching, the Bears scouts can now focus on drafting some wide receivers. Having a QB like Cutler only works if there are guys who can catch his passes. Devin Hester and crew aren't the answer--although joining the Bears does reunite Cutler with Earl Bennett, his favorite target during his senior year at Vanderbilt.
Angelo could have taken the rest of the day -- hell, week -- off after announcing the Cutler trade but the man wasn't finished. The Bears signed future Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace to a three-year, $15 million deal that will vastly improve their offensive line in front of Cutler. The 12 year veteran recently cut by the St. Louis Rams to clear cap space is on the downside of his career, but even so he's still better than the vast majority of linemen in the league. With the additions of Pace and Kevin Shaffer, the Bears are on their way to rebuilding an offensive line that had been decimated by retirement and free agency.
If the Bears can add a vertical passing game to Matt Forte's running game, and the defense can improve after the coaching shake-up we might just have a playoff football team in town, Bears fans.