The Chicago Bears may be done with the Jay Cutler era after deciding to bench the ineffective quarterback for the last two weeks of the season in favor of backup Jimmy Clausen.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bears were pulling the plug on Cutler for the year, just two days after he threw three interceptions in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. Even though Cutler had just signed a seven-year extension that included $54 million in guaranteed money, it now appears that he is headed out the door in Chicago.
There have already been reports that Chicago is planning to part with second-year coach Marc Trestman, and it appears that Cutler is leaving with him.
The team has certainly seen its share of turmoil. Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer admitted last week to his players that he was an anonymous source in a report by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport that criticized Cutler’s game management skills.
Kromer later apologized, but his move drew criticism across the league. Even Aaron Rodgers, who plays for the rival Green Bay Packers but is friends with Cutler off the field, came to the Chicago quarterback’s defense .
“I would have a major problem if somebody said something like that,” Rodgers said Tuesday during an interview at Lambeau Field. “I think anybody that plays the position, you can’t help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it’s the person calling the plays — that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way.”
At 5-9, the Chicago Bears have already been eliminated from the playoff picture and will get a free look at Clausen, who looked poor in his stint with the Carolina Panthers.
If the Chicago Bears do part ways with Jay Cutler, they would incur $19.5 million in dead money. Cutler’s salary for 2015, which totals $15.5 million, is reportedly guaranteed.