To start, I am not expecting Cutler to be able to be mentioned in the same sentence as Peyton when it is all said and done. Manning will be a top 5 QB of all time and a no brainer first ballot hall of famer.

However, it's important to remember that Peyton took time to develop and most importantly it took a while for the Colts to surround him with the talent that allowed him to become what he is today. The Jeff Saturdays, Marvin Harrisons, Dallas Clarks, Reggine Wayne etc did not all happen over night.


Here is a quick statistical snap shot over their first 4 years in the league

Manning
G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate
1998 16 16 326 575 56.7 3,739 6.5 26 28 22 109 71.2
1999 16 16 331 533 62.1 4,135 7.8 26 15 14 116 90.7
2000 16 16 357 571 62.5 4,413 7.7 33 15 20 131 94.7
2001 16 16 343 547 62.7 4,131 7.6 26 23 29 232 84.1


Cutler
G Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int Rate
2006 5 137 81 59.1 1,001 9 5 88.5
2007 16 467 297 63.6 3,497 20 14 88.1
2008 16 616 384 62.3 4,526 25 18 86.0
2009 8 286 182 63.6 2,046 14 12 83.8


Again, Cutler will never be as good as Manning. With that said, I don't think it's crazy unrealistic to assume (and pray, God I'm praying) that Jay's numbers and overall performance will move towards being worthy of a comparison to Manning 5 years down the road from now. The Colts started building their team to fit Peyton's strengths from the moment they drafted him. Jay has had NINE GAMES here in the city with the joke that is the team around him. All I'm saying is relax, all time great QB's have started their careers on similar, or maybe even worse, trajectory's.

Let's worry about getting him some Offensive lineman, wide receivers, another running back and an entirely new defense sans linebackers.



I'm sorry if this is crazy, I've had a lot of Jack Daniels and i'm le tired.

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Team Cutler.

I like it. Going on the offensive.



I agree...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

i've had many jack's too. While i agree with what i think is your overall point, i dont like the comparison. Manning, iirc, had saturday and harrison right away. Also he might be the best qb of all time. He's also never been a gunslinger type qb and has always won a ton of games except his rookie year and i think one other year. Cutler needs a ton of help but right now before that comes he needs to work on his mental mistakes. He has the talent to have this league by the balls though

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Yea, my overall point is that his ceiling might be higher than it feels to a lot of Bears fans after a game like that. Clearly I shot for the moon with my comparison to Manning and tried to be abundantly clear that I do not believe he will ever be as good as him. You are right about Manning, his wins the first 4 years went 3, 13, 10,6


There's obviously a lot to be said for the players around your QB in the ultimate team game. What I wouldn't do for a Marvin Harrison type on the outside and a Saturday entering his prime in the middle right now.

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Team Cutler.

Boiler Rick does not approve of this thread.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Well good news is I'm sober and I still approve of the point I was trying to make in this thread. Cutler hasn't been amazing like we were all hoping, but it certainly doesn't mean he can't be in a couple years with an actual team around him

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Team Cutler.

Cutler may have all the physical talents in the world, but if his brain is mush that doesn't a great QB make.

If he is so stupid that he thinks throwing into triple coverage is a better option than throwing the ball out of bounds or at the feet of a receiver, then he will never be a great QB regardless of arm strength.

Cutler and Manning should never be mentioned in the same sentence.

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RFDC thinks I'm retarded.

Well the point of the post was to say that statistically speaking Manning was putting up similar numbers and thus making similar decisions that would lead someone say their brain is 'mush'


In fact, Jays his highest interception total (prior to this season which he will almost certainly pass) was 18 in his first three years. Manning put up a 28 and a 23 int season in his first four years.

Again I know it's not a GREAT comparison, just trying to get people off the ledge a bit. I'll research other 'franchise' quarterbacks in the league and try to find a more valid comparsion

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Team Cutler.

I went and checked out Manning's first four years to try to shoot this down. But Peyton even had the same mediocre-to-shitty overall winning percentage as Cutler's working on. Tho Manning did make a couple appearances in playoff games in his four years.

Worst comparison I've heard today: Waddle compared Cutler to Marino--Marino never won anything worthwhile. One loss in one Super Bowl appearance does not a great QB make. Just ask Rex Grossman.