He throws for over 4,000 yards, at least around 27 touchdowns, and a TD/INT ratio higher than 1.5 to 1. Period. End of story.

For a little perspective here, 11 players threw for over 4,000 yards last year, 12 players threw for at least 26 touchdowns, and 7 did both of those things, with 3/4 of the ones who failed to get 4,000 yards getting at least 3,500 yards. I'm not expecting him to keep pace with Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. I'm expecting him to keep pace with Andy Dalton and Josh Freeman.

If he gets close, consider the franchise tag, but even that is going to be quite expensive and realistically it would be better to move on and be wrong than to just delay things another year. Maybe he becomes a hall of fame QB in Arizona or Jacksonville. I don't care.

It either works this year with this coach and this offense or you do what probably should have been done last year and start over with a new GM/Coach/QB. If Cutler can prove he is better than average, which is what the above numbers would indicate, you roll with him for a few more years.

I hear you already saying "But then we just have the Baby McNown of NFL QB's as our starter!". My response is "So?". Draft a QB and find a veteran or see if you can get Kirk Cousins for a 2nd round pick. Go look at just how many teams have found replacements for QB's since Cutler left. Now, some of them suck. Some of them were very good. Cutler is probably the longest tenured average QB in the league right now.

I hear you already saying "But he's the greatest qb we've had since my grandfather was born!". Well, yeah, but that's because the NFL is such a heavy passing team that teams all over the place have the "greatest QB they ever have had". It's much more important to look at how they rate with their peers.

I hear you already saying "But the Bears offense sucks because of this player, or this player, or this player". Ok, all the more reason to let Cutler go. If they still can't get an offense around him that will work, then start over.

I hear you already saying "But Marshall will be all sad!". Who cares? It's only a matter of time with him anyways. That has been his history everywhere.

I hear you already saying "You just hate Jay Cutler. You want them to bring back Kyle Orton". Unfortunately Kyle Orton isn't a free agent until 2015. Maybe the Bears can trade for him.

I hear you already saying "What if he gets injured?". Let him go.

Let me state that if he is able to finally have potential meet reality then he should be resigned. I'm not sure I want to give him a Joe Flacco type deal, and that may be what he wants if he plays that well, but he'd be deserving of it. I certainly don't want the Bears to pay $17 million a year for a QB with nothing but average production.

Feel free to disagree, but all I ask is that if you disagree with me tell me what production you would require to resign him and/or franchise him.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Well said. It's this year or bust for Cutler with the Bears. I am actually worried he may have a good year and then get a big contract only to under perform after this year. But, here's hoping that Coach T and more weapons will lead to Cutler hitting his potential.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

[/quote]
What if he throws for 3500, 23 TD's, a 1.3 to 1 ratio and they go to the SuperBowl?

Its not that cut and dry, Rick. Its not a "if he gets X stats, then don't resign him period exclamation moint"

If he throws for 37 or 38 hundred yards, 24 TDs and 11 INTs, but the Bears go 11-5/12-4 and make the Super Bowl, he can be resigned. I 100% agree with your overall premise that he needs to show he can be elite-- at least top 10-12 in the league in order to get that sort of payday from the Bears. I just don't think the Bears can (or should) put a hard number stat wise and say 'this is Cutler's minimum in order for us to talk a long term deal with him.'

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What if he throws for 3500, 23 TD's, a 1.3 to 1 ratio and they go to the SuperBowl?[/quote]Let him go.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The team needs an Elite QB, so I am with Rick. If Cutler is not that guy, then it's time to look elsewhere. Keep in mind, it's going to take a lot of cash to re-sign Cutler, and in a cap constrained world, that matters.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I don't think going to the Super Bowl makes much of a difference. We all saw what happened with the QB of our last Super Bowl team.

Add in the fact that if they do go the Super Bowl, he may be looking at Flacco money from some other desperate team, and you are locking in having an average QB for the next 3 to 4 years. I'm not even sure the Flacco contract was a good idea.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Terrible thought process. The biggest factor is Cutler vs the other available options. If he's bad, and there are better options, sign that QB. If not, franchise Cutler.

Let him go.[/quote]
I like how you roll

And it's "re-sign" not "resign."

I'd take franchise tag as a stop gap if there is nothing else out there. But if Cutler is not elite, then we need to find elite. I too fear the Flacco contract for a decidedly average QB.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

He might be a stopgap, and that's what the franchise is for. Depends on what the other options are.

10 Pages now, easily.

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Uh, yes it does. As a fan of the Bears I want them to win the Super Bowl.

And exactly does Jim McMahon (who never was going to be elite btw) getting hurt in 1986 because of a dirty play have to do with Jay Cutler today?

My point is I think its stupid to say Cutler must hit this number and that number on the stat sheet for the Bears to even entertain signing him to a deal.

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Why? What good does that do? Even the franchise tag will be incredibly expensive. Also, Cutler isn't exactly going to be the greatest guy to work with when he's mad. QB's don't really get franchised very often. It's threatened but most of the time it is simply a start of negotiations.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

What good does keeping a better QB over worse QBs do? It gives you a better QB.

Not reading. It's clear to me the intent is to give him the franchise tag this year. After that, he will be a 32 year old QB.

I said the day after the 2013 draft that the Bears were drafting AJ Mc Carron in round 1 in 2014. I stand by that statement.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Did you forget how Rex Grossman took them to the Super Bowl?

You didn't say win the Super Bowl. You said "make the Super Bowl". Rex Grossman made the Super Bowl.
Why though? It's not that hard to get an average NFL QB. That is what makes them average.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Josh Freeman.

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Assuming you think he's better, maybe. But if he's available, he's probably played poorly enough this year to get benched. And since he and Jay had the exact same stats last year, he'll probably cost even more since he's younger. If he doesn't cost more, that means Jay was significantly better. And you're guaranteed a long-term deal with Josh, while you can tag Jay.

In a salary cap league, it's as much about money vs. production and less about production alone. It also pushes your evaluation/learning of a younger QB back another year. It also keeps a QB who doesn't fit the system run by the coach instead of "his guy".

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Because its a stupid thought, thats why. Why should the Bears take any option off the table at this point in the season? That is what are you suggesting with your "period end of discussion" and its a stupid thought.

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I think we are reading this wrong, and Rick wants Jay to resign/quit on his own if he doesn't hit Rick's numbers.

Should've added

Wasn't that Slapshot Ed's guy during your twitter talks?

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Gridiron! I thought maybe you were referencing that, but I took it seriously just in case.

Should all players be resigned if the Bears make the Super Bowl regardless of production?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Did I say that anywhere in this thread? In fact, did I say Jay should be resigned for sure at all?

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Oh yeah it was Grid.

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I like Flacco. I don't understand why a guy with his tools has taken this long to break through.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I'm just trying to get a handle on how important you feel "making the Super Bowl" is. It was a question.

Let me ask a different question. Let's say the Bears play in the Super Bowl this year. How bad would Cutler have to have been in the regular season for you to not resign him?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!