Caleb Hanie is available.

Problem solved.

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I don't know why that concept is so hard to grasp. Rich fucking Gannon was a career journeyman who won an MVP at 37 friggin' years old with this guys system. McCown played on awful teams and wasn't very good himself. Maybe its just the perfect synergy ( muhahaha) between a player and coach / system we see developing right now. So McCown has sucked on different teams, so fucking what. Its what he's doing right now, for this team that matters and he's performing at an unprecedented rate and better than the far more naturally talented superman Jay Cutler ever has. Bears aren't going anywhere this year and probably next year anyway. Save the money, let Cutler fuck off to Tennessee, develop a rookie, and if by chance its a one year turnaround and the D gets good next year you have a qb in McCown who you know can operate in this system at a high level and make your run with him. If the D still blows bring the rookie along and sit McCown.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Good post, BadRogue (finally)


It seems a lot of people forgot just how average Gannon was before the Raiders resurgence

What can I say, Santa dropped one off for me early this year.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Score a TD against 31st worst pass D.

I was always a Cutler defender, but this is it. If we re-sign Cutler to a multi-year deal with big money? Folly. I don't see how I can continue to root for this team. He's not good enough, and he's proved it again and again.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

This thread should have ended with the word Cutler. Do not resign Cutler.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I've changed my mind on this.

Unless Cutler is good to very good in beating the Packers and then, likely, also very good in winning a playoff game, the Bears should let him go.

I thought after the Cleveland game the furor would die down but it has not. Cutler is pretty close to not being able to win back a good portion of the fanbase which will lead to far too much team distraction going forward in years to come.

He's been Ditka'd. The drama around him is likely to wear this team and coaching staff out.

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You know me like that.

Come on, Doc. You're like my favorite poster on this board, but you think Cutler shouldn't be re-signed because of the fanbase not liking him? Is there a reason the fanbase doesn't like him? Is it possibly because his "talents" will demand a huge contract, but he has accomplished basically nothing in his career? I mean, at what point is it fair to criticize the guy? When is his "talent" completely mitigated by his lack of performance?

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pssst leash, doc is playing devils advocate

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

Not really because of that alone. But, don't you get the sense that the team will tire of this "controversy"?

If he plays poorly and loses to Green Bay, the entire off-season will be the Cutler Saga. Next year will be the booing at home and the questions to the team about "how is Jay", "do you support Jay", etc. It wears on a team.

Even if he gets off to a tremendous start in the first 4 games next year and then has a clunker, it will come up again "there's Old Jay".

He needs to fix the goodwill right now in these next 2 games or it will be too much of a distraction, IMO.

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You know me like that.

How about the next 5 games, my friends?


Agreed, but that is because of the meathead fans and media. If the Bears lose Sunday, the offseason saga should be how unbelievably putrid this defense was all season. Even just a below average defense and this team has 11 wins.

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Yes, I was equally shocked.

I agree with BRogue... in addition, the league is DIFFERENT now. "Efficient" passers are dominating the league. Peyton Manning (WEAK arm at this point in his career), Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Nick Foles, Alex Smith are all excelling...

Big-armed quarterbacks like Joe Flacco, Matt Stafford, Colin Kaepernick, Jay Cutler, and even Cam Newton are effective ONLY when they are also efficient. Their "big arms" mean very little in today's NFL unless they are also making quick, smart decisions.

I still fail to see how Cutler's "talent" is utilized in today's NFL outside of maybe one throw a game. Keeping an offense on time and in rhythm is much, much, much more important, and that is done through decision-making and a basic level of talent.

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I don't disagree with any of this. I just think it is a secondary reason not to re-sign him. I think the primary reason is that he's not good enough to warrant any type of big contract. That's what I'm saying.

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Yep... anybody who isn't a fan of Cutler is a meathead, Frank. Great counterpoint. Every time anyone criticizes Cutler, they are a meathead moron. You can only criticize ONE part of the Bears at a time. How do us meatheads not realize this!?

The only way this bit could be more tired is if you stole it from someone else...

Oh.. wait... you did...

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Not what I said, but keep jumping to conclusions.

The defense is the biggest problem with this team, and has been since week 2/3. The QB has been a problem at times, but is not the biggest issue. It is, however, the most polarizing issue so that is what will be made of it. Why would fans not want to fix the biggest problem with this team? Why would fans not want to talk about that. Defense has lost 3 road games against last place teams this season. If the Bears had won just two of those, the division would be wrapped up.

Most people who don't like Jay Cutler fail to realize that he is not the biggest problem with the Bears right now. Its the defense. Honestly, I don't know how you meatheads don't realize this?!.

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NO ONE IS SAYING THE DEFENSE DOESN'T NEED FIXING!

Is there any way to make you understand this? Do we need to use pictures? Are you a visual learner?

The Bears are facing a HUGE decision next year regarding what to do about QB. It's what this entire thread is based on. Many of us don't think the current QB, who has accomplished nothing in his career, is worth the money that many think the market will demand.

Where in my above statement did I say the Bears should trot out the 11 defensive players they have this year, next year? Why are the two mutually exclusive? What about what we are saying do you not understand? Please let us know immediately so we can tailor it to your understanding.

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I don't think he should be signed longterm either. I still don't think the franchise tag is a terrible option, but I'm not going to lose sleep if they let him walk either. You are the one that brought up the point of only talking bad about one aspect of the Bears.

Let me quote for you; Dr Ken painted a picture where Cutler performs below average and loses Sunday, the Bears sign/franchise him for next year and the talk all summer is Cutler this Cutler that. My point was that if the 2013 Bears are put to bed on Sunday afternoon, the offseason discussion should be about how bad the defense was, not how bad the offense/QB was at certain times.

Clear?

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Franchise him and trade him for a 2nd rounder.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Frank, please answer the following question...

Why not both?

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Uh...Why not both what?

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Really?

Why can't both the defense and quarterback be topics of conversation in the offseason? Why can't they both be addressed? Why are the two mutually exclusive, in your eyes?

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Anything can be discussed. Talk about the long snapper for all I care. Both can (and should) be addressed.

My opinion that the biggest problem with the 2013 Bears is the defense. If they miss the playoffs or lose in the playoffs, that will be the reason. Not Cutler, McCown, or Palmer.

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Let me also add that there are two very successful teams in the NFC right now (San Fran and Seattle) who are successful because they have adequate quarterbacks who cost very little and were able to spend the majority of their money on defense. The current league rules, in my opinion, favor efficient quarterbacks who don't cost a lot. Ironically, the current rules which undoubtedly favor offenses, favor teams who are able to plug in a QB who makes good decisions and get playmakers on defense who can overcome the rules that put them at a disadvantage.

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The franchise tag IS a terrible option if you want to see the defense improved.

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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

I guess our expectations are different. I want to win a Super Bowl. Signing an average QB to a huge contract inhibits the Bears ability to actually spend money on defense. Today's NFL allows for an efficient QB and a good system, and it would be stupid to sink a bunch of money into that position for a guy who isn't even elite.

In short, to fix the defense, you can't continue with Cutler.

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You can though, if you want to. Pretty easily. Lots of money, and lots of guys on the defensive side leaving. And Peppers alone could clear up lot.

Of course, it's possible. It is not probable when you give that much to your QB. It makes even less sense to give that much to a QB who isn't that good. Seattle and San Fran are great examples of this.

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Not wanting to give him the money because of how good/bad he is, is a different argument than the line I quoted, though.

There is not going to be enough money to sign/tag Cutler and fix the defense. In all likelihood there is not enough money to fix the defense in one offseason anyway.

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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