No Clever Moniker wrote:
The money to get rid of everyone the fans want to dump ain't chump change. If everyone from Phil Emery on down has to prove their worth, then benching Cutler to give them that opportunity to prove their value is the smart thing to do. Trestman was successful last year without Cutler, now he gets to prove his value. Emery gets a chance to show that his roster isn't a dumpster fire, just that his QB is a pyro.
Its about getting value for the money invested. Because this game involves human capital there are no guarantees that you can burn money successfully. Why get rid of everybody if getting rid of one (Cutler) will do? If by benching Cutler the offense comes alive then you know what the problem is and at worst you bring him back with the simple instruction of run the offense or sit on the bench. In the best case, you determine the problem and someone else is willing to take the risk and make a deal for him.
Kromer wasn't wrong in what he was saying, just that he said it. That bell has been rung. But the most pragmatic way to go forward as far as protecting McCaskey money is to get value for what you have. If Clausen is effective then the onus shifts to Cutler, and the organization can get another year for the value (next season) and stability remains the overriding theme to the situation.
I have a different take on it. The last straw for Cutler was wearing the Vanderbilt hat at the press conference after his latest debacle game against the Saints. The McCaskeys must have thought we're paying this guy $100 million plus, and he cannot even represent the Bears properly in front of the media. (Cutler might as well have worn his hat sideways). Vanderbilt ain't the one signing his checks. So they finally got some balls and said, F him, he's done here.
People who have said, "Well, you're devaluing him by not playing him" are a bunch of dopes. Not playing him doesn't change anything. Cutler is what he is, a flawed player with gifts but never lived up to his potential. He is still good trade bait for the Bears. I'm a sure there are teams that would trade for him, at least a 2nd rounder, and pay up to $10 million per year to take his contract.