The How to Guide to Quarterbacking

In the last week, since their loss to Green Bay, there has been a great deal of national backlash towards Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.  His actions on and off the field towards his left tackle J'Marcus Webb, who he yelled and shoved, have been picked apart more than a frog in a science class.

The national media and even fans in Chicago have questioned Jay's skills as a quarterback, his potential to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, and even his attitude as a human being. 

Jay came to the Bears, via trade from Denver, with the hope of better things to come from the quarterback position.  He came with a jet powered rocket arm and a ceiling as high as any Bears fan had seen in decades from a quarterback.   

What he didn't come with is a how-to-manual for it is supposed to take to be an NFL quarterback.

So Jay has shown some angst towards his offensive linemen.  He has displayed an apparent lack of etiquette towards other players.  He has shown a possible displeasure with the media. 

Really?  Who cares?

Jay has, in the past three years, reason to be upset with his offensive line.  He has been sacked over 100 times and that doesn't count the number of times he got rid of the ball and then was face planted by a rushing linebacker.  This is also a number that would clearly be larger had he not gotten hurt halfway through last year.

The game he had against the Packers was extremely sub par.  I will definitely not argue against that.  He through 4 picks and put his team in too many holes to dig out of. 

He was trying to do everything himself and make a play.  It is the same issue that Michael Vick puts the Eagles in when things go south, Vick tries to make something happen. 

When you are constantly feeling pressure from the pass rush and spending the majority of the game on your backside it gets frustrating.  Jay has stated himself he wants to win and has a passion for this game. 

This is what you want in your teams quarterback.  You want them to be fiery.  I am OK with him yelling at his offensive line and other skill position players. 

This is big boy football not pee-wee football. 

The problem I have with this situation is that fact Jay shoved J'Marcus.  You don't put your hands on anyone and think it will make the situation better.  Hitting or shoving never amounts to success.  Only bad things come from that form of aggression. 

I am; however, OK with him getting in Webb's face.  Jay is an emotional player in an immensely emotional game.  He reminds me of a great deal of Jim McMahon, pictured left. 

The "punky QB" was a bit off his rocker and fiery and it worked for Ditka's Bears.  He played with the passion and personality of the city of Chicago.  I think if Bears fans really think about what they have in Jay Cutler they would agree with me that he possesses these same traits.

I also feel the fans and media types out there who have been upset with Jay's play during that Thursday niter are suffering from early onset dementia.  They only remember one game and don't remember what it was like in his other games or what the Bears had at the quarterback position going back the last twenty years. 

Let me refresh your memories for what it was like before Jay Cutler landed in Chi-town.  Here are the quarterbacks who started the majority of games during the past 20+ years.

1990-93 - Jim Harbaugh.  I think he found his true calling as a head coach an not a starting quarterback.

1994 - Steve Walsh.  Isn't he the guy who hosts America's Most Wanted?

1995 - Erik Kramer.  Wasn't he hilarious when he would enter Jerry Seinfeld's apartment.



1996 - Dave Krieg.  The #3 all-time NFL fumbles leader.  Nice legacy!

1997-98 - Again Erik Kramer.  I think this is when he started Kramerica Industries.

1999 - Shane Matthews.  Clay Matthews craps bigger than this guy.

2000 - Cade McNown, left.  Is best know for possessing an illegal handicapped parking placard while at UCLA.  Class act on and off the field.

2001-02 - Jim Miller.  Man was tough as nails and damn near used them in his coffin after all his injuries.

2003 - Kordell Stewart.  "Slash" was more like "Slush" in Chicago weather.

2004 - Craig Krenzel and Chad Hutchinson.  I went into deep, deep hibernation during this season.


2005 - Kyle Orton.  Benefited from super defense and got to showcase his tremendous neck beard.

2006-07 - Rex Grossman.  Just good enough to not to screw things up for defense and had lone Super Bowl appearance since '85 team.

2008 - Again Kyle Orton.  See 2005.

2009-Present.  Jay Cutler.  As you can see the Chicago Bears have been praying for years for a franchise talented quarterback and they finally went out and got one.  The list of  signal callers is amazingly bad and now having someone with Jays talent and ability should make all Bears fans happy. 

I for one don't want to go back to what the Bears used to have calling the shots.     

They have questioned his ability to lead this team to a Super Bowl.  He had the Bears in the NFC title game two years ago and hurt his knee.  They questioned his toughness then and it was found he tried to come back in and was medically told not to.  He wants to win.  

They questioned his skills and ability to lead his team.  Last year the Bears were the hottest team in the NFL and sitting pretty at 7-3.  Jay was the toast of the town and then the wheels fell off when he  broke his thumb.  Again people saw what the Bears were with Jay at the helm and what the Bears weren't when he was hurt. 

Without Cutler the Bears are a mediocre football team. 

With him they are a contender. 

This year is only two games old for the 2012 Chicago Bears.  They host a feisty group of St. Louis Rams on Sunday who have adopted the personality of their head coach Jeff Fisher (former Bear).  They are in a rebuilding period and should be cure to what ales the Bears.

Jay will bounce back and show everyone again he is what the Bears have coveted for soooo long. 

He didn't come with a manual but...

What real man would read the manual anyway?