Jay Cutler - Pro Football Rumors

FA Rumors: Charles, Hightower, Cutler, Bills

March 9th, 2017 at 2:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agency rumors from around the league:

Jamaal Charles will visit the Seahawks next week, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. The Seahawks’ interest in Charles was first reported on Thursday morning. If he signs with Seattle, he’ll join Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise on the RB depth chart.
A Dont’a Hightower/Patriots re-up remains on the table, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (on Twitter) the parties remain in good communication about keeping Hightower in New England.
The Jets‘ interest in Jay Cutler is being reciprocated by the veteran quarterback, Rapoport notes (on Twitter). The Bears released Cutler today after eight seasons.
Malcolm Smith will receive a raise from the 49ers after his two years with the Raiders. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets it’s a five-year, $26.5MM deal for the outside ‘backer, with $13MM guaranteed. This $5.3MM-AAV pact represents quite the bump from his $3.5MM deal in Oakland, one that didn’t come with rave reviews from the advanced metrics community.
The Bills remain interested in retaining Lorenzo Alexander, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets. The sides are continuing to work at completing a deal for the edge defender. Although the Bills are moving to a 4-3 scheme, Alexander — who thrived as a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the form of 12.5 sacks in 2016 — looks to still be part of their plans.
It sounds like the Bills and Lions are in the lead for wide receiver Russell Shepard (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). He could still wind up returning to the Buccaneers.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Extra Points: Bears, Cutler, Bills, Gilmore, Kendricks, Eagles

March 9th, 2017 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but the Bears tried to trade Jay Cutler before releasing him on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. After his 2016 struggles, teams were not willing to take on his contract. He’s now a free agent.

Here’s more from around the NFL:.

Bills brass decided well before the 2016 season they wouldn’t pay Stephon Gilmore anything close to the $14MM/year figure he’ll reportedly get from the Patriots, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets.
There has been no movement on a potential Mychal Kendricks trade for the Eagles, a source tells Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). He’ll see his $4.35MM salary guaranteed if he remains on the roster on Saturday.
The Falcons had talks about defensive tackle Terrell McClain, according to source who spoke with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, McClain will be joining up with Washington on a multi-year deal.
The Eagles have some interest in bringing back Stefen Wisniewski, Mike Kaye of First Coast News tweets. Wisniewski has the ability to play either guard or center and did well in starts at left guard last season.

Bears Release QB Jay Cutler

March 9th, 2017 at 12:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are releasing quarterback Jay Cutler, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Cutler asked for and was granted his release on Thursday morning. He is now a free agent and free to sign with any team. The Bears have since confirmed the move via press release.

Cutler’s release has been anticipated for some time now and it more or less solidified by the Bears’ free agent deal with Mike Glennon. Because Cutler was the one to ask for his deal to be terminated, it’s possible that the Bears asked him to serve as Glennon’s No. 2 quarterback. Cutler, who has been a longtime starter, presumably would have rejected such a proposal.

Right now, Cutler has to be considered one of the best free agent quarterback options out there along with Tony Romo. Cutler didn’t have such a hot 2016, but he is a starter with experience and teams in need of a short-term option under center will have interest. The Jets are already interested in Cutler, according to Schefter (Twitter link), and New York could conceivably add Cutler as something of a bridge quarterback while developing a younger option.

Cutler, 33, spent most of the 2016 campaign sidelined by injuries, and wasn’t effective when he was on the field. In five starts, Cutler tossed four touchdowns against five interceptions, and posted a Total Quarterback Rating of just 33.1. He’s been loosely to linked to a couple of clubs this offseason, but no team has expressed any known solid interest.

The Bears reportedly tried to trade Cutler earlier this year, but were rebuffed. Meanwhile, Cutler has apparently tossed out the idea of retirement, although that could simply be a negotiating ploy.

NFC Rumors: Bucs, Glennon, Graham

March 1st, 2017 at 1:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Buccaneers GM Jason Licht expects quarterback Mike Glennon to test the open market, but the door is not closed to a return, as Alex Marvez of the Sporting News tweets. Licht added that the team offered Glennon a contract extension “quite a while ago.”

In a weak crop of free agent quarterbacks, Glennon stands as one of the best available options. Glennon hasn’t seen the field much since the Bucs drafted Jameis Winston in 2015, but talent evaluators are still bullish on the 6’7″ signal caller. The 27-year-old could wind up as someone’s starter in 2017. At worst, he should command a handsome payday as a backup.

With tons of news coming out of the Combine today, here’s a look at all things NFC:

General manager John Schneider says there is no question that Jimmy Graham will be part of Seahawks next season, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. The Seahawks could have opened up $10MM in spending room with no dead money by releasing the tight end.
Bears GM Ryan Pace used the term “fluid” describe Jay Cutler’s situation and said keeping him is an option (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times). Personally, I don’t think the Bears will seriously entertain another season with Cutler.
The Buccaneers are not expected to aggressively pursue Adrian Peterson at this point, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Things can change, but the team still has “loose plans” for Doug Martin, Fowler adds.
The Cardinals are scheduled to meet with Calais Campbell’s agent this week in Indy, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. Campbell is slated to be an unrestricted free agent March 9 and Arizona has at least some interest in finding out what it would cost to bring him back. I have Campbell ranked as the most talented edge defender on the market this year, so I would not be surprised to see the Cardinals get outbid for him.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says the team would like to have Chris Johnson back next year (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). Last month, we ranked Johnson as one of the 15 best running backs in free agency.
Arians says the Cardinals wants to re-sign cornerback Marcus Cooper, but his price be too high (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). When asked about Cooper and other potential defensive losses, Arians said, “hopefully we’re prepared.”
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians hopes the team will retain center A.Q. Shipley (Twitter link via Weinfuss).

Jets Notes: Quarterbacks, Harris, Cap Room

February 25th, 2017 at 10:10am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets will surely be exploring every possible option when it comes to the quarterback position, and WFAN host Boomer Esiason believes Chiefs signal-caller Alex Smith would be an excellent fit for the organization.

“He can handle the crap if he has to,” Esiason told Connor Hughes of NJ.com. “He would be a very steady influence and somebody who is in the midst of his prime. And he knows the West Coast offense. I’m assuming that’s what [offensive coordinator] Johnny Morton is going to be running?

“There’s no way Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are going to be ready for that. They’re just not ready for it. Alex has, obviously, played his entire career in it.”

Of course, Smith would only be available if the Chiefs acquire an upgrade at the position. This past season, the 32-year-old completed 67.1-percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a career-high 3,502 passing yards. The veteran’s cap hit is expected to be around $16.9MM next season, and he’s signed through the 2018 campaign.

Let’s take a look at some other notes coming out of the Big Apple…

Speaking of quarterbacks, NFL.com’s Charley Casserly believes Bears veteran Jay Cutler would be a fit for the Jets… as long as he can handle the media. Cutler has a history with wideout Brandon Marshall, and he’s also played for quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. The 33-year-old appeared in only five games this season, marking the seventh-straight campaign that he failed to play in all 16 games.
Darryl Slater of NJ.com believes that the Jets restructuring linebacker David Harris‘ contract would be “ideal.” The veteran is set to enter the final year of his deal, and the team could free up $6.5MM by cutting him loose. However, Slater believes the 33-year-old can still play, and a lower salary may be the better option than simply cutting him.
Slater also points out that the Jets have already cleared $17.5MM be cutting Ryan Clady, Breno Giacomini, and Nick Folk. The team could free up at least another $30MM by releasing Marshall, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, and Marcus Gilchrist.

Jay Cutler Mulling Retirement

February 22nd, 2017 at 8:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the Bears are trying to trade him, quarterback Jay Cutler is “one of several veterans who are still considering whether they want to play” in 2017, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).

Cutler is working out and rehabbing as he nears full health, and is expected to be able to pass a physical by next month, as Rapoport reported earlier today. The 33-year-old probably wouldn’t be going through that process — at least publicly — unless he was willing to continue his career in 2017, and it’s possible that Cutler is simply frustrated by his recent injury luck, poor play, and the rumors surrounding his status in Chicago.

Of course, by even mentioning the possibility of retirement, Cutler could be attempting to control his own landing spot. If the Bears reach a trade agreement with a club Cutler doesn’t want to play for, he could use the threat of retirement in order to force the acquiring team to back out a potential deal. That’s entirely speculation, but Cutler probably prefers to choose his next destination rather than having it assigned by the Bears, and talk of him hanging up his cleats could help him accomplish that goal.

Bears QB Jay Cutler Nearing Full Health

February 22nd, 2017 at 5:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is working to recover from shoulder surgery and is likely to be able to pass a physical by March, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Chicago is reportedly working to trade Cutler, and a clean bill of health could give interested clubs a bit more confidence in pursuing the veteran signal-caller.

Although the Bears are attempting to deal quarterback Cutler, they aren’t expecting much in return, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports Chicago would accept a 2019 seventh-round pick in exchange for its embattled signal-caller. That’s probably a bit of hyperbole on the part of La Canfora, but it’s evidence of just how difficult it will be for the Bears to find another team to accept Cutler and his current contract. An acquiring club would take on four years and more than $72MM by trading for Cutler, although none of that money is guaranteed.

Cutler, 33, spent most of the 2016 campaign sidelined by injuries, and wasn’t effective when he was on the field. In five starts, Cutler tossed four touchdowns against five interceptions, and posted a Total Quarterback Rating of just 33.1. He’s been loosely to linked to a couple of clubs this offseason, but no team has expressed any known solid interest.

Bears Shopping Jay Cutler

February 21st, 2017 at 5:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears are “actively” looking to trade quarterback Jay Cutler, according to Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cutler was informed of Chicago’s plan when it began in mid-January, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Chicago is expected to move on from Cutler this offseason, and while a release still looks like the expected outcome, a trade is certainly possible given the dearth of signal-callers around the league. Cutler, 33, is signed for four more seasons with cap charges between $16MM and $21.7MM each year. Nearly all of those figures are tied up in base salary, so while an acquiring club would be responsible for those totals, none of that money is guaranteed, meaning Cutler would essentially be a year-to-year proposition.

In the past month, Cutler has been loosely linked to a couple of quarterback-needy teams, including the 49ers and Jets, though no club has expressed solid interest (the Cardinals, for one, are decidedly not interested). That no team has begun strong negotiations for Cutler is unsurprising given both his salary and the results of his 2016 campaign, during which he was hampered by injuries and managed a Total Quarterback Rating of just 33.1 in five starts.

Dealing Cutler would allow the Bears to not only clear $14MM in cap space (vaulting them into the top-five in terms of NFL room), but signify the official start of Chicago’s hunt for a new quarterback. Matt Barkley remains on the roster as a restricted free agent, while veteran Brian Hoyer is unrestricted but could be retained. However, the Bears will likely explore all avenues as it searches for a franchise passer, undertaking a lengthy exercise by scouring both the draft and trade market.

Cardinals Not Interested In Jay Cutler

February 21st, 2017 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this week, Peter King of The MMQB.com mused that a deal between quarterback Jay Cutler and the Cardinals this offseason wouldn’t be “shocking.” Apparently, Cutler signing in Arizona would indeed be a surprise. The Cardinals have zero interest in Jay Cutler, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets.

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians isn’t afraid to take chances on veteran players and his offenses tend to take chances deep down the field. Still, Cutler apparently isn’t of interest to the Cardinals. While the Cardinals are looking for a quarterback who can take over after Carson Palmer retires, they’d probably prefer to groom a younger player instead of signing a QB on the wrong side of 30 who would rather be starting somewhere else.

Cutler and the Bears are likely to part ways this offseason. It’s not clear where Cutler might land after that point and that’s probably because he’s more of a Plan B or Plan C guy than anyone’s primary target. Cutler, 34 in April, may or may not be a fit for the Jets. The 49ers could also have interest in Cutler as a transitional QB.

AFC Notes: Smith, Tyrod, Cutler, Steelers

February 14th, 2017 at 7:39pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Already under police investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident that took place last Saturday, Raiders pass rusher Aldon Smith is now on the NFL’s radar, writes Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. “We are looking in to the matter,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told McDonald in an email Tuesday. Smith has been serving a substance abuse suspension since November 2015 and has a chance to gain reinstatement in March, but the league could push back its decision or even hand him an indefinite ban as a result of his latest off-field issue, per McDonald.

Elsewhere in the AFC…

If the Bills move on from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, they should sign soon-to-be released Bears signal-caller Jay Cutler to replace him, opines Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com in a piece focusing on potential offseason moves in the AFC East. Tony Romo or Jimmy Garoppolo are more appealing choices, Barnwell acknowledges, but he doesn’t expect the former to sign in Buffalo (if the Cowboys cut him) or the Patriots to trade the latter within the division. If those two are unattainable, the draft could be an option, though Barnwell argues that the Bills shouldn’t reach for a QB with the 10th overall pick. That would leave Cutler as the most logical solution. Not only would he come on a short-term deal, but he’d reunite with new Bills offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. Cutler played under Dennison in Denver and has spoken highly of him in the past.
Speaking of Taylor, the Browns’ hiring of his former quarterbacks coach, David Lee, increased the passer’s odds of ending up in Cleveland, contends Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Taylor, who’s on the Browns’ “radar,” played under Lee in Buffalo the past two seasons and fared respectably in his first 29 games as a starter. The former Baltimore backup would replace Robert Griffin III, whom Cabot expects the Browns to release before his roster bonus is due March 11.
The Steelers’ contract talks with wide receiver Antonio Brown and linebacker Lawrence Timmons don’t figure to move quickly, tweets CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, who expects running back Le’Veon Bell to be their biggest priority. Unlike Brown, who has another year on his deal, both Timmons and Bell could become free agents next month. Bell is clearly the more valuable of the two, of course, and the Steelers will place the franchise tag on the runner if they’re unable to re-sign him.