Jay Cutler

NFC Notes: 49ers, Glennon, Bears

February 12th, 2017 at 7:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Longtime running backs coach Tom Rathman won’t return to the 49ers‘ staff despite Kyle Shanahan‘s interest in retaining him. Shanahan recently gave Rathman’s job to veteran running backs instructor Bobby Turner after promising he would upon landing a head coaching position. Rathman will pursue options elsewhere as a result.

“I’m not going to be back,” Rathman said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I feel like it’s the best for everybody if I just parted and let those guys do their thing and take me out of the equation so that nobody’s uncomfortable. I’m looking to coach running backs and that’s what I want to do. I’m just going to wait for the next opportunity and go for it when it happens.”

Shanahan and new GM John Lynch met with Rathman on Thursday in an attempt to find another position for him, but the 54-year-old coach didn’t think such a role existed that made sense. Rathman coached the 49ers’ backs since 2009 and previously served on Steve Mariucci’s staff from 1997-2002, doing so after a playing career highlighted by starting roles on two 49ers Super Bowl champions. Rathman told Maiocco he would take a year off if necessary but wants to stay in the NFL coaching ranks.

Here’s more out of San Francisco and other NFC cities.

Should Colin Kaepernick not opt out of his 49ers deal, Maiocco expects the team to release him to avoid being on the hook for a $14.9MM salary in 2017. The sides could then discuss another contract, with Kaepernick potentially opening a door to a return by contacting Lynch recently. Lynch and Kaepernick are expected to meet in the near future. Kaepernick has vacillated on the opt-out decision. He would generate interest on the market and add another big name to the list of potentially available quarterbacks, joining Jay Cutler, Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers have been linked to both Cutler and Garoppolo, along with Kirk Cousins, who could be Shanahan’s first choice.
Speaking of Cutler, the Bears extending the polarizing talent in 2014 came against the preference of members of the then-Marc Trestman-led coaching staff, but then-GM Phil Emery made the move anyway, John Mullen of CSNChicago.com writes. The Bears are now likely to move on from Cutler after eight seasons since the aforementioned seven-year, $126MM contract leaves them a 2017 escape hatch.
Mullen adds the conventional sense is Brian Hoyer will return to the Bears as a stopgap solution. Hoyer threw for 300 yards in four of five starts before going down with a broken arm, completing 67 percent of his passes and not throwing an interception. The UFA passer could have options as a backup plan for other teams, however, forcing the Bears to up the ante if they want to keep the 31-year-old passer. Bringing Hoyer back as a mentor-type player for a to-be-determined draft pick — and short-term starter — strikes Mullen as a reasonable idea due to the team’s positive view of him as a veteran leader.
Mike Glennon serves as another UFA option, but has an interesting profile. At least six teams inquired about Glennon’s availability during the 2014 draft to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht, per FanRag Sports’ Roy Cummings, but that interest diminished as years passed. Glennon drew “a couple” of trade inquiries in the 2015 draft, and the soon-to-be backup quarterback did not draw any offers during the ’16 draft or before last season’s trade deadline, Cummings notes. However, his sample size — 18 starts, with 30 TD passes and 15 INTs mixed in — makes him a less volatile commodity than Brock Osweiler in Cummings’ mind. Glennon is expected to draw interest as a free agent, with the bidding potentially going as high as $15MM per year. The Jets are reportedly intrigued by Jameis Winston‘s former backup.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Cutler, Watson

February 9th, 2017 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

Will new Jets quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates bring Jay Cutler to New York? One recent report indicated that’s a possibility, but Rich Cimini of ESPN.com hears the Jets will not be suitors for the Bears QB. From what Cimini can glean, Tyrod Taylor (if he’s released by the Bills) and free agent Mike Glennon are higher on the team’s wish list than Cutler. Cutler is expected to be released by the Bears in the coming weeks and you can expect him to be the subject of many rumors, some including the QB-needy Jets.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

The Jets are reportedly putting in “extensive work” on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News would be surprised if Watson is in consideration for the Jets’ No. 6 overall pick. To date, Mehta says he hasn’t spoken to any talent evaluator who believes that Watson is worthy of a Top 10 pick. Of course, the draft isn’t strictly about talent and the best player available. Teams often reach for players, particularly quarterbacks, and it’s not out of the question that a team could take him early if they believe he’s a future star.
Should the Dolphins pursue free agent tight end Martellus Bennett? James Walker of ESPN.com writes that he would provide the big, athletic playmaker in the middle of the field that Ryan Tannehill needs. By the same token, he’d be an expensive addition. The Dolphins could instead find a tight end in the draft this year. The TE class is headlined by Alabama’s O.J. Howard and the University of Miami’s David Njoku.
Should the Patriots stock up for their repeat championship bid by trading quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo? Click here to cast your vote.
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is reportedly on the Browns’ radar. Meanwhile, Taylor says he hopes to remain with Buffalo.

QB Jay Cutler A “Possibility” For Jets

February 8th, 2017 at 3:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have hired Jeremy Bates as their new quarterbacks coach, the club announced today. While Bates’ addition seems fairly innocuous, the fact that he previously served as QBs coach in Denver with Jay Cutler, who is expected to become a free agent soon, has already provided a possible link between Cutler and Gang Green. Indeed, Cutler is considered a “possibility” for New York, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who notes that any union would be dependent on an appropriate price tag.

Cutler is expected to be released by the Bears in the coming weeks, and he could make for an interesting bounceback candidate under Bates and new New York offensive coordinator John Morton. With Bates’ assistance, Cutler posted perhaps the best season of his career in 2008, passing for more than 4,500 yards and 25 touchdowns while managing a Total Quarterback Rating of 67.09. Those numbers are a far cry from Cutler’s disastrous 2016 campaign, when mounting injuries limited him to five starts.

The 33-year-old Cutler is just the latest quarterback to be linked to the Jets this offseason, as the club has also been tied to draft prospects Deshaun Watson and Mitch Trubisky and pending free agent Mike Glennon. New York has two signal-callers already on its roster, but the team’s front office reportedly has doubts that either Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg will develop into more than a backup-caliber passer.

In addition to Bates, the Jets announced the hiring of three other coaches: offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi, offensive assistant Jason Vrable, and assistant strength coach Joe Giacobbe.

49ers Could Have Interest In Jay Cutler

February 8th, 2017 at 8:35am CST by Dallas Robinson

If the 49ers aren’t able to land quarterbacks Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, the club may express interest in veteran Jay Cutler, two sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).

[RELATED: 49ers Hire Kyle Shanahan]

New San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is expected to pursue Cousins, whom he previously coached in Washington, but the Redskins are unlikely to let their signal-caller get away without a fight. Garoppolo, too, may be on the table, but the Patriots have reportedly placed a high asking price on its backup quarterback, and the 49ers would have competition for his services. Matt Schaub has also been tossed out as a possible bridge option for the Niners, but Cutler would present an even more intriguing option in the same vein.

Shanahan doesn’t have a working relationship with Cutler, but his father does, as Mike Shanahan traded up in the 2006 draft to select Cutler while serving as head coach of the Broncos. Not only does Kyle Shanahan employ many of the same offensive schemes as did his father, but new 49ers general manager John Lynch played for Mike Shanahan, and is said to be willing to accept advice from the longtime NFL coach. As such, a somewhat tangential connection between Cutler and San Francisco could appear a bit more realistic.

The Bears are fully expected to release Cutler in the coming months, clearing $14MM in cap space by doing so. If and when he becomes a free agent, Cutler — despite his lackluster 2016 results — would be among the best quarterbacks available on the open market, joining Cousins, Mike Glennon, and Brian Hoyer.

Bears Notes: Pace, Fox, Jeffery, Cutler, Staff

January 4th, 2017 at 9:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Armed with significant cap space and the third overall pick in this year’s draft, the Bears should be in position to bounce back from their three-win 2016 next season. General manager Ryan Pace is cognizant of that, as he told reporters Wednesday that the Bears are “going to be aggressive and calculated” in the coming months. “This offseason’s huge,” he said (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). “And I think there’s a big responsibility with that much cap space, (picking) this high in the draft. It’s a significant offseason for us. And we’ve got to get going in that direction.”

The Bears have gone just 9-23 in two years under Pace and head coach John Fox, but chairman George McCaskey hasn’t put either on the hot seat. “I’m not a patient person but I promised (Pace) that I would be patient,” he stated (via the Associated Press). “With all the adversity that we’ve had, I like the steady hand that he and John have had on the team.”

Jets Notes: Quarterbacks, Mangold, Revis

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:01am CST by Ben Levine

Geno Smith hasn’t shown the ability to lead a team during his four years in the league, but you can’t knock the quarterback’s confidence. Talking to Fred Kerber of the New York Post, the 26-year-old said he agrees with his mother when she says the signal-caller’s best is yet to come.

“My mom told me something that was pretty special,” Smith said. “She’d been going to my games since I was a kid and never missed a game. And these past few years, I missed more games than I missed in my life and she said, ‘There’s always a time for that, there’s always a season where you feel like things aren’t going right. And then what comes after that is usually the best part of your life.’”

For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Rich Cimini (via Twitter) wouldn’t rule out Smith sticking around with the Jets in 2017, but he ultimately believes it’s “unlikely.” Smith is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

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

Speaking of quarterbacks, Cimini can’t envision the team cutting bait with Bryce Petty (Twitter link). Furthermore, even considering Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s impending free agency, the writer can’t see the team selecting a quarterback in this year’s draft. Instead, Cimini points to a pair of veteran quarterbacks the Jets could pursue: Mike Glennon and Jay Cutler.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com believes the Jets could cut veteran offensive lineman Nick Mangold this offseason. However, the writer cautions that the team could offer him a “token pay cut” like they did with D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY writes that it “remains possible” that cornerback Darrelle Revis could return to the Jets next season. Fitzgerald tweets that the Jets are on the hook for $6MM of Revis’ salary, so they might as well get some return on the investment. Earlier this week, the veteran cornerback dismissed reports that he’s ready to retire.

Bears’ Jay Cutler Done For Season

December 1st, 2016 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears hoped for better news. Jay Cutler hoped for better news. Ultimately, however, the quarterback has learned that he will have to undergo shoulder surgery, the team announced. Cutler will be placed on IR and shut down for the remainder of the season.

Today’s news might mean that Cutler has thrown his final pass as a member of the Bears. For months, we have been hearing that the Bears intend to move on from the veteran. Recently, however, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Bears could circle back to Cutler if only because of the lack of options elsewhere. UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky has gotten positive reviews from scouts, but overall this year’s draft class is lacking in options. In free agency, top available QB Kirk Cousins will cost a king’s ransom – that is, if he is even available. One has to imagine that the Redskins will retain him, either via a second franchise tag or a long-term deal.

Cutler’s season ends with a 59.1% completion percentage and a weak 4-to-5 touchdown/interception ratio.

The Bears are expected to continue with USC product Matt Barkley as the starting quarterback. David Fales, a 2014 sixth-round pick of the Bears who wandered around a bit this year, was recently welcomed back to serve as the No. 2 QB.

Could Jay Cutler Remain In Chicago In 2017?

November 27th, 2016 at 9:35am CST by Rory Parks

It has long been speculated that the Bears would jettison quarterback Jay Cutler after the 2016 season as they search for a younger option with more upside. Cutler’s contract has largely driven that speculation, as the seven-year, $126MM deal that he signed with the Bears in January 2014 provides for no more guaranteed money once the 2016 campaign is over. As such, Chicago could save $14MM against the cap by releasing Cutler, thereby allowing the club to start afresh at the quarterback position.

But while Cutler’s release is still a strong possibility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the Vanderbilt product could remain in the Windy City next year. After all, he is owed a $12.5MM base salary in 2017 to go along with $2.5MM in roster bonuses, which is hardly unpalatable for a starting signal-caller in today’s NFL. Plus, this year’s quarterback draft class is considered very weak, and Brian Hoyer, who performed well in limited action for the Bears this season before he was placed on IR with a broken forearm, will be a free agent at season’s end. And even though head coach John Fox is far from Cutler’s biggest fan, Fox is no lock to keep his job.

From my vantage point, it would still be something of a surprise to see Cutler back with Chicago in 2017. For the last several seasons, a quarterback has not been the best player on the board when the Bears have been on the clock, and it would not have made sense for the team to reach for a signal-caller when they had a solid quarterback on the roster with guaranteed money still to be paid. But now that the guaranteed money is gone, it would be especially difficult to continue with a 33-year-old quarterback who has a 51-51 record and only one playoff victory in seven-plus seasons in Chicago.

Cutler, of course, is also dealing with significant injury concerns. He has a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, which has already been beset by significant wear-and-tear from years of bumps, bruises, and countless throws. The result is painful tendonitis that threatens to end his season, although he has not been officially ruled out for the remainder of 2016.

At this point, the Bears may need to make a change just for change’s sake. Though Cutler enjoyed a strong season under former offensive coordinator Adam Gase in 2015, he is clearly not the long-term solution in Chicago, and the Bears should probably divert their resources elsewhere in 2017.

Bears’ Jay Cutler Not Done For Season?

November 23rd, 2016 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Jay Cutler has a torn labrum in his shoulder that will rule him out for the season. Unless he doesn’t. Speaking to reporters today, coach John Fox indicated that Cutler’s injury is not a season-ender, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Fox referred to the injury as a “day-to-day” situation.

Yesterday’s report on Cutler’s injury noted that the quarterback would seek a second opinion on his shoulder, which left the door open to a more favorable diagnosis. It sounds like Cutler got the good news he was looking for. The veteran quarterback won’t be playing to put the 2-8 Bears in playoff contention, but he could strengthen his case as he nears free agency. It seems unlikely that Chicago will welcome him back in 2017, so a strong finish to the year will be crucial for Cutler’s market.

This year, Cutler has a 59.1% completion percentage with a weak 4-to-5 touchdown/interception ratio. Still, he’s not far removed from a solid 2014 campaign and plenty of QB-needy teams would roll the dice on Cutler if he can show some signs of life this winter.

If Cutler does miss some time, Matt Barkley will start with the newly-(re)acquired David Fales as the No. 2.

Jay Cutler Done For Season

November 22nd, 2016 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is believed to have a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Cutler is now getting a second opinion on the shoulder, but barring something unexpected, he’s done for the season.

Cutler was struggling before Sunday’s injury with a weak 59.1% completion percentage and a 4-to-5 TD-INT ratio. Now, he faces an uncertain future as Chicago will likely move on from him in the offseason. The Bears, now 2-8, can cut ties with Cutler after the season without any financial penalty.

In 2014, Cutler completed a career high 66% of his passes and threw 28 touchdowns (also a career high) against 18 interceptions. Last year, however, his performance fell off and he declined further in 2016. With plenty of teams in the market for a quarterback, however, Cutler should have no trouble finding work. He will, however, be in for a sizable pay cut. The Vanderbilt product is earning $17MM this season and it’s doubtful that he’ll land an eight-figure deal after two disappointing campaigns.

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