Jay Cutler Shocked and Disappointed With Benching
Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks on from the sideline during the last seconds of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
While speaking for the first time since being benched as the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback, Jay Cutler admitted to reporters on Thursday at Halas Hall that he was “shocked and disappointed” by the news.
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While speaking for the first time as the Chicago Bears’ backup quarterback, Jay Cutler admitted to being “shocked” and “disappointed” about being benched by head coach Marc Trestman.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Cutler said. “But any time you lose a lot of games and don’t do as well as you hoped, there’s a chance that could happen.”
Cutler certainly hasn’t been doing well this season as the quarterback leads the league in interceptions with 18 and also leads the league with a total of 24 turnovers. Cutler’s poor play reached a tipping point on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. Cutler flirted with a quarterback rating of 0.0 during the first half of the game against the Saints only to finish the game with a total of three interceptions and quarterback rating of 6.8.
After reviewing Cutler’s performance against the Saints, Trestman made the decision to bench Cutler. Cutler was asked on Thursday if he would be able play for Trestman next season.
“Yes … but we’d have to work on some things in the offseason that we could easily identify.”
“That’s not out of the question, in my book anyway,” Cutler added.
Such a scenario is out of the question. Trestman is likely to be fired after the season and Cutler, after his benching, may be on his way out of town as well.
Though, Cutler still is hoping to be in Chicago next season.
“I would like to stay here,” he said. “I really like it here. I love the guys in the locker room I get to play with. Clearly, it’s a different set of circumstances now. Looking forward, this is the place I want to be.”
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Part of the reason why Bears’ general manager Phil Emery may have gone along with Trestman’s decision to bench Cutler is because of what that means for a head coaching search after the season. Instead of forcing Cutler on a prospective head coach–a move that may scare candidates away–Emery will now have the ability to allow the prospective head coach to make the decision on whether or not Cutler is the team’s starting quarterback next season.
Cutler, however, admitted that the franchise may be second guessing their commitment to him.
“It’s a fair question. I don’t know if I can answer that,” Cutler said. “I think that is something for Phil, or the McCaskeys, or Trestman. In my role right now, I have to support Jimmy, and try to help him as much as possible. But of course, I wonder. That’s a natural response to wonder.
“Going forward, it is what it is. Whatever happens, after the season or in March …we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Cutler’s benching has ignited speculation that he will be traded in the off-season. All that is speculation until we know who the decision makers will be at Halas Hall. Trestman won’t be one of those decision makers as he will likely be fired after the season, and Emery may be in serious doubt of being a decision maker as well as rumors are growing that he too will be out after the season.