Non-committal or not, Bears showing their hand with Jay Cutler

Despite multiple chances to give quarterback Jay Cutler a vote of confidence last week at the NFL Combine, John Fox and Ryan Pace failed to do so. However, the way the Bears are set up, it seems like Cutler will indeed return to the Bears.

Chicago Bears head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace spoke to the media on Wednesday at the NFL Combine. When the duo was asked about quarterback Jay Cutler and his status with the team, neither one seemed willing to tip their hand.

“We’re not up against a deadline,” Fox said. “My experience has always been that you need to gather the information, and in turn, you usually make better decisions. We’re in that process, and we’ll keep you posted.”

It wasn’t a vote of confidence, but it wasn’t an indictment either. Pace seemed to share Fox’s views.

“Cutler has outstanding physical talent, there’s no denying that. It’s just getting to know the individual and all of the other intangibles that make a great quarterback. Again, that’s what we’re doing now. That really takes getting to know a person, right? So that’s the process we’re going through. Me and John have both been around all different kinds of quarterbacks, it’s just figuring out him as a person.”

Regardless of what Fox and Pace want to say publicly, it seems as though the duo wants to try to make it work with the quarterback. They’ve already started laying the foundation for it.

According to a story by ESPN Bears beat reporter Michael C. Wright, the hiring of both offensive coordinator Adam Gase and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains are strong indicators that Cutler will return.

Wright writes, “According to multiple sources, Cutler started to grow close to Gase after spending considerable time with the former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator at the wedding of former Bears quarterbacks coach Shane Day, a disciple of former Bears coordinator Mike Martz. Cutler has wanted to work with Gase for a long time. Interestingly, Martz tried to bring aboard Gase back in 2010 as the quarterbacks coach, but the Denver Broncos wouldn’t allow him out of his contract, which led to the hiring of Day.

“Back in 2012, Cutler wanted former Bears coach Lovie Smith to hire Loggains, but he wasn’t allowed out of his contract with the Tennessee Titans. Cutler and Loggains have a close personal relationship, according to sources, and both the quarterback and coach have wanted to work with one another for quite some time.”

This isn’t a case of the Bears trying to build around Cutler. And it shouldn’t be. Adam Gase was the best choice for offensive coordinator available once his quest for a head coaching position fell through. Dowell Loggains is a highly respected quarterbacks coach. They were logical choices to fill the Bears’ coaching vacancies and the Bears should rejoice that they chose to join Chicago.

It just so happens that they have connections with Jay as well. It’s a good thing. For once, the right choices happen to mesh well with Cutler rather than hoping and praying that a random choice makes for a good marriage.

Whether it be his contract that’s handcuffing the Bears, or no viable alternative to replace him in the draft or free agency, Fox and Pace seem to know that Cutler will be their quarterback next year. But, they are doing their part to make sure it’s not as big a detriment to the team. They are shifting to a run-first offense. By making Matt Forte the focus of the offense, it will reduce the burden on Cutler and open up the field vertically on play-action. That’s where Cutler’s gifts can be fully maximized.

Angry Bears fans will say he’s out of chances and has had too many excuses and has to go immediately. They’ll say that he’s paid like an elite quarterback and therefore should be able to handle the star load. The latter is a fair point.

But, they fail to understand that it doesn’t matter. Half of the NFL would give an arm and a leg to have this sort of quarterback problem. A supreme talent who has had some past success and is still in his prime? Give me that over an unknown who isn’t close to Cutler’s talent or ceiling, just because he’s different, any day of the week.

Overpaid? Yes. But, someone was going to pay for him. And the Bears would be stuck with nobody. And sorry, Josh McCown is a nobody.

It’s worth seeing what Cutler can do in an offense that’s FINALLY tailored to his strengths. If he fails, I’ll be the first one in line to wave goodbye to the Cutler Caravan. In the meantime, he’s the best chance the Bears have got.

Pace and Fox seem to understand that too; even if they won’t say it yet.

Next: Ryan Pace Faces Interesting Test

Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports