Report: Jay Cutler considering retirement

In wake of trade rumors surrounding his name, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is reportedly considering retirement.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has already begun to insert his control over the team’s decision to shop him.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Wednesday evening that Cutler is considering retirement.

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The report of Cutler considering retirement comes at an interesting time. At the beginning of this week, multiple reports confirmed that the Bears have begun actively shopping Cutler. At this point, it is a foregone conclusion that Cutler will not be a member of the Bears’ organization once the 2017 season starts.

There is a chance that Cutler is seriously mulling retirement, after all, the veteran quarterback has been riddled with injuries since being acquired by the Bears in 2009 and there is no longer any guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Though, there also is much a greater chance that Cutler is using the threat of retirement to create leverage for himself.

The fact that there is no guaranteed money remaining on Cutler’s contract is the exact reason why the quarterback may be using “retirement” as a ploy to control where he lands next season. If Cutler does not want to be traded to a team like the New York Jets, the quarterback could threaten to retire if a trade between the two teams is completed. No team would make that trade with the threat of Cutler retiring looming over it.

In addition, Cutler has been rehabbing from his shoulder injury in anticipation of passing a NFL physical next month. Logic would suggest that the Cutler would not be preparing to pass a NFL physical if he had no intention of playing in 2017.

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Given how Cutler orchestrated his trade from the Denver Broncos in 2009, it should be no surprise that he is doing the same in preparation of trade from the Chicago Bears.