LAKE FOREST, Illinois (AP) — The Chicago Bears signed Jay Cutler to a seven-year contract yesterday, ending speculation they might make a change after five seasons of good and bad from their talented quarterback.
Cutler clearly thrived under first-year coach Marc Trestman and now has some of the best complements on offence he’s had since arriving in Chicago in 2009.“It’s not always been easy,” Cutler said. “There’s been some bad years, there’s been some good years. I think it makes me appreciate the moment I’m in even more, with the offensive weapons we have, with the type of leadership we have from the front office, with the type of coaching staff we have. It makes me happy I’m here.”The Bears also signed cornerback Tim Jennings, who has led the team in interceptions in each of the past two seasons, and guard Matt Slauson to four-year deals. Like Cutler, both players were scheduled to become free agents.General manager Phil Emery said the team and Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook, completed contract discussions three days after the season ended on Sunday with a 33-28 loss to the Green Bay Packers in a game that decided the NFC North title. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal for the 30-year-old Cutler is reportedly worth nearly $18 million per year over the first three years and includes at least $50 million guaranteed.Cutler played in just 11 games due to ankle and groin injuries. He completed 224 of 355 passes for 2,621 yards and 19 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.Emery said he was sold on Cutler’s return after seeing him in Trestman’s offence early in the season. Still, Emery said he wanted to see how Cutler responded to some adversity. He saw it when Cutler came back from a groin strain to face the Detroit Lions in a 21-19 loss and from an ankle sprain to beat the Cleveland Browns 38-31.Cutler feuded with former offensive coordinators like Ron Turner, Mike Martz and Mike Tice, but he has steadily climbed the franchise statistical charts and guided the Bears to the NFC Championship game in 2010.Under Trestman, he seemed to gain a new lease on life.“The mindset is right and the talent in the locker room is right, so I’m happy to be joining the rest of the guys, the rest of the coaches, the rest of the organisation in pursuit of a championship,” Cutler said.Cutler wouldn’t call money the key reason for staying out of free agency, citing familiarity with Trestman’s offence as a big factor. He has only been in the same offence for consecutive years a few times in his NFL career, which started in 2006.Trestman found Cutler ran his offence efficiently, even if he had a reputation as a big-play, big-mistake type of player.“He’s been through a lot,” Trestman said. “I mean, part of what’s brought him to this point is the scars of the last five years and the adversity that he’s gone through in getting to know himself better over the last five years. I saw selflessness. I certainly saw mental toughness. When you evaluate a quarterback, you say, does he have an inventory of passes? Can he make all the throws? Does he have mobility? Is he a quick decision-maker? Jay has all that.”CUTLER… deal is reportedly worth nearly $18 million per year over the first three years and includes at least $50 million guaranteedView the original article here
Bears sign quarterback Jay Cutler to 7-year deal
