Bears general manager Phil Emery seems to be focusing his search for a replacement for Lovie Smith on a coach who can maximize quarterback Jay Cutler. But some experts believe that person does not exist.
On CBS' ''NFL Today'' pre-game show Sunday, analyst Shannon Sharpe was the latest to imply that Cutler is more the problem than the solution. In fact, he said it outright:
''Jay Cutler, I do not believe he is a leader of men,'' Sharpe told the show's panel of James Brown, Bill Cowher and Dan Marino. ''He's a quarterback, not a leader. And there's a difference.''
''So you're saying he's a coach killer?'' Sharpe nodded in the affirmative.
That's a familiar refrain regarding Cutler. In fact, Cowher and Marino were critical of Cutler's leadership earlier this season, after Cutler shoved left tackle J'Marcus Webb in the Bears' 23-10 loss to the Packers on a Thursday night game at Lambeau Field in Week 2.
''I think it's a problem,'' Cowher said. ''The guy's got a strong arm. There is no question about it. He's had some protection issues. I know there's been some questionable [play] calling. But they brought players in to help this guy win a championship, and he's going to prove to be more accountable -- not sensationalize every little mistake with his antics and body language.
''Listen he's a good quarterback. But if he does not change his ways and the team does not go to the playoffs, they have to consider changing. He has to change.''
Cutler, for the record, was on his best behavior the rest of the season, even when the Bears' fortunes turned sour in the second half. But the Bears still did not make the playoffs. Cutler's passer rating was 76.3 in the second half (7 TDs, 6 INTs). It was 85.3 in the first half (12 TDs, 8 INTs).
Said Marino after the Webb incident: ''You have to lead by example. He has a great arm, but it's not just all about throwing a fastball. You've got to learn how to play the position.''
Shsrpe is self centered moron, t, he was good player not great one can thank Terrell Davis and elway for his rings. He's not in the bears locker room and has zero clue how they feel about him, Urlacher has said the exact opposite, same from Brandon Marshall , cutler has one weapon, and bunch throw ins, his line is horrible, and Webb is brutal, you almost have to wonder if sharpes comments are racially driven( love being fired) I hope not but you have to wonder. Love got fired because he made bad personnel decisions, failed to react in game situations, and failed to make playoffs 5 of last six years. He fired Ron Rivera after his first season m when D was first in league. Turned singletary away when he wanted to get into coaching, ask ray Lewis how good he was. Love is good man, good D coordinator, bad head coach. Bears collapsed last half last two seasons, after 7-3&7-1 starts. So it's nice sharpe thinks cutler cost him his job. Maybe trying to make Hester a WR did too. I knew there was a reason I didn't watch CBS, bunch a clowns!
Has Shannon Sharpe ever played w Cutler? So, he's just a media stooge w no education trying to grab a highlight. Shannon stick to something you have personal knowledge of otherwise you're just another worthless hack
I think the Bears are more than capable winning a Super Bowl with Cutler as the QB. I don't see anything wrong with a player expecting the best out of the players around him. He has taken countless hits, had WRs dropping a number of balls that would have extended drives and you never hear him throw his guys under the bus. I don't get how he is a "coach killer". Lovie got fired because of his failure to pick a good offensive coordinator. Turner was questionable, Martz was too stubborn to adjust his scheme to his players and Tice was too predictable. That all falls on Lovie, not Cutler.
he didnt get lovie fired and he didnt call the plays or build that line
but the point has some
merit, but hes not s coach killer but cutler needs to play better but it's not a
lost cause
he's in a contract year so only the time will tell
You hit it right on the head, Shannon is a loser
Sharpes just another cutler hater i bet he dont know cutler personally he just judges cutler by his actions and judges him by that but really the Oline is the one that got our coach fired if they took care of that cutler would have played better then lovie wouldve have not been fired but one guy cant get a coach fired theres other 52 players in the team that caused lovie to get fired so sharpe needs to get to know him personally to talk his junk so stop the cutler hating cause theres other qbs in the nfl that plays more worse then cutler played this year im sure these guys has better stats then cutler but he should talk about the gus that didnt make the playoffs like elite qbs like rivers, breese, eli manning, and the newton why talk about cutler when the only thing cutler dies is keeps his mouth shut and plays hard with no oline...
so just saying cutler is a coach killer is straight being a dumb analyst shows he has no respect for cutler knowing that he is a good player and hes just hating ..so sharpe shut your trap just because you got 2 rings late in your career..
Cutler is a coach killer. He's also a spoiled little baby. He's not a leader, and doesn't have what it takes to be a great quarterback.
I respect Sharpe but that is the the stupidest thing I've heard Cutler is a good QB and not the reason why his coaches got fired he has had an inconsistent line one of the worst in the league and didn't get some elite receivers until this year who one was hurt a lot plus all the drops they had this year didn't help Cutler at all. I can also bring up that at one point during the season last year Forte was over half there offense and where was he this year maybe you should ask Tice and his horrible play calling. Also can any offensive coordinator that Cutler ever has had with the Bears get a play in on time I have never seen a team take so many timeouts because the QB couldn't get the play its a joke really. I have no doubt in my mind if the Bears get a good offensive minded head coach that actually can run a team that the Bears will win there division and make it to at the least an NFC championship game. If they can find someone to really point this team in the right direction.
If Shannon was a leader, he would know a true leader doesn't let others dictate their success. Look what Houston did when their team has an offense and a lack of defensive identity. Remember, sometimes you have to lose to win.
why didn't he call michael vick a coach killer for getting andy reid fired? Cutler is twice the quarterback vick is. Sharp's comments are racially motivated. the network should do the same thiont they did with jimmy the greek and rick barry...he should be fired
How can anyone understand what Sharpe was saying? I don't get who hired him when you can't understand a word that comes out if his mouth. Maybe you all just assumed that's what he said ha ha
Jay Cutler simply sucks. Bears should release him after his contract expires.
i agree completly cutler isnt a superbowl winning quarter back, there are a bunch of quarterback better, even alex smith and russell wilson, because those two wont lose a game for their team and cutler will. he makes too many bad decisions. i get that hes under pressure in the pocket but rodgers dosent have a good line neither, colts line is horrible too and have worse running backs, receivers and defense but they still made the playoffs. cutler cant just go out there and throw all this interceptions and say its the lines fault or the coachs fault because its his fault
Well said Larry!!
Cutler is a crybaby that sucks the big one. I like how all the idiotic Bears fans were thinking Super Bowl when they got him. I was 12 and knew to jump off the Bears band wagon. Been a Packer backer since. One good decision if I say so myself. Bears fans are so D-U-M-B. just like Cub fans. Btw Urlacher does not care about you. Now go pay your hundreds of dollars at the space shuttle known as soldier field
Eduarado you are a moron. So are the Cutler haters, you buy into a media story that is pure pro wrestling. It's not Cutlers fault that Lovie would go catatonic and not even know what down it was at times.
That's why Shannon is on a second rate station, making foolish statements like that! Give jay the line the elite QB'S have and let him go to town! You caught the ball when thrown your way, look st the dropped passes by the the same players that played your position. Please do your homework before you evaluate a position you know little about. It really amazes me how people get to analyze others and yet not have a clue. Shame on you! Sit and watch what happens in Chicago under a good OC and a head coach that realizes it takes more than a very good defense to score points. It is a damn shame that Lovie wasted this many years on a very good, if not great defense. With no clue about an offense or a coach that could lead them. Jay finally you will get a coach that has your back, take it to the next level!we got your back! Let me guess as well, the Irish are going to lose to Alabama Shannon?
Cutler is a great QB and I want to see u go out there and do what he does with a really bad oline. I know u couldn't do it u would cry like a little baby so all u haters shut the hell up.
Well, I am a bears fan and I see what the analysts are saying.
If one blocks out everything and think they are playing at their maximum potential and go defending, then they are doomed already. Pundits are just sayin that he needs to improve.
If every time we get a turn over, we settle for a field goal without hustling for a touch down and getting jerseys dirty and the QB and Coaches are content with it, we have a problem.
We have a greater problem when it does not even bother them.
Go back to the season record and see how many games we could have won, if turnovers had resulted in touch downs and not field goals.
Answer is we will be in the play offs.
.
Huh..thats class attacking someone personally and not having anything to say about the topic...
All this by hiding behind a computer and not showing your face? Classier.
Um, missing in the playoffs in 5 out of the last 6 years since losing the Super Bowl is what got Lovie fired. The refusal to take charge over the whole team, and instead leave the offense to someone else, and then can them when it doesn't work out got Lovie fired. 2 consecutive late season collapses by teams he has coached where he has been consistently outcoached is what got Lovie fired.
Jay is the type of polarizing player, as every talented QB is, that either makes or breaks your career as a head coach. If you can get the most out of him, you look great. If you squander his talents, you find yourself without a job. But also like all QBs, they get too much credit when they win, and too much blame when they lose. By the way, anyone watch RG3 limp around with the sprained knee? By early accounts, the same injury Cutler got in the NFC title game. It was tough to watch him limp around, so it is a credit to Lovie to not let Cutler play like that. Killed Cutler's reputation, but it was the right call.
Kellen Davis, Devin Hester, J'Marcus Webb, Chris Spencer, all contributed to the ineptness of this offense, as well as Cutler, Forte, Jeffery, Carimi, Louis, Garza, and the rest of the also-rans. Lovie didn't do anything to stop it, instead focusing exclusively on his aging, tired defense. It needed attention, don't get me wrong, but when the problem is the offense, the head coach has a responsibility to fix it. Lovie just kept changing pieces and hoping it would get better.
Shannon Sharpe gets paid to make noise. Doesn't matter what he says, as long as people talk about it. If he had a QB like Jay on his team, he would have defended him. But since he is in the media, he gets to pile on when people think there is a problem. Great player, good studio guy, knucklehead when it comes to responsible journalism.
Cower's comment is interesting.: he points out the reasons Cutler has not been suuccessful ( offensive line, questionable calls ) but then blames Cutler. As fo Shannon S., he has been a loudmouth all his life and throughout his career. I think most people tune him out after the first thirty seconds or so because he rarely says anything perceptive enough to listen to.
Hey Sharp, I can't believe you are saying Cutler needs to learn to be a better QB when you have trouble with the English language. Why don't you try and be a better announcer and let the Bears worry about who they want couching and playing for them. I would be upset too if I was a QB and didn't have a line to protect me and receivers that can't catch for four years!!!!!!!
Just riddle me this? How the hell, did this moronic, semi intelligent, species of Neanderthal origins (Shannon Sharpe) given a camera to dilute the intelligence of the average American? Shannon, next time you have a thought, I want you to take a deep breath, count to ten, and think about the regression that you will cause in the evolutionary process. Idiot, your mouth is dripping substandard, thought. You make yourself sound like more of an idot every time you talk
Sharpe is an idiot.
Sorry Cutler Fans, but Shannon Sharpe is right. For the ones that don't actually know the history Shannon Sharpe is very close to the Broncos and was even moreso when Cutler was there. He played under the same coaches, with several of the same players and saw our vaulted 2008 team getting the head coach fired because he made the huge mistake of drafting Cutler in 2006, and ultimately replacing a QB that won 72% of the games with one that won 45%.
Cutler - like Jeff George - has/had tremendous physical talent but does not have the IT factor. Physically he is better than 90% of the NFL starters, but he is entitled and cannot read defenses, takes to long and makes bad decisions. What is worse is that he does not make his teams better.
All the Cutler apologists might stop to consider that his record against Packers is 1-7 (not 100% sure) and it is 1-4 against the Chargers when he started for the Broncos and that one win was a major mistake by the refs. Career record against your most important division rivals of 2-11 gets coaches fired, and the three head coaches and four OCs that have had to deal with him have all been fired.
Cutler after 6 seasons are exactly like Jeff George!
broncofandk and shannon sharpe you 2 clowns have no idea whats going on in football cbs deservs shannon and all the other sub humanoid crew that works for cbs Joe
Shannon Sharpe is not only a moron hw is a bigget. If he could only annunciate instead of being such a mush mouth
All you Cutler lovers are the problem. Pull your heads out of your asses and realize he sucks big time and will never lead the Bears anywhere but further down. He's a chronic malcontent who will find something or someone wrong-but not himself-no matter where he plays. The Bearlys need to do something previously foreign to them-draft a good QB like Wilson, RGIII et al which is something they're never done. You can blame Angelo, the McCaskeys, Lovie or whomever but they have not had a decent QB since Sid Luckman!
Amen!!! You hit the nail right in the head! Cutler does suck. The Bears should draft some college QB. He couldn't be any worse than Cutler. Therefore they have nothing to lose.
I am confident that the new head coach will work with this issue. A strong OC will make things happen with him. Also, a bit better protection and less dropped balls will help. Show him how to read defenses.
By the way Sharpe, Michael Vick is a Coach Killer. Lovie's problem is that he couldn't hire a good OC that he didn't have to worry about taking over his job. Insecurity from the Head Coach (Dumping Ron Rivera in a contract year for leverage) doesn't help either.
Love didn't fire Rivera, he took the defense coordinator position in Carolina over resigning with the bears. Get your facts strait. And the Offensive line doesn't determine success. Aaron Rodgers had the worst offensive line statistically but I don't think anybody can argue they are one of the best teams in the league.
Marty, im with u. Im pretty sure not one of these clowns has played football or even so much stepped on the gridiron even once. Anyone, who expected Cutler to sit through this season without blowing up at the incompetent people around him must have confused him with Lovie, who didnt react to anything.The guy wants to win and gets knocked for showing emotion. These kids nowadays want the NFL to be a soap opera. For someone to say they "jumped off the bears band wagon when they acquired Cutler, and became a packers fan, well.. i remember a day when u would be beat up on the playgrounf for that. But its ok, just another spineless cheesehead who will be stuck in Wisconsin for the rest of their miserable life. Oh and by the way, u think any of the packers care about u stewie? U moron, they're professional athletes, they dont care about anyone or anything, only their contracts and pocket books. This is only entertainment, not a way of life u halfwits.
Sharpe and all the national "experts" are to be ignored when they're talking about what goes on in football cities. They're not in those cities enough to know the teams intimately and only react to the examples that get attention. These clowns that killed Cutler for shoving Webb were silent when Jay pats him on the back or tie his shoes for hi od sake. So that's how I view so-called experts especially idiots like Sharpe usually but I want to point out Marino's hypocrisy. In his playing days he was notoriously known for being demonstrative and reacting negatively towards receivers and lineman when they did something wrong, worse than Cutler does now. Buying his teammates Isotoner gloves aside, he wasn't that much of an exemplary leader.
This Bears fan was not thinking Super Bowl when we got Cutler. I was thinking "FINALLY! A quarterback!"
But, we are all so quick to call Jay a crybaby. So few are willing to say the same about Marino, Young, Montana, Brady, Brees, Manning (Pick one), Fouts, Staubach, Aikman. Yes. All of them pouted on the sidelines and could be accused of being a crybaby.
Apparently Marino (whom I have an affinity for) has forgotten how many times HE shoved and yelled at HIS linemen.
But, to call Cutler a "coach killer" is the most moronic thing Sharpe has ever said and he has made himself a career of saying moronic things. It was time for Lovie to go since he didn't accomplish anything he set out to do. If we want a successful team, we need to get an old Chicago Bears player (I would love to see Butkus, but won't happen) to fire up the team. We need to start stepping away from always using the running game. And, the media needs to listen to the players Cutler actually plays with. He wasn't voted "Captain" of the Offense because he's cute. The team, on the general whole, respects Cutler and his ability to lead. And Sharpe, not being privvy to what's going on in the Bears locker room, needs to back out of the conversation and realize that there's more going on behind the scenes that have NOTHING to do with Cutler.
While the O-Line can not determine success, one can not argue that Jim McMahon had one of the strongest O-Lines in the history of the game and he had pretty good numbers. Having a strong O-Line can help create success.
I see a lot of bashing in here about Shannon Sharpe being illiterate, unintelligent, etc. However, reading the majority of these posts made me realize why the Chicago Public School system is in such sad shape. 9/10ths of you dumbasses can barely spell, let alone put together a proper sentence. I have yet to see a more reactionary fan base than Bears fans. There is no intelligent thought behind your posts. You deserve this team.
Lovie Smith Finally gets fired for one reason - his own stubbiness. Unwilling to see how players or ideas not working and unwilling to change:
1) SB vs Indy & in fact entrie season - Rex, is our qb mantra when Orton was clearly better. Gets into the big game and cant even make the ctr-qb exchange not once but 3 times and eventually dribbles the ball down his leg - and still doesn't even try putting Orton inif for no other reason than to changeit up. Never occurred to him.
2) Brilliant idea of turning most feared return man in all fb - either scored td's or teams kicked oob & Chi got ball starting @ 40 - into 3rd rate WR at best
3) cont to misjudge talent for draft and after for OL - rarely subbing unless due to injury and then finding out too late backup was better
4)unimaginative play calling until Cutler got there - 2 off tackle plunges and then usually failed pass on 3rd down as everyone in stadium expecting it.
As for Cutler the media looks for ways to present issues - everybody harped on and on about the little shove which clearly the tam mates got over much quicker than the press. But listen to how negatively all the comments are abt Cutler. Now have the TV show Brady having a hissy fit and hollering at his teammates and it is presented much differently - that's just Tom, perfectionist, you don't want to get on his bad side - chuckle,chuckle. It's a small example of how perception becomes reality. Cutler just needs a better PR person
Rivera did not leave the bears for Carolina, get your facts straight, he interviewed for several head coaching positions didn't get them and the bears failed to renew his contract. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, an he went to the chargers not panthers. Lovie is a product of his own short comings. Lovie along with the cheap front office clowns from Angelo to Phillips are all to blame, lovie should have left last year with Angelo. And bronco fans I don't think cutler ever did wrong by your team , 2008 he finished first in completions , first in passing attempts , first in passing yards, and third in passing touchdowns , broke single season franchise records held by elway and Plummer ( completions and passing yards ) so slight him all you want. That's your choice. Sharpe you can have that clown!
What else you expect from Mr Ed, a talking horse? Look at the pic? This is the same dude that tried to call out Aaron Rodgers, saying he's not a good guy. Mr Ed, I mean Shannon Sharpe you are a joke. A walking, talking one. Literally.
How can anyone understand Mush Mouth?
Talk about getting your facts straight, the bears did not renew his contract and he was hired as the ILB coach of the Chargers
.i never understand why, if you dont agree with an analysis, folks start personal abusive attacks on the analyst.. Shows lack of IQ, huh? Nothing personal, of course, to those of you, who know who you are. Now, the main thrust of what Mr. Sharpe said is, Cutler is not a leader. Marino inferred it also. Lets look at Cutlers body of work. He's a cry baby, a pouter, with average QB raiting. He's not a leader. Now, he has not had consistent, nor good offensive coordinaters, but that does not change his character. It shows in good times and more in bad times. I give him one more year before this life long Bears fan calls for the old heave ho. His attitude thus far brings down the whole team.
Can anyone say Jeff George? Remember he was a great quarterback with a great arm but when it came to working with other players and shouldering the responsibility he always wanted to blame everyone else not him. You should look for solutions not who is to blame.
Can anyone say Jeff George? Remember he was a great quarterback with a great arm but when it came to working with other players and shouldering the responsibility he always wanted to blame everyone else not him. You should look for solutions not who is to blame.
Cutler has won as many championships as Marino - maybe he was a coach killer too.
I don't see any correlation to Jeff George and Jay Cutler other than the big arm.
Cutty has one of the best passer ratings in the 4th quarter. He has a bunch of 4th quarter comebacks in Chicago and Denver, he did lead the Bears to the NFC title game two years ago, his W-L in Chicago is pretty good, and I've never heard him directly throw teammates under the bus.
The only thing I hear is ignorant jack-holes like you making connections that only exists because some ex-Bronco broadcaster is mad Cutler left their team after they tried to trade him behind his back.
Mike Shanahan is and was a huge Cutler supporter and vice-versa. Shanahan has worked with Steve Young, Rich Gannon, John Elway, and now RG3. If Shanny thought Cutler was a tool, you would have heard about it.
The Bears locker room has always had Jays back. There are a bunch of QBs in the NFL who have not fared so well, yet don't get the nasty press Cutler does.
Ben Rothlesberger lost his locker room entirely. Just Google that.
If you really look at the situation, all the nastiness is coming from ex-Bronco broadcasters and their colleagues - Shannon Sharpe, Tom Jackson, and Mark Schlereth.
On the flip side, John Lynch, who reportedly had an ACTUAL confrontation with Cutler in Denver (not a media fabricated one), has said nothing but good things about Cutler, including calling him a "good teammate" on the Dan Patrick radio show when pressed for an answer about Cutlers demeanor.
Oh yea, ever heard Phil Simms talk about Cutler? You know, Simms? He holds the completion percentage record for the Superbowl? Doesn't sound like that hall of fame QB thinks Cutler is anything like Jeff George.
So there you go.
Shut up.
Right on!!!
OMG! Who the hell cares what the horse-faced man says?
Since the Sid Luckman days, we've started 50 different QBs. That's 50 QB's in 49 years. 30 of those have started just between the 80's Superbowl win and Cutler's arrival in 2009. So yeah, let's change Quarterbacks again. That's REALLY worked out for us. (please note the blatant sarcasm...)
Cutler's not the best QB to ever play the game, obviously, but a little stability, a reliable O-line, and an OC who can call decent plays (this means STOP CALLING IN A SCREEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO ACCOMPLISH IT!!) and ACTUALLY get them called in on time will go a long way. If Cutler still struggles after that is all fixed, THEN they need to take a look at making a change but not until. Right now though, he doesn't appear to be the problem. His numbers are not unworkable. I liked Lovie, but it seems that he was never able to hire the right coaching staff for the job and that is ultimately what put him in the crosshairs. Need examples? Turner...worst play-calling taction in the history of football in my opinion. Tice...he's almost completely useless and even when he comes up with a decent play he forces Cutler to burn a time out before getting to use it because he can't call it in on time. I don't think he will last more than one season with a new HC.
Smart girl, but Tice was worse than Turner when it came to play calling. That's about all I would change with what you said.
Amen Larry!!!! I'm not sure Shannon Sharp can be considered an expert. Not as an analyst, and certainly not on Cutler or Lovie Smith. The Bears haven't had a good coach since Ditka, and never spent the money needed to get or keep quality athletes. I have been a Bears fan all my life in spite of the bad times, and their front office. Shannon should shut up... You can't understand him anyway.
Tice was worse than Turner? Yeah, you're probably right. They both call called in crap plays, but at least Turner's crap plays were called in on time. I'll give you that one. Guess I am a little 'extra-anti-Turner" since I am from Illini land!
Say what you will, Sharpe certainly knows how to stimulate interest. 54 comments on his comments and none on a couple of coach candidates.
This from a lifelong Bears/Cubs fan: A-hole winners and lovable losers are fine, but A-hole mediocrity is the worst. I’ll support my underachieving teams during tough times, but I want to be able to at least like them. Cutler-Zambrano, same bloguments. I’m sick of Golden Arms attached to horses butts.