NEW YORK — In what is obvious to anyone who believes in fate, the New York Jets are prepared to employ Jay Cutler as their quarterback. According to sources inside the organization, team officials are almost done talking themselves into trading for Bears quarterback this offseason, allowing Cutler to fulfill his destiny of becoming the most Jets quarterback ever.
“Oh, it’s definitely going to happen,” said a staffer. “And from the sound of it, we’re going to trade a pretty good draft pick to get Cutler, too. Definitely a 2nd Round pick, but we may even give them our 1st Round pick. Crazy, right? Inevitable, but crazy.”
If (when) the Jets do acquire Cutler — a 33 year-old, 11-year veteran who has proven time and time again that he will never develop into anything more than a strong arm that regular throws into double coverage — it will be one of the most Jets moves ever, right up there with acquiring a decrepit Brett Favre in 2008 and using a 2nd Round pick in April on noted horrible college quarterback Christian Hackenberg. The team is currently trying to convince themselves that Cutler is their long-awaited star QB because he has a powerful arm, once got the Bears to the NFC title game, and would be reunited with Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte, who once formed the core of a somewhat okay offense in Chicago.
Cutler has no guaranteed money let on his deal with the Bears, but the deal has almost $64 million left on it through the 2020 season. Bears general manager Ryan Pace says he is not concerned about unloading it.
“When Jay signed his deal here, it was immediately called the worst contract in NFL history,” said Pace. “But the thinking was that if he didn’t become a good quarterback — and he obviously has not — the Jets would eventually trade for him. It was a smart contract. And now we’re going to get rid of him and get a good pick from the Jets in exchange. We’re very happy.”
