Despite Perceptions, Jay Cutler's Teammates Like Him

That didn't take long. Jay Cutler has been a member of the Chicago Bears for approximately three hours and the local media are already questioning his leadership skills. From the Chicago Tribune's Rick Morrissey:

If Jay Cutler doesn't raise red flags, Bears fans, you are color blind. From all appearances and indications, he has the maturity level of larva. ... This is exactly the kind of steely resolve you want in your huddle, isn't it?

Well, you're about to get it. The Bears on Thursday traded their first- and third-round picks this year, their first-round pick next year and Kyle Orton to the Broncos in exchange for Cutler, a 2009 fifth-round pick and a six-pack of baby formula.

This obviously has everything to do with the Sweet Valley High falling out between Cutler and Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, but four weeks of bellyaching shouldn't obscure the fact that his former teammates liked him. And more importantly, he's a Pro Bowl quarterback who instantly makes the Bears favorites to win their division.

Yesterday, before Cutler was dealt to Chicago, ESPN analyst (and former Broncos offensive lineman) Mark Schlereth offered this:

"... [T]here is a sentiment in [Denver's] locker room that Jay Cutler is the best player, and they look at him and say, 'he gives us the best opportunity to win.' And guess what? Guys that throw for 4,500 yards and 25 touchdowns and are 25 years old and franchise quarterbacks, they don't grow on trees; everybody wants one those guys, and the perception that you drove him out of town is going to hurt Josh McDaniels..."

Co-host Josh Elliott pointed out that Cutler was "reportedly well-liked in that locker room," prompting Schlereth to qualify that "... you're [only] going to get the politically correct answer" from Cutler's former teammates.

Maybe. But I'm more inclined to think that if the people he played with truly hated him, we'd know about it. Look at Brett Favre, future Hall of Famer and now New York pariah: Thomas Jones killed him in an interview (although he later backtracked), and an anonymous Jets player described him as "distant."

Similarly, Cutler's detractors aren't holding back for political correctness' sake; Philip Rivers and Kerry Rhodes have made sure of that.

Which makes me think that Champ Bailey's laudatory comments during a recent radio appearance are sincere.

On what kind of locker room guy Jay Cutler is:

"He's a likeable guy. He has a different personality than what most people would be used to. He's still a great football player, prepares well. Whoever gets him he's going to be great for them. They know what they're getting. The downside of it is we don't know what we're going to get. Regardless of what you get on paper, whether it's a first round pick, or a number one pick, whatever it may be, you still have to depend on the potential of that draft pick, or if it's a player we bring in, you never know what you're going to get."

I take "different personality" to mean "Nashville mullet and an always dopey look on his face ... but ultimately harmless and a big-time NFL QB."

And then there's Devin Hester, Cutler's new teammates, who sounds legitimately happy about the news:

My thoughts go out to Kyle Orton, I feel like he was getting ready to come to his peak ... but on the other ... hand now we have Jay Cutler, which has proven himself as a Pro Bowl quarterback. I think he'll come in and kind of boost up the team and probably fill in some of the pieces we're looking for.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher, with the "Kyle Orton is a good quarterback" qualifications out of the way, conceded that "[Cutler] seems like a pretty good guy. I've never met him but I've heard good things about him. I'm not worried about him fitting in."

Also worth pointing out: to varying degrees, Favre, Rivers and even Donovan McNabb could be described as selfish and occasionally whiny. All three have had great NFL careers. Just because you're not wildly popular with fans and media (or opposing players) doesn't mean you can't be top-flight quarterback.

Plus, Culter's 25 -- he doesn't need to be a team leader. There are other guys to handle that role until he's ready, if he ever is. As long as he's making plays -- and more importantly, winning -- people will overlook all the other stuff that makes Rivers want to punch him in the face.