The Chicago Bears thought they were getting one of the league’s elite quarterbacks when they traded for Jay Cutler this season. Suffice to say, they haven’t gotten what they expected.
And suffice to say Cutler hasn’t played the way he expected, either.
“I haven’t played up to my expectations,” Cutler said. “I think that’s the most important part. I can play better. I know that. It’s a process, though. I think everyone in the offense knows what we’re trying to get done. We’re dressing young guys. We’ve got some new guys and we’re still trying to gel a little bit. It’s going to come though.”
For the Bears, it’s certainly good to know that Cutler hasn’t lived up to his own expectations. If Cutler -- who’s leading the league in total interceptions, red zone interceptions, fourth quarter interceptions and third down interceptions -- had expected to play like this, the Bears would have even bigger problems.
Still, when Cutler starts to talk about “young guys” and “new guys,” there’s a faint whiff of excuse-making going on. Cutler has come across as nonchalant when discussing his lousy play this season, and he still seems at times like he fails to grasp how big a disappointment he’s been.
Cutler says he’s not surprised that fans in Chicago have booed him.
“When they made the trade, we knew it was going to happen,” Cutler said. “They gave away a lot to get me here. Expectations were high, so it’s something that comes with the territory.”
Booing comes with the territory, that is, if those high expectations aren’t met. In Chicago, Cutler isn’t playing up to anyone’s expectations.