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Jay Cutler ecstatic with Jeremy Bates on Bears’ staff

Bears' Cutler watches the NFL football game against the Vikings in Chicago

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler watches his teammates in the first quarter of their NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in Chicago October 16, 2011. REUTERS/Frank Polich (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

REUTERS

Two weeks after the Bears named Jeremy Bates their quarterbacks coach, Jay Cutler is still beaming about it.

Bates was Cutler’s quarterbacks coach in Denver in 2007 and 2008, and Cutler said on ESPN 1000 in Chicago today that he’s “Very happy, very happy” that Bates is his quarterbacks coach again.

I’ve been a fan of him since I left Denver, and when I left Denver I told him, ‘Somewhere down the line, I hope we get to work together again,” Cutler said. “This is a good situation for us both.”

Next, Cutler says, he wants to see the Bears add a wide receiver, preferably a tall one.

“I would hope so,” Cutler said. “I think every quarterback in the league wants that. We’re not happy unless we’re getting offensive guys year in and year out. More toys to play with. . . . Anyone really over 6-2 at this point is going to look good.”

With the 6-foot-0 Johnny Knox and the 5-foot-11 Devin Hester as the Bears’ top two wide receivers heading into the offseason, a big receiver is a big priority from Cutler’s perspective. But the addition of Bates was enough to make Cutler very happy.