With the July 15 deadline only days away for the Chicago Bears and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to reach a long-term deal, I can just see Jay Cutler sitting back with that smirk grin on his face.
Not because he has any ill feelings towards Jeffery, simply because this could be his chance.
The majority of NFL analysts and experts are leaning towards Jeffery holding off and waiting until after the regular season to reach a deal with the Bears. That will give him the 2016 season to show Chicago just exactly how much he is worth.
Of course, none of this happens without a quarterback throwing him the ball.
Coming off one of his best seasons in Chicago, there is a lot of speculation on just how effective Cutler can be without offensive coordinator Adam Gase. With Gase making the calls in 2015, Cutler completed 311 passes on 483 attempts, racking up 3,659 yards through the air in the process.
His receivers found the end zone 21 times and Cutler only threw 11 interceptions. He also was able to run up a QB rating of 92.3, the best he has had while playing in the windy city.
Cutler will have a new backfield that is expected to give him all the run support he needs. Besides Jeffery, he also has a group of receivers all wanting to create a name and identity for themselves on the Bears offense. The offensive line has undergone some much-needed changes, including moving Kyle Long back to the guard position where he belongs. All this should blend together perfectly, giving Cutler an opportunity to easily have the best season of his career.
If Cutler needed any more motivation, the Bears made sure to give it to him. They also signed veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer and Connor Shaw to the roster, giving them reliable backups, a luxury that Chicago is not accustomed to having.
Cutler is the starter, there is absolutely no controversy at the quarterback position. That being said, there is very little room for error. Cutler can either be a part of an amazing season for Jeffery and the rest of the offense, or he can start a modeling career sporting ball caps and clipboards.
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