Cheer Up Chicago, You Have a QB!

Jay Cutler looked the part Saturday night against the Giants 

by Sean Heffernan

No matter how downtrodden Chicagoans get over the struggling economy or potholed filled streets one change in the cityscape that should lift its citizen's spirits is the fact that the Chicago Bears actually have a quarterback.  This weekend I rented Madden 10 from Blockbuster and felt very weird playing with Jay Cutler under center having the ability to rocket the ball all over the field with a Bears QB. I think I've played every version of the Madden video game franchise (I'm cool I know)  throwing countless interceptions with  Jim Miller, Cade McNown,  Kyle Orton, and of course Rex Grossman. Not that you can judge how Orton will turn out from the XBox or Playstation 3, but it is a sign of the changing times in Chicago. ...

After a skittish preseason opener against Buffalo in which Cutler threw an interception, the former Denver QB looked his former Pro Bowl self last Saturday night against the New York Giants going 8 for 13 for 121 yards with a touchdown pass to tight end Desmond Clark in tow. The Bears scored on all three of Cutler's series defeating the Giants 17-3. Cutler connected well with former Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett who could develop into the Bears' number one receiver. Devin Hester broke behind the Giants secondary on down field pass, but Cutler just overthrew the Bears' play-maker. Once Cutler and Hester get on the same page the offense could utilize the partnership as a serious deep threat.

Bears fans have long awaited the day when opposing defensive backs were on their heels for once. When the Cutler signing was announced their was a lot of talk about the Bears last franchise quarterback: Sid Luckman. Sid hung up his spikes in 1950. It only took the Bears 58 years to replace Luckman (who was famous for running the T-Formation).

 In reality, the trade for Cutler doesn't ensure automatic success for the "Monsters of the Midway" as the team's success will largely depend upon head coach Lovie Smith reinvigorating a defense that is coming off a poor season in 2008. The question of Cutler's options at the wide receiver position also needs answering as running back Matt Forte was the team's leading receiver last year.

The Bears very well might dissapoint this year, but at least for once fans cannot point to the organization's inability to feature a star quarterback as a reason for their failure. WithCutler arrives a new hope in Chicago. Any optimism in these tough times is a good thing. In Chicago, the Cubs are on pace to break their fans' hearts for the 100th year in a row, the Bulls are far from recovering the glory of the "Jordan Years", and the Blackhawks haven't lifted the Stanley Cup since the Eisenhower administration, but if the Bears can actually get a quarterback what can't happen? 

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