Yep, you said that and I glossed over it. Unfortunately for the Bears I think you're right. I think they're "stuck" with him through at least next year while they wait to draft someone out of college or pick up someone on free agency. Any "trade" for Cutler will likely involve the Bears still paying the majority of his remaining guaranteed salary to whoever picks him up and at that point, why not keep him around beyond next year as a backup (a rather expensive backup, but still, a backup.) Who knows, the skies could part and divine intervention could happen and another team takes him and his expensive salary off the Bears hands. That would have to be one desperate team!
Orton just retired and the Bills are searching for a new QB.
I missed that. Shame, Orton had real potential when he was here and then with the Bronco's. I liked him more as a person than a QB as I grew up in Altoona Iowa and went to high school with so many of the Orton family members at SE Polk High School. Don't think any team that picked him up ever really tried to develop him, again -- a shame. Ahh well, wish him well.
The only part of that last bit I don’t think I agree with is that nobody will pick up most of his contract. I think that the teams I mentioned before, looking at the prospect of lesser QB’s or paying for 1 to 2 years most or all of Cutler’s salary would indeed bite. They would be under intense pressure to find somebody and frankly there aren’t that many NFL ready QB’s.
I don’t think they would get their number one pick, but I Do indeed think they would pick up much or all of his salary and midlevel picks for his services for one or two years.
If the Bears could get that deal, the extra pics plus the a shot at whoever the best QB is in the upcoming draft with at a #7 pick would be the best they could hope for. Or, they can play Clausen, back him up with Fales and use ALL of the pics to bolster the defense. You are looking at up to 6 NFL ready defensive prospects to shore up the defense.