The Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler have had a very tough season in 2014 and now Jimmy Clausen will be starting in Week 16 and if the team has so-called buyer's remorse on Cutler's contract, they could explore a trade with teams like the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, NY Jets, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as all of those teams could be making quarterback changes in 2015.
--UPDATE: Adam Schefter reports that Jimmy Clausen will start over Jay Cutler this week.
Cutler and the Bears have had an up and down season and with the team sniping back and forth in the media, some have speculated that Cutler could be a trade target in the offseason. According to Pro Football Talk, Cutler is not happy with offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer despite making public comments that the two are fine, as Kromer admitted to making critical comments about Cutler to a reporter for the NFL Network. Kromer made comments about Cutler's decision making and play calling on audibles last week before apologizing.
Following that report, Kromer made a tearful apology to the team and to Cutler, but new reports have come out since then that Cutler is not happy with Kromer or the team right now. Cutler's play has left something to be desired for fans this season and missing the playoffs for the second straight year (and since 2010) has been very disappointing for the franchise. Adam Schefter at ESPN.com suggested that the Bears could look at making a trade this offseason after signing Cutler to a massive seven year deal, but since it is so expensive, it's very unlikely that he will get moved.
Cutler was kept off the free agent market with a seven-year, $126.7 million contract and now the Bears may be regretting that deal. Cutler has all the talent in the world, but he has had trouble staying healthy in Chicago and while what Kromer did with the reporter wasn't the best way to handle things, some of what he said was accurate. Michael C. Wright from ESPN Chicago writes that Kromer wasn't wrong to criticize Cutler, but that it should not have been done anonymously to a reporter. Wright adds that Cutler is leading the league in interceptions and turnovers and that what Kromer said is mostly accurate.
Either way, it will be very hard to move that contract, but if the team does explore a deal, there are a number of options out there. The NY Jets are an intriguing option, as they may miss out on Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota and they desperately need a new quarterback. Mike Lupica wrote last week that getting another young QB for this franchise is a mistake, as doing that would only beat up that player just like Geno Smith has been beaten up in the press and on the field. Lupica suggests a "hardened" veteran could deal with the press in NY and could help turn the team around and Cutler could fit that bill for the Jets.
The Buccaneers likely will go after Marcus Mariota, but Lovie Smith could look at a reunion with his Bears QB, while the Redskins also likely have major moves coming. The Redskins nearly traded for Cutler before the Bears did and with RG3 and his future up in the air, they could make a major trade as well. Cutler has 3446 yards and 26 TDs on the season with 15 interceptions.
