Frustration is high with the Chicago Bears. The team was certainly not expecting this kind of season after they signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a seven-year deal and added defensive fire power to the roster. However, the Bears are eliminated from the postseason and it appears things are preparing to get much worse before they get better. With a number of futures on the line, who will stay and who will go in the offseason?
According to Dan Bernstein of WSCR in Chicago, the Bears are prepared to fire head coach Marc Trestman at the end of the season. Trestman was hired two years ago after being a long-time NFL assistant before gaining success in the CFL. He was certainly an unconventional hire for Chicago, known as an offensive guru, but has not taken that talent to the NFL. With Trestman on the outs, the focus then goes to general manager Phil Emery who was responsible for firing Lovie Smith and giving Cutler the contract of death.
If Trestman goes and so does Emery, what does the status of Cutler look like? The Chicago Tribune has suggested a trade of the quarterback, but knows it will be easier said than done considering any team that acquires him will have to take on a seven-year contract, two of those years containing a lot of guaranteed money. The trade value for Cutler is not high no matter how the Bears attempt to package him. He is a veteran with spurts of success, but the Bears will have to lower their expectations on what they get in return.
Is a trade of Cutler the best answer for the Bears, especially if Trestman is indeed fired? The players are frustrated, but not offering up a solution. Running back Matt Forte is looking to simply role with the punches in regards to changes this offseason while Brandon Marshall believes everyone needs to do some reflecting.
"This is just part of our season right now and it's sad," Marshall said. "You don't want this to happen, it can't happen, but we're all so frustrated. Sometimes people do things and say things that they regret, I think this is one of those things for Kromer. Unfortunately, it's at the hand of Jay Cutler taking a nice little lashing and our team now, but we all have our relationships with guys outside of our building ... we talk to our wives, our friends, even the mailman sometimes. If you get too emotional, you say the wrong things, unfortunately it can get back to the wrong person or right person."
