The Chicago Bears have made major moves in firing Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery and now as they look for a new head coach and general manager, the future of Jay Cutler is up in the air and a trade could be an option, as teams like the Washington Redskins, NY Jets, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans or Tampa Bay Buccaneers could potentially be interested.
The Bears did not expect to have to make a change so quickly after bringing in Trestman and Emery, but the way this season went left the franchise in a tough spot. Trestman benched Jay Cutler at quarterback just one season into his major contract and the look of having the highest paid player in the league this year on the bench was an embarrassing one for the McCaskey family ownership. The news was first reported from FOX that the team was moving on from Trestman and that came after news broke about Emery getting fired.
The future for Cutler remains up in the air, as the team could look at trading the quarterback to get out of the major financial commitment they gave him. Cutler signed a seven-year extension worth about $126 million and now the Bears have to decide whether to stick with him or if they want their new GM to look for a trade or a new quarterback. Cutler was the highest paid player in the league this season and he did not have a good year, leading the league in interceptions and turnovers.
The Bears finished this season 5-11 and they struggled at times on both offense and defense despite having some very talented players. Apart from Cutler the offense has Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett, but the team couldn't stay consistent on that side of the ball. ESPN.com reports that former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary could be interested in coaching the team, as he was once a player for the franchise and could come in for an interview.
ESPN also adds that the Bears often go "outside the box" with head coaching moves, as they have hired just one coach with NFL head coaching experience and that was back in the 50s. The team had Lovie Smith before Trestman, who was an NFL assistant and CFL head coach before coming to the NFL. Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012 and now the Bears have to find another head coach and GM.
Emery did not make too many great moves during his time with the Bears and now the contract to Jay Cutler will be viewed through that prism as well. The defense was not good at all over the past two seasons, setting records in yards allowed for the franchise. Cutler threw 18 interceptions this season, which was his highest total in a number of years and he was benched ahead of Week 16 before suiting up in the season finale after Jimmy Clausen was injured.
The Bears could look at trading Cutler, as there are a number of teams that could be interested in getting a veteran QB. The Jets, Titans, Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and Redskins all could make QB changes in 2015 and while Cutler is getting paid a ton, he could be a target.
