Bears QB Jay Cutler talks coaching search, coach-killing reputation
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| QB Jay Cutler said he's an "asset" to the Bears. (US Presswire) |
It has been more than a week since the Chicago Bears fired head coach Lovie Smith, and after initially feeling torn, quarterback Jay Cutler said he has come to grips with the decision.
Cutler spent the majority of his spot on Chicago's ESPN radio discussing his time with Smith, his future under a new head coach and his reputation.
''At first you're torn,'' Cutler said Wednesday. ''I didn't want to second-guess any decision-makers, what direction they wanted to go. Then you look at what Lovie's done. We're close talent-wise. It's hard to justify a firing of a coach [that was 10-6]. Teams have four or five wins and have their coach."
Cutler spoke mostly in general terms about various candidates, though he did mention the importance of a solid staff surrounding the coach.
"It's more about the coordinators and the support staff and who they bring in as assistant coaches," Cutler said. "You can easily have a defensive coach and have a strong play-caller for an offensive coordinator and some good assistant coaches to coach the rest of the guys and be successful."
Cutler said he plans to stay out of the coaching search and leave it up to general manager Phil Emery. Cutler repeatedly voiced his trust and confidence in Emery, saying he would be vital in the new coach getting acquainted with Chicago.
"I look at myself as an asset," Cutler said. "If you don't believe in yourself, you can't really expect the coach to."
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The knock on Cutler has long been his attitude. When asked of his thoughts regarding Shannon Sharpe's recent accusation of Cutler being a coach-killer and not "a leader of men," the quarterback teed off.
"They don't know the situation that we've been in, that I've been in," Cutler said. "They sit in front of a camera and make broad accusations and broad strokes. That's their job. There's no repercussions for anything they say and they just run their mouth. It bothers you, but there's really not much you can do. I worry about the city of Chicago. I don't think people in Chicago believe that and that's all that bothers me."
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