INDIANAPOLIS -- The man responsible for bringing Jay Cutler to Chicago calls 2015 a make-or-break year for the 32-year old quarterback.
In a story posted on garysheltonsports.com, former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo ranks Cutler 21st among NFL quarterbacks.
"Has the physical tools, but inconsistent, particularly in the clutch, mostly due to a lack of poise," Angelo wrote.
"He’s not comfortable reading defenses and consequently locks on to a favorite or predetermined target that may or may not be the right choice. The less he’s asked to see the better he is. A better half-field general than a full-field one. This will be his make-or-break year. Needs to be his biggest critic and hold himself accountable."
Angelo sent quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round draft picks and a third-round selection to the Denver Broncos for Cutler in 2009.
The Bears fired Angelo in Jan, 2012 after 11 seasons as general manager.
Under Angelo, the Bears won four division titles and finished runner-up in Super Bowl XLI.
Cutler is the Bears' franchise leader in passing yards (18,725) and career passer rating (84.3), but Chicago has reached the postseason only one time (2010) in Cutler’s six seasons on the job. The quarterback is on his fifth offensive coordinator, third head coach and third general manager as a member of the Bears.
Though head coach John Fox is pleased with Cutler’s preseason performance, Cutler’s future with the Bears beyond 2015 is unknown, except that $10 million of the quarterback’s 2016 salary is already guaranteed.
"I’ve gotten a lot of questions on Jay," Fox said on Wednesday. "It’s going to be how he performs. I thought he had a good outing [vs. Miami]; I’m sure he wants to have a better one and would hope so every week. He’s working at it, done everything we’ve asked; work ethic’s not a problem, just 'we' have to perform, not just Jay."
