What about Cutler the QB?

If you're sick to the point of nausea over the Jay Cutler story, raise your hand and by all means cover your mouth.

The debate over whether Cutler is tough enough to get the Bears to a Super Bowl appears as though it may rage on for months or even years.

How lucky for us all.

Each day we're given a “new” story with nothing new at all to report, and yet it drags on and on.

And it continues to overshadow the real issues concerning the Bears' starting quarterback.

We already know he's tough. The 130 hits he took this year are evidence enough. What we still don't know is whether Cutler's actually good enough to get the Bears to a Super Bowl.

Right now, Cutler is just another guy. He's just another NFL quarterback attempting to take the next step, but he takes a step back for every one he takes forward.

He's got great physical abilities, but also questions about many facets of his game, from his mechanics to decision-making to leadership to work ethic.

There's a dozen guys like that in the NFL today who would someday like to be included among the best, that would soon like to have their names listed with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, or in the next group with Drew Brees, Phil Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers.

It won't happen for Cutler unless he cares enough about getting better, unless he desperately needs to be included in that group.

But it absolutely could happen for Cutler if the Bears take control of the situation and give Cutler the tools he needs to become an elite player.

Cutler's proven he isn't going to do it on his own — and up to this point the Bears haven't insisted Cutler study more, practice more and care more.

Maybe the Bears can change him and teach him, and maybe the embarrassing discussion of his injury will fuel his desire and propel Cutler toward that upper echelon of QBs.

His reaction to the idiotic claims about quitting has been puzzling, and Cutler's failure to fight back is somewhat shocking.

No, in a perfect world it wouldn't have happened and in a perfect world he wouldn't have to react at all, leaving those fools who blasted him to answer all the questions.

But we don't live in a perfect world, and Cutler's silence has only led to more questions.

Most Bears fans don't care about any of it, only that Cutler learns and grows and becomes a better QB.

But two years after he arrived here, all the same questions that plagued him in Denver remain unanswered in Chicago.

Super Sunday

There are so many reasons to pick the Packers to win Sunday.

They've got the hottest quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, great receivers and a terrific defense.

The Steelers also possess a great defense, but their corners are susceptible, so that's a big advantage for Green Bay.

So why am I picking Pittsburgh?

There's just a hunch here that the Steelers will get to Rodgers early and often and ring his bell, which has happened at least three times this season.

There's no more ferocious defense in football, and no team that hits harder than Pittsburgh.

The other reason is Ben Roethlisberger, easy to dislike off the field but hard not to admire on the field.

He is the ultimate combination of size at QB with the ability to escape. He is difficult to bring down and he makes plays at the most important times by keeping his feet moving and his right arm free.

Let's hope this game lives up to its potential, which would seem to indicate a close game down to the last minute.

The pick: Steelers 24, Packers 23.

Prop City

Some proposition wagers for Super Bowl Sunday:

Ÿ First to get thank you from game MVP: God (2-1), teammates (3-1), family (4-1), coach (9-1) or friends (10-1).

Ÿ What will Fergie wear in her first appearance: tight bodysuit (1-1), skirt or dress (2-1), pants below knees (3-1), shorts above knees (4-1) or bikini bottom (15-1).

Ÿ Aaron Rodgers TD passes (-1) vs. Alex Ovechkin points.

Ÿ Ben Roethlisberger TD passes (-1) vs. Sidney Crosby points.

The quote

Will.i.am on selling the NFL brass on the idea of the Black Eyed Peas as a halftime show: “I was reminded of what it was like to try to get a record deal or try to get a gig that you wanted. I took pride in showing up to the NFL offices with my computer and my mixing equipment to DJ what a show would probably sound like. The NFL was happy, we were happy and it was a proud moment.”

The controversy

Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald: “In Jay Cutler's defense, he was playing behind an offensive line that once gave up 4 sacks to a blocking sled.”

Tweet it

From e-mailer Cornhusker Kickback: “Think the NFL is happy with all the social media rants of late? In the next CBA, look for the NFL to name Hosni Mubarak as new director of communications.”

And finally ...

Pingree Grove e-mailer Gary Koca, on Lou Piniella taking a consulting job with the Giants: “He says he wanted to stay in the game but didn't want the day-to-day hassles of running a team. Sounds a lot like his role with the Cubs the last two years.”

brozner@dailyherald.com