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Have Bears done all they can for Cutler?

For the next week or two, Chicago will gnash its collective teeth over the comings and goings of safeties, linebackers, punters and special-teams gunners.

The Bears will explain and defend, spin and rinse, all while insisting they got every player they sought and lost no one of consequence.

And somewhere in a quiet corner of a Bourbonnais practice field, Jay Cutler will be standing alone, flipping a football from hand to hand with that blank stare on his face, wondering just how this gets better for him.

One of the biggest acquisitions in Chicago sports history, Cutler remains an enigma, the most talented quarterback in Bears lore, a player who alternately leaves fans gasping and screaming.

He was awful in 2009 and mediocre last season when he took one of the all-time beatings behind one of the all-time worst offensive lines.

So what do the Bears have in Jay Cutler as they approach the 2011 season?

Pretty much what they had when he got here. A guy with a monster ceiling who hasn’t come close to reaching it yet, playing for a team that hasn’t found a way to help him get there.

They insisted last year that the offensive line was just fine, all while pieces of the iceberg were landing on sliding deck chairs.

They guaranteed a year ago that they had all the receivers they could possibly need, and yet now they pursue free-agent pass catchers.

They promised the Mike Martz offense would be ideal, and yet without Mike Tice the mad Martz would have never altered his playcalling and stubbornly watched as his QB was pulverized.

Now, after missing a summer of workouts that would have furthered the cause, and having traded Cutler’s close friend, tight end Greg Olsen, the Bears are rumored finally to be searching free agency for upgrades to the offense, knowing full well there is precious little time for new players to become fully integrated in a complicated scheme.

So, again, for the third straight summer, one has to wonder if the Bears have done all they can to maximize Cutler’s talents, knowing none of this works — there’s no dream of a title — unless Cutler is happy, healthy and playing well.

Though he’d never say it out loud, while Cutler stands there spinning that football alone with his thoughts and concerns, he must be wondering the same thing.

Danks a lot

It’s difficult to imagine the White Sox going anywhere this season without John Danks, but come the off-season it’s likely Danks will be on the block if the Sox can’t get him to sign a contract one year away from free agency.

“I never said I didn’t want to stay. It’s just part of the game. It’s the business part of it,’’ Danks said. “I’ve just tried really hard to keep that part of it away from the field and out of my mind because you can’t pitch like that, and we’ve done a heck of a job keeping it away from the field completely.

“I have no idea what will happen. It’s something that may or may not come up after the season.’’

Sure doesn’t sound like Danks is in a hurry to sign when he will be a year away from a monster payday at the age of only 27.

Sox rotation

If the Sox lose Mark Buehrle to free agency and trade Danks over the winter, assuming they don’t get a starter in return, the rotation next season might include Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd, Philip Humber, Chris Sale and Zach Stewart.

Danks’ cutter

When he tied a career high with 10 strikeouts Wednesday, Danks said his cutter was harder and with more movement than he’d ever had before.

“I don’t know how I was doing it. No clue, but it worked,’’ Danks said with a laugh. “I used my changeup to play off that and had some good results.

“In general I had great stuff. It was just frustrating that I couldn’t control it.’’

Ivan Boldirev-ing

Craig MacTavish is expected to be named the next Wolves coach in short order. His presence as boss of the Canucks’ farm club could drive the squirmy Alain Vigneault nuts by Christmas.

Best quote

Ozzie Guillen on Alejandro De Aza: “I don’t think it’s going to fire up (Alex) Rios. I don’t think he wants to be where he is right now. You don’t bring someone up to push people. You do it to make the team better.’’

Just asking

Who will you miss more, Kosuke Fukudome or Brandon Manumaleuna?

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: “Carlos Beltran released from prison.’’

Snookered

CBS’ Craig Ferguson: “In England, they call soccer fans that are crazy, drunk and unemployed, ‘soccer hooligans.’ In America, they give them a reality show on MTV.’’

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald’s Brad Dickson: “On Twitter, Gilbert Arenas referred to Orlando as a state. And this was actually the most intelligent tweet by a professional athlete in three weeks.’’

brozner@dailyherald.com

ŸListen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score#146;s #147;Hit and Run#148; show at WSCR 670-AM. Follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.