Where will Cutler take Bears in pivotal year?

Jay Cutler is entering his fifth year as the Chicago Bears quarterback. Hard to believe how fast time flies, but after further review the first four years have pretty much gone the way I expected.

He's done some good things, bad things, and some ugly things.

So now, with a new general manager, a new head coach, and his fourth offensive coordinator in five years, how will it all unfold?

To be fair, he's been tougher and more resilient than I thought. His demeanor, in my opinion, has been excellent in a contract year.

But let's be clear folks, what has Cutler really been known for since he arrived here?

There are three main things: his surliness; not playing in the second half of a playoff game; and his wife, Kristin Cavallari.

In his defense, I will say there has been a double standard at times. He was blasted to no end for failing to take the field in the second half of that playoffs game after he was hurt, while Derrick Rose was coddled by the media when he missed all of last season.

Cutler was also criticized in some circles for not being married when Cavallari announced she was pregnant. Meanwhile D-Rose and his lady were congratulated for the exact same situation, so there is no doubt that Cutler he's been treated unfairly at times.

My biggest issue with Cutler has been on the field. I'm happy for the guy and wish him nothing but the best in his personal life, but now there is an unexpected twist on the field with his star receiver now becoming a distraction.

Gosh, who would have predicted that?

I'm sure Jay and Brandon Marshall have talked, but Marshall saying he doesn't know his role and not being around for personal reasons is a distraction that Cutler doesn't need right now. Hey Marshall got his dough already, but his QB is looking for a new deal so with Marshall's head and hip and lip in a state of flux, Cutler has to hope Marshall will be ready on game day.

The wild card in this deal is head coach Marc Trestman. We know he can call plays, but a head coach is actually more important off the field. How he handles personnel matters will be key in his first year. Chip Kelly, the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, handled the Riley Cooper situation after his racially insenstive comment like a veteran coach. Let's see what happens when Trestman has to make a tough decision off the field.

Coming soon:The Mike North Pregame show starts Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on WIND 560-AM The Answer.#376; Mike North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.