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North: Chicago Bears made big mistake keeping Cutler

Let's be straight up about Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears and ask the key questions.

Should Cutler have been signed to a seven-year extension for more than $126 million back in 2014? Did keeping him produce any noteworthy results?

The answer: No, not really, which is what plenty of Bear fans and I expected all along.

However, I don't think it's fair just to blame Cutler. After all, this Bears organization had stagnated leadership in place for too long.

I was thrilled when the Bears hired Ryan Pace as the general manager, but he missed the mark this season. It was time to do what the Philadelphia Eagles did by getting a first-round and fourth-round pick when they traded Sam Bradford to the Vikings. The Bears could have also gotten a player or two and draft picks with a trade.

I have noticed that some people are having a pity party for Cutler because a Bears QB - regardless of the player - is always a coveted position among a multitude of fans.

I see Cutler as he has always been: a middle-of-the-road guy who is grumpy, pouting, and consistently inconsistent.

The offensive line and receivers will be criticized, but I see the same old, same old from Cutler - holding onto the ball nearly 5 seconds on one play, and still wanting to be a gunslinger.

Don't forget that when receivers have been open, Cutler inexplicably would throw into double coverage, according to former Bears tight end Martellus Bennett.

After playing in the league for more than 10 years, Cutler still has the same bad habits.

Yes, Cutler can get it done with more talent, but he isn't able to deliver with mediocre talent. He has troubling stringing together wins, and sometimes he even can't deliver a solid quality game.

Can he lead this Bears team to the playoffs anytime soon? I seriously doubt it.

Bears fans needed a change several years ago. By the time this team is completely ready to go a few years from now, Cutler will be through. The Bears should have gotten a young quarterback with leadership qualities that they could develop with the team.

Cutler's price tag has been stifling for this team, and his extension should never have happened. It set this team years back.

There is no buzz with a field general who fails to inspire, giving us the same old, same old from one year to the next.

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter @north2north. Listen to Andy Furman and myself Sunday mornings from 5-8 a.m. on Fox Sports radio, iHeart radio on your smartphone or Foxsportsradio.com.

• 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.

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