Can we just let Cutler be Cutler?

Jay Cutler will walk on water this year.

If Lake Michigan is frozen.

Otherwise, don't fret if he's something just short of a savior.

That flies in the face of conventional wisdom and the local cheers that have brought back memories of the Rex Grossman presidential campaign.

The difference is Cutler should win a lot of games here when he's not setting records for leaping tall buildings in a single bound, rescuing kittens from trees and saving Social Security.

There's no doubt he's a substantial physical upgrade at quarterback, but even GM Jerry Angelo has stated that it's no guarantee of anything, that unless Cutler works hard and gets better, while becoming an honor student and valued teammate, it could backfire.

This is a different Angelo, and this one is much more likable.

While all around him are losing their heads, Angelo's been quite reasonable about Cutler from the start, knowing that Cutler was a gift dropped in his lap, and trying not to tempt fate.

He also knows Cutler brought his baggage with him from Denver but has thus far left it at the airport.

He knows he gave up a serviceable NFL quarterback with a much better winning percentage.

He knows that the offensive line will have to be better or the trade will be for naught.

He knows Devin Hester will have to find his playbook or all the talk of Cutler's superhuman arm will be forgotten.

He knows the playcalling better improve to match Cutler's ability.

He knows that if the defense is as bad as it was last year, Cutler will suffer as did Kyle Orton in some very painful defeats.

What Angelo's banking on is that Cutler will shake off the late-season woes of 2008, take advantage of the Bears being better in all the aforementioned areas, and not just make the playoffs - which they could have done by keeping Orton - but go far in the playoffs instead.

And that's possible.

The truth is Cutler has the potential - potential, we say - to be twice as good as Orton, but so far he hasn't even been better than Orton, and even Angelo admits Cutler has a lot to prove.

That's where reality has run headfirst into fantasy the last few months.

But don't blame Angelo for that.

The GM has been more realistic than most when it comes to this deal, because so far Cutler has been much more Rex Grossman than he has been John Elway.

He has been careless with the football, playing too much the gunslinger, and not enough the NFL quarterback who makes smart decisions.

Angelo has seen this publicity campaign get away from him before, and while there should be no comparing Cutler to Grossman once the new QB gets his feet on the ground here - and presumably stays grounded - Angelo still has made it clear that this is no slam-dunk.

After discovering that all the blather about Grossman was fiction - turns out he's neither Brett Favre nor does he have a strong arm - this time Angelo has tried to lower expectations, but to no avail.

So carrying that between his shoulders, it's up to Cutler to reward the Bears for granting his wish and removing him from Denver, and reward Angelo for sticking his neck out.

Even if Cutler fails to match the ridiculously high standards some have set for him, it would be hard to blame Angelo for a generational gamble.

It's a good gamble, the chance to get a player who might be the next Elway, knowing he could also become the next Grossman.

What's sometimes forgotten is that Cutler needs help.

He needs receivers to run routes, needs to stay off his back, and - this is the key to the season - needs the defense to stay healthy and not look ancient again.

If those things occur, Cutler will have a magnificent season.

Training camp will soon sneak up on us again, so, naturally, this is the time of year for hyperbole and hysterics, saviors and prophets, Super Bowls and king-size thrones.

Angelo has seen it before, and he doesn't need anything that dramatic.

He doesn't need Cutler to be John Elway the way Grossman tried to be Favre - after so many convinced Grossman he was Favre.

All Angelo needs is for Cutler to throw the ball to the correct uniform, find his own game and make his own name.

If that happens, Bears fans could have a heck of a lot of fun.

brozner@dailyherald.com