Bears, Cutler excited about contract extension
It didn't take long for Jay Cutler to prove his value to the Bears.
Cutler was already under contract through 2011 when the Bears traded for him on April 2, and they told his agent, Bus Cook, that they didn't intend to extend the deal during his first season. But Tuesday night Cutler and the Bears agreed on a two-year extension worth $30 million, including $20 million in guaranteed money.
"It was just about him coming in here and proving his worth," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We felt we'd seen enough and this was the time.
"We saw firsthand the talent that we saw prior to him coming in here, (and) obviously the value of his position. We saw his playmaking ability. We also saw his leadership, both on and off the field, in terms of how he approaches his workday. So (there was) nothing not to like."
Cutler was happy to have a done deal with upfront money, especially with the prospect of a lockout in 2011.
"I think every player in the league is probably concerned with that because we don't know what's going to happen," Cutler said. "The Players Association is advising everyone to save money. So any money you can get before that point is going to be good for any player."
Coach Lovie Smith, who is under contract through 2011, seemed more excited about the extension than Cutler.
"By making a move like that this quick, that's really saying what we feel about Jay," Smith said. "We think he's one of the best in the league. We paid him that way. It was just another day at work for him. He really didn't even want to talk about it, almost embarrassed a little bit about it."
In light of the recent contracts signed by Chargers quarterback Phillips Rivers, for $92 million, and Eli Manning, for $97.5 million, Cook approached the Bears recently.
"I think both sides knew it was going to happen at some point, we just didn't know when the best timing was," Cutler said. "I wanted to be here awhile, I think the Bears wanted me to be here awhile, so it worked out for both of us."