Cutler's only constant has been change

Tuesday afternoon was the first day of practice for the Bears under new coach John Fox - and for quarterback Jay Cutler it was the fifth offensive coordinator he has played for since coming to Chicago in 2009.

"Is it five?" Cutler said with a wry grin. "That can't be good."

But that constant turnover has made Cutler an expert at adapting to change.

"Does it ever get easier learning a new system?" he was asked.

"Great question," the nine-year veteran said. "I think it kind of does. I think you figure out how to forget the old stuff and learn the new stuff. A lot of this stuff, there's some carryover."

Bears new offensive coordinator Adam Gase began a six-year tenure as a Denver assistant coach shortly before Cutler was traded by the Broncos to the Bears. So there is some familiarity.

"I've known Adam for a long time," Cutler said. "He's got kind of a blend of an offense. So some of the stuff I know. Some of the stuff is completely foreign."

Cutler's 88.6 passer rating last season was the second best of his career. But he led the league with 25 turnovers, including 18 interceptions, which tied for second most he's ever thrown in one year. The Bears' 5-11 record only made it worse.

"I think everyone was missing confidence," Cutler said, including himself, as the Bears stumbled to a 2-8 record in the final 10 games. "When you're dropping games the way that we did, it gets tough. Things went south I feel like in a hurry.

"(There was) so much stuff that happened that went wrong. You just try to focus on yourself and find little things to get better at each year. I'm just trying to move forward at this point."

The disappointment lingered long after the 2014 season ended, and Cutler admits he dwelled on his own failures.

"January, February, you kind of do," he said. "I'd be lying if I said you don't. You definitely think about it because guys' livelihoods are at stake - coaches' families are moving.

"But then, once the new stuff starts, that's all your focus is going to be on."

One way in which this year's Bears offense will look different is the absence of five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who was traded to the Jets for a pittance.

Of Marshall's seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons, four have come with Cutler as his quarterback - two in Denver, two in Chicago. But their relationship soured last year when Marshall suffered through an injury-plagued season that saw his production dip and his habit of being a distraction soar.

"They evaluated everybody, including myself and that's the direction they want to go," Cutler said. "I love Brandon like a brother, known him for a long time. Played with him for a long time. We've had our ups and downs and back and forths. I wish him the best of luck. I know he's going to do well there."

How well the Bears bounce back from last season's disaster depends a lot on Cutler. But it probably depends just as much on Fox and his staff and how they go about creating a culture of winning.

"I really have a lot of respect for Adam (Gase) and the staff he put together," Cutler said. "(John) Fox has a reputation, he knows how to win, and they have a blueprint. I think it's a very talented team at this point. I'm excited about where we're going and the future."

But even Cutler admits this isn't the first time he's thought that, and he's played in just two playoff games.

"I feel like I've felt that with a lot of them," he said.

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