Cutler still playing to mixed reviews

While waiting for Jay Cutler to return from a concussion I started wondering what exactly it was I'm waiting for.

Somebody who's merely preferable to Todd Collins and Caleb Hanie? Or a legitimate play-making, game-breaking, NFL quarterback? Or what?

A few years ago an ex-Bears defensive back gave me this assessment of Rex Grossman:

“The problem is that teammates need to know what they'll get from the quarterback every week, and they don't know that about him.

By now the Bears should know who Jay Cutler is and what he will give them. But who is he and what is that?

I have been as fascinated as anybody by Cutler's physical gifts and as frustrated as anybody by his erratic play.

One week I'm certain that Cutler is going to be the NFL's best quarterback and the next week that he's going to be just another Bears bust.

Cutler is in his fifth NFL season and second with the Bears, long enough to demonstrate his value one way or the other, for better or worse.

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz calls Cutler brilliant. He adds that he gave him the highest grade of any quarterback coming out of college over the past 19 years.

Elsewhere, however, Cutler often is viewed as an underachieving, mechanically flawed, emotionally inadequate NFL quarterback.

I collected some assessments of Cutler made the week before the Giants concussed him on Oct. 3.

The Denver Post quoted John Elway, the best quarterback of the Super Bowl era, as saying this about Cutler:

“(The Bears are) going to win some games like they did Monday night (against Green Bay), but in the long run they're never going to be as good as they should be because technique-wise (Cutler) won't set his feet and put the ball on the money.

That's a great big “Ouch!

Of course, Elway and all of Colorado might not be objective concerning Cutler after he asked to be traded from the Broncos.

But then there's this in a New York tabloid from Phil Simms, the Giants' former Super Bowl quarterback:

“Jay Cutler could have thrown 5 interceptions last week (against the Packers). Instead he ended up just throwing 1 and somewhat became the hero because he threw a bad ball down the right sideline where he got pass interference.

Again, “Ouch!

Simms doesn't have any grudge against Cutler that I know of. The truth is that he uttered what many critics believe.

So, seriously, who and what is Jay Cutler anyway?

Like a lot of Bears fans I'm a big fan of Cutler's arm and mobility. But when I step back to think about it, the realization arises that it also takes mental and emotional strength to be a premier quarterback.

Maybe I dismiss those qualities because the Bears have waited longer for a franchise quarterback than a lot of NFL franchises have been in business.

Am I giving Cutler's inconsistent passing a pass because it seems he can't be worse than former presumed Bears saviors like Rick Mirer and Rex Grossman?

“I think it's entirely possible Kyle Orton is better than Jay Cutler, Sports Illustrated's Peter King recently wrote of the quarterbacks traded for each other last year.

Once more, “Ouch!

Hopefully Jay Cutler will be cleared to play Sunday and provide another opportunity to judge who and what he is.

mimrem@dailyherald.com