Cutler's contract did not affect the bears ability to spend freely in FA. Nor has it hampered their ability to re-sign their own as is evidenced in the recent Brandon Marshall extension. Despite all of the blatantly false propaganda to the contrary the Bears spent over 90 mil in FA which ranks in the top 10 of all teams spending in the league.
http://www.spotrac.com/premium/research/nfl/nfl-free-agent-spending-breakdowns-441/
Clearly the Cutler contract has not created any "cap problems" nor does it appear that it will. The truth is, we can debate all day long whether the talent spent on was good or bad or filled the right positions or not, but all this nonsense about Cutler's contract stifling the team and causing cap issues is just exactly that........utter nonsense.
Laurence Holmes on the SCORE was talking about people being mad at Alphonso Soriano formerly from the Cubs for his huge contract. Holmes said "don't be mad at Soriano, be mad at Jim Hendry the GM who offered the contract." I got to thinking this could/would be the same with Cutler and Emery. What was Cutler to do? Turn the offer down?!
Fact: Cutlers contract takes up approximately 13% of salary cap
Fact: The Bears need to pay 52 other players and have money in case of injury.
Fact: They restructured Cutlers contract before the ink was dry to sign additional FA's
Fact: That big of a contract effects any teams ability to spend money
Thanks to all members that have given support to me while I go through a rough time in my life. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated
Fact: All of Jimmy's facts are true
Fact: Non of Jimmy's facts change the fact that Cutler's contract did not effect the Bears ability to spend freely in FA, sign and extend their own, and Cutler's contract has not caused any cap issues.
Butkus never wore an earring
I will admit that Emery has done an amazing job.
Thanks to all members that have given support to me while I go through a rough time in my life. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated
I agree with both PBO and JMF. The only ones who haven't said anything about cap issues are Bears management, so I have to trust them. Otherwise, why do they keep offering contracts?
What amazes me most about this discussion is the apparent suggestion that Bears wouldn't have benefited from having more cap space by reaching a more equitable deal with Cutler. . What a bunch of absolute rubbish. More cap space isn't better than less cap space? Are you kidding me?
I'm not going to reiterate what jimmy wrote, but the most damning evidence is the fact that the Bears have already had to restructure Cutler's contract to accommodate some of the new signings. It's a bad trend, and one that bit the Bears in the ass big time with Peppers. Sure, the Bears had 53 guys on the roster, and I'm sure that's enough for some to say that Peppers contact "had no effect" on the quality of the team. But the depth was wretched because they didn't have the cash to sign solid backups. Unless some of these rooks emerge, the same situation will repeat itself this season.
Yet year after year , the Bears have not won a Super Bowl and have only made the playoffs once in the last 5 years. If someone doubts the cap hasn't had an effect on team quality, they're delusional.
The Bears have somewhere between 5-6 mil in cap space right now. That's not a lot of maneuvering room for a team that has a history of injuries. Next year, the situation will be worse. Again, filling a 53 man roster does NOT mean a team doesn't have cap issues.
When you bleed, make it orange and navy blue
Well said Bill, it is amazing some do not realize a team would benefit by having more cap space. And if they had it they would spend it.
Thanks to all members that have given support to me while I go through a rough time in my life. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated
Two things Boll.
What information do you have showing that by the current pay of his peers he was overpaid. Not based on your personal feelings he is average at best but looking at the contracts by current QBs show me how his is bloated. (I do agree that too much is being spent on the QB position these days)
You say next year will be worse. Show it. I disagree and have stated a few reasons why. Y have yet to actually offer any proof we are in trouble.
Train like you are 2nd, but play like you are 1st.
Restructuring Cutlers contract to get more cap space is a cap issue to me. It means they didn't have the cap space they needed.
Thanks to all members that have given support to me while I go through a rough time in my life. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated
What amazes me is the apparent suggestion that signing talent is an issue while stubbornly refusing to address the reality that the Bears spent as much, wait, more then most other teams. Top ten, lInk provided. The argument is available funds, the facts prove the bears have and are a leader in spending those funds.
Rubbish is providing no viable data to sustain a straw man argument repeated relentlessly. At least If this ridiculous argument can be satisfied here in one thread some level of satisfaction can be gained from freeing up the rest of the MB to other topics.
Butkus never wore an earring