Good morning and Happy Hump Day Bears fans! Welcome to Bear Dawn, the latest Chicago Bears news and notes from across the web for Wednesday July 22nd, 2015.
You can that the start of training camp is right around the corner because Jay Cutler is bubbling up to the surface, dominating of lot of Bears headlines.
Let’s start with some good. Jay Cutler hosted a camp for diabetic kids. He talked about his diagnosis:
"“I was 26 when I found out I had it. I lost about 30 pounds (after his third season with Denver).” said former Vanderbilt standout and current Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. “I was tired all the time. I was going to the bathroom four or five times a night. I couldn’t gain my weight back, and I was just moody.”"
Moody you say? Nah, not you Jay!
ESPN Insider (subscription required) posted their 2015 quarterback tiers and Jay Cutler checked in tied for 20th it tier 3 of quarterbacks. The reactions on Cutler were, um, mixed to say the least. The not so bad:
"“I do not think he is the monster everyone has made him out to be,” the evaluator said. “He does have issues, but can you win with him? Yes. That is why he is a 3, not a 4. If you protect him and get him to get the ball out and have a really good run game, he can be [good enough]. But he will turn it over, and you have to overcome that.”"
and the gut punch…
"“I’ve never seen a guy get paid that much money and see that many people fired around him,” a head coach said. “It’s incredible. It is never his fault. You could give him a 2, but I’d want him as a backup.”"
Our own Dan Schmelzer wants to know if YOU have faith in Cutler.
Next: Where do you stand on Jay Cutler?
CSN Chicago’s Moon Mullin doesn’t put all the Bears recent issues on Cutler, they’re quarterback issues. Then why Moon, is this your opening paragraph:
"During the death spiral that was the 2014 season, the offensive coaching hierarchy of coach Marc Trestman and coordinator Aaron Kromer grew weary and wary of Jay Cutler’s play at quarterback. There had been more than a passing desire to stay with Josh McCown during his career year of 2013 but the decision was to return Cutler to No. 1."
But Cutler wasn’t the only headline. The Score’s Dan Durkin previews the Bears tight ends, where it’s Martellus Bennett or bust.
Chicago Football previews the muddled Bears linebacker position.
ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson ranks newcomer Pernell McPhee as the #4 player on the Bears 2015 roster.
Kyle Long checks in at Bear Necessities #4 player for 2015.
Get to know a guy with one of the toughest jobs this coming season, Bears outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt.
Need a really solid piece previewing the Bears fantasy prospects? Check out this Rotoworld post.
Don’t miss wide receiver Kevin White’s Virtual Rookie Card. White was also named as one of the top rookies for Madden 16.