Well the situation that people had thought was possible for months finally became a reality. The long-awaited Jay Cutler Adam Gase reunion is happening down with the Miami Dolphins. It just took a timely (and unfortunate) injury to happen. Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill was suffering from a partially torn ACL which he suffered last year. He felt with a brace he could rehab and avoid surgery. Turns out he was wrong.
After a scramble out of bounds during practice, Tannehill crumpled to the ground. It appeared on video like his knee buckled. Though an MRI revealed no structural damage, former NFL doctor David Chao indicated that it was still bad news. It meant that the knee was not stable due to the prior ACL injury. That meant surgery was 95% unavoidable.
According to Jeff Darlington and others, it seems the Dolphins have reached that conclusion as well.
Dolphins fear Ryan Tannehill will need season-ending knee surgery, but no decision on it has been made, sources tell @JeffDarlington and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2017
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A source told @AdamSchefter that Tannehill's knee was a "ticking time bomb." Yikes. https://t.co/zzBcnqJepz pic.twitter.com/NfiaknKQL0
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) August 4, 2017
Of course this puts Miami in a serious bind. Having made the playoffs last season, they had high expectations for 2017. Their odds undoubtedly drop if they’re forced to go forward with veteran backup Matt Moore. Already talk has picked up about alternatives. We hinted at the idea of a Mike Glennon trade in a previous article, but that is unlikely.
Much more palatable is Adam Gase bringing back a familiar face.
Jay Cutler Adam Gase reunion is by far the most logical move
Everybody knows how well Cutler and Gase meshed in 2015 with the Bears. Jay had the most efficient season of his pro career, throwing 21 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions and 3,659 yards for a 92.3 quarterback rating. In a tough year for the team, their relationship was one of the few high points.
Chicago fans were begging Gase to stick around a little longer, but he couldn’t ignore the opportunity to take a head coaching job. Cutler regressed back to his old self in 2016 and was subsequently cut this offseason. He was all set to hang up the cleats and join the broadcast team at FOX, even drawing the job of calling the Bears home opener against Atlanta. Word is though he was open to signing in Miami if he gets to start.
Dolphins could slow play Cutler decision since they are only team, I’m told, Cutler would consider leaving his TV gig for at this point.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 3, 2017
Here’s where it gets interesting: I’m told Cutler is interested in delaying TV gig to play for Gase but it’d need to be starting job/money.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 3, 2017
Turns out he wasn’t joking. Miami moved quickly to bring him in. His negotiating power was strong after all. Aside from the Gase connection, their options were either stick with Moore or go with Colin Kaepernick. Neither option seems favorable for the team, one on the field and the other off it.
Miami and former Bears QB Jay Cutler are finalizing a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Two sides are expected to hammer it out shortly.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2017
Whether the addition of Cutler ultimately does anything for them in that division? That’s debatable. The Patriots are still the Patriots and Cutler has never beaten them. In fact he’s 0-3 against them with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Like it or not, this is a desperation move for Miami.
