Jay Cutler has a complicated legacy with Chicago Bears fans. Many see him as the best quarterback the franchise has had in the Super Bowl era. He holds most of the passing records and started more games. At the same time, others think he was a colossal disappointment considering the massive package the Bears gave up to get him back in 2009. An underachiever who was a lightning rod for controversy. Kyle Long has remained one of his most steadfast defenders despite all of that.
The retired Bears guard appeared on a podcast with Fansided’s Mark Carman to talk about his career, post-career, and of course the Bears. During the conversation, Carman asked a fun question. What was one thing Cutler would do when they were teammates that annoyed Long? Everybody knows the quarterback wasn’t the easiest teammate to get along with. Many questioned his leadership throughout his entire career.
Long though had a funny story both to describe Cutler’s grating personality but also his outstanding traits as a leader.
Kyle Long reminds everybody why Cutler survived in Chicago
It’s obvious that Cutler was an acquired taste as a teammate. Some guys just didn’t like him. His personality could come across as surly at times. His body language might indicate he didn’t care. In reality, it was the exact opposite. Cutler was a competitor. He wanted to win and he knew his teammates being healthy and playing well were vital to that success. So even if he had to poke and prod him, Cutler was going to make sure Long understood what must be done to keep his body right.
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It’s always fair to wonder how different things might’ve been for Cutler had Lovie Smith managed to stick around after 2012. Or if he’d still been here when Matt Nagy arrived in 2018. Maybe his legacy would be viewed differently. In the end, absence makes the heart grow fonder. The quarterback problems Chicago has suffered through lately has made some rethink their criticisms of Cutler years ago.
Maybe with a little more time he’ll be better appreciated.
