The clock is ticking on the Jay Cutler era in Chicago.
Cutler is sidelined because of a thumb sprain, and there doesn't seem to be a thumbs-up sign for his long-term future in the Windy City. When asked Monday about whether Cutler would return as a starter when he's healthy, Bears coach John Fox didn't exactly give the quarterback an endorsement.
"I don't think there are any givens, and that's not an indictment on anybody," Fox said.
Cutler is in the middle of a seven-year, $126.7 million contract he signed in 2014. The Bears haven't had a winning record since 2012. Fox and general manager Ryan Pace stuck with Cutler after taking over the Bears in 2015, in part because of a $10 million guarantee in his contract.
Working with offensive coordinator Adam Gase last season, Cutler responded well, cut down his interceptions, showed better leadership and had one of his best years statistically. But Gase is now in Miami, and Cutler looked back to his old self in the two games he started. His completion percentage is down and, most important, the Bears haven't won.
Cutting Cutler is no longer a money issue, either. He's signed through 2020, but his contract doesn't have any guaranteed money after this season. He could be cut in the offseason and count only $2 million under the 2017 cap.
I polled five NFL front-office executives about what's next for Cutler, and if he has a future in Chicago. Here's what they're thinking:
Executive 1: Cutler isn't helping the rebuild
"I think they will cut him loose and start over after the season. You keep seeing the same thing over and over again. They are in the stage where they are trying to replenish their roster and he's not getting the process of getting better. Plus, if they are drafting in the first couple of picks, you would have to think they are taking a quarterback."
Fox knew he signed on with a team in need of rebuilding. Poor drafting left the cupboard bare, particularly on defense. The Bears, for example, don't have a defensive draft choice on the roster who is on a second contract. Offensive lineman Kyle Long is the only one left on offense after they let running back Matt Forte walk to the New York Jets.
Figuring it might take three years to rebuild the defense, more falls on the arm and talents of Cutler. Even with Cutler completing a respectable 64.4 percent of his passes last season, the Bears were 6-9 with him as a starter, and the offense averaged only 20.9 points. In 2014, he had Forte, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery and the offense averaged only 19.9 points.
Quarterbacks can be the equalizer for rebuilding rosters, but his record as a starter since 2013 is 11-21.
Executive 2: Would Cutler start elsewhere?
"I would think they would cut him after the season. If they do, I would think Cutler would have to go to another team and maybe go as a No. 2 and then have to compete for a starting job. Jay is talented, but he may go through what Jeff George went through toward the end of his career."
By next April, Cutler will be 34. He's not that old among quarterbacks, but it does mean he's probably not a long-term option for any team. Plus, there might not be many teams looking for starting quarterbacks this offseason.
Normally, six to eight teams are in the market for quarterbacks. There might be as few as five next year, and that includes the Bears. The Browns will be looking for a quarterback, but most likely near the top of the draft. Kirk Cousins is on a one-year contract in Washington, but a good season would lead to a long-term deal there.
The Jets have to figure out if they want to keep Ryan Fitzpatrick and whether Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg will emerge. The San Francisco 49ers could move on from Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick.
Cutler might be a fit on a playoff team looking for a quarterback, but the playoff contenders either have a quarterback or, like Denver, are developing one.
Executive 3: Body language is a factor
"I think it's time to move on, and I think they will. At some point, you have to realize it's not advantageous to keep him. The quarterback is the face of the franchise. You have the face of the franchise who calls out players on his team and then not being accountable for the mistakes he makes."
In the opener, Cutler showed up wide receiver Kevin White with a gesture for making a wrong move on a pass that led to an interception. When Cutler threw an interception in the Monday night loss to Philadelphia, injured linebacker Pernell McPhee confronted Cutler on the sideline.
Leadership is an important part of being the starting quarterback. Quarterbacks can be tough on their teammates, but it becomes a strain when discord shows up on the field.
Executive 4: Take two aspirins and change QBs
"I think he's done there and they've got to get rid of him. If the headaches are bigger than the production, you've got to get rid of him."
Cutler can be a headache. Former Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer told an NFL Network reporter several critical comments about Cutler. Cutler has had a history of being a headache to coordinators. If Cutler doesn't like the playcaller, the QB tends to tune him out.
That hasn't been the case yet under Fox. Cutler bought into Gase. We'll see how it goes the rest of the season with Dowell Loggains, the new offensive coordinator.
Executive 5: Winning is everything
"He hasn't had a winning record in a while, so it's about time to find a different quarterback. If something goes wrong, he usually makes it seem like it's someone else who made the mistake."
The Bears gave two first-round picks, plus a third-round pick and Kyle Orton, in the trade for Cutler in 2009. Helped by a good Lovie Smith defense, Cutler had an 11-win season in 2010, and he had 10 wins in 2012. Cutler was 7-3 in 2011 before suffering a broken thumb. The team finished 8-8.
Now the team is heading to its third consecutive losing season. Cutler hasn't been the difference-maker. The Colts, for instance, maintained an 11-win standard during the first three years of Andrew Luck's tenure, even though the defense became less talented each year.
Top quarterbacks maintain a 24-point per game or more scoring offense. Cutler's career scoring numbers have been under 23 per game, and being around 20 the past two years has made it harder for the Bears to win.
The verdict
All five NFL executives believe Cutler won't be a Bear next season. A sixth exec wasn't sure what Chicago would do unless it could figure out its quarterback of the future because there isn't one on the roster.
The Bears could have a high draft pick in 2017, and they could take a quarterback there. Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Miami's Brad Kaaya are expected to be two of the top signal-callers available. Cousins could be available, but probably only if he has a down season for the Redskins. Kaepernick is an intriguing option if the 49ers release him. Jimmy Garoppolo could be a trade option, but it would take a lot to pry him from the Patriots.
Regardless, it appears Cutler's tenure in Chicago is ending soon. And it won't be with the bang the Bears had hoped for when they acquired him.