isn't next year after next season?
this year would be before next season, or am I wrong?
Next year would be the next season, the one after this season. If they were free agents next season, they would be eligible for free agency this season.
That might just be #1 on Trestman's "To Do" list with Cutler.
That may be 1d or 1e on the list. Jay has a lot to work on and if he does we will all see marked improvement. If there is anything I am confident in Trestman to do, it is improve Jay as a QB.
That may be 1d or 1e on the list. Jay has a lot to work on and if he does we will all see marked improvement. If there is anything I am confident in Trestman to do, it is improve Jay as a QB.
I felt like Martz was sincerely trying to change some of Jay's mechanics --- and Cutler was buying into it, and that in that 2011 season before he got hurt, he WAS looking better. Last year, Tice didn't do squat with him (he wouldn't know how) and IMO Bates didn't do much there either, and Cutler's mechanics regressed. I think having Trestman work with Cutler (as well as his new QB coach), hopefully he can return to being more technically sound.
Regarding the throw-aways, I'm not going to make as big of a deal out of it as the media has so far. First off, of the times Cutler COULD HAVE thrown the ball away, how many of those turned into Picks? Other than a bad Green Bay game (which wasn't a result of not throwing the ball away, rather forcing downfield in a losing effort), his INTs weren't horrible this year. The biggest impact on his not throwing the ball away was on Sacks taken, and he probably took 4-5 sacks that he could have avoided (I don't count sacks in the pocket, because typically you cant just throw it away there or its intentional grounding). The fact is many times Cutler ended up scrambling for a first down, or using his arm to complete a play (or throw an incompletion trying).
Is throwing it away only 5 times probably too little? Of course. Should he throw it away a lot more often ala Matt Cassell? Hell no. I think there's a happy balance, and he probably isn't far off from it. Improved line play will also mean he won't NEED to throw it away as much. So I don't see this as a huge issue in and of itself.
Tillman could get an extension with restructure of his contract. Would lower his Cap Hit. Same could happen with Cutler.
Pretty much zero chance of this. While Tillman has good grounds for an extension and can probably get a deal that will lower his cap hit, Cutler isn't in that same situation. His salary is likely to go up no matter where he ends up (if the Bears don't want to extend him after next season). Not many Starting caliber QBs in the NFL taking pay cuts these days. 32 year old DBs? That's more likely.
I wonder if Peppers is going to get another restructure soon. When I saw his deal first signed, it screamed to me "Get 3 good years out of the guy and then waive him." His deal really escalates over the next 3 seasons, beyond what is really reasonable for his position. Still, not sure you can warrant extending it another 2 years beyond where it is to smooth that cap hit out. His is going to be an interesting decision, because right now, if he is healthy, he's still a beast. But here are his cap hits by year:
Just read that Flacco's next contract could now very well approach the $20M range annually.
Let's try to keep some perspective here. The only person reporting that "theory" is John Clayton, whom for whatever reason, has been beating the "Joe Flacco is an Elite QB" for the last 3 years. I don't believe he will actually get that amount, or even that close to it. The only reason I can assume Flacco gets so much love from Clayton is that he is probably an illegitimate kid of his or something. It's bizarre.
Flacco is gonna get tagged this year, and MIGHT get something in the $14-$16 range when its all said and done. Even that is overpayment IMO. I've watched him these last couple years, he doesn't pass the eye test. Elite? No way.
Pretty much zero chance of this. While Tillman has good grounds for an extension and can probably get a deal that will lower his cap hit, Cutler isn't in that same situation. His salary is likely to go up no matter where he ends up (if the Bears don't want to extend him after next season). Not many Starting caliber QBs in the NFL taking pay cuts these days. 32 year old DBs? That's more likely.
I wonder if Peppers is going to get another restructure soon. When I saw his deal first signed, it screamed to me "Get 3 good years out of the guy and then waive him." His deal really escalates over the next 3 seasons, beyond what is really reasonable for his position. Still, not sure you can warrant extending it another 2 years beyond where it is to smooth that cap hit out. His is going to be an interesting decision, because right now, if he is healthy, he's still a beast. But here are his cap hits by year:
