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| Report: Aaron Kromer apologizes to Bears players for anonymously ripping Jay Cutler Posted by Curtis Crabtree on December 12, 2014, 12:44 AM The turmoil surrounding the coaching staff and future of the Chicago Bears may have just gotten significantly worse. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer apologized to players Monday for anonymously criticizing quarterback Jay Cutler to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. The report in question cited Bears sources that claimed they were having a case of “buyer’s remorse” for the contract extended to Cutler earlier this year. It also was critical of Cutler’s inability to check out of bad plays in the running game. Per Biggs, Kromer addressed the team Monday and admitted to the players that he was the source behind the comments regarding Cutler’s game management. Kromer apologized for airing the problems with Cutler and the offense outside of the Bears facility. The admission apparently caused Cutler to shake his head while Kromer issued the apology. He denied saying anything about the franchise’s feeling of remorse for Cutler’s deal. “I said what I had to say to the players,” Kromer said, via Biggs. However noble the apology and feelings of regret Kromer may have for having his issues with Cutler’s play, it brings into question the ability of the two to work together in the future. Can Cutler trust his offensive coordinator to have his back any more? In addition, any further anonymously sourced stories critical of the team in the future will likely bring about players believing Kromer is the source yet again. With the Bears sputtering at 5-8 and posting one of the more disappointing campaigns in the league this season, the future of both Kromer and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has to be in question, as well as head coach Marc Trestman. Kromer’s admission to ripping his quarterback likely won’t help matters any. |
Doubt he works in the NFL again.
Can't argue with Cutler being a coach killer, but at least you have a shot at moving on to another team.
No need to leak shit to the press and then let everyone know you did it.
Career suicide although Cutler does appear to be an epic tool
"I'm still kind of trying to sort my way through this to be honest," one player said. "It's one of the most fucked up things I have ever seen."
"It's a fucked up situation," another player said.
Kromer confirmed he talked with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport as he left the stadium following last Thursday's Bears loss to the Cowboys. Sunday morning, on both Twitter and the NFL Network's pregame show, Rapoport reported on the Bears' growing frustrations with Jay Cutler, and the franchise's regret over the big contract extension it signed him to after last season.
Without revealing Kromer as a source, here's what Rapoport said on TV:
"I'm told by Bears sources that there is a serious case of buyer's remorse for Jay Cutler and signing him to that huge contract that is, by the way, guaranteed through next year. Jay Cutler simply has not played well enough, and it's not just in the passing game: his refusal to check out of bad run plays is absolutely killed this team, and there is a serious case of frustration inside the organization about the way Jay Cutler [has] played.
"I'm told they considered benching him against Tampa Bay when they were shut out [at halftime]."
In the meeting on Monday, Kromer admitted to the Bears offense that he had spoken with Rapoport, though he "adamantly denied" saying anything about the team having "buyer's remorse" for re-signing Cutler.
Maybe that's believable, because Rapoport went on to report that defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is expected to be fired after the season—a piece of information that Kromer wouldn't have. So The Good Ship Bears has sprung more than just the single leak.
It's a disaster of a season for a team that was supposed to be its usual "pretty good, not great" self. The Bears are 5-8, but have looked listless since giving up 50-plus points each to the Patriots and Packers on either side of their bye week. Meanwhile, Chicago's offense has yet to cross the 30-point barrier this year. Cutler, whose deal is guaranteed for next season, could certainly be traded for huge cap savings. Head coach Marc Trestman is 13-16 since taking over, and his job is certainly not assured—though he made sure to offer Cutler the strongest of endorsements earlier this week.
Both Cutler and Kromer have their mandatory media availability sessions later today. Should be fun.
Deadspin - ( New Window )
No, you're only allowed to do that to Super Bowl MVP QBs.
Where have I heard that label before?
Oh yeah, Jeff George.
This...get it while it's hot!
Gotta love the media. They work everyone for quotes (even get strict rules that say coaches and players must talk to the media), and then when they get the honest opinion quote, the make THAT a story -- someone talking to the media rather than handling things in the family.
God I hate sports "journalism".
Cutler has had the rep since day #1. Not the same.
washington or oakland seem like the right destinations.
Actually, Chicago had more talent on the offensive side than the Giants, especially with the emergence of Jeffrey. Also, while I agree that Cutler can be streaky like Eli, I think there is a bit of a difference in the way they play. Eli, as you stated, sometimes tries too hard because he knows that he has to carry the team on his back. From watching Cutler play, it appears that he isn't necessarily trying too hard because he has to carry his team as much as overestimating his own physical abilities (he does have one of the strongest arms in the league with incredible velocity) to get the ball to his receivers. This leads to some bonehead plays when he has the talent on the offense to be more successful if he played smarter football.
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but you can apply the same list of excuses why Eli had a poor season last year (though Forte is much better than what we had last year). Chicago's passing defense is 29th in the league and 28th overall in yardage and dead last in points allowed. He makes head scratching decisions, but is a guy that is probably trying to do too much.
Cutler has had the rep since day #1. Not the same.
Sure, but he was actually very good under Shanahan. His tenure in Chicago started off awful because he had no WR's or sufficient OL help to run the Martz offense. Yeah, let's not pretend QB play is not symptomatic of the pieces around you. Chicago simply isn't as good as other teams, Cutler's not above the blame, but Trestman is inexperienced as a HC, and it's very tough to beat teams like Green Bay when your defense is one of the very worst in the league.
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but you can apply the same list of excuses why Eli had a poor season last year (though Forte is much better than what we had last year). Chicago's passing defense is 29th in the league and 28th overall in yardage and dead last in points allowed. He makes head scratching decisions, but is a guy that is probably trying to do too much.
Cutler has had the rep since day #1. Not the same.
Cutler's excuse list since has been the Bears QB.
1. Offensive line is terrible. (Fixed)
2. No quality receivers to throw to. (Fixed)
3. A coach that knew offense & could understand him. (Fixed)
He has been given everything. Now, folks want to blame the defense.
Here's the thing...everyone in Chicago knew the defense wasn't going to be any good because they are in transition from the very good D they had for 10 years and most of the salary cap money is being put into the offense and it was on them to carry the load.
Instead, the defense continued to be bad, but the offense went into the toilet along with them. 7 times this season they went into the half having scored 7 points or less.
Think about this, the Giants, with limited passing weapons in terms of backs and receivers compared to the Bears, are throwing for a higher yardage per passing attempt then they are for the season.
It is a complete s*itshow up here. Folks want it all to be blown up and it may just happen.
Hell no. But they knew that going in.
Before the season, they felt they had an offense designed for shootouts no matter the opponent. I don't know the exact ranking, but I think they were #2 in scoring last year and thought they would simply outscore teams and if they won 34-30, so be it.
Clearly they thought wrong. But to end up with this? A team who's numbers have been prettied up by garbage time stats?
No one here saw it coming except the Vegas oddsmakers who I think pegged them for 8-8 before the season.
Of course, and I agree that there are definite similarities. However, the reason for their risk-taking approach has enough subtle differences to make one a smart but flawed QB, who tries too hard sometimes while the other is a talented but detached QB, who gives an impression that he doesn't really care.
I'm not even talking about Cutler's leadership or his character or his demeanor. I'm sure he a great leader on that team. But his play on the field leaves a lot to be desired the way he nonchalantly throws a shitty pass when he's capable of much better effort/results. And comparing Eli in his 3rd/4th year to Cutler in his 8th year is pretty indicative of Cutler's issues.
Ladies and gentleman, here you have the President, as well as the only member, of the Cutler Defense Brigade.
Even Bears fans are like "this guy is crazy".
Eh...as the most important single player on the field, I think in many ways, there's a reason why Cutler with his immense talent has gone through so many coaches and playbooks. A shit performance usually end up getting your coaches fired, hence his reputation of being a "coach killer."
So while Eli has benefited from the continuity, so has the Giants coaches benefited from Eli's ability to perform at a high level no matter the talent around him. And that's not to say Eli is perfect, as we know he has own weaknesses and faults...they're just not as detrimental as Cutler's.