Chicago Bears: Contract Extension for Jay Cutler Needs to be Phil Emery's Top Priority

By Bear Heiser
Senior Writer

One of the last things the Chicago Bears need heading into the 2012 regular season is another contract debate.

Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte finally received his new deal during the offseason, which put a two year long debate to rest. But now it’s the franchise quarterback’s turn.

Jay Cutler‘s current contract expires at the end of the 2013 season, but general manager Phil Emery would be wise to get the ball rolling soon so a new deal can be finalized after the season.

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Cutler has seemed like a much happier man since the acquisition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall, and Emery’s main goal should be to make sure that continues. But the only way to do that is to get him signed, so the happy franchise quarterback doesn’t become the disgruntled franchise quarterback.

A source close to Cutler told ESPNChicago.com that contract talks have yet to get underway. However, even if they had, it’s unlikely it would be public knowledge. Emery has gone on record stating that contract talks are a “very private issue between a club and player, and will remain that way.”

Privacy, secrecy, whatever you’d like to call it, is pretty much all we’re going to get from Emery and the Bears organization these days. While it’s difficult to blame the organization for wanting to keep us in the dark on matters such as injuries and contracts, going completely dark on those subjects will only add fuel to the fire, especially in the media climate we now live in.

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What matters here is that Emery has done a great job since taking over for Jerry Angelo during the offseason. Emery is the reason Forte’s deal got done and Marshall was acquired, so there’s hope that he can continue the trend of success with Cutler’s extension.

The Bears finally have a franchise quarterback, now the only question is whether or not they will be able to keep him long term.

Follow Bear on Twitter: @BearHeiser

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