Both Jay Cutler and Mike Shanahan have made it known, through the media that they might want to consider reuniting in Chicago. (No apologies for the obvious Peaches & Herb reference in the headline)
“He’s a heck of a coach,” Jay Cutler said after the Bears’ season of misery finally ended with a thud indicative of the train wreck it was.
“He deserves to be a coach somewhere. He is out of the game so I am sure he is looking to coach somewhere.”
“My three years with him were very, very enjoyable. He does a great job of leading teams on and off the field and offensively he knows how to get it done.”
There’s one perfect fit, Chicago, and this one is it. I know you’re so excited about Shanahan/Cutler reunited, hey hey.
It’s been a poorly kept secret for awhile that Shanahan wants to get back into coaching. Then he went through the ESPN “Car Wash” of media appearances, which served as his stump speeches in the campaign for a NFL head coaching job.
In our list of seven (now six, take Harbaugh off the list) potential Trestman replacements, Shanahan is by far the most logical. His ego and brand match the franchise perfectly. And he’s probably one of very few that can work with Jay Cutler. Another poorly kept secret is the attitude/demeanor of Cutler. From Santa Claus, Indiana to Vanderbilt to Denver to Chicago, he’s always had the same personality and behavioral patterns.
The patterns that are antithetical to leadership. Jay Cutler is to being a face of the franchise and motivator/inspirer of teammates what Amanda Bynes is to NOT getting DUIs.
He’s got a well earned reputation as a coach killer. Shanahan is one of the few that can actually work with him. One Fox analyst said a week ago that he believes Cutler will leave Chicago.
NFL Network claimed a couple weeks ago that the Tennessee Titans wre exploring the idea of trading for Cutler. However, both these ideas seem unlikely. Conventional wisdom says Cutler stays in Chicago. I wouldn’t be surprised if even the FOX and NFLN guys themselves now believe Jay Cutler will stay.
So if you don’t hire Shanahan, then what do you do about this mess?
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2