Jeff George had a distinguished college football career with the Illini; transferring to Champaign from Purdue, and that’s something you never see today, transfers within the same conference. It was also fortuitous, as Jeff George signed with 7 different teams during his 13 year career. Like Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler, he’s also from the Hoosier state. George was drafted #1 overall by his hometown Indianapolis Colts in 1990 out of Illinois. Cutler, from Santa Claus, IN, was taken 11th overall by the Denver Broncos.
George just never completely gelled with coaches, coordinators, teammates etc. Jeff George couldn’t find the right fit; anywhere. With Jay Cutler, he’s only changed teams once, but he certainly has had plenty of different coordinators. The two are alike in the physical gifts department too.
George even rivaled Dan Marino in his prime when it came to having a lightning quick release. Cutler makers so many risky, forced throws because he’s one of the few people alive with an arm to pull off those throws. However, both Cutler and George aren’t considered ideal leaders among men. Or at least they don’t convey the ideal leadership traits that you would want in a NFL quarterback.
Now you can add former Baltimore Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick to the long list of those making Cutler-George comparisons.
Boomer Esiason, who last year said that Cutler is a “maybe, possibly a top 15 QB,” and described the Bears as “a second rung NFC team,” said this on an episode of The NFL Today on CBSl:
“Quarterbacks crave consistency, that has not been the case with Jay Cutler, he reminds me of this generation’s Jeff George. That’s who he is- a great arm, a great player, but for some reason, just can’t seem to find his way.”
George had his best season in Oakland in 1997; when he threw for 29 TDs and 9 INTs. Then in ’98 he blew off his Offensive Coordinator to call his own plays all season. As you can imagine, this act of defiance didn’t sit well. He was replaced by eventual 1998 NFL MVP Rich Gannon. And the QB Coach in Oakland that year? Cutler’s current Head Coach Marc Trestman.
And the next person commentating on CBS that day (early 2013)?
Rich Gannon; who offered this:
“There’s no question about Jay Cutler’s toughness and talent. But he has this legacy, and as Boomer points out, it’s more like Jeff George than it is a Super Bowl winning quarterback. And I think he has to go out and earn the respect of his teammates and really buy in.”
And after Gannon was done, Boomer added:
“I took an informal poll here with our colleagues and everyone else, I came up with 20 other quarterbacks that guys would rather select than Jay Cutler right now, and I think a lot of that is do to the perception that he’s not a great leader.”
Nothing has changed a year after all those comments were made. Cutler is the same guy now that he always has been. And he always will be. At age 31, why would Cutler all of a sudden change? Just because you gave him way more money than he’s worth?
Jeff George finished his career with a 46-78 record; 151 TDs vs 133 INTs, and one playoff win (1999, while with the Minnesota Vikings)
Jay Cutler currently also has one playoff win. His record as a starter is 58-51, 167 TD to 118 INT.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 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