Originally posted by SofaKing:
Originally posted by ayetee:
18 million according to this:
http://nflspinzone.com/2014/03/02/colin-kaepernick-wants-around-18-million-per-year/
Heard the same thing on CSN Bay Area a few days ago. Supposedly Kap's agents and the front office met at the combine, and both sides liked what they heard. Kap wants Cutler money, and the team was receptive to it. That's the going rate for a top 10 QB. No surprise Kap is using that contract as a floor.
Can we all take a trip down memory lane with Jay Cutler. I think his situation will remind us all of another quarterback.
If you remember Cutler was drafted by the Broncos/Mike Shannan in 2006. What you may not remember was that Cutler was drafted onto a team that the previous year lost in the AFC Championship. The QB of the team was Jake Plummer. A mediocre QB that was not trusted by the Broncos coaching staff to win games, but he was respected. The next year (Cutler's rookie year) the Broncos were 7-4 and firmly in the playoffs when Mike decided to insert the Rookie QB. The Broncos then proceed to go backwards and miss the playoffs as young Cutler threw picks, fumbles, and made other rookie mistakes.
The next year, Cutler lead the Broncos to another mediocre record, was one to the league leaders in picks, miss the post-season again, and Shannon was fired. No one questioned Cutler. Many called him the league's best young single caller and deserved to be called a "franchise QB!" No questions. Well, in steps Josh McDaniels. Out goes Cutler to the Bears for a pair of first round drafts picks. Chicago celebrates because they just got their "franchise QB."
Only the "franchise QB" is a pick machine, and cannot lead the same team Rex Grossman took to the Superbowl, to even a winning record. Lovie Smith's defenses were blamed. His lack of weapons were to blame. His GM was to blame. Never Cutler. Over the next few seasons Cutler would finally have a winning season (his first as a starting QB since High School!) and win a playoff game. With a trip on the line to the SB, Cutler famously decided to ride a bike. He would push teammates, curse at opponents, get into arguments with coaches, show poor leadership and attitude in the media, and eventually get another Head Coach fired. He already got 5 OC fired by then.
Oh of course, he continues to be amongst the lead leaders in INTs. The post-Lovie Cutler still throws too much picks and his replacement looked like MVP Brady in his stead. He still can't get his team to the playoffs despite the Vikings tanking, the Lions imploding, and the Packers losing 4 starting QBs in the span of 3 weeks.
But a most peculiar thing just happened. The Bears signed Cutler, at age 30, one winning season under his belt, pick machine, poor leader, coach killer to an 18 million dollar a year contract! Some thought it to be absurd. Many more did not and thought it was the going rate for "franchise QBs." Another strange thing occurred. Bears fans by in large welcomed the new deal. Thought it set them up nicely for a Superbowl run. Some even thought it was a bargain..."Oh, Jay could have gotten 20 million from the Titans...or 22 million from the Raiders," they said. "Oh, how bless we are to have Jay Cutler, our bargain, 18 M annual, QB!"
I want people to juxtapose this story to Colin Kaepernick's 49ers story. One would be struck at how a lot of the details are almost identical, but the results of the two QBs are almost the exact opposite. Yet one is considered a 18 M dollar QB by his fan base. No questions asked. The other is Colin Kaepernick.
Now ask yourself: why is that?