Cutler: Bears' passing game 'good to go'
By NICK HUT -- Shaw Suburban Media
LAKE FOREST – Jay Cutler is ready to silence any doubters, and he expects his receivers will do the same.
That was the essence of Cutler’s media session Wednesday as the Bears wound down their offseason program and looked ahead to the start of training camp in six weeks.
Cutler has generated almost nothing but positive buzz from the Bears’ fan base since arriving in early April, but some national analysts have wondered whether the hype is warranted.
Among others, former NFL coach and current analyst Tony Dungy said Cutler was unproven as a leader and his maturity level “would concern me as a coach.” Mike Ditka also said Cutler has much to prove.
“It’s fine,” Cutler said Wednesday. “There are a lot of questions out there and throughout the year hopefully a lot of them get answered in my favor.”
Bears coach Lovie Smith considers Dungy a close friend and mentor, but does not share Dungy’s assessment of Cutler.
Along with his blue-chip passing arm and mobility, Cutler’s leadership has impressed the Bears this offseason.
“Jay realizes that he’s going to get criticized,” Smith said. “It’s no big deal whether Tony does it or anybody else. That’s just a part of it until we play and we’ll go from there.
“But I would just say go on what Jay has done here and I don’t see anything negative that he’s done.”
Cutler of course will be helped by having as many viable passing targets as possible.
Rumors continue to link the Bears to free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress and disgruntled Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall. Such an addition would be valuable, but Cutler said it is not necessary.
“We’re good to go,” Cutler said. “We’ve got everything we need out there.”
Cutler and Smith both talked up Devin Hester’s offseason development, saying Hester is fast becoming a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
The coaches and Cutler also are excited about second-year pro Earl Bennett’s progress, saying Bennett should be a viable full-time receiver after making zero receptions as a rookie.
Smith said tight end Greg Olsen is becoming a “dominant” player. Running backs Matt Forte, Kevin Jones and Garrett Wolfe have looked like capable receivers out of the backfield.
“I’m 100 percent comfortable” with the passing game, Cutler said.
Cutler said he has not talked with his former Broncos teammate, Marshall, about joining the Bears via trade. Smith said the team has not talked to Cutler about Marshall.
Burress seemingly would be an easier player to add.
“The door is never closed on anyone who’s available,” Smith said. “It’s not like we’re aggressively going after him, but we evaluate everyone that we think will make our team better.”
Extra points: Forte and linebackers Brian Urlacher, Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer have sat out the last two weeks of practices. Hillenmeyer has missed the entire offseason program with a sports hernia.
Smith said Urlacher’s groin issue is merely a “nick” and touted Urlacher as being back in peak form. The neck and back problems that hindered him the past couple of seasons have not been apparent, Smith said.
