Fox Sports on Friday announced that former QB Jay Cutler will join the network as a game analyst for the '17 season, joining a booth consisting of play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, analyst Charles Davis and sideline reporter Pam Oliver. Cutler in a statement said, "I don't know if retirement is the right word; I don't feel that anyone ever really retires from the NFL. You are either forced to leave, or you lose the desire to do what's required to keep going. I'm in between those situations at this point in my life" (THE DAILY). ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson cited sources as saying that Cutler "auditioned with Fox on April 27." Fox was "searching for a new analyst" to work alongside Burkhardt after John Lynch left the net to become 49ers' GM in the offseason. Cutler's knowledge of the NFC, after an eight-year stint with the Bears, will likely be "an asset to the network" (ESPN.com, 5/4). In Chicago, Dan Wiederer notes interest in Cutler on the free agent market "was tepid at best this spring." Cutler is "scheduled to appear" on ESPN Radio 1000 Chicago's “Waddle & Silvy” at 4:00pm ET on Friday. He has "not spoken publicly since addressing reporters in a postgame press conference" following a loss to the Giants on Nov. 20 (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/5).
A GOOD FIT? Bears G Kyle Long said, "Cutler would be on point as an analyst. He's one of the most cerebral guys I've ever played with" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/5). In Chicago, Rich Campbell writes while it might be "difficult to imagine Cutler as a broadcaster, give how adversarial his relationship with local media was at times during his eight seasons with the Bears," he did have a weekly show on ESPN Radio 1000 Chicago "during several of those seasons." He "took those opportunities to showcase a sense of humor and dry personality that he often was reluctant to display in normal postgame and post-practice interview settings" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/5). Also in Chicago, Adam Jahns notes early in Cutler's stint with the Bears, he was "known to have a mercurial relationship with the local media," but that "changed in recent years." His interviews became "insightful and engaging" and he also "displayed a sense of humor" (SUNTIMES.com, 5/5). National Football Post's Dion Caputi tweeted, "Cutler, like Tony Romo, is deceptively astute in verbalizing the X's & O's of an NFL game. @NFLonFOX & @CBSSports improved, in my view."
PASSER RATINGS: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said former QBs have a "different aura when they walk into a booth because they see the whole field." Former QBs "come with immediate authority when they walk into a booth" ("PTI," ESPN, 5/4). ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said, "I don’t want anybody unemployed, but does Jay Cutler deserve this job? Hell no.” ESPN’s Max Kellerman said for Cutler, the “look on his face suggests that he spends a lot of the day going, ‘Whatever man.’” Kellerman said Romo is a “much more interesting listen than Jay Cutler, seems like a more interesting guy” and gives “more insight” during interviews. Kellerman: “So between those two who would you rather listen to broadcast a game? Easily Tony Romo.” Smith said of Cutler, “Who can you think of as a player that least deserves to be in a booth critiquing somebody?” (“First Take,” ESPN, 5/5). ESPN's Bomani Jones tweeted, "Someone thinks jay cutler can do tv, but colin kaepernick can't get a qb job."
QB COMPETITION: SBJ/SBD on its Twitter feed Friday morning asked readers which former QB would have the better rookie season in an NFL booth -- CBS' Tony Romo or Cutler. Of the 142 responses to the unscientific poll, 75% felt Romo will do a better job (THE DAILY).
