Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz says quarterback Jay Cutler isn’t just going to be good. He’s going to be great.
“He’s going to be in the very elite of this league,’' Martz told the Chicago Tribune. “He’s on his way. He’ll be fine.’'
Like the rest of the Bears’ coaches and players, Martz has been strident in his support of Cutler over the last month, after Cutler was bashed across the league for standing on the sideline during the second half of the NFC Championship Game after suffering a knee injury.
“I don’t know why people want to dog pile this guy,’' Martz said of Cutler. “I don’t get it. He’s a tough guy. He wants to do everything right.’'
But Cutler didn’t do everything right in that playoff loss to the Packers. He completed just six of 14 passes for 80 yards and an interception, and the Bears didn’t put any points on the board against the Packers until third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie entered the game.
“That last game, he didn’t play as well as he can,’' Martz said. “That happens. Why does Brett Favre throw five interceptions in a playoff game? It happens. We’re all going to have to learn to let it go. He’s a young player learning how to play. And he had never been in that environment before in his career, and he’ll deal with it right next time.’'
