Jon Gruden: Bears need to move on from Jay Cutler

The Chicago Bears have yet to decide if they will stick with Jay Cutler for the 2015 season, but former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden does not think the decision should be all that difficult.

Gruden believes Cutler has to go.

During an appearance on “Mike and Mike” on Thursday, Gruden said there are plenty of other quarterbacks in the NFL that deserve a shot given how many times Cutler has screwed up.

“I think John Fox is going to look at the body of work,” Gruden said. “They’re going to see that he didn’t get it done really with Lovie Smith or Marc Trestman, and now I’m the next head coach. I think you need to give some other people an opportunity to play. I think some of these quarterbacks get too many chances. There are good enough players out there that deserve a chance to be the quarterback of the Chicago Bears.”

Both Fox and Bears general manager Ryan Pace stopped short of endorsing Cutler at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. Cutler is just one year into a seven year, $126.7 million extension. Gruden wouldn’t blame the Bears for regretting it.

“I know he has talent,” he said. “But I don’t think he warrants that salary for sure. I think Chicago needs to look at getting a different leader under center.”

Gruden said the Bears should look at guys like Josh McCown — who had plenty of success as Chicago’s starter in 2013 — or Jake Locker.

We have already heard rumors about a team that Cutler has connections to being interested in his services. Cutler’s base salary of $15.5 million for 2015 is fully guaranteed, but the Bears could save another $10 million if they unload him by March 12. Gruden clearly thinks their decision is a no-brainer.