More than just a trade...

If you haven't heard yet, Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear! Chicago fans rejoice! The Bears traded Kyle Orton, 2009 first round and third round picks, and a 2010 first round pick for the 25-year old Pro-Bowl Quarterback. After watching all of the coverage on ESPN and SI.com this afternoon, it is easy to see that this trade is contraversial. Fans love that we finally have a quarterback here in Chicago. And why not? We haven't had a Pro-Bowl quarterback since Jim McMahon in 1985. We haven't had a 25 TD passer since Eric Kramer in 1996. We have NEVER had a 4,000 yard passer. Cutler did all of that just last year! But on the other side of things, we gave up a LOT for Cutler. Kyle Orton is a good quarterback and a great teammate. Add the three draft picks and we put a lot of weight into what Cutler brings to a team. Who knows if it's going to work out? I certainly don't and neither does Trent Dilf-weed or Mark Schlereth (who spent all day ripping the trade from the Bears perspective). They have no clue how this is going to workout. Cutler could be the next John Elway and the Broncos might end up with David Terrell and Cade McNown with their first round picks. NO ONE KNOWS!

But here is what I do know. This trade, all statistics aside, showed me, as a Bear's fan, that they want to win and they want to win now. You can't underestimate what that does for a team. Please look at the Blackhawks anytime before last year and tell me that the front office making moves does not play a role in winning. The Bears made a bold move today and I LOVE IT! I can't wait to see what the offense looks like next year with Cutler and Forte in the backfield. The trade today was more than a trade. It was a message to the city of Chicago that the Bears were not going to stand around and watch other teams improve. Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith put their necks out there and it might come back to haunt them, but it could also bring a super bowl trophy to a team that still bleeds for Mike Ditka and a team from nearly 25 years ago. So whether Jay Cutler leads us to a Super Bowl or turns into Jim Miller, I am going to go to bed ecstatic tonight because the Chicago Bears showed balls.