Cutler puts broadcasting career on hold, signs with Dolphins.

 

 

DAVIE,FL.—The Miami Dolphins just made a $10 million mistake.They signed free-agent Jay Cutler to a large, one-year contract that won’t result in more victories than last season — or even an equal amount (10) — or a trip to the postseason. The only thing guaranteed by this move is that the Dolphins lost $10 million in cap room for this season — Jarvis Landry extension, anyone? — or to roll over into next season with the blind hope that Cutler will lead Miami to the playoffs.The Dolphins believe they are a playoff team and made a desperation play with Cutler after Ryan Tannehill suffered a left knee injury that likely will sideline him for most or all of this season.By now you know the connection: Cutler played one year under Adam Gase with the Bears in 2015. Gase believes in Cutler perhaps more than any coach whom the quarterback has had in his career. Cutler threw for 3,659 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in their one season together.The Bears also went 6-10 that year and ranked 23rd in passing. How much higher is the ceiling in 2017 for Cutler, 34, who is now two years older and coming off a season-ending shoulder injury last season? Add in the fact that Cutler didn’t have an offseason of minicamp, organized team activities and a good portion of training camp, and expectations should be lowered.What seemed like an obvious conclusion is becoming reality: Cutler is going to end up playing football in 2017 and he is going to reunite with Adam Gase in Miami. The question isn’t if, but simply when, as multiple reports indicate the two sides are closing in on a one-year deal that will allow Cutler to leave Fox Sports to replace Ryan Tannehill, who suffered a knee injury on Thursday in practice. Cutler left football this offseason to join Fox’s NFL broadcasting team.The deal is a one-year contract worth $10 million. Tannehill injured his left knee back in Week 14 of the 2016 season but ultimately elected not to have surgery on what was diagnosed as a partially torn ACL. Hindsight is always clear, but that decision appears to have been a very poor choice, as Tannehill injured the knee again early in training camp during a non-contact situation while wearing a brace. At the time of the initial injury, Dolphins coach Gase reportedly reached out to Peyton Manning as possible help to replace Tannehill. The Cutler connection for Gase here was very obvious: he coached Cutler in 2015 when he was the offensive coordinator for the Bears. That season featured Cutler playing arguably the most efficient stretch of football during his Chicago tenure. Before the Dolphins could even determine the severity of Tannehill’s injury, folks were clamoring for Colin Kaepernick as a replacement at quarterback in Miami. The reality is that Cutler always made more sense given his history with Gase. Cutler’s contract presents a pretty interesting situation for the Dolphins as well. He is very clearly just a single-year rental and reportedly wanted to be careful about how he handled the situation with respect to Tannehill.