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Here's why desperate Dolphins went with Jay Cutler over Colin Kaepernick

Aug 6, 2017, 3:59 PM

Jay Cutler was always perceptive, which sometimes led to petulance, a quarterback no one could ever clearly define. He could be great. He could be terrible. He could be insightful. He could be off-putting." data-reactid="16">Jay Cutler was always perceptive, which sometimes led to petulance, a quarterback no one could ever clearly define. He could be great. He could be terrible. He could be insightful. He could be off-putting.

, made in May. It’s now moot (yet no less cloaked in foreshadowing) with the of a one-year, $10 million contract with Miami on SundayHe was always a work in progress, which is what led to one of the more honest retirement statements, made in May. It’s now moot (yet no less cloaked in foreshadowing) with thesigning of a one-year, $10 million contract with Miami on Sunday.

“I don’t know if retirement is the right word; I don’t feel that anyone ever really retires from the NFL,” Cutler said when he announced after 11 years with Denver and Chicago he was going to start doing analyst work for Fox Sports. “You are either forced to leave, or you lose the desire to do what’s required to keep going.

Jay Cutler’s retirement didn’t last too long as he’s bound for Miami after signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins for $10 million. (AP)

“I’m in between those situations at this point in my life.”

It was all-Cutler there, honest about his station in life, honest about his lack of burning desire to change it. It was a verbal shrug, a statement that was equal parts introspective and distant. It isn’t how most guys do it. It never was with this guy.

Well, now he’s back, both wanted and wanting, talked into playing the game again rather than just talking about the game by Adam Gase, the Dolphins head coach. Gase was the Bears’ former offensive coordinator in 2015 when he helped Cutler to a decent season.

Image result for ryan tannehill injury

to an ACL injury and the season about to crash course before it even began." Miami, of course, was desperate, having lost starter Ryan Tannehill to an ACL injury and the season about to crash course before it even began.

Colin Kaepernick was an option, but whether it was his political stances (kneeling for the national anthem, wearing a T-shirt with Fidel Castro on it) or simply a football decision, the job is Cutler’s. Kaepernick remains a free agent as preseason games start in earnest this week."

He’ll need another injury to come down for a club to need him. The hiring for any job is about perceived positives outweighing perceived negatives – “perceived” being the operative word."

Fair or not, it’s clear at this point no NFL team really wants Kaepernick. He’ll need another injury to come down for a club to need him. The hiring for any job is about perceived positives outweighing perceived negatives – “perceived” being the operative word.

Kaepernick is struggling to decrease his perceived negatives. His perceived positives though remain another starting QB injury away, when his ability to solve a distressed situation overwhelms whatever some owner or fan base thinks of his social activism. There was a thought that Miami would be that situation. Now he’ll wait for the next one.

In different ways, that’s what happened to Cutler, too. A shoulder injury limited him to five games last year with the Bears and when they cut him, the phone wasn’t ringing with starting opportunities. Veteran and injured isn’t a good look. A history of mood swings and mystery never helps either.

So he was out. There wasn’t a lot of clamoring that he deserved better.

Then suddenly his old coach couldn’t live without him and he’s back.

, who he once battled for NFC North supremacy. Cutler went just 6-9 as a starter that season." Gase’s guidance and system in 2015, Cutler posted one of his better seasons of late. He completed 64.4 percent of his passes and delivered 7.6 yards an attempt. There were 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. No one, however, confused him with Aaron Rodgers, who he once battled for NFC North supremacy. Cutler went just 6-9 as a starter that season.

as a quarterback possibility in Miami, it’s likely Gase would be happy with similar production out of Cutler. Miami has playmakers and a defense Chicago didn’t. It’s coming off a 10-6 season in which it made the playoffs." It was something though. With only Matt Moore as a quarterback possibility in Miami, it’s likely Gase would be happy with similar production out of Cutler. Miami has playmakers and a defense Chicago didn’t. It’s coming off a 10-6 season in which it made the playoffs.