Bury my heart at Frisco...Cutler’s last stand

After Jay Cutler’s game-ending interception last Thursday, (his fifth of the evening for those keeping score at home), I scurried from the residence of one of my football friends like a rat abandoning a sinking ship.

Had my eyes deceived me? Was it really possible that the Bears’ golden-armed quarterback had regressed to the point of Bad Rex?

It seems like only weeks ago that Cutler was rallying the beloved Monsters of the Midway for fourth-quarter wins behind the virtue of his indefatigable spirit.

Sure, he had his moments of wild-eyed throws gift wrapped for opposing defenders, but there was a balance of sorts, with each blunder seemingly accompanied by a surgically-precise strike downfield.

As the season has played out, it seems like we have seen progressively less of the surgeon, and more and more of a M*A*S*H doctor who is trying to patch up mortal wounds under heavy fire.

I can hear Jay in my head going over tape with the coaching staff, watching himself scramble for his life, channeling Dr. Bones McCoy of Star Trek fame.

“Dang it Lovie, I’m a doctor not a miracle worker!”

Anne Sullivan herself would have cringed at all the weight put on Cutler’s shoulders this season.

Cutler was brought in to be the man. Brought in to win games against hapless foes as the clocked ticked down to zero. Brought in to bring a semblance of credibility to a Bears’ offense with little talent, an offensive line that is simply offensive, and a dismal track record.

With an NFL leading 17 interceptions going up against 14 touchdowns he has been unable to carry the load.

It’s not all his fault, Lovie and the pundits said, and they’re partially right.

He doesn’t have enough time. The receiver slipped — was mugged by a defender — or picked by the ref.

All perfectly legitimate excuses.

But unfortunately, that’s what they are, excuses.

The Bears mortgaged their future, pinning their hopes on Cutler’s miracle arm (ignoring perhaps his less than miraculous mindset). Now it seems their variable interest rate has skyrocketed, and the house that Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo built over the offseason looks to be falling into foreclosure.