Photos of Cutler in new digs

by Barca Blog - Check out the first photos of Jay Cutler in a Chicago Bears uniform courtesy of Bill Smith, ChicagoBears.com.

For the last five weeks, Cutler has been familiarizing himself with his new offensive playbook during offseason workouts. The former Commodore is already drawing high praise from his quarterbacks coach, Pep Hamilton.

“Jay’s a pro,” Hamilton told Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “He’s very sharp. He’s picking it up extremely well. After we finish our offseason workout sessions out on the field, he spends extra time here not just studying the playbook but spending time with coach Turner going through the [videotape] cutups from last year."

“He has amazing arm talent. He can make all the throws with ease. What a lot of people don’t realize about Jay Cutler—and I didn’t realize this about him prior to him joining the Bears—is that he’s a really good athlete. He has extremely quick feet.

Read more about Cutler's transition to Chicago including comments from the All-Pro QB -- Click Here.

Cutler doing the Windy City in style

by Leathers - Wonder if Jay Cutler ever dreamt of throwing out the first pitch of a Chicago Cubs baseball game while growing up in Santa Claus, Indiana?

If Jay did, his dream is about to come true. On Saturday, Cutler will receive the rarest of combos bestowed by the Cubs organization: he will throw out the first pitch for the Cubs-Cardinals game, then return in the 7th inning to serenade a sellout crowd with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

Jay, here's hoping you sound a lot more like Harry Caray than Ozzy Osbourne. Also, please remember, it's Wrigley Field, not Wrigley Stadium as racer Jeff Gordon once infamously uttered.

Don't worry about the Windy City buying into Jay Cutler as their QB. A visit last week to America's third largest city reveals a town totally pumped for the upcoming Bears' season.

Cutler's casual duties Thursday only included dropping the ceremonial first puck at Chicago's NHL Stanley Cup playoff opener against Calgary in front of 22,376 roarin' Blackhawks fans in the United Center. By the way, the 'Hawks won quickly in overtime 3-2 - taking their first playoff victory in seven years.

Another former Commodore and current Bear, tackle Chris Williams, also got into the action at the Blackhawks playoff opener. During an intermission break, Williams took part in a celebrity shootout, scoring twice from center ice.

A dream come true

by Barca Blog - Jay Cutler was formally introduced as a Chicago Bear for the first time during the team's official press conference earlier today... and the former Commodore couldn't be more excited.

"I grew up watching this organization, grew up watching these games. I love being a Chicago Bear. It’s always been something that I’ve dreamed of doing.”

The Santa Claus, Ind., native is looking forward to moving past what happened in Denver and opening a new chapter to his career.

“I loved my time there. There’s been a lot said on my part and the Broncos’ part over the last couple of months. I think both sides would possibly do a few things different. But everything happens for a reason."

So what will be one of his initial priorities in the Windy City?

“I’m going to be a great teammate first. That’s one of the first things I try to do is earn the trust and respect of my teammates. If you can’t respect your teammates or you can’t trust them, you don’t have a chance on the field. That’s one of the first things I want to get across to these guys is I’m going to do everything possible to help us win ballgames.

Click here to read a full report on ChicagoBears.com.

And speaking of dreams... here's the video of the day. Van Halen's Dreams!

ChicagoBears.com Video Features

by Barca Blog - Here are links to two good Jay Cutler video features on ChicagoBears.com:

1. One on One with Cutler: Larry Mayer interviews the team's newest quarterback, Jay Cutler - Watch Video

2. Vanderbilt Connection: Former Commodore Chris Williams talks about his former college teammate joining the Bears - Watch Video

Bennett weighs in on Cutler

by Barca Blog - Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett talked with the Chicago Tribune and The Tennessean about his reaction to reuniting with former Commodore teammate Jay Cutler. Here are a few quotes with links to the full article:

Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune
On what Jay told him after the trade
"Jay just asked me if I was ready. He is going to be a great asset to our offense, and I think we're going to get things rolling. He is a great guy. He's going to do a great job for our organization.''

Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean
On getting on the same page with Cutler again
“We’ll get back in sync quick. It means a whole lot, having the chemistry we have from playing at Vandy, and it means a lot because I know what kind of person he is, I know his character and what kind of leader he is. Just being around him and playing with him again will be great. He’ll fit in real well."

Watch Cutler's press conference

ChicagoBears.com will be streaming Jay Cutler's press conference Friday at 5 p.m. CT. There will be a banner in the upper right corner of the main page which will link directly to the event. Watch

Johnson comments on trade

by Barca Blog - A short time ago, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson reacted to the news that former Commodore Jay Cutler had been traded to the Chicago Bears.

“I’m very happy for Jay,” Johnson said. “I’m confident that Jay will do a great job for the Chicago Bears and I wish him the very best.”

Reunited...

by Barca Blog - The Jay and Earl Show is back.

I couldn't help but think that after NFL.com announced that Jay Cutler had been dealt to the Chicago Bears to join three other former Commodores including wide receiver Earl Bennett.

Just flashback to 2005 for a moment when Cutler (a senior at the time) and Bennett (a freshman) rewrote the Commodore record books in the only year they played together at Vanderbilt. Cutler broke numerous school marks throughout the season and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,073 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Bennett set the conference record for most receptions by a freshman (79). The tandem especially caught fire in the final four games that year, hooking up for 49 receptions, 545 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

And they had many memorable plays, too.

Remember Cutler hitting Bennett for the first time on the final drive of the season-opening win at Wake Forest?

Or the 16 times they played catch (for 204 yards) at South Carolina?

Or maybe the five touchdowns they combined for in a rally that fell short against Kentucky?

Of course, no one will forget when Cutler guided the Commodores to a historic comeback win at Tennessee with his last collegiate pass resulting in a game-winning touchdown pass to Bennett.

Overall, the duo connected 79 times for 876 receiving yards in 11 games.

And even after their college careers were over, the combo got together one more time last March when Cutler came back to campus to throw to Bennett at the receiver's NFL Pro Day workout (pictured above).

But did we ever imagine the pair would be reunited on the professional playing field?

This fall it will become a reality.

Broncos agree to trade Cutler to Bears

by Barca Blog - Breaking News on Jay Cutler.

According to NFL.com: The Denver Broncos announced Thursday that they have agreed in principle to trade QB Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears. Terms of the deal have not been announced.

ESPN.com gives specifics on the deal: To acquire Cutler, the Bears had to give up quarterback Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 and 2010, a source said. To complete the trade, the Broncos had to give back a third-round pick in 2009.

Cutler will join three other former Commodores in Chicago -- Earl Bennett, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Chris Williams.

Johnson: 'Cutler is a team guy'

by Barca Blog - What does Vanderbilt football head coach Bobby Johnson think of the situation between former Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos? Johnson made his stance clear during an interview with George Plaster and the 104.5 Sports Zone Wednesday.

“I’m just surprised by some of the things you see and read," Johnson said. "Jay Cutler is not a whiner.

“He was here for four years and he did everything we asked him to do every time we asked him. He went beyond that, and was loyal to a fault. He could have left here for the draft before his senior year but he stayed here and he stayed over the summers. He’d keep guys in his apartment so they could stay here over the summers to work. He is a team guy.”

To listen to the entire 104.5 interview, click here.

Cutler's Pro Bowl Journal

Former Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler has been writing a diary all week long about his first NFL Pro Bowl experience in Hawaii. Follow his journal on DenverBroncos.com. Here are the links:

Monday -- Diary 1
Tuesday -- Diary 2
Wednesday -- Diary 3
Thursday -- Diary 4

Cutler was also on the receiving end of a prank from his fellow AFC teammates earlier in the week. Let's just say it involved a pool and two 300-pound lineman. Find out more details- click here.

The 2009 Pro Bowl will take place Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT on NBC.

Cutler selected to Pro Bowl

Congratulations to former Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler for being selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in just his third season with the Denver Broncos.

With two games remaining in the regular season, Cutler leads the AFC with 3,851 passing yards and is second with 24 touchdown passes. He also has the Broncos (8-6) on pace to earn their first AFC West division title since 2005.

“With as many talented and deserving quarterbacks as there are in the AFC, I was honored and a little surprised this morning when I found out I was named to the Pro Bowl,” Cutler told DenverBroncos.com. “It’s a great individual award that definitely should be shared among a lot of my teammates, especially the offensive line for how well they’ve protected me, and our coaching staff for preparing me to play every week. My primary concern right now is winning Sunday against the Bills and getting into the playoffs, but to be recognized by the league and fans with getting voted into the Pro Bowl is special.”

Quarterbacks Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) and Brett Favre (New York Jets) will join Cutler on the all-star squad.