As Caleb Williams embarks on his quest to claim every Chicago Bears passing record, it brings up memories of Jay Cutler. There is no doubt the former quarterback is probably the most divisive player in modern franchise history. He gave fans some of the most exciting football they've seen in the past quarter-century, but was also an enigmatic figure known for being grumpy and standoffish. He did have his supporters, though. Kyle Long was one of them. The former Pro Bowl guard feels Cutler was misunderstood.
That said, Long also admits his former quarterback was...unique. During an appearance on Kevin Clark's podcast, the former guard told a story that summed up Cutler in every way possible. The truth is, football needed him, not the other way around. He was a solitary creature who never quite fit into a team sport. Even so, he did everything he could to fulfill his role as a leader. One might say he went a little too far at times. Long found that out the hard way.
That is probably why Kyle Long loves him.
There is no quarterback in the NFL today who would do something like that. Just walking into another guy's home without an invitation just to make sure he doesn't miss practice the next day. That would be considered way over the line. That never seemed to register with Cutler. Kyle Long chalked it up to the quarterback being one of a kind. Rather than fight against it, the better thing to do was to let it be. By embracing the inherent strangeness, life became easier. There was no changing Cutler.
Everything that has happened since retiring starts making more sense. Cutler has become somewhat of a recluse, dabbling in chicken farming and other solitary activities. His recent DWI offers a harsh reminder that such a life can be difficult. It doesn't change the fact that Long still loves him, and the quarterback was a brighter part of Bears history than many realized.
