Seems like Cutler might be available.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I don't think JC was the reasons for the system changes. Gibbs thought the team would be better off with someone else running the O so he hired Saunders. Saunders was then ousted when Gibbs left and then Zorn was hired. JC barely had the chance to get comfortable before each change was made and the reason for the changes were out of his hands.

Saunders playbook was ridiculous, and the terminology was different from what Campbell first learned in his pro career under gibbs but the general schemes and principles were similar. Campbell spent 1 year sitting on a bench under a pure Gibbs system. He then spent two years - the majority of which he spent as a starter - under Saunders. Those systems are systems which (supposedly) Campbell is an ideal fit for - they cover over his weaknesses while taking advantage of his strengths.

Campbell had two years in that system - one which has done very very well for other quarterbacks - yet the team chose to fire Saunders when Gibbs retired. It wasnt an automatic decision to fire Saunders either. Its not like Gibbs and Saunders were tied at the hip. If Campbell had been doing well and showing improvement and looking like he could be a franchise quarterback after two years in an identical system (and three years if you accept the fact that Saunders offense is similar to the one Gibbs ran before), then they would have kept Saunders. They didnt. Why does everyone think now - suddenly, after spending two years in a system that goes against Campbells strengths - is he suddenly going to be a franchise QB? Two years in a system didnt work before. why does everyone think two years is the answer now? People make excuses about how bad the line is now and how that hurts campell... how he doesnt have receivers... his receivers werent any better under Saunders but his O-line sure as hell was. We had a dominant O-line in Campbells 2nd year in this system... and he still failed. Our offense didnt take off in that system until we had a competent QB playing when Campbell got hurt.

Campbell is not a franchise QB. He never will be. He's not horrible though - he's just average. If this franchise made a mistake when Gibbs left, it was not trying to trade Campbell last offseason. Theres no reason to continue this experiment. We need to trade Campbell now, while he still has some value. If not, we'll waste another season, miss out on getting compensation for him, and have to start the process over again next year.

Jay Cutler is - right now - a well above-average WCO quarterback. He has potential to be a perennial pro-bowler. Campbells potential will only get us where Cutler is right now. If we could (hypothetically) trade Campbell, our 13th overall pick, and a conditional pick in next years draft for Cutler... it would be well worth it in the long-term. Short-term, it would suck, but long-term, we need to look beyond Jason Campbell. Guys like Cutler dont come around very often. When they do, you have to do what you can to get them. Just my opinion, I know 99% of you dont agree with me.

A year from now, we'll know who was right. From my position, if i'm wrong, its something i would be happy to be wrong about.