Roundup: Martz impressed with Cutler so far
Published: April 22nd, 2010 | Tags: Bruce Arians, Calvin Pace, Chicago Bears, Dennis Dixon, Jay Cutler, Jeff George, June Jones, Mike Martz, Mike Wallace, New York Jets, Philip Rivers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Roger Goodell, Santonio Holmes
Some have speculated that the relationship between Bears QB Jay Cutler and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz could be combustible. Something along the lines of Jeff George and June Jones, whose sideline fracas in Atlanta still entertains in those delightful NFL Films.
Cutler traded barbs with Chargers QB Philip Rivers, then talked his way out of Denver. Martz is, well, Martz, a guy whose stubbornness, Rams fans will contend, cost his team a Super Bowl title.
But so far, so good in Chicago. In fact, Martz told the Chicago Sun-Times that Cutler has been better than advertised:
”I’ve got to smile because he has just been remarkable; he really has,” Martz said. “He’s so intelligent, he can intimidate you. He really can. He is extremely bright, one of the smartest people I’ve been around. He’s very humble, though. He loves this game. He has great passion for what he does.”
Bears fans and fantasy football geeks alike hope Cutler and Martz can continue to make beautiful music together. But they haven’t participated in a real game.
Other non-draft news making its way Around the Web on a Thursday:
- Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is bullish on second-year WR Mike Wallace, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Wallace will have a bigger role in the Steelers’ offense next season, thanks to the trade of former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the Jets. Arians believes Wallace is ready.
- “I’ve not had a rookie wide receiver play that well in 12 years,” Arians said. “He was consistent; not perfect, but consistent. He didn’t hit the wall. He played well all the way through the end. It was a great start for him. He should come into this year with a ton of confidence.”
- Sticking with the Steelers, the Post-Gazette also reports that QB Dennis Dixon has switched to No. 10, taking Holmes’ old number. Dixon wore No. 10 at Oregon.
- Jets LB Calvin Pace doesn’t agree with the six-game suspension that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Pace, who served a four-game suspension last year, told the New York Post that the suspension was a touch excessive.
- “How do you suspend somebody who didn’t get convicted in court?” Pace said. “I don’t get it. How can you do it? Because Roger Goodell’s like a judge. That’s a lot of games, especially for a franchise quarterback. A guy who up until this year, I never heard anything bad happen to him. It’s a situation where you’re dealing with somebody’s word against your word. It’s like people just kind of come out of the woodwork — ‘Oh yeah, this happened to me.’ But how do we know? Seriously. Does anybody have any tape?”