Devin Hester comes to defense of Jay Cutler

Devin Hester says he has heard enough.

He is tired of hearing the criticism that new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is not a mature, capable leader.

"If you haven't been around a person like Cutler, how could you say something like that?" Hester said before appearing in a photo shoot Monday evening at Soldier Field for an Under Armour commercial.

In recent weeks, Super Bowl-winning coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Ditka have been among those who have expressed reservations about Cutler's maturity level.

"Can't judge a book by its cover," Hester said. "If you haven't sat down and talked to him, how could you say something like that? He's calm in the huddle. He makes us laugh and he jokes around before the ball is snapped. That's the kind of quarterback who is relaxed and says, 'Let's play ball.' "

Cutler, 26, threw for more than 4,500 yards last season for Denver, but raised eyebrows when he basically forced a trade after he learned that new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels had considered trading him.

"Just from the OTAs we've had, our offense has changed a whole lot," Hester said. "I feel like we're stronger than we have ever been. I feel like we're going to take the ball up and down the field. That's the kind of quarterback Jay brings to this team."

Despite reading and hearing about the Bears' need for a marquee receiver, Hester believes Cutler can make last year's mediocre receiving corps into a premier one.

"If we sign a big-time receiver or a free agent receiver who can help our team, I'm glad," said Hester. "But the guys we have here now, we're pretty set. [The coaches] just want us to make plays. ... Jay is the type of quarterback who is going to find a way to get the job done."



(chicagotribune.com)