The Bears, longing for the days of, well, Sid Luckman, finally got themselves a big-name quarterback this afternoon when they acquired Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos.

Cutler came with a price tag befitting a big name, as well: Chicago’s first round [...]]]> Well, it looks like that Sunday night Bears-Packers season opener at Lambeau just got a whole lot more interesting.

The Bears, longing for the days of, well, Sid Luckman, finally got themselves a big-name quarterback this afternoon when they acquired Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos.

Cutler came with a price tag befitting a big name, as well: Chicago’s first round picks in 2009 and 2010, its third round pick in 2009 and the team’s current starting quarterback, Kyle Orton. The Bears also pick up Denver’s fifth round selection in this year’s draft.

The move makes the Bears a buzzworthy team heading into next season and Chicago fans, at least for the moment, are excited to have an actual quarterback. For some Bears fans, it’s the first time in their lives they can actually say such a thing.

Cutler is a young quarterback who certainly has some potential, but when you step back and take a good look at both Cutler and what the Bears gave up to get him, the move just doesn’t add up.

Cutler has a record of just 17-20 as a starter playing in a system that has gotten good numbers from some very average quarterbacks (the names of Brian Griese and Jake Plummer come to mind here).

His “career” year came last season, when he threw for 4,526 yards, certainly a great amount. But 25 touchdowns to 18 interceptions? Not a very good ratio (his career rating of 54 to 37 also leaves something to be desired).

When his team, in the midst of an AFC West divisional title chase last season,  needed him to be his best, he was anything but. Denver lost three straight games to end the season, with its “star” quarterback compiling QB ratings of 74.3, 72.4 and 74.9. He also threw just two touchdowns compared to four interceptions.

Positively Grossman-esque.

Things are even less rosy with regards to the team he’s going to.

Once known for their top-flight defense, the Bears are nowhere near as good as they once were on that side of the ball. Last season, they finished 21st in total yards allowed, including a 30th place showing in passing yards allowed. They also were 22nd in sacks. Head coach Lovie Smith will take over play-calling duties for the defense this season, but even he can only do so much.

What’s that have to do with Cutler, you ask?

The Broncos had a similarly poor defense last season. That meant Cutler had to carry a lot of the load in order for the team to win. Mixed results followed.

It will be a similar story this season – in fact, it could be worse as the Bears lack any of the consistent, big-time playmakers that Denver had. And don’t mention Devin Hester, Matt Forte or Greg Olson, Bears fans – remember, I said consistent, big-time playmakers. There’s no one close to Brandon Marshall’s level on Chicago’s offense.

The Bears could always get him some help in the dra – oh wait, they can’t because they only have one pick in the first three rounds now.

If all of this wasn’t bad enough, there’s also one more factor to consider: Cutler seems like a real jerk.

This is a guy who just could not deal with the fact that his new head coach (Josh McDaniels) might have been trying to get rid of him in order to acquire a quarterback (Matt Cassel) that he helped groom and who knew the system he was going to install.

Cutler pulled a Favre – yes, I said it – and got his agent, the increasingly detestable Bus Cook, to inform the team he wanted to be traded. Then, like Favre – yes, I said it again – he tried to act like the whole thing wasn’t his fault.

This is a business, sweetheart – grow up a little bit. If Cutler had a hard time dealing with McDaniels, how in the world is he going to deal with Smith, who seems like one tough, old school S.O.B.?

In the end, you come to the conclusion that while the Bears might have finally gotten a quarterback, they’ll likely be kicking themselves for a long time for what they gave up.

Besides, we still have the best quarterback in the division.

-Chris Lempesis

Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile [...]]]> Albert Haynesworth’s $100 million deal with the Redskins (who called that?  I can’t remember) and the Kansas City Chiefs’ acquisition of Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots are far from the only big transactions 43 hours into the NFL’s free agency signing period.

Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile moves made:

• Cleveland Browns trade tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay Buccaneers for second round pick in 2009 draft and fifth round pick in 2010 draft.

This is a good move for both teams. Tampa Bay picks up a proven playmaker who will benefit from a fresh start after never quite clicking in Cleveland, for various reasons (injuries, displeasure with management). Plus, now we know where some of that estimated $60 million of cap space will go. For the Browns, they get a first-day selection and rid themselves of problem child Winslow.

• New York Jets sign inside linebacker Bart Scott to six-year, $48 million contract.

I can’t remember who called this one, either. Great move by the Jets, who struggled in switching to a 3-4 defense last season. New York will run that same alignment this season under new head coach Rex Ryan and who better to help bolster it than Scott, who starred in the 3-4 under Ryan in Baltimore. The Jets also traded a fifth round pick this year and a conditional pick next year to Philadelphia for cornerback Lito Sheppard, so look for them to be much improved on defense this season.

• Denver Broncos sign free safety Brian Dawkins to five-year, $17 million contract.

Dawkins, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is nowhere near the player he was in his prime as he is now 35 years old. Still, Denver was an utter trainwreck defensively last season, finishing 26th in passing yards, 27th in rushing yards and 30th in average points allowed. Dawkins, for at least a year, should be able to help settle things down somewhat. But why did Denver give him five years?

Now, onto a some deals with NFC North implications:

• Minnesota Vikings send fourth round pick in 2009 draft to Houston Texans for quarterback Sage Rosenfels.

And the mediocre wheel of Vikings’ quarterbacks keeps on spinning. With an estimated $25 million of cap space and, basically, a quarterback away from being scary good, Minnesota decided against pursuing an actual signal caller (Kurt Warner, for example). Instead, the purple dealt for a 31-year old already on his fourth team. Then, the Vikings gave him a two-year, $9 million contract extension.

Thank you God.

Had the Vikes picked up Warner – or even, say, Derek Anderson or Jeff Garcia – they would be the clear-cut favorite to rule the division again. But they didn’t and now the division is wide-open.

• Detroit Lions sign running back Maurice Morris to three-year, $7 million contract and trade quarterback Jon Kitna to Dallas Cowboys for cornerback Anthony Henry.

The Morris signing gives the team someone to spell Kevin Smith. Don’t have much of a problem with that move or the Kitna trade (which finally gives the Cowboys a competent backup). Henry is a solid cornerback who will help the Lions improve on last season’s 27th-ranked pass defense. For a team looking to simply win a game, neither move will hurt that cause.

-Chris Lempesis