Peter King on Jay Cutler (for football fans)

Peter King:

[Jay] Cutler is an easy target, because of his laissez-faire look. Those who really like the guy say that’s just his way. There are other quarterbacks who give off a similar look. Carson Palmer, for instance. But ask Palmer’s teammates how they felt when he went down for the season on Sunday. “A sick feeling, for everybody,” said backup Drew Stanton. “That’s our leader.”

Cutler, whether he likes it or not (and I am sure he does not), needs to take on a different role with his team, starting Sunday against the Vikings. He needs to realize his franchise is going down the toilet, and he needs to realize he’s the highest-paid player on the team, and the player at the position of highest expectation for leadership. He needs to walk into the Wednesday team meeting that kicks off preparation for Sunday, and say something like We’re not going down like this. He needs to speak from the gut. He needs to fake it if he has to. But this is Jay Cutler’s time, no one else’s. The quarterback is the leader of a football team. It’s time for Cutler to act like one.

If you read Girard, you’ll see some mimetic rivalry and some scapegoating in what is being said and felt about Cutler and he’s not the one and only problem, but I like this challenge to Cutler. I’m hoping he reads it and asserts his leadership.