McCown: Cutler can still play 'at a very high level'
The Bears apparently don't believe Jay Cutler has much left in the tank, with Chicago reportedly looking to trade its longtime starter. However, the quarterback's former teammate and close friend, Josh McCown, isn't ready to write him off just yet.
In a league that's always in need of more starting-caliber quarterbacks, McCown said Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Cutler is still capable of playing "at a very high level" amid reports he's considering retirement.
"The thing I know about Jay and the thing I respect the most is that he's going to do what he wants to do and what he feels is best," McCown said, according to Jeremy Stoltz of scout.com. "I think, No. 1, he's going to consider where he’s at as a family and put that first, and what they want to do moving forward. I know he'll think long and hard through it.
"I still believe he can play at a very high level. He had a rough (season) this year dealing with a lot of injuries but, obviously, as we've said for a long time, the skill set is there. With a quarterback-driven league and often times a quarterback-needy league, you have to think there are going to be opportunities. So it's just finding the right one that matches his skill set and finding the right people, if he wants to continue playing."
Related: 3 teams that could trade for Cutler
Cutler is reportedly expected to be healthy by March, but the 33-year-old has a lengthy injury history, which could be one reason why he's looking to walk away from the game.
The fact the Bears could trade him to a team with no hopes of contending could also be a factor in Cutler's decision, though McCown hopes the Bears find him a good place to maybe finish his career.
"Everybody is different," said McCown. "You've got to follow your heart and what you feel like doing and not worry about anybody else. As a friend and a football fan and a guy who appreciates quarterbacks, I hope he continues to play. I hope he finds a good spot where he can go play good football because I believe that is still in his future. It's up to him. We'll see what he decides."
- With h/t to Pro Football Talk