Cutler: Dolphins job was 'at the top of the list'

In his first appearance as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Jay Cutler answered questions regarding his health, desire, and reasons for giving up a cushy gig in a broadcast booth to restart his football career.

"A situation like this just doesn't come along very often," Cutler said Monday at his introductory press conference.

Cutler cited his relationship with head coach Adam Gase, whom he's known since 2006, and the Dolphins' talented roster as reasons for cutting short his brief retirement.

"There weren't a lot of opportunities or jobs out there if they would have came up I would have taken, but this has got to be at the top of the list," he said.

Cutler is a veteran of 11 seasons, the last eight of which were spent with the Chicago Bears. In that time, he's played in just two playoff games, and the opportunity to play for a team that reached the playoffs last season was too strong to pass up.

Amid conflicting reports about who made the first call, the Dolphins or the quarterback, Cutler said he wasn't assured of the starting role.

"No guarantees. Just come here to help."

His final season in Chicago ended on the injured reserve after he required shoulder surgery. The procedure took place in December and Cutler said he was cleared by March.

"I'm a little bit behind these guys, they've been going through training camp and stuff and I'm not quite there yet, but it won't take me long," he said of his overall physical state.

"The good thing is I play quarterback so I don't really have to be in that great of cardiovascular shape," he added in a rare glimpse of the type of humor he would have provided as a broadcaster.