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The death throes of the Chicago Bears' 2014 season are ongoing. In the wake of Dan Bernstein's report that head coach Marc Trestman is to be fired at the end of the season and general manager Phil Emery's future is under evaluation, Monday Night Football commentator Jon Gruden was extremely critical of Jay Cutler's play against the New Orleans Saints and Marc Trestman, when asked about it earlier today, said Gruden has "a right to his opinion" about the player whom the Bears put forward as their nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted the following a short time ago:
To repeat and now confirmed: Bears starting QB Jimmy Clausen over Jay Cutler on Sunday vs. Detroit, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2014
and adds that:
Jay Cutler is owed $15.5 million next year, fully guaranteed. So someone is paying that...Nobody can be sure it's Chicago.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2014
Kevin Fishbain adds:
Trestman was also asked today if he's gotten the best out of Jay Cutler: pic.twitter.com/BMzz9r3YSy
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) December 18, 2014
EDIT: A couple of thoughts from Jeff Dickerson:
We've been asking Trestman for weeks if he needed to see another QB run his system. Guess Monday was the breaking point.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) December 17, 2014
But to be fair, Cutler is far from the only problem. Trestman's play calling has been extremely subpar.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) December 17, 2014
and Dan Wiederer chips in with:
Players were off today for Bears. Many now learning about Jay Cutler's benching through back channels.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) December 18, 2014
Jimmy Clausen's last start came his rookie year with the Panthers in the season finale on January 2, 2011.
We'll have more on this story as it breaks and, of course, full coverage in tomorrow's Bears Den. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on this change? (And please note this is not an open thread.)