Since when does being a fan mean liking every starting player or agreeing with every personnel move? To me, a real fan calls things how he sees them without drinking the Kool-Aid, but to each his own, I guess.

I guess the Eagles or the Jets have never had any fans in their entire existences.

Let me clarify:

at this point Jake has to be our starting QB for 2009- that is for certain. The time to drop him or think about bringing in other talent has come and gone- and now that he’s re-upped, he must start. I’m not advocating McCown or Moore at all.

Second, the Bears gave more than I felt comfortable for Cutler. I would have given a 2nd + Peppers, but that ship has sailed. The same goes for Cassel, but just Peppers straight up. I realize he hasn’t signed a long term deal yet. Trades are funny in the NFL, as I never would have guessed Cassel would go for a 2nd nor would I have believed anyone would give up two 1sts for Cutler. I believe injecting youth into the position would have been in the best interest of the franchise.

Also, not trying to use a crystal ball too much, but without a 1st rounder next year, we probably lost our shot at a decent year for QB talent. Obviously, someone could fall, there are diamonds in the rough, blah, blah, blah.

Third, the details of his contract were as follows:

Signed a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension through 2014. The deal includes $20 million guaranteed. 2009: $3.2 million, 2010: $1.624 million, 2011: $1.74 million, 2012: $2.7 million, 2013: $3.66 million, 2014: $4.62 million, 2015: Free Agent. Cap charges: $8.591 million (2009), $4.785 million (2010), $5.745 million (2011), $6.705 million (2012), $7.665 million (2013), $8 million (2014).

This means that comparing his current salary against other veterans is problematic, since contracts are usually backloaded and he is now starting a new deal while they are finishing out theirs.

Fourth, I fail to see how coming off an injury should among the reasons to keep a player. If that was the reason for his problems, then I feel that hurts the argument that we should have re-signed him. I’m not, however, arguing that the injury was the reason for the Arizona game, or any other game for that matter.

Finally, this was never meant to be about Jake, it was about what being a fan meant to me. You guys and DeAngelo believe otherwise, and that’s fine. Also, just something to chew on, answer this: do you really think someone who wasn’t a fan would have written all this, or would check this website from across the world in the middle of the offseason?

Trent Dilfer. He lowered the bar for all superbowl QBs. Fox&Co’s MO is run the ball and play good defense. Any QB can win with that approach. Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and even Jake. All he has to do is manage the game. Against the Cardinals, he didn’t manage the game AND the defense played like shit!!! Now I think its safe to say that our running game should be intact for several years to come, barring injury of course. If we get our defense together, all Jake has to do is manage the game. We got an All-Pro middle linebacker and other solid young guys that we can build a championship caliber defense with, sooner rather than later. Maybe not necessarily next year, but within the next 3 yrs? I really think so.