Jay Cutler projected confidence, charisma and candidness while meeting the media after signing a new seven-year contract with the Chicago Bears.
Debate: Bounceback teams for 2014
Simply put, we got good Jay today. For a quarterback who struggles to be understood, Thursday was a positive start to 2014.
Cutler said he had no desire to test free agency.
"I wanted to stay here," he said. "It was going to have to be from the Bears not wanting me back for me to test it."
The Bears resoundingly wanted the strong-armed signal-caller back, signing him through 2020. The deal is worth a total of $126 million, with $54 million guaranteed, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the deal.
Cutler gushed about the talent on the Bears' roster. And why shouldn't he? The chance to throw to Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett would attract a line of quarterbacks outside of Halas Hall.
In his earlier news conference, Bears general manager Phil Emery said one key to bringing Cutler back was the quarterback's improvement on the field and as a leader under coach Marc Trestman.
Cutler said he was excited to continue working with the quarterback guru.
"I'm happy to be married to him for seven more years," the signal-caller said of Trestman.
If Cutler had his way, backup Josh McCown, also a free agent, would return to the Bears as well.
In the end, Cutler said his contract wasn't about the money.
"We're here to win championships, not to make so-and-so amount of dollars," he said. "Whether it's $15 million or it's $22 million, it's hard to spend all that in your lifetime. (Wife) Kristin (Cavallari) said she'll help."
It was a good day to be Jay.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped the coaching carousel and looked back on 2013.
