Trestman's task: Succeed with Cutler where others have failed

They won Super Bowls doing it that way. And in today's NFL, with the increased emphasis on passing offense, there is no better way to do it.

McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers are the model for Trestman and Cutler. That's who they should want to be.

For that to happen, Cutler will have to believe in Trestman the way Rodgers believes in McCarthy.

He will have to listen to him. Trust him. Give in to him. Sacrifice for him. Forgive him.

What was that word Trestman used again?

Marriage.

Trestman and Cutler got together when Cutler was preparing for the 2006 NFL draft. Trestman said they met in a hotel room for the better part of two days and did a lot of staring at each other because they had no receivers for Cutler to throw to.

Neither tried to inflict bodily harm on the other. That was a start.

Then, in the interview process this week, they met again for two hours. Not only was there no bloodshed, but they were so enraptured in conversation that they neglected their lunch.

"I can't wait to get my hands on him," Trestman said.

There are a number of Cutler's former coaches who would like to get their hands on him, too, but in a different way.

One of the questions general manager Phil Emery asked Trestman in the interview process was, "Tell me about a time when the most difficult player you were coaching also was the best player you were coaching?"

Trestman's answer really shouldn't matter to us now, because it's likely to be different in one year.

Trestman will try to build trust with Cutler in part by "giving him the keys to the car," allowing him to audible and take ownership of the offense. Trestman is known as a good listener who willingly takes player input.

But the days of Cutler as the organizational ogre should be over. It should be noted that his handpicked quarterbacks coach cleaned out his office Thursday.

It used to be this was Jay Cutler's world, and the rest of the Bears were just living in it. Now, it's Marc Trestman's world, and Cutler is in the last year of his contract.

Trestman was asked if he saw Cutler as a franchise quarterback, as Emery has said he does. Trestman danced around the question but never vocally concurred.

I liked that.

Cutler is not a franchise quarterback. It's up to Trestman to make him one.

dpompei@tribune.com

Twitter @danpompei

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