8 YEARS OF AUDIBLES

Cutler offered plenty of color commentary as a Bear — much of it on defense

In Chicago history, no athlete’s words have been more scrutinized than Jay Cutler’s. Now he’ll use them as a Fox analyst. To commemorate Cutler’s retirement Friday, here are some of his most memorable quotes from an eightyear Bears career:

2009

April 3: “I think both sides would possibly do a few things differently. But everything happens for a reason. That’s behind.” — At his introductory news conference with the Bears after forcing his way out of Denver

Sept. 20: “Didn’t throw four picks.” — On how he turned things around in a victory over the Steelers a week after throwing four interceptions in the season opener against the Packers

Dec. 2: “I’m going to get a lot of blame, and I’m aware of that, and a lot of it should come my way. I know Brian’s frustrated. I’m frustrated. There’s not much we can do. [ Urlacher] doesn’t have to apologize to me. I talked to him. I understand what he’s talking about.” — After Brian Urlacher told Yahoo Sports, “I hate the way our identity has changed” under Cutler

Dec. 30: “I was just pointing at the clock. I didn’t understand why they were booing. There were eight seconds left.” — Responding to allegations he gave Bears fans the finger as the clock ticked down in regulation in a game against the Vikings that the Bears eventually won 36- 30 in overtime

2010

Oct. 24: “I’ve played against [ DeAngelo Hall] before. There’s no reason to shy away from him. That’s hard for me to say after throwing four picks to a guy. Still, if we had to play them tomorrow, I’d still go after him every time if we could.” — After the Redskins cornerback had four interceptions, one for a 92- yard touchdown, in a 17- 14 Bears loss

2011

April 8: “I was gone, and I stayed away from it all. But I can’t say it didn’t bother me that people questioned my toughness and desire to play. I think I’ve been through a lot here in Chicago, and I would have loved to play.” — Months after fans doubted his departure during the NFC title game with a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee Oct. 16: “Tell Mike Martz I said, ‘[ Screw] him.’ ” — Talking about his then- offensive

coordinator as he broke the huddle in the third quarter of a nationally televised game against the Vikings.

2012

Sept. 13: “I care about this. This isn’t just a hobby for me. I’m not doing this for my health. I’m trying to win football games. I’m trying to get first downs, and when we’re not doing the little things, not doing the things the right way consistently, I’m going to say something. If they want a quarterback that doesn’t care, they can get somebody else.” — Defending his screaming at tackle J’MarcusWebb, whom he told, “Get your [ expletive] head in the game” in a 23- 10 loss to the Packers Oct. 1: “It wasn’t about anything. I don’t have to sit by him the whole game, do I?” — When asked why he walked away when coordinator Mike Tice sat down to talk during a victory against the Cowboys

2013

Sept. 9: “I think I’m older, a little bit more mature. In my younger days, it might have been a little bit more rocky than it is right now.” — On working with quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh

Dec. 15: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was [ pressure], with everything on the outside, as well as Josh [ McCown] has played.” — On the pressure to beat the Browns in his return from a sprained left ankle after backup quarterback McCown’s star turn

2014

Jan. 2: “There are definitely people going to be saying this was the wrong move. That’s fine. That’s their opinion.” — After signing his seven- year, $ 126.7 million contract

Dec. 12: “When you just got paid a big contract and you’re a quarterback, that’s part of the deal, part of the job. To say it doesn’t affect me, I don’t know if that’s true or not. I’m human just like everybody else.” — After coordinator Aaron Kromer tearfully apologized for suggesting to a national reporter that the Bears had buyers’ remorse about Cutler Dec. 18: “Yeah, it definitely crossed my mind, for sure.” — On if he thought he had played his last down for the Bears after being benched for Jimmy Clausen

2015

July 30: “No one really likes their ex- girlfriend just after a breakup.” — To NFL Network, about former teammate Brandon Marshall’s criticism

2016

Jan. 4: “Still here. Everybody’s kind of probably taken a shot to get rid of me. It hasn’t worked so far. I’m happy to still be here.” — On his staying power

Aug. 3: “Most receivers and tight ends are always open. So hopefully [ Patriots quarterback] Tom [ Brady], I guess, can do a better job of finding him than I did.” — Sarcastically, when asked about former teammate Martellus Bennett’s claim that Cutler would throw into double coverage rather than to him

Sept. 16: “I get paid enough to play football, and with kids and everything else, you’ve got to factor that in. Your free time is your free time. You can’t get any more free time. You can’t buy it. You can’t find it on the street.” — On not doing endorsements

Sept. 20: “I’m fine with that. He’s a passionate guy. . . . No one likes to lose in that type of fashion. He’s upset. I’m upset. Everyone is upset in that locker room right now.” — On linebacker Pernell McPhee yelling at him on the sideline during an eventual loss against the Eagles

Nov. 20: “These games that you lose and you definitely have a chance to win, those are the ones that keep you up at night.” — After losing 22- 16 to the Giants, throwing an interception on what would be the final pass of his career

2017

Friday: “There was a lot of Bears apparel and stuff that I kept. Someone asked me, ‘ Why are you keeping that?’ I was like, ‘ I was a Bears fan as a kid.’ . . . I’m not going to not be a Bears fan just because they released me and I’m not playing anymore. I’m happy to go back to being a Bears fan with all the Chicago loyal fans. That’s kind of where I started.”