Cutler on fast track with Dolphins
‘ He didn’t come out of retirement to stand on sideline,’ Gase says
DAVIE, Fla. — New Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler won’t play in the team’s exhibition opener Thursday, but look for him to be starting soon enough.
‘‘ He didn’t come out of retirement to stand on the sideline,’’ coach Adam Gase said.
Cutler, 34, missed practice Monday because it took place as he landed in South Florida to sign a one- year, $ 10 million contract. He decided to delay the start of his TV career for the chance to replace injured Ryan Tannehill and be reunited with Gase, who was his offensive coordinator with the Bears in 2015.
‘‘ A situation like this doesn’t come along very often,’’ said Cutler, who wore a polo shirt bearing the Dolphins’ logo. ‘‘ I know Adam very well; I knowthe system. And you’re talking about a playoff team with a lot of really, really good players and a lot of potential.’’
Cutler is expected to leapfrog longtime Dolphins backup Matt Moore for the starting job while Tannehill is out with an injured left knee that likely will sideline him for the entire season.
Gase reached out to Cutler shortly after Tannehill was hurt Thursday and said he needed no persuading to launch a comeback. But Cutler likened the conversations with Gase to college recruiting, saying the decision to return was difficult. He parted ways with the Bears in March after eight seasons, then was hired by Fox as an analyst.
‘‘ The last four months I’ve been in a different mindset, getting ready for the Fox deal,’’ Cutler said. ‘‘ Iwas pretty good with where I was in my life. I was around the kids a lot and felt pretty content, so I went back and forth on this. My wife talked me into it, more than anybody else. . . . I think she got tired of me being around the house.’’
Cutler had a career- best 92.3 quarterback rating in 2015 under Gase, who then joined the Dolphins. What will Cutler’s learning curve be with the offensive scheme?
‘‘ I’m pretty sure he’s already got it,’’ Gase said. ‘‘ He’s good.’’
But ramping up Cutler’s arm strength might take a bit longer, Gase said.
‘‘ I’m sure he wasn’t in the backyard throwing a hundred balls a day,’’ he said.
Cutler said his two sons and pickup basketball games helped him stay in shape. He missed time last season with a sprained right thumb and a labrum injury in his right shoulder that required seasonending surgery, but he said he’s healthy now and is confident his arm will be fine.
‘‘ It’ll come back pretty quickly,’’ Cutler said. ‘‘ I’m not worried about the throwing part. Getting used to the guys and the more detailed stuff, that’s what we’re going to have to hit the fast- forward button on.’’
The acquisition of Cutler has the potential to divide a locker room where Moore enjoys strong support. But Gase is popular with his players and said he explained to them why he wanted Cutler.
‘‘ I was very upfront with everything,’’ Gase said. ‘‘ We felt this gave us an opportunity to have two really good quarterbacks on our team. We wanted to make sure that if something happened, we weren’t going to have a falloff. I think our guys understand that.’’
That includes Moore. He said he still considers himself a contender for the starting job after a dramafree conversation with Gase about the need to sign Cutler.
‘‘ Itwas very simple and straightforward,’’ Moore said matter- offactly. ‘‘ And I get it.’’
Receiver Kenny Stills said that while Moore is ‘‘ our guy,’’ there’s no quarterback controversy among the players.
‘‘ We’re confident in the people upstairs to do the right thing for this team,’’ Stills said.