New QB needs to earn ’Fins’ respect

DAVIE — So the Dolphins’ season comes down to two words followed by a bold-faced question mark: Jay Cutler? You understand why he’s here. Coach Adam Gase knows and likes Cutler. And Cutler left retirement — at least left once his wife talked him into it. He also cost no draft picks and a modest $10 million (only two veteran starting quarterbacks will make less).

So it’s a Kardashian marriage between the Dolphins and Cutler — five or six months. That’s important to know, too. Because no matter what you hear, no matter where this goes, Cutler is a one-anddone Dolphin starter. The future belongs to the injured Ryan Tannehill. End of discussion.

Of course, if Cutler changes the public discussion, everyone will be ecstatic. It will mean he’s succeeded. And, actually, the Dolphins brass is ecstatic Cutler is here. They sound like the 2008 Dolphins did when Chad Pennington fell from the sky to lead a 1-15 team to a playoff season.

How do they get that one good year from Cutler?

First, he has to want to this badly. This isn’t easy, stepping into a team, and some of Cutler’s opening thoughts make you wonder. He said he was “content” in retired life. He “weighed back and forth on this” decision. His wife, Kristin, “probably talked me into it more than anybody else could,” he said.

Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just an