Dolphins & Jay Cutler In “Significant Negotiations”, Cutler Leaning Toward Coming Out Of Retirement

Update:

Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports that the Dolphins are “making ground” in their talks with Jay Cutler about leaving his broadcast job and returning to the NFL. According to Darlington, things are now trending back to a positive place.

Darlington adds that Cutler and the Dolphins are now in “significant negotiations.”

• Sources who know Cutler well have told Ian Rapoport he wouldn’t seriously consider signing with the Dolphins unless Ryan Tannehill’s absence is lengthy.
• Dolphins HC Adam Gase has remained persistent and it appears as though it’s working, as Cutler is leaning toward coming out of retirement, according to Rapoport.

———–

Jeff Darlington reports that reports that Jay Cutler remains the Dolphins’ “top target” to replace QB Ryan Tannehill in the event he needs surgery on his left knee. However, Cutler is still reluctant to return to the NFL.

Dolphins HC Adam Gase connected with Cutler Saturday and the quarterback has yet to give them an “outright no” that he won’t play, according to Darlington. If the Dolphins are willing to offer Cutler good money, it could be enough to convince Cutler to return, but Darlington doesn’t think this is a leverage play on his part.

Darlington gets the sense that Miami is showing some patience and don’t desperation at this point in time.

As of now, Darlington still considers Cutler signing with the Dolphins to be “unlikely” but adds that Gase can be very convincing when he wants to be.

Other options like Colin Kaepernick have come up as possibilities for Miami to consider, depending on Tannehill’s status.

Matt Moore will operate as the team’s starting quarterback for at least until they know how bad Tannehill’s knee injury is, but some still believe Moore could open the year as the team’s starter.

Cutler, 33, is a former first-round pick of the Broncos back in 2006. He spent three years in Denver before he was traded to the Bears in 2009. He was in the fourth year of his seven-year, $126.7 million contract that included $54 million guaranteed when the Bears cut him loose at the start of the 2017 league year.

In 2016, Cutler appeared in five games and throw for 1,059 yards while completing 59.1 percent of his passes to go along with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

We’ll have more regarding Cutler and the Dolphins as the news is available.