Written by Conor Orr at NFL.com
Jay Cutler is back.
The 34-year-old put off early retirement and the broadcasting life to sign a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday.
Cutler’s contract is worth $10 million with incentives, Rapoport reported on Inside Training Camp Live. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the incentives could add up to as much as $3 million.
The move reunites Cutler with former offensive coordinator Adam Gase. During their one season together in 2015, Cutler experienced a late-career renaissance and developed a strong bond with the 39-year-old head coach. Rapoport noted earlier on Sunday that Gase made a serious push for Cutler after it became clear that Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury could lead to season-ending surgery.
While Tannehill has yet to make a decision regarding surgery on his injured knee, the desperate attempt for Cutler’s services could provide some context. The Dolphins are a team that made the playoffs with a combination of Tannehill and Matt Moore under center a year ago and believe the roster is good enough to win now.
Cutler seemed comfortable with his post-career decision, telling a Chicago-area radio station that it was a “permanent” retirement. However, there was always an out clause for the former first-round pick. As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported back in May, Cutler was inserted into a two-man booth already featuring Charles Davis and Kevin Burkhardt. This meant Cutler could easily slide back out if an enticing situation presented itself without disrupting the on-camera chemistry.
Unlike former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Jim Nantz at CBS, it was a lineup never set in stone.
Cutler’s success in Miami is no guarantee. His final NFL season saw him play in just five games with a 59.1 percent passer rating, four touchdown passes and five interceptions. On the bright side, he joins an organization loaded with weapons at the receiver position, including catch-machine Jarvis Landry and deep threat Kenny Stills.
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