The Facts: When they met with Cutler early this month, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that they left the room convinced they had to pick up the quarterback's $10 million option for 2016. HC John Fox's commitment falls short of that often provided for franchise QBs of Cutler's contract level, however. Although Cutler will top the offseason depth chart by dint of his experience edge, Fox made it clear Wednesday that the Bears will have an "open competition" at quarterback.

Diehards Line: "Obviously you've got to start somewhere," Fox said, "and my experience in football, really in anything, it's not where you start a competition; it's where you finish it. ..." In other words, Cutler is as much the "starter" in Chicago that Robert Griffin III is in Washington: Starters as of today. ... Cutler was benched in favor of Jimmy Clausen late last season, in part because he didn't fully embrace the coaching staff's philosophy and struggled to make the correct pre- and post-snap adjustments. Cutler has an obvious advantage due to the $25.5 million in guaranteed money he's collecting over the next two years. But at this point, nobody should be betting the ranch the paycheck ensures his starting status.