Jay Cutler's choice: Less than $500,000 at Fox or $10 million with Dolphins

Michael McCarthy

•
Jay Cutler's choice: Less than $500,000 at Fox or $10 million with Dolphins image

What would you do if you had to choose between an annual salary of $450,000 or $10 million?

That was the choice facing Jay Cutler, sources said, as he decided whether to continue his NFL playing career or move into TV with Fox Sports for the 2017 NFL season.

MORE: Marvez: Cutler a massive risk for Adam Gase

The ex-Bears quarterback was slated to earn between $400,000 and $450,000 this season as Fox's No. 2 game analysts, sources tell Sporting News.

When the Dolphins (and Cutler's favorite coach, Adam Gase) came knocking with a $10 million, one-year offer, it wasn't tough to convince Cutler to put on the pads again.

"I think everyone knew there was a chance Jay would go back to football. He never seemed totally into (TV)," said one source. "Fox was paying him less than $500K. You cant blame him for taking $10 million."

Fox hired Cutler in May. The network declined to comment on how much it was paying the 34-year-old Cutler this season.

"We loved our time working with Jay and wish him the best back on the field this year with the Dolphins," said a Fox Sports spokesman about Cutler's brief, three-month tenure with the network.

Fox's No. 2 game analyst position came open when John Lynch left TV to take the GM job with the 49ers.

Cutler was supposed to team with play-by-play-announcer Kevin Burkhardt and game analyst Charles Davis to form a three-person booth on Sundays.

Now what?

They could let Davis, a well-respected pro, team with Burkhardt. Fox would be just fine in my book.

But don't forget, Fox recently hired ESPN veteran Mark Schlereth. I could see Fox bosses Eric Shanks and John Entz giving the 16-year TV veteran a lot of reps, although he'd have to adjust to the game booth from the studio.

MORE: Ranking the NFL's best QB-coach-GM combos

Cutler's change of heart could also mean TV life for Trent Dilfer, who was swept out of Bristol in this spring's layoff of 100 analysts and reporters along with other big NFL names, such as John "The Professor" Clayton, Ed Werder and Britt McHenry.

Honestly, I don't think sourpuss Cutler is much of a loss for Fox. I'm on the record predicting he would be as much of a stiff on TV as he has been on the sidelines during his disappointing career. 

Cutler was apathetic as usual during a TV interview with FS1's "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on Monday.

Asked whether he'd return to TV, Cutler didn't know.

"If Fox would have me back, it’s definitely something I’d have to consider." 

Ugh.

Hey, Jay, I wouldn't wait up at night for that phone call when the Dolphins finally cut you.

Now we'll find out whether Tony Romo is really serious about CBS Sports.

Or whether he'll drop the mic and go running back to the Cowboys if Dak Prescott twists an ankle.

Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy Photo

Michael McCarthy is an award-winning journalist who covers Sports Meda, Business and Marketing for Sporting News. McCarthy’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC.com, Newsday, USA TODAY and Adweek.