As a long-time Bears fan (30+ years), I can say that I am really excited about this trade. Those of you that don't normally follow the Bears, have to understand the pain we've been through over the years never really having a "real" quarterback. Chicago has always been a "running team" that plays tough 'D', but never had a good QB. It was great watching Payton run all over everyone in the 70's and 80's, but since then it's been rough. Jim McMahon was the closest thing (in my lifetime) to a decent quarterback, who when on the field, you thought could actually win a game for the team, but he couldn't keep it all together. And having to watch the 15 or so starting QBs shuffle through here since Brett Favre came to Green Bay was horrible.
The Bears needed to make this deal to try for the ultimate "what if" every Bears fan has been waiting for. What if we had a really good QB for a change??? They obviously have never been able to develop one themselves. So it the best chance was to come by a trade. Along comes Denver, drafting Cutler #1 a few years ago, grooming him, sending him to the Pro Bowl, and then offering him up to the Bears. So did the Bears give up a "TON"? not in this fan's eyes! Based on the past track record of the percentage of #1 picks making any kind of difference, I'll take a 25-year old Pro Bowl quarterback for those odds any day of the week!
And I don't want to hear about Orton's win/loss record vs. Cutler's. IMHO, Orton didn't really win any of those games. The defense did, and he just didn't lose it for them.
Cutler managed to win a few games himself despite having an average to slightly below average defense. The Bears D is still 'good', but it ain't what it was a few years ago when they went to the Super Bowl. So we need more out of the offense this year. So now with a good QB added to some good young talent (Olsen, Forte and potentially Hester) on offense, this might just be what the team needs to kick it into the next level this year. At least on paper
I can't wait for football season!