Updating the 'No Receivers' Argument

When Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago, there was an instant line drawn in the proverbial sand. Everyone from professional sports writers to the most casual of fans had opinions. Those who wanted to argue it was a bad move for the Bears had several points. Some of them were valid, but one of them in particular always drove me bonkers.

"Who is he going to throw to?" "He's going to hate life without Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal." Etc.

We were treated to some derivative of this rendition at every turn from those in the anti-Jay camp. It's not that I believe a quarterback is the only reason receivers play well (see Calvin Johnson for evidence they can thrive without one), but I firmly believe quarterbacks make receivers more so than receivers make quarterbacks. You can't make Josh McCown into a superstar by providing him with Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson. On the other hand, you can make Brandon Stokley into a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown receiver with Peyton Manning.

After two weeks, we're seeing the beginning stages of my vindication. It's admittedly a small sample, but the numbers are taking shape and it's not pretty for Royal and Marshall.

Royal had 91 catches for 980 yards and 5 touchdowns last season. He got two bombs (59 and 93 yards, respectively). This year, with new quarterback Kyle Orton, Royal has just 5 catches for 38 yards in two games. His longest catch has gone for 11 yards.

Marshall had 206 catches and over 2,500 yards the previous two seasons with Cutler. In 2009, he's caught just 7 balls for 61 yards. His yards per reception average is down almost four yards. His yards per game average is down more than 50 yards. Granted, he's been in the doghouse, but he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire when in the game.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Bears have seen Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox post better stat-lines.

Entering the season, the Bears were maligned for having a "glorified punt returner" masquerading as their top receiver. Through two games, Hester has made 8 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. He's drastically improved his route running and made some solid catches underneath -- meaning he's not just a deep threat.

Bennett, a third round draft pick in 2008 who didn't make a single catch as a rookie, has already amassed 9 catches for 88 yards.

Knox was a fifth round pick by the Bears this season -- 139 players were chosen before Knox. He's already accrued 8 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown (which tied the game in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh). He caught a 68-yard bomb in Week 1 which would have been the longest completed pass of Orton's Chicago career.

Sure, two weeks is an incredibly small sample, but it's easy to see that Cutler had a big hand in making Royal and Marshall and he's already having a similar effect in Chicago. Meanwhile, "Captain Checkdown" is killing Royal and Marshall's value while hammering the underneath routes of Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Daniel Graham. That may cut it against the Browns, but it sure won't against most of the rest of the league.

We heard similar "who's he gonna throw to?" arguments about the New York Giants with Eli Manning losing Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress. Yet he seemed to handle the passing attack just fine Sunday night with Mario Manningham and Steve Smith.

As for the wins and losses argument -- which was another that drove me nuts -- give it a few more weeks. The Bears just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Broncos won one game on the flukiest play we've seen in years and another by taking down arguably the worst team in football at home. They are hardly world-beaters with Orton at the helm. After a trip to Oakland, where it won't be easy, the Broncos get the Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens and Steelers. Thus, it would appear Denver should savor their early success while they still can. If the Broncos romp through those games with a winning record, I'll admit I was wrong about Orton. Until then, save it.

Meanwhile, Cutler and the Bears get the Seahawks (without Matt Hasselbeck) and Lions before heading to their bye. As long as they play the way they did Sunday and not how they did in Green Bay, the Cutler era will be off to a great start.