Here are the details: Jay Cutler has teamed up with Lilly, who will donate $1,000 (which is the cost of one camp scholarship for a Type 1 diabetic child), for every touchdown pass he completes during the 2009 season to the American Diabetes Association’s camp scholarship fund.

Not only that, but for every pass he completes, they will donate $100. You can keep track of all the stats for this incredible project at Jay’s website. Go Bears! (Or at least, go Cutler!) To hear more of Cutler’s story, listen to him talk about that challenge when he was losing weight and before he found out he was Type 1 diabetic:

Image: Zuma Press

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Reason to Root for Jay Cutler

In a preseason game against the New York Giants, Cutler was 8-for-13 for 121 yards and one touchdown pass. The touchdown came in the second quarter on a one-yard pass to Desmond Clark. When all the dust cleared, the Bears beat the Giants by a final score of 17-3.

While all of Chicago was happy with Cutler’s performance, the quarterback himself wasn’t overly thrilled.

Said Cutler: “It’s preseason. Everyone got a little excited last week when we didn’t produce but we looked OK tonight. There’s still room for improvement, so we’re going to go back to work. We’re coming together as an offense. We’re not quite there yet.”

Also staring for the Bears was running back Matt Forte. On nine carries, the second year back gained 58 yards and scored a touchdown.

Both the Bears and the Giants are now 1-1 in preseason play.

Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears (Image: Zuma Press)

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Jay Cutler Stars as Bears Win

Lovie Smith usually doesn’t get involved in politics, but how could you resist dining with the president? I can’t help wondering if Jay Cutler will throw a few questions about diabetes research the president’s way. Cutler is a Type 1 diabetic, and from one Type 1 to another, it wouldn’t hurt to see a few more dollars raised.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Lovie Smith Dines with Obama

Josh McDaniels names Kyle Orton his starter (Image: Zuma Press)

Up until this announcement, Orton had been competing with Chris Simms for the starting quarterback gig. However, McDaniels said he wanted to end the suspense now and provide more of an order heading into traing camp.

That said, McDaniels was also adamant that Simms still has a chance to win the starting role if he outperforms Orton in training camp and the exhibition season.

Orton, who was acquired in the trade that sent Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears, is coming off of a solid sason. In 15 games, he had 18 touchdown passes and 2972 passing yards.

Simms, on the other hand, has played only one game since 2006. He’s had bright spots in his NFL career but most experts agreed that he was the underdog from the beginning. Now, McDaniels made that official.

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Kyle Orton Named Broncos Starter at QB

The contract Pace signed with the Bears is reportedly for three years. The final two teams that he was considering were the Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. He apparently decided to go with the Bears after word came out that Chicago had landed the coveted quarterback.

Pace was once regarded as one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. In recent years, Pace has been slowed with a number of injuries. The Bears will hope that the 33-year-old former first overall draft pick will be able to overcome the injuries that have hampered him as of late.

Pace had played for the St. Louis Rams since attending the Ohio State. During his time in St. Louis, he won a Super Bowl ring and appeared in a second Super Bowl.

Here’s an Orlando Pace video of him on the Ohio State Buckeyes:

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Orlando Pace signs with the Chicago Bears

But now the Jets will need Mangini to help them get Jay Cutler. Cutler is currently with the Broncos and it appears they won’t give him a new contract. So the Jets want him, since… oh… they booted out Chad Peninnington so they could bring on Brett Favre… who retired and now they have no one.

Unless Favre unretires, that is!

(I’m slapping my mouth shut as I said it….)

Anywho, back to the Jets. In order to trade for Cutler, the Jets need to give the Broncos someone, and they don’t have anyone. So they are enlisting the help of Mangini, who is now with the Browns and happens to have two quarterbacks lying around that he doesn’t really want to keep.

What does Mangini (and the Browns) get out of this deal? Some premium draft picks. And the Browns desperately need those.

So there you go, burnt bridges or no, looks like all these coaches have learned to play nice with one another.

Post from: EveryJoe

Jets Need Mangini for Cutler Trade