From all indications, newlywed Jay Cutler’s love affair with Chicago remains in full bloom.

The imposing presence of the new Bears quarterback has been impossible to ignore on the field so far this offseason.

“Just the way he throws the ball is so impressive,” one daily team observer said. “(Backup QB) Caleb Hanie has a pretty strong arm, but it’s nothing compared to Cutler’s.”

What has been equally impressive, however, are Cutler’s actions off the field, as he continues to do and say just about all the right things in the public limelight.

“It really seems like he wants to make a new start,” the observer said. “Early on, he indicated to the (local) media that he wished he had handled his messy departure from Denver differently, and he has gone out of his way to come across in a better light.”

The latest indication was Cutler’s early-July revelation in a one-and-one interview with Arlington Heights  Daily-Herald beat writer and PFW contributing correspondent Bob LeGere that he currently has no intention of pursuing any new commercial endorsement opportunities.

“I want to go out and play some games and prove myself first,” Cutler said. “I want to get rid of some of the skepticism surrounding me and just go out there and play.”

We hear there have been a few occasions in Cutler’s new surroundings where his occasionally prickly behavior has been on display.

“He’ll do what’s expected of him (media-wise) — up to a point,” the observer said. “There were a few OTAs where he chose not to talk. He seems a lot better, but you can still see some attitude. We’ll all get a much better feel in training camp.

“But he’s very comfortable in the spotlight — and very smart. Like when he went out of his way to say that the Bears had not become his team and that it still belonged more to established veterans like (Brian) Urlacher, (Lance) Briggs and Olin (Kruetz). He seems to have hit it off well with his new teammates and has not gone overboard.”

With more than $17 million in cap room at this writing, there have been more than a few rumors that the Bears might soon seriously consider extending Cutler’s $48 million contract, which has three more years remaining.
Said the observer: “I could see something maybe happening during the season — but not before training camp.”

Kickoff is coming! Be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.