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New Bears coach John Fox and General Manager Ryan Pace have been noncommittal about Jay Cutler as their starting quarterback. Until today.

Pace said this afternoon, in no uncertain terms, that Cutler is the Bears’ starting quarterback for the 2015 season.

“We’re moving forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback,” Pace said.

Realistically, that’s the only option available to the Bears. Cutler is due a $15.5 million guaranteed salary this season, and the Bears simply can’t afford to cut him and eat that salary. Nor can they trade him, because no other team would want to take on that salary.

It’s also highly likely that Cutler will be the Bears’ 2016 starting quarterback as well, as he has a $10 million guarantee for next year. The old Bears regime gave Cutler a huge contract, and the new Bears regime will have to live with it.

And so the Bears and Cutler are married for the foreseeable future. Whether it’s a happy marriage remains to be seen.