Jay Cutler is back. More importantly, Jay Cutler Face is back.
That's good news for fans of comedy and cigarettes, but bad news for Miami's Chamber of Commerce.
The city fancies itself as a cool locale where international hipsters like David Beckham, Madonna and George Will party until dawn at South Beach. Along comes Cutler, who looks like a guy watching a needlepoint infomercial.
Rain or shine, touchdown or interception, his exquisitely ambivalent expression never changes. It's so dynamically dull, Jay Cutler Face has taken on a life of its own.
"Smokin' Jay Cutler" is a fabulous website dedicated to "the most apathetic-looking athlete in the history of sports." What better way to pay homage than posting photoshopped images of Cutler with a cigarette dangling from his lips?
The site has been an internet favorite since 2012. Aaron Rodgers occasionally does a pre-snap gesture that mimics a person taking a drag off a cigarette.
Rodgers says it's not a signal to run a certain play. It's a tribute to Smokin' Jay Cutler.
It looked as if we weren't going to have Jay Cutler Face to kick around any longer. Its owner was retiring to the broadcast booth. Then Ryan Tannehill tore his ACL in training camp.
After ignoring Spike Lee's advice to sign Colin Kaepernick, the Dolphins brought in Cutler. At its first press conference, the Face was in midseason form.
"Same old Jay," Smokin' Jay Cutler creator Brandon Freeberg told USA Today.
That's what Dolphins fans are worried about. Cutler's supposed indifference has caused him image problems, but teammates have always vouched for his competitiveness.
And Fish fans should remember 1972. A backup quarterback led Miami to the only perfect season in NFL history.
Earl Morrall's crewcut was also far more Mayberry R.F.D. than Miami Vice, but it is now a cherished image in South Florida.
So fear not, Miami. You could be in for a thrilling season.
Just don't expect your quarterback to show it.
