The Monsters of the Midway have been looking for a difference maker at the game's most important position since Hall of Famer Sid Luckman hung up his spikes in 1950, and now it finally looks like they have their franchise quarterback for the long haul.

The Bears signed Jay Cutler to a two-year extension Tuesday evening, just six months after acquiring him from the Denver Broncos in the biggest move of the NFL offseason.

General manager Jerry Angelo traded away a pair of first-round draft picks, along with Kyle Orton and a flip-flop of second-day selections, to Mile High for the talented Cutler this past April. He was made available after it was reported that new coach Josh McDaniels made an effort to bring in Matt Cassel, his former QB in New England, which rubbed Cutler the wrong way. Angelo swept in and made the deal, and it's apparently worked out for both teams since Cutler and the Bears are 3-2, while Orton and the Broncos are 6-0.

Cutler's extension keeps him in on the books in the Windy City through 2013 and includes $30 million in new money, with $20 million guaranteed.

Angelo was under no pressure to get anything done since Cutler arrived in Chicago under contract through 2011, but five games was all it took for Bears brass to believe the former Vanderbilt Commodore is the answer to their prayers under center.