NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - The Offseason

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ok, enough is enough... continue here.

Last thread:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...183476&page=11

[SlowwHand]

Cutler has an ego that makes Texas look small.

[Lord Avalon]

How do you know when an owner/agent/coach/QB is lying?

Cutler never heard from Bowlen

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement Tuesday saying both he and coach Josh McDaniels had been unable to get quarterback Jay Cutler to call them back over the past 10 days.

As a result, the team has decided to trade Cutler, who they are convinced "no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos."

Cutler and his agent have a different spin on the story, NFL senior analyst Chris Mortensen reports. Asked by text message whether Bowlen has directly tried to contact him, Cutler replied, "No."

His agent, Bus Cook, said the Broncos first got in touch with him on Tuesday.

"The perception that they've been burning the phone lines the last 10 days is wrong," Cook said. "In fact, the other day I asked Jay if he had heard from them and he said, 'no.' I didn't hear from them until yesterday [Tuesday] morning when [GM] Brian Xanders called me and said that Mr. Bowlen needs to speak with Jay now. I told him all I can do is leave Jay a message.

"I didn't reach Jay directly -- I don't know what he was doing -- but I left a message. Then Brian called at the end of the day and asked me if I had heard from him. I hadn't. I heard from Jay when he called to tell me he just saw on TV he was being traded. They can spin it the way they want to spin it."

A Broncos official scoffed at the notion that Bowlen didn't reach out directly to Cutler, suggesting that any owner would set up a call through a GM or a personal assistant.

Cutler told FoxSports.com on Wednesday night he did not think it would go this far.

"I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon," Cutler told FoxSports.com. "I didn't want to get traded. This wasn't me. They [The Broncos] had been going back and forth saying things, wanting me to be their quarterback and then they didn't.

"I really didn't want this. I love Denver. I really like my teammates. I didn't want it to get this far."

In the meantime, the Broncos have informed all interested teams that they want at least two first-round picks for Cutler and getting a quarterback in exchange is not a necessity, Mortensen reports. A team source said it was possible Cutler could be traded as soon as Friday.

Mortensen is reporting the following teams' interest in Cutler: • The Redskins are acting with urgency in their pursuit of Cutler but it doesn't appear the Broncos have interest in Jason Campbell. Consequently, even while the Redskins may be willing to offer two first-rounders for Cutler, they are trying to gauge interest elsewhere for Campbell. If the Broncos do deal with the Redskins, it would give them control of the 12th and 13th picks in the draft. • The Lions are interested in Cutler and would be willing to send the Broncos the first pick in the draft. But the Broncos don't want it. Rather, the Broncos would ask for the Lions' second first-round pick (No. 20) and possibly their second-rounder (No. 33), or another first-round pick in 2010. The Lions don't believe they can financially bear the burden of paying for the first pick in this year's draft, as well as sign Cutler to a contract extension. • The Jets and Buccaneers also are involved in talks with the Broncos.

• The Panthers have some level of interest and are not opposed to including defensive end Julius Peppers in trade discussions. However, even though the Broncos have a need for a player of Peppers' caliber, they are reluctant because signing Peppers to a new contract, a necessity to complete a trade with Carolina, is cost-prohibitive for the team.

Cutler has been unhappy ever since learning that McDaniels failed to inform him about trade talks in which the Broncos showed interest in Matt Cassel. Cassel wound up being traded by New England to Kansas City, and Cutler asked to be traded.

Still, McDaniels had faith he could repair the strained relationship with his temperamental quarterback -- if only he could get him to call him back. On Tuesday, he became convinced that just wasn't going to happen.

Cutler is halfway through the six-year, $48 million contract he signed as the 11th overall pick out of Vanderbilt in the 2006 draft. He's 17-20 as Broncos starter, although that's misleading because of Denver's dismal defense.

In games where the Broncos have allowed 21 points or fewer, Cutler is an impressive 13-1, and that only loss was to Green Bay in 2007 when the Packers won the coin toss and Brett Favre threw an 82-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime.

Cutler set several franchise passing records last season, when he threw for 4,526 yards, 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In his 37-game career in Denver, he's completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 9,024 yards, 54 TDs and 37 interceptions.

Cutler was upset when Shanahan was fired as coach, and even requested that members of Shanahan's offensive staff be retained, which didn't happen.

He had started to come around, meeting several times with McDaniels and expressing an eagerness to learn his intricate Patriots-style attack that will replace the West Coast system he's been running since he was a rookie.

That all changed when word leaked that McDaniels had spoken with the Patriots about Cassel.

At the NFL owners' meetings in Southern California last week, McDaniels said the team was committed to Cutler, although he said no options, including trades, were being ruled out.

"I've always been optimistic," McDaniels said at the NFL meetings. "He's on our team, he's under contract, and I understand there's things we have to work toward in our relationship."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4034863

[SlowwHand]

When the owner says it, that's all that matters. "It will be this way", should suffice. Don't like it? Kicks rocks. See you later. For better or worse, he signs the paychecks.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't believe Cutler. Denver isn't going to get 2 first rounders for Cutler. They will be lucky to get one.

[-Jrabbit]

It seems no price is too high for Daniel Snyder.

[OzzyKP]

Just figuring this out?

[Ming]

I notice in the ESPN story that there is no mention of the Bears being interested/involved... sigh.

[snoopy369]

I hate to agree with Ben partially, but I don't like the idea of 2 first round picks going for him. That said, I'm not sure they won't get it. If they're asking for two first rounders, I don't want the Bears in the discussion, to be honest... we'll go further drafting a 1st round WR and an OT or LB than we would with Cutler.

Not that we'll necessarily succeed at picking good first rounders, but that could always change...

[Ben Kenobi]

we'll go further drafting a 1st round WR and an OT or LB than we would with Cutler.

Thanks Snoopy.

That's why you don't want to overpay for Cutler. He's a good QB, but there are maybe 5 QBs who would be worth 2 first round picks. Manning, Brees, Brady, Rivers, and Roethlisberger. All are SB winners or proven winners.

[-Jrabbit]

It's not going to happen, so no worries.

Although Cutler has named the Bears and Titans as two teams he'd like to play for. (He grew up a Bears fan in Indiana.)

[snoopy369]

I am not sure any of those QBs are worth two first rounders. Roeth is definitely not, he's a SB winner because he's a quality QB on a great team that does not require amazing performance out of a QB. Manning would have been years ago, but he's too old now - not sure he'd be worth one first rounder. Brees and Rivers are both good quarterbacks, and reasonably young; perhaps a team that had all the parts except a QB could consider that for either of them - but frankly that team would do the same for Cutler, if you discount the (potential) attitude problem. And Brady is an injury risk until he plays a full season, as far as I'm concerned; you NEVER take a risk on a guy who recently sustained a serious injury, even if it's one that shouldn't impact his performance. You never know what's going to impact performance mentally or physically...

Either way, I'd rather not see the Bears trade two first rounders for anyone. One first and a lower pick, perhaps, for Cutler [or Brees or Rivers]; but not two first rounders. They need too much.

[Supr49er]

Ironic that the Bronco fans are bent at Cutler for demanding a trade. They lucked into John Elway when he acted like a spoiled kid and refused to play for the Baltimore Colts.

[snoopy369]

Ironic indeed...

[-Jrabbit]

Interesting read I found on the Interwebs this morning opines:

The one evil guy in all this is most likely Cutler's agent, Bus Cook. Whenever he can't get the contract he wants for his guy, he orchestrates a separation/divorce. It's his history, and pretty consistently:

Brett Favre
Steve McNair
Randy Moss

Smart money says that when Cook heard about the Cutler-Cassell trade talks and Shanahan was let go, he realized that Denver wasn't going to fork over a Peyton Manning-type contract. Cook's traditional answer: create a conflict and get moved to someone who will pay what you want.

http://www.sports-central.org/sports...utler_mess.php

[DirtyMartini]

What Jrabbit said.

The whole thing smells like the Favre sagas of the past few years (as stated, another Cook client). The public just cut BrettFavreBrettFavreBrettFavre more slack.

[snoopy369]

Guess what bright young WR is a Cook client as well...

[-Jrabbit]

Calvin Johnson

[snoopy369]

No fair guessing if you'd already read the article I was just trolling the Lions fans, anyway. Because I'm mean like that, kicking lions when they're down and all.

[Ming]

Frankly, I would have no problem giving up two first round picks for him. The Bears haven't had a franchise QB in my lifetime, and it sure would be nice for a change. Also, our history of first round picks suck anyways. Hoping they will get better at it when he have the same bozo in place making the picks is asking too much.
We end up paying big bucks for somebody that sucks. I would rather pay big bucks to somebody that we can build a team around.

[snoopy369]

ESPN's current expected asking price :

Chicago Bears: The No. 18 and No. 84 overall picks, cornerback Nathan Vasher and quarterback Kyle Orton. The Bears could get this done without including a third team. -- Kevin Seifert

Not sure I want to give up Vasher, particularly with our secondary issues.

[Ming]

I'd take that deal in a second

[Ben Kenobi]

I am not sure any of those QBs are worth two first rounders.

That's another fair assessment. 2 first rounders is a huge investment.

Roeth is definitely not, he's a SB winner because he's a quality QB on a great team that does not require amazing performance out of a QB.

He's won 2 superbowls, and is very young. The only mark against him is whether he could carry a team on his own.

Manning would have been years ago, but he's too old now - not sure he'd be worth one first rounder.

I'd give 2 up for Peyton in a heartbeat. He's just that good.

Brees and Rivers are both good quarterbacks, and reasonably young; perhaps a team that had all the parts except a QB could consider that for either of them - but frankly that team would do the same for Cutler, if you discount the (potential) attitude problem.

And that's my real point. He has a huge attitude problem, this isn't something new. Bears fans better check into that before building a team around him.

And Brady is an injury risk until he plays a full season, as far as I'm concerned; you NEVER take a risk on a guy who recently sustained a serious injury, even if it's one that shouldn't impact his performance. You never know what's going to impact performance mentally or physically...

I think Brady is an excellent QB who should return to form. Of course, I could be totally out to lunch here.

[-Jrabbit]

From the perspective of Bears fans, we've seen how far a great defense and mediocre (at best) offense gets us -- into the Super Bowl about once every 20 years. The window of opportunity from 3 years back is all but closed. The league has solved the Tampa-2, Urlacher's a shell of his old self and the offense still sucks.

I think the general feeling around town is: Hey, maybe we should try this "offense" thingy. Maybe the defense wouldn't blow so many late leads if they weren't on the field so damned much (29th in time of possession). Maybe a real QB would help.

Personally, I think Orton can develop into a respectable leader. He's got the physical tools to succeed, but mediocre protection and minimal weapons to work with. That's why signing Orlando Pace looms much larger for me.

But if, against all odds, Cutler somehow ends up in Chicago, it won't bother me. Within 3 years, either the Bears will succeed, or the Angelo-Smith regime will be toast.

[Supr49er]

Bears get Cutler.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4037373

They traded Orton and the 2009, 2010 First Round picks.

[Ben Kenobi]

I still don't see how you guys let Ron Rivera go. The Bears have management problems.

[snoopy369]

Hmmmm, Orton and the next two first rounders... interesting. I'm very curious if we're going to renegotiate Cutler's contract or not now (IIRC he's quite cheap for the next few years, but there were suggestions that an extension would be expected if he were traded, for big bucks).

[Ben Kenobi]

To acquire Cutler, the Bears had to give up quarterback Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 and 2010, a source said.

Too much. Good luck guys. Glad to see Cutler gone.

He'll want Peyton Manning style money I'm sure.

[snoopy369]

Apparently we actually gave up 2 first rounders (as above) and this year's 3rd round, and got back this year's 5th round from Seattle via Denver.

[Supr49er]

John Clayton has updated the trade:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4037373

Bears trade Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 and 2010, along with a third-round pick in 2009 and the Broncos threw in a fifth round pick in 2009.