Thursday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
There’s a great deal of pressure on the Denver Broncos.
And they have only themselves to blame for the position they sit in right now.
Yes, they’ve been dealing with a whiny, apparently bratty, way too sensitive player in Jay Cutler.
But responsibility for where this situation sits right now – owner Patrick Bowlen has publicly said the team will trade Cutler – falls directly on the Broncos.
If the manner in which the team has handled things with Cutler is an example of the Broncos Way in the post-Mike Shanahan Era, then Chiefs fans and those of the Chargers and Raiders should rejoice. The once mighty Broncos have allowed themselves to get pushed and pulled about by a 25-year old quarterback who has never thrown a post-season pass.
Here’s a case where a player has apparently fired his team. Give Cutler and his agent Bus Cook credit for pulling this one off. Me thinks they took advantage of a franchise without an experienced general manager, without an experienced head coach and with an owner who no longer had his security blanket (Shanahan) to show him the way.
Cutler again shot off Wednesday night, telling FOXSports.com: “I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon. I didn’t want to get traded. This wasn’t me. They 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.”
Every time this kid opens his mouth, you wonder how he’s been able to get as far as he has in life. The Broncos are no better. Take Bowlen’s announcement Tuesday night that the team had reached the point where it would trade the quarterback? Why make that announcement? More importantly, why make that decision?
All the power in this situation rested with the Broncos. Cutler could stay at home and pout all he wanted, but he did not have the ability to extract himself from the team. He already forfeited a $100,000 workout bonus, but when it came to losing big money, he would have shown up and been part of the Broncos.
Certainly, there would be concerns about his attitude and how he would handle himself. But Bowlen and his people had options available to deal with that, including sending him home on suspension. The new head coach Josh McDaniels talked about wanting to have one-one-one conversation with Cutler. Well, the fastest way to make that happen is to quit talking to his agent, quit trying to call Cutler and simply sit back and wait for him to show up.
McDaniels made one of the biggest mistakes in the NFL coaching handbook: only coach the guys you can see. By allowing so much of his attention to be diverted by the missing quarterback, McDaniels made the issue bigger every time he talked to the media. All he had to reach for was cliché No. 57 in the head coach’s handbook: I only talk about the players that are here.
What was the hurry on making the decision on Cutler? The Broncos don’t go to training camp for four more months. They don’t play a game that counts for five-plus months. Why make a public statement of any kind?
That’s been the problem with this situation right from the start: too much talking. It got so silly that the Broncos responded on Wednesday to comments from Cook that Cutler had not heard from either McDaniels or Bowlen. Denver indignantly responded that they had phone records to prove they had. That kind of reaction, on both sides, is why this thing blew up.
OK, so let’s say that Bowlen, Xanders and McDaniels made the decision that it would be best for the Broncos if they cut loose Cutler. Fine. But why make that decision public? Simply start returning the phone calls you’ve received over the last month and find out what teams in the league are interested and what teams are “really” interested.
The NFL Draft was an obvious deadline in this situation, since a draft choice figures to be prime tender for any trade involving Cutler. By stating publicly that you are trading Cutler, the Broncos made the NFL Draft a deadline for themselves. What if they don’t say anything and they let the Draft come and go without moving Cutler? There are only three quarterbacks considered first round talents. With the number of teams looking for quarterback help in the league, there are going to be plenty of teams still in need of a passer like Cutler when the Draft is over.
Now, the Broncos have put themselves on a track where they have to make a deal before or during the Draft. They’ve allowed someone else to not only set the agenda, but they shot themselves in the foot by setting an artificial timetable. The bargaining position of the Broncos would have been improved if the other teams didn’t already know Cutler was going to be traded.
All these strike me as mistakes of youth; in a hurry to handle a situation that doesn’t need to be done in such a quick manner. Again, what was the rush? Yes, we know a new head coach wanted time to instruct his starting quarterback on his offensive system, which is supposed to be soooooooo complicated. Hey, if he shows up the first day of training camp, you just have to go with a dumbed-down version of the offense, or start a quarterback who had been there through the entire off-season.
Let’s go back to the start of this whole affair and let’s say nothing on Cutler’s side changes. The Broncos would have been better off simply ignoring his ranting and those of his agent.
He would have shown up when required, because he must do that to get paid. If he didn’t, the Broncos would have stopped the checks and gone after some of his signing bonus money. They didn’t have to engage in any he said-she said, not with Cutler and certainly not in public.
Somewhere on a golf course in the Northern Hemisphere, Mike Shanahan is lining up a putt and having a good chuckle over what’s happened with the Broncos. The team took a bad situation and made it worse.
Now the pressure is on to see how they can redeem themselves with this trade.
SO JUST WHO IS INTERESTED IN CUTLER
Media types peg the interested teams anywhere from six to a dozen.
No, the Chiefs are not one of those teams. They made their deal for a quarterback. Scott Pioli got Matt Cassel and as an added feature, he blew up one of his division rivals. The guy might get GM of the Year just for that.
Here’s what folk around the league say about the interest in Cutler. We’ll work in the first-round draft order:
DETROIT – Michigan media says make the deal now; Cutler instead of Stafford. Lions should investigate, so should Broncos. CONTENDER #1
ST. LOUIS – Doubtful the Rams are going to give up yet on Marc Bulger.
CHIEFS – Nothing to see here, keep moving.
SEATTLE – Seahawks have bigger problems, but should investigate.
CLEVELAND – An early favorite because they have two quarterbacks in Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and they need to get rid of one. CONTENDER #2
CINCINNATI – When have the Bengals ever been creative enough to make a deal like this. Plus, Carson Palmer is healthy.
OAKLAND – Forget about it! Bowlen ain’t going to trade Cutler in the division
JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars should be a player, although quarterback is not their weakest position.
GREEN BAY – Nothing to see here.
SAN FRANCISCO – Now here’s the perfect place to dump Cutler for the Broncos. He would be in the other conference and the 49ers need a top flight quarterback. Of course, the Niners need a lot of things. CONTENDER #3
BUFFALO – Hard to imagine the Bills pulling off T.O. and J.C. in the same off-season.
WASHINGTON – Redskins are interested, what a shock! CONTENDER #4
NEW ORLEANS – Wouldn’t offer more than a bag of Mardi Gras beads right now.
HOUSTON – A trade like this isn’t the Texans style.
SAN DIEGO – Keep on moving.
NY JETS – They will obviously have an interest and they should. The question is: what do they have to offer in return? CONTENDER #5
CHICAGO – The second perfect place to dump Cutler would be in the Windy City. Again, he would be in the other conference and the Bears desperately need a QB leader. Chicago doesn’t think in terms like this, although remember: Cutler has three years to go on his contract. CONTENDER #6
TAMPA BAY – The third perfect spot for Cutler would be with the Bucs. Again: NFC and the new regime in the TB needs a top-flight QB. CONTENDER #7
PHILADELPHIA – Unlikely to be a player in this deal.
MINNESOTA – The fourth and maybe best perfect zip code for Cutler’s future. They are a quarterback away from being a legitimate Super Bowl team. How much longer are they going to wait? They have now used up two years worth of Adrian Peterson’s tread and that top flight defensive front isn’t getting any younger. CONTENDER #8
NEW ENGLAND – Belichick has to be shaking his head in wonderment of the controversy he inadvertently caused.
ATLANTA – Don’t go there.
MIAMI – Not at this time.
BALTIMORE – This exit is closed.
INDIANAPOLIS – Forget it.
N.Y. GIANTS – No chance.
TENNESSEE – Interesting site to ponder, since Kerry Collins isn’t getting any younger and Vince Young’s future remains hazy. Doubtful, but interesting.
ARIZONA – Maybe they could trade Matt Leinart for Cutler straight up?
PITTSBURGH – Too busy shinning their Lombardi Trophies to care.
DALLAS – Jerry Jones would love the attention, but he’s picked his quarterback.
CAROLINA – This is another place that would be good for the Broncos and probably for Cutler. Jake Delhomme may not be at the end of the road, but he can see it from where he’s standing. Match that running game with Cutler’s arm and that could get the Panthers over the hump. They should be a player. CONTENDER #9
MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
BRONCOS – released RB Corey Byrd.
CARDINALS – restricted free agent TE Leonard Pope signed his tender offer.
TITANS — signed CB DeMarcus Faggans (Houston).
VIKINGS – re-signed DE Otis Grigsby.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on April 2, 1979 in Manhattan, Kansas was current safety and special teams performer Jon McGraw. He’s played seven seasons in the NFL, the last two (2007-08) with the Chiefs. He came into the NFL as a second-round choice of the New York Jets in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. In 29 games he’s had 29 defensive tackles and one interception and 35 tackles in the kicking game.
Born on April 2, 1951 in Melrose, Minnesota was OT Matt Herkenhoff. A fourth-round choice of the Chiefs in the 1974 NFL Draft out of the University of Minnesota, Herkenhoff signed with the World Football League and played there two seasons. He joined the Chiefs in 1976 and played 10 seasons with the team (1976-85), appearing in 125 games with 122 starts, almost all of those at left tackle.
Born on April 2, 1955 in Jackson, Tennessee was DE Sylvester Hicks. A second-round choice of the Chiefs in the 1978 NFL Draft out of Tennessee State, he played four seasons with the team (1978-81), appearing in 43 games with 37 starts at right defensive end.
It’s a fascinating Broncos soap opera we have here. It’s nice entertainment for the off-season. Thanks Broncos. Good show. I wonder if there is a way we can get the Chargers to implode as well. And of course the Raiders are in a constant state of implosion. This is great fun!!!
Yesterday was one of the best April Fools day ever, and what transpired was no Joke.
The Broncos turned them selves into the Joke of the NFL for the way they have handled the Jay Cutler affair.
Mr. Bowlen so far has made himself look like the FOOL in what he has done to his football team. Firing Shanahan and then letting his new Want-To-Be Coach get in a pissing contest with the Best Player/Leader on his team and ultimately going to ship him off with nothing as good or better to replace him with.
Boy what a Day.
In Pioli we trust for
“THE RIGHT 53″
Please just say no to Jay Cutler. He is another distraction we don’t need. Seems like a trade with Detroit along with swapping 1st round picks would be just the right trade. I think we have two good QB who are willing to keep quiet and let the QB competition play out behind closed doors in camp and preseason. I believe given the situation that Tyler Thigpen has done a great job in keeping quiet about Cassel and the starting QB position. Good for him, he’s proving to me to be better then Jay Cutler.
Ship him to New York. They just lost a gunslinger in Favre. I think Cutler has the same type of ability as Favre. The Jets would also get the cry-baby if I’m not winning atitude of Peyton Manning.
Mike and Mike show - Denver wants 2 1st round picks for Cutler and Cutler is quoted as saying he did not want traded and did not know where all this came from. A soap opera worthy of replacing Guiding Light. Gosh are we not lucky not to be involved in this. Of course, Washington is interested, what is new with that?
I can see JC fitting into almost any of the teams listed except for SF. I do not see JC on coach Singletary’s roster. Mike is too “old school” for this little cry baby. Mike would say………….
It is all about the TEAM……….AND………..
THE RIGHT 53 2009
In Paoli I trust
Merwin says:
“Seems like a trade with Detroit along with swapping 1st round picks would be just the right trade.”
No, no, NO!!!
If Denver gets the number 1 pick…it would likely be Curry.
Denver has two big problems, both of which have already been pointed out. One…they lost a lot of bargaining power by making all this trade BS public. And two…what are they going to do for a starting QB?
And Cutler? “I didn’t want to get traded. This wasn’t me.” What the hell? Is he on some kind of drugs or something? Send him to Detroit. Let’s see how he likes playing for the worst team in the league. Just don’t give Denver the #1 pick for him. That would be bad news.
great article Bob. Pioli aldready has my nomination for GM of the offseason.
Great article Bob. You made this OVERRUN story interesting. You’re beating the ESPNers all hollow right now.
You’ve gotta think that Carolina could make a deal for Cutler by trading Peppers and Delhomme. That would actually be a pretty solid trade for the Broncos. Delhomme probably has another year or two left and Peppers is elite.
I could see Denver moving him to Cleveland for Brady Quinn and Shaun Rogers. Rogers and Mangini haven’t been getting along and Rogers is an elite defender that Denver could use. Plus, Quinn is tied to the Pats coaching tree having played for Charlie Weis at Notre Dame.
Then of course there’s the stupidest team in football, the Redskins. What could they move to Denver? Jason Campbell? I like Campbell but he would be just the beginning in a trade this big. Someone else on this site (can’t remember who) said Washington might be willing to move solid young RFA DT Kedric Gholston. Still seems like a draft pick would have to be included as well.
Just my own rambling thoughts. Gotta love dreaming up trade scenarios, especially when they involve the Broncos pissing away their Pro Bowl (although whiny) franchise QB!
Scott says:
If Denver gets the number 1 pick…it would likely be Curry.
Sorry, I should have added, I think Denver would pick one of the two QB’s in the draft, as they don’t seem to have a good QB to take over for JC.
That’s what I would like to see as a rookie QB would set them back as every one learns the new system and how to play it. There by helping us get better quicker. Any thing to give us a leg up in this division.
I don’t like the idea of Peppers going to Denver.
I don’t know that Denver would pick a QB in the draft. I think they want a “proven” player. They just got done “developing” Cutler. Hard to say, though. Either way…I don’t want Denver to pick #1!
Well they are going to get something good for Cutler…..I don’t care what or who it is….as long as they don’t sour our fun and take Curry out of our reach. That could still happen with the Lions but as long as the Broncos don’t get him….I’ll be ok with that.
My strong contender, but probably not #1, is the 3-way deal between the JETS, Browns and Denver. The Jets have a new stadium to fill and a dire need at QB, plus they’ve been down this path last year with the same agent, Bus Cook, in the Favre deal.
Jets give up CB Revis (Mangini covets this guy) and a 2d or 3d round pick to the Browns for Brady Quinn.
Jets send Quinn and their first round pick to Denver for Cutler OR do the J-E-T-S decide to keep Quinn and call it a day?
Sending Cutler out of the AFC would, I think, be the Bronco’s first choice so the above scenario is probably less likely to happen at this stage but not impossible.
Bob, you are way, way, way too hard on Jay Cutler!
The human brain does not fully mature until about 25 years, that’s a fact. Considering that and Cutler’s behavior, I will agree he is behaving immaturely. It appears he’s been coddled much of his life and that lack of experience dealing with adversity is not helping him here.
HOWEVER, have you ever been lied to– right to your face and then “stabbed in the back”?
Supposedly, Bowlen, 1) told Cutler his offensive coaches would stay 2) told Cutler the offense would not change 3) tried to trade Cutler. Now that’s a whole lot of change to Denver’s offense!!! Lies, lies and more lies!
McDaniels appears to be so green, if he weren’t such a con in this whole thing– you’d feel sorry for him. And, McDaniels is a bad con.
For this alone– Pioli GM of the year– I agree completely!
I’ll bet that Minnesota is working hard on some sort of an offer. Really, they stand the most to gain of any of these teams by adding a good QB to their roster.
.
Denver would not have decided to trade Cutler, if they did not already have their next QB identified.
A fair asking price for Cutler is either: two #1s or a #1 and a starting player.
If they trade with Detroit for this year’s #1-1 and next year’s #1. Denver will draft either Stafford or Sanchez with the first pick in the draft.
If Denver trades Cutler for a #1 lower in the first round, Denver will have to have a contingency plan to package picks and move up to get their guy.
If I’m Detroit, I trade my #1-1 for Cutler today! If Detroit does not make that deal in the next week or two, it will say to me, Detroit really likes Stafford (or Sanchez) at #1.
Who are the backups in Denver anyway? At this point they might as well call up Jake the snake and see if he can still play. I am hopeful tho that somehow this will give us some trade partners come draft day. We can only hope more picks is always good. And Merwin great point about Thigpen, I have always liked him and his actions off the field threw last year and now in keeping quiet really show that he just might be a real contender for the starting roll come time to camp.
JB
Scott -
I agree. Minnesota should offer it’s #1 and a big ole’ DT Williams. The Vikings showed with Jared Allen they are not shy to strike a deal.
Another team I wish would get in on the mix is the Chicago Bears. Cutler’s arm in the windy city! Wow! It’d be a surprise though if the Bears even made an offer.
Josh -
Chris Sims just signed this off season with the Broncos. Part of the problem is - Sims is set to make MORE money than Cutler this years for the Broncos.
I think, this is where the problem started. Cutler wanted to be paid (new contract). Bowlen and McDaniels have impetuously or purposely screwed up to run Cutler out of town.
All Cutler wanted was a new contract. (JMO)
Hey…Jeff George just claimed a few days ago that he could still play in this league.
NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!! I hate all you guys real real bad!!!! I’m not a baby!!!! I’M NOT, I’M NOT I’M NOT, I’M NOT!!!!! I’m taking my football and I’m going home!! You’re not my friend anymore!!!!
It’s okay Jay baby. Rest your head on my shoulder and tell Momma Shanny all about it. Bill Williamson is in the kitchen making cookies and milk for you.
Don’t worry, Jay. Someone will call you to come out and play again real soon. They’ll change your diaper, warm up your bottle, and rock you sleep at nappy time…just like Shanny used to do.
Well Mama Shanny,
It all started when I was young and you used to tease me with the breast and then give the bottle. That screwed my head up bad and as a result, anytime I look in the stands and see a girl with nice big boobies, I throw a pick!
Why didn’t you get me some treatment when I was young?
Was there ever any word on what happened with LJ’s hearing yesterday?
Scott,
From Arrowhead Pride:
The case between the Chiefs and running back Larry Johnson was heard Wednesday by a special master, but he made no ruling. Neither side was certain when a ruling would be given.
Also taken off Arrowhead Pride, from Profootballtalk.com:
Article XIV, Section 9 is silent on the question of whether future guaranteed base salaries may be cleared off the books in the event of player misconduct. Unlike past special master cases involving receiver Ashley Lelie and quarterback Mike Vick, the $3.75 million in guaranteed base salaries have not yet been earned.
Thus, the Chiefs might have a good chance at getting the terms of the deal enforced.
my money says he goes to the eagels…
Thanks, ArrowheadHawk.
I wonder how someone gets the title “special master”? Sounds ominous. Ha!
IS the air a little thinner in Denver in the winter ,lack of such makes it harder to think .
Or is it warmer in the summer than it is in the country ?
I think I know who SUPERMAN is, he leaps tall buildings in a single bound !
IT’S CLARK KENT— THE MILD MANNERED OWNER OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS !!!
That’s who saved it all in one big leap !
Here’s a scary thought that actually might come to fruition: The Redskins and Broncos swapping QBs. I don’t know how most people feel about that, but it scares me. I personally believe that Jason Campbell is a much better QB than Cutler.
For one, Jason’s smarter. The Redskins have been going through new offensive systems like Used Car Salesmen since Campbell’s been a QB there. He’s executed them all fairly well. He’s more accurate than Cutler, which is better than having a Jeff George-esque arm in my opinion. All in all it wouldn’t take long for him to learn McDaniel’s offense either.
Another thing that scares me is that (and I know I’m in the minority who says this … meh) what if the Broncos give the keys to Chris Simms? I still think he’s more than capable. The guy played with a bad spleen for crying out loud. So we know he’s tough. We he was given the opportunity to play, he played well for his experience level and age. Gruden was just too impatient with him, which was something he obviously never learned from Mike Holmgrem when he was on his staff in Green Bay.
I bet McDaniels could easily turn Simms into what he had with Cassel/Brady in New England.
The biggest problem with McDaniels, besides that he’s making all the rookie Head Coach mistakes, is that it seems like he’s preparing his team like he was still the Offensive Coordinator. He’s giving Defense an afterthought. This is another huge mistake considering the Broncos had as miserable of a defense as anyone bad last year.
Keep up the great articles Mr. Gretz!
i think larry will get traded to eagles for late 2nd early 3rd on draft day. where he will be closer to family to keep eye on him. as far as cassel is concerned i hope he does well but i dont want him to be making more money thean a lot of other qb’s based off of 1 year with a super offense(thats why there hasn’t been talk of contract extension). i’m curious as to why it took so long to trade cassel. i really believe no team wanted to pay that much money for a 1 year wonder(meaning very few teams had firepower moss and welker to throw to). last and not least i want to thank everyone that posts here. i finally found a place where people care as much about chiefs as i do( minus rin = anonymous
I would be absolutely ecstatic if we could get a late 2nd or early 3rd for LJ. I think he will be outright released. I just don’t see any team giving that high of a pick or any pick for Johnson. Only a team like the Raiders might, but they are solid at running back.
I don’t seem to be hearing as many complaints about how the Chiefs have handled this off season? Perhaps keeping a lid on your business isn’t such a bad thing after all? Anyone still think the organization should hold hourly press conferences to inform the media/public of the dealings of the day?
NO !