Chiefs Cutler scrambling out of Denver on one-way trip

**Dave Lane** · 03-25-2009, 08:42 AM

Ouch its getting ugly folks....

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

When Jay Cutler sat down to plot the fastest route out of Denver, he didn’t consult a map. His agent took care of that by ripping into Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and probably guaranteed his client a one-way trip.

“I would like to keep him here, obviously,” Bowlen told NFL.com. “But if you are going to be an unhappy camper, there is no real reason to be here.”

That almost certainly will turn out to be the closing line of the next-to-last chapter in a lose-lose saga. The Broncos and Cutler both will be worse off parting company. It isn’t official, of course, until a deal gets done. But calling out the boss is the best way to get it done in a hurry.

Star quarterbacks such as Cutler might get away with insulting the coach, especially when that coach is a 32-year-old rookie and the most impressive line on his resume is the name of the guy who offered to write a letter of recommendation. In Josh McDaniels’ case, his reference was none other than multiple Super Bowl-winning Patriots coach Bill Belichick. That explains plenty. It’s also plenty good enough for Bowlen.

Belichick is so cold-blooded about personnel decisions he’d likely trade his own kids if a better offer came along. Before taking the job in Denver, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator in New England, so he learned most of what he knows about the business at the feet of the master.

Good start. Still, McDaniels will need every bit of it to survive, let alone clean up a mess largely of his own making.

The story of how the Broncos went from having a loose-lipped, very talented, occasionally controversial quarterback to a full-blown quarterback controversy in the span of a few weeks involves so many twists, turns, backbiting and mixed messages there isn’t room to recap them here.

It began with Belichick’s assessment that Tom Brady would be healthy enough to reclaim the starting job in New England, followed by his decision to let Matt Cassel, Brady’s very capable backup, go in a trade. There are competing versions about everything that’s happened since.

Normally, a franchise with a 25-year-old quarterback who’s been to the Pro Bowl already, thrown for more yards than John Elway in a single season and has three years left on his deal doesn’t take the call. Coming from Belichick, though, McDaniels couldn’t resist.

He spent last season grooming Cassel, who also happens to be a perfect fit for the offense he planned to install. So either McDaniels listened, intrigued, and forgot about it, or else he picked up the phone and called Tampa Bay to set up a three-team deal that would make it happen. Either way, the one call McDaniels didn’t make—to Cutler, to smooth some ruffled feathers—could still backfire and someday wind up costing him his job.

Cutler didn’t find out he was on the auction block until Cassel was already a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He reacted the way you’d expect someone with an ego as sprawling as a mountain range might. He pouted. He didn’t show up for voluntary training camp. He called out the coach.

When none of that brought the desired effect, Cutler sicced his agent on the Broncos’ organization. His name is James “Bus” Cook and his client roster includes Brett Favre, so he knows a thing or two about getting under people’s skins.

The market for Cutler is undeniable. Reports in no less than a dozen towns have the incumbent glancing nervously over his shoulder or fans forming mobs to demand that Cutler be traded to their town. Cook knows that. And just to make sure the Broncos are paying attention, he pulled the scab off an old wound.

The agent told NFL.com that Cutler’s dissatisfaction with Broncos actually began when Bowlen promised his client that the offensive staff and scheme would remain intact in the wake of Mike Shanahan’s firing. Both assurances went out the window with McDaniel’s hiring.

Bowlen said he couldn’t even remember such a meeting. That sounded believable, since he apparently missed the power struggle between his arrogant young coach and his even more-arrogant QB.

“I don’t think I had that discussion. I don’t recall it,” Bowlen told the Web site. “I know I’m getting up there in age, and I am not sure of that discussion.”

Someone needs to remind Bowlen that last season, with Cutler in charge, Denver had the league’s second-highest rated offense. If McDaniels is as smart as he thinks he is, he should have no problem matching it. If Cutler is as smart as he thinks he is, he should have no problem matching it in some other town.

If Bowlen were as smart as he thinks he is, he could have saved himself a whole of time, money and aggravation by stepping in long before this spiraled needlessly out of control.

03-25-2009, 08:42 AM	Topic Starter
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	Cutler scrambling out of Denver on one-way trip Ouch its getting ugly folks.... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns When Jay Cutler sat down to plot the fastest route out of Denver, he didn’t consult a map. His agent took care of that by ripping into Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and probably guaranteed his client a one-way trip. “I would like to keep him here, obviously,” Bowlen told NFL.com. “But if you are going to be an unhappy camper, there is no real reason to be here.” That almost certainly will turn out to be the closing line of the next-to-last chapter in a lose-lose saga. The Broncos and Cutler both will be worse off parting company. It isn’t official, of course, until a deal gets done. But calling out the boss is the best way to get it done in a hurry. Star quarterbacks such as Cutler might get away with insulting the coach, especially when that coach is a 32-year-old rookie and the most impressive line on his resume is the name of the guy who offered to write a letter of recommendation. In Josh McDaniels’ case, his reference was none other than multiple Super Bowl-winning Patriots coach Bill Belichick. That explains plenty. It’s also plenty good enough for Bowlen. Belichick is so cold-blooded about personnel decisions he’d likely trade his own kids if a better offer came along. Before taking the job in Denver, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator in New England, so he learned most of what he knows about the business at the feet of the master. Good start. Still, McDaniels will need every bit of it to survive, let alone clean up a mess largely of his own making. The story of how the Broncos went from having a loose-lipped, very talented, occasionally controversial quarterback to a full-blown quarterback controversy in the span of a few weeks involves so many twists, turns, backbiting and mixed messages there isn’t room to recap them here. It began with Belichick’s assessment that Tom Brady would be healthy enough to reclaim the starting job in New England, followed by his decision to let Matt Cassel, Brady’s very capable backup, go in a trade. There are competing versions about everything that’s happened since. Normally, a franchise with a 25-year-old quarterback who’s been to the Pro Bowl already, thrown for more yards than John Elway in a single season and has three years left on his deal doesn’t take the call. Coming from Belichick, though, McDaniels couldn’t resist. He spent last season grooming Cassel, who also happens to be a perfect fit for the offense he planned to install. So either McDaniels listened, intrigued, and forgot about it, or else he picked up the phone and called Tampa Bay to set up a three-team deal that would make it happen. Either way, the one call McDaniels didn’t make—to Cutler, to smooth some ruffled feathers—could still backfire and someday wind up costing him his job. Cutler didn’t find out he was on the auction block until Cassel was already a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He reacted the way you’d expect someone with an ego as sprawling as a mountain range might. He pouted. He didn’t show up for voluntary training camp. He called out the coach. When none of that brought the desired effect, Cutler sicced his agent on the Broncos’ organization. His name is James “Bus” Cook and his client roster includes Brett Favre, so he knows a thing or two about getting under people’s skins. The market for Cutler is undeniable. Reports in no less than a dozen towns have the incumbent glancing nervously over his shoulder or fans forming mobs to demand that Cutler be traded to their town. Cook knows that. And just to make sure the Broncos are paying attention, he pulled the scab off an old wound. The agent told NFL.com that Cutler’s dissatisfaction with Broncos actually began when Bowlen promised his client that the offensive staff and scheme would remain intact in the wake of Mike Shanahan’s firing. Both assurances went out the window with McDaniel’s hiring. Bowlen said he couldn’t even remember such a meeting. That sounded believable, since he apparently missed the power struggle between his arrogant young coach and his even more-arrogant QB. “I don’t think I had that discussion. I don’t recall it,” Bowlen told the Web site. “I know I’m getting up there in age, and I am not sure of that discussion.” Someone needs to remind Bowlen that last season, with Cutler in charge, Denver had the league’s second-highest rated offense. If McDaniels is as smart as he thinks he is, he should have no problem matching it. If Cutler is as smart as he thinks he is, he should have no problem matching it in some other town. If Bowlen were as smart as he thinks he is, he could have saved himself a whole of time, money and aggravation by stepping in long before this spiraled needlessly out of control.
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