Denver Native (Carol)
03-03-2009, 01:56 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11822672
Josh and Jay have reached a standoff similar to the old Kansas law: "When two trains approach each other at a crossing, both shall come to a full stop, and neither shall start up again until the other has gone."
It's silly. Somebody has to make a positive move.
The differences between Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler must not become irreconcilable.
If the coach and the quarterback aren't willing and able to get together and make up, then the owner, who insisted this is his franchise again, has to step into the standstill. Where are you, Pat Bowlen?
These are the issues:
Despite McDaniels' denials, the Broncos did have discussions with Tampa Bay and Detroit about a potential three-way deal that would have brought Matt Cassel from New England to Denver. Multiple NFL sources have confirmed to me that the Broncos were involved in talks as Cassel was being traded to Kansas City.
Cutler is upset the Broncos would consider trading him, and claims he still could be dealt. NFL sources state emphatically that Cutler will not be traded now, as McDaniels has stated publicly.
McDaniels has asked Cutler to come into his office and discuss the matter, and Cutler has said he doesn't care to.
It has to be believed that McDaniels doesn't consider Cutler as valuable to the Broncos as Cassel, who was acquired by Kansas City, and Cutler doesn't trust McDaniels, or consider him as valuable to his career as he did Mike Shanahan and former Broncos offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.
McD and Jay-C are headed for a train wreck.
These are my opinions:
McDaniels shouldn't have even pondered trading Cutler for Cassel. Although Cutler has a 17-20 record as a starter, didn't get the Broncos into the playoffs this past season, can be nerve-racking to everyone with his costly mistakes (the uncalled fumble against the Chargers in the opener, the untimely interceptions in several games), has not become a leader yet on the field and in the clubhouse and has not endeared himself to the media or the community, his upside is much higher than Cassel's.
Cassel was a career backup until last season, then a one-year system quarterback. Cutler was victimized by the worst defense in the league, forcing him to do things he shouldn't have. He's high risk, high reward, as John Elway was. If surrounded by talent and tutored properly, Cutler will be a successful Pro Bowl and postseason quarterback, with big numbers, for a long time.
If McDaniels believed that information about a possible trade wouldn't be leaked out of Tampa and Detroit, he was mistaken and naive. When the trade didn't happen, he should have been truthful. If he chose not to warn Cutler beforehand, his first call after the news escaped should have been to Cutler. The coach ought to have come clean with the quarterback.
Cutler shouldn't have gone into snit mode. Pro football is a business, and this is business as usual. He's a big boy who signed a six-year, $47.86 million contract in 2006. He should suck it up and prove to the new staff that he is capable of being a championship quarterback. He should have agreed to meet with McDaniels and work through their differences.
If Cutler did ask to be traded, he should acknowledge it. If not, he should deny it.
Bowlen should demand that McDaniels, Cutler, general manager Brian Xanders and CEO Joe Ellis meet with him, air out the problems and get the Broncos back on track. The franchise can't plummet into Cowboys-like chaos and confusion. If Bowlen can't unite the factions, then he shouldn't have taken control back from Shanahan, and the new organizational chart already isn't working.
McDaniels should guarantee Cutler that he won't be traded and he is the quarterback, and Cutler should guarantee McDaniels that he will adapt to the changes and get over what has transpired. Or McDaniels must recant his statement to me that he hoped that Cutler was as excited about playing for him as he was about coaching Cutler. And Cutler has to acknowledge he wasn't as eager about the new offense and direction as he indicated. Both had asserted Cutler was "on board" with McDaniels.
If they can't bring themselves and the Broncos together, particularly with all the changes in personnel being made the past several days, then Bowlen must order one or the other to go, as in the Elway-Reeves relationship.
McDaniels can be forgiven his rookie mistake, just as Cutler has been forgiven many of his rookie, sophomore, third-season mistakes, but the coach can't lie and cover up, and the quarterback can't act aggrieved and resentful as the face of the Broncos. They have to accept their responsibilities to each other, the players and the people of Denver.
At this crossing, deadlock must yield to equilibrium.
Josh and Jay have reached a standoff similar to the old Kansas law: "When two trains approach each other at a crossing, both shall come to a full stop, and neither shall start up again until the other has gone."
It's silly. Somebody has to make a positive move.
The differences between Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler must not become irreconcilable.
If the coach and the quarterback aren't willing and able to get together and make up, then the owner, who insisted this is his franchise again, has to step into the standstill. Where are you, Pat Bowlen?
These are the issues:
Despite McDaniels' denials, the Broncos did have discussions with Tampa Bay and Detroit about a potential three-way deal that would have brought Matt Cassel from New England to Denver. Multiple NFL sources have confirmed to me that the Broncos were involved in talks as Cassel was being traded to Kansas City.
Cutler is upset the Broncos would consider trading him, and claims he still could be dealt. NFL sources state emphatically that Cutler will not be traded now, as McDaniels has stated publicly.
McDaniels has asked Cutler to come into his office and discuss the matter, and Cutler has said he doesn't care to.
It has to be believed that McDaniels doesn't consider Cutler as valuable to the Broncos as Cassel, who was acquired by Kansas City, and Cutler doesn't trust McDaniels, or consider him as valuable to his career as he did Mike Shanahan and former Broncos offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.
McD and Jay-C are headed for a train wreck.
These are my opinions:
McDaniels shouldn't have even pondered trading Cutler for Cassel. Although Cutler has a 17-20 record as a starter, didn't get the Broncos into the playoffs this past season, can be nerve-racking to everyone with his costly mistakes (the uncalled fumble against the Chargers in the opener, the untimely interceptions in several games), has not become a leader yet on the field and in the clubhouse and has not endeared himself to the media or the community, his upside is much higher than Cassel's.
Cassel was a career backup until last season, then a one-year system quarterback. Cutler was victimized by the worst defense in the league, forcing him to do things he shouldn't have. He's high risk, high reward, as John Elway was. If surrounded by talent and tutored properly, Cutler will be a successful Pro Bowl and postseason quarterback, with big numbers, for a long time.
If McDaniels believed that information about a possible trade wouldn't be leaked out of Tampa and Detroit, he was mistaken and naive. When the trade didn't happen, he should have been truthful. If he chose not to warn Cutler beforehand, his first call after the news escaped should have been to Cutler. The coach ought to have come clean with the quarterback.
Cutler shouldn't have gone into snit mode. Pro football is a business, and this is business as usual. He's a big boy who signed a six-year, $47.86 million contract in 2006. He should suck it up and prove to the new staff that he is capable of being a championship quarterback. He should have agreed to meet with McDaniels and work through their differences.
If Cutler did ask to be traded, he should acknowledge it. If not, he should deny it.
Bowlen should demand that McDaniels, Cutler, general manager Brian Xanders and CEO Joe Ellis meet with him, air out the problems and get the Broncos back on track. The franchise can't plummet into Cowboys-like chaos and confusion. If Bowlen can't unite the factions, then he shouldn't have taken control back from Shanahan, and the new organizational chart already isn't working.
McDaniels should guarantee Cutler that he won't be traded and he is the quarterback, and Cutler should guarantee McDaniels that he will adapt to the changes and get over what has transpired. Or McDaniels must recant his statement to me that he hoped that Cutler was as excited about playing for him as he was about coaching Cutler. And Cutler has to acknowledge he wasn't as eager about the new offense and direction as he indicated. Both had asserted Cutler was "on board" with McDaniels.
If they can't bring themselves and the Broncos together, particularly with all the changes in personnel being made the past several days, then Bowlen must order one or the other to go, as in the Elway-Reeves relationship.
McDaniels can be forgiven his rookie mistake, just as Cutler has been forgiven many of his rookie, sophomore, third-season mistakes, but the coach can't lie and cover up, and the quarterback can't act aggrieved and resentful as the face of the Broncos. They have to accept their responsibilities to each other, the players and the people of Denver.
At this crossing, deadlock must yield to equilibrium.