Denver Native (Carol)
03-25-2009, 06:24 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11995243
DANA POINT, CALIF. — Broncos coach Josh McDaniels sat down with Denver Post pro football reporters Mike Klis and Lindsay H. Jones at the NFL's owners meetings in California and spoke at length about his transition to coaching in Denver.
Here are highlights of that conversation, including his dealings with Jay Cutler, a look at the Broncos defensive and offensive schemes next season and how Denver fits in a much-changed AFC West:
How have your dealings with Jay Cutler been so far?
"I think the best thing for us in terms of conversation and reporting about that is to do that privately. Which I think is important to help resolve the situation. He's our quarterback. We're looking forward to getting him back. We're committed to him and I'll continue to do what we can do to try to affect our relationship positively from this point forward."
Have you and Cutler talked lately?
"In the last few days. I've always been optimistic. He's on our team. He's under contract. And I understand there's things we have to work towards fixing in our relationship. But I'm optimistic about those things. He's our quarterback and we'll always do what's in the best interest of our football team. But we are committed to him and I'm looking forward to him coming back. And as long as that's case and we're both committed to each other then he absolutely will be our quarterback in the long term."
Have teams inquired about a Cutler trade?
"Nobody's contacted me. Nobody's called me. Nobody's text messaged me, nobody's e-mailed me and nothing's going to happen on our football team. ... People have left messages, I can say that."
Can you review the Cassel deal?
"I think the biggest thing is, there were conversations that took place right around free agency opening, the first day. Those conversations never really got too far. The player that was being discussed was traded to another team. We were busy trying to do a lot of things to improve our football team at that time. And then obviously things started to get out and people started to say things, this and that. I think the big thing is we have to communicate going forward to try and get to a resolution."
How does Matt Cassel improve your team?
"You try to take into consideration whatever somebody's trying to offer up. If the quality of the trade you feel in the long-run would improve your team then you listen to it and you analyze whether or not it's the best decision you can make. If you listen to somebody and the trade is ridiculous — a seventh-round draft pick for Ryan Clady — it's silly. You hang the phone up and you move on. But I think every situation is different, every situation is unique. And it's been made very clear to me that my job and everybody's job in this room as a head coach is to listen to a number of scenarios that come up that may have an impact on your team in a positive direction."
So conversations about Cassel happened because they weren't silly scenarios?
"That's why we had them. They were not silly. The conversations that we had concerning the possibility of a trade, they weren't silly requests. They were scenarios that should be considered. And then after that, everything took off so fast that once this became a story that it was almost hard to stop and say wait a minute here, that's not true, this isn't true.
We need to talk in the same room. One thing I want to do and continually want to do is meet with the player. I want to meet with the player by myself. I want to meet with the player one-on-one. I think that's the best way to fix any kind of issue. And if there's anything I would change it would be the amount of time I've had to do that, thus far."
Ego needs to be massaged?
"I don't think that's an issue. He's a very good player so I hope he doesn't need to have his ego massaged. We're excited about this season, we're excited about what we're doing and he's a part of that."
Will you meet Cutler without an agent?
"I hope to. I hope so. We haven't had an opportunity to meet again in person since the last time we met. I'm hoping that would take place sooner rather than later."
Has Bus Cook's presence in meetings been a problem?
"It's not an issue for an agent. That's all I say. We're not talking about a contract. That's why I want to speak with the player."
Is Cutler now untouchable for a trade?
"I think I would be contradicting myself if I said that. Like I said, he's our quarterback. We're committed to him and we will always do what's in the best interest of our team. That's why we're talking about this right now because there was a scenario that was presented that was considered. I'm not going to fall back from that."
Are you surprised how everything blew up?
"Not surprised. It's the National Football League and we've got an enormous fan base and enormous popularity in this country and I know everything that we do and everything these other teams do on a daily basis is very important to the people who follow the game. It's all important to you and you're doing your job."
Is this all about hurt feelings?
"That may be but I don't want to speak for him in terms of his stance on the issue. He knows he's a good player. That's never been in question. He knows he can learn our offense. I know that. He knows it. I know he'll do well in it. And I think his teammates know that he's going to excel in it also. I don't think this is about him wondering if I think he's any good. Because I do. I think he's a good player. We met three or four times before this happened and I know he's going to do well in it."
In the end, the trade proposal died. Why?
"I think there are a number of reasons why those things never materialized. There were different teams, different scenarios. You're talking about a three-way trade that rarely happens. I can't speak for New England, I can't speak for Kansas City in terms of how far along they were. But obviously they had dialogue and it was productive for them."
Looking back, would you do anything differently?
"Just get an open line of communication with the player more often than we've been able to do that since this happened. That's what I'm trying to do every day now. Is try to communicate effectively with him in the same room, face to face and talk through the issue and try to improve the relationship on a daily basis."
New England appeared to get hosed in the deal compared to what you offered.
"We didn't even get to that point. I think they were a lot further along. I think they were ready to do the thing before we got involved. So I'm not sure where that stood. You'd have to ask New England and Kansas City as far as timeline."
In the future, will you be more careful with what you say?
"I don't think I would coach him any differently. First of all, he's the quarterback. The quarterback's always coached a little differently. But he'll be pushed along with the rest of them. And I have an affinity of that position in general."
Why do you keep calling him, "the player" over and over?
"He's our quarterback. And I'm not calling him just the player. I'll call him Jay Cutler if you want me to."
Do you understand that can bother somebody?
"I don't think that's the issue. If that's the issue than obviously we have a long way to go."
You turned Matt Cassel into a good QB. What can you do for a Pro Bowl quarterback?
"That's a good question, I don't know where we can go. I know this, the one thing that matters most to me as a coach is our team wins. We've got a lot of improving to do. And I'm not talking about at one position. We've got a lot of improving at a lot of positions. We were in the top 3 in scoring after the first three weeks of the season last year, and then we were 24th in scoring the rest of the year. We turned the ball over 30 times last year. That needs to improve."
How has Pat Bowlen fit in this process?
"We didn't really have any discussions about specific players during the interview process but Pat made it very clear to me that his singular goal was to win and it would be my job if I was hired to do anything I could to help our team improve.
"And he's been extremely supportive of myself and Brian throughout this whole process. He comes down to my office every day and asks me if there's anything he can do to help us win today. I don't know if I could ask for anything more from an owner."
Has he expressed concern about this?
"I don't think he's thrilled about the situation going around every day. But I think he understands we're trying to work to a resolution and you can't always get to those resolutions as fast as you may want to."
"You do this job and not every day is roses. You go through the highs and lows throughout the course of the season. You go through highs and lows throughout the course of an off-season. This is part of my job. I've had an opportunity to witness what I feel like is the finest football coach in the National Football League the last eight years deal with things of this nature. I was around when we traded Drew Bledsoe. I was around when we released Lawyer Milloy. I saw how Bill handled that and handled the team and never lost focus on what we were trying to do every day which was improve."
Has this all been a distraction to your job?
"It's added time to your day. But I think our coaching staff and our players have done an incredible job at not allowing it to be a distraction to them."
What parts of the "Patriot way" have you brought to Denver?
"I mean, that's what I know. I know this: the way that Bill and Robert Kraft and that organization have done things, it's been very productive for them. And that's what I've been a part of for eight seasons. I've been privileged to be a part of that. I'm not sure I would want to do something a whole lot different than the way they do things because they've had great success doing it, and that's why we're all here, to try to win. Most of what I do, most of my philosophies are going to come from that tree, and I don't regret that at all because it's been very productive for us."
What do you think of the turnover in AFC West?
"I don't think it's a good thing. It's a pain in the butt to get ready for them in the off-season. You've got teams like K.C. that obviously are going to run a different offense, a different defense. Oakland, I don't know if they're going to run a different offense and defense, but it's going to be a little different. So your preparation in the spring is a little difficult because you can't just turn on the tape from last season and go "OK, that's what we have to beat next year" because its going to change. San Diego should be the one constant there, but as you're getting ready for your division opponents in the off-season, which you normally always do, this makes it a little more challenged because you've had too much turnover."
The Chargers' A.J. Smith said he's scared of a New England infusion into the division.
"I don't know why. They kicked our butt last year. It was one of the most ... one of the worst nights of the season last year when we went to San Diego. So I don't know what he's scared of. I'm probably more scared of him."
What are your thoughts on Brandon Marshall?
"Obviously it's a concern. But we don't know any more information now from the league and where that's headed. But Brandon's been doing everything he can do right now to try to get himself better. If that happens, then it would be something to be concerned about and take into consideration. Right now we're just trying to work hard with him and help him be a better player. We had a good conversation about what happened, and I'm sure in due time the league will address that. Charges were dropped, and we'll see where it goes if there is anything more to it.
DANA POINT, CALIF. — Broncos coach Josh McDaniels sat down with Denver Post pro football reporters Mike Klis and Lindsay H. Jones at the NFL's owners meetings in California and spoke at length about his transition to coaching in Denver.
Here are highlights of that conversation, including his dealings with Jay Cutler, a look at the Broncos defensive and offensive schemes next season and how Denver fits in a much-changed AFC West:
How have your dealings with Jay Cutler been so far?
"I think the best thing for us in terms of conversation and reporting about that is to do that privately. Which I think is important to help resolve the situation. He's our quarterback. We're looking forward to getting him back. We're committed to him and I'll continue to do what we can do to try to affect our relationship positively from this point forward."
Have you and Cutler talked lately?
"In the last few days. I've always been optimistic. He's on our team. He's under contract. And I understand there's things we have to work towards fixing in our relationship. But I'm optimistic about those things. He's our quarterback and we'll always do what's in the best interest of our football team. But we are committed to him and I'm looking forward to him coming back. And as long as that's case and we're both committed to each other then he absolutely will be our quarterback in the long term."
Have teams inquired about a Cutler trade?
"Nobody's contacted me. Nobody's called me. Nobody's text messaged me, nobody's e-mailed me and nothing's going to happen on our football team. ... People have left messages, I can say that."
Can you review the Cassel deal?
"I think the biggest thing is, there were conversations that took place right around free agency opening, the first day. Those conversations never really got too far. The player that was being discussed was traded to another team. We were busy trying to do a lot of things to improve our football team at that time. And then obviously things started to get out and people started to say things, this and that. I think the big thing is we have to communicate going forward to try and get to a resolution."
How does Matt Cassel improve your team?
"You try to take into consideration whatever somebody's trying to offer up. If the quality of the trade you feel in the long-run would improve your team then you listen to it and you analyze whether or not it's the best decision you can make. If you listen to somebody and the trade is ridiculous — a seventh-round draft pick for Ryan Clady — it's silly. You hang the phone up and you move on. But I think every situation is different, every situation is unique. And it's been made very clear to me that my job and everybody's job in this room as a head coach is to listen to a number of scenarios that come up that may have an impact on your team in a positive direction."
So conversations about Cassel happened because they weren't silly scenarios?
"That's why we had them. They were not silly. The conversations that we had concerning the possibility of a trade, they weren't silly requests. They were scenarios that should be considered. And then after that, everything took off so fast that once this became a story that it was almost hard to stop and say wait a minute here, that's not true, this isn't true.
We need to talk in the same room. One thing I want to do and continually want to do is meet with the player. I want to meet with the player by myself. I want to meet with the player one-on-one. I think that's the best way to fix any kind of issue. And if there's anything I would change it would be the amount of time I've had to do that, thus far."
Ego needs to be massaged?
"I don't think that's an issue. He's a very good player so I hope he doesn't need to have his ego massaged. We're excited about this season, we're excited about what we're doing and he's a part of that."
Will you meet Cutler without an agent?
"I hope to. I hope so. We haven't had an opportunity to meet again in person since the last time we met. I'm hoping that would take place sooner rather than later."
Has Bus Cook's presence in meetings been a problem?
"It's not an issue for an agent. That's all I say. We're not talking about a contract. That's why I want to speak with the player."
Is Cutler now untouchable for a trade?
"I think I would be contradicting myself if I said that. Like I said, he's our quarterback. We're committed to him and we will always do what's in the best interest of our team. That's why we're talking about this right now because there was a scenario that was presented that was considered. I'm not going to fall back from that."
Are you surprised how everything blew up?
"Not surprised. It's the National Football League and we've got an enormous fan base and enormous popularity in this country and I know everything that we do and everything these other teams do on a daily basis is very important to the people who follow the game. It's all important to you and you're doing your job."
Is this all about hurt feelings?
"That may be but I don't want to speak for him in terms of his stance on the issue. He knows he's a good player. That's never been in question. He knows he can learn our offense. I know that. He knows it. I know he'll do well in it. And I think his teammates know that he's going to excel in it also. I don't think this is about him wondering if I think he's any good. Because I do. I think he's a good player. We met three or four times before this happened and I know he's going to do well in it."
In the end, the trade proposal died. Why?
"I think there are a number of reasons why those things never materialized. There were different teams, different scenarios. You're talking about a three-way trade that rarely happens. I can't speak for New England, I can't speak for Kansas City in terms of how far along they were. But obviously they had dialogue and it was productive for them."
Looking back, would you do anything differently?
"Just get an open line of communication with the player more often than we've been able to do that since this happened. That's what I'm trying to do every day now. Is try to communicate effectively with him in the same room, face to face and talk through the issue and try to improve the relationship on a daily basis."
New England appeared to get hosed in the deal compared to what you offered.
"We didn't even get to that point. I think they were a lot further along. I think they were ready to do the thing before we got involved. So I'm not sure where that stood. You'd have to ask New England and Kansas City as far as timeline."
In the future, will you be more careful with what you say?
"I don't think I would coach him any differently. First of all, he's the quarterback. The quarterback's always coached a little differently. But he'll be pushed along with the rest of them. And I have an affinity of that position in general."
Why do you keep calling him, "the player" over and over?
"He's our quarterback. And I'm not calling him just the player. I'll call him Jay Cutler if you want me to."
Do you understand that can bother somebody?
"I don't think that's the issue. If that's the issue than obviously we have a long way to go."
You turned Matt Cassel into a good QB. What can you do for a Pro Bowl quarterback?
"That's a good question, I don't know where we can go. I know this, the one thing that matters most to me as a coach is our team wins. We've got a lot of improving to do. And I'm not talking about at one position. We've got a lot of improving at a lot of positions. We were in the top 3 in scoring after the first three weeks of the season last year, and then we were 24th in scoring the rest of the year. We turned the ball over 30 times last year. That needs to improve."
How has Pat Bowlen fit in this process?
"We didn't really have any discussions about specific players during the interview process but Pat made it very clear to me that his singular goal was to win and it would be my job if I was hired to do anything I could to help our team improve.
"And he's been extremely supportive of myself and Brian throughout this whole process. He comes down to my office every day and asks me if there's anything he can do to help us win today. I don't know if I could ask for anything more from an owner."
Has he expressed concern about this?
"I don't think he's thrilled about the situation going around every day. But I think he understands we're trying to work to a resolution and you can't always get to those resolutions as fast as you may want to."
"You do this job and not every day is roses. You go through the highs and lows throughout the course of the season. You go through highs and lows throughout the course of an off-season. This is part of my job. I've had an opportunity to witness what I feel like is the finest football coach in the National Football League the last eight years deal with things of this nature. I was around when we traded Drew Bledsoe. I was around when we released Lawyer Milloy. I saw how Bill handled that and handled the team and never lost focus on what we were trying to do every day which was improve."
Has this all been a distraction to your job?
"It's added time to your day. But I think our coaching staff and our players have done an incredible job at not allowing it to be a distraction to them."
What parts of the "Patriot way" have you brought to Denver?
"I mean, that's what I know. I know this: the way that Bill and Robert Kraft and that organization have done things, it's been very productive for them. And that's what I've been a part of for eight seasons. I've been privileged to be a part of that. I'm not sure I would want to do something a whole lot different than the way they do things because they've had great success doing it, and that's why we're all here, to try to win. Most of what I do, most of my philosophies are going to come from that tree, and I don't regret that at all because it's been very productive for us."
What do you think of the turnover in AFC West?
"I don't think it's a good thing. It's a pain in the butt to get ready for them in the off-season. You've got teams like K.C. that obviously are going to run a different offense, a different defense. Oakland, I don't know if they're going to run a different offense and defense, but it's going to be a little different. So your preparation in the spring is a little difficult because you can't just turn on the tape from last season and go "OK, that's what we have to beat next year" because its going to change. San Diego should be the one constant there, but as you're getting ready for your division opponents in the off-season, which you normally always do, this makes it a little more challenged because you've had too much turnover."
The Chargers' A.J. Smith said he's scared of a New England infusion into the division.
"I don't know why. They kicked our butt last year. It was one of the most ... one of the worst nights of the season last year when we went to San Diego. So I don't know what he's scared of. I'm probably more scared of him."
What are your thoughts on Brandon Marshall?
"Obviously it's a concern. But we don't know any more information now from the league and where that's headed. But Brandon's been doing everything he can do right now to try to get himself better. If that happens, then it would be something to be concerned about and take into consideration. Right now we're just trying to work hard with him and help him be a better player. We had a good conversation about what happened, and I'm sure in due time the league will address that. Charges were dropped, and we'll see where it goes if there is anything more to it.