For the first time in NFL history; a rookie coach, who inherited a pro-bowl, potential franchise quarterback just entering his prime, decides to trade said quarterback.
The immature fiasco that is the Denver Broncos finally decide to give in to the demands of quarterback Jay Cutler and trade him to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton and two first-round (and one third round) draft picks. So the burning question is: who is under more pressure to succeed in this upcoming NFL season?
The answer is simple. Josh McDaniels has just thrown himself into the proverbial pressure cooker. A 32 year old, rookie head coach would generally have somewhat of a “honeymoon period” to build his team, compete, and develop his own style. However, any grace goes thoroughly out the window when his first major move as head coach is to trade his pro-bowl quarterback. When you mismanage a situation such as the Cutler ordeal, you had better be right. He has to produce. If Orton has an off year it is absolutely McDaniels’ head on the chopping block because he had every opportunity to resolve this situation before it came to trading Jay Cutler.
As for Cutler, he can chalk up any potential shortcomings to “learning the playbook” or “assimilating into a new offensive system.” Despite Chicago’s high hopes of deep playoff contention or possible Super Bowl (this is the first potential franchise quarterback since Jim McMahon after all), I think they will be more than willing to give him a season to get acclimated. Besides, it’s not like Cutler is coming into an explosive offense. He is now the pro-bowl quarterback who has to throw to third string receivers at best. Sorry Jay, but your cannon arm doesn’t mean much when you’re handing off 30 plays a game.
So basically, Cutler, regardless of the fact that he went to Chicago on his trike with his blankey firmly in tow, is sitting on not only a grace period, but a potentially fat contract at the conclusion of the upcoming season; while Josh McDaniels is officially coaching for his job.
Congratulations Baby Jay: you win. You found someone to stroke your ego, while at the same time thoroughly screwing your previous Denver teammates.
The immature fiasco that is the Denver Broncos finally decide to give in to the demands of quarterback Jay Cutler and trade him to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton and two first-round (and one third round) draft picks. So the burning question is: who is under more pressure to succeed in this upcoming NFL season?
The answer is simple. Josh McDaniels has just thrown himself into the proverbial pressure cooker. A 32 year old, rookie head coach would generally have somewhat of a “honeymoon period” to build his team, compete, and develop his own style. However, any grace goes thoroughly out the window when his first major move as head coach is to trade his pro-bowl quarterback. When you mismanage a situation such as the Cutler ordeal, you had better be right. He has to produce. If Orton has an off year it is absolutely McDaniels’ head on the chopping block because he had every opportunity to resolve this situation before it came to trading Jay Cutler.
As for Cutler, he can chalk up any potential shortcomings to “learning the playbook” or “assimilating into a new offensive system.” Despite Chicago’s high hopes of deep playoff contention or possible Super Bowl (this is the first potential franchise quarterback since Jim McMahon after all), I think they will be more than willing to give him a season to get acclimated. Besides, it’s not like Cutler is coming into an explosive offense. He is now the pro-bowl quarterback who has to throw to third string receivers at best. Sorry Jay, but your cannon arm doesn’t mean much when you’re handing off 30 plays a game.
So basically, Cutler, regardless of the fact that he went to Chicago on his trike with his blankey firmly in tow, is sitting on not only a grace period, but a potentially fat contract at the conclusion of the upcoming season; while Josh McDaniels is officially coaching for his job.
Congratulations Baby Jay: you win. You found someone to stroke your ego, while at the same time thoroughly screwing your previous Denver teammates.
I did not follow the Culter story in the news . Why did the coach trade him ? Was there some sort of friction?
ReplyDeleteWas there friction? Yes. Did there have to be? Absolutely not. Rookie head coach, Josh McDaniels, could have been open with Cutler about the possible trade; and Cutler could have sucked it up and realized that the NFL is a business. Instead, Cutler decided to take it personally and throw a temper tantrum. Players (no matter how good they may be) get traded...it happens: get over it.
ReplyDeleteFor a nice and concise summary of the Drama in Denver, read the following passage from Cutler's online bio:
"After the 2008 season, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan was fired and replaced by Josh McDaniels, previously the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. On February 28, ESPN reported that the Broncos considered trading Cutler in a three-way trade with the New England Patriots and either the Detroit Lions or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal would have sent Cutler to Detroit or Tampa Bay while New England's quarterback Matt Cassel would join the Broncos and be reunited with his former coach, McDaniels. The Broncos said that they did not initiate the trade talks, but instead listened to offers. Cutler was reportedly upset about the trade possibility.[55][56] This prompted McDaniels to make a statement that Cutler would definitely not be traded by the Broncos. [57] Cutler believed McDaniels misled him about the trade talks and said he believed he would be traded before April's NFL Draft.[citation needed] On March 15, he listed his Colorado home for sale.[58]; later that day Cutler confirmed that he has officially asked the Broncos to trade him.[59] On March 31, 2009, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen announced that the team would accommodate his request and attempt to trade Cutler.[60][61]
On April 2, Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears along with a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. In return, the Broncos received quarterback Kyle Orton, the Bears' first and third-round selections in 2009, and the Bears' first-round pick in 2010.[62]"