Is Jay Cutler on his way out?

I think the phones are buzzing secretly but no team really has what it takes to complete a deal.

Detroit has the best picks, but signing the #1 overall pick is not something we are trying to do. And Stafford is essentially starting over, which McDaniels cannot afford to do unless he and X really believe that Stafford is going to show something that will make signing him worth it... so no. At least not for the #1 overall selection. Maybe #20, and some other picks, including a future 1st.

The Bucs and the Jets both don't have a QB to give us in return. Their picks are both below ours. Dealing without a third team probably means we get ripped off. Or end up with a bunch of picks, which is not what McDaniels really wants.

Cleveland is the snag in this IMO. The biggest snag is that if the Jets want Cutler, they need to workout a deal with Eric Mangini. Oh, the irony. They were spotted making good at the owners meetings so you never know. Mangini and crew would have to look on tape and decide if they really want Quinn in the fold. I'm assuming not.

In my opinion, the Lions will sign Stafford before the draft thus making Tampa and New York the most likely spots to trade Cutler. Neither team has upgraded at the QB spot and Jay's on the market. The only snag once again.. is Mangini. Does he want to trade Quinn? Is he willing to give the Jets a bailout? Time will tell.

March Broncos Mock Draft

So this mock is just for fun. I'm going to try to mock the Patriot way in the mind of Josh McDaniels... for what that's worth to you. I'll use our signings as inspiration for which holes I'll try to plug. For the sake of convenience I'll ignore the Cutler/Hillis/Torian/Scheffler trade talks.


1. BJ Raji, NT Boston College.
I believe that from what we are learning a full blown 3-4 conversion won't happen quite yet. We simply don't have the personnel for it. Thus, we must use our highest picks on rookies that can come in and contribute in a rotating scheme. This immediately counts out any of the "lightweight" college DE's at the 12 spot, as we can get those players later and cheaper. Ronnie Fields is not exactly a starter and the DT spot is not filled out completely. Raji will be able to rotate in and out and be the full time NT down the road.


2. Clint Sintim, DE UVA.
I don't see the Broncos taking a real 3-4 DE first day even if Tyson Jackson falls because we have guys that can fulfill those duties in Kenny Peterson, Carlton Powell, and Marcus Thomas. A real rush-backer is needed to get in the mix with Dumervil and Moss incase they can't translate to falling back in coverage.


3. Juaquin Iglesias WR, OU
Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney may be our starting wide receivers for almost half the season. Yeah... that scares no one. Eddie will play the slot role when Marshall returns and there are concerns about Stokely's concussion history. If he gets another, is he done? I also see an offensive guy like Josh grabbing a WR high simply because he wants to. You know he loved Moss/Stallworth/Welker/Gaffney and will look to have that kind of lineup here.


4. Domonique Johnson CB, Jackson State
The Patriots have always had that knock for finding serviceable corners late in the draft. That said, an aging Champ Bailey may retire with another team's jersey on. The Patriot way is to "get by" as far as corners go. Nature of the business.


5. Worrell Williams, LB Cal
Larsen and DJ should be the starting ILBs. Depth is needed. He will be like another Darrell Reid ST/plug in LB.


5. AQ Shipley C, PSU
Weigmann can't play forever.


6. Zach Potter DE, Nebraska
Could be camp fodder, could be cheap depth. Could take Tim Crowder's roster spot.


7. Pierre Banks, SS App. State
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTzdu1gByB8
'nuff said.


7. Chase Daniel, QB Missouri
Why not?

New Mock Draft! March 22

One month until the draft, and things are beginning to shake out a little more:



1. Detroit - Jason Smith OT, Baylor

2. St. Louis - Eugene Monroe OT, Virgina

3. Kansas City - Michael Crabtree WR, Texas Tech

4. Seattle - Aaron Curry LB, Wake Forest

5. Cleveland - Beanie Wells RB, Ohio State

6. Cincinnati - Jeremy Maclin WR, Missouri

7. Oakland - Andre Smith OT, Alabama

8. Jacksonville - Knowshon Moreno RB, Georgia

9. Green Bay - BJ Raji DT, Boston College

10. San Francisco - Matthew Stafford QB, Georgia

11. Buffalo - Brandon Pettigrew TE, Oklahoma State

12. Denver - Brian Orakpo DE, Texas

13. Washington - Rey Maualuga LB, USC

14. New Orleans - Everette Brown LB/DE, Florida State

15. Houston - Malcolm Jenkins, DB Ohio State

16. San Diego - Tyson Jackson DE, LSU

17. NY Jets - Mark Sanchez QB, USC

18. Chicago - Darrius Heyward-Bey WR, Maryland

19. Tampa Bay - Peria Jerry DT, Ole Miss

20. Detroit (Dallas) - Michael Oher OT, Ole Miss

21. Philadelphia - Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

22. Minnesota - Alex Mack C/OG, Cal

23. New England - Aaron Maybin LB/DE, Penn State

24. Atlanta - Vontae Davis CB, Illinois

25. Miami - Jarius Byrd, CB Oregon

26. Baltimore - Clay Matthews LB, USC

27. Indianapolis - Hakeem Nicks WR, UNC

28. Philadelphia (Carolina) - Eben Britton OT, Arizona

29. NY Giants - Larry English LB/DE, Northern Illinois

30. Tennessee - Percy Harvin WR, Florida

31. Arizona - LeSean McCoy RB, Pitt

32. Pittsburgh - Max Unger OL, Oregon


Just Missed:
Larry English OLB, NIU
James Laurinaitis LB, Ohio State
Ron Brace DT, Boston College
Alphonso SMith, CB Wake Forest

Scott Hastings Calls Jay Cutler a Little B****

Wow. Just. Wow.

The full audio of Hastings comments on Jay Cutler. Denver Nuggets TV analyst Scott Hastings stops by the Dan Patrick radio show to talk about the Jay Cutler controversy, calling Cutler a "little b****."

Jay Cutler or Kurt Warner?

Breakdown:

In my opinion, there are a lot of Kurt Warner's in the league but Kurt has what many consider to be a hall of fame resume'. He's never had the best arm, or even a great turnover ratio for that matter. However he has proven time and time again that he is a very clutch player who gives you every chance to win in the 4th, no matter how many times he turned it over in the first 3 quarters. You can say what you want about the teams he inherited, but many average to above average quarterbacks have inherited great teams and only Kurt Warner has the kind of resume' he has. He along with our own Craig Morton are the only two players to lead two teams to the championship game in NFL history.

Jay Cutler has what many believe to be is the best arm in the NFL right now. At only 25, he doesn't have a great career resume yet (17-20) and hasn't even led his team to a playoff game which the player he replaced (Jake Plummer) did a season before he was drafted. Jay's upsides are obvious in his youth and his physical tools. It's been well documented how well of an athlete Cutler is, including his eye popping combine numbers in 2006. Jay's turnover ratio is average at best (25-18 in 2008) however it is his career winning percentage that is the big question mark for me. 11-35 in college, 17-20 in the Pros. Yes Vanderbilt was overmatched in the SEC, but they have a much better record in the 3 years without (16-25) Jay than with him (9-25). There is something to be said about this. Is he a career loser?

The Hard Part

In comparing these two quarterbacks, the intangibles are the thing that jumps off the page at me. Kurt and Jay both turn it over more than you would like, and both have posted average seasons as NFL starters.

However when you compare their situations you see that both have played with stellar offenses, but only Kurt has been able to turn it into positive winning seasons with routine Superbowl, not just playoff appearances. Yes, Jay has time to accomplish these things but will he?

To me the difference between these quarterbacks relies in attitude. Kurt Warner is a generally positive person mostly due to his faith. Jay Cutler has shown in the last few weeks that he is a man of great (maybe too much) pride and when you throw in the way he interacts with the media (mostly negatively) you cannot paint the same positive picture for Jay Cutler the MAN as you can Kurt Warner the MAN.

In the end of this lengthy analysis it is apparent that Jay Cutler is as talented if not more physically talented than Kurt Warner. But I have great concern over Jay's attitude, especially at the quarterback position. A guy like Kurt Warner has taken great offenses with marginal defenses to Superbowls, Jay Cutler can't even get his guys into the playoffs. He may have the best arm under 30 in football, but if he can't get his guys to win is he really worth it?

Who would you rather have right now?