Cutler: 'I Didn't Want to Get Traded'

On late Tuesday night, as part of his statement that Jay Cutler was officially on the trading block, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen stated that the franchise had done its best to contact Cutler but that the quarterback "no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos."

And that would be well and good, except on Wednesday night, Cutler told FOXSports' Jay Glazer, "I didn't want to get traded. This wasn't me."

Ladies and gentlemen, something is not adding up.

"I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon," Cutler told Glazer in his first comments since the statement was released. "I didn't want to get traded. This wasn't me. They [The Broncos] had been going back and forth saying things, wanting me to be their quarterback and then they didn't."

Clearly -- and, not surprisingly, given that the Broncos apparently tried to mend all these fences without a face-to-face meeting -- something is amiss in this situation. Denver's apparent hot pursuit of Matt Cassel would seem to indicate that Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels didn't really want Cutler around anymore. Cutler, in turn, asking for a trade certainly gives the impression that he no longer desired to be in Denver.

But if there's one thing Seinfeld has taught me, it's that the notion of a truly mutual breakup is ludicrous (that, and you don't return fruit. Fruit's a gamble, you know that going in).

So we're stuck with a chicken-or-the-egg scenario here. Did Cutler get so upset because McDaniels went after Cassel? Or did McDaniels go after Cassel because Cutler was already unhappy in his post-Mike Shanahan world?

Cutler would definitely like us to believe that it's that first scenario that's the more plausible one (and if that means I'm indirectly calling McDaniels a chicken, then so be it).

"I really didn't want this. I love Denver," Cutler told Glazer. "I really like my teammates. I didn't want it to get this far."

Pretty belated timing for a series of statements like that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-02-2009 @ 1:21AM

Kumail891 said...

Josh McDaniels just needs to drive to his house, say that he was wrong to pursue Cassel and everything will be better. McDaniels should have known that he was coming to a team that already had a franchise qb and didn't need another.

Although this article does raise questions about Bus Cook...

4-02-2009 @ 1:35AM

Adam said...

I never heard of any player, much less a QB, seriously want to be traded because their coach left. From everything that's come out, I find it hard to believe Cutler fired the first shot. It seems pretty clear that McDaniels totally screwed this up from the beginning, and Cutler taking it so personally just made it get to this point. Maybe his reaction was exaggerated because Shanahan was gone, but I think it's safe to say McDaniels started it.

That said, Cutler seems to be laying it on a bit thick in saying he didn't want to be traded and all that. Based on media reports, he's been very emotional and childish through this, so playing the victim makes him looks worse. Now that he got what he ultimately wanted, Cutler needs to start damage control and assure prospective teams he's not going to be a problem in the locker room and with coaches and the FO.

4-02-2009 @ 1:49AM

BrendanEff said...

Cutler says he wanted to stay and was hoping someone would reach out, but his house was on the market just days after the story started to break. If he loved Denver, there wouldn't be "For Sale" signs in front of his and his parents houses.

4-02-2009 @ 7:42AM

Captcaptcapt said...

Has anyone addressed the question that Denver receivers drop the the ball constantly and in key situations. But then you say but we have great receivers? Great receivers will drop the ball occasionally but they deliver in key situations, that is what determines a great receiver. But this has been a ridiculous mess whoever is too blame get your head off your azz and fix it otherwise Denver will be relegated to the cellar of the NFL.

4-02-2009 @ 7:47AM

Jay Cutler.........Remember most great QB's had to deal with some adversity and disgruntled fans and coaches before they went on a tear of winning Super Bowls......Montana, Bradshaw, Tom Brady all went thru the tough times.

4-02-2009 @ 8:23AM

caninescreed said...

He didn't want to be traded? Well maybe he should have returned the owners calls. I don't believe him at this point. If he really wanted to be a Bronco, he would be in Denver with his teammates. And once again, he is taking this to the media instead of talking to the Broncos.

4-02-2009 @ 10:00AM

D_Average said...

As a life long Bears fan, I've seem some really stupid moves by leadership, this however, has got to be the stupidest. It amazes me how quickly Denver has forgotten how utterly laughable they were at the QB position once Elway left.

So now that they finally solved that problem, they're going to chase him away with the illusion that pro bowl QB's grow on trees? I don't think so.

4-02-2009 @ 1:17PM

yamahawatercraft said...

Cutler is a PURE LIAR PERIOD. His house is for sale and so is his parents house. He has not answered any phone calls or text messages from the team. He has not taken part in workouts the team had in the past weeks. This guy is a pure baby / liar he acts like a spoiled child if he does not get his way. This is not on the Bronco's management or coaching staff. I put this solely on Jay Cutler. A team has the right to pursue any player they want if they feel it will make the team better. This does not mean on the field only better all around. The Team and owner/coach came out in public and said they wanted him back. Cutler never even tried to contact the team or show up at the workouts they had scheduled he in return forfeited $100,000 for not showing up. Now he says he did not want to get traded. PLEASE He should stop the baby antics and admit he was wrong.He will be traded and he will talk bad about the Bronco's when he is on a new team. Once he is gone I bet players will come forward and let everyone know what a dam cry baby he really is. Then and only then people may ask """ WILL THE REAL JAY CUTLER PLEASE STAND UP!!! """""

4-02-2009 @ 5:54PM

Birdogmp said...

Thats awfully strong language for a person who I doubt was in the room when text messages or phone calls were made to Jay!! Were you there? So before you start calling somebody I liar, I want to know and I'm sure the rest of those of us who are true Bronco Fans would like to know as well. I'll admit that Jay has had more than a hand in this mess, and should have bucked up and gone to Pat and talked to him, but at the same time this whole story doesn't play out right. He's the franchise quarterback pacifier and all. Mclooser, and Mr. Bowlen have screwed the pooch on this one, and now us fans are going to be the ones who suffer thru another miserable season. So if you were in the room, and you know for a fact that Jay is a liar, then step up to the mike, if not then who is the real liar here???

4-02-2009 @ 6:15PM

pauln286 said...

I guess when the company owner calls... maybe, just maybe you should return the call. I just wish they sent him to Detriot instead. Just to punnish the baby.