Last Friday, a day after the Bears acquired Jay Cutler from the Broncos, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi warned that Denver could still be in the Brady Quinn business, even though Chris Simms and Kyle Orton were now on its roster.
Trading the No. 18 pick to the Browns for Quinn (who was taken 22nd in 2007) makes so much sense for the Broncos, I can't believe it hasn't happened yet. They get a young quarterback schooled in McDaniels' system whom the new coach can develop and appoint as the face of his team going forward. Denver also saves its No. 12 pick for much-needed defensive help.Grossi made this case three weeks ago, too, and I'll repeat what I wrote at the time: "All well and good, for sure, but as I mentioned previously, this still leaves the Browns in rebuilding mode for next season. There are better ways to excite a fan base. Not only that, but why fire Romeo Crennel if mediocrity is the plan for '09?"
In Sunday's column, the Denver Post's Mike Klis points out that Quinn won't be a Bronco anytime soon -- and it has nothing to do with his on-field abilities. In fact, Josh McDaniels "had as much interest in ... Quinn as Orton" when he first considered replacements for Cutler.
But an NFL source said Quinn never came into play because from the start, Cutler's agent Bus Cook made it clear his client would not play for new Cleveland coach Eric Mangini.Shorter version: this is Brett Favre's fault.
Another one of Cook's clients, Brett Favre, played for Mangini last season with the New York Jets. The Broncos didn't want to trade Cutler to an AFC team, anyway. So in the end, McDaniels, Cook and Cutler all reached an agreeable conclusion.
As for the Broncos, McDaniels says Simms and Orton will have to earn the right to replace Cutler. Put differently: "We're drafting Mark Sanchez so you two are battling for the backup job." Actually, I think Orton will do well (well enough, anyway), and if the Broncos are smart, they'll use the draft to fix that defense.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-06-2009 @ 9:10PM
ssiw105 said...
im a die hard bear fan if we have one one thing to worry about this season is this ron turner better get off his thumbs and get a offense play book that can have a tale of the tandem like we use to have with patten and roland harper and matt suey.
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4-07-2009 @ 12:50AM
Mr.G said...
This story is pure hogwash.First off,Favre and Mangini are friends.Secondly,Cutler has never even met Mangini.He would have no reason to dislike Mangini at all.Bus Cook is Favre's and Cutler's agent, and he says there is no truth to this whatsoever.
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4-07-2009 @ 9:11AM
kinkboy1121 said...
This writer is full of garbage... Cutler and Cook both issued statements that neither had any problem with Cleveland.... and if this so called writer listened to Mckiddies interview about the Cutler trade, it's very obvious there's another move yet to be made.... The coach said all those picks will give him flexibility to get a player they want..... theres a trade gonna occur and this writer was the same guy who said weeks back Cutler wasn't going anywhere.....he's a bad reporter plain and simple..... a carrier pigeon relaying rumors from online source to online source.
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