For the second time in two years, a temperamental, strong-armed, gunslinging, Pro Bowl quarterback may be available. Should the Jets roll the dice again?
Jay Cutler asked the Denver Broncos to trade him after a
meeting Sunday with first-year coach Josh McDaniels ended poorly. Cutler is still smarting over McDaniels' failed attempt to trade for former New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel and feels he just can't trust his new head coach.
Gang Green's current stable of quarterbacks have started a grand total of eight NFL games -- and all of those belong to Kellen Clemens. Cutler's career stats:
- 37 games
- 762 out of 1,220 (62.5%)
- 9,024 yards
- 54 touchdowns
- 37 interceptions
- 87.1 quarterback rating
Again, the Jets have three QBs, but only one has had any NFL experience. But for the sake of argument, here's what the Jets have in terms of career stats. I'm also tossing in stats accumulated in games where Clemens didn't start, but managed to wiggle himself some playing time:
- 14 games
- 133 out of 256 (52%)
- 1,555 yards
- 5 touchdowns
- 11 interceptions
- 59.3 quarterback rating
Seems pretty clear-cut if you look at it that way.
But games aren't played on paper.
Cutler has talent -- I don't think anyone is disputing that. But there are a lot of other "intangibles" that go along with that. A lot of people are comparing Cutler to a young Brett Favre, but some are also comparing him to former No. 1 draft pick and head case
Jeff George. You all remember George, right? The strong-armed quarterback that never seemed to put in together. And it wasn't because George lacked confidence. Both comparisons
are unfair at this point in Cutler's career, but no one said life was fair.
Anyway, Cutler also doesn't lack in the confidence department and that hasn't garnered him
respect across the league. And No. 6 doesn't really have much to be boastful about right now. Cutler has guided the Broncos to a 17-20 record in his 37 career starts with zero playoff appearances. To be fair, Cutler wasn't the only reason Denver failed to reach the postseason over the past three seasons. But he was calling the signals this past season when the Broncos dropped their final three games and lost the AFC West to the San Diego Chargers on the final Sunday of the season. (Yes, Cutler threw for over 300 yards in two of those final three games, but he also threw four interceptions to just two touchdowns).
Still, Cutler is just 25 years old. He can improve on his sometimes poor decision-making (I think). The thing that really gives me pause is his seemingly fragile ego. How can someone be confident, even cocky, and fragile at the same time? I don't know. Cutler believes he has the
strongest arm in the league.
"I have a stronger arm than John [Elway], hands down. I'll bet on it against anybody's
in the league. Brett Favre's got a cannon. But on game days, there's nobody in the league who's
going to throw it harder than I am at all."
But then he gets bent out of shape when his name came up in trade talks. No one is untouchable in the NFL -- no one. I don't know how a trade that didn't happen has turned into a situation where Cutler feels he can no longer play in Denver. To be fair, I wasn't at the meeting he had with McDaniels, but Cutler comes across as petty to me in this situation. It gives me the impression that Cutler can't handle adversity and he'll most likely have to face at least some if he's playing in New York.
I can almost hear my Jet brothers screaming that I'm crazy (I've heard it before), but I wouldn't bet the house to land Cutler. Oh, I'd kick the tires on the Vanderbilt alum and see what the Broncos are looking for, but I'd probably walk away without pulling the trigger. Why? I just don't like Cutler's makeup. Is he better than what the Jets have on their roster right now? Yeah, but what's wrong with finding out what you have on your team before you go sniffing after someone else's problem? At least, that's the way I see it.
This trade talk will probably be moot anyway since the Jets don't have much to offer the Broncos. The Jets own the No. 17 pick in the
2009 draft, a No. 2, two No. 3's, two No. 4's, a No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7. Are the Broncos looking for just picks? Doubtful. The Jets would most likely have to get a third team involved and that team might just want Cutler for themselves. Probably won't happen.
Then again, how probable was that Favre trade last season?
Stay tuned.
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