Jay Cutler Gone

[iccyfan]

klerme cuts thru the crap like a hot knife thru butter - +1

[Mr Janny]

I am neither a Broncos fan, nor do I care where Cutler ends up. However, I have gotten a kick out of the arguments and the proposed trades that would only take place in fantasy FB. I think Cutler is a good QB, but he is not great. Although Denver's defense has been bad (much to the fault of Shanahan's personnel moves), the fact is that Denver's offense with Cutler at QB has failed to score more than 17 points in 14 of 32 games the past two years - seven each year. For perspective, Detroit averaged just under 17 ppg last year and we all see how many wins they had. As great as Cutler can look in some games, he can look very average the following game.

I honestly think that this whole situation has been very well manipulated by Cutler/Cutler's agent in an effort to get a big payday. Cutler only received a $1.7 million signing bonus when he signed his deal in 2006 and is scheduled to make $1.035 million in base salary this year. He could get another $4 mil by being involved in 70% of the offensive snaps, so most likely he would earn $5 million. Next year - currently set to be uncapped and where Albert Haynesworth is to receive nearly $25 million ($21 mill bonus and $3.6 mill in salary) - Cutler was again to only receive $1 mil in base salary with a $4 mil roster bonus. The following year he was set to get a $12 million roster bonus so if they hadn't made a deep run in the playoffs by then, he probably would have been traded or cut and have to negotiate a contract under the terms of whatever new salary cap is put in place by 2011.

Compare that to Matt Cassell who will earn nearly $15 million this year, and you can see why Cutler would want a new deal. Knowing he wasn't going to get it in Denver (since they could easily wait a year and if Cutler remained inconsistent, trade him or cut him to avoid the roster bonus and then sign Cassell themselves) he has made it impossible for Denver to keep him so that he will be traded and then negotiate a new deal that gives him a chance for a big signing bonus and then a large front-loaded base salary in 2010 so that instead of making $10 million the next two years, he will probably earn around $25-35 million and have a longer contract (probably through 2015) which could pay him another $30 million or so as I expect he will seek a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 years for $85-95 million with $40 mil or more guaranteed. Sorry for the length of the post, I am an NFL and numbers nut.

great post. I think there is probably a lot of truth to what you posted. Bus Cook is not stupid. The prospect of an uncapped year, next year, is going to make for some interesting scenarios. No one, in my opinion, will try to take advantage of this more than Dan Snyder. He's already shown it with the signing of Haynesworth, and i would not be surprised if Cutler ends up in Washington as well.

I think the NFL is at a very interesting point in it's history. Rookie salaries are inflated to the point of ridiculousness. Honestly, who really wants the #1 overall pick if it comes with a 30 millon dollar price tag? Does trading Cutler to Denver, and then taking Stafford with the number 1 really make sense for the Broncos? Would they be any better off in the short term?

I certainly do not envy their position.

[Mr Janny]

Here is a link to a CBS Sportsline message board. The question is hilarious.

Does Cutler get a say?

[hurdleisu24]

I don't think Culter gets a say. Im begining to think that its going to be a 3 team deal with Cutler going to the Lions, Brady Quinn to the Broncos and the Browns getting the Lions 2 1st rd pick number 20 along with other draft pick considerations

[jdoggivjc]

I am neither a Broncos fan, nor do I care where Cutler ends up. However, I have gotten a kick out of the arguments and the proposed trades that would only take place in fantasy FB. I think Cutler is a good QB, but he is not great. Although Denver's defense has been bad (much to the fault of Shanahan's personnel moves), the fact is that Denver's offense with Cutler at QB has failed to score more than 17 points in 14 of 32 games the past two years - seven each year. For perspective, Detroit averaged just under 17 ppg last year and we all see how many wins they had. As great as Cutler can look in some games, he can look very average the following game.

I honestly think that this whole situation has been very well manipulated by Cutler/Cutler's agent in an effort to get a big payday. Cutler only received a $1.7 million signing bonus when he signed his deal in 2006 and is scheduled to make $1.035 million in base salary this year. He could get another $4 mil by being involved in 70% of the offensive snaps, so most likely he would earn $5 million. Next year - currently set to be uncapped and where Albert Haynesworth is to receive nearly $25 million ($21 mill bonus and $3.6 mill in salary) - Cutler was again to only receive $1 mil in base salary with a $4 mil roster bonus. The following year he was set to get a $12 million roster bonus so if they hadn't made a deep run in the playoffs by then, he probably would have been traded or cut and have to negotiate a contract under the terms of whatever new salary cap is put in place by 2011.

Compare that to Matt Cassell who will earn nearly $15 million this year, and you can see why Cutler would want a new deal. Knowing he wasn't going to get it in Denver (since they could easily wait a year and if Cutler remained inconsistent, trade him or cut him to avoid the roster bonus and then sign Cassell themselves) he has made it impossible for Denver to keep him so that he will be traded and then negotiate a new deal that gives him a chance for a big signing bonus and then a large front-loaded base salary in 2010 so that instead of making $10 million the next two years, he will probably earn around $25-35 million and have a longer contract (probably through 2015) which could pay him another $30 million or so as I expect he will seek a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 years for $85-95 million with $40 mil or more guaranteed. Sorry for the length of the post, I am an NFL and numbers nut.

I am pretty much in the same boat as you - don't care about the Broncos, don't really care where he goes (my team has no use for him). I think both parties are pretty much equally at fault in this, and the Broncos will end up missing him more than he misses them. Cutler's numbers have been good, but not reflective of the prima donna attitude he has been carrying this season, and certainly not reflective of one who insists he deserves job security. That being said, I do think part of the reason why Cutler's numbers have been as bad as they have been is the lack of a credible running game recently. How many RBs did the Broncos go through this year?

[ISUFan22]

I am neither a Broncos fan, nor do I care where Cutler ends up. However, I have gotten a kick out of the arguments and the proposed trades that would only take place in fantasy FB. I think Cutler is a good QB, but he is not great. Although Denver's defense has been bad (much to the fault of Shanahan's personnel moves), the fact is that Denver's offense with Cutler at QB has failed to score more than 17 points in 14 of 32 games the past two years - seven each year. For perspective, Detroit averaged just under 17 ppg last year and we all see how many wins they had. As great as Cutler can look in some games, he can look very average the following game.

I honestly think that this whole situation has been very well manipulated by Cutler/Cutler's agent in an effort to get a big payday. Cutler only received a $1.7 million signing bonus when he signed his deal in 2006 and is scheduled to make $1.035 million in base salary this year. He could get another $4 mil by being involved in 70% of the offensive snaps, so most likely he would earn $5 million. Next year - currently set to be uncapped and where Albert Haynesworth is to receive nearly $25 million ($21 mill bonus and $3.6 mill in salary) - Cutler was again to only receive $1 mil in base salary with a $4 mil roster bonus. The following year he was set to get a $12 million roster bonus so if they hadn't made a deep run in the playoffs by then, he probably would have been traded or cut and have to negotiate a contract under the terms of whatever new salary cap is put in place by 2011.

Compare that to Matt Cassell who will earn nearly $15 million this year, and you can see why Cutler would want a new deal. Knowing he wasn't going to get it in Denver (since they could easily wait a year and if Cutler remained inconsistent, trade him or cut him to avoid the roster bonus and then sign Cassell themselves) he has made it impossible for Denver to keep him so that he will be traded and then negotiate a new deal that gives him a chance for a big signing bonus and then a large front-loaded base salary in 2010 so that instead of making $10 million the next two years, he will probably earn around $25-35 million and have a longer contract (probably through 2015) which could pay him another $30 million or so as I expect he will seek a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 years for $85-95 million with $40 mil or more guaranteed. Sorry for the length of the post, I am an NFL and numbers nut.

Pretty damn good post.

And I agree, Denver will miss Cutler far more than he will miss them.

[Mr Janny]

I am pretty much in the same boat as you - don't care about the Broncos, don't really care where he goes (my team has no use for him). I think both parties are pretty much equally at fault in this, and the Broncos will end up missing him more than he misses them. Cutler's numbers have been good, but not reflective of the prima donna attitude he has been carrying this season, and certainly not reflective of one who insists he deserves job security. That being said, I do think part of the reason why Cutler's numbers have been as bad as they have been is the lack of a credible running game recently. How many RBs did the Broncos go through this year?

I don't know that you can blame the running game. In 2007, Denver was 9th in the league in rushing. Last year, they were 12th, posting better yardage than Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Arizona. All playoff teams. They were also 3rd in the league in yards per rush at 4.8.

[jdoggivjc]

I don't know that you can blame the running game. In 2007, Denver was 9th in the league in rushing. Last year, they were 12th, posting better yardage than Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Arizona. All playoff teams. They were also 3rd in the league in yards per rush at 4.8.

Good point - I just thought I had heard they had gone through more than their share of RBs last year and they have something like 12 of them currently on their roster.

[Mr Janny]

Good point - I just thought I had heard they had gone through more than their share of RBs last year and they have something like 12 of them currently on their roster.

Don't get me wrong, they do go through lots of running backs in Denver. They usually have a good ground game, though. It's a credit to their offensive line. Things may change now that Shanny is gone, though.

[hurdleisu24]

Part of Denvers problem last year wasn't that they couldn't run the ball it was that they were always behind and had to throw the football because their defense is and was a joke

[Jonecy]

I'm getting pretty antsy to see how this all plays out.....

As a Denver fan, I think I'm most intrigued by a trade with Carolina for Peppers and (in my best Chris Berman voice) "daylight come and me wanna" Delhomme!

Peppers would be a huge get on the D-line and I've always thought Delhome was a good QB, especially if he's got a good running game to work with.

Brady Quinn does not do it for me though - that's for sure.

Should be interesting to see how this turns out.

[Mr Janny]

I'm getting pretty antsy to see how this all plays out.....

As a Denver fan, I think I'm most intrigued by a trade with Carolina for Peppers and (in my best Chris Berman voice) "daylight come and me wanna" Delhomme!

Peppers would be a huge get on the D-line and I've always thought Delhome was a good QB, especially if he's got a good running game to work with.

Brady Quinn does not do it for me though - that's for sure.

Should be interesting to see how this turns out.

I've seen Carolina listed in a couple of places. That would really be interesting. Peppers is a pretty big carrot to dangle in front of a team with defensive problems. And Delhomme gives you a vet who (playoff game aside) is fairly consistent. Plus Peppers doesn't want to be in Carolina, and he is open to playing in the 3-4. I'd be shocked if the Panthers were not one of the teams interested.

[hurdleisu24]

I have heard there are 10 teams that are interested in Cutler.

[Mr Janny]

I have heard there are 10 teams that are interested in Cutler.

The ones I've seen the most are
Detroit, Washington, Tampa, NY Jets, Chicago, Cleveland, San Fran, and Jacksonville.

Minnesota and Carolina are also mentioned sometimes.

[hurdleisu24]

Wherever Cutler goes Im betting he gets a new contract