Horse Tracks 4/3/09

by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 3, 2009 5:59 AM MDT in Horse Tracks

Horsetracks_new_medium

Well, that was quick - wasn't it? Just to recap, Denver sent Cutler and a 5th-rounder (from Seattle, Kerry Colbert) to Chicago for this year's #18 overall choice, the #84 pick (3rd round), Chicago's 2010 first-rounder and QB Kyle Orton. For what it's worth, Orton was 21-12 in his career for a team with few offensive weapons.

DB - Here's the announcement from DenverBroncos.com, with an updated list of the Broncos' 2009 draft choices. Josh McDaniels will speak at 11AM MST.

DP - Klis offers up quotes from Josh McDaniels, several Broncos past and present, and a timeline of what WAS the Cutler situation. By the way, Jay Cutler isn't the biggest Ron Turner fan (his new OC) - let the butt-kissing ensue!

DP - Lindsay Jones profiles Kyle Orton, who had originally committed to the CU Buffs, but instead went to Purdue.

DP - Hours before the trade, McDaniels held a team meeting to explain what had happened between him and Cutler. Meanwhile, Jay and Co. will be coming to Mile High for an Aug. 30th preseason Sunday night game.

NFL - Here's the NFL.com/NFLN version of the story.

DP - The Greatest Ever was saddened to hear the news of Cutler's departure.

DP - Kiszla says no player is bigger than the Broncos, and that we're all better off for it.

DP - Krieger thinks the Broncos have taken a backward step.

FOX - Jay Glazer calls in, mentions that Cutler's Denver teammates couldn't get in touch with Jay recently, either.

NYDN - Gary Myers says the Broncos never even called the Jets, even less turn down or listen to an offer.

NFLN - Charlie Casserly weighs the trade. So does Big Play Shay.

SI - Don Banks measures the deal for both teams.

ESPN - Stink and Dilfer think Denver got the better of the deal.

NFLN - Mike Mayock and Charles Davis on the draft implications.

ESPN - Pasquarelli offers some historical perspective on the trade.

SI - Peter King thinks Cutler will ultimately regret leaving Denver.

DP - Anthony Cotton talks with Mike Ditka and Shaun King about the trade.

DB - Andre' Goodman and Renaldo Hill are hoping to lead a turnaround for the Denver D.

IN - This is what Drew Litton thinks of Cutler's Denver legacy.

IN - Here's Sam Adams' recap of the deal.

CBS - Pete Prisco thinks franchise QBs are priceless.

CBS - Clark Judge thinks the Bears were better off with Kyle Orton.

NFL - Jamie Dukes says the Broncos made a gamble, but they also had no choice. That makes total sense, Jamie. Total sense.

ESPN - Pork Chop thinks Denver doesn't have their '09 QB.

DP - Jim Armstrong takes a look at all of Denver's recently departed star athletes.

DP - Anyone want a Cutler jersey? Anyone? Helloooooooooo???

DP - And, some fan reactions. This has to be the final daily update. We can hope.

NFLN - There's plenty of excitement in Chicago.

CT - Rick Morrissey thinks the Bears still have plenty of holes and questions.

FOX - Alex Marvez feels the same way.

CT - More from the Chicago side from David Haugh.

CST - Here is the Tribune's version.

CST - Rick Telander calls it the biggest trade in Bears' history.

NFL - Vic Carucci thinks the Bears are now serious contenders in the NFC.

ESPN - Wojo thinks that Cutler and the Bears had better make the playoffs.

Y! - Jason Cole looks at the Bears' end of the deal.

MST - Well, the problem for the Vikings with not getting Cutler is now they have to face him twice a year.

CPD - This feels like deja vu all over again, just not for us! Eric Mangini says the Browns never offered up Brady Quinn for Cutler.

**********************

NFL - Meanwhile, the Bears also added OT Orlando Pace, who agreed to a three-year deal.

KCS - Adam Teicher examines the Chefs' draft picture.

SFC - Darren McFadden has been named in a civil lawsuit over his role in a bar fight.

Y! - B.J. Raji reportedly failed a drug test at the Combine.

TN - The Titans have accused the Redskins of tampering with Albert Haynesworth.

ESPN - Travis Henry reached a plea agreement in his drug case.

Y! - Michael Vick's agent hopes Vick will return to the NFL in '09.

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Comments

Thanks NYC. What a melancholy day. Have a good one.

by ThorpeBroncosfan on Apr 3, 2009 6:27 AM MDT reply actions

Mornin nyc, I agree with thorpe, What a melanchoy day. Keep your head up and have a nice day.....

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Apr 3, 2009 6:49 AM MDT reply actions

“- This is what Drew Litton thinks of Cutler’s Denver legacy.”

LOL .. the guy played 2+ years .. legacy is a strong word

by hallandnash on Apr 3, 2009 7:31 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks NYC...

Articles by Judge and Kiszla are gold!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Apr 3, 2009 7:33 AM MDT reply actions

ESPN – Stink and Dilfer think Denver got the better of the deal.

I was on the fence about Kyle until I heard Dilfer .. maybe this will be a real steal.

NFLN – Mike Mayock and Charles Davis on the draft implications.

I disagree with both of these guys. Why package our 2 picks to move up in the draft? If the Broncos wanted Sanchez or Stafford they would have traded Jay to either Detroit, Tampa or Seattle and then they could choose either and still have their pick.

I’m thinking they stick with Kyle and Chris this year and load up on the D-Side in the draft. If it doesn’t work out they draft a QB next year, either with one of the picks or a package. Doing it this year makes no sense.

As much as the may need a QB, they need 4-5 players on defense more.

by hallandnash on Apr 3, 2009 7:34 AM MDT reply actions

totally agree with you

The QB crop will be much better next year (especially with Bowlen’s ties to OU) and the need for defense is just too great this year. We have to get young defensive players to learn from Dawkins and Champ in this draft.

We still have a great O-Line, two stud WR’s, a great slot receiver, a deep threat TE and should have a decent running game. Our offense should be fine if not quite as explosive. who knows our red zone game might even have improved.

by trumanj on Apr 3, 2009 8:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Good point

Why trade for a QB and a 1st round pick and then package your two 1st round picks for a QB? That’s pretty odd logic

Hillis in '09

by Doc Bear on Apr 3, 2009 12:47 PM MDT up reply actions

we may not see Denver package picks to move up

ever again. We can hope anyways.

Amnesty, the idea that you can forgive transgressions against you, gives as much to one side, as it does the other. It has the noble quality of bestowing mercy to both parties.

There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 3, 2009 3:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Amen to that, styg

Trading down I could see. 6 picks in the top 84? Sure. But we don’t need to trade up for anything – just do a good job with the multitudinous picks we have

Hillis in '09

by Doc Bear on Apr 3, 2009 3:36 PM MDT up reply actions

Elways comments

“We won’t really know about this trade until we find out what kind of players the draft picks are. If those guys are all-pros, it’s a hell of a trade. If they’re not, and Cutler goes on to win a Super Bowl, well . . .” said Elway, who didn’t finish the sentence.

Is exaxctly how I feel about the trade. I’m so scared our picks turn into busts, meanwhile Cutler goes onto the SB, but as I said elsewhere, here’s to hoping that both sides of the trade can be happy in the end and meet in the SB. ;)

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 7:41 AM MDT reply actions

All is well.

I have a story coming out in the near future. I would have taken this deal before the Cutler shenanignas started. Forget about Orton (he was just a roster filler, and the real trade is Cutler for a 1, 1, 3). The picks are too good to pass on.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 3, 2009 8:01 AM MDT up reply actions

Sure, but just knowing how the draft works for most teams, and especially the Broncos...

i.e., Marcus Nash, Willie Middlebrooks, George Foster… it just makes me worried. First rounders to me have always seemed like a huge crapshoot.

Those busts obviously where Shanny’s, let’s see how McX talent-evaluation skills turn out to be. If we get even just 1 Clady caliber-type player out of the 3 picks… I’ll be satisfied. Two would be awesome.

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 8:11 AM MDT up reply actions

BTW, I was curious as to the details of the previous blockbuster trade of the NFL

http://www.drafthistory.com/articles/article23.html

The Saints pretty much gave up their entire 99 draft, plus 2 picks the following year for Ricky Williams. The draft results were horrendous and La’Var Arrington turned out to be the best pick of the lot… and even that is somewhat questionable.

Of course Ricky “420” Williams hardly turned out to be a HoFer, so I guess it was a wash. ;)

Still… this is what worries me about those shiny new draft picks we got from the Bears. =/

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions

I never agree with...

…gambling a ton of draft picks for one pick. If a team is unloading a disgruntled player who is demanding a trade, and the Bears want to give up several high picks, then I’m all for that.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 4, 2009 5:42 AM MDT up reply actions

My point wasn't the actual trade, but the results of the draft picks...

The draft is such a crap shoot, that even having that many picks coming out of that trade, nearly none of those picks turned out any value. We netted essentially 3 solid picks from Chicago… if we have the same luck as the teams from the Ricky deal, then we clearly lost in this trade.

by tunga77 on Apr 4, 2009 10:49 PM MDT up reply actions

Forget about Orton...

He’s a winner, I haven’t seen him crying about anything. He stays out of the public eye, works hard and wants to win…I think Orton is exactly what McD wants. A hard worker, a TEAM guy, a film guy, and most importantly NOT a baby! Welcome to Denver Kyle, I’m very optimistic about this deal. We just ROBBED Chicago. Yes time will tell, but we know Cutler. So lets put Cutler on a team with no receivers, and a OK O-line. Good luck crybaby Jay…Your skilled but not that skilled. Orton is definitely the winner in this deal. He has a lot of Denver fans to prove wrong. Not me, I got Orton’s back. So what’s his nickname gonna be?!?!

"I'd rather be an outstanding Sergeant, than just another Officer."
-Dan Daly

by gunnermc on Apr 3, 2009 8:14 AM MDT reply actions

And Kreiger's comments

Teams in that world tend to be unsuccessful. Worse, they tend to be boring. Football still is entertainment, after all. The jaw-dropping plays go away. Every now and then your team puts together a workmanlike scoring drive. The rest of the time it stumbles around. Your punter and field-goal kicker become your most important players. Football games seem to take much longer than they used to.

Is also exactly what I’ve been fretting over since the possibility of losing Cutler got started. Sure, I am a Bronco fan first and foremost, but damn did Cutler make Sundays so much more exciting for me last year!!

I’ll tell you this, living in Chicago, last year was the first year that I went to a bar for each and every game the Broncos weren’t televised on local channels here. Do you know how much money I spent on booze and food to watch those beautiful Cutler passes to Eddie, Tony, and Brandon? =)

Can I also tell you that though I am an Orton supporter based on what I saw last year (solid play until he got hurt), that watching those games with my wife was … well, boring? Yes, being a fan of a different team factors into that, but at the same time, an average offense makes for a less entertaining game… at least for me it does. And I agree with Kreiger, in the end, football is still all about entertaining us.

Here’s to hoping those beautiful passes to Eddie, Tony, and Brandon (after his suspension, yay) will continue for years to come… Let’s go NeckBeard & Spleen!!!!

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 8:25 AM MDT reply actions

Really?

For me, winning is fun. First I want to win. Entertainment is second…

by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 3, 2009 8:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Me too---You hit the nail on the head nyc...

GO BRONCOS!

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Apr 3, 2009 8:44 AM MDT up reply actions

Reminds me of another trade...

Iverson for Billups:
My friend hated trading away Iverson because he thought the games wouldn’t be entertaining anymore. I told him he was crazy, because Billups would help the defense over 9000 percent. And guess what, they have already won more games than last year! I’ll take wins over flashy offense anyday

by binford04 on Apr 3, 2009 9:12 AM MDT up reply actions

+1

I still miss Iverson’s smooth jumpers, but Billups has brought a different sort of intensity to the Nuggets. They may not be the Greatest Offense EVAR (sic) anymore, but they act and play like winners now, they’re not on the court for 150 points, they’re there for a W. I’ll take ugly wins any day.

"Take Integral Birth, Paul."

by Tempestuous Binary on Apr 3, 2009 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions

Oh, and thanks NYC.

"Take Integral Birth, Paul."

by Tempestuous Binary on Apr 3, 2009 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions

Winning + Exciting Plays == Entertainment for me

Obviously, it’ll differ slightly from person to person… but a defensive struggle + inept offense like the Bears have been for many years now == boring to me, even if they were winning, circa 2005. BTW, that was Neckbeard’s rookie year where he “lead” the Bears to a 10-4 record before giving way to Grossman.

I never said winning wasn’t important to me… just that I like some excitement in my football games. Perhaps, I’ve been spoiled by all those Elway 4th quarter comebacks, but that’s what I like to see in a football game. I guess I’m just one of those stereotypical Americans who can also never get into soccer because there’s not enough scoring. lol.

I’m not saying that the Broncos are all of a sudden going to be inept on offense, but that simply it was what frightened me most about losing Cutler… losing that level of excitement on Sundays. Like the guy or not, he made many highlight reel plays for us over the last 3 years.

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions

Kiszla

Holy crap this is the first time I’m agreeing with anything that guy says. What a strange world we live in..

by binford04 on Apr 3, 2009 8:43 AM MDT reply actions

nyc, news feed from Denver Broncos.com changed to 11:00MDT

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Apr 3, 2009 9:08 AM MDT reply actions

Sorry nyc, My bad

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Apr 3, 2009 9:10 AM MDT up reply actions

Does the Denver Post

have a requirement that all male Broncos writers have names starting with K? I heard a rumor that they’re all actually the same person.

Anyway, thanks as always nyc.

by underdog on Apr 3, 2009 9:20 AM MDT reply actions

Don Banks quotable

Besides giving thumbs up to what Denver brought in return in the trade (don’t know if it’s the “mother lode” but it was as good as they could’ve gotten), I liked Banks thoughts on:

Get ready to hear more than we care to about Cutler growing up a Bears fan in Indiana. I’m already sick of the homecoming angle, and I don’t even know anything but the scantest of details.

Heh. Amen!

by underdog on Apr 3, 2009 9:24 AM MDT reply actions

Sooooo, is Lovie Smith on the hot seat yet?

Has the Shanahan watch started in Chicago?

Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960

by Darin H on Apr 3, 2009 9:30 AM MDT reply actions

Stink and Dilfer on ESPN

were pretty good. I think it was Stink who said the Bears lost both OT’s and have no recievers. I don’t know what happened to the OT’s, but the Bears just signed Orlando Pace, who is way over the hill and an injury waiting to happen. Cutler is going to regret his actions when he gets sacked in the first game more than he got sacked all of last year.

Growing older is not for sissies. Jack Palance

by bradley on Apr 3, 2009 9:49 AM MDT reply actions

I think ...

St Claire left… and John Tait retired. Pace + Williams should actually be an upgrade IMO… but yea, no where near what he had in Denver.

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 9:55 AM MDT up reply actions

Stink is wrong.

Bears starting tackles last year were John St. Clair (a career backup) and John Tait. Tait was even more on his last legs….he retired this offseason because he was so banged up and worn out. This season the Bears brought in Pace (not what he once was, but still a good pass protector), Chris Williams was drafted in the 1st round last year, and Keven Schaeffer (starter in Cleveland past 2 years, and starter in Atlanta before that). These are definite upgrades at the tackle position. The Bears also upgraded at left guard by bringing in Frank Omiyale from Carolina to replace Josh Beekman (an undersized guard who is really the backup center playing guard out of necessity). The Bears O-line is significantly improved over last year…no question. Chicago gave up 29 sacks last year for 13th in the league (Denver 1st with 12). With an awful O-line and a statue at QB, the Bears were about league average in sacks allowed, now they are much better. Thems the facts. Stink is an idiot because he just doesn’t know these facts. Ignorance is his lover.

by Mike Mueller on Apr 3, 2009 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions

Hey! Stink's our boy...

and Rock Hoover… well, was anyways.

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 10:17 AM MDT up reply actions

I know

but he was WAY over the top in criticizing the Bears in this deal. He really dislikes Cutler for what he pulled which is his right. But the Bears got better. He doesn’t know that. His hatred for Cutler clouds his judgement of where the Bears teams is and where it will go imo.

by Mike Mueller on Apr 3, 2009 10:25 AM MDT up reply actions

$10 in your tip jar, NYC

Great, thorough work.

"THIS IS SPARTA!!!" -- papigrande

"The cutsper gives up 100 000 dollars guy, come on custper you should show up and then give the 100 000 dollar to me so I can put down payment on the bronco cheerleader retire home where they can sit and eat all kind of pizza and chip and not have to worry any more about make for little waist in off seasnoal" -- Horvil Tiki

by broncosmontana on Apr 3, 2009 10:40 AM MDT reply actions

agreed.

thanks NYC. lots to read this morning… too bad I haven’t done a lick of work yet. =/

not looking forward to my daily struggle to close this damn browser tab in 3 … 2 … 1 …

by tunga77 on Apr 3, 2009 10:49 AM MDT up reply actions

If the story by Jay Glazer is true

and Cutler’s teammates had a hard time reaching him, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be surprised. It just shows you that his mind was made up from the beginning. I guess well see how he treats his teammates in Chicago.

by weazel on Apr 3, 2009 10:43 PM MDT reply actions