There’s always that one moment in High School when you realise that the girl you have been after for so long is actually out of your league and nothing is going to happen between you. Despite days, weeks and even months of thinking that you can get said girl, there is always that one groundbreaking moment or period of time when she goes for a slightly cooler and more advanced version of you. You are all of a sudden out of the running despite her promiscuous flirting towards you in class and you no longer have a chance and are left to watch helplessly as the football team (rugby in my case) are replacing you on trips to the movies or on her multi-text list.

This is a fairly straightforward piece that I have decided to write each week summing up the best and worst of the week’s NFL action. So here we go...

So who will be the real winner?...

So the rumors run rampant leading up to the draft, I think we have all come to know and love that fact. One that I am really worried about personally is that the Broncos will draft a quarterback in the first round to replace Jay Cutler. Huh? Maybe I missed the boat, but didn't we get a starter in return? Say what you want about Orton, but he has started and won NFL games. Nobody available in the draft can say that and save me the Matt Ryan examples...that is not typical. As a matter of fact most first round quarterbacks are not even close to what they should be when they make it to the NFL...forget about starting in year 1. I am happy about the trade and excited to see Simms and Orton compete for the starting job but seriously if Denver drafts a quarterback with their 1st or 2nd pick I will be pissed and a little confused. What does that say to Orton? I am praying it is a baseless rumor and they stick with the plan to build the defense up. Let one of the guys on the team already battle for a spot and if you MUST get a quarterback for God's sake do it in a later round or wait until next year when the class is better. We don't need a quarterback right now from the draft, we need a defense.

A lot has been made during this off season about Jay Cutler and the future of the Broncos. Many posts, many stories and many rumors have floated around and finally we can put them to rest. Jay is gone and magically the Denver Broncos will get along fine without him. Sure, we may miss some of the passes only a guy with that kind of arm can make but we have one heck of a strong player in Kyle Orton.

My column is not really about Orton, I think he will be fine. He is a talented and more than adequate option to compete for the quarterback spot with Chris Simms this year and more than anything he has already shown what a great team guy he is by showing up to work out with the team last week. He already has been to twice as many off season workouts than Cutler, woo hoo!

Are you kidding me Jay?

No seriously, please tell me this is some sick April Fool's joke. Last night it was reported by Jay Glazer and Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com that Jay Cutler told them, he never wanted to be traded at all.

From the FoxSports.com article:

The Denver Broncos say Jay Cutler wants to get traded.

The star quarterback disagrees.

Cutler spoke exclusively Wednesday night with FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer at the UFC Fight Night 18 card in Nashville that both were attending. Cutler says he was shocked the Broncos issued a statement proclaiming he was on the block after conversations with agent Bus Cook.

"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."

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

In a team-issued statement Tuesday, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said his attempts and those by first-year head coach Josh McDaniels to reach Cutler for the past 10 days were "unsuccessful." But in what has turned into an obvious he-said, she-said situation, Cutler claims he is the one who had not heard from the Broncos during that time. Cutler said the first time he heard from the Broncos in 10 days was Tuesday when they informed him of their decision to trade him.

"A conversation with his agent earlier (Tuesday) clearly communicated and confirmed to us that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Broncos," Bowlen said. "We will begin discussions with other teams in an effort to accommodate his request to be traded."

Hmm, that is odd because I specifically remember this statement Jay...

Cutler and Cook issued the trade request a day after a meeting with McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders did not go the way quarterback had hoped. (courtesy of the Denver Post online)

 

 

2009 Fantasy Quarterbacks

So now that the NFL Draft is just 25 days away, it's never too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming fantasy season. One of the topics of discussion will not only be the top quarterbacks heading into the 2009 season, but also what rookie quarterbacks might emerge from this year's class. Will there be any Matt Ryans or Joe Flaccos?

Well before I open that debate, let’s look at last year’s big arms. Drew Brees blew away the competition a year ago passing for over 5,000-yards and tossing a league high 34-touchdowns. While these numbers were far from Tom Brady's 2007 season, they were still quite very impressive. With Brady expected to return in 2009 healthy, but coming back from a severe knee injury, Brees has to be considered the favorite to go as the number fantasy quarterback. He'll have his normal array of weapons, with a healthy Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and healthy Reggie Bush, so fantasy owners can expect another big year from the former Boilermaker.

The Moats incident, as I'm sure most of you have already heard about, is distasteful, unnecessary, and saddening. I don't have much of a further opinion on the topic because a wide range of views have already been expressed, but like most people, the officer was in the wrong. The wife's decision to run away regardless was somewhat ruthless due to her lack of attention to safety. Nevertheless, at least no one was harmed and the Moats accepted his apology on the basis of it being "sincere."

Jay Cutler's story is an ongoing saga without much movement. Recently he has decided to skip off-season workouts and forgo his $100,000 bonus for attending 90% of the workouts. He has attended none to this day, and it doesn't look like he is planning on doing so. Regardless of the money, this could just be a common occurrence during his off-seasons similar to Terrell Owens, or he might be further protesting his position on the team. Either way, Cutler has become annoying with his antics, and if you look at Terrell Owens as a distraction, problem, etc, Cutler is in the same ball-park.

I just got a text from CBS4 saying Jay Cutler has left Denver to go back to his place in Tennessee.