Sun Sets in Denver

Welcome to my new blog! For fans of my long-running Internet column, you'll recognize some features starting in September. My annual NFL previews will begin a few weeks, and the start of training camp will give me plenty of subject matter for my weekly ramblings. To start, though, I want to go back to a topic near and dear to my heart, and then extend it to current events.

I was surprised when the Chicago Bears exchanged QBs with the Denver Broncos. I wasn't surprised that Cutler was being traded - he done his best to alienate himself from his new coach. It began with his paranoid rant when incoming coach Josh McDaniel attempted to woo QB Matt Cassel. Cutler immediately went to the media, saying the new coach had no faith in him and that he wanted out of Denver. Dumb move on Cutler's part. Not only would such a move ruin his chances with his new coach, but it was a thoughtless reaction. Whenever a new coach joins a team, it's not uncommon for that coach to bring in some players or assistants from his old team. In this case, it was even more appropriate for McDaniel to want Cassel. McDaniel stated that he was revamping the Broncos' offense, making it similar to the Patriots. It makes perfect sense to want someone intimately acquainted with that offense. It took Cutler nearly an entire year to learn Denver's old offense, and it wasn't nearly as complex as that employed by the Patriots. McDaniel wanted a QB he could count on. Getting Brady was out of the question, but Cassel was ready to prove he could lead a team of his own, a chance the young journeyman will get in Kansas City.

So Cutler was on his way out. Still, I wonder why the Bears took him. Orton was developing well, and he understood how the team functions. Okay, it won't take Cutler nearly so long to learn the Bears' system, as it's not too different from the run-oriented system of the former Broncos. However, Cutler is more of a showboat. He wants to throw the long pass often, and he tends to look for those opportunities before dumping off a short pass. That strategy was a failure when Rex Grossman was QB, and the Bears have simply substituted another one like him. I fear what will happen to my favorite team this year.

Orton seemed a shoo-in for Denver's starting job. After all, who else did they have? A late drafted rookie and a failed back-up rejected by three other teams. Yet McDaniels seems to like Chris Simms, and is threatening to make him starting QB. Obviously McDaniel prefers the arm strength of Simms to Orton's methodical tendencies. Big mistake! Simms is error-prone, and doesn't have a good sense of the field. Denver is likely suffer a large number of interceptions this season. Fortunately, they boosted their running corps, so they can always fall back on that. I'm not sure McDaniels will fall back on the run, though, so the Broncos may be in for a LOOOOONNNNNGGG season.