Jay Cutler Upset With Trade Talk

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was upset to hear his name being thrown around in trade talks this weekend. And I can’t say I blame him. Before Matt Cassel was traded from New England to Kansas City yesterday, Jay’s name came up in a proposed three-way deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs that would have brought Matt to Denver (and reunited him with his former offensive coordinator from New England and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels) and sent Jay to Tampa Bay. It obviously didn’t work out but the trouble had already started as far as Jay was concerned:

“I’m upset. I mean, I’m really shocked at this point. I could see why they want Cassel. I don’t know if they think I can’t run the system or I don’t have the skills for it. Or if they don’t think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don’t know what it is. I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block.”

Coach McDaniels denies that Jay is on the trading block — or ever was for that matter. But it sounds like damage control to me because a source close to the situation confirmed the Broncos were trying to trade Jay for Matt before Matt was traded to Kansas City. Hmm. Allow me to pose this question: What led the Patriots or Bucs to believe that Jay could be traded in the first place? Somebody had to put out the word that he was an option for a trade. Why else would another team call the Broncos and pose that kind of ridiculous question? Because it is ridiculous. I’m guessing they must have leaked word that Jay was a “trade-able” possibility. Yes, of course they did.

This shows a lack of respect for what Jay has accomplished in Denver thus far and it’s tantamount to a slap in the face if you ask me. I don’t know what Jay has to do to earn any more respect in Denver. All he did last season was throw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns and make the Pro Bowl. I know 31 other teams who would like to have that kind of productivity from their quarterback. I’m not going to bash coach McDaniels because I don’t know his knowledge of the situation, but he appears to be lying and sure isn’t getting off on the right foot with the most important member of his new team.

Sources: ESPN.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom