The Jets have to be happy with the quarterbacks they have now.
The Denver Broncos traded quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears today, ending speculation he could join the Jets.
Cutler would have fulfilled a glaring need for the Gang Green, who lost starting quarterback Brett Favre to retirement and have unproven Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge contending for the job.
ESPN is reporting the Bears will send QB Kyle Orton to Denver, along with first-round draft picks in 2009 (18th overall) and 2010 and a 2009 third-rounder. Chicago gets a 2009 fifth-round pick in return.
The trade ends a month of back-and-forth between Cutler and the Broncos, which began when word got out that new coach Josh McDaniels tried to trade for quarterback Matt Cassel.
“I try not to let it affect me right now and the preparation that I am doing because the whole thing might blow over and he (might) go somewhere else,” Clemens said today before the trade was announced.
Cutler, a 25-year-old flame-thrower, said last night he couldn’t believe the Broncos wanted to get rid of him.
“I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon,” Cutler told Foxsports.com. “I didn’t want to get traded. 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.”
Agent Bus Cook had been busy sparring with the Broncos’ front office, which claims it tried for 10 days to get Cutler to call McDaniels or owner Pat Bowlen.
Other teams believed to be in the mix for Cutler were the Lions, Buccaneers, Browns, 49ers and Redskins.
Cutler could be the Bears’ starting quarterback for the next 10 years. He’s young, talented (Pro Bowl in 2007) and though he’s been dogged by whispers of immaturity, people inside the Broncos organization said he grew up a bit last year.
Cutler is cheap in the short term, too. He has three years remaining on his rookie deal with a base salary of $1.035 million this season, a small sum for a star quarterback.
The Jets are hopeful they have a star quarterback-to-be already on their roster, though Clemens, Ratliff and Ainge have combined to start eight NFL games, all by Clemens in 2007.
“I have a bunch of confidence in those guys,” receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. “I’ve been watching them work since they have been here. Those guys have been preparing like starters.”
New coach Rex Ryan has steadfastly backed the three players, but the Jets reportedly were in the mix to acquire Cutler. The Jets also will visit with QB Matt Stafford, the No. 1 porspect in the upcoming NFL Draft.
“I appreciate their confidence in us,” Ratliff said. “Kellen and I work really hard to be better and that is what I am doing right now.”
With Brian Costello
