The Panoptiblog

Jay Cutler goes to Chicago, a team with no good wide receivers, a rebuilt offensive line, and a local media who won’t protect a whiny quarterback just because he has a huge throwing arm.

Denver gets Kyle Orton, who is reportedly an accurate thrower, and a team leader who has won the respect of his team by playing hurt. And they get two first round pics, and a third.

Is there any doubt who got the better end of this deal?

Here’s what I learned this week:

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If you want a quick lesson in how to go from looking like the person wronged to looking like the person in the wrong, look no further than Denver QB Jay Cutler.

Yes, Jay, the Broncos’ front office messed up when they listened to Tampa Bay’s trade offer. Yes, by all appearances, you are better than Matt Cassel. I, personally, think they were nuts to consider trading you. You have every right to react to this news by expressing your shock and disappointment to the Denver media.

But in order to continue looking like the good guy in a bad situation, rather than a whiny 25-year old kid, you can’t say “No” when the coaching staff then tries to meet with you. You go in, let them apologize, and then the heat stays on the young coach who almost traded away his star quarterback.

I was as pissed as anyone when I read that they even thought about trying to bring in Matt Cassel and send Cutler packing. Yeah, I get why McDaniels would want to bring somebody in who already knows the offensive terminology, and wouldn’t need a year to adjust. But Cutler can put up big numbers, and has the arm, mobility, and football intelligence needed to win Super Bowls.

The longer Cutler pouts about this, though, the worse he looks. Cutler is their quarterback, and they can trade him if they want. He needs somebody close to him to tell him to get in there, talk things out, and move on, so that Denver can get on with their free-agent spree.

Brian Dawkins/Photo courtesy of Eric Mencher, accessed at Philly.com

As impressed as I was that the new coaching and management staff of the Denver Broncos were willing to cut half the players from a lousy defense, I did wonder to myself, who are we going to get to replace these guys?

It didn’t take long to get my answer. Not forty hours into free agency, Denver has added Andra Davis (LB, Browns), Correll Buckhalter (RB, Eagles), J. J. Arrington (RB, Cardinals), Jabar Gaffney (WR, Patriots), and Renaldo Hill (S, Dolphins). And now, the best of the lot: according to PFT, Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia’s longtime pro-bowl safety, just signed a five-year deal with the Broncos, while fans back in Philly gnash their teeth and rend their garments.

It’s hard to judge some of these moves. Buckhalter and Arrington haven’t been every-down backs, but with a different offense to be installed by McDaniels and company, maybe that’s not what Denver needs anymore. But they’re making moves, and on paper at least, the defense is already better than it was two months ago.