BE careful what you wish for, Jet fans.
The moment news of Bronco quarterback Jay Cutler demanding a trade out of Denver surfaced yesterday, Jet fans everywhere surely began dreaming of a Cutler trade to New York.
Is that a great idea?
Not really – unless the Jets could wrest Cutler from the Broncos for a very reasonable price, because Cutler is hardly a guarantee to bring the Jets to the Super Bowl.
The Jets, who do have serious questions at the quarterback position with three inexperienced and unproven starting candidates in Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge, should not mortgage their future for Cutler.
Granted, Cutler – who’s only 25, is entering his fourth season (third as a starter) and has a cannon for an arm – has excellent upside.
But there are warts, too.
Cutler is inconsistent, and he has yet to lead the Broncos to the playoffs in his two full seasons as the starter – Denver went 7-9 in 2007 and 8-8 last season.
His mental makeup also has to be questioned after the ridiculous and immature way he handled the current situation in Denver.
When Cutler learned that new Denver head coach Josh McDaniels tried to trade for Matt Cassel, he threw a hissy fit.
Cutler acted with the kind of indignation that a player who’s won championships might have acted if he learned he was being disrespected by his team.
What exactly has Cutler won in Denver that should make him so untouchable?
Cutler should get over himself and realize this is the way of the world. Teams are always trying to improve, and few players are untouchable.
McDaniels, first as the Patriot quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator, coached and nurtured Cassel, and the fact he tried to bring him to Denver is too bad for Cutler.
The thin skin Cutler has displayed has to make you wonder how he might handle the pressures of quarterbacking in New York.
Given Cutler’s recent childish behavior, how would he react if things don’t work out with the Jets? How long might it be before he’s trying to whine his way out of his next situation?
On the Jets’ side, for all the doubters who don’t believe in Clemens, ask yourself this question: Has he really been given a chance?
The answer is a resounding no.
Clemens started eight games in 2007, playing behind a porous offensive line, and he not only struggled but was nearly decapitated a few times.
Consider, too, that Chad Pennington, starting the other eight games that year, had similar struggles and poor numbers.
This is no guarantee Clemens or even Ratliff, on whom the team is said to be high, is the definitive answer for the Jets. But the Jets have to find out about them. And trading multiple high draft picks to get Cutler is a bad idea.
Be careful what you wish for, Jets fans.
*
The Jets yesterday announced their signing of free-agent DE Marques Douglas, another former Raven who played for Rex Ryan, and unrestricted free agent DT Howard Green. They also re-signed unrestricted free agent DB Ahmad Carroll.