Polls
Loading ...Thanks for coming back to Zoneblitz.com! Check out our latest posts on the Zoneblitz Home Page, or follow us on Twitter.
The latest big time trade rumor making the rounds in the NFL is that Julius Peppers will go to the Patriots, in exchange for the 34th pick in this year’s draft, which the Patriots acquired from the Chiefs for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel.
Peppers, who has been with the Carolina Panthers since the 2002 season, expressed his desire to leave the team earlier this offseason, and go to a team that features a 3-4 defense. The team responded by tagging him as their franchise player.
On the surface, the move might make sense–the Panthers get rid of a disgruntled player, and get something back; Peppers goes to a perennial contender that plays the 3-4 defense he thinks will better suit him; and the Patriots get a big name pass rusher.
Digging in, though, the deal doesn’t really make sense to anyone.
While trying to get some work done for the day job I was listening to the Dan Patrick Show on the radio. During his weekly discussion with Rich Eisen of the NFL Network, the latter host indicated that he believes Jay Cutler will be traded by the Denver Broncos in a draft day deal.
Cutler, he says, simply isn’t going to be able to get over the perceived slight from head coach Josh McDaniels, who either listened to offers or floated Cutler’s name in trade talks involving Matt Cassel last month.
Eisen said the Broncos could use Chris Simms, if they had to. He didn’t predict a destination for Cutler, though he indicated that Minnesota and Detroit were two teams he said would be foolish to not at least inquire. Eisen named a couple more potential trade partners that I didn’t catch.
I still think Cutler is being a baby and that Denver would be foolish to make such a deal. He’s still young and even if he’s peaked, he’s still among the better quarterbacks in the league right now.
But if it’s going to become a distraction I can see why McDaniels might think the better move would be cutting the cord and moving on. I guess time will tell.
I still think the Denver Broncos made a mistake in considering any deals in which quarterback Jay Cutler would have gone to Detroit or Tampa Bay in a three-way deal that would have brought Matt Cassel in return.
That said, when I wrote this morning’s post I had yet to read Sports Illustrated’s Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column.
The revelation that Cutler had already been upset with the team and asked for a trade when offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, a Cutler confidant, left for USC doesn’t change my mind. But it does raise questions about the genuineness of Cutler’s anger toward being included in talks in the first place.
Further reports throughout the day indicating that Cutler has now locked himself in his room like a petulant child and is refusing to speak with Broncos officials raise questions about his maturity.
Cutler, until proven otherwise, is still a better player than Cassel. His college resume is better, his professional performance is better – Cassel still has to prove that he can repeat the success he had in 2008 without Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Bill Belichick helping him out.
Last year Jay Cutler threw for 4,526 yards, third most in the NFL. In his first three seasons as “the next John Elway” he’s thrown for 9,024 yards and 54 touchdowns. He needs to cut down on his 37 interceptions but he’s without question the best quarterback Denver has seen since the Hall of Famer retired.
Over the weekend it was reported that Denver’s rookie coach Josh McDaniels floated – or was at least willing to listen to – offers from Detroit and Tampa Bay that would have sent Cutler away.
Those reported deals would have reunited McDaniels with New England backup Matt Cassel.
The Kansas City Chiefs Saturday received Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots for a 2nd round draft pick, a relative song considering the price tag that allegedly had been hung on the backup to Tom Brady.
John Clayton and John Seibel on ESPN Radio this afternoon were doing some solid analysis of the first couple days of free agency. They’re two of the better hosts out there and they definitely have their hands on the pulse of the league.
But when they said Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe have to be thrilled with the acquisition of Cassel, I’m not sure I agree.
Connect With Us:
Recent Comments