2009 NFL Off Season Thread - Page 29 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

But again....McDaniels has to be comfortable with whomever his QB is...and he certainly would of been just that with Cassell. the other thing about the salary is that I would be shocked if there arent negotiations going on right now to extend that deal to 6 years or so that will bring the average down to the 9-10 mil a season mark.

Now you or I may not believe that Cassell is in Cutlers league as far as talent...but it goes beyond that IMO. Coachability is HUGE for a first year head coach and perhaps, as is being evidenced by his actions/words of late, Cutler is not as coachable as Cassell and McDaniels wants to address it now rather than later. Whether he handled it the right way or not is debateable, but I cant blame him for wanting the guy he feels more comfortable with.

All that being said....its really a bad turn of events for the Broncos whose offense was among the best in the business and now may end up being mediocre at best. The defense is where I would be more concerned when it comes to the Broncos and its yet to be seen if McDaniels can get the right guys to turn that around. Could get ugly...really ugly in Denver before it gets better.

Bowlen really has to be wondering what the hell happened.

And Bowlen need only look in the mirrror to find out what the hell happened.

He threw away 15 years of stability to join the bottom 2/3 of NFL organizations that continually chase their tails season after season.

Bowlen should've have had McDaniels' Cassell hard on recognized and went another direction. And I'm sorry Tranny, but Cassell at 9-10 million per is still no where close to an adequate replacement for a career of Jay Cutler on the path he WAS on. Pure insanity.

My guess...wherever Cutler ends up, Shanahan becomes the next coach.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Its not Cutler vs Cassell straight up. Right now Cutler wins that every time. Its (It was) Cutler and a 2nd vs Cassell and probably 2 1sts + ... . And Cassell is only signed for 1 year so if he dives like many on this forum think he will, then you cut him and use one of your 1sts to draft a QB next year and also clear cap space.

Obviously you think Cutler could win a Superbowl as a QB with a team in which he is the main figure (not just a piece like QB's in Baltimore, Minn, and a lesser extent Pitt).

He hasnt proved that to me yet so I am more willing to waste a year on a different possibility since this is obviously a transition year for the Broncos and a Superbowl appearance is probably 2-3 years away minimum given the current Teams in the AFC.

2-3 minimum? We don't have a QB! There isn't one in this draft that is projected to be able to do what Cutler and Ryan have done. Sam Bradford is about as close as I can see the Broncos getting to replacing Cutler anytime soon.

There's no such thing as a wasted year in the NFL. Only bad organizations waste years in today's NFL.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 05:35 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ion/index.html

Very nice take by Peter King on the issue today, though it is obvious he's a huge McDaniels/anything Patriots guy. I don't believe that McDaniels didn't want Cassell as the starter, but I do believe this was/is fixable. In the end, it will be Cutler's choice and his immaturity and emotion may screw it all up for both parties. King's last line is chock full of absolute truth.

Bottom line though, how this was handled by the Broncos when it first broke was flat out ridiculous. They could've put the fire out.

AaronSJ · 03-17-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

We don't have a QB!

Do you think that Chris Simms could possibly be that guy? He's no Cutler, although he does actually have a slightly better winning % as a NFL starter (6-7 record vs. Cutler's 17-20)... but if McDaniels made Matt Cassel into a starting NFL QB, could he do the same with Simms? He's just 28 and has sat around for the past few years... what would happen if McDaniels installed him as the starter today and then had all spring and summer to work with him and an improved running game to go with it? Then he could use the draft and trade Cutler to improve the defense... I could see a 8-8 season under that scenario, which would make the Broncos at least a contender...

Possible?

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronSJ

Do you think that Chris Simms could possibly be that guy? He's no Cutler, although he does actually have a slightly better winning % as a NFL starter (6-7 record vs. Cutler's 17-20)... but if McDaniels made Matt Cassel into a starting NFL QB, could he do the same with Simms? He's just 28 and has sat around for the past few years... what would happen if McDaniels installed him as the starter today and then had all spring and summer to work with him and an improved running game to go with it? Then he could use the draft and trade Cutler to improve the defense... I could see a 8-8 season under that scenario, which would make the Broncos at least a contender...

Possible?

No. I think that is an overly optimistic scenario. The defense would have to have a phenomenal turnaround (top 5) to make that remotely possible IMO. The running game was fine last year, until they ran out of running backs.

That said, there are a lot worse options than Chris Simms and if he is the starter, I will root for him.

And Matt Cassell isn't a starting NFL QB at this point. Watch this year and see how successful he is. Ask Chief fans if they think he is a big enough improvement over Tyler Thigpen to make the Chiefs relevant in the division this season. I would imagine most will say no. He turned a 16-0 Super Bowl team into a 11-5 non-playoff team.

With a mediocre defense, the Broncos win the division easily last year and probably go deep in the playoffs.

Montana Moe · 03-17-2009, 07:54 PM

I think it could be possible, AaronSJ. I've seen a lot of Chris Simms throughout College, and in the NFL. As a Saints fan, I keep my eye on the Bucs and he was never a world beater, but I think he'd be serviceable in the right system.

His only season of merit was 2005 where he played 11 games. His biggest issue is staying healthy.

11g 2035 yds 10 TD 7 INT 61%comp.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

I think it could be possible, AaronSJ. I've seen a lot of Chris Simms throughout College, and in the NFL. As a Saints fan, I keep my eye on the Bucs and he was never a world beater, but I think he'd be serviceable in the right system.

His only season of merit was 2005 where he played 11 games. His biggest issue is staying healthy.

11g 2035 yds 10 TD 7 INT 61%comp.

I agree with your assessment of Simms. He's a tough kid too.

Montana Moe · 03-17-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I agree with your assessment of Simms. He's a tough kid too.

Thanks, but you're not getting me to root for the Broncos...

transplant99 · 03-17-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

And I'm sorry Tranny, but Cassell at 9-10 million per is still no where close to an adequate replacement for a career of Jay Cutler on the path he WAS on

We dont know that at this point...we can suspect it, but McDaniels knows what he can do with a Cassell..he doesnt know what Cutler can do. Its the old "better the devil you know than the one you dont" scenario i guess.

And 9-10 mil is just a guess...could be lower if Cassel wants a longer term deal..with more guarenteed up front.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

We dont know that at this point...we can suspect it, but McDaniels knows what he can do with a Cassell..he doesnt know what Cutler can do. Its the old "better the devil you know than the one you dont" scenario i guess.

And 9-10 mil is just a guess...could be lower if Cassel wants a longer term deal..with more guarenteed up front.

Yes, and what he can do with Cassell is turn a 16-0 team into a borderline playoff contender.

With a significantly better defense than Denver's to boot, not to mention offensive weapons that are Denver's equals at worst.

I really don't understand the Cassell phenomenon. I think it is a direct result of how Brady ascended to NFL royalty in a similar situation. Do they actually think it's going to happen again?

Joborule · 03-17-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

We dont know that at this point...we can suspect it, but McDaniels knows what he can do with a Cassell..he doesnt know what Cutler can do. Its the old "better the devil you know than the one you dont" scenario i guess.

And 9-10 mil is just a guess...could be lower if Cassel wants a longer term deal..with more guarenteed up front.

If you had Peyton Manning as your QB. Would you trade him for a QB your more comfortable with since you coached him in the past?

Cutler has shown that he has great potential to be a marquee quarterback over these past three season. The stats don't lie in he has been the key element in the Broncos offence. If Denver had any form of defence whatsoever, we wouldn't even be discussing if Cutler is even really that good because we would have won games thanks to the defence preventing scores. You can only outscore teams so much, so constantly. Heck, if our receiver didn't drop the ball so much, we may have STILL made the playoffs!

The offence was good with what it had. If anything had to be improved, it was just the Running Back position in maybe a little tweak in the o-line. However it did get banged up this year. When you are giving a half finished project, whats the point in doing everything by scratch and set yourself back? going from Cutler to Cassels is a downgrade in any way you see it. Cassels has only had one full year down. Cutler became a pro bowler within his third year, and only missed the playoff due to his defence. The very idea of getting rid of Cutler and bring in Cassels is just stupid and unprofessional from McDaniels. If he didn't want to work with Cutler, then Bowlen made a terrible choice (looks like the case now anyway) in hiring this guy.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-17-2009, 09:11 PM

I'm thinking this could be resolved with a nice fat, long-term contract extension for Cutler.

Get it done Xanders.

burn_baby_burn · 03-18-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I really don't understand the Cassell phenomenon. I think it is a direct result of how Brady ascended to NFL royalty in a similar situation. Do they actually think it's going to happen again?

I think that is exactly it. Reading about Pioli it seems he likes to brag how he drafted a hall of fame QB so late, like he did it on purpose. It was a major fluke out. If Brady was such a lock to be one of the greatest QB's in history why would the Patriots risk drafting him so late?

transplant99 · 03-19-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

If you had Peyton Manning as your QB. Would you trade him for a QB your more comfortable with since you coached him in the past?

Uhhh...no?

Cutler is no where near Manning status though either...at least not yet.

burn_baby_burn · 03-19-2009, 10:14 AM

Agent explains Cutler timeline.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3995461

Bobblehead · 03-19-2009, 10:34 AM

And now there there are rumours of dissention in the 49ers' Coaching ranks. An unnamed assistant coach believes their input is being ignored in personnel decisions.

And if it makes you Broncos fans any happier, Correll Buckhalter's agent says Buckhalter did not buy drugs or speak to the dealer on the phone, contrary to what the dealer, on trial in Pennsylvania, has claimed.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-19-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Uhhh...no?

Cutler is no where near Manning status though either...at least not yet.

Very poor analogy, I agree.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-19-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Agent explains Cutler timeline.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3995461

Oh boy, now Bowlen is lying. He referenced the discussion with Cutler in his press conference after firing Shanahan. Cutler also referenced it in an interview a few days later.

Good grief, this is just flat out assinine.

Joborule · 03-19-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Uhhh...no?

Cutler is no where near Manning status though either...at least not yet.

My point is that Culter has more value then Cassels. Why downgrade from a superstar QB in the making to a QB that just had one good year?

Bobblehead · 03-19-2009, 02:21 PM

Stallworth was impaired when he killed a pedestrian with his Bentley.

Quote:

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was driving drunk -- blood alcohol tests showed he was over the legal limit -- last weekend when he struck and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley in Miami Beach, a source with knowledge of the investigation told The Miami Herald.

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/nf...81?eref=fromSI