Monday, March 16, 2009
Hannan / Sports Bus Cook: Jay Cutler's Agent and Master Puppeteer
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 1:17 PM
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Jay Cutler's metamorphosis from aspiring NFL superstar to the world's largest 5th-grader took a giant step forward last week. Cutler had a public hissy fit when new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels tried to trade for his former pupil in New England, Matt Cassell. A move that would have meant the end of the Vandy QBs time in Denver.
On Thursday, Cutler put his Denver home on the market. Then, after a meeting with team officials, he expressed disappointment that Coach McDaneils didn't ruffle his floppy mane and tell him he was the bestest kid ever.
"At the end of the meeting, he wasn't like, 'Jay, I want you as our quarterback, you're our guy.' It felt like the opposite. He basically said that I needed to tell him if we can't work this out, to let him know," Cutler added. "I thought he was antagonizing me and that was disappointing because I was ready to move on, committed as a Bronco."Potential prima donnas and aspiring victims take note. This is a master at work.
But even casual fans of the NFL have to be experiencing some major deja vu right now. It was only a year ago that Brett Favre, a first ballot Woe Is Me Hall of Famer, orchestrated his own dramatic concerto to force a trade to the New York Jets. Cutler's crybaby act isn't just annoying, it's unoriginal.
And the tie that binds them? Agent Bus Cook...
Cutler-Favre comparisons are nothing new. They have similarly strong arms (Bonus Sacrilege: Cutler once said his was stronger than Rocky Mountain Demigod, John Elway) and sportswriters can't help but call them gunslingers, which means they both have a tendency to force throws into triple-coverage, thus incurring game-crippling interceptions. But little attention has been paid to Cook's role in both their media maelstroms*.
*We thought this was a wholly original idea until today's Denver Post. And last week's NFL Fanhouse. Just scratch that "original" comment.
Cook's ability to score for his client isn't in question: As Favre's agent, he negotiated the first $100 million dollar contract in NFL history. But Cutler's latest spat suggests that, apart from big money, Cook also has a way of providing his clients with lasting reputations. That of whiny, entitled troublemakers who're willing to submarine the team, the organization and all those around them to get what they want.
Maybe this is the way its always been behind the scenes between player and team. Even still, it's probably not in Cook's long-term interests to keep throwing the curtains open, exposing the ugly truth that lies just behind them.
As a last aside, let's take the opportunity now to break the hearts of all Vandy alums dying to see their man return to Nashville. Collins is resigned. VY is worth too little on the trade market to bring back anything worthy of the investment they've made in him. And the price Denver would demand for Cutler, even in a low-leverage position (first-round pick, impact player and maybe more) is too high. Sorry Titans' fans. It ain't happenin'.
Comments (1)
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Great article.
This soap opera in Denver is just plain silly. If Cutler gets his way after this tantrum I really hope he gets traded to the Lions, an institutionally rotten franchise, where his career can go to die.
The Broncos may be down at the moment but it's a team with a proud history and an owner who has basically run the team well for a quarter century.
If Shanahan had been hired elsewhere and tried to trade for Cutler would Jay be throwing his fifth grade hissy fit? Get over it already. The Broncos have paid Jay great money, fans have treated him relatively well and the situation in Denver is not all that dire...
Sheesh.
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Posted by
Bronco Season Ticket Holder
on March 24, 2009 at 11:45 PM
