Green Jets & Ham Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 CNNSI Cutler is passer worth watching By Jeffri Chadiha Of all the NFL prospects streaming into Indianapolis for this week's Scouting Combine, only one really holds my interest: Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler. If you follow the draft, you've heard the name by now. If you don't, you soon will. He's the little-known signal-caller who has found a place alongside Matt Leinart and Vince Young because of his big-time arm, his surprising mobility and his smarts. But I like the kid for a different reason this week. He's simply not afraid to compete. While Young and Leinart will do as little as possible to risk their draft stock at the combine -- reportedly neither player is going to throw this week -- Cutler will do whatever is asked of him. It's an attitude he's had for the last couple months, and I'm glad to see he hasn't lost it now, when he's become the prospect who's created more buzz than Dancing with the Stars. He's not merely passing through town to meet with teams and go home. He's in Indianapolis to prove that all the hype is legitimate. He's here to show why he has gone from an obscure name to a probable top 10 pick. Granted, attitude alone won't make him a better quarterback than Leinart or Young. However, it does make him a quarterback worth believing in. Throwing at the combine is supposed to be a difficult ordeal for most highly touted quarterbacks because they're throwing to unfamiliar receivers, which means their timing could suffer. They could flutter passes or struggle with their touch, all while the major decision-makers in the league are charting the proceedings. It could be a nightmare if everything goes wrong, but Cutler doesn't seem to care about that. All he's concerned with is another opportunity to bolster his status. This is refreshing because too many elite pro prospects, particularly those at the skill positions, now treat the combine like it's a waste of time. They show up to get weighed and measured. They interview with teams. They take their Wonderlic tests. And then they go back to wherever they train in order to prepare for their own personal workouts. It's become the popular approach to making money in the draft. The less you show in Indianapolis, the less risk you have of losing millions in April. That's all well and good, but I like risk-takers like Cutler. I like people who aren't afraid to gamble on themselves, because gambling creates pressure and that's when you can learn something about a player. What Cutler apparently understands is that it doesn't matter if he's performing in less than ideal circumstances this week. His entire NFL career will be played in less than ideal circumstances if he's a high pick. He'll likely be on a bad team with no hope of winning and everybody expecting the world of him. He might as well get used to elevating his game when he's uncomfortable. After all, it's not like he hasn't spent his entire career dealing with challenges. Vanderbilt was the only Division I school to offer Cutler a scholarship four years ago. That opportunity didn't create much joy on the field -- the Commodores won only 11 games during his career -- but Cutler wasn't the problem. He set school records for total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes and was named a team captain three seasons in a row. In his last college game he led Vanderbilt to an upset of Tennessee in Knoxville. While the world wasn't looking, Cutler transformed himself into the type of talent that NFL general managers crave. So it makes sense that he wouldn't run from the spotlight now. Even after producing a dazzling Senior Bowl performance that left some scouts thinking he might be the top passer in the draft, he hasn't gotten full of himself. The more people want to see him, the more he wants to show them what they missed while he was toiling for the Commodores. Unlike Leinart and Young, who have firmly established their sterling reputations by performing in big games, Cutler can't afford to rely on stats, film and buzz. He needs to continue operating as if his dream dies tomorrow. It's that approach that has taken him this far. That's why I can't wait to see what scouts are saying about him after this week. In fact, somebody asked me the other day if Cutler might earn some negative reviews at the combine, if he could hurt himself by throwing in this environment. I said there's no way he could damage his stock now. The kid wants to compete, and I'd bet anything he meets the challenge. At an event where players have become too concerned with blowing their futures, it's exciting to see somebody who can't wait to show how bright the next 10 years might be. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jeffri_chadiha/02/22/cutler/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I don't care...he still reminds me of Browning Nagle. And let's face it, these are all opinions anyway...so, just like the write ups praising Nagle back then, they were wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greensince69 Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 WHile I really like Cutler I don't like him at 4. If we get a first rounder for abe, take him with the first round second pick. If we can trade down the 4, take 2 OL and cutler and you have a good start at young nucleus going forward. You still would have another 2 and round 3 and beyond to fill the rest of the holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4HCrew Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 He can be a great prospect but I just do not want him at #4 either... a ton of money going to him and he will be a punching bag for 2 years. I would rather go the veteran route and then go qb next year hopefully Brady Quinn as I cannot see the Jets winning many games next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonEJet Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Ham, you are soooooooooo wrong about this guy We'll look back a few years from now and just laugh Jay Cutler=Heath Shuler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonehands Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 If you think he is a good QB, then who cares where he is drafted? In hindsight, would Tom Brady have been a poor choice as the 4th overall pick in his draft? You acquire the players you want and let nerds like Kiper comment on if they were reaches or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjets Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 OH DAMN...whats the beef with this dude??? i dont follow college so i know nothing about him.. Ham, you are soooooooooo wrong about this guy We'll look back a few years from now and just laugh Jay Cutler=Heath Shuler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 If we take Cutler at 4 we better be right on because we have made our bed with him at the top of the draft and salary he will command Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greensince69 Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Not a beef, just common sense. We have cap issues no matter who we cut this year. A qb at 4 is going to be asking for huge $'s. Even Dbrick at 4 will ask for huge $'s. Drafting CUtler after 10 could save us in excess of 10 mill. THat is a lot of cap room. I would also perfer to get a first and a second in the draft than draft at number 4 for the same reason. We can get 2 starters for essentially the money of one. Yes Dbrick has the potential of being an orlando pace type but even an elite ot can be a bust as we have seen several times in the past. If we did not have so many holes, take your chance and swing for the fences. In our current overhaul and finacial situation, take the more prudent approach, and get more bodies to fill the holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinlawyer Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Not a beef, just common sense. We have cap issues no matter who we cut this year. A qb at 4 is going to be asking for huge $'s. Even Dbrick at 4 will ask for huge $'s. Drafting CUtler after 10 could save us in excess of 10 mill. THat is a lot of cap room. I would also perfer to get a first and a second in the draft than draft at number 4 for the same reason. We can get 2 starters for essentially the money of one. Yes Dbrick has the potential of being an orlando pace type but even an elite ot can be a bust as we have seen several times in the past. If we did not have so many holes, take your chance and swing for the fences. In our current overhaul and finacial situation, take the more prudent approach, and get more bodies to fill the holes. There is no way Cutler stays on the board after 10. He will be gone by 9 because the Lions would definately draft him to replace their other 1st round QB bust Harrington.... If the jets want to trade down and get Cutler it has to be in the 5-8 range. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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