Broncos coach Josh McDaniel is lucky. Bears GM Jerry Angelo is crazy.
I have a few observations about the trading of Jay Cutler to the Bears for a two first rounders (2009 and 2010), a third rounder in exchange for Kyle Orton and a fifth rounder.
1. Why didn’t the Bears go after Matt Cassel for less than half the price?
There would have been no baggage, no closed door meetings to tell him about the “Bears way” of doing things. No rationalization to the fans or media. It would have been so much easier getting Matt Cassel, a proven quarterback, for so much less price and headaches. Instead the Bears give up too much for a guy that could be very good or a guy that could be a big disappointment. You don’t trade that much unless it is guaranteed.2. Broncos coach Josh McDaniel is doing cart wheels.
Luck be a Lady? How about, “Luck be Josh McDaniels.” The fact that he was able to trade a guy he didn’t want or like and get back twice the value is astounding. The McDaniels-Cutler marriage never made it to the honeymoon, yet McDaniels got enough alimony to buy some quality commodities. McDaniels, we thought, was going to get either stuck with Cutler or give him away. The addition of Kyle Orton to the deal gives McDaniels some time to figure out the future.
3. The Bears over-reacted.
I will say this. The Bears have been a mess at the quarter position for too long. Does this fix it? You could say it upgrades things to possibly a point we haven’t seen at the position. But the rush to sign a guy like Cutler, who has lost as much as he has won, is a big reach. The Bears should have over-reacted at this position five years ago. If they did, they might have a Super Bowl ring to show off.
4. The Patriots over-reacted in dealing Cassel so quickly.
If the Patriots had signed a big-time free agent, I might think differently. But Cassel was worth more than a second round pick (34th overall). We all knew that. Yesterday it was thrown in the faces of Patriots fans. While it allowed the Patriots flexibility to plan for the future by KOing $14.6 million from the salary cap, the benefits haven’t been derived just yet. After seeing this trade, the Patriots probably could have gotten more than a first round pick for Cassel.
Let me know your thoughts.
