Elway on Plummer/Cutler

[Bronco LB 59]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-broncos-cutler-elway&prov=ap&type=lgns

Elway: Plummer will respond to challenge of new quarterback

By EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer
May 9, 2006

DENVER (AP) -- John Elway was nine years into his career when the Denver Broncos sent him for a loop on draft day. They picked a quarterback in the first round.

Fast forward to 2006 and the picture in Denver is somewhat similar.

Of course, nine-year veteran Jake Plummer isn't John Elway. And Denver's newest quarterback, Jay Cutler, doesn't draw any comparisons to Tommy Maddox. Still, Elway said he could relate to the mixed emotions Plummer might have felt when Denver's latest draft-day surprise went down.

"It could turn you a little bit sideways, especially when you're that close to the Super Bowl," Elway said Tuesday. "But I think they addressed more than that issue. Getting Javon Walker in the second round, they get the receiver they needed, plus they draft for the future. Overall, it's a very good draft."

When the Broncos selected Maddox in 1992, it was fairly obvious they needed a receiver. The popular choice at the time was Carl Pickens of Tennessee. Dan Reeves wound up choosing Maddox instead, and it later became apparent that he did so with the intention of eventually trading Elway, who had led the Broncos to three Super Bowls but had a frosty relationship with Reeves.

That plan never worked and it was Reeves and Maddox who ended up elsewhere. Elway stayed and led the Broncos to two titles after his old offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan, came back as head coach.

"A lot of times, players look at it differently than the organization would look at it," Elway said. "At the point when we drafted Tommy Maddox, we were in great need of a wide receiver. My view was different than what the Broncos thought at the time. They thought it was the right move for them."

Elway said he hasn't seen much of Cutler, but has heard about his strong arm and his ability to coax a lot out of himself despite playing at Vanderbilt, a bottom feeder in the Southeastern Conference.

Last week, Plummer said he figured it would be at least a year, maybe two, before Cutler could realistically start for the Broncos. He took no offense at Denver trading up in the draft to make the pick.

"I talked with Mike and I think I would have made the same pick," Plummer said. "You go get a guy like him. Especially with this organization, when are we going to get a chance to pick that high again? Hopefully not in a long, long time."

Elway says he knows Plummer well enough to figure he'll react well to the situation.

"It's nice for Jake," Elway said. "They're in the perfect situation, they've proven they can win with Jake and they've started looking to the future. When Cutler gets to the point where he can compete for the job, I'm sure Jake, knowing the way Jake handles things, he'll take it as a challenge and perform."

Updated on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 5:29 pm EDT

[ludo21]

Yep, Jake will compete, and probably beat out Culter for 2 more years.

[easymobee]

The Maddox draft was completely different than this one. We could have really used Carl Pickens that year.

That move there should add 10 more years to Reeves HOF wait in itself.

Trying to trade Elway for a package highlighted by the addition of Jay Schroeder should add another 50.

How many SB's would Joe Gibbs have won with Elway? Would he have even retired the 1st time?

[BIM]

What if?

What if Jake does go down this year and Cutler is another Rohlialdfsl;kasjdflkjerger?

Could it happen?

[maven]

Yep, Jake will compete, and probably beat out Culter for 2 more years.

I'll say the upcoming season is Jake's last stand.

[footstepsfrom#27]

...to Reeves HOF wait...
:pigsfly: :pigsfly: :pigsfly:

[watermock]

For you youngin's out there, we were absolutetly livid.

"May I interest you in something to protect your familiy in case your run over by Metzinger?"

"Welcome to Wal-Mart, Welcome to Wal-Mart..."

Taking Maddox wasn't only stupid, it was vindictive.

[BIM]

I was at the Huddle the Monday after TD-Tommy was taken. John handled it like the class act he is. I thought the news guy was gonna go ballistic, though.

[baja]

Tommy "small hands" Maddox, yes I remember it well it was the day my feelings for Reeves turned from gross dislike to deep hate.

[maven]

Everyone & their grandma expected Denver to select Carl Pickens.

[KipCorrington25]

If Marv Levy is in the HOF then why not Reeves?

I was at school at UNC when Maddox was taken, he had a really hot wife is what I remember most from training camp that year.

[watermock]

The question is why is Levy in the HOF. At least Reeves played the game. Reeves is still some pinhead somewhere.

[BIM]

??? What do UNC and UCLA have in common?

[Kaylore]

Everyone & their grandma expected Denver to select Chad Jackson.
Modernized your post.

[KipCorrington25]

??? What do UNC and UCLA have in common?

Training camp used to be at the University of Northern Colorado...

[watermock]

"Originally Posted by maven
Everyone & their grandma expected Denver to select Marcus Vick"

[scorpio]

Training camp used to be at the University of Northern Colorado...


Used to be at Colorado State too, waaaaaay back in the day (striped socks and whatnot).

[BIM]

Training camp used to be at the University of Northern Colorado...
My bad. I thought you meant Tarheel U.

[thumpc]

How much longer did Reeves last after that?

[BIM]

until 94?

[thumpc]

I remember Giants players saying they welcomed the influx of of discipline they got with Reeves. Whats wrong with those guys?

[watermock]

Those were the dark ages lost in most literature...I vaguely remember some fat guy who looked clueless pondering on the sidelines...both Shanahan and Kubiak were busy winning a SB in SF...

[watermock]

I remember Giants players saying they welcomed the influx of of discipline they got with Reeves. Whats wrong with those guys?

Ha! Then they got Tom Coughlin.

[Pendejo]

For you youngin's out there, we were absolutetly livid.

"May I interest you in something to protect your familiy in case your run over by Metzinger?"

"Welcome to Wal-Mart, Welcome to Wal-Mart..."

Taking Maddox wasn't only stupid, it was vindictive.

Mock...I'm not trying to be insulting...I'm asking out of pure curiousity. What in the hell does your post above mean?

[Denver Crush]

until 94?


No, I think it was 92, we had a couple of years of Wade Phillips.

[watermock]

Mock...I'm not trying to be insulting...I'm asking out of pure curiousity. What in the hell does your post above mean?

Tommy Maddox and Ryan Leaf.

[BIM]

92 was the year we got maddox. I'm sure it was 94. I have been wrong once before, though.

[thumpc]

Frinckin' Wade. He was the first coach I saw that refused to show emotion on the sideline no matter how bad it went. When You are tipping over furniture in the living room after a bad play the least you expect is the coach to throw a clipboard or something.

[BIM]

LOL!!!

That SOB. How many days till we **** the chefs up?

[thumpc]

Wade, best coordinator, worst HC, over and over again.

[BIM]

I hope Kubes doesn't succumb to the same fate.

[Sodak]

I never could get past Reeve's foreign accent. That got annoying really quick.

"Oh, blimey, look, I'm from England, Now don't throw the football over there, It's time for some tea..."

[BroncoFiend]

Modernized your post.
I don't think many people on this board expected us to take Chad Jackson. Especially after every expert in the world had us taking him in their mocks.

The other difference is Shanny DID go out and get a WR, and a good one too.

[The Big E]

Mock...I'm not trying to be insulting...I'm asking out of pure curiousity. What in the hell does your post above mean?
Just taking a stab at it, but I think it might have something to do with Tommy Maddox, Insurance Salesman. As far as Wal-Mart, maybe he's saying his next job is going to be as a Wal Mart greeter.

God, I hope I'm wrong and I'm not actually beginning to understand Mock.

edit: I see Mock replied above, although he didn't clarify much.

[BroncoMan4ever]

Honestly, I think Plummer will hold the starting job 2 more seasons. I say he gets it this year because it is his job, and next year he beats Cutler for the job. Also, don't b surprised if Plummer has an MVP type of season with the addition of a Pro Bowl receiver. Finally, Denver has 2 legitimate WR's. And if the TE spot can generate 50catches for lik 600yards and a few TD's, Plummer will break Denver passing records.

[gunns]

That was Reeves last year. It's was the final straw, drafting Maddox. It was done against Elway, different than why Shanahan drafted Cutler.

I hyperventilated for hours after that 92 draft and still do at times when hearing Maddox's name. Relived it to a lesser degree when we took Lelie over Ed Reed. :holyguac!

[kamakazi_kal]

That was Reeves last year. It's was the final straw, drafting Maddox. It was done against Elway, different than why Shanahan drafted Cutler.

I hyperventilated for hours after that 92 draft and still do at times when hearing Maddox's name. Relived it to a lesser degree when we took Lelie over Ed Reed. :holyguac!


ED REED in a bronco uni....... ooooohhhh oooo gotta change my undies now

[Pendejo]

Just taking a stab at it, but I think it might have something to do with Tommy Maddox, Insurance Salesman. As far as Wal-Mart, maybe he's saying his next job is going to be as a Wal Mart greeter.

God, I hope I'm wrong and I'm not actually beginning to understand Mock.

edit: I see Mock replied above, although he didn't clarify much.

I just saw a reference to someone named Metzinger, and then a Wal Mart mention.

I guess I should have been more clear...I was wondering what a Metzinger and Wal Mart has to do with either Plummer/Cutler or Elway/Maddox.

It doesn't matter though. I was curious...but it's subsided.

[The Big E]

...I was wondering what a Metzinger and Wal Mart has to do with either Plummer/Cutler or Elway/Maddox.


LOL I'm pretty sure the answer is "nothing".

[NFLBRONCO]

I hope Cutler sits all 06 season but, I bet the fans will be screaming for him in preseason to start in Sept.

[Atlas]

The Maddox draft was completely different than this one. We could have really used Carl Pickens that year.

That move there should add 10 more years to Reeves HOF wait in itself.

Trying to trade Elway for a package highlighted by the addition of Jay Schroeder should add another 50.

How many SB's would Joe Gibbs have won with Elway? Would he have even retired the 1st time?

It wasn't Jay Schroeder Denver was trading for it was Mark Rypien

[Atlas]

92 was the year we got maddox. I'm sure it was 94. I have been wrong once before, though.

Your wrong again. Reeves was fired after the '92 season. Phillips came in from 93-94 and Shanny came in '95.

Reeves went to the Giants in '93 and won coach of the year in '94 or '95. He then coached Atlanta and won coach of the year in 1998. Reeves also won coach of the year for the Broncos in 1984. How can a guy be coach of the year 3 times and not win ONE Superbowl???

[7Elway7]

Jake will either step it up big time with a pro bowl year....or totally fall apart and Cutler starts in October.

[7Elway7]

He coached an offensive concervative game constantly, he manages games while Shannahan dictates them.

[7Elway7]

lol spell check

[Atlas]

Jake will either step it up big time with a pro bowl year....or totally fall apart and Cutler starts in October.

Jake won't fall apart after the way he has handled all the criticism from Bronco fans his mentality is pretty rock solid. I look for Jake to have a good year.

[broncocalijohn]

Tommy "small hands" Maddox, yes I remember it well it was the day my feelings for Reeves turned from gross dislike to deep hate.

Oh come on, werent you happy with the M and M flip flop in when Elway was hurt. I think we were 8 and 4 when he went down then lost the last 4 with everyone seeing the debacle of the one play in and one play out on MNF vs Seattle. That proved to me that Reeves needed Elway in a bad way.

[BroncoBuff]

Jake will either step it up big time with a pro bowl year....or totally fall apart and Cutler starts in October.
Jay Cutler will start on opening day this year ... put it in the time capsule.

Here's why: Shanahan will not hesitate to bench a not-overly bright, veteran QB whose less-than-perfect understanding of his offense has resulted in a large scaling-back of the playbook ... in favor of a ROOKIE QB .... even right after a hugely successful season.

It happened before.

Now, Jake is not Bubby Brister, and Cutler better (the f***) not be Brian Griese, but Shanny did exactly that one week before opening up a 2-time defending Super Bowl Champion season.

That shows it could happen.

Here's why it will happen:

Game Management 101. Cutler has never had the luxury of being a simple game manager, but I'll bet my avatar he adjusts PDQ to the idea he doesn't have to make plays, just avoid mistakes. It took Jake two full seasons to understand that (and Frerotte never did get it). I'm thinking two full months is all Cutler will need to understand that he only needs to throw 20 times a game, and not always on third down.

Jay Cutler will start all 16 this year, and win 11 or 12.

[BroncoBuff]

[oh happy day] Jay Cutler [/oh happpy day]

[broncocalijohn]

Frinckin' Wade. He was the first coach I saw that refused to show emotion on the sideline no matter how bad it went. When You are tipping over furniture in the living room after a bad play the least you expect is the coach to throw a clipboard or something.
So true. The only emotion I saw him was in San Diego i believe in 94 when Chargers scored and they shot off the cannon. He jumped like he was being shot at! A week or two later they are in OC for the Rams game and a bunch of us are in the lobby bar (autograph hounds) talking and making fun of Wade's freak out not knowing his wife and daughter were there and hearing everything we said. I hope they took it as a fun ribbing but now who cares; He is coaching in San Deigo and has to hear that stupid cannon every score at every home game.

[7Elway7]

Shannahan learned a lesson by benching Brister ( right before the start of the season ) who was liked by the vets. Big deal if Jake is talking a good game he still needs to prove he won't crumble under pressure filled situations. I think he does enough to keep a job this year but might not be a Bronco next year unless we win the Bowl.

[BroncoMan4ever]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-broncos-cutler-elway&prov=ap&type=lgns

Elway: Plummer will respond to challenge of new quarterback

By EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer
May 9, 2006

DENVER (AP) -- John Elway was nine years into his career when the Denver Broncos sent him for a loop on draft day. They picked a quarterback in the first round.

Fast forward to 2006 and the picture in Denver is somewhat similar.

Of course, nine-year veteran Jake Plummer isn't John Elway. And Denver's newest quarterback, Jay Cutler, doesn't draw any comparisons to Tommy Maddox. Still, Elway said he could relate to the mixed emotions Plummer might have felt when Denver's latest draft-day surprise went down.

When the Broncos selected Maddox in 1992, it was fairly obvious they needed a receiver. The popular choice at the time was Carl Pickens of Tennessee. Dan Reeves wound up choosing Maddox instead, and it later became apparent that he did so with the intention of eventually trading Elway, who had led the Broncos to three Super Bowls but had a frosty relationship with Reeves.

That plan never worked and it was Reeves and Maddox who ended up elsewhere. Elway stayed and led the Broncos to two titles after his old offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan, came back as head coach.


Ok, Dan Reeves has got to be the dumbest piece of sh!t. How do u even think of trading the greatest QB to ever play football?
For his stupidity, Reeves deserves no consideration for the HOF when he retires, and he needs to be taken out and shot.
I say give him the OLD YELLER and put him out of his misery and stupidity.

[Play2win]

Jon Kitna - Carson Palmer was done about perfect. And in some ways I think the situation is quite similar to ours, especially in the talent levels of the QBs, respectively. I think thats exactly what Shanahan will do, sit CUTLER for exactly one year, and start him the next. This is a copy-cat league, after all... ;D

[bronco militia]

Oh come on, werent you happy with the M and M flip flop in when Elway was hurt. I think we were 8 and 4 when he went down then lost the last 4 with everyone seeing the debacle of the one play in and one play out on MNF vs Seattle. That proved to me that Reeves needed Elway in a bad way.

holly crap! I remember that game....I was living in Michigan at that time (USAF) so I was desperate for a Bronco game .....10-9 I think was the final, but I'm not sure who won.


yeeee gads, what an awful game

[jonny1]

Jay Cutler will start on opening day this year ... put it in the time capsule.

Here's why: Shanahan will not hesitate to bench a not-overly bright, veteran QB whose less-than-perfect understanding of his offense has resulted in a large scaling-back of the playbook ... in favor of a ROOKIE QB .... even right after a hugely successful season.

It happened before.

Now, Jake is not Bubby Brister, and Cutler better (the ****) not be Brian Griese, but Shanny did exactly that one week before opening up a 2-time defending Super Bowl Champion season.

That shows it could happen.

Here's why it will happen:

Game Management 101. Cutler has never had the luxury of being a simple game manager, but I'll bet my avatar he adjusts PDQ to the idea he doesn't have to make plays, just avoid mistakes. It took Jake two full seasons to understand that (and Frerotte never did get it). I'm thinking two full months is all Cutler will need to understand that he only needs to throw 20 times a game, and not always on third down.

Jay Cutler will start all 16 this year, and win 11 or 12.

Griese wasn't a rookie . . .

[watermock]

Oh bother. I'm not sure if Plummer gets hurt that they don't play BVP. Here's my prediction. Cutler will start out #3 on the depth chart to open the season. Put that in your time capsule. Notice I said "to open the season" just like you. If he turns out to be the "boy wonder" like Waffle it's possible.

Cutler has 4 years of starting under his belt, and is smart and strong, but it's simply hard to say. Eli Manning picked it up in his second year, but they didn't have crap in front of him or a winning program so they could throw him in with little or no risk other than breaking his confidence, and that wasn't going to happen.

I'm as excited as anyone about Cutler, because the more info I've read just blooms more positives.

[footstepsfrom#27]

There is no comparison between Reeves and Shanahan and the situations under which they drafted young quarterbacks other than maybe how the incumbent QB feels about it.

Reeves drafted a 20 year old who was nowhere near ready for the NFL to replace a HOF QB who had carried 3 teams on his back to the Superbowl when he still had 6 or 7 good years left in him. Shanahan drafted a 4 year starter who may be the most ready of the rookie QB's in his draft class to play in the NFL in order to replace a guy who he's had to retrain in order to break his bad habbits and he hasn't been to a Superbowl.

Reeves problems with Elway were his own making because he failed to give him any decent coaching or put top talent around him in the 10 years he had him. Shanahan coached Plummer out of his bad habbits in only 2 years and surrounded him with good talent from the very start.

Reeves was an inflexible hothead who couldn't find a way to get along with the #1 pick in the draft. Shanahan took a guy off the scrap heap nobody wanted and formed a good relationship with him.

Reeves belongs nowhere near the Hall of Fame. Next to the Superbowl win over the Packers, my single best moment as a Bronco fan was when Bowlen fired him.

[Play2win]

Reeves belongs nowhere near the Hall of Fame. Next to the Superbowl win over the Packers, my single best moment as a Bronco fan was when Bowlen fired him.

Great Points Footsteps!! ;D :thumbsup:

When we canned REEVES, I celebrated like a champ...

When SHANAHAN came back to town, I celebrated like we had just won the Superbowl...

Because I KNEW we WOULD... It was Inevitable...

[watermock]

Reeves fought the Duke and the Duke won. The stone cold fact is it was time for a change. He was acting irrationally. That English accent was irritating, I agree.

Reeves does belong in the HOF IMO.