Jay Cutler – Jason Campbell: A Telling NFL Tale of a Tale of Two Men
April 2, 2009 by dwil
Just yesterday I wrote A Defense of Jay Cutler. This morning I reposted Why Athletes Do What They Do…. Now, call me confused.In the “defense” I laid blame for the Cutler conflagration at the feet of the Denver Broncos management, especially head coach Josh McDaniels and team owner Pat Bowlen. The second commentary I mentioned aboive deals with how the Big Three leagues and collegiate sports programs across the country mold, coerce, and sometimes outright force players into making choices that are against their best long-term interests.
Now, Cutler has spoken ——————— again. And what he is saying flies directly in the face with his, I hate it here, trade me” stance he has taken since Josh McDaniels was found to have lied about wanting to reade Cutler and obtain Matt Cassel.
Check out what Jay Boy has to say:
After a brief retreat to North Carolina, Cutler was back Wednesday night in his adopted hometown of Nashville, Tenn., where he was spotted sitting in the front row of an Ultimate Fighting Championship event that was televised on the SpikeTV channel.
Among those who spotted the Broncos quarterback was a reporter for FoxSports.com.
“I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon,” Cutler told FoxSports. “I didn’t want to get traded. That wasn’t me. They had been going back and forth saying things, wanting me to be their quarterback, and then they didn’t. I really didn’t want this. I love Denver. I really like my teammates. I didn’t want it to get this far.”
Cutler’s comments indicated he had calmed considerably since formally issuing a trade request to the Broncos on March 16.
Huh?! What?! Cutler just stuck his foot as far down his throat as possible.
Few professional athletes show themselves to be aware enough of the nature of the business in which they work. Part of the problems they face, as detailed in the commentary deal with the leagues subtly and overtly stressing that pretty much every sports media member is out to destroy the athles’ reputations, or at least make their own careers off the back of the athletes. The belief that is message is gospel creates an adverserial relationship between members of the press and the players, much to the joy of the leagues and the individual teams.
One of the athletes who appears to be very aware of how the NFL works and is equally keen as to his place within the league is Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell.
Is is said that the Redskins are pursuing Cutler, when they have publicly stated that Campbell is their quarterback now and for the future. According to Post reporters Jason Reid and Jason LaCanfora:
The Washington Redskins were actively pursuing a trade for disgruntled Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler last night, according to NFL sources.
One source said the Redskins were trying to complete the deal as quickly as possible although at least two other teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets, were also reportedly interested in acquiring Cutler. The two-year starter became available Tuesday night when the Broncos announced they would trade him. Denver officials could not be reached to comment last night….
The source said Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder has been pushing for the trade in an attempt to finally solve the team’s decades-long pursuit of a franchise quarterback.
Another NFL source said a high-ranking Redskins official contacted one NFL team yesterday about the possibility of trading quarterback Jason Campbell for a second-round pick in the upcoming draft. That source said he interpreted the Redskins’ overture as an attempt by Washington to put together a package to acquire Cutler.
While Cutler stoked a firestorm started by Broncos management, Campbell remains downright philosophical in comparison. More from the Post article:
If the Redskins fail to acquire Cutler, they risk alienating Campbell, who has been the starter the past two seasons. Campbell said earlier yesterday that he wants to stay in Washington.
“I want to be here. I feel like there’s a lot I want to accomplish and that’s what I’ve been working to do, but you know it’s not in your control,” Campbell said. “All I can do is just keep doing what I’m doing, working hard and waiting to see what happens.”
All professional athletes have egos the size of the Grand Canyon; any person who succeeds in the face of odds as great as those of the pro does. However, because their talent is often spotted at a young age and, as a result, they are feted from that time on, those egos need constant stroking for the athlete to perform. Like spoiled children, they want and actively seek constant confirmation of their worth.
And when smacked in the face by the reality that they all can be replaced at a moment’s notice if a team’s management believes they can procure the services of a better athlete, they often appear like jilted drama kings.
I do not know a thing about Jason Campbell’s upbringing but somewhere along the line either he came to understand or someone he trusted explained how the game behind the on-field and on-court games works. Compared with Cutler, Campbell not only appears philosophical but he is also quite the burgeoning diplomat.
It is telling that the Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and more than likely head coach Jim Zorn want Cutler and are so willing to rid themselves of Campbell. The statistics of the two quarterbacks, other than passes attempted and passing yardage, are strikingly similar. Both completed 62.3% of their passes. Cutler’s quarterback rating was 86.0 while Campbell’s rating was 84.3. Cutler, in a pass-happy offense, threw 25 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Campbell threw for 13 TDs and six interceptions. Campbell, despite being limited in his passing attempts, ran for more yards with a better per rush average
But.
Cutler is “brash” and at this point, childishly outspoken, unthinking, and prone to rash actions. Campbell is quiet, thoughtful, perceptive, and pragmatic.
Cutler, like Zorn was when he was an NFL QB, is known as fiery and is unafraid to “get in the face” of a teammate on offense who is not performing up to his standards. Campbell, on the other hand, is prone to taking the teammate aside and urging his teammate who failed to keep his head up because he is needed the next time the offense gets the ball.
Cutler viewed as a personality type, is conducive to control. Campbell is very much his own man.
When viewed this way, there is no reason to wonder why Snyder and Zorn want Cutler to replace Campbell.
Jason Campbell is an anathema to NFL management types. They do not know what to do with men like him and privately fear them and their calm when management creates conditions specifically meant to arouse the inner-childish in the athlete, as has the Redskins management.
It turns out Jason Campbell, with all his apparent qualities that make him a well-rounded human being is ——— dangerous.
And as a result, there might not be a place for him in the NFL.
Great piece DWIL! I was surprised when I saw the story about the Redskins trying to get Cutler but not shocked. Surprised because a few weeks ago they expressed no interest in T.O. even though they could certainly use a big, physical Pro Bowl receiver because he was a “distraction”. Surprised because they are willing to make a trade for a quarterback that is a league-wide distraction when they already have a big, young, cerebral quarterback that is anything but a “distraction”.
The NFL is so predictable they give guys like Trent Edwards, JP Losman, Alex Smith, Matt Schaub and yes Jay Cutler year after year to “grow” into the position but guys like Campbell, Tavaris Jackson, Vince Young and David Garrard have to be great on each and every play. MSM will have you believe that Joe Flacco “led” the Ravens to the AFC championship game but the truth is they won in spite of him not because of him but he is seen as a leader and the franchise quarterback. Young “effs” up once and he is seen as expendable. Cutler effs up the whole off season and everybody wants him. With the exception of Donovan McNabb and sometimes Garrard, quarterbacks of color have to hand the ball off on 1st and 2nd downs and perform miracles on 3rd down when the entire stadium knows a pass is coming. It is the biggest double-standard in the game! Donovan said it a couple of years ago and ironically Campbell and Young both said they had never experienced it, I wonder what they would say now!!
First thing that came to my mind is, looks like Jason Campbell has definitely learned a thing or two in the past couple of years. A couple of years ago when D. McNabb said that black qb’s were treated differently from white ones, Vince Young and Campbell both said that’s not so. Two years and a heap of criticism later, looks like Campbell knows the real deal.
Jay Cutler badmouthing team = sympathetic figure who was wronged by the team
If Jason Campbell badmouthed his team = ungrateful, overpaid black guy who doesn’t know the system
This is going to be one of those NFL offseasons, I suppose. I don’t think that would be a wise move on the part of the ‘skins to trade JC for JC (!). Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if they need to get rid of the “dangerous” former for the “childish” latter…(huh???)
Mactown -
Thanks….
Mac, kos, CDF-
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed.
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And as soon as I talk about ESPN TV’s talking heads dissing Cutler (a comment I just made on “A Defense of Jay Cutler” ) Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Radio is parroting Skippy Bayless about the, “it’s not everyday a 25-year old Pro Bowl QB is available” shite.
I thought successful NFL QBs were measured by their Super bowl appearances and wins and not their 17-20 records, Pro Bowl or no Pro Bowl.
Wait. I get it. To the Cutler lovers he’s a 25-year old “franchise QB” and a 25-year old Pro bowl QB. To the realistic he is petulant, 17-20 and does not make good decisions when it is on him to make a play.
ALSO:
Even Vandy grad Skip Bayless is backing off his defense of Cutler thanks to Jay Boy’s latest comments – calling him a spoiled brat, etc.
It’s odd that Cutler would say something like that after not returning calls from not only the coach but the owner of the Bronco’s! Still if the Bronco’s can lie and say that they want him as their qb after shopping him around, then he can certainly lie and say he wanted to stay all along.
As far as Cambell goes, it’s almost as if these black qb’s have been given “Joe Louis training”. Go along to get along. Don’t rock the boat ect. Don’t be to brash-we don’t want you looking like Jack Johnson for the love of god. However, that behavior doesn’t get them any further than being a “loudmouthed prima donna”. In light of that-they should just call BS when they see it and look out for number one. These teams are going to look at them as a piece of meat no matter what. They don’t elevate a black quarterback to leadership status like they do white ones. They treat them like every other player on the team-valuable but ultimately just as expendable.
Campbell’s a deeply religious dude with tons of home training. He’s a grown up whose world view is deeped in the Bible. We’ve heard that before, but for now, it appears to be the case for JC.
He’s been through this before on a number of levels. Auburn had a number of shifts in their offensive approach — and he was the QB in a backfield that featured Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams — and he saw Brandon Jacobs transfer to another school.
So, from what I’ve heard of him, he’s seen enough to avoid getting swept up. He went 13-0 in the SEC and never received a stitch of love until the draft. I like Cutler, but I think I’d prefer Campbell because he’s the type of stable leader that can support prolonged winning. If the franchise was willing to model itself after his style, they could really transform the team. As it is, they’re a blend of Psyco Dan Snyder, Joe Gibbs Nostalgia and Jim Zorn Hysteria. Washington needs a sedative…Cutler is a very, very good 8-ball!
As a Broncos fan, if we got Campbell for Cutler, I’d take it. Campbell has had to go through a different offensive system every year he’s been in the league. That’s tough for anyone. Cutler has shown a shocking lack of maturity here — McDaniels certainly did him wrong by not being up front with him about the Cassel trade — but while I think players should stand up for themselves, Cutler’s shredded all matter of personal dignity.
I think Campbell still has an upside. I don’t know about Cutler. He’s looked too much like Jake Plummer with a faster arm at times.
Posted this in the other thread but makes sense here too:
The narrative for a Cocky White QB who calls out teammates and throws picks = A “Gunslinger” who “believes” in his own ability/arm (Favre). We LOVE his ‘moxie’ (JP Losman, Rex Grossman, Jake Delhomme, Phillip Rivers). No matter much he wastes his talent (Jeff George) or badly he plays, he can always be a backup for years until he ‘redeems’ himself (Kerry Collins, Vinny Testaverde) as a ‘steady hand’ veteran.
The narrative for a Cocky Kneegrow QB who throws picks (Kneegrow QBs are not allowed to call out teammates, period) = Undisciplined player (Tavaris Jackson) who, no matter how strong your arm is (McNair), all picks blamed on “can’t read defenses” (insert ALL Black QBs here) . Needs to ‘shut his mouth’ (McNabb) and ‘focus’ (Jamarcus Russell) on the game. Stories of your Wonderlic instantly resurface (VY). NO chance at ‘redemption’ (Vick), even if you’re willing to be a backup (Leftwich). Maybe he can play another position (Brad Smith, Pat White, soon to be Troy Smith)?
Sweet Jones dropped a primer.
Should have mentioned the off the field aspect so you could have included Tom Brady.
Sweet Jones -
co-sign.
One thing about Campbell, he’s not playing another position. He’s a QB. Can’t see him playing another position.
I just shook my head when I heard stories from the slave marke, er NFL draft, that teams project Pat White as a wide receiver. They say that he can’t throw all of the passes, he’s short, etc. Well, Rex Grossman is still in the league, and he can’t make all of the throws. Drew Brees might be 6 feet tall with his shoes with the 2 inch soles on them. He’s been practicing the kind of throws that teams want to see him make. The scouts seem to be surprised that he can make those throws. They don’t even want to give the black qb a chance. It seems they are trying to find every excuse to not give black qb’s a chance these days.
My rant for today…….
Man, this stuff makes me exhausted sometimes.
What Sweet Jones said.
Sweet Jones,
I want to adopt your last post, treat it like a national flag and upraise it.