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12-14-2006, 09:13 AM
Cutler looks past matchup with Leinart
By Associated Press
December 13, 2006
Jay Cutler is aware that fans will compare him and fellow rookie quarterback Matt Leinart when the Denver Broncos play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but Cutler isn’t interested as he prepares for his third career start.
"I don’t really care if they link me up to Matt and see who is better," Cutler said. "I want to go out and perform for my teammates and for this organization."
Both rookies along with Vince Young of Tennessee were the head of the quarterback class of 2006. Young was the third overall pick in the draft. Leinart went 10th and Cutler was the No. 11 selection taken last spring.
"All that doesn’t matter to me," Cutler said. "Matt might throw for more yardage than me, but as long as we get the win, I’ll be happy."
Cutler has struggled in his two starts. He’s completed 53 percent of his passes and has thrown for four touchdowns and two interceptions since taking over when Jake Plummer was benched.
"I’m just getting more consistent, but I think I feel a little impatient," Cutler said. "I’d just like to be more consistent, make better throws and complete more balls."
CUTLER ON LEINART: Jay Cutler acknowledges he doesn’t know his Arizona counterpart very well. That hasn’t kept the Broncos rookie quarterback from keeping tabs on Matt Leinart.
"I watch him and keep up with what he does," Cutler said. "He’s playing pretty well right now."
Cutler said he didn’t talk to Leinart on draft day as the two awaited their selection.
But he did remember rumors that had him being selected by the Cardinals. He said the thought crossed his mind after Tennessee chose Vince Young.
"Yeah, I thought it was a possibility," Cutler said. "They were right in that range where I thought I was going to go and I talked to them quite a bit."
UNSOLICITED ADVICE: Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler haven’t spoken much since the draft. Leinart, when asked Wednesday by teleconference call, offered his own advice to Cutler.
"My advice to Jay is to get his head on right and to play how he’s capable of playing," Leinart said.
Leinart has enjoyed moderate success in his nine starts to date. He’s thrown for 2,117 yards and 10 TDs and offers to Cutler that he had easier circumstances to deal with.
"I came in when we were struggling and trying to find ourselves," Leinart said. "Jay is in the midst of a playoff hunt and that’s tough and involves a lot of pressure."
NASH MIA: Damien Nash has disappeared from the Broncos offense. Once a contributor as the backup to Mike Bell, the free agent running back has been inactive the past two weeks.
"I can’t tell you what it is," Nash said. "I’ll fill the role they want and do whatever they ask of me."
While Tatum Bell was recovering from injuries to his two big toes, Nash was highly visible in practice and in games against Oakland, San Diego and Kansas City. The highlight of his year was the first San Diego game when he ran for 52 yards including a 26-yard scamper that set up a touchdown.
"All I’ve done since the Kansas City game is work with the scout unit," Nash said. "I try to give our defense a good look."
Nash said he had no interest in filling the void at fullback that was left when a broken leg ended the season for starter Cecil Sapp.
"I’m not a fullback," Nash said. "I’m a running back."
Nash is listed third on the depth chart at running back.
ETC.: Deposed Denver quarterback Jake Plummer ranks third all-time on the Cardinals yards passing list with 17,622 yards. ... Cutler has taken a no contest approach when rivaling Leinart’s Hollywood image. "I think he’s killing me on that," Cutler said. "I’m not going to work on that. He can have it."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_5211759,00.html
By Associated Press
December 13, 2006
Jay Cutler is aware that fans will compare him and fellow rookie quarterback Matt Leinart when the Denver Broncos play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but Cutler isn’t interested as he prepares for his third career start.
"I don’t really care if they link me up to Matt and see who is better," Cutler said. "I want to go out and perform for my teammates and for this organization."
Both rookies along with Vince Young of Tennessee were the head of the quarterback class of 2006. Young was the third overall pick in the draft. Leinart went 10th and Cutler was the No. 11 selection taken last spring.
"All that doesn’t matter to me," Cutler said. "Matt might throw for more yardage than me, but as long as we get the win, I’ll be happy."
Cutler has struggled in his two starts. He’s completed 53 percent of his passes and has thrown for four touchdowns and two interceptions since taking over when Jake Plummer was benched.
"I’m just getting more consistent, but I think I feel a little impatient," Cutler said. "I’d just like to be more consistent, make better throws and complete more balls."
CUTLER ON LEINART: Jay Cutler acknowledges he doesn’t know his Arizona counterpart very well. That hasn’t kept the Broncos rookie quarterback from keeping tabs on Matt Leinart.
"I watch him and keep up with what he does," Cutler said. "He’s playing pretty well right now."
Cutler said he didn’t talk to Leinart on draft day as the two awaited their selection.
But he did remember rumors that had him being selected by the Cardinals. He said the thought crossed his mind after Tennessee chose Vince Young.
"Yeah, I thought it was a possibility," Cutler said. "They were right in that range where I thought I was going to go and I talked to them quite a bit."
UNSOLICITED ADVICE: Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler haven’t spoken much since the draft. Leinart, when asked Wednesday by teleconference call, offered his own advice to Cutler.
"My advice to Jay is to get his head on right and to play how he’s capable of playing," Leinart said.
Leinart has enjoyed moderate success in his nine starts to date. He’s thrown for 2,117 yards and 10 TDs and offers to Cutler that he had easier circumstances to deal with.
"I came in when we were struggling and trying to find ourselves," Leinart said. "Jay is in the midst of a playoff hunt and that’s tough and involves a lot of pressure."
NASH MIA: Damien Nash has disappeared from the Broncos offense. Once a contributor as the backup to Mike Bell, the free agent running back has been inactive the past two weeks.
"I can’t tell you what it is," Nash said. "I’ll fill the role they want and do whatever they ask of me."
While Tatum Bell was recovering from injuries to his two big toes, Nash was highly visible in practice and in games against Oakland, San Diego and Kansas City. The highlight of his year was the first San Diego game when he ran for 52 yards including a 26-yard scamper that set up a touchdown.
"All I’ve done since the Kansas City game is work with the scout unit," Nash said. "I try to give our defense a good look."
Nash said he had no interest in filling the void at fullback that was left when a broken leg ended the season for starter Cecil Sapp.
"I’m not a fullback," Nash said. "I’m a running back."
Nash is listed third on the depth chart at running back.
ETC.: Deposed Denver quarterback Jake Plummer ranks third all-time on the Cardinals yards passing list with 17,622 yards. ... Cutler has taken a no contest approach when rivaling Leinart’s Hollywood image. "I think he’s killing me on that," Cutler said. "I’m not going to work on that. He can have it."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_5211759,00.html