Broncos' Cutler Wants Win, Not To Outplay Leinart
By Don Schwartz, DenverBroncos.com
(CBS4/DenverBroncos.com) ENGLEWOOD, Colo. The 2006 NFL Draft featured an impressive crop of quarterbacks, highlighted by Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler -- all of which were selected in the first 11 picks.
Forever linked, this exciting trio represents a new era in the NFL.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a buzz fills the air anytime there's a match-up between two from the group -- as is the case this Sunday when Denver travels to Arizona and the 10th and 11th selections square off.
"Well you have two top quarterbacks that are very talented and we will find out as time goes on throughout their careers who separates themselves," Shanahan said. "But I think both guys… I didn't study Vince as much as I did with both Matt and Jay, but I said, 'Hey, these guys are both slam-dunks in my opinion.'"
Counting the preseason, Sunday will mark the second meeting in the young careers of Cutler and Leinart. Though the two are familiar with one another from pre-draft camps and the like, Cutler's focus is on notching his first regular-season victory.
"I watch and keep up with what (Leinart) does," Cutler said. "He's playing pretty well right now, but as far as a rivalry, I'm not into that. We've got our own stuff to worry about here.
"I want to go out and perform for my teammates and for this organization. I don't really care if (the media) want to link me up with Matt and Vince and see who does better. That doesn't really matter to me. He might throw for more yards than me, but as long as we get the win, I'll be happy."
Though Cutler was the last of the rookie trio to make his first professional start, the group has collectively been impressive during their maiden voyage into the NFL waters, harkening comparisons to the quarterback class of the 1983 NFL Draft -- a class that included John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.
"I think it could, I think it could," Shanahan said. "Time will tell but watching Matt on film, watching Vince on film and obviously being around Jay I think that it could be a very good class. Now to confirm that class would be a little premature, but there is a lot of talent."
