Reeves sees a lot of Elway in Cutler

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Reeves sees a lot of Elway in Cutler
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated: 12/18/2006 12:32:10 AM MST


Defense reverts to top effortsCardinals' hope is hurtingFantasy league watchA leap forward in playoff bidBailey has sweet 16th interceptionCards' respected receiving corps suffers rough dayFumble cuts into Tatum Bell's carriesWhen boss says work, team worksGlendale, Ariz. - The fascinated eyewitness with the gray hair, the hobbled knees, the swollen hands, the football wisdom of ages and the sweet Georgia drawl watched the Broncos quarterback unleash his first pass of the game, a 54-yard grand zeppelin that landed softly in Javon Walker's hands for a touchdown - outlined against a hole in the roof.

"He's got a gun," the man said.

"Just like John."

When you hear him talk, you know he's Dan Reeves. "Heee's gotta gun. Jus' lack Jawn."

Reeves, the old Broncos coach, was comparing Jay and John, Cutler and Elway.

More than 23 years after Reeves, as the Denver coach, saw Elway for the first time in the NFL, Reeves, as a national radio broadcaster, saw Cutler for the first time in the pros Sunday.

"He's something special. And he can run, too, like John did. Cutler had to scramble all the time at Vanderbilt. He's smart, and he's picked up the offense quick. He's going to be a good one."

Cutler outdueled Matt Leinart on Sunday, with two more touchdown passes (two), one fewer interception (one), one more completion (21), 47 more passing yards (261) and, most important, 17 more points (37).

Cutler won his first game as a Broncos QB after losing two. The sick-and-tired Arizona Cardinals aren't the San Diego Chargers, but they aren't the University of Phoenix Master's Degrees.

Don't want to listen to any more Elway-Cutler assessments? Get used to them, especially when they come from the guy who coached Elway, drafted Michael Vick, played with Roger Staubach and served as a Cutler (and Leinart) looker-on Sunday afternoon.

"I had a friendly little wager with a couple of boys from my (golf) club last year about which of the three rookie quarterbacks would be the best," Reeves said. "I took Vince Young. But I'll tell you what. When Mike (Shanahan) got Cutler, I knew I was in trouble on that bet. Young and Leinart were going to rebuilding teams. Cutler was going to a good football team with good talent and a good offensive system."

Reeves hired Shanahan to his first pro assistant's job. Shanahan's job then was to train John. Shanahan's job now is to train Jay.

(Reeves also rehired Shanahan and later fired him. They faced off in the Super Bowl in Elway's last game, and you know all the stories.)

Elway started at quarterback right away and once lined up behind guard. A week ago Cutler tripped over his own feet. Elway could throw the ball forever. Cutler almost did on his opening pass Sunday.

The Broncos finished 9-7 in Elway's first year, 13-3 the next. Cutler: TBD.

"Cutler's backing up and throwing off the wrong foot and gets it way down the field to Rod (Smith) on a line. That reminds you of John," Reeves said.

Time has mostly repaired the abyss between Elway and Reeves.

Reeves was with the Broncos from 1981-92 and won 117 games. His 23-year coaching career in the NFL ended (likely) with four games remaining in the 2003 season. He served as a consultant for the expansion Houston Texans last year and recommended they draft Young. They didn't.

Reeves will coach again next month in the East-West Shrine game, but he's spending his weekdays in a dream home on a lake outside Atlanta and his weekends on the NFL road doing analysis.

At the moment Reeves is worried about

his handicap - his knees (damaged since he played), his hands (carpal tunnel syndrome; he recently underwent surgery) and his golf. "I was down to a three (handicap), but I'm back up to a seven."
It was great to see Dan again, a quarter of a century after we met. We had an oft-times rocky relationship. When I switched newspapers, he switched subscriptions (from my new paper to the old one). "You prepared me for New York (where Reeves coached the Giants)."

"You did, too," I said.

Dan Reeves belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his overall achievements as a player, a playing assistant coach, a head coach and an executive.

Pat Bowen should get over it and put Reeves in the Broncos Ring of Fame.

And Reeves was there for Elway's first, here for Cutler's first.

Heee's lack Jawn.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4859047