Funny thing considering how often he did it, but John Elway believes it’s very difficult to make it to the Super Bowl, much less win it.
But the Broncos, in Elway’s opinion, have just the quarterback who can close the deal, who can get them back to the heights they experienced when he was under center.
His name? Jay Cutler.
“Jay gives them the best opportunity,” Elway said. “If they can do it with anybody, they can do it with Jay. It’s just going to take some time.”
Even then, it will not be easy. Not with the salary cap and injuries and all the other factors with which NFL teams have to contend. Not even with Mike Shanahan on the sideline and Pat Bowlen writing the checks.
“Everybody in the league wants to win a Super Bowl,” said Elway. “That’s the bar that’s been set in Denver. The fans have tasted that and want that. That’s what Mike wants and that’s what Pat wants. If they don’t achieve that, then obviously they’re disappointed. That’s what we were striving for and they’re still striving for. That will always be the bar.
“Unfortunately there’s only one team a year that can get it. It’s tough with the salary cap. With so many good football players out there, it’s tough to get the right mix. Everything has to be going in the right direction. All the stars have to be aligned to win that Super Bowl.”
Elway’s comments came during news conference today at Elway’s Steakhouse. He appeared to publicize the announcement of the Colorado Crush’s schedule, but with Cutler having made his NFL debut Sunday night, much of the conversation revolved around the kid who would be king.
Elway, part-owner and CEO of the Crush, spent much of his time preaching patience with Cutler and expressed empathy for former starting quarterback Jake Plummer. He said he thought Cutler “did a good job” despite throwing two interceptions in the Broncos’ 23-20 loss to Seattle. Cutler completed 10 passes, two for touchdowns, considerably better than Elway fared in his 1983 debut at Pittsburgh.cq
“Someone asked me, ‘Did you complete your first pass?’ ” he said. “I said, “I don’t know. I was one for eight, so I don’t know if it was the first one or not.’ ”
Whether Cutler can lead the Broncos to future Super Bowls remains to be seen. But Elway is convinced that, unlike his other successors, Cutler will provide the long-term solution at quarterback.
“I think Jay is the guy,” he said. “I’m answering those questions until they find the guy, and Jay’s got the chance to do it. Jake did a good job, but Cutler is just a different guy, a different style, a guy who can drop back and throw the ball downfield.”
Elway experienced his share of early growing pains, throwing seven touchdown passes and 14 interceptions as a rookie. At one point, he lined up under left guard to take the center snap. But that was before he won two Super Bowls and landed in the Hall of Fame, developments which have prompted certain people to conveniently overlook his shortcomings.cq
“I’ll tell you what’s amazing,” he said. “You retire, you’re away from the game for eight years and people look at you like you never made a mistake. You (media) used to crucify me and now it’s like I’m a god. You know what I mean? I went through the same things that everyone else is going through, that Jay is going through, that Jake’s been through.
“What happens when you retire is you get a lot better than you were. I never lost a Super Bowl, never threw a pick, never got sacked, never, as I was going down, threw it in the air. I did all that. They just forget.”
Staff writer Jim Armstrong can be reached at (303) 954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
