The Larry Bird and Magic Johnson of the new generation have some competition.
During the offseason, Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young was quoted as saying he and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart wanted to be known as this generation’s Magic and Bird.
One of Leinart’s representatives, Chuck Price, also was recently quoted as using the comparison. But Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler may be butting his head between the much-hyped twosome.
In the 2006 draft, Young was selected third overall, Leinart 10th and Cutler 11th. All three will be linked together for the rest of their NFL careers and forever compared.
Cutler has made six starts for the Broncos. Compared with Young’s and Leinart’s first six starts of their careers, Cutler has more wins, yards passing and touchdown passes and fewer interceptions.
Cutler also had a better 2007 debut than Young or Leinart.
Young, also a dynamic runner, went 2-4 in his first six games. He was 72-of-151 passing for 840 yards, with four touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Leinart was 1-5, going 112-of-211 passing for 1,294 yards. He threw six touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Cutler is 3-3, having completed 104-of-176 passes for 1,305 yards. He has 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Cutler established himself by engineering a game-winning drive Sunday at Buffalo. The Broncos beat the Bills 15-14 on a last-second field goal by Jason Elam.
“It’s my job to stay poised and in control. That’s what quarterbacks are supposed to do,” Cutler said. “That’s why we get paid the big bucks, to make third downs and make two-minute drives. Bronco fans know the situation well from John Elway doing it for all those years.”
Winborn on roster
The Broncos signed linebacker Jamie Winborn, who took a physical Saturday.
The Broncos had just five linebackers on the roster, and backup Louis Green has a pinched nerve in his neck.
Offensive tackle Chad Mustard was cut to make room for Winborn.
Winborn, 28, is a seven-season veteran. Denver considered trading for him two years ago. He was with Tampa Bay last year and with Jacksonville in 2005 after being traded from San Francisco.
Maybe it’s Daunte
Sirius Satellite Radio and the NFL Network reported that the Oakland Raiders may start Daunte Culpepper at quarterback Sunday against the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High because opening-day starter Josh McCown has a broken finger.
McCown was hurt on the final play of the Raiders’ 36-21 loss to Detroit. McCown, acquired from Detroit, completed 30-of-40 passes against the Lions. Culpepper joined the Raiders this summer.
Meadows update
Don Henderson, the agent for offensive tackle Adam Meadows, said several teams have shown interest in signing Meadows, who was released by Denver on Saturday.
However, Meadows still is recovering from a calf injury and may need a week or two before returning to the field.
Denver also could be in the mix to sign Meadows.
Footnotes
Former Denver quarterback Preston Parsons worked out in Miami on Tuesday, and former defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy was in Seattle. … The Broncos worked out offensive linemen Sam Wilder, Nick Milhauser and Will Montgomery. Wilder played collegiately at Colorado.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denver-post.com.
