Jay Cutler is about to play a game in which a talented, young quarterback is generating considerable hype, and it’s not him.
That didn’t take long.
Already, Cutler has gone so far beyond the lauds of early success, he has scrambled into a critical territory reserved for NFL quarterbacks who struggle to meet expectations.
Call it an NFL rite of quarterback passage. As the football nation and the NFL Network turn their attention Thursday night to the starting debut of Cleveland’s Brady Quinn, the Broncos’ Cutler will play the foil.
“He is strong. Big arm, can run, smart,” Cutler said of Quinn, as if reciting what people said of Cutler before his NFL debut two years ago. Then Cutler hurried along to when the ballyhoo bursts.
“As a quarterback, you’ve got to get over that growing phase,” he said. “You’ve got to get over that curve. He’s going to struggle at times. Sometimes he’s going to see things great. Other times it’s going to be a little cloudy. We’ll see what happens this game. He might come out and light it up, or he may struggle.”
As it stands today, Quinn is the most famous NFL quarterback who has never started. He was not just a star quarterback in college. He starred at Notre Dame. When the Browns selected Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft, it wasn’t just the Dawg Pound that couldn’t wait to see him play.
To date, Quinn has played in more national television commercials than he has NFL games. Quinn said during a conference call with the Denver media Tuesday his product pitches were filmed before he started his rookie season, back when he didn’t know what he didn’t know.
“So when things didn’t work out in my favor, it was tough,” Quinn said, referring to not playing as a rookie. “It was something where I was kind of thinking, ‘Well, this isn’t necessarily what you wanted to have happen.’ At least from a marketing standpoint. I’m not sure if they’re going to start rerunning some of those commercials or what.”
Count on it. Quinn is the man after quarterback Derek Anderson took the fall for the Browns’ disappointing 3-5 start. The switch was a mild surprise because it came during what football people call a short week. Quinn learned of his promotion late Monday afternoon, a mere three days, and one full practice, before he will make his first start against the Broncos.
It seemed more logical to make the move after the Broncos game, when Quinn would have nearly 10 days to prepare. Browns fans, though, had waited long enough. To them, Quinn appeared ready from his first preseason game, when he completed 7-of-11 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos last year at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“I’ve always felt like everyone’s going to be a savior if you’re the back up,” Quinn said. “It’s something where I have high expectations for myself, believe me, more than anyone else. Their expectations are not going to be higher than mine. Which might be hard to believe, the way some people talk.”
Cutler is wise to the situation. He also made his first NFL start on national TV, replacing Jake Plummer on Dec. 3, 2006. As with any quarterback switch, it stirred polarizing opinions.
His strong arm brought a “wow” factor and his completions downfield delivered hope.
The mistakes were mostly forgiven as the price for such youthful promise.
Cutler’s third season has brought it all. There was the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes that initially provoked sympathy, then encouragement, then inspiration. His prolific passing through three high-scoring victories introduced Cutler to national acclaim.
His subsequent slump, which ebbed with his two, first-quarter interceptions Sunday in a home loss to Miami, has been met with scorching examination.
“You are going to have your highs and lows and you have to be tough enough mentally to get through it,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “If you have a poor game or a game you are not happy with, you get back to the grind and find a way to play extremely well.”
Cutler carried himself with a quiet assurance for his news conference Tuesday. He seemed determined to put his recent struggles behind. Quinn’s exuberance reverberated through the phone speaker. He can’t wait to get started.
The sooner he plays, the quicker he can struggle. And the faster he will have become truly indoctrinated to the NFL.
“It’s just one of those things you go through as a quarterback,” Cutler said.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
