They are separated by years, distant in personality. They don’t look alike.
Watch Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler play, though, and only one other gunslinger flashes to mind.
“All my family, all my friends, they’ll ask me, ‘What’s Cutler like?’ ” Broncos running back Tatum Bell said. “And from Day 1 I’ve said he’s like a young Brett Favre — he’s risky, but he has the arm to be risky.”
Cutler, the Broncos’ 25-year-old quarterback with the power arm and derring-do style, will play Favre, the New York Jets’ 39-year-old devil-may-care legend who each week adds to his horde of statistical passing records, Sunday at the Meadowlands.
It’s appropriate a football field would bring them together, because only there is where their similarities become apparent. In looks, Cutler more resembles a pre-Vegas Elvis Presley than he does the photogenic Favre, who would lead all NFL players in television commercials if not for the Manning brothers.
Favre is chattier, whether among friends or not-so-friendly journalists. Experience, and understanding there is nothing insignificant about a legacy, has made him media-savvy.
Put them under center and watch them perform, though, and it’s almost as if Cutler grew up trying to imitate Favre.
“You see it,” Cutler said. “We both take chances. We both throw into tight coverage. We both make some throws we probably regret, watching them on film. But that’s part of it.”
It’s well-known Favre holds the NFL passing records for yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts. What hasn’t been duly recorded, but is universally agreed upon, is that Favre’s receivers have come down with more improbable receptions while tightly covered than any other group in history.
And Cutler’s receivers in 2008 are making their move.
Or did anyone not see Nate Jackson’s circus catch against Cleveland or any number of Brandon Marshall’s receptions?
“They’re going to throw it in there,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But most of the time, it works out.”
Critics have noted Favre’s many career records include interceptions. Most were thrown during his 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, but sure enough, in his first season with the Jets, Favre leads the NFL with 13 interceptions. Cutler is tied for second with 12.
Interceptions happen to those who don’t fear them. That can be a compliment, especially when the team is down a score and there’s a fourth quarter to go. Favre also ranks fourth with 20 touchdown passes. Cutler is tied for fifth with 19.
“Good play or bad play, if you throw a bad pass or interception, those guys don’t let it bother them,” Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley said. “They come back the next play and they’re going to sling it in there again.”
Rich Gannon, himself a quality NFL quarterback who was selected to four Pro Bowls, believes the similarities between Favre and Cutler become more pronounced the closer the scrutiny. To prepare for his task of providing CBS color commentary for the Broncos-Jets game, Gannon has extensively film-studied the two quarterbacks this week.
“Everybody wants to talk about their arm strength, and there’s no question they can really chuck it,” Gannon said. “But when I study them, what really jumps out at me is their lower body and their legs and their torso. You watch them throw and you can tell they’re really strong in their lower half. They both can throw flat-footed because they generate a lot of power with their legs and their torso. That’s how they get all that torque on their throws.”
Crossover sports fans may remember similar mechanical descriptions explaining the velocity generated by baseball pitchers Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver. While pitchers and quarterbacks are not made through arm alone, it doesn’t hurt. Favre’s career stats — 5,622 completions, 64,166 yards, 462 touchdowns — exceed the NFL’s composite numbers from each single-season until 1978.
And yet Cutler, through 32 games, is statistically ahead of Favre.
“I have a long way to go,” Cutler said. “You’re talking about Brett Favre, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. He’s accomplished a lot throughout his career. I’m just kind of getting started. We’ll see, hopefully I’m still a starter five to 10 years from now.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
The people speak: Elway
John Elway? Brett Favre? Jay Cutler says he has a stronger arm than both legendary quarterbacks. Who do you think has the strongest gun?
Jay Cutler: He throws some real beauties, and he can get major gas on the ball. 236 votes, or 21.07 percent.
Brett Favre: Future Hall-of-Famer showed off his arm in OT last time he was in Denver. 126 votes, or 11.25 percent.
John Elway: There are cannon arms. Then there was Elway’s in his early years. 758 votes, or 67.67 percent.
Total votes: 1,120
