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Cutler Could Turn Revamped Bucs Into A Contender

Associated Press file photo

Jay Cutler is apparently burning all his bridges to Denver after the Broncos burned all theirs to Cutler.

By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 18, 2009

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Should the Bucs trade for Jay Cutler?

TAMPA - So he's a crybaby.

So he's a whiner.

So he doesn't always come through.

But, way deep down where it matters, what's not to love about Jay Cutler being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback?

Yes, it probably won't happen. There's an excellent chance that someone else will grab Cutler, who is apparently burning all his bridges to Denver after the Broncos burned all theirs to Cutler.

With the Bucs' luck, the New York Jets will win the Cutler sweepstakes, thereby taking a 2-0 lead in quarterbacks they've signed instead of the Bucs. But this isn't Brett Favre on his last legs and heart.

This Jay Cutler guy, he's young, he can play, and, oh, yes, the Bucs have made it clear they want him.

Good. Fine. Go get him.

Don't let the Cleveland Browns (awful) or Detroit Lions (even worse) stand in your way. Yes, Detroit can offer the draft's top pick. No matter.

If you want him, go get him.

Dangle what you have to dangle to get him.

This could be the quarterback Jon Gruden never could land.

This could be that huge, young gun the Bucs need, with all due respect to Luke McCown or any kid quarterback the Bucs might grab in the draft.

Do you really think the Bucs don't want Cutler?

They've remade their offense this offseason. They slapped the franchise tag on Antonio Bryant, traded for Kellen Winslow and signed Derrick Ward. True, there was the bizarre re-signing of Michael Clayton, but mostly things are looking up on offense.

None of that would compare to landing a quarterback.

The Bucs go from just another 6-10 team to a possible contender with a quarterback, even with the defense slipping.

A guy like Cutler could change everything.

Yes, the lad worries us slightly. He hasn't always played big in the biggest games, and his act after he learned the Broncos were shopping him hasn't been altogether pleasant.

He hasn't dug being trade bait. He has resisted attempts by new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels to mend fences. He skipped a team meeting and voluntary workouts this week. It's not getting better any time soon.

There's an opening here for the Bucs.

If the Broncos throw up their hands and want to deal, there's a deal to be made for Bucs coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik. Winslow and Ward don't really begin to make people forget about the Wednesday massacre that took out five Bucs veterans, including the one and only Derrick Brooks.

Signing Jay Cutler wouldn't exactly hurt.

What's funny about all this is that if this happens, the quarterback left in Denver with the most experience, really, would be: Chris Simms.

Ain't life grand?

The Bucs have to be hoping Jay Cutler stays miserable and angry and vengeful. Yeah, other teams will want him, and for good reason. The Bucs need to hang it all out there and go for it.

They have the salary cap room. They should offer a first-round pick, or two of them, or other picks, or maybe talk the NCAA into giving some of Bobby Bowden's vacated victories to Cutler just as a nice present.

It's worth taking a shot.

Take a real one, Bucs.

Jay Cutler isn't happy, not at all.

Pouter?

Whiner?

Try quarterback.

The Bucs could crybaby all the way to the top of the NFC South.

Just a thought.

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