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Cutler Conversations Reign At NFL Owners Meetings

Associated Press photos

Josh McDaniels' feud with QB Jay Cutler should make the Denver coach a popular man at Tuesday’s AFC media breakfast.

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 23, 2009

Updated: 03/23/2009 12:40 pm

DANA POINT, Calif. - Denver quarterback Jay Cutler isn't attending the National Football League owners meetings, but he's certainly here in spirit.

When dawn broke Monday for the start of the annual three-day spring awakening, Cutler's name seemed omnipresent in every ballroom and corridor conversation.

And once again, the usual suspects are in the mix to acquire a big-time quarterback.

The Bucs have never denied a reported attempt to obtain the Broncos' 25-year-old Pro Bowl passer last month in a potential three-way deal that would have sent Cutler to Tampa Bay and Matt Cassel from New England to the Broncos. Cassel was traded instead to Kansas City, but Cutler and new Denver coach Josh McDaniels are still feuding, and Tampa Bay remains interested.

The Bucs are not alone in that pursuit and will have plenty of company this week as several clubs are expected to make their best offers to Denver owner Pat Bowlen for Cutler's services.

The Detroit Lions and New York Jets figure prominently, eight months after the Jets and Bucs fought it out in an effort to trade with Green Bay for Brett Favre.

McDaniels will be a popular man at Tuesday morning's AFC media breakfast, but don't expect to hear any public comments this week from Bucs first-year general manager Mark Dominik or Tampa Bay's rookie head coach, Raheem Morris.

As long as Cutler remains under contract to Denver, the Bucs are obligated to stay mum on their intentions, but these meetings could set the groundwork for a deal.

"My bet is the Broncos will wait until draft day [April 25] before trading Cutler because they have to get another quarterback in any deal,'' one NFC executive said.

One very interested bystander in the Cutler sweepstakes is former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, who recently signed with Denver as a free agent. If Cutler is traded, Simms could have an opportunity to be a starter for the first time since early in the 2006 season, when he ruptured his spleen against Carolina and underwent an emergency splenectomy hours after the game.

Morris gets his turn in the media spotlight Wednesday morning, and Tampa Bay's ownership group is expected to be available for questions before the meetings conclude.

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