With AFC coaches seated at separate tables in a hotel resort ballroom for Tuesday morning's media breakfast, Josh McDaniels didn't have to worry about dining alone.
The new coach of the Denver Broncos found himself surrounded by notebooks, tape recorders and cameras at the National Football League owners meetings as inquiring minds kept firing questions about the clouded future of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler.
The Buccaneers pursued a trade for Cutler last month, and Tampa Bay remains interested in the 25-year-old gunslinger, whose feelings were hurt when McDaniels tried unsuccessfully to pry quarterback Matt Cassel out of New England.
"Jay's our quarterback; we're committed to him, and we will always do what's in the best interest of our team," said McDaniels, who tutored Cassel last season as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. "Jay's a very good player, and I have always been optimistic. He's on our team, and he's under contract."
The Cutler-McDaniels feud has been a major NFL storyline for the past month, and Tampa Bay isn't the only team interested in Cutler's services. The New York Jets and Detroit Lions, who own the No. 1 pick in next month's draft, are also potential suitors, and the Broncos may ask for an experienced quarterback in return as part of any potential deal involving Cutler.
"I understand there are things we have to work toward fixing in our relationship," McDaniels acknowledged, "but I'm optimistic about those things."
Many NFL observers believe the Broncos will ultimately resolve the differences between McDaniels and Cutler, whom ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski labels the best young quarterback in the league.
McDaniels was asked whether other clubs are demonstrating an interest in trading for Cutler.
"People have left messages," he said.
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