Cutfight

So the Lemur has the story of the continuing miseries arising in Denver, where shockingly young head coach Josh McDaniels and sulking diabetic quarterback Jay Cutler are getting into each other. You might remember how McDaniels entertained the notion of bringing in Matt Cassels when the Brady Backup was being shipped to Kansas City, and how Cutler didn't cotton to such a move, seeing as He's A Star And All.

According to those ever-helpful Lemur Spies (it's nice when they are sowing discord on some other laundry, isn't it?), Cutler has trust issues with McDaniels and doesn't want to be there if the Broncos aren't going to commit to him long-term.

Now, normally, you know... this is football, and Cutler hasn't done a damn thing in the league other than put up some big numbers and get his longtime coach run with a shocking final month collapse that gave the division, such as it was, to the Chargers. So my sympathies aren't particularly with him, especially given his douchey sideline faces; between him an Phil Rivers, Raider and Chief Fan have to be dreaming hard about any clean blindside blitz.

But McDaniels is also far from blameless in this matter. Looking at the Broncos, there were, perhaps, 4 players on the starting roster that were at a championship level: Cutler, WRs Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, and CB Champ Bailey (if healthy). Since taking the reins, he's alienated the QB, seen the #1 WR get arrested (yet again), and blown a great deal of money on a 35-year-old safety (Brian Dawkins) that needs to be protected in coverage against tight ends... and oh, the division has, at last count, Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Zach Miller. (I know, but Miller's actually really good. Look at the numbers, then look at his QB and offense. He's doing a lot with a little.)

For a guy with a sieve for a defense (and no, Dawkins doesn't magically make that go away), there were better ideas than starting a fight with your perfectly good QB. For a team with no real running back (and no, Correll Buckhalter doesn't magically make that go away, either), there were better ideas. Or for a team that's wondering how the new guy will manage, given that he's younger than just about anyone with this job ever, and the talent roster is a gaping void.

But by all means, Patriot Masstermind McDaniels, continue to make things wrong with your QB. I'm sure that will work out well for you...