Bears Blitz

If NBC left it to Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton to hype Sunday night’s preseason showdown in Denver of traded quarterbacks, Sunday Night Football might face instant cancellation.

Fortunately for the network, they’ve got more than enough people hyping the game to make it seem like an August version of the Super Bowl.

The two quarterbacks spent Wednesday downplaying the matchup against their former teams.

“It’s a preseason game,” the Bears’ Cutler said. “We can’t make it more than it is, we just have to prepare ourselves and get ready for a tough team. They’ve got a lot of talent, offensively and defensively, so its going to be a challenge.”

Orton probably went further toward revealing some of his emotions heading into the game in a conference call with Halas Hall reporters when he said the trade took him by complete surprise when it occurred.

“I certainly didn’t expect it,” he said. “I wasn’t paying attention to the whole matter and certainly didn’t expect it. But I didn’t feel sorry for myself or anything really.
“It looked like an opportunity that I certainly could take advantage of.”

Both quarterbacks are coming off strong second preseason game showings on the heels of poor openers.  After going 5-of-10 for 64 yards with an interception in the opener, Cutler came back with 8-for-13 for 121 yards and a touchdown. Orton bounced back from a horrendous three-interception, 9-of-16 effort with 89 yards to complete 18-of-26 for a touchdown and interception and 182 yards.

As much as they downplayed it, there will be a lot of emotions. Orton was particularly popular with Bears players while in Chicago because of his loyalty and toughness.
“It’s going to be different because he’s not in this orange and blue,” tight end Desmond Clark said. “It will be good to see him out there.

“I hope him well in every game besides this one, but in this game I hope he gets sacked five times,” he added.

The real emotion will probably be spent by Denver fans. Cutler has taken note of fansburning their Cutler No. 6 Bronco jerseys over the past month.

Asked how he thinks he’ll be received in Denver, “Probably poorly would be my first guess,” he said.  “I’m not the first player to get traded to a different team—I’m not going to be the last. So that’s their business. That doesn’t concern me.”

Cutler said he hasn’t sought out a conversation with Broncos management after forcing the trade by refusing to play for new coach Josh McDaniels. He doubts if he’ll be talking to Broncos management members at the game.

“I don’t think they want to talk to me,” he said.

Orton got booed loudly by Denver fans at a scrimmage and then at a preseason game.
“It’s tough,” Cutler said. “I feel bad for Kyle, I think he’s going to pull through in the long run.

“Offensively they’ve got a lot of good players, they’ve got a great offensive line, they’ve got good receivers, and Josh McDaniels, you know, he’s an offensive mind. He puts guys in spots to make plays, so I think they’re going to be fine.”

The number of times a Pro Bowl quarterback has forced a trade in NFL history can be counted on one hand, but Cutler wouldn’t be surprised if similar situations occur in coming seasons.

“Whenever you get a different coach in there, different scheme, different personnel guys, they want their type of guys,”  he said. “I can see it happening in the future again.”