Cutler-McDaniels Conference Call Leaves Questions Unanswered

Depending on who you talk to, the Denver Broncos and Jay Cutler either came to an understanding or grew further apart on Tuesday, when the two groups participated in a conference call discussing last week’s trade rumors. The conference call involved Head Coach Josh McDaniels, owner Pat Bowlen, GM Brian Xanders, the young signal caller, and his agent Bus Cook.

If you listen to the Denver Post or CBS4, the rift between the Broncos and Cutler grew larger on Monday. McDaniels was said to have led the discussion with a firm hand, indicating that no one is untradeable, and Cutler was left with the impression that he could still be traded despite Bowlen insisting it wouldn’t happen.

There are also reports that earlier, Cutler would not return Pat Bowlen’s calls, a claim that would certainly indicate that the rift between the club and Cutler has become venomous.

However, the latest Associated Press article details a much smoother discussion. According to the AP, the conference call went much better than that, and the two sides are ready to move forward. “Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler spoke on a conference call Monday and the Broncos look forward to talking to Jay in the future and certainly face to face,” team spokesman Jim Saccomano told the AP Tuesday. More from the article:

A team official with knowledge of the discussions, however, told The Associated Press that despite what other sources may be saying, the two sides did not grow farther apart in this conversation.

The person, who asked to remain anonymous because no one in the organization was authorized to speak publicly about the talks, said issues were discussed openly and it was re-emphasized that Cutler would not be traded. It was also stated that Cutler needed to meet with McDaniels in person to keep things moving in the right direction.

It’s possible that the AP is citing the Broncos while the local news outlets are tapping sources closer to Cutler. If this is the case, and both sources are accurate, the rift would be even greater than what the local outlets are reporting.

Is Cutler really still upset at the Broncos, or are the DPO and CBS4 trying to stir the pot? For the record, I tend to believe the AP story. Few know what is really happening behind the scenes, but actions speak louder than words. We’ll know the mindset of both Cutler and the Broncos brass when voluntary workouts begin next week.