Ratliff Has Nose For Starting Role: NY Times

The flaw in this argument is that it's a severe risk throwing away a quality ILB and 2 high draft picks for a guy who is a mental risk. If we take a chance on Clemens or Ratliff, then we could potentially fail at one position... and with the amount of time these two have been around the offense, if they fail this year, they WILL be replaced next season.

If Cutler fails, then we not only threw away the position, but David Harris and 2 high draft picks to boot.

With Cutler's emotional issues, and the investment at stake,I'll take my chances on Ratliff and Clemens.

 

Another good point, and all the more reason to at least give Ratliff (and Clemens) a shot. The risk/reward is much more in our favor there.

 

Not a flaw at all. I've said multiple times I wouldn't give up Harris for him, so that doesn't factor into my argument. I'd give up two #1s, though. I don't see as much of a risk for failure. As I said earlier:

However, again, I'm more than happy to go with what we have. IMO, it's a win/win as long as we don't overpay.

 

Define "emotional issues." Yeah Cutler acted immaturely in response to trade talks, but if I found out that after all I'd done for the team over the last few years, the new coach was actively trying to toss me aside for another guy I'd be pissed as well. For all his immaturity in this trade business, look at how well Cutler has handled his whole diabetes situation.

I think it's a little early in the guy's career and life to brand him as being a "mental risk."

 

The 49ers won't even consider Matthew Stafford because he won't talk to his team psych about his parents divorce issues. While many might think it's not a big deal, in the 49ers eyes, it shows that he doesn't have the maturity to handle things like that, so how will he handle being the leader of a professional football offense?

Jay Cutler's actions weren't just inappropriate, they say a ton about his character. Players come under the trade microscope all the time. It is the football's players job to play football, and the GM's job to look at all possible ways of improving the team, even if that includes possibly trading your franchise QB. If Cutler can't handle that, I can't possibly imagine how he'll handle the criticism of NY. Sure, when they trade for him he'll be the king of NY, the way Favre was... he better hope he has the greatest career of any NFL QB ever after that, because the second something is even slightly wrong, they'll be beating him over the head for it forever.

If and when this occurs, I don't believe he'll have the toughness to be professional about it and to just play despite the criticism. I'm expecting him to either flake out, or let it affect his play. I don't see Cutler being the guy who'll stick around here for 10 years and allow us to build a franchise around him. He's too self-centered and immature to handle being a franchise QB for a team in a location and with a history like the Jets.

 

Again, all I'll say is, consider the trade. You trade your franchise QB if it nets you value in return. This wasn't Cutler being traded for a lesser QB to save money and gain picks. This was Cutler being traded straight up, through a 3rd team, for a QB who would cost more money and brings less experience and ability. Not the same as trading your QB for two picks and a lesser QB.

 

You can't be unstable in the head and be an effective NFL QB / leader. What's going to happen to Cutler if he has a bad game and the media goes after him question after question. It's a legitimate concern.

 

Yeah, I think the NY media would eat this guy alive.

 

Even moreso in New York. If it were a friendlier place like KC, where it's more of a unified, college type atmosphere, it would be less of a concern. Look at people like Marbury and A-Rod, even when they perform well on the field/court, and what happens to them in the media. A-Rod's won two MVPs in NY, still doesn't save him.

 

And I don't see how it's any worse than Elway or Eli. Eli won a SB despite the media pressure that followed his move to NY. If there are other signs of his mental instability that I'm unaware of, please point them out.

 

Neither one of those guys threw a hissy fit to get off their NFL team. Both had some leverage going into the draft to call their own shots and took advantage of it. Different situations.

 

Eli standing there with the Chargers jersey, shaking his head and pouting was a rather public hissy fit. I'd say the situation for Cutler was much worse than the one for Eli. I really don't want to rehash it again, but the trade the Broncos were considering was a huge slap in the face to the guy. I don't think he'll have any problems with a new team that commits to him with a contract.

 

Eli never played for the Chargers. It was a dick move, yes, but he wasn't there and insistant on dicking the team over because his ego was bruised three years into the process. He also was taking a ton of criticism in NY before they made their run to the Super Bowl, plus he has an older brother and dad who were top notch NFL QBs to help him along. Elway played his whole career in a small city, 25 years ago with much less media, and they all loved him.

 

I agree with all of this, aside from Cutler dicking the team over simply because his ego was bruised. I think people are losing sight of the initial situation. The idea of dangling a franchise QB for a more expensive, lesser QB is baffling to me. Cutler is a guy who was passed over by most teams coming out of HS, and felt he had something to prove in college. He was the 3rd QB taken in the draft, had something to prove. He's the best QB out of that bunch as of right now, and yet he's the only one being used as trade bait. In each situation, he's played with that chip on his shoulder. I'm convinced the guy just wants to be in a situation in which he's clearly wanted. He lost that in Denver. It might be his big flaw to act that way, but I don't see it being a problem for a team that commits to him with a contract. If I'm in a job and people are being interviewed for my position, I'm sure as hell going to try to find a new job with more security.

 

Yeah, I'm not writing off his career over this, he's a young guy and very talented. I'm not even against getting him for the right price, but I don't know that being a New York QB is the ideal spot for him right now given his apparent temperment. Maybe if we got him later on, not as late as we got Favre, but say 30 or so, I'd feel better about it.

 

Fair enough. Right now, it's all opinion. Part of me wants someone to show me past evidence of instability just so I can quit hedging and unequivocally say I don't want him. I'm too afraid of the price we may end up paying and curious to see what Ratliff or Clemens can bring to the table.

 

Sorry Murrell. I goofed. Don't know how I did it, but I did. I have edited my original post. :shake:

 

LOL to your sigs. They were funny when I read them in the original posts, but even funnier taken by themselves. :rofl:

 

please tell us which top flight defenses he has faced. Thank you!