Jay Cutler was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft with the number 11 overall pick in April of 2006. Three months later the right handed quarterback out of Vanderbilt University by way of Santa Claus, Indiana signed a six year deal with the Broncos worth $48 million. The relationship between the Denver Broncos and particularly head coach Mike Shanahan was a successful one for the young quarterback as he flourished under Coach Shanahan.
After climbing out of the third string quarterback position during the 2006 training camp (passing quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt to become the backup) Cutler officially became the starter for the Broncos late during his rookie season. On November 27, 2006 head football coach Mike Shanahan who had coached John Elway to back to back Super Bowl victories made the announcement that Cutler would be replacing veteran quarterback Jake Plummer in the starting lineup.
The late season shakeup of replacing a proven quarterback in Jake Plummer with a rookie was the end result of pressure from the fan base to see some sort of productive measure be taken to vault the team into the playoffs. The 2006 season was a rollercoaster ride for Broncos fans that saw more than their fair share of ups and downs. After starting the season with seven wins through nine games with Plummer as the starting quarterback the team dropped back to back games and at that point turned to rookie signal caller Jay Cutler in the hopes of salvaging the season.
Fortunately, for Cutler his first starting role came in a home game in the friendly confines of Invesco Field at Mile High were the Broncos play all of their home games at roughly 5,280 feet (one mile) of elevation above sea level. Unfortunately for Cutler the cold December weather in Colorado did not provide favorable passing conditions for his December 3 debut as an NFL starting quarterback and the Broncos fell to the Seattle Seahawks by the narrow margin of 23-20.
Jay Cutler had his first win ever as an NFL quarterback two weeks later on December 17, 2006 when an offensive explosion catapulted the Denver Broncos past the Arizona Cardinals by a final score of 37-20. Jay followed up the Arizona win with a Christmas Eve encore victory against the Cincinnati Bengals by squeaking out a 24-23 win.
Sadly for Cutler and Broncos fans alike an overtime upset loss to the San Francisco 49ers on New Year's Eve gave the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs the last playoff spot ahead of the Denver Broncos. Despite a 7-2 start to the 2006 season the Broncos fell short of making the playoffs. Cutler never did take the Broncos to the playoffs during his three years in Denver but he did attain Pro Bowl status in 2008 before being traded to the Chicago Bears.
Sam, the author of this article, thinks Cutler makes time to check out golf courses with his buddies. Rumor has it that Cutler has a Vanderbilt golf bag in honor of his alma mater and may actually have a second one too. Nashville residents have reported seeing Jay with a Vanderbilt University golf bag in Nashville, Tennessee where he does a lot of volunteer work, thus fueling discussion that Cutler keeps on set of clubs at his place in Chicago and a second set in Tennessee.
