March 19, 2016

Highlighted Year: Jay Cutler, 2008

Quarterback, Denver Broncos


Age: 25
3rd season in pro football & with Broncos
College: Vanderbilt
Height: 6’3”   Weight: 233

Prelude:
Cutler set school records in pass attempts (1242) and completions (710) as well as passing yards (8697) and TD passes (59) and was SEC Player of the Year as a senior in 2005. He was chosen by the Broncos in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft (11th overall) and replaced Jake Plummer as starting quarterback for the last five games of the season. Mobile and with a strong and accurate arm, Cutler showed enough of his potential, completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 1001 yards and 9 TDs, to take over the starting job in 2007. While he passed for 3497 yards and 20 TDs, he lost weight and was lacking energy as the season progressed. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the offseason, he was fitted with an insulin pump.

2008 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
Attempts – 616 [2]
Most attempts, game – 50 vs. San Diego 9/14
Completions – 384 [3]
Most completions, game – 36 vs. San Diego 9/14
Yards – 4526 [3, 1st in AFC]
Most yards, game – 447 at Cleveland 11/6
Completion percentage – 62.3 [15]
Yards per attempt – 7.3 [12]
TD passes – 25 [7]
Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. San Diego 9/14
Interceptions – 18 [2]
Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Miami 11/2
Passer rating – 86.0 [16]
400-yard passing games – 1
300-yard passing games – 8
200-yard passing games – 13

Rushing
Attempts – 57
Most attempts, game – 8 (for 16 yds.) vs. Kansas City 12/7, (for 30 yds.) vs. Buffalo 12/21
Yards – 200
Most yards, game – 30 yards (on 8 carries) vs. vs. Buffalo 12/21
Average gain – 3.5
TDs – 2

Scoring
TDs – 2
2-pt conversions – 1 [2, tied with many others]
Points – 14

Awards & Honors:
Pro Bowl

Broncos went 8-8 to finish second in the AFC West while leading the conference in total yards (6333) and passing yards (4471).

Aftermath:
After appearing to have established himself in Denver, Cutler, in conflict with newly-hired head coach Josh McDaniels, demanded a trade and was accommodated by being dealt to the Chicago Bears in 2009. He had difficulties, passing for 3666 yards and 27 TDs but giving up a league-leading 26 interceptions. In 2010, although sacked a NFL-high 52 times, he had a better year overall and the Bears went 11-5 and reached the NFC title game, although Cutler was criticized when he left that contest, a loss to the Packers, with a knee sprain. Injuries were a factor in 2011, when he missed six games with a broken thumb, and 2013, missing five contests due to a groin injury. Cutler achieved career highs in 2014 with a 66.0 completion percentage and 28 TD passes, but he again led the league in interceptions with 18 in a losing season for the club. He threw for 3659 yards and 21 TDs in 2015, with just 11 interceptions. Overall, over ten seasons he has passed for 31,408 yards and 204 TDs, with 141 interceptions, for a passer rating of 86.0. Of those totals, 9024 yards and 54 touchdowns, with 37 INTs, came with the Broncos, where he achieved his only Pro Bowl selection to date.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970