Cutler
DANA POINT, Calif. – The Denver Broncos may listen to offers for disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler at the NFL owners meetings this week. If coach Josh McDaniels has his way, though, they’ll try to work things out to keep Cutler in Denver.
“He’s our quarterback. We can’t predict the future. He’s our quarterback, we want him to be our quarterback, we made that very clear to him and we hope he feels the same way,” McDaniels told the NFL Network on Monday, a day before he speaks publicly about the feud for the first time.
McDaniels reiterated that trade talks never reached owner Pat Bowlen’s desk, a sign that the issue never got to the serious stage.
“Conversations were had and we’ve never denied that, but at the same time it’s our job to look at every opportunity that we can to see if it’s something that could improve our football team, and that’s what we were doing,” McDaniels said.
Their relationship was strained when McDaniels failed to inform his Pro Bowl quarterback before trying to trade him for Matt Cassel, whom he tutored as New England’s offensive coordinator last year. Cutler asked for a trade through his agent after two meetings failed to soothe his hurt feelings.
McDaniels has said he’d rather meet face to face with Cutler again to try to patch their differences before seriously considering dealing the 25-year-old passer who set several franchise records last season.
DirecTV, NFL reach deal
DANA POINT, Calif. – DirecTV has extended its deal with the NFL for Sunday afternoon games through 2014, an agreement worth $4 billion to the league.
A person familiar with the contract, who spoke anonymously because no one has been authorized to reveal the figures, told The Associated Press on Monday the deal was for $1 billion a year for four years, up from an average of $700 million per season in the previous deal.
That’s very good news for the NFL during the current dreary economic climate.
Meanwhile, commissioner Roger Goodell insisted Monday that the NFL Network is not losing money.
He’s also hopeful the league will come to agreements with several cable distributors who have fought placing the network on basic levels. Included among those is Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, whose deal with the NFL expires April 30.
“We are going to be patient and determined,” Goodell said, “and we’re going to make sure it gets the broadest possible exposure. We will not do sports tiers; that’s not something in the best interest of the NFL. We want to make a deal.”
Two quick goals lift Flyers
PHILADELPHIA – Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne scored early in the third period to lift the Philadelphia Flyers past the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Monday night.
Carter scored his 40th goal and Gagne his 30th only 2:06 apart to hand Martin Brodeur only his third loss in 12 games since returning from biceps surgery.
Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2, OT: At Sunrise, Fla., Ray Whitney’s goal 1:37 into overtime gave surging Carolina a victory over Florida.
Tuomo Ruutu and Patrick Eaves also scored for Carolina, which improved to 8-1-2 in its last 11 games and moved past Pittsburgh into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Flames 5, Red Wings 3: At Calgary, Alberta Mike Cammalleri scored a goal and added two assists as Calgary took advantage of shaky goalie Chris Osgood and beat Detroit.
Osgood had been in net for each of Detroit’s victories in a four-game winning streak. However, he made an early exit and starting a fifth straight game for the first time this season.
1992 Derby winner dies
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lil E. Tee, who upset heavily favored Arazi to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, has died. He was 20.
The horse was euthanized at Old Frankfort Stud on March 18. Farm owner Jim Plemmons said the horse fell ill last month following an operation to repair an obstructed bowel and struggled to recover.
“He was losing his equilibrium and we didn’t want him to suffer,” Plemmons said. “Up to that point he had been fabulous. He looked like he was 10 years old.”