Adavantage, Denver

So, it's official. The Denver Broncos ended their marriage to quarterback Jay Cutler by dealing him to the Chicago Bears for two number one picks (one in 2009, one in 2010), Kyle Orton, and Chicago's third round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The trade does a number of things. First of all, it ends a month's worth of controversy for the Broncos. The he said, she said between Cutler and new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is now over. It was a situation that wasn't doing anyone any good at all. Cutler was coming off like a petulant child. McDaniels came off like a mini Bill Belichick (the Cleveland version). It was clear that the Broncos and Cutler could not continue down the road together.

So, now he's a Bear, and he immediately becomes the best quarterback they've had since Jim McMahon. Chicago has gone through a plethora of quarterbacks over the years. Take a look at some of these names and tell me if any one of them does anything for you. Rex Grossman, Rick Mirer, Moses Moreno, Henry Burriss, Kordell Stewart, Cade McNown. There are many more I could throw at you. But, they all have one thing in common. None of them were winners.

To be fair, Cutler hasn't been a winner, either. But, he gives the Bears their best chance at one since McMahon's prime.

Now that the deal is done, the only question that remains is this:

Who got the better end of the deal?

The Broncos might have given up their franchise quarterback, but I think they come out ahead in this one. Here's why.

First of all, Orton isn't a bad quarterback. The numbers may not look anything like Cutler's (in fact Orton threw for nearly 2,000 less yards and seven less touchdowns), but you have to take into account what Orton had to work with. Chicago's wide receivers aren't in the same galaxy as Denver's combination of Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. Not by a long shot. You put Orton with Denver's receivers and his numbers are going to improve. You put Orton under the tutelage of McDaniels and his numbers are going to improve.

Not only do the Broncos get Orton, they get extra draft picks. Would you be shocked if Denver took USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with one of their two first round picks (if he's available)? I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be surprised is Denver used the extra third round pick they got in the deal on a developmental quarterback either. And I know that the Broncos will use the extra picks they received to fix some of the other problem spots they have (they are switching to a 3-4 defense and could use some help on the defensive line).

So, Denver got a serviceable quarterback and extra picks that will help them improve. What did Chicago get?

They got Cutler, and that isn't all bad. He is a Pro-Bowl quarterback, and has the numbers to back it up. But remember that Cutler is 17-20 as a starter in the NFL. That kind of record isn't going to cut it in Chicago - not by a long shot. Cutler hasn't always displayed maturity or leadership - qualities he's going to have to display in he city of Chicago.

And he's going to have to produce without the weapons he had at his disposal in Denver. Brandon Lloyd, Devin Hester, and Rashied Davis aren't nearly the receivers Marshall and Royal are. Can Cutler turn them into better receivers the way other quarterbacks (Brett Favre for instance) have done in the past? I'm not sure he can.

On the surface, everyone's happy. The Bears are happy that they got the franchise quarterback they have lacked since the late eighties. The Broncos are happy that Cutler-gate is over.

But my guess is only one of these two teams will be happy about the deal in a couple of years. And I think that team will be the Broncos.

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