Jock Itch Forgiving Jay Cutler

Carmelo Anthony missed his chance to come back to Denver and feel the wrath of 19,000 fans booing and saying unkind things about his untalented wife. The NBA lockout, now seemingly resolved, saw fit to erase that blessed reunion from the schedule. Instead, Denver fans are now boning up on their potty talk to welcome another prodigal son back to the Mile High City when Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears make a triumphant return to Broncos Country this Sunday.

Except a funny thing happened for Cutler on his way back to Denver: He nearly got his thumb ripped off trying to tackle someone after throwing an interception. Cutler won’t play in Denver, and possibly not at all for the rest of the season, denying fans the chance to boo him for the first time since he left in a huff back in 2009. It’s too bad, because as the Tebow train keeps rolling, Cutler will be on the sidelines watching it pass him by.

I would imagine the reception for Cutler as he stepped onto the field for the first time would be slightly more intense than Ashley Simpson’s reception at the 2008 Orange Bowl and just shy of a public execution for Jerry Sandusky. The question wouldn’t be if the fans could keep up the jeering for four quarters, but how loud it would get. But it’s good that he won’t be on the field, because the ire directed at Cutler has grown stale and fans should rethink sending any venom his way at all.

A portion of the troubles the Broncos have gone through in the last few years can certainly be pinned on Cutler. After all, it was his refusal to call Broncos owner Pat Bowlen that led to his eventual trade to Chicago. Cutler claims he did call the owner and Bowlen’s admitted memory problems may be at fault. Call or no call, Cutler was being a crybaby over the rumor that he was going to be traded for Matt Cassel, and his bad reaction set off the chain of events that led to Josh McDaniels ripping the roof off of the team and soiling all that was honest and good about the organization.

It wasn’t Cutler who gutted the team and drafted poorly for the two seasons following his departure. That distinction goes to McDaniels. If you really need to blame someone, Pat Bowlen is the one who handed the keys to McDummy in the first place. It’s now taken a healthy dose of John Elway, the hiring of a good defensive coach, and a wonderful stretch of football by Tim Tebow and the defense to right the ship.

That’s why I think the time has come to forgive Jay Cutler. That’s right—in the spirit of the holiday season, let’s let bygones be bygones and give Jay Cutler a pass. The Broncos are 7-5, tied for first place in the AFC West, and are showing no signs of slowing down. They should beat the Bears this weekend and further distance themselves from the Oakland Raiders, which is its own Christmas miracle. Things are looking great, and we should all thank Jay Cutler for helping the situation along. You can start the healing this Sunday by lightly applauding any time he’s seen on the Jumbotron. Save your angst. The Broncos are flying high and Carmelo Anthony will be back for you to boo before you know it.