NFL | Denver trades Jay Cutler to Bears for Kyle Orton, two first round picks

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jay Cutler got his wish Thursday: a ticket out of Denver. And the Chicago Bears have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades.

The Broncos announced Thursday they had agreed to trade their disgruntled Pro Bowl passer to the Bears, who have gone through a bevy of quarterbacks without much success ever since Jim McMahon was calling plays in the 1980s.

The Broncos will get quarterback Kyle Orton in return, along with two first-round draft picks and a third-rounder.

The Broncos get the Bears' top pick in this year's draft, which is No. 18 overall, and Chicago's first-round draft pick in 2010, along with a third-round selection this year (No. 84 overall). Denver also gave up a fifth-rounder this year.

Chicago immediately made a move to help protect Cutler, agreeing to a three-year contract with free-agent left tackle Orlando Pace, 33. The seven-time Pro Bowler was released by the Rams in a move to clear $6 million in cap room.

Cutler asked for a trade last month after his relationship with Josh McDaniels soured when the new 32-year-old coach talked to other teams about trading him. Cutler and his agent didn't think McDaniels was upfront with them about the trade talks.

Two meetings designed to clear the air only raised Cutler's level of distrust. Still, McDaniels insisted over and over that Cutler was his guy and he said at last week's NFL owners meetings that he would do everything he could to repair their relationship.

When the rocket-armed but thin-skinned passer didn't return the Broncos' phone calls, however, team owner Pat Bowlen said enough was enough. On Tuesday night, he announced he had given his new brain trust of McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders the go-ahead to seek a trade for the quarterback who made the Pro Bowl in just his second season as a starter.

Cutler expressed surprise and remorse Wednesday night to foxsports.com.

"I was surprised they decided to trade me this soon," Cutler told the site. "I didn't want to get traded. This wasn't me. They [the Broncos] had been going back and forth saying things, wanting me to be their quarterback, and then they didn't. I really didn't want this. I love Denver. I really like my teammates. I didn't want it to get this far."

Now, the Bears have a top quarterback, albeit one with baggage.

"I don't have any concerns," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "[Coach Lovie Smith] and I talked about that. We did, like a lot of people who were interested in Jay, a lot of work going back to not just when he was with Denver [but] but going back to his days at Vanderbilt."

Although Cutler is 17-20 as a starter, he's been victimized by dismal defenses in Denver, and he was an impressive 13-1 when the Broncos held opponents to 21 points or fewer.

In 2008, Cutler threw for a franchise-record 4,526 yards, 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Notes

• Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, 28, surrendered in court to face charges that he was driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian after a night of drinking at a ritzy Miami Beach hotel. He later was released and expressed condolences to the family of victim Mario Reyes, 59. Stallworth was led away in handcuffs and was later released on $200,000 bail.

• The Tennessee Titans have asked the NFL to consider tampering charges against the Washington Redskins in the signing of free-agent defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported.

• An agent for suspended NFL star Michael Vick told a bankruptcy court in Newport News, Va., that he hopes the ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback could return to the league by September. Once released from prison, Vick has lined up a $10-an-hour construction job.

• Former Boston College lineman B.J. Raji, who is considered the top defensive tackle eligible for the draft, reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL combine.

• Defensive end Phillip Daniels, 36, signed a one-year contract to return to the Washington Redskins. The former Seahawk missed the 2008 season when he tore a ligament in his left knee.

• The Arizona Cardinals have signed free-agent fullback Dan Kreider to a one-year deal.

• The Dallas Cowboys have re-signed guard Cory Procter to a one-year contract.