Agree JH. At the time Matt was a Heisman winner and VY had just won a NC. Jay played for a team that never had a season over .500 and subsequently never played a post season game. Sure Jay was in Jeff's backyard but taking him over those two proven winners would have been construed as beyond stupid. Fast forward and yes, it would have been the better choice but at the time he was a distant, distant #3
That an excellent, well stated opinion but I have to disagree and here's why...
Matt was a California guy and a playboy type and he had basically a NFL team all around him but we now know there was some cheating going on to get some of those players.
Matt didn't seem to be a real student of the game and want to work to become a really good NFL QB.
Since you're also a Vols fan I'll assume that you saw alot of Jay Cutler as I did and we'll agree that he never had a good O line to protect him and in the SEC we're known for good D teams alot more than most other conferences.
Cutler was always running for his life and I'm amazed that he never got hurt badly but he's a very tough guy physically and mentally.
Running for his life all the time actually helped him because he learned well how to run faster and still throw good passes.
Cutler has a cannon for a arm and given just a little time he'll hit his targets and can make all the throws and he's a smart guy so learning a new O and the terminology isn't a really tough task for him.
Shannahan is a very good friend of Jeff Fisher and if you remember was coaching Denver at the time.
When he called fisher to ask about Cutler Jeff told him he would take him if Bud Adams hadn't order everyone to take Vince young and he would even move up in the draft to make sure he got Cutler if he was Shannahan.
Obviously Denver took Cutler and their O started to take off pretty well but their D was horrid and shannahan got fired before he could finish working on the D side of the ball which we all know now was a huge mistake by the Denver owner.
We all make mistakes though but I think if Da Bears get it all together that Cutler still has the time to win a superbowl or 2 before he retires.
They sure looked good against Dallas last night.
VFL...GBO!!!