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Click Here to Read Cutler’s Diary of the Senior Bowl!
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Cutler Generating Senior Bowl Buzz 1/25/2006
MOBILE, Ala. — When it comes to creating national buzz regarding the NFL Draft, Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler has been a leading newsmaker. Cutler, coming off a record-breaking Commodore career and the 2005 consensus Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, has skyrocketed as a pro quarterback prospect during the opening days of practice leading to the 57th Senior Bowl this weekend. Kickoff for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier pre-draft showcase annually featuring the top senior NFL draft prospects, is scheduled this Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The game, a complete sellout, will be nationally televised on ESPN. None of the 100 invited seniors are making more of their opportunity to impress NFL scouts than Cutler, who will play for the Tennessee Titans coaching staff as a member for the North squad. Numerous draft experts, including ESPN insider Mel Kiper, have Cutler ranked among the nation’s elite quarterbacks after his Senior Bowl practice-week workouts. On and off the field, Cutler has impressed. According to daily practice reports on various outlets, Cutler has been the most impressive quarterback of six NFL hopefuls on the field, showing an ideal mix of arm strength, athleticism and poise. Off the field, the Indiana native has been just as busy. In addition to his responsibilities as a Senior Bowl player, Cutler is writing a daily diary for the Nashville Tennessean while conducting frequent interviews with NFL officials, draft insiders and media representatives. Sports crews from three Nashville television stations, and writers from the Tennessean and Nashville City Paper are in Mobile focusing on Cutler’s effort to impress NFL scouts. The players will practice daily until Saturday. ESPN and the NFL Network are also televising Senior Bowl practices this year with over 11 hours of coverage during the week. Remaining ESPN practice telecasts will air from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday of the week, while remaining NFL Network shows will air from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as well as a 30-minute wrap-up show later that evening. All times are central, and a complete TV schedule of remaining Senior Bowl practice telecasts is listed at the bottom of this story. Cutler is the 38th Commodore to participate in the Senior Bowl, and the first Vanderbilt quarterback invited since Bill Wade in 1952. Months later, Wade was selected by the Rams as the first pick of the draft. Senior Bowl practices are also attended by over 700 NFL general managers, head coaches, scouts and other front office personnel each year. Last year, ten Senior Bowlers were chosen in the first-round of the NFL Draft and 83 players were drafted overall. Ninety-five percent of last year’s Senior Bowl players made active rosters in the NFL in 2005. Wednesday, January 25 Thursday, January 26 Saturday, January 28 |