NFL - Sports Rumors - Denver Broncos

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Life as Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler once knew it has changed. Cutler recently was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The story was first reported Thursday night by The Denver Post on its website. While this is the most serious type of diabetes, making Cutler insulin dependent, the Broncos are confident it will not negatively affect his career performance. Cutler, who declined to comment, has been taking his insulin shots since he was diagnosed and has been participating in the Broncos' offseason workout program.

"People need to understand this is very treatable," said a Broncos source. "Jay's going to be fine."

Several athletes have enjoyed long professional careers while playing with Type 1 diabetes several NFL players like center Jay Leeuwenburg, quarterback Wade Phillips; tight end Jonathan Hayes; and defensive back Mike Echols played with diabetes.

"Unfortunately, in the position Jay's in, people will wonder in their back of their minds: Did he throw that interception because his blood sugars weren't in control?" said Leeuwenburg, who is now a third-grade teacher at Colorado Academy. "And that is 100 percent not fair. I never in my nine years in the NFL, in my five years of college and four years of high school missed a down of football because of diabetes. It is doable. There are some life-changing things Jay will have to come to grips with. But he has world-class doctors that will help him. And he will have all the resources available to him.''

Source: Denver Post

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When it comes to winning in the NFL, the case of Dewayne Robertson proves physical examinations can be evaluated any way a team chooses. Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said at his pre-draft press conference today that Robertson's knee did not pass the physical taken by team doctors. The Broncos acquired the defensive tackle from the New York Jets, anyway, in exchange for essentially nothing according to the Denver Post.

"He would have flunked our test over the last four years," Shanahan said. "But he's played over the last four years. The last two years, he's played 77 percent of the time. So we were willing to take the risk."

If Robertson plays in less than 65 percent of the defensive plays in 2008, the Broncos will not have to give the Jets a 2009 draft pick. The Jets will get a 2009 conditional draft pick in the unlikely event Robertson is on the field for more than 65 percent of the plays. The Broncos use an eight-man rotation up front so it's unlikely any defensive lineman, much less Robertson, will play two-thirds of the snaps. Elvis Dumervil was the only Broncos lineman who played 70 percent of the defensive snaps last season, but that was partly because of injuries to two other defensive ends, Ebenezer Ekuban and Jarvis Moss

Source: Denver Post

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