I always liked Jay Cutler, but on Tuesday, after his comments criticizing Brandon Marshall, I found myself even more impressed with the Broncos quarterback of the future and star of the present.

Simply put, Cutler said what pretty much everyone else was thinking. Much like Champ Bailey questioning management on the Jason Elam decision, Cutler realizes he has a rather important voice in the organization that allows him to uniquely state thoughts that, let's face it, some guy on the punt return team simply can't. The guy on the punt return team is just trying to be on the team. Cutler is firmly entrenched on the team. They have a huge investment in him and he ses the huge upside he has in himself.

With that upside though, comes responsibility and a process of maturation. It's not just your statistics that have to grow, your role as a player must advance as well. Cutler, by virtue of his choice of words on Tuesday, understands that. Marshall, by most accounts, including that of Cutler himself, does not.

The situation is rather simple for Cutler. It's his team. No matter how well Marshall bounces back, this team belongs to Cutler. To me, it comes as no surprise that he was named a captain in just his second season as an NFL player.

I have been hearing some question as to whether Cutler has built up enough credibility League-wide to scold Marshall. I think those critics are off base. By my account, somebody had to step in and inform a guy with so much potential that his sophomoric behavior was not only going to cost his team, but cost Marshall, a legitimate chance to thrive as well. Mike Shanahan has more credibility than almost any coach in the NFL, and he needs Marshall to be a great player to help return the Broncos to the elite level Shanahan is accustomed to. That said, why didn't he step in? Why does the young quarterback have to do that? I think Cutler should be commended, not criticized, for injecting himself into this discussion.

There is one more pressing issue that involves both Cutler and Marshall. By speaking out like he has, Culter now has to deliver this season. Yes, it's only his third year in the NFL, but after speaking out the way he did, if he doesn't produce, the line of critics will be lining up outside of Dove Valley full of anger. Although, as we all know, a quarterback, is in some cases, is only as good as his offensive weapons will let him be. So simply said: Cutler can be good, though Marshall can make him great. That being said, how is their relationship today? I'm guessing not so great.

I hope to see you tomorrow.

-"z"