On the Mark: Young coach going old school

Even as he arrived for his much-anticipated audience with the football press, I didn't recognize the coach of the Denver Broncos.

'He's on our team'

He's smaller than I imagined. Actually, he's smaller than you'd imagine any head coach in the NFL. There's no insult there, either. In fact, after listening to Josh McDaniels for the better part of an hour, I walked away with more than a little admiration for a guy whose tenure is accurately described as "embattled" before he's even coached a game.

Some weeks ago, McDaniels — himself the son of a legendary high school coach back in Ohio — entertained an offer, however briefly, to trade his quarterback, Jay Cutler, for Matt Cassel. Now Cutler, as sensitive as he is gifted, has requested a trade, and you get the feeling that this is exactly the kind of predicament McDaniels' father never faced back in Ohio.

McDaniels kept referring to Cutler — a Pro Bowler in only his third season — as "the player." As in: "He's a good player, a very good player. I'm not sure he needs his ego massaged."