Jay Cutler Is Not a Punk: Why the NFL Needs More Players Like Him

San Diego Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm made no effort to hide his feelings regarding Jay Cutler to start a recent radio interview.

"He is a punk. I'm just not a huge fan of his," Wilhelm told Kevin Acee after being prompted on XX 1090.

And after the Denver Broncos sent the New York Jets skidding off the runway, safety Kerry Rhodes told reporters, "I don't like him, I don't want to talk about him."

Where did all of this come from? It can't possibly be because Cutler is sure of himself, is it? Is that really the problem?

You can't be serious. There's a good chance I'm going to be all alone with this one, but there's no doubt in my mind that the NFL needs more Cutler.

There are plenty of real punks in the league. There's no need to focus on one guy whose interests revolve around being great, proving it, and challenging history in the process.

Some people wondered how Cutler could have the audacity to compare his arm to Denver Broncos' Hall of Fame QB John Elway. I applauded him.

There's nothing wrong with arrogance and honesty.

Hearing interview speeches prepared by agents have run their course with me. I don't want to hear, "Well, they're a really good team, and they gave it their all." 

Stop it! Show me some disdain for your team's sworn rival.

As football fans, do we really want to be lied to? Do we want to be led to believe that all players are best friends and would really prefer not to have to tackle one another?

This is a game of passion—where intensity, poise, and a little bit of moxie gets you a long way.

And when you're successful—when you can throw a touchdown strike through double-coverage before a cornerback even realizes the ball was released—then by all means let everyone know how great that feels!

Give me an NFL with more players of the Jay Cutler mold—with players who think they're the very best and try to prove it every week—and I'll show you more exciting games on a regular basis.

The time for complacent NFL players must come to an end. This game deserves more than a grimace and an "Aww shucks!" Fans deserve to see better from the men whose jerseys they want to wear.

Players have been criticized for years after receiving their contracts and checks. They lose their drive and passion, and fans are forced to watch the players they once respected lose their aggression.

It's refreshing to know that when it comes down to pure football, a guy like Jay Cutler is still interested in being the very best.

And if we're being honest—sometimes guys like that are just more fun to watch.

Angel Navedo covers the New York Jets for Examiner.com. His work can also be found on NYJetsFan.com, where he is the Head Writer, and on MyGridironSpace.com—a premier social networking site built exclusively for NFL fans.

He is also a Senior Writer at the Bleacher Report, where he is one of the New York Jets Community Leaders.