Sideline Scouting

The Vikings lost out to Seattle in their pursuit of free-agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Monday, but that didn’t mean all was quiet at Winter Park.

The Denver Post reported the Vikings are among the teams that have expressed interest in Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, and talks between the sides were believed to be ongoing Monday. It remains unclear what the Vikings might be offering.

The news broke three days after the Vikings completed a trade that sent a fourth-round draft pick to Houston for Sage Rosenfels. He and Tarvaris Jackson are expected to compete for the starting quarterback job, but neither is at the level of Cutler, a 2006 first-round pick who made his first Pro Bowl this past season. The Vikings made inquiries about Cutler’s availability at the NFL scouting combine last month.

Vikings coach Brad Childress was elusive when asked at Rosenfels’ introductory news conference whether the team would add a top-tier quarterback.

“Don’t know, I’m not clairvoyant,” Childress said.

Cutler, 25, and the Broncos have been at odds since reports surfaced over the weekend that the team was involved in talks with Tampa Bay and New England that would have sent Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel to Denver. That would have reunited Cassel with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, who had served as New England’s offensive coordinator. Cassel ultimately was dealt to Kansas City.

Cutler, who also is being sought by Detroit, has reportedly refused to meet with the 32-year-old McDaniels in recent days. The Broncos have attempted to downplay the trade reports.

“We don’t want to trade Jay,” McDaniels told the Post. “We never did. He’s our quarterback.”

Minnesota Star-Tribune