Ramsey warms to new role with Broncos

ENGLEWOOD -- With precocious starting quarterback Jay Cutler set for his second season, the Denver Broncos searched for an old veteran sage to back him up.

The Broncos found former Washington Redskins and New York Jets quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who is only 28 and is a bit amused by his new position as mentor.

“That is a different role for me, for sure,” Ramsey said.

Jay Cutler will be 24 and has started only five NFL games. Experienced free agent veterans Jeff Garcia and Brad Johnson signed with other teams so the Broncos turned to Ramsey.

Ramsey doesn’t have as much NFL experience as Garcia or Johnson. He’s played 34 games with 24 starts but has had a lot of ups and downs in his short career.

Washington used a first-round draft pick on Ramsey in 2002. He had 34 touchdowns and 29 interceptions with the Redskins, but he never got a full vote of confidence. His first coach was Steve Spurrier, whose offensive scheme didn’t put much emphasis on protecting the quarterback. When Joe Gibbs came out of retirement to coach in 2004, Washington signed veteran Mark Brunell to start ahead of Ramsey.

Ramsey received another opportunity late in 2004 when Brunell struggled, but got a surprisingly quick hook in 2005. He injured his neck against the Bears in the season opener, and Gibbs immediately went to Brunell as the permanent starter. Ramsey hasn’t started a game since.

Ramsey said he tries not to dwell on what happened earlier in his career, but getting replaced so quickly in 2005 was the most difficult moment.

“That was pretty frustrating and tough to get through,” said Ramsey, who was traded to the Jets last year, couldn’t replace Chad Pennington as starter and threw one pass all season.

Ramsey had a few other teams show interest in the offseason, such as Houston and Cincinnati, but no team was offering a chance to start. He weighed his options, and followed the thought process of a young player who wants to improve at his craft. He thought he could get better under coach Mike Shanahan.

“It’s an opportunity to learn and develop as a player,” Ramsey said. “It’s definitely a decision I’m happy and content with.”

The Broncos got a quarterback who can teach Cutler some things and who can fill in if needed.

“To have that guy come in, to me, helps you in case a guy like Jay would go down,” Shanahan said. “You have a guy that’s been there, who has started a number of games and feels quite comfortable with NFL defenses.”

Ramsey has a two-year contract with the Broncos, and he said he wants another chance to start in the NFL. He hopes the experience of being with the Broncos can help him improve and get that opportunity. The sacrifice he made was giving up any chance of competing for a starting job the next two years, with Cutler the obvious choice at quarterback.

“I think that was the only negative, in my opinion,” Ramsey said. “But there were so many positives, as far as where we were going to live, and the opportunity to be successful if I do get to play. I think that was the primary attraction.”

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com