by Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News , Rocky Mountain News

"When I was with Miami, we were in the market for a quarterback in the draft that year," Garrett said. "And I had a chance to visit with Jay before the draft, to really study what he did and how he went about it.

"Add in that we've practiced against the Broncos the last two years, and I have a good idea what kind of player Jay is and what he means to a team."

And his work with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is at least part of the reason Garrett, Dallas' offensive coordinator, spent much of the day at the Broncos' Dove Valley complex as the fifth assistant to interview for the team's coaching position.

Romo was the starter for the NFC in February's Pro Bowl, then threw for 3,446 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

Cutler fuels a Broncos offense that was third in the league in passing this season despite the fact seven running backs were placed on injured reserve at various points in the season.

"You look at him and you see what you'd like to see in a quarterback, going all the way back to college, just the physical and mental toughness he possesses," Garrett said. "To play at Vanderbilt and play in the SEC and play the way he did, that's what really stood out. How he performed in some very difficult situations, how he always seemed to be in control and how he just competed all the time.

"Those are things you could see, and it's no surprise to me with all of that to go with the other tangible things like arm strength that he's been able to do what he's done already in the league."

Garrett, who just completed his second season in charge of the Dallas offense, is the third assistant with primarily an offensive background, joining Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, to talk with the team.

Dennison interviewed with team officials, including owner Pat Bowlen, on Tuesday morning. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will interview today.

The Broncos will bring in another candidate Thursday, Miami Dolphins assistant head coach/secondary coach Todd Bowles, who has received interest around the league as well as Bill Parcells' blessing as a head coaching prospect.

Dennison was on the staff for all of Mike Shanahan's 14-year tenure and has been the Broncos' run-game coordinator in recent years and has coached the offensive line since 2001.

The Broncos also surrendered only 12 sacks this season. Of the team's best five seasons in sacks allowed per pass play, three have come with Dennison coaching the offensive line.

In his time with the team, Dennison, who played nine seasons at linebacker for the Broncos and holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Colorado State, also has been an offensive assistant and special teams coach.

"It went well," Dennison said of his interview. "I said where I thought we were, they said where they thought we were and we talked about where we're going from here. It was a great discussion. . . . It's a major decision for them; they certainly have to take their time with it."

The Broncos got a closer look at Garrett as well during the past two training camps. The Broncos and Cowboys practiced together leading to a preseason game in 2007 and 2008.

"I have great respect for the Broncos organization," Garrett said. "From afar, as a player who competed against the Broncos, as a coach who competed against the Broncos, to have an opportunity to work against them the last couple years, just very impressive top to bottom."

Dennison and the other Broncos assistants met with team officials the day after Shanahan's firing was announced last week.

All were given permission to seek other jobs, but no official decision will be made on what assistant coaches would be retained until a new coach is hired.

All of Shanahan's assistants are signed to contracts that go at least through the 2009 season.

For his part, Garrett, who also is the Cowboys' assistant head coach, has the least NFL coaching experience of any of the candidates who have been interviewed thus far. After a 12-year playing career and a year as a Princeton assistant coach, Garrett has been an NFL assistant coach for four seasons.

But he has dealt with the constant swirl that is the Cowboys, including some public run-ins with receiver Terrell Owens, so he knows how to handle himself in the public eye.

The Cowboys also thought enough of him to make him the highest paid assistant coach in the league this season - at $3 million.

It is believed with that deal, he was given at least some assurances from owner Jerry Jones he would be the next Cowboys coach.

Garrett also turned away an opportunity to interview with the Detroit Lions in recent days but thought the Broncos job was worthy of a look, with Jones' blessing.

"I think I'm in a great situation with the Dallas Cowboys, and we had some discussions last week about the kind of opportunities that might be out there to be a head coach somewhere," Garrett said.

"And when you have an opportunity to interview with a team like the Denver Broncos , (Jones) understands what that means . . . this is something that is exciting to look at and exciting to be in the middle of."

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