by Jay Glazer

He was right.

Cutler has been traded to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Kyle Orton.

Denver will receive Chicago's first- and third-round pick in this year's draft, and Chicago's first-round pick in 2010, along with Orton. The Bears get Cutler and the Broncos' fifth-round pick this year.

Cutler has been feuding with the team since new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels pursued a trade with New England for former Patriot, and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel.

McDaniels was never able to rebuild a relationship with a quarterback who felt spurned. Cutler was so angry that he never reported for the team's offseason program — a decision that reportedly costing him a $100,000 workout incentive.

In a team-issued statement Tuesday, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said his attempts and those by McDaniels to reach Cutler for the past 10 days were "unsuccessful."

"A conversation with his agent earlier (Tuesday) clearly communicated and confirmed to us that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Broncos," Bowlen said. "We will begin discussions with other teams in an effort to accommodate his request to be traded."

However on Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com, Cutler refuted many of the team's characterizations, saying it was the Broncos who had not contacted him.

"I didn't want to get traded," Cutler told FOXSports.com. "This wasn't me. (The Broncos) had been going back and forth saying things, wanting me to be their quarterback and then they didn't. I really didn't want this. I love Denver. I really like my teammates. I didn't want it to get this far."

The Bears are hoping the acquisition of Cutler will bring an end to their often frustrating search for an undisputed No. 1 quarterback. Their recent history has been filled with uncertainty at the position. Since 2000, 12 players have started at least one game at quarterback for the Bears. The list of those who have been discarded includes Orton, Brian Griese, Chad Hutchinson, Rex Grossman, Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler and Jim Miller.

A 2006 first-round draft choice, Cutler is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2008. Cutler had a 62.3 completion percentage, tossing 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in a 4,526-yard passing campaign. But the Broncos failed to reach the playoffs for a third consecutive season, leading to the offseason firing of 14-year head coach Mike Shanahan.

Denver now has Orton, fellow newcomer Chris Simms and Darrell Hackney at quarterback.

Simms, who signed a two-year, $6 million free agent deal ostensibly to serve as Cutler's backup, has thrown just two passes since undergoing emergency surgery to remove his spleen after a game in 2006. Hackney's next NFL pass will be his first.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo made it clear in December, after his team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year - that solidifying the quarterback spot was his top priority.

"It's all about the quarterback," he said. "You don't win because of wide receivers. You don't win because of running backs. You win because of the quarterback. We've got to get the quarterback position stabilized."

Orton threw for 2,972 yards while completing 272 of 465 passes and throwing more touchdowns (18) than interceptions (12) after beating out Rex Grossman for the starting job. But he wasn't the same after being carted off the field with a sprained ankle against Detroit midway through the season.

Orton went from throwing a club record 205 passes without an interception to throwing eight in four games before a strong finish in the finale.

The Bears will get a great but often petulant passer who is going from the long shadow of John Elway in Denver to the Windy City, where he'll be under just as much scrutiny.

Cutler is halfway through the six-year, $48 million contract he signed as the 11th overall pick out of Vanderbilt in the 2006 draft. His salary cap number for next season is just over $1 million.

Although he probably won't play in the game, the Bears visit the Broncos for an exhibition on Aug. 30.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.