What the Broncos accomplished with Plummer wasn't that much better than what they accomplished with Cutler -- one playoff win. And Plummer retired days after being traded, which makes me wonder how much of a commitment to winning he would have had if he had stayed with the Broncos.
But this whole situation is ridiculous. The Broncos say Cutler wouldn't return their calls, Cutler says the Broncos never tried to get in touch with him, the Broncos demand 2 first-round picks in a trade. Yeah, good luck with that, unless a badly run team like, say, Washington, gives in.
Edit: I guess I'm wrong.

ESPN reports that Denver has agreed in principle to trade Cutler to the Bears along with a 3rd-round 2009 pick for Kyle Orton and Chicago's first-round picks in 2009 and 2010.