"Jay Cutler will be our starting quarterback." With those words Monday afternoon, Head Coach Mike Shanahan ended a weekend of speculation that spilled over into chat rooms, talk shows, newspapers and NFL game broadcasts, announcing that the first-round pick will take over as Denver's starter under center when the Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday night. The decision -- which Shanahan termed "very tough" -- came after the Broncos lost a second straight game under Jake Plummer. However, the 19-10 loss at Kansas City was not the sole factor. "It's a process. It doesn't just happen overnight," Shanahan said. "It happens on the way Jay's handled himself through (organized team activity) days, the way he's handled himself through (training) camp and you evaluate how people practice on a day-in, day-out basis, week in and week out."