Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has sent a letter to season ticket holders explaining why the organization had to trade Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears.

Bowlen preached a message of team unity in the e-mail, reiterating that he and new coach Josh McDaniels had reached out many times to Cutler, who didn't respond to their overtures to repair the strained relationship.

Bowlen, who remained largely silent during the six-week rift that ended with Thursday's blockbuster trade, wrote: "It has never been about one player and it never will be." He added that anybody who puts himself above the team gets a ticket out of town.

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