The reason the local media loves NFL players is because there are so few teams and such a big market. So no rivalries to speak off and most cities are a one (or zero) trick pony. When there is a rivalry, the teams are kept apart so they are never in direct competition. It's smart marketing by the league, but the structure of the whole franchise business and the market for the game is so different as to be a pointless comparison with the SPL.
I still doubt, however, that any Broncos fans have any love for Cutler.