A few people have ask me what my take is on the whole Mike Shanahan firing. Of course, my initial reaction was one of shock and awe because I seriously thought he was Bowlen’s “Coach for Life”…but this just proves that nothing is really forever (except maybe diamonds?).
I refrained from posting right when it happened because I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about letting Shanny go. On the one hand, the man simply has not gotten the job done in the past few years. He has had some terribledrafts in the past and has only made one serious playoff run since Elway left (that loss to the Steelers a few years ago still hurts!). On the other hand, is there a better coach out there right now? Can we really replace The Mastermind with something better? And the last two draft classes have been fantastic.
After some reflection I think the time was right for a change. Is there a better coach out there? Probably not. Is there a better GM/Coaching combination? Absolutely! I think this firing was all about Shanny as GM, not Shanny as Coach. He had taken off more than he could chew (can anyone do both jobs effectively?). And it was becoming obvious that the time had come for a change…hopefully the change will be for the better.
If there was anything outside of the GM role that got Shanny in hot water it just might have been the terrible defense the Broncos have put together since…well…the Superbowl years (and even that defense was just above average). Shanny was an offensive genius that I think we will miss. But he proved that offense alone does NOT get it done…you need at least a passable defense.
So what’s next?
For Shanny, I wish him the best of luck as long as he coaches outside of the AFC West (and preferably the AFC altogether). My guess is that he is back coaching soon…he will have his pick. Maybe he even heads to the college ranks as has so often been rumored lately? My nightmare scenario? Dungy retires and Shanny takes the helm in Indy. Shudder to think it!
For the Broncos, I am putting my money on Steve Spagnuolo. I highly doubt we will be getting a head coach with experience (i.e. Cowher) and I would bet the ranch that the next coach s defensively minded. Keep the offense in Bates’ hands and let the new guy focus on building a tough defense…that’s what I’m talking about!
I have one dark-horse pick for the job that would be both ironic and intriguing. I haven’t heard his name mentioned yet so it’s probably not likely, but how about Marty Shottenheimer? You know how the old saying goes…if you can’t bet ‘em join ‘em. Now that would be irony of irony (and he would be motivated to beat my much hated Chargers!).
One thing is for sure…my predictions don’t mean a thing. Only one guy’s opinion matters and that’s Mr. Bowlen. But it can’t get much worse than we’ve had it the past few years…can it?? 
Related Posts: Unfortunately, I Got One Right |
Today my beloved Broncos hold their playoff destiny in their own hands. The announcers have said it more times than I can count, but if they win they are in and if they lose they are out. It is unbelievable that they have put themselves in this position since they were up three games on the Chargers just two weeks ago!
As an avid fan, I, of course, want them to win the game. But here’s the thing…I’m not so sure I want them to get into the playoffs. They just aren’t ready. The offense is close—very close. All they need is a little more time together. The defense on the other hand? Where to begin?!? They need help at so many positions it’s almost impossible to know where to start, but I do know that they are not a playoff caliber defense. Pick anyone who actually earned the right to be there and this defense will be picked apart by that team.
My prediction for today? I actually think they might be able to pull this one off…I think it’s going to be a close one. In the end, I think they will lose the game. The Chargers are playing their best ball right now (not great, but their best so far) and the Broncos are on a slide they can’t seem to control. I also kind of hope they lose and miss the playoffs. Whichever team makes it in will likely play the Colts at home and I’ve seen the Broncos lose to them quite enough already. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Chargers dealt the same fate!
The one wild-card today that could change the outcome of the game is Mr. Jay Cutler. If he has a great game and manages to protect the football…he might just avenge the loss to the Chargers last year and wipe this stupid look off of Mr. Rivers face…
Related Posts: Bronco’s Prediction Updated | Broncos Predictions Update | Broncos’ Season Prediction |
I haven’t talked much football yet this season, so here are a few musings and thoughts that have been rolling around my brain…feel free to comment on any and all that you like…
- Will the real Peyton Manning/LaDanian Tomlinson/Terrell Owens please stand up!
Seriously, would you have bet anything that these guys would perform so poorly this year? In the meantime we have guys like Trent Edwards playing lights out? Something just isn’t quite right with universe right now.
- How exactly do these guys still have jobs: Romeo Crennel, Marvin Lewis, and Herm Edwards?
This is especially questionable given that the 49ers just fired Mike Nolan. These coaches have had plenty of opportunity with plenty of talent to make stuff happen and they are not getting done.
- The Denver Defense should be forced to wear pink jerseys until they man-up and start playing “big boy” football.
It’s getting downright embarrassing! How many years do we have to put up with this garbage? They have talent (as much as most other NFL teams) so is it coaching or is it simply desire?
- Jay Cutler needs to shut his mouth about John Elway and Philip Rivers and FOCUS on football.
Hopefully he got a little slice of humble pie last night once again and he decides to screw his head back on and do what we’ve seen him do…tear defenses apart. It seems like once he started getting some attention it went straight to his head and then his head exploded.
There ya go…I feel much better now! 
Related Posts: Football is Coming!! | Fantasy Football Draft | Hunting and Fantasy Football |
This is horrible news, but safety John Lynch is leaving the Denver Broncos (I almost swallowed my own tongue when I read this the first time)! You can read the full article in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. All I can say is that he will be sorely missed…and that this is another veteran player I wish was staying around (ala Jason Elam).
I understand the move on both sides. For Lynch, he wasn’t likely to start and I’m guessing he will end up somewhere else (and I wish him all the best as long as it is outside of the AFC West). Lynch is a class act!
For the Broncos, they have a lot of talent at the safety position and enough class to recognize this early and they are letting a class act look for the best opportunity for him (not all organizations would do that). I hope this move doesn’t come back to bite them at some point during the year, but it will certainly provide plenty of talk-show fodder.
It’s an odd year for my beloved Broncos!
Good luck John…you will be missed! 
Related Posts: Elam’s Departure |
Tonight I was doing some catching up on news (specifically sports news) so I start browsing the Denver Post and I see this picture on the front page (and within the article itself)…
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, right? I’m not sure what this picture is trying to say…but it cracks me up!! Is this really the best picture the Denver Post could find? I doubt it, which means they are either cruel or thought it was funny too (or both). I know it makes me a bad person, but this picture is funny…I can’t help it, consider it a character flaw! 
And of course I had to share. Don’t worry if you think it’s a little funny too…just as long as you can laugh at yourself.
Related Posts: The Great Sand Dunes | Sold Out | Theme Verse |
Denver Broncos Training Camp 2008 officially start today!! I heard yesterday that this is the last weekend of the year without a broadcast football game (I know, it’s preseason, but it’s something!). 
I love this time of year because the season is full of just one thing…PROMISE. I plan on making it to at least one training camp session this year and am excited about the Bronco’s possibilities. Am I expecting the Super Bowl? Uh…no. Am I expecting the playoffs? Yes. I am also expecting a lot of young players to start making some contributions on both sides of the ball. I am expecting Mr. Cutler to make some significant strides in his game. My biggest question mark…the defensive line of course?!?!? Win or lose…the season is upon us!
BTW, my preseason prediction? 10-6
In addition to training camp starting, fantasy football is coming too! Our draft starts on August 16th and I am looking forward to a much better year than last year (3-10! 
). We have some new teams in the league which is always fun and we expanded it from 10 to 12 players. We are also turning it into a Keeper League which should add a little more interest.
Sigh…football is here…all seems right with the world!
P.S.: Heading to Jackson Lake for the weekend with family and friends so no posts for the next couple of days (sorry Nick). Will have pics and stories to share when I get back. Peace out!
Related Posts: Broncos vs 49ers (Preseason) | Football is Coming!! | Sunday Crusaders Update |
Opening Day 2008
A foot long bratwurst. A cold beer. Peanuts (no Cracker Jacks). Good friends.
It doesn’t get any better than this!
This is where I spent my afternoon today…thanks to a good friend (Rowland Smith) who invited me to enjoy a beautiful Colorado day at the ballpark (it was 65 degrees at game time) with him and my Pastor. The Rockies lost the game 8-1 to the Diamondbacks, but it’s early in the season and you just can’t argue with a day at the park instead of at work.
Thanks Rowland!!
Related Posts: I’m a Rockies Fan? | Sunday Crusaders Update | Football is Coming!! |
Yesterday was the end of an era for the Denver Broncos as Jason Elam ended his 15 year career with the Donkeys and moved to the Atlanta Falcons. It was a sad day for the Orange and Blue.
I have only the fondest of memories of Jason’s tenure with the Broncos. It just won’t be the same without him. I remember the Rich Karlis days and sweating every time he stepped on the field. Not so with Mr. Elam…or “Mr. Reliable”. I remember Elam lining up for the 63 yard kick and watching it sail through the uprights. I remember his countless game winning kicks and having absolutely no doubt that he would make each and every one of them. He is a class act both on and off the field.
This just shows how cash strapped the Broncos are this year (or at least how strapped they feel). I didn’t think this one was going to get away from them; I figured they would find a way to keep Elam, but it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s going to be a strange year for my beloved team. I’m not sure what to make of all their moves so far and it doesn’t give me a “warm and fuzzy” heading in to the draft either.
Losing Elam sucks for the Broncos and their fans, but I can’t say I fully understand Elam’s reasoning either. I mean come on…the Falcons?? Sure it’s your hometown. The Falcons? Really? I mean, really?? At least he didn’t go the Javon Walker route and move to Oakland. Jason has more class and brains than that.
I wish him the best and say once again that it just won’t be the same without him. I wish he could have finished out his career here and broken a few more records along the way. This is the way of the NFL…bummer!
ON THIS NOTE: I found a great fan blog for the Denver Broncos called BroncoTalk. Check it out if you’re a fan.
Related Posts: Lynch’s Departure |
Atthe very beginning of the year I predicted the Broncos would go 10-6…OK, so I missed that one but in my defense that was before they had played a single game. A few games in and I changed my call to 7-9 and stuck with it until the end, when they finished…
7 wins - 9 losses
Where do the Broncos begin to fix things? I have no idea because there is so much wrong with them right now. In fact, it’s hard to find something that IS right with them. Only 4 come to mind: Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stockley and Jason Elam> OK, I’ll throw in the Run Blocking Scheme, but that one hardly counts.
I’m not paid to fix them so I won’t even pretend I have the solution. I bleed Orange and Blue and just hope Shanahan finds the fix for what has to be the most abysmal season of his career (and I thought that was last year’s season!).
My own fantasy football team did no better…only winning 3 games all year. So I say for myself and for the Broncos: There’s always next year!
Related Posts: No related posts |
I’m not sure what that was last night with the Donkeys (aside from an embarrassment) but I’m getting tired of watching it! I couldn’t even finish the 4th quarter and I’m a die-hard, bleed orange-and-blue guy. It’s frustrating not knowing which Broncos team is going to show up from week to week.
Yes, they had a short week. But come on! This was the Houston Texans we’re talking about here. I like Gary Kubiak and hope him all the best–except when we’re playing him. And once again this Broncos team showed up and forgot how to play football.
What’s the problem? Wish I knew. I only know 2 things:
1) My 7-9 season prediction is close to coming true
2) I wish we played Kansas City every week!
Can we beat San Diego next? We shouldn’t–but who knows with this team. I wouldn’t be surprised with a 50-3 beating, a 7-6 win, or anything in between. I will admit that I’m starting to wish they’d tank the rest of the way just to get a better draft position. Blasphemy!
Related Posts: No related posts |
