A few months ago, Brandon Marshall was on top of the world. The wideout drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos from University of Central Florida had come full circle. On the rebound after a stinging season ending defeat to division rival San Diego, Marshall and his quarterback, Jay Cutler, were basking in the Hawaii sun on the wings of their first Pro Bowl berth.
The disastrous December endured by the Broncos could only be supplanted by the prospect of a bright future. Yes, the division slithered away in concert with consistent play. Yes, the defense was as immovable as a bag of feathers. Yes, more running backs went on a historical run to the injured reserve list. All of those storm clouds were yesterday. Tomorrow holds a silver lining. And then came the tumultuous offseason.
There is no need to rehash dark memories. For those who just returned from Jupiter, i'll sum it up. The Broncos fired Mike Shanahan, the Denver institution who won two Super Bowls, and almost all pertinent staff who pledged allegiance to him. They then hired Josh McDaniels, the wonderboy from the New England Patriots who subsequently traded Cutler to Chicago in a public feud that still has the Bronco faithful reeling. The numerous draft picks received in return for Cutler were a ray of hope until the immediate few were utilized in a somewhat questionable fashion. After turning over the Bronco roster, there was speculation that McDaniels was unhappy with Marshall. Unfortunately, where there's smoke there's fire, and apparently Marshall has been fuming for some time.
In a move that Bronco fans may have anticipated but hoped against, Marshall requested a trade recently. There is also talk that Casey Wiegmann, the Pro Bowl center, is seeking a contract adjustment. "Who's next?", was the question posed to me recently by an unnamed friend. My answer was..."Anyone".
Anyone. As Josh McDaniels continues to evaluate talent as he sees fit, there is no individual who is safe from the chopping block. There is a log jam at halfback. Kyle Orton, a historically average quarterback, will replace Jay Cutler as starting quarterback. The defense has been uprooted with no tangible seeds planted. Even team owner Pat Bowlen expressed concern over the lack of defensive drafting. Bronco fans are told to keep the faith in lieu of McDaniels inexperience and dictatorial stance. Oppose McDaniels and you stand as good a chance of survival as a homosexual man living in Iran!
In sports, there is only so much time that one is allotted by the public for controversial moves. Loyalists can only swallow so much in a given time frame. For Bronco fans, to watch this organization turn itself inside out in the course of one offseason may be too much to bear. Keep in mind that in the past few months, the Broncos have fired their head coach and staff, general manager, traded their star quarterback and released numerous starting players from cornerback to tight end. And now, the star wide receiver wants out. For a team that was one win away from a divisional crown, this may be too extreme.
If Brandon Marshall continues his stance, the faithful may not want to endure another public feud. At first, Marshall may reflect the negative half of the argument but over time, the discord will come back to define McDaniels. The focus seems to be solely on offense. Denver's problem was defense last year. It is disappointing to see a top three offense get dissected and dissolved so quickly in light of major defensive issues. In the end, everyone cannot be a bad apple, maybe it's McDaniels.
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Although I am a Cowboy fan, I've always liked the Broncos. I never was happier when Elway finally won a SB. I am usually a NFC fan, but I had to root for the Broncos when they finally got that first SB. (Sorry Green Bay, but you got yours the year before).
My opinion is McDaniels is going to alienate just about everyone on the team. With that being said, I don't think Cutler was within his rights to demand anything like he did, being under contract for another 3 years, but this coach appears to be an imbecile. However, who makes the "final" decisions here? The owner, of course. Or should anyway, if he feels it's needed. He could have stopped all the BS in the beginning, but he didn't. Yes, I heard about his "memory lapses" and all that, but come on. Surely there is someone 2nd in command if Bowlen was not in his right mind? McDaniels? Surely not, as he's the new kid on the block. Maybe I'm wrong here. Maybe McDaniels has more power than anyone knows about.
Bronco fans, I wish you and your team the best of luck. Hopefully, this new coach of yours can do something with the team, but it appears like the proverbial "rats leaving a sinking ship". You guys may know more about things than I do, and maybe something good will come of this, but it sure appears like disarray to me.
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
WOW! Thanks for the very informative post! Bowlen fired the former GM, so he was flying somewhat solo regarding the decision making. The remaining execs were really not football guys (generally speaking) so when push came to shove, I don't think Bowlen trusted their words. What you mentioned is what is eating at me. This is TOO much change for a first time head coach. In a year's time, I may hypocritically sit here and praise the guy (can only hope so) but right now it does look like a sinking ship heading for the abyss. Excellent analysis man!
Joe Haniff the…
Hollis , NY
Total Comments (37)
Being ex-military, we had a ranking order, in that, if your immediate supervisor wasn't available, then you had a chain of command to follow, and someone along that chain would make the decision. Most of society is based upon that, albeit in various ways. It would seem that someone in that chain could have interceded and made some kind of decision, even if it was to wait, and discuss it when Bowlen had his faculties. Cutler still had 3 years, remember? He wasn't going anywhere.
Being in the Navy, if I had not liked my superior officers, or what my duty was at any particular time, and believe me, I had a few run ins with my department heads....I could not just "quit" and stay away. I would have been arrested and tossed in the brig, and maybe even court martialed, depending on the "offense". I was under contract to do a certain amount of time, and I fulfilled that, and never went to a brig. I had disagreements, yes, but all of that worked out eventually. There is value to communication, and from what I read, Cutler refused to even discuss anything. He evidently had his mind made up and didn't want to be confused by facts. But, again, this is just my opinion and how I looked at it. There may be information out there I have no knowledge about.
I had mentioned earlier in a blog, when Cutlergate first broke, that if it had been me as the owner, Cutler would still be there. He was under contract, and if he continued staying away as he did, then he'd ride the bench when the season started, while someone else did the QB'ing. After awhile, he likely could have went back to the starting line up, but like a child, there has to be limits set, and Cutler went too far with it, from what I read. In time, maybe he would have learned a lesson, about what a blessing he had being a well paid football player. Maybe not. Only he knows that, but like I said, if it was me, he would have fulfilled his contract anyway. How many games would the Broncos have lost with him riding the bench?
Maybe none. Maybe all of them. Guess we won't ever know that now.
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
here here! it's true what you're saying about the chain of command. very true. there should've been another voice of authority in the event of such happening. society does operate on that wavelength in varying degrees. you are right. a football team should not be immune to that ideology. it simply makes sense. i also agree with the handling of Cutler. in the old days, Cutler would've been benched and had extra time to evaluate his stance. a little tough love may have been the right elixir. it's sad that decisions are made with media backlash in mind all the while soothing agents. thanks again for another great response.
Joe Haniff the…
Hollis , NY
Total Comments (37)
IMO firing Shanahan was the first bad move. But with him gone the team needs to be unified under the current coach - regardless what some fans may think of him. Cutler was a whiner; we'll see how he does in Chicago without Shanahan's offense around him. At this point I say purge the whiners and prima donnas and the team will be ultimately better off. Maybe a few leaders will emerge.
lurker88
Total Comments (44)
Everyone has an opinion, but no one knows what's really going on at Dove Valley. It seems that people have developed a habit of calling the player "the problem" when it is normally those same people that cheered for them on Sundays. I have no problem with Jay Cutler because I don't know him personally and I'm not interested in "hearsay" that seems to come out about him. He took responsibility for what he did and that's good enough for me. He's entitled to go on with his life and it seems to me it's other people who "apparently" can't go on with theirs. There are no perfect people on earth and neither is he or the people who have criticized him without knowing what really happened. I know that he will do well- I'm a "true" Cutler fan and I will always support him and watch him play. Just because he changed his jersey doesn't mean I'll stop the support.
GOOD LUCK JAY!
Vee#1
Dallas , TX
Total Comments (126)
I have nothing against either McDaniels or Cutler. Both are probably fine men, and you can't always believe what the media tells you either. But, the situation they found themselves in, and evidently couldn't get out of, led me to come to the conclusion that I did above. What the team did and how I would have handled the mess, were two different things. My way may not have been the way anyone else would have done it. But, that is my military background coming into play, too.......and as I said, I may not had all of the information either............lol
As it is now, it's neither here nor there as the situation has been settled, at least with Cutler anyway.
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
But, what about Marshall? Should they give in to him too? Or anyone else who wants to go to "greener pastures"?
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
Contracts do not always mean that much any more unfortunately; too many players demand renegotiation, regardless of the years remaining. That being said, Marshall is not in a position to do that much about it except maybe pout and disrupt, unlike Cutler, where his disrupting influence would have far more consequential. If the GM and coaches cannot appease him or successfully appeal to his sense of professionalism, then their options are limited. How about packaging him in a deal for Boldin, another disgruntled WR?
lurker88
Total Comments (44)
This kind of thing started back when Elway refused to play for the Colts and Eli Manning with the Chargers. Different kind of situations, but same outcome.
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
Speaking of contracts, such as we did with Owens....released him one year after he signed another contract. Jerry Jones likely is paying him off, something like 9 million, for NOT playing, plus what Buffalo is giving him, which is 6 million, if I'm not mistaken. He is making out like a thief, if that's the case.
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
Such is the problem with the way contracts are structured today. The standard "guaranteed" contract is a real joke at times, with some players making out like bandits. Russell with Oakland has a monster guarantee, even though he may be a major bust. As for Denver, I think Orton showed leadership with the Bears, even if he doesn't have some of the other skills of Cutler. Sometimes leadership is more important than pure gun-slinger skills.
lurker88
Total Comments (44)
I concur. If they were military contracts........lol.....wow....probably not have any NFL teams at all, for the fact everyone would get base pay, plus housing, and what have you. I guarantee you that no player would get rich!...:-)
The owners would love that tho, wouldn't they?
I liked Orton when I saw him play, which wasn't often. Grossman now, he didn't impress me much, but then he evidently was good enough to play professional.....*shrugs*
This Orslopsky (whatever his name is) dude that was with the Lions.....I wonder what playground they found him? I can't believe I saw him run out of the back of the end zone in one game......lol...
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
Then again, with Russell, look at the owner. Nuff said?
Bull_Shirt
Orange, TX
Total Comments (6320)
No body ran marshall out, he wants out he says he hates denver, maybe not some of his teammates but he's not worried about them, he's worried about his paycheck. He's a good WR but not a great one
Phins Fan 69
Durant, IA
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