At his Friday press conference, Head Coach Josh McDaniels announced that Brandon Marshall will be deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Here’s what McDaniels said regarding the coaching decision.
“Our word for the week has been ‘accountability,’” he said. “We’re looking to put the 45 guys on the field on Sunday who want to play together (and) want to help us try to win and qualify for the playoffs. We talked about it as a squad on Wednesday that that’s what’s going to happen this week, and anybody who showed any indifference to that we’ll play without them, and we’ll play well anyway.”
To watch the rest of McDaniels’ conference, click here. To read Brandon Marshall’s interview with the media, click here.
INJURY UPDATE
On Friday’s Week 17 Injury Report, Daniel Graham (knee) and Eddie Royal (head/neck) were both limited participants in practice and are questionable for Sunday’s game.
Royal was inactive for Week 16 against the Eagles, but McDaniels noted there is a chance that the second-year speedster will return against the Chiefs.
“He’ll be out there and (will) go through our walkthrough today,” McDaniels said. “We’ll see how he progresses here the next couple days and make a determination on Sunday.”
If Royal cannot go, McDaniels added that Matthew Willis would be signed from the team’s practice squad to the active roster.
“He’s the last guy standing in terms of the practice squad,” McDaniels said. “If Eddie couldn’t do it, then that would be the move we would make to make sure that we had at least four (receivers) active.”
McDaniels added that there was no timetable on that potential move.
“We could do it today; we could do it tomorrow,” McDaniels said. “Right now the situation as it stands, the best thing for us to do is to wait and see how Eddie progresses, and then we’ll make our decision.”
Darrell Reid (knee), Correll Buckhalter (ankle), Brian Dawkins (knee), Renaldo Hill (ankle), Ty Law (hamstring), and Spencer Larsen (hamstring) were all full participants on Friday. Each is listed as probable.
There were no changes on the Chiefs side, but C/G Andy Alleman (back) is officially out for Sunday’s game at INVESCO Field at Mile High.
The Broncos did a walkthrough earlier this morning, and here are some photos from that session.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Brandon Marshall, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kansas City Chiefs, Week 17
I am really fed up with McDaniels ego trip. Benching Scheffler and Marshall because they don’t care? Marshall is one of the only guys to stand up this year and get in Moreno’s face, he obviously cares. Scheffler doesn’t even get utilized correctly, when we get him involved, we win. McDaniels obviously has vacation plans for next weekend because he definitely is hindering our chances of making the playoffs.
All year his ego has gotten in the way. First with Cutler, then with Marshall, then choosing Lamont Jordan over Hillis, releasing Kern for a god-awful Mitch Berger. I’m really frustrated with McDaniels.
What a very, very sad joke…
Are you kidding me? Josh McDaniel’s is going to bench our best player and make our chances of getting into the playoffs that much more difficult because he feels like Marshall’s injury isnt as serious as Marshall is making it sound? And he also is going to bench Sheffler because of his “Attitude”? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!! I have to agree 100% witht he first post. McDaniel’s ego has completely destroyed The Broncos all season. Not only is his offensive play calling horrible, predictable and simply not good enough, but he has to be the most immature coach in the entire league. I’ve lived in Denver all my life and have been a Broncos fan for many years. I feel sorry for Sheffler, Stokely, Marshall, Royal, Hillis, and every other great player on this team that McDaniel’s has disregarded or misused because he thinks his way is best. Can you imagine how good this team could’ve been this year if we would’ve had a coach who cared more about the team then his self? I still love my Broncos, but Josh McDaniels has to either wake up and realize he’s NOT Bill Belichik so he can stop acting like so, or he has to GO! His ego and sub par coaching skills will only plummet this team harder into the ground if nothing changes!!!
I would like to know what Mcd is smokin? and where could I get some?
What the heck is he thinking (or not thinking), benching Marshall for a must win game? I thought he was supposed to be an offensive genious, and it sure as heck dont take a genious to know that marshall is the best offensive weapon that we have.
I for one am happy on what the broncos have accomplished this season. there has been some moves that have made me wonder but Im not the coach. Hopefully the Broncos can get into the playoff and then will see from there.
are u effin kiddin me????? over a 100 catches and 1000 yrds in Mcd’s horrible dink and dunk system……and he dosent care? cause he took a practice off??…without 15 were 6-9 right now and not even sniffin the playoffs!!!… Josh….I was down wit you with the suspension in the beginning of the season but now????? I been a Bronco Fan for over twenty yrs and for the first time a went out and was givin a Jersey for christmas …a real one…and after painstaking thought i picked…..who else but 15..guess ill be wearin a ex player next yr…….
I agree atwater4hof, this is getting ridiculous…
And if anyone in the Broncos oganization isnt being held “Acounable” it is Mcd. Earlier this week he critized the O-line for not opening up holes for the running game. Well there is a solution to that and it falls on “YOU MCD” . Stop running the same old predictable plays Week in and Week out.
After saying that, all thats left to say is WTF!!!!!!!!!
I was saying earlier this morning on another blog that I would give it less than two weeks and there would be drama in Dove Valley. And this was before the whole Marshall debacle. (I was refering too Scheff.)
But I say just wait, this whole thing isn’t over…yet.
I wonder if Bowlen is having second thoughts about McD? I know we’re in a rebuilding mode, but I’ve NEVER heard of any coach going this far?!
I am glad all the players on this blog are not quick to jump on the “Marshall is a triator and doesnt care for this team wagon” cuz what ive seen from this man is nothing but care for this team…mended everything with smith…smith is always on the sidelines talking and helping with reads…without him we almost had not offense this year. Possibly the only consitent piece that played his butt off for this team so for McD to say Marshall doesnt believe in accountability is nonsense…and he is a Ego maniac that lives on my way or the high way…
Do what you wish McD, drop sheffler, and hillis and any other potentially talented broncos that u just dont like and im sure Shanahan will happily take them in Washington….McD looks like the kinda guy that can talk down to people too…wouldnt be surprised if coaches abandon ship or if he puts coaches and training staff in the “dog house”….what a joke
Marshall fan for life…But that McD character…just when I start to like him, accept him and give him the benefit of the doubt he pisses me off…and im not just talking about this Marshall situation because its bad but it is what it is…but his ego and stubborness…
Anyway, Go Broncos…Im sure we can put KC away and the rest will fall into place…hopefully Marshall is healed up for the playoffs WHEN we get in.
Speaking metaphorically, this is what happens when you give a kid (McD)a $50,000 car. Let him drive it around for seventeen weeks with no accountabilty, and in the end, when he brings the car back you, to it’s now a $500 car!
Glad im not the only one feeling this way, but I think the fact that he is a really young coach has provoked him to flex his authority because he is insecure and fears losing control of this team. No other coach in this league instigates this much drama on their own team. Singletary had a brief moment last year but it worked for Vernon Davis, McDaniels needs to back off
I think Bronco fans should make their opinions heard Sunday with many, many signs calling for McDaniels to grow up, or ship out. He is running our team even further into the ground and I don’t see any bright future from the Belichek flunky. Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, even Saban (although he is a great college coach, couldn’t cut it in the NFL). I think it’s time to add Josh McDaniels to the list of failures, simply because his ego will destroy whatever team he coaches.
If Bowlen truly cares about this team succeeding and cares about making money from the fans, then he will make a move very soon and take control. If he doesn’t, then he truly doesn’t care if the Broncos turn into the next Detroit Lions. Because no one will want to play for an Egotistical coach like McDaniels.
As a free agent, who would want to come to the Broncos next year? McDaniels has no respect for players and I know if I was a free-agent I would not come to Denver anytime soon.
You Just dont do this!!!! not in the NFL….you put the best team on the field every sun…..If he keeps this up he’s gonna kill our team even IF we win and even IF EVERYTHING goes our way and we get in to the playoffs…what kinda mind set our these guys gonna be in…..MCD wake up and DO YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!
I say give Nolan the keys to the car for the weekend and ground McDaniels. His offense has been grounded all season anyhow! Nobody is going to want to play in Denver if this keeps up, bench him !
Everyone put the pipe down. Marshall said he was “maybe 50% burst of the line” Sure he wanted to play, but at 50% when he couldn’t come off the line, there was too much risk to keep him active. Why? Because with Eddie’s status still uncertain, the only way they could pull an additional receiver off the practice squad, if necessary, was to deactivate a 50% Marshall. It was Marshall’s own assessment of how injured he is that got him deactivated. They couldn’t count on his availability so they had to adjust the roster.
Yes, McDaniels wanted Marshall to be able to play, but when he realized that wasn’t going to happen he had to act. Don’t be the worthless Denver Post and make this into more drama than it really is. Dawk and company aren’t going to let this disrupt the lockroom. If anything, it strengthens McD’s relationship with his players. Nothing divides a locker-room faster than blind favoritism for those that can’t/won’t follow the game-plan. Obviously none of you were ever in such a situation, or you’ve completely forgotten how important that is.
Scheff got himself in the doghouse for being a complete pansy about plays in the middle of the field and failure to go after the ball (waiting for the ball both in the endzone and then on the Samuel interception). He’s 6’5″ and he has allowed too many 5’10″ folks to out compete him for the ball this year. Philly was the watershed for all of that. Good coaches remind you that you are not beholden to a position, and that you have skills you aren’t taking advantage of. Hopefully wakes him up, because he’s a hell of a talent when he’s focused.
Let’s cut the negativity and encourage our guys on this weekend and hope for a little Houston and Bengal help.
While I agree that Marshall and Scheffler shouldn’t be benched, I think we should all be focusing on the KC game. We really need to win that game, and we need help from Houston and Oakland/Cincinnati. I can’t wait to see who we face in the playoffs, and I hope that in the draft, we can get some help and really bring out the full potential of this team.
Brandon took himself out of this game, not McD. Like Coach said, there are many other players playing on Sunday with much more significant injuries than Brandon’s. His MRI came back negative, and yet he claims he can’t go in the biggest game of the year?! So, why is everyone blaming the Coach here?
Brandon should have the attitude like Hines Ward has. He should give it 100% that he’s going to play and then once the game time comes and he’s out there giving his all to win the game, and if he can’t go on, then that is a LOT different than taking yourself out of the game on Friday with a negative MRI report!!!
This coach knows how to win people! And that includes Tony Scheffler. His performance hasn’t been that great the past few games anyway.
The Broncos lose to the Raiders at Home when they had their destinies in their own hands. Enough said.
mcdaniels is in a tough situation.. marshall is being a lil baby and not wanting to play.. so what can he do… if he takes marshalls crap then he is a pushover and will get no respect from the team… but benching marshall isolates his self from the fans…. i go to work every morning with 2 torn ligaments in my knee and make way less than marshall so i think he can suck it up…. plus i work construction which includes climbing ladders and using jack hammers so marshalls excuse is null and void……. mcdaniels is young with a young team leaning on older vets for knowledge and experience… lets the vets teach and lead for a couple years and then let the new crop rise with the coach that groomed them and they will be an unstoppable force…. now with that being said i think mcdaniels needs to put his ego aside for a lil while… lets just see where we are at the end of next season before we start asking for mc d’s head…….
OK, what I’m reading on here is absurd, blaming Coach for this and saying he should grow up or get out of town?!
Brandon took himself out of this game, not McD. Like Coach said, there are many other players playing on Sunday with much more significant injuries than Brandon’s. His MRI came back negative, and yet he claims he can’t go in the biggest game of the year?! So, why is everyone blaming the Coach here?
Brandon should have the attitude like Hines Ward has. He should give it 100% that he’s going to play and then once the game time comes and he’s out there giving his all to win the game, and if he can’t go on, then that is a LOT different than taking yourself out of the game on Friday with a negative MRI report!!!
This coach knows how to win people! And that includes Tony Scheffler. His performance hasn’t been that great the past few games anyway.
The Broncos lose to the Raiders at Home when they had their destinies in their own hands. Enough said.
I don’t get why everyone is acting like this, I got the impression that even if Marshall wasn’t deactivated he wasn’t planning on playing. So either way we would be Marshall-less.
I agree, maraxus, it was a done deal. No drama here, just reality.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the draft, or playoffs?
I just don’t see what else McD could have done. He probably could have handled the press conference better because he really made it seem like Marshall was wimping out though. I mean he really made him look bad. And if what he says about him is true, then I do support his decision 100%. Also given the way BM was acting before the season started by not participating in practice (remember the “injury” he had then everyone?) and trying to get traded, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is pulling something on this team again. Either way, we simply did not need this BS at this time with a playoff birth at stake. BM at the center of the Broncos controversy again – deja vu.
Ring Ring………..Ring Ring…
(Shananhan) HELLO?
(Bowlen) Hey Mike, Bowlen here. I was thinking….I made a mistake. You know, with the McDaniels thing. He’s killing our team and no one likes him. Would you mind coming back? BUT, I do want to keep Nolan!
(Shananhan) Pat, its been a year! The guys dont know me anymore. Its a new team. What about Washington? Even the Cowboys have contacted me! What about the new GM you have?
(Bowlen) Hahahahhaah, Mike. Its my team. We both love the Xanders. We could keep them and hire you to be the Co-GM and the head coach. All would be fine. Hell, you could bring back Mike Bell or Selvin Young if you want too. I just need a real coach who wont de-moralize my players. Mike , are defense rocks this year and if you can put together that #1 offense like you did last year, we could be as productive as the Colts. In Washington or Dallas, you would be starting over. Come on home Mike!
(Shanahan) Ok Pat, let me think about this. No promises. i need to talk it over with the wife and kids. This would be kinda awesome. Ill call you after da Cheifs game!
(Bowlen) Sounds good.
(Shananhan) Pat, are you serious? Tony is on the practice squad! Didnt he not single handedly beat the chargers in Week 6 for you guys?
(Bowlen) Mike, you dont have to rub it in!
(Shanahan) Ok, your right. Take care. Bye
WOW, that took some thought. Just wishing here!
maraxus is right, Marshall wasn’t going to be helpful this week anyway, we need to move on to this game, our season rides on it, I’m not going to sweat it over the ones who are in no shape to help us, the minute Marshall pulled his hamstring a couple of days ago, the way it sounded, I said here it looked like we would have to play without him, so here we are.
baylinorcrush, right again. This is drama for the sake of drama. I have no interest in that. Let’s focus on the game at hand with the folks that will be playing in it. I still like our chances. And a win is solid way to remind Beast that we can win without him, which should hopefully get him energized for his first playoff game.
There is always two sides to a story, whether McD is unreasonable in his handling of the Marshall deactivation, or if Marshall brought it on himself by not wanting to play while not seriously hurt, we will probably never know which side was right and which side was not. IMO, one thing we will know for sure after this game is if the team is siding with the coach on this issue or with Marshall and Scheffler. A win by an all out effort would clearly show the players are backing up the coach 100%, a poor outing will clearly show us they are not. I have a gut feeling they will play their hardest game to date and put all this mess in perspective, just a gut feeling.
Since the SD loss at home, Dawkins has not being the same exhuberant type of guy regarding the way he talked about the heart of his team and how they played as team as he was early in the season, at least that’s the way I saw it. Something was different in the locker room, I think we are now starting to see what some of the problems are, and I believe it may just be the top of the iceberg. I would imagine a lot of players will be gone next year. Just a thought.
And Shasta77, I completely echo your sentiments above about Scheffler’s performance of late, pansy was a real good description, IMO. We always knew he wasn’t the tough type of TE a Graham is but look at TE’s like Dallas Clark, they not overly physical, but they make all the tough physical catches nonetheless, it’s time for Scheffler to toughen up, that position asks for it, or he might be better off trimming down and becoming a WR. Just my opinion.
What I dont understand is why mcd put marshall on blast the way he did…instead of givin the media some drama to stir up he could have easily avoided it and said marshall will not play due to his injury and left it at that…I press the blame on mcd its been his ego problem since our 1st loss…a hard head makes a soft u know wut and for the past month ours has been gettin kicked
You got it, Balinorcrush. I was a flanker who worshipped the mentality of “if you can’t take the hit, then don’t bother running the pattern.” Broke my arm in college on a seam pattern and couldn’t even remember who exactly unloaded on me, but I caught the damn ball. Became my niche: the square in, slant, skinny post, crossing routes in front of the linebackers. Middle of the field was mine. Just me and the ball. The defense only mattered when the catch was made.
Watching a 6’5″ guy get out-competed by a 5’9″ corner was embarrassing last week, and several other times this year. How is it that someone like D. Clark can’t make defenses look sick, when he’s slower and smaller than someone like Scheff? Desire. The ball belongs to Clark, and he’ll fight anyone to prove it. Scheff, not so much. Talent alone doesn’t get it done at this level, you’ve got to have the desire to push your talent further too.
My position like i stated in my post was its not even about this Marshal situation by itself because “it is what it is” its just a culmination of stuff where McD just sudden becomes a ego maniac when I start to think he is level headed…or in this case, says something so dumb from a PR stand point (and I graduated with a PR Degree as well maybe thats why i look too much into it) but he just almost incites drama without thinking…I dont want him to be a push over but he has a young mans ego (even tho he is older than me u know what i mean) and he feels he has to make bold statements and do certain things to over compensate for his age. I will agree that Sheffler could be more tougher especially on Asante INT…but that pas was bad and to the inside….WR’s are good at turnign into DBs but thats cause they are used to fly plays a TE on the other hand not so much.
But like i said “Go Broncos…Im sure we can put KC away and the rest will fall into place…hopefully Marshall is healed up for the playoffs WHEN we get in.”
I am personally not worried about this game…if we can’t even beat cheifs and go without Marshall for one week. We don’t deserve to be in the playoffs and we should pack it up. Been feeling that way since IND because that was the first game with playoff implications….But I believe this team will rise to the occasion….can’t look past KC and underestimate em because theres nothing to look past….possibly the last game of the season….gotta leave it all out there on the gridiron….Its do or die…..
Anyway, see yall sunday and I hope our team makes us proud
THE SEASON IS STILL OURS FOR THE TAKING
GO BRONCOS!!!
Well that really lowers are chances of winning. There goes the season!
I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY BAD TIMING AND NOT REALLY SOMETHING YOU ALL WANT TO READ ABOUT BECAUSE THIS WAS HARD FOR ALL OF US TO GET OVER BUT I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME OUT TO GIVE TRIBUTE TO ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BRONCOS DARRENT WILLIAMS..ITS THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS UNTIMLEY DEATH AND I DO MISS THAT GUY… HE GAVE ME INSPIRATION AND SHOWED US THAT SIZE MEANS NTHN ITS ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH HEART YOU GOT…
REST IN PARADISE D-WILL
I hear you, RoyalBeast, the PR aspect could have been smoother. Sadly, McD grew up in the Belchick school of press conferences, which definitely leave something to be desired. That being said, we win this game and get a little help and we’re in. Seeing as the Scheff’s and BMarshe’s of the world only have watched the playoffs in their career, that should go a long way in galvanizing the difference that this staff has brought to Dove Valley. We’ll see.
Thanks, babychamp. Been thinking about D-Will off and on all day (and a bit last night as well). Huge loss of a great person, and potentially gifted professionally football player taken from us all way too soon. A loss that still stings.
Yea man, Im with you babychamp.
Thx for saying it…definitely wasnt bad timing
Was a huge Darrent fan and i TRULY thought he could be great…and he was getting there. He was quite the character I remember when a friend called me and told me he was gone i was liek “you lying” still got RIP Darrent Williams pictures in my Screen saver rotation on my comp. He is truly missed
Funny enough…I remembered when I was in Church at night on New Years Eve and I threw in a prayer for all Bronco, NFL, and people partying in general to get home safe cuz I remembered what Happened to Williams
R.I.P DARRENT WILLIAMS
if marshall leaves that is the last straw for me. I’m done with the Broncos until McD is gone.
Maybe many of you should read the Marshall’s interview. HE said he can’t play because he can’t run. He’s 50%. The MRIs said Marshall is OK, but HE doesn’t trust in those tests because last year tests said he didn’t have anything serious in his hip, and it turned to be torn-seriuos.
The thing here is McD making it “accountability”. That again gave the media wood for fire, and ALL THE FANS are AGAIN falling for it. We should stick with the objective stuff, and not the “media show”.
But each one works the frustration different. So, do whatever you want with your livers. I hoped for a 7-9 season and we’re 8-7, with possibility for playoffs. Beyond my expectations for this season. Cheers everyone!
Go Broncooos!
I’ve been a Bronco fan for 30+ years. Through the good times and the bad. I supported Coach McD from the beginning and still do (At least for one more year). Here’s what I’d have to say. “HEY COACH…. THIS MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE. WHEN A PLAYER GETS INJURED, THAT PLAYER NEEDS TO HAVE TIME TO HEAL.” Whether it’s a major injury or a minor injury, going 100% on the injury isn’t going to make it better. There may be more to the story, but on the basis of information provided, unless Brandon Marshall was proven to be “faking”, then I think this is a big mistake. Is Coach trying to send a message of “Play Hurt”?
Well said, Whitebronco#1. Marshall basically said “I’m not playing.” Coach just made it official, since he needed to make a roster move to account for it. McD could have chose different words to describe it, but to be honest I think with the playoffs on the line he was frustrated that he wouldn’t have the Beast out there. Can’t fault him for that, a little youthful indiscretion. Showing how sharp he really is, I think he used the opportunity to remind others that aren’t “on board” that the team will move on without them. And that, I like. We needed that over the past 3 Shanny years and it just wasn’t there.
Well it finally comes full circle…….Ive been saying from the begining tha McD wasn’t a head coach and he didn’t know his head from his A.., Everyone was making over him because what he did with Matt Cassel when Brady went down. Well look what Cassel has done and look at the Patriots still going to the playoffs. Lets start with Cutler, Jay would have been great in Denver. He has nothing to work with in Chicago that compares to what he had here. His first year up there would have and is a learning curve. How about Payton Hilis? One of the toughest runners, he doesn’t trip over blades of grass(Moreno), he doesn’t fumble(Moreno) and he is quicker than who(Moreno) to the holl. And then there is Marrshall, I don’t even have to go into that. McD is and will bury this team until Bowen gets off his A.. and fires the coach and goes out there and gets a proven winner.
I know what you all will say… McD won superowls with the Pats, but that wasn’t his system. You have got to make a system work with the players you have and draft. Thats ACCOUNTIBILITY! You dont take players that can help you reach the playoffs out of the equation. You can still use Marshall as a decoy on the field and teams not knowing his injury fully would have still double teamed him. Not having Sheff out there hurts the Broncos too. He was just like another wide out. I’m sure there is alot of bad attitudes in that locker room. I haven’t heard not one time how Mcd lost the Raiders game or the Skins game with his lack of play calling. Heck we should’ve beat Philly and had a good shot a beating the Colts if it wasn’t for McD’s play calling!
McDaniels could’ve easily said ” Marshall will be a game time decision due to his injury” instead of basically calling Marshall a sissy and isn’t accountable. His ego is really killing our team.
OMG
Everyone who keeps saying that this isn’t a big deal is dillusional. He calls out Marshall, essentially calling him a pansy and that other people are playing through worse injuries. Marshall never said he wasn’t going to play in his interview he said it’s a day-to-day thing and hopefully it’d be ready by Sunday. McD benches him and once again is putting Marshall’s relationship with Denver on the rocks after he’s been fully committed all year and earning himself a new contract. If I were Marshall, I’d want out after this year too. McDaniels is a young coach on another power trip… very immature. You don’t see Sean Payton, Andy Reid, Harbaugh, or any of the other respected and successful coaches pulling these media acts at a critical point in the season like McD is.
McDaniels is doing the right thing here. All of you that cannot see that need to open your eyes. I think he is setting an excellent example. Just because you are a great athlete you should not be allowed to do whatever you want and expect there to be no consequences.
I am as die hard as the next guy, but I also realize that football is a team game, and if you have a player or two that forgets that and thinks that 1 is greater than 53 then sit them down.
Wouldn’t it be great if every Broncos player had the Rod Smith/Brian Dawkins attitude.
Right on, babychamp-broncos – good recall on darrent’s anniversary; by this time – he would have been absolutely awesome! I read Brandon’s interview – it does sound like he’s taking the high road; I hope anger doesn’t seep into him overnight and he takes another route; I think he has a lot of folks on his side; McD looks like a frustrated coach! I mean calling out the offensive line like that when he knows that they’re not going to defend themselves via media (self-fines); with Harris going out and Hochstein now being hurt; I agree with the accountability aspect of his preaching, but it seems convenient that he’s excluding himself from the choir; redzone ineffectiveness is on McD; yet, he doesn’t take ANY responsibility for his awful play-calling!