Editor’s Note: Broncos Ring of Famer Karl Mecklenburg will occasionally write a guest blog for DenverBroncos.com. In his first entry, he discusses the idea of change, both with the Broncos and the country as a whole.
Once a year when he felt our team had reached a plateau, right before he sent us off to run wind sprints Dan Reeves would drawl, “Men, ya eitha gittin betta or ya gitten worse, ya cain’t stay the same.”
Dan said a lot of things, some of which I’m still trying to figure out, but he was right about this. Change is inevitable, and through planning and effort change can be positive. The young cry out for change, impatient in their zeal to hurry the inevitable. The old fear change, forgetting the opportunity that they found in their early years hidden in the challenges of change.
We’re in the middle of it now, with high unemployment, bank failures and bailout plans, with a new coach, quarterback and system for the Broncos. In the recent election, both presidential candidates insisted that they were the candidate of change. They actually agreed on something and neither one was lying. The United States and the Broncos will look very different in four years.
Will we adapt and change in the next four years as a football team and as a country? Remember, “ya eitha gittin betta or ya gitten worse, ya cain’t stay the same.” Change scares us even though we know there’s opportunity in it. We think of past mistakes, knowing that every time we make a new decision a mistake is possible. We must also remember past successes as new blood and a refocused energy is applied to the age old problems of teamwork, blocking and tackling on the field, and the much more challenging problems the federal government faces.
I say give the new leaders a chance to lead. Both Josh McDaniels and President Obama have daunting tasks ahead of them. Both are young in age and young in experience, but both seem to understand the true value and power of teamwork. If they can consistently and clearly lead their teams by putting team success above any personal concerns, individual team members will buy into the team vision and anything is possible. Both men have made some early decisions which rankled the established and made some supporters question them, but that is the price of change.
When Dan Reeves coached us to three AFC championships in four years he didn’t have the best system, and we weren’t the most talented. We were the best team. We believed in each other and put the team’s passion to win first. It could happen again.
-Karl Mecklenburg
Karl’s new book, Heart of a Student Athlete, All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families, will be available in September in bookstores nationwide and on the Internet. For more information, click here.
Downhill Dr? I see us losing to charges once. PIt, Bal, and maybe NY.
In the AFC West. Yeah KC got Cassel and a New coach. McD should know his strengths and weaknesses. So 2-0 against them is a must. Raiders nuff said 2-0. With the Chargers like last yr we gonna get them in the first game. The 2nd might be a dogfight.
JUst with this alone I see why Brandon wanna get out of Denver!
You can’t be that way. not everyone in Devo(denver) is not like that only a select few?
football is great!
lol @ Jazzy. I tried man people just wanna start……. ya know
It’s nice to hear from Karl Mecklenbeurg as he was always one of my favorite Broncos growing up. I eschew political commentary on this site and just say GO BRONCOS!!!! We will build the foundation for a dominant team by earning a playoff berth this season and only improving thereafter. Some Chiefs fans tried to talk some trash to me but they’re dumb and I don’t care. We’ll do excellent this season. I do not condone anyone calling a hottie like ElwayO7 a racist. That’s spurious.
Can we All JUST GET ALLONG!!! This is a football sight….So lets just talk Denver Bronco football…We dont need anymore social commentary CNN has enough of that on its blogs, so leave it there if you please. Lets go Broncos!!!
Greatness in response the question you asked me……. I think Marshall is a good player who can end up great. People call him baby T.O. and @ times he acts like T.O. in many ways both bad and good. I would like for him to be here and be what Rod Smith was to the Broncos, but I think he has the wrong people in his here.
I also think we have enough guys at the WR spot to get the job done.
Man, some people need to learn how to put a sentence together. Too much jibberish. This is a Broncos forum, take your political views to cnn where someone actually has knowledge of what you’re talking about. I come on here to talk football with my fellow Denver fans.
They are on CNN now. lol
does anyone know a site where you can buy preseason tickets?
No Chris. I thought the place were you buy regular tickets would do it.
I see we moved on to something else today? One of the real fans is now in the building.
Sup uub. FYI they deleted alot of stuff Greatness and I were talking about this morning. People tryna get you two thrown off this site. So just chill and talk about sports. Ignore the lil kid stuff. I don’t like to see people done wrong.
No, I live in California, I don’t go to reguar season games. I might want tickets to the Broncos/49ers preseason game.
what “real” fans?
I’m chill. I’m not a trouble maker. Maybe a statement maker. lol I already know about that though. I got an email today about that from the administration. Someone told them and I quote ” I fill unsafe when he is in the forum.” Huh? All good though. I was on my DL Hughley yesterday.
I just wanna know if Karl gonna help the DL player that are going to LB? He did it ,so I know he has some tips. I know he probably want them to ask though.
By the way are you new here #1 or just a name change?
I’m just new. People thought I was you yesterday. Tryna get on me. So I thought I’d speak with you. On the Karl subject though. I’d would be like a Rod Smith thing ya know. They need to seek him not the otherway around. If Simon Fletcher is still around, he could too.
uub, sorry I don’t know what you are talking about? can you rephrase that?
so who are the “real” fans. Im confused here.
Yeah is Simon still alive? I have heard nothing on him for yrs. I like that Lb corp. We had back in 92′. If it was not for Buffalo, that probably when been another SB trip. We had Simon, Karl, Mike Croel and someone else. The name is on the tip of my tongue. Just won’t come out. They rank up there Tom and the gang. So does Mobley, Al, Gold. Well maybe they would be the #3 group on that list.
Which part Chris? lol
lol @ which part. I think he might have got confused on the Karl playing Dl and LB in his career. So as you were saying, he could give them tips.
If that was it. Then can’t get no clearer than that. Does anyone know the other Lb we had in 92 Simon, Karl, Mike croel, and who else? I’m stumped on that one, I felt like txt 542-542. lol
Chris,
Why can’t you post at the new site?
And it won’t let me go to the next page.
I see the gangs all here? What’s up Champs! Uub you stomped me with that one. Kragen keeps coming in my thought process. He played nt though.
Yeah I got the email to brother don’t fill bad. It’s just funny. nuff said!
Ay The#1 I see the post got lighter since this morning. lol
Yeah I was giving Uub the heads up about that. You two are DB.com most wanted. That’s with a net virus not a bullet. lol
I’ll wait and see if someone can answer that one other than us. I had to look it up though. I did cheat a little. Lamens turns (I did not get the answer from my own thoughts.)
lol @ uub
lmao. A female co-worker was at my office to give me my phone. I just happen to leave when sh came in. She was reading your post UUb. She hit the Old Master P where they do that at. lmao She like 21. She was 10 or 11 When that came out. lol
ugh lol Didn’t he do the Denver Broncos soilders? At the SB parade I mean. I think C- murder or Silk went to Georgia Same time TD was there.
on a scale 1- 10 Greatness.
yeah on the girl #1. you beat me to it. A how did she get that phone. lol
GO BRONCOS!!
why can’t you post?
8.5 cause of the attitude. Classy but to whats the young. Hey 21 remember. lol I’m out though.
ok Man stay cool. Master P did do the Sb parade thought. I remember watching Espn and was shocked at that. Now the TD and Georgia piece of the puzzle was put together. I see why now.
Someone was asking about LB’s in ’92. Mecklenburg, Croel, Brooks and Fletcher. Remember Kenny Walker? He was a DE and the first deaf football player in the NFL.
I don’t know.
And there is not even an option to go to the next page.
Bonnie Sloan was the first deaf player.
I guess this is getting slow about now. Glad I had a day off. I have not Watched the 50 Ann. O Team yet. I hope the ot are Zimm and Tony jones.
Alright Champ. I swore up and down the 92′ season, we were going to the SB.
Yeah L.M. Thats it. Good answer I had to look it up though. Did you or did you look it up? I was about txt 542 542 for that one. they was punishing people. brooks had 56, Karl had 77, Croel had 51, and simon had 73. Those were the days.
On the Kenny Walker subject. MNF did a piece on him back then when he was playing.
Brooks was not even a thought on my end. I left it alone.
Lol @ #1. Are you at the Ihop I’m at hiding or something. lol You post same time I do. Well twice it happend.
I out though. See ya champ and good meeting you.
lol Naw just Twight zone type stuff huh? lol Same to you. ok man
i cant post either Chris, same problen as florio
I’ll work on it.