With the Denver Broncos in the midst of their authorized off-season field workouts, it takes the memory of long time observers back to how it used to be.
It is completely different now in the NFL, and much for the better.
Decades ago the players did not have the intense off-season training programs that exist today.
As a result, players came into training camp in July in various stages of physical fitness, some of which are not very attractive to recall today.
The off-season was for hanging out and slipping out of shape, and then many guys worked their way into shape during camp, especially the savvy veterans who knew their jobs were secure. Some guys worked out regularly, and some not at all, sad to say.
No more. Now the running and lifting start in early April, so the players are in tip-top shape when camp begins.
They have to be. The competition for jobs is too great year-round for the situation to be any other way.
The other thing that is a large part of the current NFL off-season is the field work, coupled with classroom study.
All teams are able to head into July training camp with squads that are in exceptional physical condition, know their roles and assignments, and are able to compete for positions from day one.
Training camp itself then has become shorter, but also crisper, with less breakdown of the body by a steady diet of hitting.
So as a player becomes older, he is happier because his body is not beaten down during camp as much as his counterpart 30 years ago.
The rookies also are a lot happier, although they do not have any previous experience to compare with, because they have been integrated into the team concept during the post draft period and can pick things up a little faster.
The result when training camp begins is one of the greatest meritocracies in the country–the National Football League of today.
The best players play.
Regardless of draft position, salary or pre-conceived notion, the players are placed in a position on the field and in the classroom to show themselves to the best of their abilities, and the cream rises.
The resulting play is hence sharper, and that benefits coaches, franchises and the fans who watch.
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Was their even an attempt to make this relavent to the broncos. Please understand that the people that are active on this blog, know football. And we would enjoy it if some effort was given to provide topics for football discusions. Get it together buddy your supposed to be vice pres of PR, we are the public get to relating
Jim as I said before, please seriously hand this blog over to someone who has no life. Updating it every couple weeks is a joke. Us bloggers are serious fans and want the teams blog taken the same way. Please fix. Thanks, West Coast
Jim I still wish Andrew was not fired I mean this Knew guy has no idea how to keep up happy, and there is no interaction from you. It’s really like you don’t care. Now that Andrew guy he cared he worked all the time, and kept the fans involved. Maybe I should start a new blog name LETMASONWORK… The Multimedia was better the stories weren’t nearly so dry, and he spoke to the fans you know replied to posts answers questions gave food for thought…
I agree with what everyone is saying. I was new to this blog during last season and I really enjoyed having discussions with everyone and now that Andrew is gone the stories are really boring. I was on the Denver site everyday, now i’m not on as much one reason is the updates you can miss a week and it still the same stuff is on the blog. I mean if your not going to be consistant. Get someone else. Just look at us. The mini camps have started and we are talking about the blog itself, that when you know its bad Please get it going again the true fans deserve to know and talk about there team.
I enjoyed this blog. Thanks for your time, & keep up the good work.
Agreed, zzzzzzzz, ok iam done with my post.
hey here is an idea, put up masons last post on chris myers being traded, that bad boy had like 283 comments. It would be better than this, but if thats not possible, hey bloggers, what do you all think of the pittman signing? What a crowded backfield.
Try to take it easy on Jim guys, I’m sure this job got dumped on him. Obviously , it’s not his main focus like it was for Mason. He has to wear many hats and is as big a Bronco fan as any of us.
Wish they’ed let Coop get serious about bloggin, he was pretty good too and always developed interest for us year round fans.
imready I agree with you. However, I know what the fans are saying on the flip side of the coin. Look, Mason was constantly surrounded by players, coahces and camps. Hell, the man even flew to games and did live game feeds. Jim just isn’t that guy. As imready said, he’s wearing to many hats including the one that is attempting to keep us informed. Yes, the broncos owe that to the fans they just haven’t fixed it yet. Hopefully they will, but seriously take it easy on a guy that wears the orange and blue. We’re better than that.
jazzyfrizzle,
I hate to say this, but I don’t think Henry maintains his spot. He’s already got a hamstring issue that’s apparently happened this year and I think Pittman will soon become the every down back followed by Young for relief. I was further surprised that on the Broncos home page 50% of the fans felt that Young would start with Henry around 34%.
If Henry fixes the hamstring I would think he gets the nod eary, but I believe we’re going to see a repeat of last year. Great start but an injury will have us going another direction. Hopefully I’m wrong.
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Ditto
Jim i very certain your real good at your job, but a and older mcain like person doesn’t belong on this blog. You have a lot of better things to be doing and so do we.
Damn, you guys are rough. Don’t know how many other VP’s of Public Relations that take the time to do this.
As for Andrew, he now works with the Carolina Panthers, so he isn’t coming back.
http://www.milehighreport.com/2008/5/20/523605/a-letter-to-broncos-fans-f
That said, if you’d like to find a solid community of Broncos fans, without all the negativity that can infiltrate message boards, not to mention the overbearing members, check out http://www.milehighreport.com
You won’t be disappointed.
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Mason please come back!
Hey guys, just wanted to drop in, say hello and add my comments to some of the messages.
For those who don’t me, I work on the website as well as the team publications.
First of all, Jim does an amazing job with his blog and as mentioned above there are very few — if any — Vice Presidents in the league that communicate the way he does. He has been with the organization for over 30 years and adds amazing perspective and invaluable experience to things.
I know the lack of blogs and bloggers have been frustrating and, believe me, I totally understand and feel the same way.
With the departures of some very significant people we are in a bit of a transition period, but I promise you new blogs and bloggers are coming soon!
Thanks to everyone for your patience and if you ever have any suggestions or ideas please send them my way — broncos.website@broncos.nfl.net
Kyle,
Why don’t you simply “Farm” out the position to person with knowledge and love for the Broncos? It’s very easy to do. I’ll bet you could peruse through some of these blogs and find a very capable person who would do this for the “LOVE” of the team and organization. It’s not about the money, budgets, or cost conservation, it’s about loyalty, desire, and commitment.
I’ll guarantee there’s some youthful person within the Broncos organization right now, with access and insights to the Broncos, who would kill to do this. I’ll secondly guarantee this person would probably take this opportunity and turn it into a great attribute on their resume’s, and future career ambitions. It’s high visibility and high reward. The opportunity and exposure would probably be pay enough.
What Andrew started, should be nutured, not killed. He set the bar high, the question really is, are the Broncos Organization up to the challenge. God, we hope so!!!!!!
Think young! Think opportunity! Think commitment! Think career! Think Bronco Nation!!!!!!!
I agree with hogblog.
And I am sure jim is a great guy because he works for a great organization. But these subjects he writes about just aren’t very easy for us bloggers to talk about. Because they are more like nice thoughts and perspectives about subjects which don’t have a whole lot to do with the broncos directly, if that makes any sense. We want to blog about things that are happening inside the broncos headquarters, during these mini camps, or just things about specific players. So please, take what HOGblog says seriously, because he speaks for all of us. Hire someone, or promote someone to write blogs who spends time with the players, not someone who sits in the office, dresses up as a bronco, and not some one who cheers on the team with palm palms. Let them do their jobs. How about the guy who does most of the video’s for the site… Kasey Byers I think it is? And Jim, sorry if we offended you, we were kinda harsh. Keep up the good work.
HOGblog..Could not have said it better. Im sure Jim is great at what he does but he should not be our blog master. HOGblog hit the nail on the head. Please take this serious and find us a True Blog Master. P.S. I love the Pitman pick up. He runs hard and I am not sure if Travis can stay healty. Thanks
….West Coast
Yes, the best players play REGARDLESS of where they went to college. In the NFL, there is no ludicrous BCS inferiority complex, so that’s positive. It’s also why the NFL will be light years ahead of college football until a playoff system is instituted in the collegiate game.
is any 1 else thinking a combo of young and hall would be enough for the team? shanny said they arnt everydown back so why doesnt he do like a 30/30 thing with them and ether pittman(spelt that wrong i think) or henry. the only thing is henry is injury prone because he just runs to hard, by that i mean he knows he has the strength to run through people so he doesnt bother trying to avoid a hit at all and i think its taken a toll on his body. just an idea any1s thoughts?
I’d love to see Henry/Pittman/Young/Torain be the 4 RB’s we keep. Running both Henry/Pittman as your workhorses, and all the while allowing Young/Torain to get their carries and continue their development would be great. Young supposedly has gained 15 lbs to increase his durability, but we’ll see.
What I really like is that we have great receiving RBs, i.e. Pittman/Young to give added weapons for Cutler. The defenses would be clueless as to the run, the pass, the decoy??? Pittman can be a power runner like Henry, and maybe more so. Dont get me wrong, I think Andre Hall added a lot, but this Aldrige kid out of Houston is a blazer, and yet another weapon to keep the defense on it’s heels.
Thats my vote for the top 4. We have to keep Pittman, this guy could become the 1-a RB. His power is well known, and he loves to block. Imagine having a FB like Peyton Hillis (245) plus Pittman (230) in a power I formation..when you need the 1-3 tough yards down on the goal line???
here is my input,
quick and to the point. Were are gonna be fricken good this year, a force to be reckoned with. All I can say is I feel for shanahan, It will be hard to shave this roster down to 53. We had an excellent off season! Watch out chargers, here we come!
record book….update please.
Pittmann is an older guy to be an every down starter .Torain can start , RB is a position where you don’t need that much time to pick up the system , all you need is a fresh body to absorb all the hits !!
We can sit here and talk about the offence all day but the biggest concern is our D it was horrible last year its not all about talent its about the system to and the players buying into it and trusting it and each other.
A great man said once “D wins champsionships offence wins games.” sooo keep that in mind this season and well every season we will go only as far as the D will take us.
Dont get me wrong i know we need to out score teams to but that is not something i want to risk every game, anything can happen in those games.
dude kyle im brian just get me to denver im in kansas ill do the job for free…we need to get something on henry, and what Casey is gonna be since as far as i know tommy is comming back so is casey gonna kick out to gaurd? Also ben hamiltons satus would be nice…..is tony injured again??? Cutlers 2 go to guys need to stay heathy i wanna see him pulling a manning and living with them so they get comfortable with each other- slight exageration im sure manning and marvin only live 2gether in the off season…..kyle Get barrel-man to blog a PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kyle we need something fast. I would hope you guys would have someone in place by Training camp. Whoever does this job take a cue of Mason but come with your own touch. Who ever does it needs to have the access and dedication that Mason had. I would give up my job to come do it but I think my wife would be mad when we didn’t have enough money to eat
Jim I know you are doing your best in the interm and you are a great addition but the fans really need a every day blogger that interacts with the fans. I have never yet seen you reply to a blog comment. In the blog world that is rude.
I highly recommend any one who is going through Mason withdrawl check out: http://www.milehighreport.com
Torain must of have looked great in camp, T. Henry released ! Good news for the Broncos!
Is anyone happy about Henry being released?
The guy was always hurt. Time to see what the new guys can do.
I like the release of Travis Henry. It opens up a lot of cap space to get help in others areas that need it more than the runnning back position. I’m sure that many quality players will soon be getting a pink slip as June 1 is another big date in capology. I hope the battle for starting Fullback is between Pittman and Hillis. Sapp is a running back in fullback clothing, just not what we really need as far as a top notch blocker and just so-so as a receiver.
Good BYe Henry!!!!! I am very happy he is gone. Bottom line is the BRoncos dont need to be on the hook for his salaary when mandatory camp starts and he get reinjured. He is not good for us. Great rb just not for us. Lets see what a bigger stronger Young can do. We also have more cuts to make in the backfield and the next cut is going to be very hard. I predict the following:
RB
Young = 1 / Torain = 2 / Hall = 3 / Aldridge = 4
FB
Pittman = 1 / Sapp = 2 / Hillis = 3
This is really hard to say but both Pittman and Sapp can play rb and fb so I think you have to keep both. Hillis has tons of potential as does aldridge. I think Mike bell is the next cut. Worse case senario hopefully we can keep some folks on the practice squad and work them back into rotation. Your thoughs???????????????
How about signng an experiencd first line RB? Shaun Alexander ia still available , maybe too expensive, but how about resigning Mike Anderson or someone with endurance like them? I still dont see Young as a all down Fourth quarter run out the clock type of back. We need a power back like TD, OR Gary was and what Anderson is!
hey, i wanted to know if the Broncos organization was interesting in trading for chicago bears runningback Adrian Peterson? he’s a back with all the attributes you could ask for in a runningback. he just didn’t get to many opportunites in chicago’s running game. maybe you could bring his name up for a second runningback for the starting rotation for next year.
Good Riddance Travis! – I hope that you pre-paid some of your child support. I like this group of running backs. Now everybody FOCUS – Coach is serious this year.
Adrian Peterson was as bad as Cedric Benson last year. No way that the broncos should get him, especially considering the fact that he would be the worst back on the team. I think that with Selvin Young and Ryan Torain, the Broncos should be a fine running team this year. Especially with the depth at FB (Peyton Hillis, Cecil Sapp, and sort of Mike Bell). Even if Torain or Young get injured Pittman is a proven back, and Andre Hall has proven to be a good football player, in his limited time. In his only start last year, he had 97 yards, one touchdown. That is some good back field depth. And if Brandon and Eddie Royal start with Stokely third, and D. Jackson fourth that is also real depth. The Broncos could have a very good offense this year.
Finally!… Henry is gone… I never liked him once he got on the Broncos.
i agree with shanny if players on the team arnt going to do the little things like pick up blocks, study the play book,etc… then they shldnt be on the team its just like a job, if u dont do everthing then you get fired. we need hard working guys that will go the extra mile to get to the SUPER BOWL… and win it. where player and fan can unite in the “WE DID IT” feeling.
TALENT ISNT EVERYTHING…. WE NEED TEAM PLAYERS NOT INDAVISULS.
I was a Henry supporter because he was good RB the first few games of the season but even my patience with him was running thin. So I guess i was not the only one. Shanny has always been a coach that did not put up with complaining, our lazyness with his player no matter who they were, he did it With Portes, Sourbroun, Walker just to name a few. So if Henry didn’t want to be a team player and do what is right for the team he should be gone
C’mon guys, do you really think the VP is going to give alot of opinions on players ?
Counterproductive.
Let Jim do his thing.
As for a replacement for Mason.
My vote is Vance Johnson.
He is always honest with his opinions and lets face it, he could use a hand right now, he is down, life is beating him up.
At the end of the day……he’s one of ours.
We take care of our own.
First how talented was henry i mean really, in big games he looked completly out of place and played bad, im fine with him being gone i just hope that some one takes the #1 job, and excells this year. I think if we have a 1400 yard rusher well win at least 10 games
When I went to camp as a child I got to make S’mores and do male cheerleading routines.
Hey Jim my name is Jeff Vandyke from California where I have to put up with the idiot raider and charger fans. Although Im outnumbered heavly, I definintly represent and roar my love for my Denver Broncos. I love the ay the Offense is playing this year between Cutler, Marshall, Royal, and etc. and I cant wait to see torian return, and that defensive performance against the bucs was outstanding and i hope they keep it up. Anyway ive always been a long long time DIE HARD broncos fan and im excited about this season, even though im worried about the defense, And Dont worry fellow broncos nation I keep it real out here and I let all these sorry ass raider and charger fans know who the best in the west is. I let my love for the broncos ROAR. Anyway Im with all you guys and lets keep bustin em up. Yours Truly, Another True Denver Broncos Soldier Representing from Cali. Jeff Vandyke – P.O. box 4015 Modesto, California 95350 (209) 818-7249