The Broncos soon will embark on the on-the-field phase of the off-season, with all the NFL teams conducting their camps.
For the Broncos, the annual quarterback camp is in the final two weeks of May, team camp the first couple of weeks of June, and then the annual mini-camp will be in July, a couple of weeks before training camp begins.
Right now it is real quiet, but it will get real busy for four weeks, then real quiet for a month or so, and then the season will essentially be underway.
And the off season will be a distant memory.
But what has happened in the winter and spring is that the Broncos have signed and drafted new players, most of them anonymous to our legions of fans.
But if you fail to prepare, you have prepared to fail, and this team has not been preparing to fail, but to bounce back to winning.
What I want to point out to everyone, even those of us on the supposed inside, is that these players are only unknown until they are famous.
That might seem contradictory, but just think about it.
Almost no one comes into the game as a star, with greatness expected. The John Elways are few and far between.
Everybody who follows the Orange and Blue knows who Karl Mecklenburg is, but did you, did we, before he started making big play after big play?
But I can still vividly remember the day when I brought the 1983 draftees in to meet the press, and not a single member of the press even asked Meck a question. I do not say this as any criticism of the press at all, but merely as an indicator of how completely unknown Mecklenburg was at that time.
Eventually, I asked somebody to pretend to ask him a few questions, just so he would not feel excluded from the process.
But very soon, he became KARL MECKLENBURG!!!
Now, none of us can predict with certainty that the recently drafted players and free agent signees will go on to be big time players; but we can’t predict that they won’t, either.
Because somewhere in the NFL, somebody will. And with the system, coaching staff and support system here in Denver, it is just as likely to happen to a young Bronco as to anyone else.
Not only does each one of these new players have record of playing ability, but each also has a character pedigree that makes the whole team better just by locker room presence.
The NFL is a great meritocracy.
The best guys play, especially for Mike Shanahan. He once cut Anthony Miller and Mike Pritchard, both number one draft choices, and went with Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith instead.
I can tell you, the press thought he must have been crazy.
What does everyone think now? Does anyone in Denver think McCaffrey was a good player? How about Rod Smith?
That’s the whole point.
Nobody is famous until he makes himself famous, and we are going to give every player in this 2008 group every opportunity to accomplish that while contributing to the only goal which the Denver Broncos ever have, which is to win now.
So don’t worry about whether or not we know somebody by his name; let’s see what kind of name he makes for himself as time goes by.
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Nice article Jim. It’s crazy how all these experts think they can grade the draft of each team when they couldn’t even get there own mock drafts right. As I watched the draft unfold on TV I realized that Maylock was the only one of the experts that even had a clue. The other guys were a joke. I for one am very happy with the guys we picked. Lord knows we needed a tackle and a good returner and it seemes we got a couple good ones. Looking forward to the season…West Coast
Good Article Jim.
When talking about the NFL draft, experts should be in quotations. “Experts” will look at the numbers, height, weight, and whatever, but they can not measure the desire in the hearts of these young men. Isn’t that the most important thing really? Everybody in the NFL is talented! Not everybody in the NFL plays with heart. The NFL is a cold business, non-hackers need not apply. It will weed out the weak, and advance the strong.
Superstars are passed up round-by-round every year. Terrell was passed on almost 200 times, while Rod Smith didn’t get drafted at all.
Draft day all comes down to opinion. One team loves this guy, one team wouldn’t touch him with a 10-foot pole, and another doesn’t think he fits their system. There are a lot of opinions the days before and after the draft, a lot of rating players and draft classes. The real grades come down the road, and are measures in Yards, sacks, INT, TD’s and ultimately WINS.
I can grade every teams draft with one letter “I” for incomplete, but I guess that doesn’t sell papers.
[...] mini camps roll around, which face in the crowd will make a name for himself? [Jim Saccomano’s [...]
Jim
I’m still upset that mason is gone, but i’ll get over that soon enough.
About the draft why does denver seem to be better at evaluating free agents more then they do the draft. Your point is that no one knew who rod, or eddie was. but we do know who ricky natile, daruis watts, tony. k chris cole, are as matter of fact i can’t rember the last good wr we drafted besides vance johnson or steve watson in the last twenty years?
I think Jim is talking about Eddie Royal. This guy is headed for stardom !!! Go to YouTube and check out his highlight video !! Incredible !! He was a star at Va Tech. Clady will be another star but being an offensive lineman, you don’t get the recognition. Ryan Torain has a huge upside but our backfield is full. Don’t forget Selvin Young, he’s about to really break out !! The Power Rankings are out for 2008 on ESPN.com = Denver is ranked 21st, behind the Cardinals, Bills & Jets !!!! Come on guys, say it aint so ……. Go Broncos !!!
what happened to mason
First of all I have to agree with the gentleman thaat made the comment that we are better at signing non drafted players than we are at drafting. This is very true. We need help in the drafting department. I understand that scouts and the team see things that we as fans never get a chance to and for that reason we cant always question the teams desicion to draft or sign a certain player. BUT when you look back on your draft success and it is as subpar as ours. You have to know that you need work in this area.
Our running game is not what it should be or where it should be. We are the BRONCOS and we pride ourselves on the run. We have to address the run game and be able to run the rock in the red zone. We have playmeakers in Selvin Young who I love and Andre Hall but they arent everydown backs. Atleast they did seem to be last year. Prove me wrong please. Henry can be but he has far too many issues and what do we do if when and while he is hurt this year. The jury is out on Torain. I love the Hillis addition. Sapp is a stud very veritile. Bell still has fumble problem and the jury is still out on him.
Bottom line is we as a team need to run so that we can pass and right now if I am a defensive coordinator I havent feared the broncos running game for two years now. I am scared of BRANDON MARSHALL ( the man). WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE DAYS OF HAVING A FEARED RUN GAME AND THAT MEANS GETTING THE RIGHT RBs IN THE BACK FIELD. All of our division rivals, hell all the other teams in the NFL are doing a better job of beefing up the backfield with solid depth at rb. THe raiders are deep as hell with rb talent and ranked better than us at the run the chiefs have great depth and the chargers still have great depth. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A PROBOWL RUNNING BACK???
If we dont rank in the top 10 in rushing this year CAN WE ALL AGREE we need to address the issue?
In closing THERE IS NO CRYSTAL BALL that tells you for certain that the guy you drafft will be an instant hall of famer. that come is in time. there are a lot of big name misses that come out every year, and we swear that the guy was going to be a stud and he ends up a dud while the guy that didnt play much becomes a JEWEL. Look at Reggie Bush we all expected way more out of him than what we have seen thus far, but that is not to say that he wont still be the next marshall faulk. DRAFTING IS A CRAP GAME. Hopefully we wont crap out this time.
Bring back Mason. He made this web site tolerable.
I believe that Clinton Portis was our last pro bowl back, whom we drafted in the second round. We traded him for Champ Bailey.
Since then, Portis has been mediocre, but Champ has gone to every pro bowl. I’d make that trade ten times. (So for those counting, I believe we could have six more “sub-par” backs before I do any complaining.)
Point is. . . We have gotten players out of the draft that have turned into stars. But, if we still had Portis on our roster, we wouldn’t have Champ Bailey.
Jim – Enjoy your comments. Agree very much – great opportunity for all!
NEW SUBJECT – Please pass along to Management – BRING BACK THE ORANGE. You see, I keep reading about the “Orange and Blue” but all I ever see is blue with some hints of orange. I miss the ORANGE, and the CRUSH that used to go along with it. I know the Broncos can not officially use “Orange Crush”, but before someone coins a new nickname having something to due with blue (especially in light of last season)… please, please, oh please… even pretty please… BRING BACK THE ORANGE!
anyone know where i can find some tape on torian? his player profile seems pretty good but i want to see for myself
Phelpster Pound it Brother Preach on and say it again. Anyone that reads this blog please post your comment s on this one the ORANGE and blue needs to come back please bring back the ORANGE jerseys it might be good for team morale to have a uni change too.
I miss Mason. What drunken idiot thought firing him was a good move?
Jim-
I enjoyed the blog entry. I very much like your positive and well thought out writing style. Please keep the blog entries going. It especially fills the void somewhat left by Mason, not to indicate that’s its only purpose, as I have previously stated how I enjoy your blog entries.
This entry was a great way to point people in the right direction. People can be very skeptical and critical, not because of how the Denver Broncos are coached and managed, but because that is the way a certain number of people choose to think. I agree that we should expect a few lights to shine brightly from this last draft!
Jim,
Great comments. I hope we continue to pick up players that are quality on the field and off the field as well. People like, John Lynch, Champ, Foxworth, Jay… who continue to give back to the community. I’ll take a Rod Smith over a Chad Johnson or T.O. any day of the week. Different types of recievers but I think you get my point.
I think we have come to accept you won’t be bringing back Mason but please create a blog in his absence. Us fans want a blog that is updated daily where we can get good information from the organization. Instead of having to hear it from the *ss clowns at ESPN who have us ranked 21st.
Speaking of Karl Mecklenburg, I think Spencer Larsen has a great chance to be like Mecklenburg. At the UofA in Tucson, Ariz., he was a tackling machine. He is a classic example of a diamond in the rough. Hopefully, Keary Colbert becomes a receiver somewhat comparable to Rod Smith!
When do the rookies get their jersey numbers… or at least posted on the page?
I was wondering why i have not seen mason on here…i miss hearing from him, and he was always up to date on everything the broncos do…now it seems so quiet with out him…and not so up to date…i hear about rookie 3 day camps everywhere, but what about denver..and some pics of them practicing…
The Broncos don’t have their minicamp until June and don’t have any organized team activities until next week, so I assume that’s why there’s no pictures, stories and so forth.
Excellenty pick up signing Gandy. He’s a solid back up who’ll definitely challange for a starting job.
Jim,
Can you please have someone update the record books on the webpage? The last update is August of 06. Thank you.
This site stinks without Mason they should give us more info, where are the pics of the new players practicing. They don’t even have all the players numbers on the site. I know this is the day that happens so please get with it. Don’t they know how ansty we are for this stuff.
GO BRONCOS!
Let the Mason thing go, guys. He’s moved on.
Mr. Saccomano, thank you for the excellent entry. Your remenicing about Karl Mecklenburg brings me to my first Bronco experience. My parents were divorced when I was very young. When things settled out my brother and I would spend time with my father in Aspen and my mother in Denver. While trying to find something to do one day I turned on the television and low and behold there was a Bronco game. My dad didn’t talk that much about football and watched it even less so this was my first experience with it. I don’t remember who Denver was playing (I think it was New Orleans) but I do remember who the announcers were talking about. The Monster Meck! The first series of Bronco football that I watched was defensive and the only named called for all three plays was Mecklenburg’s. His ability to get to the football was astounding. I was instantly hooked and have been a die hard fan ever since. I think that this years moves both in free agency and the draft have been very well done. The 2006 draft was a master piece but this year has been unlike anything I have seen the Broncos attempt over the last ten years. So many of these players remind me of the Super Bowl teams of the late ’90s. I think that the one constant for all of these players is the fact that they are “Football Players”. Spencer Larson, for example, actually reminds me of Bill Romanowski. I know that a lot of fans still don’t care for Romo but I know that I wanted him playing for our team as opposed to playing against us. They may not all have great speed, size, or the prototypical make up of others that share their positions around the league but they look like football players to me. When looking at the potential of the players that Denver has brought in or kept I think back to the words of Mark Schlereth when he was speaking on Americas Game about Terrell Davis and the hit he put on the kickoff returner in Tokyo. The second that hit was made, every member of the Broncos didn’t say “Whoa! What a great hit by the running back!” or “That was T.D.; he’ll make a great running back for us!” Instead they simply recognized him as a football player! I think that the Broncos free agency moves and draft picks have been greatly misinterpreted and wholly underrated this year. That’s fine with me. Lets see how much fun teams have with a healthy Jay Cutler, a massively increased arsenal, and a stabilized and explosive defense.
Mike in San Diego
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