The Denver Broncos this year will face the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League’s London international game.
However, for those who have not watched the Broncos as long as others may have, this is not Denver’s first foray into international waters representing the NFL and the Mile High City.
In fact, this will be the eighth international game played by the Broncos.
When the NFL was first developing its international posture, both in play and in marketing, the league scheduled as many as two or three games annually played outside our borders.
This was a time when the Broncos had arguably the greatest quarterback in football with John Elway calling the signals, and thus from 1987 through 1999 the Broncos were asked to play in seven American Bowl games.
Denver finished the series with a 3-4 record in those games, all preseason contests. Denver played in the American Bowl in 1987 (London), 1990 (Tokyo), 1992 (Berlin), 1994 (Barcelona), 1995 (a return visit to Tokyo), 1997 (Mexico City) and finally 1999 in Sydney.
The big difference this year is that the game is a regular season contest (one of the 49ers’ home games, so Bronco fans still have eight home regular season games).
If your team is not in the game you tend to pay a bit less attention, so it is understandable if the average Bronco fan has not watched the more recent games, but these London regular season contests have all been sold out, with sellouts coming early in the process of ticket availability.
As the old American Bowl series ran its course it always had great support but as fans became more educated to American football they knew that there is a big difference between a preseason game and a regular season matchup, so the response to what the NFL does not has been overwhelming.
It’s a big honor to the team. Lots of details are yet to be finalized for that game, but with the Broncos having the longest active consecutive Monday Night Football streak, as well as having been selected for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas games, this is just the latest example of the national prominence which the Broncos have, and of the resulting exposure that the Mile High City and the Rocky Mountain time zone get from the team.
It’s a win-win for everyone, and that of course will be the players’ goal when they line up in London on October 31.
Both Ryans and Ruud are looking like they both will be RFA, a long shot. Seymour and Vanden Bosh as UFA’s are a better shot, Peppers would be huge money, Kampman there is the knee operation just a few months ago, Ogunleye from Chicago is a scary thought considering how they played this year, Edwards and Morrison will also be RFA, Will Smith UFA possibility there.
Hope curling makes you feel better, but unlike last Olympics it doesn’t look like the USA team will be very good this year, only one guy with experience.
I agree McD could pursue Seymour and Mankins and I’d like that too. But the Raiders gave up a 1st to get him, no sense in letting him go unless Al DAvis lost it.. however, i do recall we pickd up several rookie FAs last year that could develp well..aside from mamoth Chris Baker, I see that we still kept Everette Pedescluex on the team..the guy is listed at 6’4 310lbs and he plays the DL..Seymour-esque??…i’d like for him to step up this year from the PS…he dominated in college…pretty hard to get his highlights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GH9lJT3lK8
I do 12 oz curls all the time! I wonder if there’s an Olympic competition for those?
kddn!
US mens team won Bronze in Turino! The only hardware in US history!!!!!!!!!
In curling competition that is!
I watched my first live curling competition in Switzerland in the early sixties. It’s always been a neat game, even so not very popular here, much so in Canada, possible gold favorites this year both men and women.
OC, didn’t mean to ignore your joke, pretty funny stuff, making me thirsty, LOL.
USA could get a dose of reality tonight, considering they are playing Norway, a tournament favorite. The U.S. played very poorly against the Germans and lost, they will get killed tonight if they don’t improve a great deal, I have a feeling there is not going to be a repeat of the cinderella story of the last Olympics.
Talking about Switzerland, they are playing the USA right now in men’s hockey on same channel. USA heavy favorites here, 5 goals maybe?
It was close until the 7th end. A minor mistake by the US allowed Germany to open it up. Curling….the other game of inches!!!! lol
broncos20. I hope they find a way to develop Pedescleaux also. He sure does have the size to be able to make an impact. Chris Baker as well, I thought he would get in more playing time this year, but he did get a year of good experience and I hope he can contribute more this coming year. I don’t think anyone has brought up J’Vonne Parker yet. What are the chances he is still around next year? I’m not sure but I think not very good. He doesn’t seem to stay on any team for very long. Carlton Powell?
yeah broncofanlvnm,
i forgot about Parker and Powell…I think Parker is listed the biggest on our roster-including reserves.
Powell was cut.
BroncosAussie,
Powell’s name is on the Practice Squad….maybe they resigned him….
I think that Chris Baker will eventually develop into a good NT for the Broncos.
Oh yeah just checked, he was waived, signed to the Browns practice squad, waived again, and then signed back to the Broncos practice squad. Though the page is a wiki and it also says he is a free agent now, so who knows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Powell
Powell was re-signed to the practice squad Nov. 3rd.
I found it on wiki too Aussie! LOL!
Baker could be good, he was a 2nd round talent, supposedly, and he did get some game time this year, not enough in my book.
Good old wiki, yeah but it says he is a free agent, so like I said who knows at this point.
Hopefully Baker turns out to be a diamond in the rough. Getting him as a CFA last year when a lot thought he would be drafted was incredible.
I feel the same way, Aussie. I think if we gave him more time and reps, he would get a better feel for the game and be able to develop into a good NT.
I guess we will see in Preseason what he can do for us, that is if we don’t draft a NT like Cody or Williams, or pick up Wilfork(fingers crossed).
Ya, it would be nice to get Wilfork, or a Cody or Williams. You never with McD, though. He could end up drafting a random person that he feels would benefit the team more. You never know. Well, I have to go, so take it easy, guys and gals.
never know with McD, sorry.
Aye, laters
I can’t find anything else on Powell, all I can find is that he was signed back to the practice squad when Pedescleaux was placed on IR.
I guess we’ll find out more on these guys after March 5th. That is if they are not released.
Yeah, I am just hoping to hear that Doom and Marshall got deals done before that time.
I hear you Aussie. I mean what are they waiting for? They should ink these guys before FA starts!
But honestly, I don’t think we will keep Marshall. Doom yes, but not Marshall. Even with his and Bowlen’s statements recently, I just think that there is too much conflict with him and McD to fix it. Hope I’m wrong though.
I think the conflict between them is a lot of bull, to be honest I think Marshall stays, they is nothing awesome you can gain from him leaving.
Doom will be resigned soon, well I hope, you don’t let pass rushers walk.
sndvl and hometeam007
Thanks for the support. I do not wish to divide this site
I have more input on this humor thing coming so stay tuned. I will not be perched to. I do not post novels normally but one is coming. I have some saved posts from some people that are not as funny as yours. Can not wait to see their response. I will not give up on this site to a few that think they are “it”. Those who know me understand to those who do not watch out. You have awakened a Bronco Fan who does not forget jokes played on line!! I save posts and your words will tell the truth. Just saying.
FTR
Take solance on your own and let “us” decide to partake in what ever humor we decide!! Speak for your self and not “us”.
baylinorcrush says:
February 15, 2010 at 7:57 pm
cody, you and two other guys found the dysfunctional family analogy “disturbing, crazy, scary and weird”, only one guy liked it and I didn’t comment on it because I chose not to engage with that blogger, and if I did I would be at a loss for words anyway, LOL, so we can take solace that most of us don’t partake in that sort of sense of humor.
FTR, I already told you I was not calling you out, hence I didn’t mention your name, but if you chose to keep this fight of yours going, it is your choice, I can’t stop you but I have moved on, even talked to sndvl about curling, LOL, do what you need to do but personally I won’t bother the rest of the blog with this issue any longer, sorry in advance if I offend you by not partaking, life is too short, time is something I’m running short on.