In my four decades working in professional sports public relations, one of my favorite things is watching my team be part of “the big story,” the one that commands national attention and focuses the interest of all the newspapers, electronic media, fan sites and sports bars on Denver.
For fans as well, this is an exciting aspect of the games we follow.
For four straight NFL offseasons, the Denver Broncos have produced arguably the biggest story of the year.
Now, other PR people in other cities might argue this, but I think the following passes the taste test of commanding offseason storylines.
In 2010, the Broncos made the biggest splash in the draft with the dramatic and very much debated selection of Tim Tebow in the first round.
While debate has persisted from before the draft until this day–from the University of Florida to the Denver Broncos and now to the New York Jets—about his ability to pass at the standard NFL level, there can be no question whatsoever about his popularity or commitment to social values. He became an international phenomenon, and was a really big story that kept the Broncos national.
In 2011 the big story was not about a current player but about one of the absolute greatest players of all time. It was all about John Elway taking the gigantic step from legend on the playing field to being in command of the entire football wing of the Broncos with his appointment as Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
He has made so many dramatic moves in such a short period of time as to completely eliminate any questions that one may have had about his ability to fill the new role.
Any questions about John’s ability to make pivotal personnel decisions? Really? Nope. None.
That brings us to 2012 and the signing of Peyton Manning, which certainly ranks as the biggest free agent signing in the history of the NFL. I would have to get our a Thesaurus to find some new adjectives describing the magnitude of this signing. The contract signed by Manning and Elway is the only one in NFL history to bear the signatures of two Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks, one in, and one to come. Regular readers of this blog read a lot of Monday Morning Manning stats, all staggering, so we won’t repeat them again.
Sometimes repetition is redundant.
And that takes us to the present, 2013, as Elway strikes again.
On the same day in which the new pope was elected in Rome, the Broncos and Elway made news of our own with the signing of Wes Welker to a free agent contract.
Welker has led the NFL in catches (672) and yards (7,459) since 2007, his first season with the New England Patriots. He is the only receiver in the league to post five 100-catch seasons, and he is one of two (along with Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans) to have 18 games with 10 or more receptions.
In the second day of 2013 free agency Elway once again demonstrated that he is just as capable—and as likely—to make a big strike as an administrator as he used to on the field.
I have been honored to work with John Elway since his first day as a Bronco. I have never met anyone more competitive or more relentless.
Now he has transferred those same qualities to the front office.
The Broncos have been the biggest story in the NFL for four straight offseasons, and given the quality of the talent in personnel, coaching and the front office, it seems very likely that the cameras will continue to follow this team in 2013.
The NFL schedule comes out next month. Expect Broncos games to be at the center of that schedule for the absolute maximum allowable number of telecasts.
You cannot hide from a big goal. Once you have your sights set on it, you might as well embrace it and enjoy the ride.
Big story.
and i kinda keep dreaming we sign on of the tackles like vollmer(sp?) and send franklin on his way too
Also that game as RH points out we had no push from the RG position. And as randy said it all starts in the trenches.
I think Willis (WR),Caldwell (WR),Mays (LB),Ramirez (OL),McGahee (RB)…..and maybe Bannan (DT)..should all be cut!!!
willis isnt on the team.. if we get rid of caldwell then we will need 2 WR before the season.. also bannan is cheap if i remember right and the perfect rotational guy for knighton and big vick and occasionally wolfe
Vasquez will fix the RG position.
Willis and Bannan are FAs. The rest should be. But McGahee and Mays may be asked to restructure their deals to stay.
We got Unrein.
oh i didnt know bannan was gone.. and mays needs to just leave we need that money for draft picks.. not for a 3rd or 4th string mlb
not big fan of unrein..hasnt done much
Mays signed to a 3 year 12 mil$ contract last year,was a HUGE mistake,actually the biggest mistake under the JE era!
We done signed Unrein tho!
alright well im off to bed.. have a good one.. i gotta be up at 4 so less than 4 hours sleep it is lol
I like Unrein. He does what is needed and has a non stop motor. He also is pretty solid.
Night randy. I must go as well.
With Big Vick,Knighton,Unrein,and Wolfe sliding over at DT,I think we are pretty good!the young guy,Malik Jackson can play DT too!
Good night guys!!!
Mays rules.
No comment?
It’s funny how one great player changed everything for the Broncos plan wise.
When Elway came in all we heard is we are going to rebuild through the draft and not FA, it’s the only good way to do it in order to build a solid team for years to come.
Then comes Manning.
And everything changes, we have to win right now, forget the draft strategy, let’s plunge into FA all the way, LMAO.
No biggie though, it’s good to adjust on the fly, wish Fox could do that more easily game time, but that’s another story…. Elway is still feeling his way through this maze and has done a magnificent job in such a short time, but his head is spinning 100 mph. I just hope we can eventually feel some type of continuity in our long term plans because right now we are all over the map.
But I feel for Elway, other than Miller the draft hasn’t exactly turned out roses for him since he took over…. But you need a #2 pick to turn over miracles like that one.
This is what the “rest” of the drafts looked like for us under Elway:
2011: Moore, Franklin, Irving, Q. Carter, J. Thomas, Mohamed, Green and Beal.
2012: Wolfe, Osweiler, Hillman, Bolden, Blake (that’s who we got for Tebow), Malik Jackson (that’s who we got for Brandon Lloyd) and Trevathan.
A C or B- grading would be the best I could give that overall. Still a long ways to go for Elway and Co. in the draft department… Hopefully this FA extravaganza helps balance things out, and no arguments here that it should definitely pay dividends short term but we still need a solid plan for the long term which we can squarely rely on over and over, and that would be the draft.
Elway had it right in the first place!
He and everyone in the Broncos drafting department just needs to improve their skills. And the clock is running out for this year, I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this draft…
Enjoy church this morning you all and pray for the draft while you’re at it, just kidding, God doesn’t care about mundane stuff like that….
This will be the 1st draft without Brian Xanders sucking up the oxygen in the room…
The plan is always to build through the draft, but in today’s game, free agency is as equally important to maintain the strides you have made. If you don’t play that side of it, you will get left behind. The game has changed. FA is the first step, and the draft is the final piece before the season.
You really need 2-3 years to properly grade a draft, especially when you have a few developmental guys.
But I will agree our drafting as an organization has been pretty average. If you look around the league, it could be MUCH worse, but it also could be better. It’s a process, and one I hope we can prefect as much as possible, as the teams who draft well are the ones who compete year in and year out.
As far as teaching an old Fox a new trick, I really believe the Welker signing signals the end of the conservative play calling for our Denver Broncos.
There really is no WR in the league like Welker. He is SO much more than just a slot WR, he is a game changer. He is the dagger-to-the-heart we so desperately missed last year.
I was NEVER a fan of McCoy’s play calling, and now we have the young Gase trying to make a name for himself. Elway backed Fox, as he should have, but there is no way he was happy with how that game was called IMO.
Is Robert Ayers still on our roster? He was a great piece when Dumervil was on the sidelines. He could provide the push on d-line without having to delve into free-agency again or the draft.
Bay, Elway reverted to what he knows to be a successful route. This team strongly resembles the late ’90s Broncos in many ways. Built to win before your HOF QB can’t play anymore essentially. I think the jury is still out on some of the draft picks. I’m hoping for good things out of Malik Jackson this year especially with the loss of Doom. What I’ve seen of Trevathan has been good also. We seem to be really good at the weakside LB all the sudden because of Woodyard and Trevathan. If we get a MLB in the draft or Stewart Bradley works out to be really good, we will have the best LBs in the league IMO. Wolfe is no JJ Watt but works had and has been effective. Overall I think I agree about the draft picks so far though. Some underachievers and character issues too. (Q. Carter)
Ayers is still on the roster and played very well last year in limited action.
Yea outside of Von we havent really seen any superstars emerge from elways draft picks so far. theyre all good rotational guys but we need to draft another stud or two this year. Thinkin about our long term success here.
We signed a few KEY FA’s to win a couple of Super Bowls to get us over the top and get the job done: Neil Smith, Alfred Williams, Tim McKyer, and Bill Romanowski. As we know you build through the draft, but you gotta have a few vets to bring leadership and plug a few holes.
As for our draft class, I believe its premature to evaluate just yet. Some players take a year or two to develop, its the nature of the beast in the ways of the NFL. Some things call for patience in developing players. Not everyone is a superstar. I’m looking forward to this years draft. We just might have a sound draft this year. We might even trade bach into the 2nd round again and get some extra picks. I have complete faith in John Elway and Company.
RH I agree with you on Ayers. He is beginning to finally come into his own and more playing time will only help his confidence.
I’m still in shock over Doom. He has been a constant over the last 8 years and I’m definitely not ready to throw him under the bus like some bloggers here. 50+ tackles from a pass rush DE means he’s bad in run coverage? He will have to take a pay cut but I believe the FO will get the details worked out. I want Elvis to retire a Bronco.
BT I haven’t heard the PUM PUM PUM from the beef drum in awhile. Looks like we have the beef in the trenches to finally get it done!!
Get Doom Signed and to a 3 year deal!
I for one think Elvis and his agent tested what ever market they wanted and the team was patient and his dollar worth was established. They gave him more than the FA signings for this position. But now Elvis and his New representation needs to discusss with with the team ASAP. no matter the outcome who was a fault, If he truly wants to be with a contender I beleive the two sides will work it out. No one ever said life was easy thats why I hope Elway had a plan B.
Au contraire mon frere…God does care about those mundane things and in fact: God ceases to be God if a stray thought or molecule exists anywhere in the universe. And God definitely cares about winning and losing and whatever causes the drift in culture.
I think ManRam and Mays will still be with us. Kupe is the more likely cut. McG is also a likely cut IMO.
Kupe lost his position in our last game. I wish Moreno had enough value to replace. I think Adams is replaceable – but I’d love to hear why not.
I’m afraid that Champ will simply find more guys with whom he cannot keep up this season – Champ’s value is down.
I’m with BT…reduce Manings cap hit and we have the room for all the pieces we need. If not….not!
I agree with CORE too – ‘Doom horrible against the run?’ What games were those folks watching?
I can’t tell you the number of tackles and assists that Doom has had reaching around his block from the opposite side. I am impressed every game by Dumervil’s vision and ability to track the ball, and then his pursuit beyond the line of scrimmage. Give the man a stinkin’ contract!!!