The glow of the playoff win over the Steelers has now faded. While the impact of that win has not decreased, it is time for the Broncos to turn the page to the 2012 season.
Free agency will begin soon. It won’t be long before the draft is here. The Broncos have plenty of decisions to make as they look to improve their roster.
This week, my colleagues at DenverBroncos.com are starting a series of previews on the top prospects at each position. They’ll break down many of the players who will be available in the NFL draft
I’ll be supplementing their work with thoughts about each position and many of the players whom the Broncos are evaluating.
As free agency gets going, I’ll also have thoughts on any moves the Broncos make.
So let the offseason get started. As it does, I share a handful of big-picture thoughts on the Broncos’ offseason.
1 – THE BRONCOS HAVE TO CONSIDER EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE THE TEAM. This is simply life in the NFL. Teams look to replace players on their rosters with more talented players. It’s not personal. It’s not even fair in many cases. But it’s the way it is.
Thus, the Broncos have to look at every option to get better at every position possible. This, of course, includes the quarterback position. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss this more specifically as the offseason goes along.
For now, I’m not advocating the Broncos do or not do anything with the quarterback position or any other position. I’m simply saying I believe they should keep every option on the table as they embark on the process of building the roster for the 2012 season.
2 – THE BRONCOS HAVE TO BE FEARLESS IN THEIR DECISIONS. There is a huge difference between fearless and rash. There is a huge difference between fearless and desperate. The Broncos don’t need to be rash or desperate in the decisions they have before them.
They don’t need to be afraid to make the tough decisions. As Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe told us on 850 KOA as last season was ending, sometimes the hardest decisions are not popular. I’m not saying John Elway, Brian Xanders, and John Fox and his staff should look to make decisions that will be unpopular. That is crazy.
At the same time, they shouldn’t shrink from making what they believe to be the best decision in any given situation because they are afraid people will disagree with them. I am encouraged because I think the Broncos have people with the courage to make the decisions they think are the absolute best for the organization.
This, of course, doesn’t mean every decision will turn out to be correct. But give me a measured, fearless approach and I’ll take my chances with the rest.
3 – WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS OFFSEASON IS PART OF THE PROCESS. While we all know there is no patience in the NFL. Nonetheless, I have to continually remind myself that there are rarely quick fixes for teams that were where the Broncos were a year ago.
The Broncos took some big-time steps in 2011. But they’re not back to the elite level. That usually takes some time. This offseason is a big part of the continuing the process.
Here we go. It’s time to make some moves. It’s time to talk about reshaping the roster.
What are you hoping the Broncos will be able to get done? Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
NFL is meeting with saints.
6 Games for ” illegal substances “, makes me wonder what Goodell has up his sleeve for the Saints.
B4Life22- you are going to get the Bronco Bug BADDD!!!! Enjoy! Despite all the crazy stuff, Denver Broncos are still the greatest team in the NFL, and nothing beats going to a live game.
Bowlen doesn’t have total dementia, FBG. Otherwise, he would be in a rest home somewhere. I think you may be over reacting a bit, but you’re certainly entitled to your opinion. At any rate, it won’t change the infrastructure of the Broncos organization, or the decisions forthwith. None of us are on the payroll, except maybe for Greatness. Where are you Greatness? Wish you’d chime in on some of this.
You don’t go to a rest home just because you have Dementia. Especially when you have a billion dollars to hire home nurses with. My mother has Dementia AND Kidney disease and isn’t in a rest home and she’s not a billionaire.
Well FBG, is there any light you would like to shine on this blog? anything positive about the Broncos?
Judy Battista @judybattista Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
RT @davehydesports: Dolphins are out of the running for Peyton Manning, a source said.
Omar Kelly @OmarKelly Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
The Denver Broncos are about to become the beasts of the AFC.
MileHighReport @MileHighReport Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
There’s a 75% chance that 60% of those tweeting about Manning are 50% wrong! #Broncos
You said TOTAL dementia, FBG, which made it sound like you think he’s not functioning at all, and he is.
As my grandma used to say, “Ya’ll don’t know nothin’”.
That Manning considers the Broncos a good option bodes well for our team. He knows that he wants to play somewhere that he can win the SB. A Year ago at this time NOBODY would have said the Broncos would even make the playoffs. Remember all the whining at the start of last season. Now look at us! Our heads are up with that good ole Broncos pride. As a Tebow fan I would remind you don’t count Tebow out until the final seconds of the clock run out. I watched him in college and learned something that the newbie Tebow fans in Denver are still learning. Tebow is a winner. If the Broncos trade him for Manning, Tebow will win with whoever picks him up.
Manning is certainly a great HOF QB and if he chooses us it is because he believes we can win. But winning here will be a curtain call to his time with the Colts.
DenverCB, Kyle Orton is no longer our QB.
I hear we’ve looking at Janoris Jenkins too.
Texan, don’t say NOBODY. A year ago, I said we’d win the SB if we started Tebow and dropped that bum, Orton. And that was BEFORE Orton took us to 1-4. Now what we need MOST is a winning head coach before anything else.
FlBronco, Charlie Weis was NE’s OC. Not Hoodie Jr.
Ugh. Your arguments are seriously flawed…
I would rather win with the young Broncos than the Old Colts!
I am not looking forward to reading about how we are really only the Colts version 2 and a p.s. to Indianapolis of all places.
sndvl, look it up. McDaniels called all of the offensive plays the year that they beat Carolina in the Suberbowl.
FLBronco – When I said nobody I meant when Orton was starting and we were losing. If you look back at the film we were in last place in our division and the Chargers were favored to win the Division. All the commentators did not even consider us contenders.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_New_England_Patriots_season
Just for you FBG
Another con of signing Manning- when he’s done in a couple seasons, we have to revamp our offense again. Start over. Why the heck can’t they see how short sighted the Manning signing would be?
if we win a super bowl quite frankly I could care lessif its old colts or long time broncos! and to be honest like I said I have always been a broncos fan my whole life and I like Tim Tebow hes a great guy and is probably one of the best humans morally, but besides the last 3 minutes of the wins, watching the broncos put the ball in the air maybe 10 times a game was just boring to watch i.e 3 times in the first half against the chiefs i believe IMO, I know thats kind of crazy to say based on all the excitement that went on in Denver last year, but i think its true!
If we land Manning I want TT to stay. Just because we might sign Peyton doesn`t mean that Tim Tebow is automatically trade. Some might think that. It can go either way, Tim might asked to be traded so he can start somewhere else, but thats not a given. It would be good to sit back and learn from Peyton, but it would be just as good if we don`t land Manning and TT is given the reigns, either way is win, win in my book.
Atta Boy FBG, Orton (and MCD for that matter) is no longer with us, cant say much more positivity than that haha
If we do land Peyton, we have a great chance of winning the SB this year. YEAH, I SAID IT!!! Our AFC division is WEAK. With Manning we win the division, then its a whole knew season in the playoffs.
You must be talking about 2007 FBG, as McDaniels was an assistant to the defensive coaches in 2003.
Hello Royal.
What’s up strand! How you doing today?
Awesome, I`m a happy camper. Its almost FA time!
I hate be sound like a degative nancy but the Broncos will not spend a high draft pick on a QB. Thats insane!!
New blog, guys………
sndvl, you’re right. My bad. I was thinking Carolina lost to the Patriots in 2005 but it WAS 2003. In 2005, with McD calling the plays, Pats beat an even better team than Carolina. In any case, Fox is still a crap coach with a .506 record. Actually, he was at .507 when we got him. Again…that’s over a span of 22 years. There is absolutely NO indication that John Fox is EVER going to be better than an 8-8 coach at best.
Broncos4Life you are cracking me up! You must be the only person that found last season boring!
broncos4life22, why put the ball in the air any more than that when our best receiver only caught 50% of the catchable balls thrown to him? We have some of the WORST receivers in the league. You don’t throw the ball a lot when you don’t have anyone that can catch it. Granted, we should have thrown a lot more screen passes but we have an even worse play caller than we have receivers.
royalbroncofan, I was talking about 2005 when McD called the plays in the SB and then in 2006 wad promoted to OC.
FBG, for a guy who puts so much stock in stats, I’ve noticed that you aren’t bringing Tebow’s front and center. Just remember, stats don’t always tell the whole story, and a large part of why some people don’t want Tebow to be the QB of the Broncos has to do with his 46.5% completion percentage.
I love the Tebow, but some people can’t see past his 46.5%. Looks to me like a bit of tolerance is in order…..on both sides.
Agree with FBG. Although maybe not quite as harsh on the receivers. They all have high potential.
woaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa buddy. Titans expect manning visit … could locker benefit from learning behind THE peyton manning … hmmm lol
He couldn’t say no … he went to school in tennesee after all. They are far from a superbowl IMO … they do however have Kenny Britt
So McD called the plays in 2004/05 when they beat the Eagles, as QB coach. Didn’t know that. Good for him.
Texan, let me clarify last season was probably the most exciting season the broncos have had in a while, but the first three quarters of most games minus the vikings and steelers game were hard to watch, but thats just my opinion, im a receiver so I like to see the ball in the air just my opinion
A while back there was a report that said the Manning camp had contacted the Titan’s and they were told at that time the Titan’s weren’t interested. I think it is very significant that Manning has agreed to meet with the Titan’s after being snubbed by them originally. To me it sounds like he’s very interested in playing there. He may end up being a Titan folks, he is so loved in Tenn. and with the Tebow fans hating on him here that may be enough to sway him. Looking forward to free agency, it will be a nice break from the Manning fiasco. Hope we pick up some talent on the D-line. Go Broncos!
Mark Kiszla
The Denver Postdenverpost.com
Manning trumps Tebow. This is the perfect excuse for the Broncos to get rid of Tebow. The only way to get him out is to bring in a quarterback undeniably superior in every way. The Tebow lunatics will complain, but the truth is: It’s them the Broncos need to be rid of because all they have done is made things infinitely harder for the team with unconditional, blind allegiance to Tebow. Let the Tebow idiots go scream at some other team to play him.
Kiz:Tebowmania is bigger than Elway. Heck, Tebowmania might be bigger than Harry Potter. Manning is the magic word that can make it all disappear.
Kiz: Hate to break it to you, but that place the Broncos call home is the
stadium that Elway built. If there’s a messy breakup in Denver, Elway keeps the house. Tebow Nation had better pack a lunch, because they would become the NFL’s largest nomadic tribe.
Stepping aside in faith. I’ve had five spine fusions, and my spine is more titanium than bone. If Manning’s neck can take the hits, he could get the Broncos to the Super Bowl two times in three years. Why not use Tebow as a running back? Now here’s the test of Tebow’s Christianity and pride. Would he be willing to change to help the team?
I feel that the Broncos are making to much of an effort to get Manning when we need help in some other areas. We need to concentrate on DT’s, OL, RB’s & CB’s. This will help us more in the long run. If they want to trade Tebow then trade him for a good draft pick & pick up another QB. Don’t forget we still have Adam Weber whom is a better pocket passer & his moblility is not to bad plus he is alittle taller.
Im on the fence with the whole 18 thing. I think peyton was a great qb but i really like Tim. I dont want them to bring in peyton get rid of Tim and then in a couple of years have nothing.
Manning did trump Tebow but that was before 3 neck surgeries and he hasn’t passed a team medical or thrown for anyone. Tebow with and offseason is another question mark we havent seen that yet. I think its good to bring in competition and let them battle in camp. Bill walsh had joe montana and still brought in steve young. Montana had his best seasons after young was waiting in the wings
what about eddie royal. are they just letting him shop his wares?
I wonder if we’ll get a bigger back like jaoobs or hillis or go for younger speed to go with 23
whoops i meant jacobs
I hope so Devastator. Royal’s been a bust.
Mr. Rice: Do you know what Mr. Tebow is doing to improve his pocket passing & his throwing motion this off season? All I’ve ever heard about him has nothing to do about foodball. I don’t know what he is doing but if he wants to make it in the NFL he should be practicing.
Are the Broncos sitting on their asses waiting to see what Manning is going to do. All the other teams are picking up all the good free agents. They said that they were going to pick up some free agents to help the team or are they all talk. Manning is only good for 2 more years maybe 3. We might make it to the superbowl with Manning but will we be able to win the superbowl. Elway should know he took us to the superbowl for 3yrs. & couldn’t win with the team we had. This team needs to get better. Better players in the right positions like RB, DT & OL. Maybe another reciever because Decker dropped alot of passes in the second half of the season, or play Willis more. Oh I forgot we need Defensive Backs also.;