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
While i hate agree with carnage he is right in those regards, FAs will see superbowl with mannign at the helm, more than tebow and will be more likely to want to be broncos. Altho that is all pointless if the quote from DP holds true that our FA budget might be totally taken by Manning. Such a conundrum … to me at least.
Tide, I agree 100% with ur 7:23 post.
TRB
I, like OT would like to see the source if u can find it Alaskan … because thats a kings randsome … equivalent to RG3. And more of a steal than the Eagles got for Kolb. That compensation sounds outrageous but i wouldn’t say no to it if we go the route of PM.
TRB
TRB & OT Ive been trying to find the link because i want to know why so high value. Only thing i can think of is that the Jags and Browns might be offering something like that because they need something or someone to bring fans back to the games to make more money and to jump start the team like TT did when he came in and started for Denver. I dont even think TT has that high a value. A first round pick maybe. A second and 3rd and a late round pick is more likely though IMO.
IF the Broncos land Peyton Manning I’d like to see Denver trade Tebow and Knowshon to Jacksonville for their 1st and 2nd rounders Draft Poe at #7 since its projected he will be gone at 9 (Carolina) THEN trade 25, 57, & a fifth rounder to move up and snag Kirkpatrick. At #38 (via Jacksonville) draft Lamar Miller/Doug Martin. Then with our 3rd Round Draft C Phillip Blake from Baylor
Re-Sign: Bunk, Royal, Mays, Woodyard, Haggan
Sign Via FA: Williams, Soliai, Tulloch and a Vet Safety
Looks like Royal wants to test FA according to Klis article this morning.
I like the idea of trading Knowshow and Tebow for a first and second round. I think we could get a 4th or later pick also and a compensatory pick next year for each. BUT I dont think we should trade up to grab Kirk. We could grab Poe at #7 then at 25 that opens a lot of options. Trading back, taking the best CB, RB or Hightower. 38 to snag Martin for sure and 57 to grab a CB but thats just my opinion.
if Royal leaves via FA, and Denver signs Manning i’d like to see us go after Reggie Wayne i think he fit in well with Demaryius, Decker, and Willis and i think Wayne will be willing to go whereever manning goes
Whatever team meets with Manning first has the edge. They can try and figure out what was discussed in Denver and AZ (not contracts) about how much control of the offense and how much say he has and they can up it. IMO
I also think there comes a point where trying so hard to get Manning does more harm than good. If we keep trying to get him so hard and dont get him before FA and still tryi really hard we can miss out of players who can help the team for more than a few years. Williams Soliai and Carr and others.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82789af7/article/buccaneers-reportedly-have-edge-at-signing-wr-jackson
Goodbye VJAX thanks for leaving the division.
(Hopefully leaving the division) my fingers are crossed.
I think Jacksonville would be up for a trade of that caliber, they have already expressed interest for Tebow and have mentioned including their 1st rounder… Knowshon could compliment Jones-Drew well because Jacksonville hasnt had much stability at the #2 RB spot… Also Alaskan: trading back would be an option but other than Claiborne, Jenkins, and Kirkpatrick i dont see another CB starting in the NFL from day 1 but thats just me
Miami might make a play for Flynn or draft a QB.. I just don’t see where any serious interest for Tebow will come from, and it makes zero sense to just give him away.. As some have pointed out, Tebow brings an enormous amount of fan and media attention, and if a team doesn’t have plans of making him their starting QB, i see a lot of teams who would otherwise be interested in him in a lesser role, shy away for this reason.. I think we’re best served to keep Tebow and keep working with him, even if we get Manning
cant help but wonder how many tebowites will disappear from the blog if tebow moves on.also have to imagine that bay is going crazy not having a part in these discussions. come on back bay the qq quandry is in full swing.
Maybe Clark too…it would be nice to see Denver snag Kellen Moore if we get Manning…I think we could get Moore in the 4th or 5th round and if he had 3-4 years under Manning I think we could build a franchise QB out of him!…either that or some other QB in the draft, asumming Tebow doesn’t want to stay around!
drafting Poe, Kirkpatrick, Martin, & Blake gives Denver 4 starters combine that with the 3 starters we found last year and thats 7 of 22 starting spots that are Rookies or 2nd year players… youth movements are always great lol
I like that observation OT…. just hope it works out.
Granted Tebow is a good kid and all, and while I wish him all the best, my interests lie with the Denver Broncos. It just so happens that the two are interconnected.. Giving Tebow away for next to nothing will not help The Broncos, and could be the cause of serious pain if he ends up be a great QB some day.. It’s my belief that the market for Tebow really isn’t there, and for better or worse, I think we’re stuck with him, unless we plan on giving him away for a 4th or 5th rounder, which doesn’t help the club IMO
Rbf1 – yeah, we’ll see.. I agree Miami makes the most sense, but I don’t think they will offer up their #1 for him
since1972, probably not many. I think most people here were Broncos fans before Tebow became one, but certainly not all. However, many of us have supported Tebow as the quarterback of the Broncos, because he is. Like others who claim to support the TEAM, not just one player, as far as I’m concerned, he is part of them very team that I support.
It’s no more right for someone to claim they support the TEAM, but choose not to support the quarterback of the team, and that’s what a LOT of so called Broncos fans do.
If Bay is going crazy because he’s not involved in these discussions, it’s no one’s fault but his. Nobody banned him from here, he chose to leave, and he is certainly free to return.
I think it makes more sense to keep Tebow because he brings more to the table than we could get in trade. Also, even if we get Manning and all the free agents he would bring, in two more years we would be right back where we started. Packers kept Aaron Rodgers, so that when Favre was gone they did not have to start over with a rookie. Surely EFX will plan well not just for the next few years but for the long haul.
No matter the outcome of the Manning deal, Denver needs to trade Tebow now. There doesn’t look like any possibility he would consider signing a follow-on contract under the circumstances no matter how well or poorly he plays in the future. If he doesn’t play or doesn’t play well and improve, his value will only go down. If he plays well and improves, his value will go up but I doubt he will stay with Denver so they would have to trade him before his contract runs out. I think this pretty well seals his fate in Denver long term whether that was the intention or not. Perhaps a case of the Law of Unintended Consequences!
Texan, I agree, but sports writers and analysts everywhere are saying he will be traded. I just wonder what EFX have decided, or if they have, yet. My feelings are that Manning will want to run the show without Tebow looking over his shoulder, and in a way, I can understand that, too. Reports are he will not share first teams reps, and isn’t a willing teacher to his backups. Who knows?
OMG…the nicest thing about this whole blog is not having to filter through a hundred or so posts of Bay’s. Good freaking riddance!
And armadillo_orton once again hits the nail on the head. There is WAY too much Kool-Aid drinking going on around here.
Manning is one of the most most overrated, selfish, and egotistical players to ever step on the field. You don’t even have to look much further than the fact that he’s willing to risk not being able to play in the front yard with his two twin babies to know that. In 18 years, he’s won ONE championship in his entire college and pro career and that was against Rex Grossman.
I truly think that that most Denver fans must be delirious from the high altitude if they think that Manning makes us SB contenders. He only did it once in 14 years, in the prime of his life, in a dome, running his own system completely. Now he’s expected to miraculously pull it off with the Broncos even with our gaping holes on both sides of the ball, with some of the worst receivers in the NFL, an O line that couldn’t stop a pass rush if their life depended on it, a career .500 coach, and a sauced up never has been before VP of operations that has shown even less talent at this job than Tebow has at throwing a perfect spiral.
It’s about to get REALLY ugly in Denver.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/03/07/peyton.manning/index.html
Well, I think it’s safe to say that we are a divided Broncos Country at the moment….
LOL, OT. Somethings never change…….
LOL, OT. Somethings never change…….
Oops. *Some things….and sorry for the double post. Don’t know how that happened.
Truth is that Manning is not in Denver, if he comes We are Still the DENVER BRONCOS, if he does not come we are still the DENVER BRONCOS, dont put down that kool-aid becasue i know you are all thirsty. I know i am. Things can and will get a little hecktic but at the end of the day EFX will make a decision they think will benefit the team for the better.
Yep. At least we’re consistent!
I cant remember when last Broncos coutnry was unified. All this offseason drama is starting to be what the broncos are all about.
TRB
It sure can bring out the worst in people.
This just smells like putting all our eggs in one basket that is aged but still good but at anytime the bottom could give away with nothing to catch it beneath.
TRB
Yeah, that’s probably too much like you say OT.
I’m also first and foremost a Broncos fan. I do like TT the football player. As TRB had previously mentioned, I was also shocked he was drafted as Broncos moved up to get him.
I was a fan, who was ready to see him take the reigns last season, and was glad he did. I’m not much for reading about who he’s taking to dinner, etc as it seems a bit much. I understand he’s a polarizing figure and attracts alot of attention from the media.
I do admire him for his hard work ethic and attitude.
Just not in love with him like my wife and daughter…lol.
We need more baskets haha. Newer Baskets, ie. Williams, soliai and carr Bring back the D. Offence, tweak if needed, we could sure use another reciever/running back though.
DenverCB, you just said it all in one sentence. “at the end of the day EFX will make a decision they think will benefit the team for the better.”
EFX needs to get the **** out of Dove Valley before they completely destroy what’s left of the Broncos. I’ve said it since the day Fox was hired.
I did like the Fox hire but i wasnt too sure about the Elway Hire. I didnt want his Ego getting in the way of the priorities
hey guys, im just curious cause there are way too many posts to go back and read, are a majority of yall pro tebow or pro manning?
I’m sure if EFX gets Manning keeping Tebow is in the plans otherwise it’s a no go.
Look FBG, Pat Bowlen owns this team, and he has complete faith and trust in John Elway. You might as well accept the fact that Elway isn’t going anywhere, regardless of how you feel, and Fox still has plenty of time left on his contract to prove he’s the right hire as HC or not. The Denvers Broncos have more to be concerned about than just Tim Tebow, and that won’t change regardless of whom runs the front office and is the head coach.
Broncos4life22, how about both?
broncos4life … it is right down the middle. People are divided. Its like Orton Tebow all over again except this time the Tebow alternative is a pro bowl caliber, mvp, future hof QB that no one can dispute. The question is can he last.
But to answer ur question. 50/50
TRB
Yea, but nobody really liked Orton, he was just unlikable. People love Tebow they will keep him and groom him. Bring him in for jump passes certain packages.
B4L22 – Can i say im 75Tebow and 25Manning??
I’m same percentages as CB
The polls are still open folks..
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/manning-not-expected-to-visit-any-more-teams/
didnt know it was over.
looking like denver or cards. No miami. Flynn should go to miami anyway
TRB
TRB, thats understandable
I personally am a big tebow fan, i think hes a great guy and has a great work ethic..etc but bringing in someone like manning is without a doubt the better option IMO…
I also think that if we sign manning tebow will be gone/traded to jacksonville maybe for the 7th overall pick
that being said..
Poe at 7
Janoris jenkins/dre kirkpatrick/mark barron at 25
vincent jackson(if not him reggie wayne) and dallas clark in free agency with a few little tweaks here and there i think were without a doubt a top 5 super bowl contender, something that I think everyone here while they may not admit knows is not possible with tebow so soon and maybe never but thats just my opinion
Broncos4life22- I’m pro Broncos. I want Tebow to stay. I DO NOT want Manning for so many reasons, beyond the Tebow issue. But if he comes- I’m a Broncos fan. That means I’m rooting for whoever is behind center. HOWEVER…I will be rooting for TT no matter where he goes. Broncos fan for life (going on 35 years now), Tebow fan for life (goig on 2 years now, sadly missed his college career).
rkittyreed, No doubt I am rooting for tebow to be successful because hes such a great guy and has such great faith
btw, I know I dont post on here often but I read yalls comments alot and keep up with the blog especially around draft time, but next year ill be heading up to the denver area for college even though im from texas and hopefully ill be able to go to a few games!
Tide Bronco, you’re right. Unfortunately Bowlen has total Dementia. Fox has plenty of time left on his contract to totally destroy this team and they have MUCH bigger issues to worry about than trying to replace Tebow. I just wish they’d get busy with it. Manning is NOT the answer to the Broncos problems. Not by a long shot. Again…I don’t care how many yards the guy has thrown for. How many championships has he actually won? I read yesterday that Bowlen told Manning, “Division championships aren’t gonna cut it here. I want Superbowls” So…why the **** is he looking at Peyton Manning? Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if Bowlen might have Dementia AND Alzheimer’s. I knew his head wasn’t right when he hired the only coach in the league with a worse record than ours. Except the difference between Fox and McD is that Fox has been a coach for 22 years and STILL only won half his games and never a Superbowl. Geez…the only SB he’s even been to, he LOST to McD’s play calling! Pure genius on Bowlen’s part.