Sometimes one can only shake one’s head and think of the better times that lie ahead. So it is with the Broncos’ 2010 season.
It is what it is. And it is not what we thought it would be.
For those of us who thought it would be better, this season has been more than disappointing.
For those who thought it would be a tough year, this season has, unfortunately, likely exceeded expectations.
I remember back in training camp, when hope is always high for football fans, thinking the Broncos could have a pretty good year.
I remember the countdown to the regular season and believing the Broncos might have some tough times early but would get better as the season progressed.
Then I remember the slide that began after a 2-2 start, a slide that has yet to stop. After the loss to the Jets, I thought they would recover and be 4-4 at the bye. That didn’t happen.
I remember writing at that time that expectations for a good season had turned to a hope the Broncos would simply play well.
The roller coaster continued with a huge win over the Chiefs on November 14th. While glad they played so well, I kept my expectations and excitement in check, knowing there was plenty of work to do.
Sometime during the current four-game losing streak, my emotions went from cautiously optimistic to frustrated to fed up and finally, now, to resignation that this is simply a year to forget.
The emotional cycle is complete. It is what it is. The Broncos are what they are.
But I don’t believe they will stay like this. Not for one minute do I believe that.
They know they have work to do to restore the organization to what has been a very tough year both on and off the field. I commend COO Joe Ellis for acknowledging that in his press conference on Tuesday, December 7 after the team relieved Josh McDaniels of his coaching duties.
I can’t help but think as low as things are now, there are better days ahead. The organization is poised to begin a journey down a new path, one I hope and believe will lead to much better times.
Yes, I look for the bright side of things. I always seem drawn to trying to find the positive in a situation, regardless how bleak it appears. Call that a fault if you want. Call it being naïve or a homer. Criticize it all you want. It doesn’t matter much to me because it won’t be changing any time soon.
The fact is that sometimes one simply has to go through some adversity before experiencing the good times. Sometimes the only option is to go through the storm and there is no way around it.
For now, I will watch the final three games of a forgetful season fade into the record book, hoping that this chapter collects plenty of dust and never gets revisited again.
This, too, shall pass. The Broncos will get through this and I believe brighter days are ahead. And when the good times get here again, they’ll be that much more enjoyable knowing the place from which the Broncos came.
Thanks for reading. I always appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Mike Rice
Mike I hope your right, I can’t watch my team getting humiliated anymore.. TEBOW IN ORTON OUT… He doesnt try anymore!
Tebow= Brighter Days
Orton= alot of the same
Think about it
Thanks for the post Mike. It is always nice to read a positive into this horrendous season. I agree with you that this organization, its proud nature and its rich history will no doubt see better days in the future. Hopefully sooner than later.
Go Broncos in 2011!
Thanks Mike. I remember listening to you on KOA and you where asking the listeners to call and make your predictions. Man that was fun just to hear all the different calls. I thought to myself 9-7. I didn`t call in but was excited for the real games to start. Well, we came up short. I`ll be looking forward to next season if we even have football in 2011. My gut tells me we will. Three more games. Crazy. I wonder who`ll be our HC next year? I`m sure anxious to find out. Thanks!
PLEASE PUT TEBOW IN!!!!!
Very nice, Mike. I really echo your sentiments about the team. Khalil Gibran says something to the effect that pain carves out room in your heart for happiness. Well obviously we fans haven’t had this much pain to deal with in a long time, but for those of us who stick with the Broncos, it’ll be that much sweeter when they are riding high again.
I’m going to watch every game, too, partly because it will be really fun later on to compare and see exactly how and where the improvements are made in the years to come. And, boy, after this year, I sure hope there is a full season next year to help put this season quickly behind us.
Cheer up Mike..
There are not just brighter days ahead. There are much, MUCH brighter days ahead.
We had to go through hell to get back on the road to heaven.. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll get there.. Maybe a lot sooner than we expect if Mr B can get the right people in place. I think bringing JE into an exec position would be a solid start.
If we wouldn’t have sank to this low point we might have ended up happily mediocre once again. That to me is an even darker future, one of satisfaction with mediocrity…
I personally think it does a man/team good to get his/their butt kicked once in a while. It forces one to self-examine, re-asses and adjust, re-focus and better aim to succeed in the future. Rather than just being content to ho-hum our way along status quo…
We will be stronger and smarter in the long run for the beating we are taking now. I bet TT will never let this happen again!
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!!!!!!
THERE IS A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE LONG BLACK TUNNEL….
Mike,now that’s something we all agree on,a season to forget,and times have to get better,because we have hit rock bottom.
Now we need to pick ourselves backup (next year) dust ourselves off and begin to climb out of the bottom of the well.
I have faith that Mr.B along with Ellis and Elway,will bring a commitment to excellence back to our once proud franchise!
I would like to see Tebow start the last 2 home games against Houston and SD.And if possible throw (McDs) McCoy’s playbook away and try something with Tebow that might work.I know that’s a far stretch considering we haven’t got much experienced coaches,so I don’t blame them for losses,I would like to see something positive in the last 3 games tho! is that asking too much?
TEBOW = Tremendously Energetic Brilliantly Offensive Winner
However this year is a right off.
If Mr Bowlen is not well enough to carry on as an executive owner it may be better that he sells the Broncos to a syndicate led by Elway.
The ownership of any sporting franchise is always a difficult balancing act and a good owner is worth their weight in gold. Mr. Bowlen is such an owner.
All we can do is remain patient at this stage because our team, our players and our coaches do not seem to have any answers to the chaotic position McDaniels left us in. Things can only become clearer once we find out exactly what is going to happen about who runs the organisation in future, and it appears nobody wants to make this decision during the season.
Yes, there’s no question about it – this year is a total write-off. As you can see from their effort on the field, many of the players have fully embraced this fact.
However, unlike others I see no light at the end of the tunnel. This mess is going to take a major effort to fix…. and nothing productive is going to happen on this front until we sweep away the interim coaching staff and bring in the new leadership. The decision about who that new leadership is going to be is absolutely critical, and I am not at all confident about the organization’s ability to make the right choice.
Well, I guess since Mike Rice is now saying how bad this season really is, it must be REALLY BAD.The ultimate glass half full writer has come to face with the reality of it all and is just as hurt now as some of us have been for a long time.
It goes to show, somehow when it is all said and done at the end of each season, like now, all of us Bronco fans, the homers, the forever optimists, the Faith preachers, the realists, the pessimists, the debbie downers and even the doom and gloomers, come together to share the exact same feeling, this year is a feeling of sadness, other year a feeling of elation, but whatever that feeling is, at year end it is always a united feeling, a united Bronco Country, in the Good, in the Bad, and in the Ugly, we all unite. Unfortunately this year Ugly it is.
But along the season, it’s a different beast. We all have a different make up that make us see things differently, some come to grip with reality at different times, some see problems early, some think the stars are lined up to succeed no matter what, some use faith, some use stats, some want a better D, some a better O, some a different QB, some hang on to the slightest hope, some just don’t buy what the coach is selling right off the bat, some think all he needs is more time, etc…
Next year we will start this thing all over again; all hoping, some believing, some doubting, some thinking we might make the playoffs, some saying are you kidding me, some will like the new HC, some won’t, some will love the new draftees, some won’t, and we will all ride another season of Broncomania however each of us is comfortable doing so.
And I think that’s the greatest part of it all, different folks from all walks of life following their team in a million different ways, none of them right, none of them wrong, just different because we all are individuals with different thoughts and values. And without that essential element of individuality, this blog site would be boring to no end.
That’s probably the nicest most positive you’ll see me all next year, so I will make this my Christmas card to all of you in the Bronco organization and to every faithful fan who participates in our Bronco blogosphere.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! And Hannukah and all that good stuff.
I`m looking forward to the Houston game. If they announce that Tim Tebow is going to start that game. I`m gonna do everything in my power to purchase some tickets. To be there when Tim Tebow starts his first NFL game will be priceless. That stadium at MILE HIGH will be ELECTRIC! And I`d like to be apart of it. And I`ll be wearing my Tim Tebow jersey for the first time. What a way to break it in. God, I sound like a kid. Well if Tebow doe`s start than I`ll have to let out the little kid inside me. IF SO, this will be the highlite of the Bronco`s of 2010. By a long shot. GO BRONCOS
Bay, all I want for Christmas is a new GM, HC and a younger drafted but talented D. Is that asking to much. Oh, and to start Tim against the Texans.
My prediction is broncos lose 37-20.
bay,nice post, you forgot the part about truth, justice, and the American way”….
Poetry in motion. One thing that Bay said that is absolute truth is that we are all one united Bronco`s Country in whatever each person has to say. One voice and many differences and one goal, We always root for our team win or lose. Good or bad. The Bronco Country is Orange Crush forever!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7356720
The worst of it all is that the lies and mis representation from the media will forever garnish a well accomplished coach. It has been proven in court multiple times that he never locked a player in an electrical closet and the player was never locked in at all. It was a small suana/lounge room.
Also for what ever reason, it looks like Pelini has entertained the thought of leaving Nebraska…. Maybe my dream coach for the Broncos is not that much of a long shot, dream sequence.
I too look ahead with much excitement and optimism that BRONCO football will return hopefully very Soon. For this weeks game if these guys have any pride at all, any heart at all, if their kahunas haven’t shriveled up to nothing they will remember the whoopin they took at home from the raiduhs and go to their house and stick a knife in their playoff hearts . BRONCOS win 27-17
I’m with you Mike, staying positive is the only thing we as fans can do. I thought the Broncos were a 9-7 heading into the season. Now I think they still have the talent to have a better record, but have been plagued with injuries all season long. (Mostly on defense) One thing, that I have noticed, that has had a negative effect on the outcome of several games for the Broncos is the horrible call from officials. It seems like if there is any sort of close call, it goes to other team. In short, if the ball had bounced the broncos way, the outcome, of this dreadful season might have been different. So now, as fans, we are left with a ton of questions regarding our beloved team. Who has the answers? In my mind, it is all up to the players. It shouldn’t matter who calls the play, for it always comes down to executing the play that is called. Spend money on good players that set out to execute plays in any situation, good or bad. Most of all, never give up!
Beat the Raiders!
BTW, whenever I read the title of Mike’s blog “This, Too, Shall Pass “, he must of meant passing a gallstone, most painful thing ever, haha.
Ok first of all, not to be rude, but please dont suck up. No offense but it seems like there are a quite a few people who suck up to other posters/bloggers, especially baylinorcrush (no offense to you bay, just using you as an example).
Now about the whole, “put Tebow in” situation, umm I’m gonna go with no thanks. Orton has been trying his hardest for 2 seasons now, and needless to say with not much of a supporting run game. I suppose I’m not opposed to putting Tebow in to gain experience but let Orton have the starting job and put Tebow in after we are losing. This may just be my personaly opinion but i think Tebow will be gone after next year. We dont have the QB oriented coach now that McDaniels left. Perry Fewell or Mike Mularkey (2 possible candidates for our new coach) wont have any strings attached to him anda will likely need to focus on the run game and overall defense. Theyll need a good, experienced QB, i.e. Orton.
Boy, why did you use me as an example, many bloggers suck up (as you say) to Mike all the time, the very blog you are on…
BroncoBoy2012,
You say Orton should stay in because he tried his hardest for the last 2 years? Let me ask you this…Whats Ortons Win Loss record with us?? How about of all the games you watched, when did Orton ever come into the clutch for us to win the game?? NEVER! Orton wins when the pressure isnt on him, and wins when we dont need him. Kyle Orton is a good QB, but doesnt have the “it” or “clutch” factor. Lets face it, we could have gotten alot closer to winning ALOT OF THESE GAMES if orton didnt throw terrible, pathetic, bs passes.
-KYLE ORTON SHOULD BE BENCHED, for the reason that he himself cost us the last 2 games in my opinion. HE HAD ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN THE POCKET and gets sacked or picked off. Are you kidding me? And im sick of people saying “well he had no run game and put up outstanding numbers. Course, but so could jeff garcia and most any B average QB in mcdaniels system. Mcdaniels system was great, but you need the pieces and defense to support it. He also put up all those numbers when we were behind because he couldnt move the ball downfield for us after our fizzle first drives.
-I dont agree with putting Tebow in against oakland logically, but my gut and my bronco heart wants it more than anything. However, against the cardinals he should have started. I bet you though, if the cardinal game was this week and the raider game was last week, tebow would be starting. Id rather Tebow be put up against a mediocre defense , but one that still has the ability to mess you up. THe only prob with the Texans defense is their inconsistency.
Lets face it, we may be able to win against the Texans if tebow starts, but well prob get messed up against that good SD defense.. However, alot of them are slow, and if we had tebow in we could have the upper hand with his scrambling ability.
to say Orton does not try anymore is the dumbest thing I have read. I have watched every game with the Sunday package here in Fort Worth and Orton is being knocked all over the place with an offensive line that can not protect him.
Question if he should still start, I agree, see what Tebow can do.
To question Orton and his effort and heart, that is just unfair to Orton and basically just not factual.
bronco blaze, do not start talking about won loss records. we have been a 500 team or worse for the last 5 years starting with Cutler who some of you still wish you had (he was a jerk , remember that, you do not want that representing your team)
Then i guess with your logic Champ Baily needs to go because of the record and the defense is so bad.
Just crazy talk that does not look at all factors.
If i have to watch Orton hanging his head anymore i will quit watching these games. (not really) but man, If the leader of your team is shrugging his shoulders and walking off the field with his head down , it WILL carry over (anyone see Lloyd’s demeanor change midway thru the 3rd qtr?). Tim Tebow is a natural born leader of men. He leads by example on and off the field. I feel for orton i really do but he has no flare, no comeback ability, and no ability for leadership. This offense was built to be ran by almost any qb, as long as they didnt make any mistakes. I truly believe Tebow would have just as many yards in this system and a few more wins had he been givin the keys early on. The rest of the rookie Qb’s in the league are playing and doing well. Anyway i hope the Broncos dont waste a god givin gift in tebow. If he leaves that team will be my second fav team 4sure. but Broncos 4life