Hopefully at some point soon, NFL teams will get back to the business of football. When they do, no one can say they didn’t have time to plan.
While all the labor issues remain on the front burner, NFL teams have been able to plot their strategies for free agency. I have to believe the Broncos have a plan in place once the time comes.
And when the time does come, it is clear the Broncos have some moves they need to make. Among them, in my opinion:
1 – BOLSTER THE DEFENSIVE LINE. I thought they would do this through the draft but I’ll take the word of John Elway, Brian Xanders and John Fox and wait to see what happens. When asked at various times about the defensive line, they all have said the Broncos have a plan in place for free agency. I have to believe part of that plan includes signing at least one, if not more, defensive lineman.
In going over the list of free agent defensive linemen that will be available, there are some guys who have not only had some darn good seasons, but also figure to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
I have no idea what the chances are that the Broncos could land any of them but among the interesting names are Justin Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Ray Edwards Charles Johnson, Mathias Kiwanuka, Marcus Spears and, even though he is a linebacker, Tamba Hali.
Again, let me be clear that I am simply tossing out names to help illustrate the point that there are some quality veteran defensive linemen the Broncos can go after in free agency. Let’s hope they are able to sign at least one.
2 – SIGN A RUNNING BACK. I’m not too disappointed the Broncos decided against drafting a running back. Like defensive linemen, there is a lot to be said for signing a guy who has a proven track record in the NFL. And there are a handful of free agent running backs that fit the bill.
At the top of my list, of course, is DeAngelo Williams. If there is a team that figures to have as good of a shot as any, it would have to be the Broncos, assuming they make a run at him. Williams played for current Broncos head coach John Fox in Carolina.
Coach Fox has made no secret of the fact that he wants to run the ball. That has to be a plus for someone looking for a new situation. Granted, the Broncos’ offensive line has had some issues but let’s hope the Broncos can bring in a quality back.
There are certainly some intriguing names on the free agent list. They include Pierre Thomas, Joseph Addai, Michael Bush, Cedric Benson and Ahmad Bradshaw. If the Broncos were able to add a quality veteran running back, it would not only take some of the pressure off of Knowshon Moreno and others, but it would also add to the talent and depth at the position. And we all know how important depth is at running back.
3 – SORT OUT THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION. I know, I’m jumping the gun on this one. This will get solved at some point but since there is no football right now, I can only wonder how this will shake down.
Will the Broncos trade Kyle Orton? Is Tim Tebow ready to take over? Does Brady Quinn figure into the mix at all? Will it truly be an open competition?
Part of me wants to see the starter be the guy who earns it. You know, the “may the best man win” approach.
I also have to admit part of me wants to see the Broncos go with Tebow so we can get an idea if he could possibly be the number one guy long-term. If he can, then the Broncos will be set at that position for a long time. If he can’t, then while it might be a really long year, there is the possibility of being in position to draft that Andrew Luck guy out of Stanford. I hear he is pretty good.
There are lots of questions but few answers right now. Let’s hope the labor issues get resolved soon and we can get back to football.
What would you like to see the Broncos do in free agency? What are you looking forward to most once football is back? Feel free to post your thoughts. I always enjoy them.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
Any secret meetings? Well what are they waiting for? A court ruling or something…
Seems as if the contingency plans put in place by the League are ready to face much worse than any of us anticipates:
Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal
NFL readies plans for season as short as 8 games
By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer
Published June 6, 2011
The NFL is considering season lengths for 2011 as short as eight regular-season games, half its normal number, as the league plans for the possibility of an abbreviated season because of the nearly three-month-long lockout, sources said.
Companies are meant to give thier customers/fans the best or nothing at all. I personally would rather have no football this year than a half-a$$ed season. Companies that give unfinished or subpar products, clearly just want your money. But of course they will say they are doing it for us to at least give us SOME football. HA! Just me tho. TRB out…
I for one don’t believe either side is stupid enough to let it get that far, but then again I could be wrong.
As usual I say October 2nd at Green Bay will be our first game, missing three games but they can all be made up to still hold a full season.
There is a bombshell in college football:
The BCS stripped Southern California of its 2004 national title, it announced today, according to USA Today.
The Trojans beat Oklahoma 55-19 in the 2005 Orange Bowl to claim the BCS title. No team will be named BCS champion from that season. USA Today reported that it will be the first time since polls began that a football or men’s basketball championship has been vacated.
The BCS also stated that USC must vacate its 2006 Rose Bowl, in which the school lost the national championship game to Texas, 41-38.
No doubt they should give the title to Auburn who finished 13-0 that year and ended up in second place to USC’s 13-0 record, that should be a no brainer.
It’s sad TRB but I agree. I will go to Friday night High School before a 8 game NFL side show!!
FTR
I say we lock Rodger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith, three owners and three players in a room with no bathroom water or food until we reach a CBA. That would give them initiative. Also I thought the Judges decision were going to be in a couple weeks and one that neither side would like, wouldn’t that put a little more emphasis on getting a deal done?
We could however give them a bottle of vodka and 3 cases of beer to lighten the mood.
None of this is for the fans. The fans are/were never considered in this whole mess. Now our hard earned money that’s a different situation. The could care less about us, as long as we look at them with those puppy dog eyes and beg them to bring back football as we are still buying into all that crap and purchasing all the NFL garb and tickets and such. The league wouldn’t care if they sold out every single game and not one fan showed up. They’d be perfectly happy just taking our money. I’m not saying I won’t watch football and try to make it to the Minnesota game since they’re as close as the Broncos will ever get to me but I’m tired of being lied to. The NFLPA is not negotiating because the players would rather not have OTAs and TC, and the owners seem like they want to negotiate but aren’t getting anywhere and all the courts are telling them to settle this out of court? They haven’t been able to do that in 3 months are they kidding, we need someone to step up and say yes or no or whatever legal mumbo jumbo they speak. I’m tired of being lied to, at least when they just take our money they aren’t lying to me. All they need to say is “Well we’re unsure of when this thing will get figured out, neither side is really negotiating at the moment. It will get figured out when it gets figured out. We hope that when it does get resolved that everyone will be happy and go about football like this never happened and we won’t speak of it again until the new CBA expires. Until then continue to spend money on NFL liscensened product so we can pay the lawyers because they are the only ones that are making any money.” Just that I’d be ok. LOL!
Legwold just came up with a clever way to politely say were the Broncos have been and what’s ahead for them:
No matter who’s evaluating the Broncos’ roster, there’s no debate that it’s still thin. One reason for that is the extreme turnover of the roster during the two years of the Josh McDaniels era. McDaniels brought in 40 of the 53 players who finished the year on the roster the last two seasons. That’s 75 percent.
Once the NFL lockout ends and the league returns to the business of football, the Broncos may have similar turnover the next two years. That’s how much roster rebuilding executive John Elway and coach John Fox have ahead of them.
75% new players under McD!!!!!!
Now that 75% must go under the Triumvirate, LMAO!!!!
Interesting info about Brandon Lloyd the private man:
Lloyd, 29, has been writing lyrics since he was a teenager and has been recording music since he started his NFL career in 2003 with San Francisco. In the past eight years, he estimates that he has written and recorded at least 150 songs. He produces demos at his home and records the full tracks at a studio in Arizona. Then he puts his finished songs online (soundcloud.com) and tries to get his tracks placed on video games and television shows. His song “Heavy” was featured last year on the Spike TV show “Blue Mountain State,” and he recently shot an independent music video for his song “Chamber.”
“I have the guts to stand out and do something I’m passionate about, go against the grain and go against the conventional wisdom that the athlete-rap thing is unsuccessful,” Lloyd said. “Yet I’m going to do it. People will say: ‘Oh, you’re doing hip-hop music? Who does he think he is, a rapper? He’s trying to be someone he’s not.’ When in reality, I’d be someone I’m not by not expressing myself in music.”
Lloyd’s lyrics include references to football — to catching touchdowns and signing contracts — and fame, as well as relationships. He likes to incorporate rock and metal elements, with strong bass lines and guitar riffs, which makes sense because his two favorite songs of all time are by Elvis Presley (“Kentucky Rain”) and Metallica (“Unforgiven”).
“My tastes are not wrapped up in hip-hop,” Lloyd said.
The NFL lockout, which will hit the three-month mark next week, has led Lloyd to taking another job this summer. Through an acquaintance he met in Denver, Lloyd has started working in sales for Re-Steel Supply Company, based in Commerce City, that supplies specialty metals for the aerospace industry.
It’s the first “real job” of Lloyd’s life, save for a short stint at Taco Bell when he was in high school near Kansas City.
Lloyd’s new gig has him on the road a lot, doing business at steel mills and technology plants. He is also enrolled this week in a two-day course at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“It has been really rewarding, because football is like fantasy land. It’s not like really working,” Lloyd said. “So, to go to steel mills in Pennsylvania and Gary, Indiana, and see that people are making containers for nuclear fuel for aircraft carriers, it puts in perspective how important I am, Brandon Lloyd the football player, in the real world.”
Man how refreshing to see one of our players with his feet solidly grounded, no wonder the man is good, he has imagination galore coupled with solid foundations which translated to unbelievable sure handed catches all year long. Imagine how good Marshall would be with a head like Lloyd on his shoulders, LOL. Lloyd is one player I’ll never have to worry about.
Thanks Lloyd for the fantastic season you graced us with.
And thanks to Lindsay for the info and by the way she has done a couple of great insight articles about players in this NFL time off, well done.
And a back down to earth comment by Klis for all the fans who are so pleased we will be going back to orange jerseys in 2012 just like they petitioned for:
Teams don’t change colors for a change of luck, even if the Broncos need it after going five consecutive years without a playoff appearance. They do so to increase merchandise sales. Tim Tebow gave the team a nice merchandise boost last year. But by 2012, he will need help.
Money, money, money….
Like I always say, if it were for good luck we would stick with the navy since we are 2-0 in SBs with them but 0-4 in orange. But orange is cool with me, more personality than the often used navy, but man do I hate the fact that I will have to buy a new jersey for 2012!
Klis on Orton’s trade value:
Orton, without strings attached, would be worth a second-round pick. But his $8.8 million salary in 2011 is attached, so that probably drops his trade value to a third-round pick.
Money, money, money, the source of all evil problems, haha.
I wouldn’t trade him for nothing less than a 2nd round pick,Hell we won’t even see the pick till 2012.jomho.
BTW the Bills are changing their uniforms this year,supposed to be on NFL Network sometimes this week,worth a shot I guess,they certainly have nothing to lose,lol.
FTR…………I agree bro!
I like that Lloyd says football is like a fantasy land and isn’t “really working” I’m glad that someone knows that football isn’t hard work!
Yeah, well grounded man as I stated, and he is in his 8th year I believe, he ought to know.
Actually 2011 will be his 9th year in the NFL.
Orton is worth a 2nd round pick in 2012. I wouldn`t trade him for a 3rd round unless the other team threw in a prominent player, perticularly on the D side of the ball.
BFE, lets bring back the Orange Crush bro. I prefer the orange jerseys myself. I`m not really supersticious I just want to bring back our old Orange identity and bring back the days of old. I never liked the navy blue much. Kinda bland I think.
I think we should wear the orange all year and switch to the blue for the super bowl lol that way we would be sure to win it lol.
strand,Love the Orange jerseys bro!!!
Good memorries, good times bro. Gotta get back to the glory days.
I’ll settle for back to the playing days, haha.
I’d settle for a cold beer…..don’t mind if I do,HAHA.
^ Like