One issue that has really bothered me in the offseason is the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell has said that he would like to expand the NFL regular season by one or two more games. Instead of simply cutting out two preseason games, the Commish would like to cut two preseason games and add two more regular season contests. Currently, the NFL has a 20 game built in package. Four preseason games and 16 regular season games equal 20 total contests. NFL fans must purchase the two home preseason games in addition to the 8 home regular season games in the season ticket plan. Goodell said that the league can't simply cut two regular season games because the NFL needs to keep that 20 game package. The majority of the media, players, GMs, and front office NFL people are against this possibility, but it seems that if the Commish wants it, it could become a reality. Here are some reasons why I hate this idea:
1) Extra games would decrease the value of the product: 16 games is a long season for football standards. High Schools play anywhere from 8-12 games a year, College teams play 11 regular season games, NFL teams play 16. Games in September and October would not be as important as they are now. Right now in the NFL, every game means something. That would be lost with 18 games.
2) Injuries: The NFL season is a grind now. Adding two more games would increase the chances or more injuries. Even if your team doesn't suffer a major injury, the players will be so beat up that the teams who make the playoffs will be worn down. Why have playoffs with teams that are all beat up?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Bronco Blog Update
Memorial Day came and went and now the Summer will start to crank up. As far as the blog goes, there will be a lot of down time. This time of the year is a dead period for the NFL. Teams will have some Minicamps, OTAs, and passing camps, but June and the beginning of July are usually quiet months in the NFL. In fact, many teams implore their coaches and staff members to take vacations during those weeks. Anytime any news comes up, I will blog about it, but there won't be too many posts until training camps open in mid to late July. Once training camp opens, then the blog will be burning the midnight oil to keep up with all the developments.
The Cutler Saga----The Trade and the Impact
8) Cutler gets traded to Chicago: On April 2nd, 2009, Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago for a 2009 1st 1st Round pick, 2009 3rd Round pick, a 2010 1st Rounder, and Kyle Orton. Critics feel that Chicago gave up a lot, but the Bears haven't had a franchise quarterback in decades, so they had to do it. The trade can be looked at many different ways. Denver used Chicago's first round pick in 2009 on Robert Ayers. This trade will not have any winners or losers for a long time. Only time will tell how both franchises made out on the deal. Potentially, this could be one of the biggest mistakes or trades by an NFL franchise. If Cutler goes on to win Super Bowls, then the McDaniels will be villified as a coach, and it will certainly hamper him from getting a Head Coaching job somewhere in the future. Bronco fans can talk about how Kyle Orton will have all of these weapons and a great offensive system, but let's be honest Kyle Orton isn't half the QB that Jay Cutler is. At best Orton is a serviceable player, but he is not a franchise QB like Cutler. As I said before, only time will tell who got the better of this deal. The problem with that is that McDaniels might not even be the Broncos Head Coach when this is all said and done.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Final Breakdown of the Jay Cutler Saga
I have had over a month to digest the Jay Cutler trade to Chicago. There are times when I am sitting in my bedroom or driving home from work, and I just can't believe that the Broncos traded our franchise QB. As the whole "McJaygate" was going down, I really couldn't bring myself to write about it on the blog. I basically consumed myself with this story, and I analyzed it every way possible. I spent the morning before work checking the web. I went online during free periods at work, and I checked the message boards everyday as soon as I got home. As my wife was sleeping, I would be online reading about the story. I will try to present the order of events as they occurred and breakdown how this all happened to my beloved franchise player.
Here we go:
1) Letting Jeremy Bates go: McDaniels is a QB coach and offensive coordinator, so he lets current Bronco QB coach and play caller, Jeremy Bates go. Apparently, Peter King of SI.com reports that Cutler wants to be traded because he had a good rapport with Bates. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: IF PETER KING WAS BEING ACCURATE, THEN THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS CUTLER'S FAULT, AND HE SHOULD GET THE BRUNT OF THE BLAME)
2) The Scouting Combine: Allegedly, Tampa and Detroit sent feelers out to McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders about the possibility of trading for Cutler. The exchange would be a for a boatload of high draft picks. Apparently, McD and Xanders did not bite. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: TEAMS MAKE OFFERS TO PLAYERS ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS NO BIG DEAL IN MY EYES)
3) The first week of Free Agency: Tampa and Detroit continued to sniff around and placed more calls to McD and Xanders the first week of the FA signing period. This time the catch was that those teams told McDaniels that the Broncos could swing a three-team trade and get Matt Cassel from New England. Apparently, McDaniels and Xanders mulled it over and at first decided to go against it. Then, in the middle of signing like 6 free agents on Day One of Free Agency, they thought about possibly getting into the mix for Cassel and dealing Cutler to Tampa or Detroit. The deal doesn't go through and Cassel gets sent to KC. Cutler says he hears he is on the trading block, and McD says that they only listened to the offers and didn't even bring it up to Bronco Owner Pat Bowlen.
(PERSONAL THOUGHTS: TEAMS CALL OTHER TEAMS ALL THE TIME FOR TRADE PROPOSALS. THE ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT DENVER APPARENTLY LISTENED TO THE OFFERS AND WERE LATE TO THE TABLE TO GET CASSEL. THIS IS WERE BOTH SIDES SCREWED UP. MCDANIELS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP FRONT WITH JAY, AND THEN TOLD HIM THAT THERE WEREN'T SERIOUS ABOUT ANY TRADE. CUTLER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LEADER AND UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS A BUSINESS AND SET OUT TO PROVE THAT HE IS THE FRANCHISE QB)
4) The Public Battle: Cutler is very upset and tells the Denver Media and ESPN that he doesn't trust McDaniels and doesn't know if he can get over this. McDaniels and the Bronco front office insist that Cutler will not be traded and would like to meet with him. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: BOTH SIDES SHOULD HAVE MET RIGHT AWAY AND CLEARED THE AIR. INSTEAD, THEY WAITED FOR IT TO BOIL AND BECOME A BIG NATIONAL STORY)
5) The Meetings: Cutler and his agent, Bus Cook, talk to McD, Xanders, and Bowlen on a conference call. Apparently, Cutler thinks that he will still be traded, yet McDaniels feels that the meeting went well. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: MCDANIELS SHOULD HAVE KISSED CUTLER'S ASS AND TOLD HIM HOW HE WANTED HIM TO BE THEIR GUY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. MCDANIELS "CAVALIER" ATTITUDE RUBBED CUTLER THE WRONG WAY, AND THE WAR ESCALATES) Two days before the Broncos first OTA, McD, Cutler, and Bus Cook meet again. Once again, the meeting apparently does not go well. Cutler said that he expected McD to tell him that he was their guy, and he would move on. McD doesn't tell him that, and Bus Cook wants some sort of contract committment from Denver. Once again, McD thinks the meeting was fine. Cutler leaves and demands a trade the next day. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL THAT MCD SCREWED THIS MEETING UP AND ONCE CUTLER DEMANDED TO BE TRADED IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE BRONCOS)
6) The NFL Network Interview: McD goes on NFL Network at the Owner's Meetings and states that his is committed to Cutler and that he is their QB. He says there needs to be an open line of communication and that he wants to meet one on one with Jay and settle this dispute. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: THIS IS WHERE I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THIS COULD BE SOLVED AND CUTLER WOULD BE A BRONCO. FINALLY, MCD SHALLOWS HIS PRIDE AND LOOKS TO MAKE PEACE WITH CUTLER)
7) Bowlen steps in: After repeated attempts by McD and Pat Bowlen to contact Jay, Bowlen is fed up and says that Denver will trade Cutler. Apparently, Bowlen was fed up with the fact that Jay didn't call him back, and decides to solve the issue and trade Cutler away. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: ONE OF THE SADDEST AND MOST FRUSTRATING DAYS IN BRONCOLAND, BUT I UNDERSTAND BOWLEN'S FRUSTRATION AT THIS POINT. WHEN THE OWNER CALLS YOU TO MAKE PEACE, ANY PLAYER SHOULD CALL THE OWNER BACK. CUTLER SHOULD BE VILLIFIED FOR THIS)
PART II
Next time, the trade of Cutler and the impact on everyone involved
Here we go:
1) Letting Jeremy Bates go: McDaniels is a QB coach and offensive coordinator, so he lets current Bronco QB coach and play caller, Jeremy Bates go. Apparently, Peter King of SI.com reports that Cutler wants to be traded because he had a good rapport with Bates. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: IF PETER KING WAS BEING ACCURATE, THEN THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS CUTLER'S FAULT, AND HE SHOULD GET THE BRUNT OF THE BLAME)
2) The Scouting Combine: Allegedly, Tampa and Detroit sent feelers out to McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders about the possibility of trading for Cutler. The exchange would be a for a boatload of high draft picks. Apparently, McD and Xanders did not bite. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: TEAMS MAKE OFFERS TO PLAYERS ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS NO BIG DEAL IN MY EYES)
3) The first week of Free Agency: Tampa and Detroit continued to sniff around and placed more calls to McD and Xanders the first week of the FA signing period. This time the catch was that those teams told McDaniels that the Broncos could swing a three-team trade and get Matt Cassel from New England. Apparently, McDaniels and Xanders mulled it over and at first decided to go against it. Then, in the middle of signing like 6 free agents on Day One of Free Agency, they thought about possibly getting into the mix for Cassel and dealing Cutler to Tampa or Detroit. The deal doesn't go through and Cassel gets sent to KC. Cutler says he hears he is on the trading block, and McD says that they only listened to the offers and didn't even bring it up to Bronco Owner Pat Bowlen.
(PERSONAL THOUGHTS: TEAMS CALL OTHER TEAMS ALL THE TIME FOR TRADE PROPOSALS. THE ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT DENVER APPARENTLY LISTENED TO THE OFFERS AND WERE LATE TO THE TABLE TO GET CASSEL. THIS IS WERE BOTH SIDES SCREWED UP. MCDANIELS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP FRONT WITH JAY, AND THEN TOLD HIM THAT THERE WEREN'T SERIOUS ABOUT ANY TRADE. CUTLER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LEADER AND UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS A BUSINESS AND SET OUT TO PROVE THAT HE IS THE FRANCHISE QB)
4) The Public Battle: Cutler is very upset and tells the Denver Media and ESPN that he doesn't trust McDaniels and doesn't know if he can get over this. McDaniels and the Bronco front office insist that Cutler will not be traded and would like to meet with him. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: BOTH SIDES SHOULD HAVE MET RIGHT AWAY AND CLEARED THE AIR. INSTEAD, THEY WAITED FOR IT TO BOIL AND BECOME A BIG NATIONAL STORY)
5) The Meetings: Cutler and his agent, Bus Cook, talk to McD, Xanders, and Bowlen on a conference call. Apparently, Cutler thinks that he will still be traded, yet McDaniels feels that the meeting went well. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: MCDANIELS SHOULD HAVE KISSED CUTLER'S ASS AND TOLD HIM HOW HE WANTED HIM TO BE THEIR GUY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. MCDANIELS "CAVALIER" ATTITUDE RUBBED CUTLER THE WRONG WAY, AND THE WAR ESCALATES) Two days before the Broncos first OTA, McD, Cutler, and Bus Cook meet again. Once again, the meeting apparently does not go well. Cutler said that he expected McD to tell him that he was their guy, and he would move on. McD doesn't tell him that, and Bus Cook wants some sort of contract committment from Denver. Once again, McD thinks the meeting was fine. Cutler leaves and demands a trade the next day. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL THAT MCD SCREWED THIS MEETING UP AND ONCE CUTLER DEMANDED TO BE TRADED IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE BRONCOS)
6) The NFL Network Interview: McD goes on NFL Network at the Owner's Meetings and states that his is committed to Cutler and that he is their QB. He says there needs to be an open line of communication and that he wants to meet one on one with Jay and settle this dispute. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: THIS IS WHERE I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THIS COULD BE SOLVED AND CUTLER WOULD BE A BRONCO. FINALLY, MCD SHALLOWS HIS PRIDE AND LOOKS TO MAKE PEACE WITH CUTLER)
7) Bowlen steps in: After repeated attempts by McD and Pat Bowlen to contact Jay, Bowlen is fed up and says that Denver will trade Cutler. Apparently, Bowlen was fed up with the fact that Jay didn't call him back, and decides to solve the issue and trade Cutler away. (PERSONAL THOUGHTS: ONE OF THE SADDEST AND MOST FRUSTRATING DAYS IN BRONCOLAND, BUT I UNDERSTAND BOWLEN'S FRUSTRATION AT THIS POINT. WHEN THE OWNER CALLS YOU TO MAKE PEACE, ANY PLAYER SHOULD CALL THE OWNER BACK. CUTLER SHOULD BE VILLIFIED FOR THIS)
PART II
Next time, the trade of Cutler and the impact on everyone involved
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Kyle Orton Breakdown
In an attempt to soften the blow of trading Jay Cutler, I am going to try and present a few reasons why the Broncos can win with Kyle Orton. First, let's look at his numbers from 2008:
13 -21 150 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ Indy W 29-13
19 -32 149 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ Car L 17-20
22 -34 268 Yds 2 TD 2 INT vs. TB L 24-27
18- 34 199 Yds 3 TD 2 INT vs. Phi W 24-20
24- 34 334 Yds 2 TD 0 INT @ Det W 34-7
26 -43 286 Yds 1 TD 0 INT @ ATL L 20-22
21 -32 283 Yds 2 TD 0 INT vs Minne W 48-41
8 -14 108 Yds 0 TD 0 INT vs. Det W 27-23 (Injured in Middle of game)
DNP vs. Tennessee
13 -26 133 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ GB L 3-37
17- 28 132 Yds 1 TD 0 INT @ St.L W -27-3
11- 29 153 Yds 2 TD 3 INT @ Minne L 14-34
20 -34 219 Yds 2 TD 1 INT vs. Jax W 23-10
24- 40 172 Yds 0 TD 2 INT vs. NO W 27-24
14- 27 142 Yds 1 TD 2 INT vs. GB W 20-17
22 -37 244 Yds 2 TD 0 INT @ Hous L 24-31
Some notes on Orton's stats:
1) Best Games: 24- 34 334 Yds 2 TD 0 INT at Detroit. At least this game shows he can pick apart a terrible defense. At Atlanta, 26 -43 286 Yds 1 TD 0 INT. Although the Bears lost this game on a last second field goal, Orton played well and led his team down the field to take the lead with seconds left.
2) Worst Games: 11- 29 153 Yds 2 TD 3 INT in a loss at Minnesota. In a big game on the road, Orton didn't play well at all against a good defense. 24- 40 172 Yds 0 TD 2 INT in a win over New Orleans. He threw a bad interception late in the game, but at least he rebounded to lead his team to the win in OT.
3) Before his ankle injury, Orton threw for 10 TDs and only 4 INTS. He led the Bears to a 5-3 record.
13 -21 150 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ Indy W 29-13
19 -32 149 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ Car L 17-20
22 -34 268 Yds 2 TD 2 INT vs. TB L 24-27
18- 34 199 Yds 3 TD 2 INT vs. Phi W 24-20
24- 34 334 Yds 2 TD 0 INT @ Det W 34-7
26 -43 286 Yds 1 TD 0 INT @ ATL L 20-22
21 -32 283 Yds 2 TD 0 INT vs Minne W 48-41
8 -14 108 Yds 0 TD 0 INT vs. Det W 27-23 (Injured in Middle of game)
DNP vs. Tennessee
13 -26 133 Yds 0 TD 0 INT @ GB L 3-37
17- 28 132 Yds 1 TD 0 INT @ St.L W -27-3
11- 29 153 Yds 2 TD 3 INT @ Minne L 14-34
20 -34 219 Yds 2 TD 1 INT vs. Jax W 23-10
24- 40 172 Yds 0 TD 2 INT vs. NO W 27-24
14- 27 142 Yds 1 TD 2 INT vs. GB W 20-17
22 -37 244 Yds 2 TD 0 INT @ Hous L 24-31
Some notes on Orton's stats:
1) Best Games: 24- 34 334 Yds 2 TD 0 INT at Detroit. At least this game shows he can pick apart a terrible defense. At Atlanta, 26 -43 286 Yds 1 TD 0 INT. Although the Bears lost this game on a last second field goal, Orton played well and led his team down the field to take the lead with seconds left.
2) Worst Games: 11- 29 153 Yds 2 TD 3 INT in a loss at Minnesota. In a big game on the road, Orton didn't play well at all against a good defense. 24- 40 172 Yds 0 TD 2 INT in a win over New Orleans. He threw a bad interception late in the game, but at least he rebounded to lead his team to the win in OT.
3) Before his ankle injury, Orton threw for 10 TDs and only 4 INTS. He led the Bears to a 5-3 record.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Likes and Dislikes- Denver's 2009 Draft
There is no way anyone can give a grade for a team's draft just days and weeks after the event. Just for fun I went back and looked at Mel Kiper's Draft Grades for the 2005 NFL Draft. He gave the Chargers and Giants both C grades and killed them for moves like Justin Tuck -"A reach for an OK player," and criticized the Chargers for a draft that included Shawne Merriman and four other starters. Since 2005, both the Giants and the Chargers have been two of the best teams in the NFL year in and year out. So I'm not going to give out any grades for Denver's 2009 Draft. The next few years will answer those questions. Here is what I liked and disliked about the Broncos selections.
Likes:
1) I liked drafting Knowshon Moreno at #12. He clearly was the best back in the draft. He will obviously improve Denver's running game, and he could be the game breaker we have lacked since Clinton Portis was traded. I always liked Moreno at Georgia, and he might be the feature to this offensive scheme. Denver needs to get back to running the ball and controlling the clock. Moreno could be a big star in Denver.
2) I like drafting Robert Ayers at #18. It seems like a lot of people think Ayers could be one of the safest defensive picks in the draft. I think he obviously will help our D-Line, and he should be a starter at DE in Week 1.
3) I like drafting Alphonso Smith in the 2nd Round. Denver spent a 2nd round pick in 2005 on an undersized, ball hawking, return specialist corner named Darrent Williams. Williams was on his way to being a mainstay in the Denver secondary and one of its most important players when he was gunned down on Jan 1st 2007. The Broncos have been looking for that same type of player ever since. Denver just added a similar type of player in Alphonso Simth. I like corners who can create turnovers and add to the return game. You can never have enough corners in the NFL, and he seems destined to be a nickel corner right away in 2009.
Dislikes:
1) The fact that Denver traded away a 2010 #1 pick to move up in Round 2 in 2009. I don't like trading away 1st round picks unless it is for a player of note in return. Denver should have valued that second number one pick next year instead of giving it up for a 2nd round pick this year, even if they loved Alphonso Smith that much.
2) Denver traded into the 2nd round to draft a blocking Tight End. I have nothing against Richard Quinn from North Carolina, but to trade a third round pick for another second round pick is good, but then to use that to draft a kid who is like a player we already have on our roster (Daniel Graham) is a strange and bizarre move.
3) Denver selected 5 players in the first and second rounds. They only addressed their front seven with one of those picks (Ayers). Names like Ron Brace, Brian Orakpo, Evander Hood, Peria Jerry, Senderrick Marks, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and James Laurinitis were all available at times that Denver made their selections. Let's hope we have a plan for our front seven in 2009.
Likes:
1) I liked drafting Knowshon Moreno at #12. He clearly was the best back in the draft. He will obviously improve Denver's running game, and he could be the game breaker we have lacked since Clinton Portis was traded. I always liked Moreno at Georgia, and he might be the feature to this offensive scheme. Denver needs to get back to running the ball and controlling the clock. Moreno could be a big star in Denver.
2) I like drafting Robert Ayers at #18. It seems like a lot of people think Ayers could be one of the safest defensive picks in the draft. I think he obviously will help our D-Line, and he should be a starter at DE in Week 1.
3) I like drafting Alphonso Smith in the 2nd Round. Denver spent a 2nd round pick in 2005 on an undersized, ball hawking, return specialist corner named Darrent Williams. Williams was on his way to being a mainstay in the Denver secondary and one of its most important players when he was gunned down on Jan 1st 2007. The Broncos have been looking for that same type of player ever since. Denver just added a similar type of player in Alphonso Simth. I like corners who can create turnovers and add to the return game. You can never have enough corners in the NFL, and he seems destined to be a nickel corner right away in 2009.
Dislikes:
1) The fact that Denver traded away a 2010 #1 pick to move up in Round 2 in 2009. I don't like trading away 1st round picks unless it is for a player of note in return. Denver should have valued that second number one pick next year instead of giving it up for a 2nd round pick this year, even if they loved Alphonso Smith that much.
2) Denver traded into the 2nd round to draft a blocking Tight End. I have nothing against Richard Quinn from North Carolina, but to trade a third round pick for another second round pick is good, but then to use that to draft a kid who is like a player we already have on our roster (Daniel Graham) is a strange and bizarre move.
3) Denver selected 5 players in the first and second rounds. They only addressed their front seven with one of those picks (Ayers). Names like Ron Brace, Brian Orakpo, Evander Hood, Peria Jerry, Senderrick Marks, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and James Laurinitis were all available at times that Denver made their selections. Let's hope we have a plan for our front seven in 2009.
Broncos 2009 Draft Breakdown
The Denver Broncos 2009 Draft left many of the experts with their hands scratching their heads. Many NFL pundits were befuddled by some of the moves made by Josh McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders. The feeling I get from McD and crew is that they wanted to select a player that was the best player on the board and not just for a need. This is an interesting philosphy and other teams do employ this strategy. The Broncos under Mike Shanahan have seemed to pick for need and it has resulted in some bad picks and moves. The best point that McDaniels made was that he didn't want to just pick a defensive player at #12 just because people felt Denver needed to. He didn't want to pick a player that wasn't rated that high (Brian Orakpo) because they felt that player wasn't good enough to select 12th overall and might not be on the team in 2-3 years. By picking the best player on the board, you can significantly improve your team, as long as you have a plan for your so-called "need" areas. Obviously, McD, Xanders and Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan have a plan and are confident in what they have in Denver's front seven to select RB Knowshon Moreno at #12. Only time will tell. It just seems that McDaniels is trying to defy odds and outsmart everyone with his moves this offseason. It's like he knows the outcome is going to be successful, but no one else outside of Dove Valley can see it.
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