Denver Broncos: No State Of Defense

Still a work in progress….

For those of us that engage in the country’s unofficial second national past-time of fantasy football, it’s no secret that the Broncos defense is one to avoid in fantasy drafts.

While those in the Mile High area are hopeful that this reputation won’t precede this year’s edition, after watching their Sunday night debut, there’s still much work to be done.

While it was only the team’s third preseason game, this match-up had a little home flavor and enough incentive to bring out their “A” game.

Making his return to the Mile High area, the Bronco’s former starting quarterback Jay Cutler should have been more than enough to motivate Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and the defense to bring it. Instead, it was Cutler that brought it Sunday night and got the better of this match-up, completing 15 of 21 for 144-yards and a touchdown.

With all the changes that head coach Josh McDaniels made on defense by adding veteran players like Brian Dawkins, Andre Goodman, Andra Davis, and Renaldo Hill, the defense has a long road ahead. Some may view the changes with great optimism, but Sunday night clearly exposed some of the same short comings of the team’s defensive play in the past; no quarterback pressure.

Against the Bears, the Bronco’s defenses on occasion came close to getting to Cutler, but were never able to put him on the ground. It’s been a familiar theme, and  the 2009 version did not seem to show any noticeable improvements.

Again, it was only the team’s third preseason game so you might not expect to see to many complicated blitz packages, but if Denver fans were ever hoping to see a sign that times could be changing, playing against the Bears and Jay Cutler seemed to be the perfect excuse.

What to Expect in 2009….

There’s no question this unit is going to have to find a way to bring more heat up the middle and pressure on the edges if they are going to have any success.

Linebackers DJ Williams and Andra Davis look ready to thrive in Nolan’s new 3-4 scheme, and safety Brian Dawkins looks like he could have at least one more Pro Bowl season left in him. But, the lack of pressure is going to put a lot of demands on the secondary in pass coverage, an area the team struggled with in 2008 (ranked 26th).

The Broncos problems don’t lie in speed,  but size in the middle could become an Achilles unless players like Kenny Peterson, Ronald Fields, and Ryan McBean really step up this season and make a difference. Optimism can only offer so much hope, something the Denver defense is going to need lots of this season.

Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect any significant jumps of improvement from the Bronco’s defense this season that would generate any drafting interest.

We have no doubt that with McDaniels enthusiasm and Nolan’s influence, this unit will get better, but middle of the pack is going to be a realistic landing spot for the team. The defense will be loaded with plenty of talent again this season, but it will take Nolan and his staff some time to develop its’ chemistry and effectiveness.

While this unit may not be worthy to draft in leagues that employ team defenses, it could very well be an attractive waiver wire option much later in the season.

Keep watch, take plenty of notes, and let’s see where things stand in the second half. That’s my take and I’m sticking to it.

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Broncos Looking To Deal Marshall? 49ers, Crabtree Make Sense

A source tells NBC and ProFootballTalk’s lead blogger Mike Florio that the Denver Broncos are shopping begrudged wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

While this would come as a huge surprise to many fans due to the fact that Marshall’s injury history, legal history, and recent antics during practice have undoubtedly lowered his value, it is not out of the question for the Broncos to trade Marshall because he has been such a distraction.

Even cornerback Champ Bailey, a team captain, thinks there is only a “50-50” chance Marshall returns to the Broncos in 2009.

I have stated personally that I do not think Marshall is going to be traded in 2009, but that’s just because I think the Broncos should hold out for optimum value.

Obviously, the trust level has been absolutely shattered between the Broncos and Marshall, and the team has to get rid of him, whether it be this season or next.

Earlier this offseason, a Raiders writer named Ramone Brown suggested landing spots for Marshall, and one of those spots was San Francisco in exchange for rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Then I called it a joke, but now it seems like a solid option for the Broncos, and on multiple levels.

If the 49ers are willing to take on Marshall’s baggage and the unquestioned contract renewal he demands, trading away the also unhappy Crabtree could save a lot of time, and possibly money, for the time being.

Here is my proposed trade:

49ers get:

• WR Brandon Marshall

Broncos get:

• WR Michael Crabtree
• QB Alex Smith

The reason I include Smith is because the Broncos suddenly have a need for reserve quarterbacks as both Chris Simms and Kyle Orton have gone down with injuries.

I do not think the Broncos will trade away Marshall unless they are given the equivalent of a first and fourth round pick, and the Crabtree/Smith combo definitely fits that value gauge as of now.

This is purely speculation, but it is clear that the Broncos are not in Brandon Marshall’s future, and Brandon Marshall is not in the Broncos’ future plans.

So, is it so out of this world to think this could happen?

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What Next?: Broncos’ Numerous Injuries Leave Denver with Makeshift Offense

I know it’s only a preseason game, and I know the regular season is still two weeks away, and I know it’s a 16-game schedule—but Denver Broncos fans must have their fingers over the panic button right about now.

Given the storyline, this game offered rare value for a preseason contest. It’s not often that a franchise quarterback switches franchises in the prime of his youth. But that is what happened this offseason when new head coach Josh McDaniels shipped the Broncos’ franchise quarterback off to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton.

To top off that monster deal, the Broncos are now faced with an injured Orton, who injured the index finger on his throwing hand in the loss to the Bears on Sunday night. Backup QB Chris Simms is also on the shelf with a high ankle sprain and would not be ready to go in the season opener.

In addition, first round draft pick Knowshon Moreno is nursing an injury that also may have him out for the season opener, which will place the running game square on the shoulders of longtime Philadelphia running back Correll Buckhalter.

In the wide receiver department, things look no better for the Broncos. They have suspended Brandon Marshall, basically for not having his head screwed on straight, and Jabar Gaffney is nicked up.

The Denver starting lineup on opening day could possibly go something like this:

QB—Tom Brandstater
RB—Correll Buckhalter
WR—Brandon Stokley (not bad though)
WR—Chad Jackson
WR—Nate Swift

Now after the preseason game Sunday night against the Bears, where Chicago and new franchise quarterback Jay Cutler (courtesy of McDaniels and the Broncos) came into their yard and did them up, the Broncos have all the injuries to starters and playmakers staring them square in the face two weeks before the season opener—leaving, I’m sure, many Denver fans thinking, “What next?”

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Jay Cutler Shows Pat Bowlen and Josh Mcdonkey What Time It Is

The stage was set, Horse fans from all over the state of Colorado came to boo their once beloved QB Jay Cutler. Fans dressed up in baby costumes with pacifiers in their mouths, there was people with signs, and the stadium was rocking. This was the chance for pay back.

However, Horse fans, Jay Cutler isn’t the one to be mad at. It’s Josh McDonkey for running Cutler out of town with trying to trade Cutler for Cassel.

In fact by the end of the season, those hate signs for Jay Cutler will turn into Fire Josh McDonkey signs.

Before the game, I predicted the first half score to be 21-3.

I was only off four points as Jay Cutler lead the Chicago Bears to an 17-3 halftime lead.

Cutler was on point as he went 15/21 for 144 yards and 1 touchdown pass.

Cutler was able top pick apart the Horses defense, they could not stop him as on Cutler final drive of the night he went 98 yards.

Cutler was unfazed by the Horse fan noise as, Cutler has said public that he feels the Horse fans on scale of noise is only a six out of 10. Plus you throw in that fact that he owns that stadium even if he is on the visiting team.

The Chicago Bears have found themselves a franchise QB, Jay Cutler will end his career in Chicago, and that franchise will be able to build around Cutler. The trade of a couple draft picks will never amount to the skill level of Jay Cutler.

It was on first hand display in front of Denver owner Pat Bowen as he had to sit and watch Jay Cutler out play Kyle Orton.

Will Kyle Orton end his career in Denver? Who knows? Is Kyle Orton someone you call a franchise QB? once again who knows?

Kyle Orton for the third straight week didn’t impress, he had his chance to show Horse fans why things would be ok, across the field was the same Chicago Bears team who didn’t want him, however, once again Kyle Orton failed.

Where is the heart? Kyle Orton had to come out the game with a chipped finger nail? Tony Romo played last season with a broken hand, and you mean to tell me not only did Kyle Orton come out the game with five mins left in the second half but had to go to the locker room?

What ever happened to just whipping the blood off and putting some tape around the finger.

Kyle Orton looked soft, while Jay Cutler looked great, Cutler was hitting passes left and right and you can really see how he makes other players around him better, Greg Olson, Matt Forte, Devin Hester, all of these players become better with playing with Cutler.

The look on Josh McDonkey face while Jay Cutler was ripping apart his defense while Kyle Orton was in the locker room for his finger was priceless.

Pat Bowlen must be second guessing himself.

It’s not the system, it’s the players in the system.

Kyle Orton is not the answer.

Jay Cutler just took a dump on the whole state of Colorado.

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Denver Broncos Have Scary Moments During Haunted Dress Rehearsal

The Broncos came out to the third game of the preseason, unarguably the most significant, as it is the precursor to the regular season, the dress rehearsal if you will.

Denver came out to the game, in the team and fan aspects alike, as it was “Jay Day” as reported by Lindsay Jones of The Denver Post reported, the day in which disgruntled Broncos fans gathered in a Golden bar (that is ironically a Chicago themed one) to destroy Jay Cutler jerseys. Denver was represented well in the stands as fans booed and gave some Mile High Thunder during almost all of Cutler’s drives.

On the field, the Broncos showed up strong early, as they forced the Bears into two straight three-and-outs, before holding Chicago to only a field goal on their only decent drive of the first quarter.

Denver too was held to three three-and-outs in their first four drives and the offense was ineffective to say the least early. On the second punt of the second quarter, Devin Hester and the Bears made the Broncos’ special teams unit look silly, as he took the punt down to the Denver three yard line.

Chicago punched it in from there, took the lead 10-3, and never looked back. The Bears won 27-17 when all was said and done.

Likely the best drive of the night for the Bears, and worst for the Broncos offense, came with five minutes left in the first half and Chicago backed up to their own two yard line. Cutler directed an amazing drive, in which he passed for 86 of the 98 yards, including the touchdown that led to the score.

And while the Bears looked decently effective on offense, the Broncos stumbled down the field, and had many scares on the injury front.

Starting guard Chris Kuper, current No. 1 receiver Eddie Royal, Correll Buckhalter, and Peyton Hillis all sustained injuries that were disclosed so cryptically from the Broncos, that it’s hard to say how hurt any really are.

The scariest of the night was Kyle Orton’s lacerated pointer finger on his throwing hand, one that was cut eerily on a rushing defensive lineman’s hand. Denver did at least disclose that the finger was not broken or dislocated, although it was still worrisome to see the starting QB taken out of the game before McDaniels wanted him out.

In all, Orton still had an adequate night, as he went 12-for-16 for 96 yards. But Cutler outshined him in the game, as he passed 15-for-21 with 144 yards and a touchdown. Tom Brandstater, who was called on to play the entire second half, also played well going 8-for-12 with 110 yards.

For the Broncos, Buckhalter looked strong, rushing nine times for 37 yards, and Royal was speedy as usual grabbing five passes for 44 yards. Hillis backed up well at running back, and had seven carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. Also, rookie Eddie McKinley might have earned a spot in Denver’s deep receiving corps with a four catch, 75 yard outing.

In all, Denver played a fierce opponent to Chicago, which is a good sign for the Broncos overall. The Bears look to be playing for a playoff spot, and will be one of the better teams in the NFC North this year. And the biggest question surrounding this game is whether or not all the players that were hurt are injured, or just dinged up.

If any, let alone all will miss a significant amount of time, it will damage the Broncos plans for the current year.

Denver knows it is in the midst of rebuilding and retooling for a new regime, but it can still steal away some games, and will have a solid year even with all the controversy that has surrounded them in this offseason.

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Broncos-Bears: Cutler, Chicago Win in QB’s Return to Denver

The Denver Broncos (0-3) remain winless in the Josh McDaniels regime as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears (2-1) came to town and won a game of “small ball.”

Broncos fans could not wait to torture their former quarterback with booing, T-shirts, signs, and basically everything in between, and the outcome was as expected.

Not only could Cutler not hear the play calls in his helmet, but the NBC cameras shook.  Invesco Field at Mile High rocked with pure hatred, all directed towards one player.

 

Random Game Thoughts

And at first, it seemed to fluster Cutler. 

Prior to a 12-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off by a touchdown pass to Matt Forte, Cutler was largely ineffective.

He finished the game 15-of-21 for 144 yards and a touchdown, and as I mentioned, led an impressive 98-yard drive to conclude the second half.

The Broncos’ starting offense was okay, but nothing to write home about.

Kyle Orton led the Broncos down the field early in the game, and a penalty-marred drive ended with a 31-yard Matt Prater field goal.

Orton finished his day completing 12-of-16 passes for 96 yards before leaving with a finger injury. 

He left the field with what appeared to be a cut on his right index finger, and head coach Josh McDaniels told NBC correspondents that Orton’s finger was not broken.

This writer’s guess is that Orton’s injury is going to require stitches, and he could be held out until the season opener against Cincinnati at the very least.

The injury bug decided to bite a couple more Broncos on Sunday night as well.

Right guard Chris Kuper, the only guard in the NFL to play all 16 games and not allow a single sack, went down with a foot injury, and he put no pressure on it as he left the field.

It did not look very promising.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal appeared to get a stinger on his hand early in the contest, but he returned to action.

Also, prior to the game, the team learned that wide receiver Jabar Gaffney had a broken thumb, and that he is expected to miss several weeks.

Watching Josh McDaniels’ post-game press conference as I type, he appears to be extremely ticked off.

He seems to be favoring the word “sloppy.”

And boy were the Broncos sloppy tonight in certain areas.

The offensive line, for the first time in a very long time, was extremely out of sync.

Uncharacteristically, Ryan Clady had three penalties of his own, while Casey Wiegmann was also flagged for holding.  It also seemed like every time the Broncos fielded a kick or punt, they were called for holding.

The Broncos finished the game with 10 penalties.

Sloppy play by the Broncos’ offensive line resulted in many first-and-long and second-and-long situations, and that really put Orton and company in tough situations.

 

Game Recap

After the game started off tied at three points apiece, punter Brett Kern made a huge mistake in punting to return specialist Devin Hester.

Did he forget to watch film from the Broncos’ 2007 matchup with the Bears?

Hester made Kern and the Broncos pay, taking the punt all the way inside the Denver five yard line (It should be noted that safety David Bruton was held all the way down the field).

After Hester’s great return, Matt Forte was able to punch the ball in from one yard out to increase the Chicago lead to 10-3.

Denver’s offense continued to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, and a defensive stop by the Bears resulted in an excellent punt by rookie Britton Colquitt that was downed at the Chicago two-yard line.

Jay Cutler orchestrated a 12-play, 98-yard drive to essentially end the half, which was capped off by a short touchdown pass to Forte, increasing the Chicago lead to 17-3.

The Broncos were able to move the ball pretty well in the second half with rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater under center, capping off two impressive nine-play drives with rushing touchdowns by Peyton Hillis and Darius Walker.

Denver cut the lead with the Hillis touchdown in half, but Chicago answered back with a rushing touchdown of their own by veteran back Adrian Peterson.

Chicago led 24-10 before Walker’s rushing touchdown, and again Denver was able to cut the lead in half, 24-17.

The Bears were able to drive the ball into scoring range and waste most of the game clock when Robbie Gould hit a field goal to put the game on ice and a final score of 27-17.

 

The Good

• Tom Brandstater really bounced back from his poor performance in Seattle, and aside from an overthrow of Eddie Royal that resulted in an interception and a botched delivery to Darius Walker that resulted in a fumble recovery by the Bears, Brandstater looked much more comfortable.  He finished the game 8-of-12 for 110 yards and one interception, including a 54-yard bomb to fellow rookie Kenny McKinley.
• Eddie Royal continues to excite Bronco fans with his electric play.  He is sure-handed, knows how to gain yardage after the catch, and looks like a seasoned veteran.  He is going to be a star in this league, and a favorite target of quarterback Kyle Orton.
• Peyton Hillis is a beast.  Add another position, kick returner, to his repertoire.  I wore his No. 22 jersey with pride tonight, and he did not disappoint, running for 24 yards on seven carries including a touchdown, and catching two passes for 21 yards.  He also had 64 yards on only two kick returns. 
• Elvis Dumervil made future Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace look like a lost rookie.  Pace escaped what would have been a safety when he clearly held Dumervil in the end zone, and he just overall had a rough night trying to block the fourth year defensive end.  Thanks to NBC, I was alerted that only Mario Williams has more sacks (30.5) than Dumervil (26) from the 2006 draft class.  He struggled a bit in pass coverage, but his pass rushing skills are of the elite level, make no mistake.  Jay Cutler’s jersey was dirty because of this man.
• Brian Dawkins‘ debut was well worth the wait.  He was all over the field making plays…with a club on his hand.  If this game is any indication as to what the Broncos can expect from Dawkins in 2009, they have an absolute steal of the free agent class.
• Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd all but cemented their names in the Broncos’ final roster.  Absolutely excellent games by both players.  McKinley continues to lead the Broncos in receiving, hauling in four passes for 75 yards, and Lloyd had a great catch that looked to me like a touchdown, and it is not the first time he has made a big play this pre-season.
• The defensive front seven continued to put pressure on the quarterback.  Cutler did not have an easy go of it early in this game, and while the defense did not have any sacks, it appeared as though the pass rush was effective.
• Correll Buckhalter and Darius Walker combined for 75 yards rushing on only 19 carries.  Walker, in my opinion, has earned the third running back position over LaMont Jordan this preseason.  Walker runs hard every play, and Buckhalter does the same.  Very inspiring running by these two tonight. 
• Britton Colquitt is making a strong case to beat out Brett Kern for the punter job in Denver.  He had two punts tonight that landed inside the two yard line. 

The Bad

• The offensive line played its worst game in a long time.  Ten penalties is not acceptable, period.  They are sure to get an earful at practice this week from offensive line coach Rick Dennison.
• The Broncos had trouble getting off the field on third downs.  The defense needs to be able to force punts on a more consistent basis, especially if the offense remains unhealthy and/or inconsistent.

 

Bailey comments on Marshall situation

All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey was asked by NBC’s Andrea Kremer if Brandon Marshall would be a Bronco this season, and he responded by saying roughly that there was a “fifty/fifty” chance.

What control Bailey has over the situation, I do not know, but a very interesting comment to say the least.

It would appear from the comments of Bailey and some of the other players on the team throughout the week that Marshall has a lot of trust to gain back in the locker room.

It seems that Marshall’s recent antics have lost a lot of respect from teammates, and in the NFL, that is not easy to do.

 

Quarterback situation

Now that Orton’s status is in limbo, and the fact that Chris Simms is already injured, the Broncos are once again in need of a quarterback. 

Obviously, Tom Brandstater is not ready to lead an NFL offense into the light.  He is young, and the Broncos have hopes that he can be “their guy” maybe someday, but not in 2009.

Ingle Martin does not know the offense yet, so what options does that leave Denver with?

As I speculated on my Facebook fan page, the New England Patriots just waived quarterback Kevin O’Connell, a player Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was very high on when the Patriots drafted him, and if the Broncos have the opportunity to nab him through the waiver wire, they will.

O’Connell has ties to Kansas City’s Scott Pioli, who also was a big part of the drafting of O’Connell, and the Chiefs have an opening for a backup quarterback position with the injury to Matt Cassel.

If Kansas City does not lay claim to the second-year quarterback, you can expect O’Connell to end up with Denver.

There is very little doubt in my mind.

O’Connell’s arrival would likely mean Ingle Martin’s release, and Tom Brandstater would end up on the practice squad.

There was absolutely a ton to talk about in regards to this third pre-season game, and although the Broncos remain winless, it appears as though there is more good than bad going on in Denver for 2009.

If this team can get healthy, they could be a tough out for any team in the NFL this season.

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An Open Letter to Brandon Marshall

Dear Mr. Marshall,

On behalf of the many fans outside (and maybe inside) the Denver area, I would like to ask you to quit behaving like an ass.

Case in point: Prior to your suspension for insubordination, there were three classless acts that sent a loud message to your teammates and the rest of the NFL teams that might have an interest in your services.

Act I: Walking in practice while the rest of your team was running. Way to show unity with the team. Your issue of being unhappy with your current contract should not carry over to what is being done on the field. 

Act II: Swatting away passes rather than catching them. Yeah, that will show them you mean business. What are you, 12 years old and pissed off at your parents because they won’t let you stay up for an extra hour on a school night?

Act III: Punting a ball instead of handing it over to a ball boy. Even more childish than swatting away passes. I may have given you too much credit by asking if you were 12!

Look, I understand that you feel underappreciated and became upset when the Bronco’s traded away Jay Cutler. I don’t think any wide receiver with your talent would be happy with the wounded ducks that Kyle Orton throws.

I also understand that you feel you are underpaid compared to receivers at your level such as Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, and Randy Moss. By that same token, you did sign a four-year contract and since you performed so well, your salary for 2009 went from $535,000 to $2.2 million. 

And yet you pout, walk in practice, swat balls away, and punt balls down field in frustration.

Consider those wide receivers that are on the cusp of being cut by teams. They would give anything to have 1/8 of your talent to just play the game.

This is the last year of your contract. Rather than be a petulant child, suck it up, start catching passes and scoring touchdowns instead of bitching about “only” getting $2.2 million dollars. Do you not understand the gift and luck that you have that millions of Americans do not? 

As a selfish child, I wouldn’t imagine that you would. After all, it is all about Brandon, isn’t it?

I submit to you, Mr. Marshall, to man-up, apologize to Coach McDaniels, to your teammates, and to the rest of the NFL. Then, get out there and practice your tail off and put up some huge numbers so that other teams will take notice come free agent time. 

It’s not too late to view this as a bump in the road in your career. People screw up, but the good ones see the error of their ways and correct them.

So quit acting like a baby, apologize for your stupidity, shut up, and start playing football.

Sincerely,

A fan of the game

Has Brandon Marshall Lost the Respect of His Denver Bronco Elders?

Following his recent practice field hissy fit, Denver Broncos wide receiver may have gone far beyond anything any fan ever thought possible.

In addition to losing the respect of virtually every respectable NFL fan, coach, or executive, he may just have lost the respect of his role models and elders on the Denver Broncos team.

When asked if he was surprised at Marshall’s recent suspension, veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley responded by saying: “Not really, not with his attitude and how he was acting.”

Stokley added: “Something had to be done. They made the decision. We’re moving on, and hopefully in a few weeks, when he’s back, he’ll be ready to contribute.”

Hopefully.

2008 offensive co-captain and tight end Daniel Graham also weighed in on the Marshall situation.

“We’ve had a few conversations and Brandon, he’s running his own ship,” Graham said. He’s doing what he feels is best for him. Now I’m just making sure, as a leader on this team, that we stay focused.”

A very interesting choice of words by Graham, to say the very least, especially the implication that Marshall is “running his own ship.”

This entire off-season has been a self-imposed disaster for the Pro Bowl wide receiver. 

Even Colorado Hall of Fame wide receiver and Bronco great Rod Smith, a former player who has devoted a great deal of time and effort mentoring Marshall, distanced himself from the wide receiver when he made a cameo at the Broncos camp earlier this summer.

One thing though, is for sure.

If Stokley and Graham’s comments are to be taken as a general consensus of the feelings of the entire team, then this whole fiasco has proved that the players are on McDaniels’ ship, not Marshall’s or any of their own.

McDaniels said on Friday that he does not know how long Marshall will be on his ‘ship’ at all.

“I’m not sure necessarily if I think it will or I think it won’t [work out],” McDaniels said. “I’m just hopeful that it will, because obviously he’s a talented football player that we’d love to have pulling in the same direction as the other 79 guys that go out there and work their tail off.”

And if he is not?

If Marshall is unwilling to pull in the same direction as the 79 other guys, where do the Broncos go from there?

While suspending him for the regular season would go a long way if the Broncos were committed long term, it does not seem to make much sense anymore for a guy who they may want to trade at the end of this season.

Which is why it makes perfect sense to suspend him for the final two games of the pre-season.

This gives Marshall time to study his playbook and vie for a fresh start when he returns to the team on Sept. 6.  Also, it allows him time to go and face the temptations of doing something else stupid or getting in trouble with the law.

While two weeks may not seem like a long time, for Brandon Marshall, it could seem like a lifetime.

For when Marshall returns to the Broncos, he had better show this team that he is serious about the “fresh start” he has said he wants, and he certainly needs to keep his nose out of trouble.

Hey Broncos, No One Wants Brandon Marshall, You’re Stuck With Him

No that’s not Brandon Llyod wearing number 84, that’s disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Marshall with a scout-team jersey. And yes, those are Bronco pajama bottoms. He sure takes practice seriously.

First that, and then his recent antics in practice. Marshall is making the Broncos’ practices, and the organization as a whole, look like a joke. Not only that, but he made himself look like an immature fool while killing any interest any other NFL team may have had in him.

As punishment, the Broncos gave him a two week suspension…That’ll teach him.

All that, and the Broncos claim they aren’t going to trade him and haven’t been in negotiations with other teams.

Bull shit.

If you believe that, then you’re probably one of those people who believed Cutler wouldn’t be traded, Santa Claus filled your stockings, Favre would stay retired, and the war was over after Bush’s “victory achieved speech.”

Now, because all of that happened, the Broncos have lost all leverage they had in trading Marshall. Even if they wanted to trade him now, it is pretty much too late. They should have traded him before he made a jackass of himself, killing his trade value.

No doubt the Broncos have been working day and night to get rid of this head-case. The only problem is no one else wants him. Or at least, no one will pay what the Broncos want, which is likely in the neighborhood of a first and a third-round draft-pick.

The Broncos are stuck with their high-flying, injury-prone, suspension-prone, arrest-prone, problem child of a receiver.

The Giants don’t want him and their fans don’t want the baggage that comes with him. Plus the Giants just spent two draft picks on receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

The Ravens don’t want him; Derrick Mason just pulled a Brett Favre and un-retired. Plus, the Ravens don’t deal with players with off-the-field issues and character issues.

The Jets don’t want him simply for the same reason the Ravens don’t want him. Former Ravens DC Rex Ryan doesn’t deal with head-cases like Marshall, either.

The 49ers don’t want him; they already have enough diva receivers in Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. Why give up another first-round draft-pick just to add another talented distraction. Plus, I don’t think Marshall is the type to be motivated by male frontal nudity.

The Bears? Yeah, I’m sure they’re interested, but Marshall will not land on the Bears as long as the Broncos have anything to say about it.

You can just simply rule out the rest of the AFC west because the Broncos won’t trade him within the division. And the other three teams in the AFC west won’t even consider Marshall unless they know they are getting the upper hand in the deal.

Then you can go ahead and rule out all of the Broncos’ 2009 opponents. How would it make the Broncos look if Marshall came back to Denver on an opposing team, only to have a huge game in a win over the Broncos.

The only way I see anyone trading for Marshall is if one team becomes desperate before the week six trade deadline, like the Cowboys did last year.

The Broncos can’t even just cut or release Marshall. If they do, then they run the risk of him being reunited with Cutler, or even worse, being picked up by a division rival.

So what’s going to happen with Brandon Marshall?

The simple answer is Bronco fans are going to get exactly what they all wanted…Brandon Marshall will remain a Denver Bronco.

And not only do they get Brandon Marshall, they get a huge distraction who undermines the coaching. They get a disgruntled player who cares more about himself than the team and will negatively influence some of the younger Broncos. And quite simply, they get a waste of roster space and talent.

But that is what the Broncos are stuck with.

There Must Be Something In The Water…Yet Another Idiot Wide Receiver

There must be something in the water this offseason because NFL wide receivers have been off the chain in 2009.

Plaxico Burress, Donte’ Stallworth, Michael Crabtree, Roddy White, and now, Brandon Marshall.

It’s ridiculous the level of immaturity being shown by these “grown a– men”; it reminds me of that scene in Jerry Maguire when the guy is crying to Firestone about how “people just don’t understand the kind of pressure that $50 million come with”…Seriously?

Here’s the problem, these guys get paid to play a game that comes naturally to them. It’s not their fault that they are talented and well-respected for their skills. No, not at all, but some of these guys need a reality check.

Plaxico Burress: you shot yourself in the leg after carrying an unlicensed firearm into a public place. Did the security guard let you in? Yes. Did that make it any less illegal? No. The punishment is jail. It is what it is—you made your bed…

Donte’ Stallworth: you got behind the wheel while you were still loaded to the gills. Did the pedestrian jaywalk? Uh huh. Does it relieve you of the crime? No. Why? Because you were more in the wrong than he was simply by being behind the wheel. Did the NFL need to suspend you? Yep. Was it for too long? Nope—you made your bed….

Michael Crabtree: you played a couple nice years at Texas Tech. Your pass-happy offense gave you the benefit that players like A.J. Green of Georgia and Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M don’t have in that you were the primary target on most every play.

You reaped the rewards of that by being a top 10 pick. Does that mean you are a future Hall of Fame candidate? No. It means you have a chance to prove you are not a fluke. Period.

That said, don’t be mad because you aren’t getting Top Five respect like Heyward-Bey.

Oakland wanted him, not you. Keep being a fool and you will be a free agent like former USC wide receiver Mike Williams—no jersey and no team to call your own.

Roddy White: glad you got your contract, big guy, but you are no Larry Fitzgerald. Never will be.

That said, now that you have your money, Falcons fans and brass alike will expect your best Fitzgerald impression.

That means no dropped passes…when you are wide open…in the end zone.

If you can’t manage to maintain or sustain your level of “greatness,” expect to be ridiculed and ostracized. Don’t be mad if that happens either because you made your bed…

Which brings me to Brandon Marshall.

What the hell?

All he hasn’t done is fall on the ground and rock back and forth in the fetal position. He is quickly becoming a lecherous commodity with no value whatsoever in the league.

He’s had a couple nice years with Jay Cutler throwing him the ball but even before that, he was getting into unnecessary trouble and making poor choices off the field.

Even Jay Cutler had to call him out on his idiocy at one point—this isn’t new behavior from Brandon. The difference now is that he is being a petulant child as opposed to just an immature adult.

I’m actually starting to feel a little sorry for Coach Josh McDaniels; he seems to be losing control over this team at a frenetic pace. It may be time for him to take another page from his former boss Bill Belichick and lay a firm hand down on these guys before it really gets out of hand.

Look at Randy Moss. Obviously Bill knows a little something about petulant wide receivers.

As for our boy Brandon, it’s obvious he’s feeling a little overwhelmed by a new playbook, a new coach, and a new quarterback. That’s okay. However, his refusal to act like a man about it has him looking like he may need some mental health attention.

To him, I say, it’s time for you to get your act together and do what’s best for your career because, despite what you might think, no one is irreplaceable in the NFL.

But on the other hand, if you choose to continue this stupidity and make yourself into a mockery of a man whom no team—not even the Cincinnati Bengals—would want to claim, well then, you made your bed…

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