John Elway Letting the Bronos Know he wants to (Coach, Own, Advise)

(pic by Kenneth Lyons DP) 

Wow, there are some very

interesting stories coming out now about how John Elway is turning 50, and wants to get involved in coaching, advising or even owning the Denver Broncos (minority owner he said). Here's a quote from the article in the Denver Post.

"I've been a gunslinger in business, just like I was in football. I look at a proposition, consider if I think it will be a winner, and I make my investment. I've always been a risk-taker. You make your best educated guess, and it might fail. But there have been highfliers. I don't want to just lend my name to a product or a company. I want to be part of winning or losing."

Remember a few weeks ago when he talked to the media about the Broncos?  I remember posting about his comments then, but this really makes me want to write about him. Here is a story appearning in the Denver Post yesterday about John's ambitions.

Ol' Number 7 Reflects on Turning 50 Soon

Imagine John Elway bumping heads with Josh McDaniels - What a hoot that would be man. I could imagine a situation where John had some good ideas about how to run a play, or arrange personnel in positions to confuse the opposing defense, and Josh McDaniels getting HOT under the collar!

Anyway, John wants to get back into football in a managerial or coaching/advisory capacity, which I personally believe would highly benefit the Denver Broncos. The real story will come when Pat Bowlen talks about his opinion about it. If Bowlen gave John a job, or allowed him to become a minority owner with some advisory responsibilities, the Head Bumping would be inevitable!

I am waiting for this to unfold for sure. Kinda fun thinkin about it :)

Denver Broncos - Big Investment in the Defense, but no money left for Elvis

Not everyone cares about this, but there is very little news from Dove Valley now, so boring is all I can come up with. Elvis Dumervil is not a boring player however, so even though this is kinda about him, it is just as much about other players on the DEFENSE.

Pat Bowlen has been laying out some serious money this year for many different people and contracts. Let me list just a few of the new ones they have committed to for just the Defense:

Three Year, $16 million deal to Jamal Williams  (5.3 million yearly)

Four year deal at about $20 million for Jarvis Green (5 million yearly)

Five year deal worth $22 million for Justin Bannan  (4.4 million yearly)

The addition of these players to the defensive team will add maturity and experience. Now for once, Green will be playing on our side.  All good stuff, but what about Elvis Dumervil?

One year probably maybe deal for 3.168 million with (he hopes) unrestricted free agency, but at the end of the year (2010 season) we could see Elvis getting a 30 million dollar 3 year offer from another team. Are they really planning this well?

Champ Bailey coming to the last year of his awesome 63 million dollar contract (with bonuses and addons plus salary) and they have not offered him a contract extension yet. What?  Well, maybe the well is running dry?  How many millions do they have laying around anyway?

Governor Ritter might want to drop by the Broncos offices for a State Loan?

Or, perhaps they have rushed to do some big things on the offensive side and lost the ability to take care of these other guys.  Dumervil is hoping the NFL and the Players Union get the new contract everyone is anticipating, but there are issues to work through. 

Really, it might be the new contract with the NFL that is causing all this delay in addressing the most important players on the team. Could that be the deal?

Robert Ayers won't talk about the "Doghouse Incident"

Mr. Ayers knows what is good for him. He is not talking about what caused the "coaches decision" that landed him in the 2nd team practice during mini-camp recently. He knows better than to spill the beans because I surmise Josh McDaniels told him not to.  If he were to come forward with the matter, it could be bad for him, and in the near future he could be lining the bench and watching the games just like the rest of us.  Well, maybe his seat is a bit better than mine, but still. 

Here is a short article on ESPN

Whatever "it" was is really not too important. Who cares really?  Yet it is just another example of how the team is being managed now. We have been seeing the handwriting on the wall, and most of us think it is a system based on total obedience and compliance.  You play football and get paid all the big bucks, and you do exactly as you are told or your job is at risk.

I can't put my finger on this exactly, but there is something wrong with all this secrecy and total obedience stuff. Sure compliance with the coach is important, but can it go too far?  Is this level of control really healthy?  The bottom line is:  Will it win games or will it undermine the morale of the team so they cannot be wild enough to win?  We simply do not know yet.

It is definitely "arm chair coaching" on my part, so I admit not knowing everything. It just seems to me that men who play football for a living should be able to have some discretion and freedom, within limits on and off the field. Behavior should be watched to a healthy degree, but these guys control everything right down to the comments made by the players.

Remember when players would sorta "spout off" sometimes to the media?  I have not seen any such thing since McDaniels came to Denver. I am just asking if this is healthy, or is it stifling to the spirit of the player?  Shannon Sharpe used to create controversy sometimes, and yes even John Elway has had a wandering comment to the media in the past. So what? It is part of being human, and it allows the players to take a stand on things. 

The coach is still in charge, but this coach rules with punishment when players do not obey.  If they spout off, or if they disagree, or if they grumble then they are benched, suspended, demoted or whatever.  I have never seen a Denver coach do this kind of stuff before, and I am not sure it is really working to create the championship level team they desire. 

As I always say, "I could be wrong, and if I am, I will admit it."

The proof of Josh McDaniel's command style will be in the win or loss columns. Everyone loves it when we win. I will love it too, but until it starts happening I will remain a skeptic of this new administration of obedience and control.  Reminds me of the way cults rule their subjects. Oh well, I have said enough and will heap the credit on them if this all works out for the good.

I am after all, just a fan of our team. 

Dumervil signs his tender for 3.168 Million

Just reported from various sources that Elvis Dumervil decided to take the 3.168 Million and signed his first and third round tenders. I guess he knew the waiting game was not worth the gamble of being on the "outs" with head coach McDaniels. The Broncos purposefully did not offer him a better deal, and if he had not signed there is really no telling how the deal would have turned out.

I think he did the smart thing here. If he performs in the coming season like he did last season, he can get the big money next year.  Surely it is the only viable option for him now.  The Denver Broncos have been playing hard ball with him in recent weeks because they have been spending all their money on other players who they value more.

Elvis is worth more money, but the priorities were on other matters this time, and I think he knew he was taking a big gamble if he held out.  3.168 million is way better than $630,000 which is all the Broncos would have legally had to pay him if he did not sign by the deadline.  No other offers were in the magic box, as it was getting empty after other deals.

Dumervil had 17 sacks last year, which is an average in excess of 1 sack per game. He had 43 in the last 4 years, but at different positions. Outside Linebacker was new in 2009 for Elvis. He performed well indeed, and I expect him to do so again this year.  He and his agent are working on a much better contract for him in the future, and mark my words - He will get it if he stays healthy!

Denver Post Reports            TSN Reports Here

Sportsmanship and Team Loyalty Award goes to Elvis Dumervil

This guy, Elvis Dumervil, is the only veteran Denver Bronco who is not under contract at this point in the preseason. He has been at the mini-camp this week seemingly unaffected by the lack of a working contract and a money deal. It all speaks well of him as a team guy, going on faith.

He has until Monday to sign his restricted free agent tender for 3.168 million, and the suspense around that issue is that if he does not sign, his salary could be reduced to about 630,000 for the 2010 season. We are all thinking that management will offer him a much better deal, but so far nothing has emerged from the head office. Waiting game on!

In a Denver Post Article Champ Bailey had this to say:  "I'm trying not to bite my tongue and trying not to say too much at the same time, but he's a guy that we need," Bailey said. "And I wish things would work out a lot faster than they are. Hopefully by the time when it counts, the season, we'll have it done. Because we need him."

Remember it is Bailey who went public a few weeks ago to speak for Kyle Orton. Now he is speaking in a very professional manner to inform the Bronco management that key players and fans are getting concerned about the deal that still seems to be elusive. The team needs Elvis and he obviously wants to play for the Broncos. 

So many sports writers were wondering if he would be a hold out for mini-camp, but it is not his character type to do that, and certainly if he had done it, McDaniels would have gone in and ripped his picture off the wall.  So, the wise thing was to show up and be positive, which he did and is.

It is the understanding that Xanders is working with Dumervil's agent on a long term contract, and the tender should be a non-issue. I think the real deal is for a little more money, and in terms of football necessity, he is darn well worth it. How much is anyone's best guess, and for how long is kinda uncertain. 

McDaniels is being very vague about it all, except to say in general that he is hopeful a deal can be worked out.  His comments are fairly positive, but not with enough detail to be certain they are going to get it done.  My take is that they have to make it work, but for us outsiders it is sure a mystery about how much he is wanting to abstain from signing the 3.168 million tender.

I am not losing any sleep over it, but it is one of those funny situations where it could go either way, and not coming up with a good and acceptable deal is hardly an option for this team. These guys do some pretty crazy stuff though, so who knows?  Elvis deserves an award for being a good sport and showing up just to hang around and wait. 

His teammates respect him, and they all want him to come out good on this one.  The management is laying low on it so as to not draw more negative press.  Lets root for Elvis, the team needs him!

Well they finally released Tom Brandstater

 

picture credit to John Leyba Denver Post

This is no big surprise to me, but I am not happy about how they went about it at all. Again, the most talented young QB on the team is side stepped, and now released. Obviously I am a fan of Tom Brandstater. 

He never gets to play anyway, and now he will have the opportunity to flourish in another organization where they will recognize his abilities and potential.

Now the QB lineup is Orton, Quinn and Tebow.  Of course McDaniels could not release Tebow. He would have been smarter to release Quinn or Orton, but certainly Orton has earned his right to remain, so Quinn would have been the long run best choice for release at this point.

Here's a story on this in the Denver Post    

"I'm learning as you go you can't worry about things you can't control," said Brandstater, a sixth-round pick out of Fresno State last year. "I've enjoyed my time in Denver. The people were great, the fans were great, they've got a good team coming up. I will still be rooting for them, hopefully (while I'm) with another team."

The proof of McDaniel's choices is in the "W" and "L" Columns after the season starts. We shall see, but I am not very optimitic about the overall potential for playoffs this year. Next year could be another matter of course.

I still wonder how this will work when the first scheduled season game begins. How will he work the other QBs in the deal?  Will McDaniels run it like the MLB does?

Are Quinn and Tebow "relievers" or are they "closers"?

Elvis Dumervil must sign his Tender by June 15th

Hey I am all about Elvis Dumervil. He is kinda in a tough place right now. Broncos have a tender offering him over 3 million as a restricted free agent, but he really has to sign the thing or he could lose a ton of money. 

If he does not sign, he could get only 10% more than last year, which would only be about 1/2 million, so I am urging him to sign the tender. Maybe another team could offer more, but with only 13 days remaining, I am guessing he will sign his tender and soon.

Really, even with the 3 million tender, he is underpaid in his position compared to many others in the league who are making much bigger money. So, even if the Broncos don't offer more, he should play another year and if he performs like last year, he can get the big money next time.

Elvis is great and I hope we don't lose him to another team. He is an awesome linebacker. Also, there is a good chance the Broncos will offer him a contract which is better than the tender offer, but it is a waiting game at this point. The way I see it, he is better off with 3 than 1/2 if they don't.

All Quiet on the Western Front (or said another way, there is nothing new happening)

I wish there was some controversial news to talk about, but as of this moment there is a definite void out there, which is understandable. Baseball is all the rage and big news for Jiminez getting his 10th winner this year - the league's first - and man is that cool - but at the same time the Football news is struggling to find itself at the moment.

Look under Denver Bronco News on any search engine today and all you will see is stuff about Brian Westbrook - big whoop. They are desperate for news and nothing is happening. Here is about the sum of it.

Brian Westbrook Decision Coming Soon -- Rams, Redskins or Broncos Football News Now - Chuck Carroll - ‎5 hours ago‎ There are three teams believed to be in the running — the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. While he could be a good fit in St. Louis ... NFL Rumors: Ex-Eagle Brian Westbrook to Decide on New Team This Week Gather.com Brian Westbrook Decision Coming 'Soon', Denver Likely Out Of The Running SB Nation (blog) Brian Westbrook: Rams in contact with Brian Westbrook Rotoworld.com ProFootballTalk - The Daily Philadelphian (blog) all 7 news articles » So if you want to we can criticize McDaniels for something, but what shall we pick today? Just about everyone has gone over all the dumb stuff already, about 300 times, so it is a drafty room for today.