I do not like your negative undertones about BMarsh. Please…SAY IT AINT SO! Our offensive will be severely limited without him in the lineup. We all know how electrifying he was last year….he is a big part of our offensive explosiveness.

I’m about to go nuts waiting for football to start this year. My withdrawals were hitting an alltime high. Now we can begin to see how things will shake out this year. At least we will have something to talk about for the next two weeks. LOL

That said, I can understand the hush hush on Marshall. He did have some nerve damage so this does not surprise me in the least. I am a bit concerned as a fan, but that is why they have (as it looks) some good depth at WR. I look at Cutler and I thought he had a good, but up and down season last year. But I expected that. He was starting his first full season in the NFL. besides Marino, and Brady to a certain extent, name a QB that had a great (statswise) first year as a starter. Now that the reason for his weight loss has been diagnosed I expect big things from him. Plus Every QB that has played in Shanny’s system for 3 straight seasons has had a pro-bowl or better season. 94 Young, SB MVP, ELway SB winner, Griese, Pro Bowl, Even Plummer. His 3rd season was 2005 and got to the pro bowl (even if he was a repacement then decided not to go) and the AFC title game. One last thought I dont think the Broncos will be hurting when it comes to a place kicker. I feel if the Broncos let Elam go there was always a replacement in mind.

that Denver has a team and can contain LT and loudmouth Phillip and get back to the playoffs again. The Raiders/Broncos rivalry will be nice for me, especially that Monday night game, but I’m more focused on what Denver does against the Chargers next season (the Raiders aren’t quite there yet…come back to me when they’re at the top of the West. It’s not like I know a lot of Chargers fans, and I don’t know why, but I would like to see at least one maybe two taken from them by the Broncos. I’d be happy with an over 500 record and maybe a playoff RUN instead of just making the playoffs. Give me at least one playoff win, although it may be too much to expect with all the new signings, and I’ll be happy (of course, not as happy as with a Super Bowl victory, but it would be a nice improvement for me and a huge step on the road of things to come).

I sent the below letter of reference (e-mail actually) to Bill Williamson’s new employer over at ESPN. That gelatinous piece of goo better think twice before he ranks us 23rd again.

Anyway, enjoy:

I just wanted to thank ESPN for taking Bill Williamson with you. In his time with the post, Bill has never written anything of substance. Not only were all of his articles poorly researched and half-assed, but he never had insight to pass on to the reader, just his own opinion and conjecture.

Every month or two, when Bill felt like writing a two paragraph article, I would read it and always be disappointed with his calibre of writing. Also, Bill was the only writer on the DP website who had no participation in his forums and/or articles. If you don’t believe me go to DP.com and see his all of his archived articles with no reader responses. Every other Post writer would have twice the output of Bill, even when they were out on vacation.

I just wanted to say that I was disappointed that a name like ESPN would be that desperate for a sports writer. But I am sure you guys are finding out how bad he is as time goes along.

Bill also knows next to nothing about the Broncos. But he looks like he could eat one.

Ditch the bum would be my advice.

I see that votes for “playoffs” to be a success is winning the poll. Have we, as Bronco fans, finally fallen to the level of Chef fans? Where going 9-7 and backing into the playoffs only to get our arses kicked by Indianapolis is now all it takes to be considered a success(From the mouth of Guru himself!)?

And I thought I was aiming low by saying, Division Champs was the only way this season would be considered a success. Of course winning the Super Bowl would outdo that, but I’d rather not sneak into the playoffs as a doormat, Chiefs style. I prefer smash mouth football, if we get to the playoffs…we better win some games and do some damage.

Every year the Super Bowl is the goal of every team. Essentially it’s to easy to say for every fan everywhere of every team; It’s the ultimate goal. But in my own opinion, I would be very happy to see Denver win the Division. That would mean making the playoffs, and knocking off San Diego. Is this a reasonable goal? Yes it is. There are a number of factors that can change a teams record plus or minus several wins/losses every year. Denver was down last year and only finished 4 games behing SD. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to say that it’s a very good goal to improve by 4 wins this year? I think so. Taking a shot at the Division should be the first priority.

I truly believe that winning the Division is the first goal to accomplish. When the playoffs come and they make it, then set a new goal.

In any good quest, there are always enemies and challenges to overcome. In my own opinion, we must conquer ourselves before we can help to achieve the goals set forward. In asking what we must conquer, it is the mastery of the indivdual first. Denver did this well in ejecting many me-first players. Javon Walker was a me-first player. Simeon Rice was a me-first player. Only in first removing any trace of selfishness can Denver become a true team. Then, only as a team, can we progress. As any one must prepare for a quest, Denver must prepare themselves for the challenges that await them. That means learning a defensive system that can stop the run. That means every player stepping up their game to learn the plays and systems. And that truly mens putting faith in the leader, in Cutler.

Once those preparations are made, the first objective is knocking down the barriers of familiar territory. Denver cannot hope to succeed in anyone’s minds if they lose to Oakland. Denver must take advantage of their weaker division opponents and crush them on the field of battle. Once the lowly Raiders are taken out, it is then to take our battle to the Chiefs. It would be truly incredible if the team could emulate their performance they had against the Chiefs at home last year. It is wholly expected that they must beat the Chiefs and Raiders by a record of at least 3-1. This is a necessity because their greatest obstacle lies in Sand Diego. Denver must, and I mean MUST deeat the Chargers to gain any smblance of hope in the season. They need to strike hard and fast. And they must win. It is a necessity that Denver holds a 4-2 record in the division.

To me, once the division is won, it is simply a matter of taking out the opposing AFC and NFC Division games. While one cannot expect a win agaist the powerhouse Patriots, but it would be unacceptable to come out of the AFC East with anything less than 3-1. The NFC South poses a main concern based on the way the teams have grown. Though Carolina poses no immediate threat, Tampa Bay and New Orleans have the ability to defeat us.

Truly, my Quest as you would have it is not the Superbowl, is not even the AFC CHampionship game. It is simply conquering the inner demons of the Broncos now, and taking back the Division title. None of this can come to pass unless the team becomes what we all hope it can be.

the combination of all the would create the perfect storm….but it may take more than a season to get it all together

is what you’re after and think you have a shot at, not what you’d be satisfied with. I’d be relieved with 11-5 and not too terribly disappointed with 10-6. Any given year every team with a record of, say, 10-6 or better has a legitimate shot at the big prize. It’s a matter of who gets hot
at the right time. For this year’s Broncos the Superbowl is a quest, for teams like the Falcons, Chiefs, and probably the raiders it’s a pipe dream.

A lot of things have to go right for it to happen, just as a lot of things had to go wrong for last year to happen. I’m not particularly worried about Cutler. If he becomes good but not great it won’t be because of diabetes. I’m seeing an undercurrent of opinion that says, there aren’t any all-time greats who’ve had diabetes, perhaps that means it limits a player’s maximum upside. What it means is that it’s rare enough that any really small sample is unlikely to include someone who’s had it, and the set of great and even potentially great QBs is a really, really small sample.

Marshall is more worrisome. The worrywart in me sees lacerated nerves, veins, and tendons and shudders. The realist thinks that a knee injury is more likely to be chronic and limiting. Given our depth of receiving talent, a run-first offense, and a very good QB who’s likely about to move to the next level, I don’t think a below-par Marshall would keep us from having a good offense. But if he’s as good or even better
it might be dominant.

The big if for me is how well the defense comes together. Shanahan has enough raw material to construct a good o-line, potentially an elite one, likewise for the running backs and receivers. It’s important for the defense to develop chemistry, with the d-line players, the linebackers and the deep backs meshing into an effective unit. It won’t have to be elite for us to do well. If the offense is top five or eight, and the defense no worse than average, we’ll be in good position for a deep playoff run. And the defense, with the obvious upgrade at linebacking, with the return of Ekuban and the trade for Robertson, and with so many d-line players moving into their second or third years, chances are good that the defense will surprise and be average or even better. Our pass defense, contrary to popular opinion, was not very good last year. This year it will probably be much better.

The key factor is Cutler. An elite QB can pull out two or three games that should have been lost, turning a 9-7, 10-6, or 11-5 season into 12-4, 13-3, or 14-2. And can find a way to win big games. Cutler was not just uncommonly good for a second-year quarterback. He was also tough in crunch time. If he improves as much as third-year QBs often do, there’ll be very few games we don’t have a chance to win. While
not probable, a Superbowl is conceivable and a worthy quest.

Yeah I’ve been known to bottle up what I feel inside. Can you tell?

Don’t even get me started on the Gayders.