At risk of bringing sore subjects back to the surface I feel the need to work out some of the fleeting thoughts about the season so far.  I love to hear the players talking about that they have not done anything special at this point and must strive to improve at all phases of the game during the remainder of the season.  It is so refreshing to hear the "we" response and not the" I".  I was outraged as things progressed during the Cutler debacle, but grew ever resentful as every day passed when Cutler refused to play along.  As a former athlete and coach I have always embraced the team concept.  I reminded my players and my own kids during their athletics endeavors that the name on the front is more important than the back. I will always take a Rod Smith over a T.O., guys like Rod bring out the best in those around them which make the team better.  How fun has it been to watch this team evolve and develop into what they are to date? 

When McDaniels wanted Cassel, I was shocked that he would want to trade for him.  In retrospect I believe my first reaction was the cost to get Cassel versus the low investment in Cutler.  After watching the last four games I can better understand why he felt the way he did.  Now before you get after me let me explain my thought process.  1) Jay was never going to be satisfied to play things conservative or close to the vest so to speak.  It wasn't a knock on Jay's ability it was the fact of a different system was going to be implemented. 2) This is not a knock on Orton, while he is not Jay, the other side has to be when he isn't playing like Jay ie; stupid interceptions.  Orton has been what was needed for this system to progress.  I truly believe it is a very difficult system to grasp and run effectively, and in the end the Broncos will be a much better team for it.  Orton has been what McDaniels wanted in the first place, as the season continues Orton will get better and better.  His finger is injured, if you think that injury isn't a factor go stick your pointer finger in the freezer for about 5 min and then go throw the football.  3) With these things in mind we go back to Cassel, while he doesn't look like a 16 Mil QB, he is adjusting to a new system for a new coach and coordinator.  If McDaniels had been sucessful getting Cassel, he would have brought  with him a year of knowledge running this system.  Like him or not isn't the question here it comes down to the ability to run the system and do what McDaniels wants done.  While the ooh and ah's have been predominately on the defensive side of the ball, I firmly believe Orton and company will bring the wow back to the offense during the remaining games.

Mike Shanahan helped bring home two Trophies to Dove Valley, for which all Broncos fans who watched the previous attempts with sadness and heart ache can only thank him for.  But like all things in life there comes a time to move on, it is never fun but in the long run it is better for all involved.   Shanahan will move back to the sidelines somewhere and will bring life back to a program needing a kick start just like the Broncos needed this year.  McDaniels will not be liked by some just because he is young.  Others will not like him for Chasing off Jay Cutler, and he comes from the Belichick method of coaching.  I too was concerned when he first came here, but those concerns have dissipated during the last months.  I was afraid that we would inherit another Mangini or Wiess, that was the part that scared me the most.  During the first few interviews I became more afraid, but in fairness to McDaniels he had to feel like an accused witch during the Salem witch trials, you knew the outcome no matter what you said.  Watch McDaniels during the press conference's and then watch some of the coaches that he has worked with.  I get the feeling that McDaniels is on the level with you, while he may not tell everything about his players but who would?  The others make you think that nothing they say is genuine in the least, the hooded one makes you recoil in horror as you doubt the man has any sincerity.

If the Broncos can finish off the next two games with a win then he will have stuck a fork into the MSM, The Belicheats and the Norv's.  While he may say that he doesn't care what those outside of the building have said,  deep down he has to care a little bit.  The little smirk he gets when they ask him those question speaks volumes to me, it sure looks like in his mind he is giving  the number one sign to all those who doubted him and questioned his abilities to lead a team ( Mr. Clayton I think you know who I mean) .  McDaniels went out and got the best coaches and players available to make this team what it is today.  Oh and by the way Tom and Philip you might want to put some extra padding in those uniforms cause the Orange Crush boys are back in town!!

I apologize for any grammatical errors or spelling errors, it has been 25 years since college that I had to write something like this, but it was kinda of fun and nerve racking at the same time looking forward to your thoughts and idea's.  Thanks for your time.  One final thought Thanks Mr. Bowlen while we all might have thought you weren't thinking clearly, you and your staff knew you might have found something special Kudo's!!