Horse Tracks 12/30/09 - Broncos reportedly replacing P Mitch Berger with Britton Colquitt, who was cut after '09 Preseason

by Douglas A. Lee on Dec 30, 2009 5:54 AM MST in Horse Tracks

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Good Morning, MHR Friends! Let's just get something out of the way here before we get to the news. Deltha O'Neal (twice) and Tory James (once) were Pro Bowl cornerbacks. Now, that doesn't mean I'm not happy for the Broncos who made it. But all this talk of who got snubbed and who really deserved to go? Who cares? They never get it right - just like every other pro ~~popularity contest~~ all-star game doesn't get it right.

Twitter - Paul Sheehy: CONGRATS to punter BRITTON COLQUITT
"CONGRATS to punter BRITTON COLQUITT, signed to Broncos active squad today. May punt vs. his brother Dustin/Chiefs Sunday!"
Thanks to Ben Boyd and Todd Jewell for being all over this one!

DB - Weekly Press Release - Patrick Smyth

DB - Five Broncos Headed to South Florida - Zach Eisendrath

DB - Going to Florida - Broncos TV

DB - Taylor Added to Active Roster - Zach Eisendrath

DB - Dawkins Receives Ed Block Courage Award - Chris Gentilviso
You'll be less impressed when you see who won it for the Broncos last year...

LTC - Reid All About it - Brian Howell

DPP - Denver can't have another home loss to division rival - Lindsay Jones
"The Broncos worked out punter A.J. Trapasso, a rookie who was released from the Titans' practice squad in November. Trapasso was the player who punted a ball into the mammoth video screen at Cowboys Stadium in the preseason."
Wow. Prior to McNabb's run on 3rd-and-25, the Broncos had not allowed any third-down conversions for more than 10 yards all season. That's pretty impressive.

DPP - Analysis: Broncos, in 2-7 slump, sure to be challenged by Chiefs - Mike Klis
"The only teams that have been worse than the Broncos over the past nine games have been the NFL's two worst teams — the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions."

DPP - $$$ talks, integrity walks - Dave Krieger

DPP - Q&A: McDaniels, Broncos soon will focus on 2010 season - Jeff Legwold

DP - It wasn’t just the Raiders loss - Mike Klis

DP - Right now, no Top 10 pick for Broncos - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Numbers: Win, lose, win again, lose again

DP - Ex-Bronco shot in Atlanta area
"Former Broncos offensive lineman Gerald Perry was shot outside an Atlanta-area car wash Monday when a man fired a gun inside Perry's car and drove away, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta."

CSG - Bailey, Dawkins among 5 Broncos selected for Pro Bowl - Frank Schwab

AFC West News

SDUT - Pro Bowl honors go to 5 Chargers - Chris Jenkins

KCS - As season nears end, Chiefs continue to wait on Bowe - Kent Babb

KCS - What the Chiefs could feel while playing at elevation - Pete Grathoff

KCS - Chiefs shut out of Pro Bowl - Kent Babb

SFC - Lechler, Asomugha picked for AFC team - David White

SJMN - Tom Cable's true feelings hard to hide - Tim Kawakami

NFL News

NYT - Team-by-Team N.F.L. Playoff Scenarios - Judy Battista

PFT - Scheduling formula will remain for 2010 and beyond - Mike Florio
Thanks to Elizabeth for the link!

NFL - Help wanted: Bills compiling new list of candidates

NFL - Lions' Stafford has successful surgery on injured knee

NFL - Falcons sign former Ravens kicker Hauschka

NFL - Saints DE McCray charged with DWI, other traffic counts

NFL Opinion

SN - Scouts' views: Rivers takes charge, Pats step back and more - Dennis Dillon

Y! - Decision shouldn't tarnish Caldwell's season - Jason Cole

NFP - Vikings risk one and done - Matt Bowen

NFP - Coaching carousel: It’s getting hotter - Robert Boland

FOX - Schein 9: Be afraid of the Patriots

ESPN - Childress needs to fix Vikings now - Gene Wojciechowski

SI - Vikings have big issues; Trent Green prophetic on 4,000-yard QBs - Peter King
Hey Ted - did you get your autographed copy of PK's book yet? I'm still waiting for mine...

Who Cares, Part I - Power Polls

Y! - Texans draw out tease to final weekend - Mike Silver

CBS - Power Rankings: NFC locks losing their way - Pete Prisco

ESPN - NFL Power Rankings Week 17

FH - NFL Power Rankings, Week 17: Play to Win - Josh Alper

Who Cares, Part II - ~~Popularity Contest~~ Pro Bowl

SN - Colts' Brackett, Bethea top list of Pro Bowl snubs - Clifton Brown

SI - Vikes' Percy Harvin, Pats' Randy Moss among biggest Pro Bowl snubs - Jim Trotter

CBS - Pro Bowl drops ball with another Fletcher snub - Clark Judge

CBS - Too many left tackles don't make it right - Pete Prisco

NFL - These players were best of the best in 2009 - Vic Carucci

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Comments

Please tell me Denver cut Mitch Berger, easily one of my least favorite Broncos of all time.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 30, 2009 6:26 AM MST reply actions

it looks like your christmas came a bit late :)

so far it seems true though if he came from the Dolphins PS, he’d be right to our 53 active.

I'm glad we had this talk.
(signature courtesy of TJ Johnson)

by BroncoInExile on Dec 30, 2009 6:55 AM MST up reply actions

Mitch Berger cost us dearly in both the Oakland and Philly games – as well as several others.

His 7 yard punt vs Oakland was the turning point in that game as it provided the Raiders with unexpectedly great field position they quickly turned into their first 1st down and first TD.

His several awful punts vs Philly helped the Eagles dominate field position in a game where field position was a determining factor.

Thanks a lot Mitch, you made much more of a negative impact for the Broncos than you helped us.

Cutting Kern, but more importantly, signing a washed up retread like Berger was the worst roster move McDaniels made during the 2009 season and it cost us wins.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 30, 2009 7:15 AM MST up reply actions 2 recs

the 7 yard punt still cracks me up just at the thought that a professional could shank one that poorly

by Todd Jewell on Dec 30, 2009 7:38 AM MST up reply actions

It would be much funnier if it hadn’t play a big role in destroying our season.

Mitch Berger was a key factor in several of our losses this season. His presence on our roster was a painfully unnecessary shame.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 30, 2009 8:09 AM MST up reply actions

I'm not the president of the Berger Fan Club, :)

He was a painful player to watch after looking like he has knocked the rust off.

I'm glad we had this talk.
(signature courtesy of TJ Johnson)

by BroncoInExile on Dec 30, 2009 9:23 AM MST up reply actions

man, can we send a Terminator back

and have him whacked before the Baltimore game so we can still make the playoffs? Seems to me we could have legitimately had at least 11 or 12 Ws by now.

… sigh.

"All we're trying to do is win the *********** game!" -- Josh MF McDaniels tearing into his offensive line after three false starts in the red zone. The tirade turned the tide of the game, and the Broncos dominated from that point on.

by broncosmontana on Dec 30, 2009 9:31 AM MST up reply actions

I think Denver would have had a much better chance of winning the Oakland and Philly games with a real NFL punter instead of Berger.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 30, 2009 10:15 AM MST up reply actions

exactly

and those are just the two examples that are most obvious. It just makes you wonder how much a little better field position could have helped in any of those other five losses.

by broncosmontana on Dec 30, 2009 10:12 PM MST up reply actions

I made Horse Tracks, my life goals are complete, ha! =)

by Todd Jewell on Dec 30, 2009 7:01 AM MST reply actions

+ 1 Todd Jewell...and they named me by my REAL name.....now everyone will know who I am.....man!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Dec 30, 2009 7:05 AM MST up reply actions

We'll forget

Boydy who?

... if you have a belief, you will tend to find things that support it. But if you have a prejudice, you’ll move heaven and earth to maintain it. BroncoBear

by 3nS on Dec 30, 2009 7:12 AM MST up reply actions

Oops. Was I not supposed to do that, Boydy? I was under the impression everyone here knew your name. Obviously, I’ll gladly change it…

formerly known around these parts as nycbroncosfan

by Douglas A. Lee on Dec 30, 2009 7:17 AM MST up reply actions

Now man, totally cool Doug....I was just being a smart ass.....I am TOTALLY cool with people knowing it. Thanks for the mention my friend!

by boydy2669 on Dec 30, 2009 7:35 AM MST up reply actions

Note to self: (Filed under people to stalk)-- Call travel agent, find guy that knows way around the outback...

The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"

by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 30, 2009 8:29 AM MST up reply actions

just be happy

your name isn’t Zach Eisendrath. ; )

by broncosmontana on Dec 30, 2009 9:37 AM MST up reply actions

Now I can stalk you.

Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal.

by MrFNSunshine on Dec 30, 2009 8:30 AM MST up reply actions

LOL.

This is my favorite website.

by McGeorge on Dec 30, 2009 8:36 AM MST up reply actions

HAMBONE HAMBONE HAMBONE YEAH

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.

by A.J. Haefele on Dec 30, 2009 7:53 AM MST reply actions

Mornin & Thanks Doug.

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Dec 30, 2009 7:53 AM MST reply actions

Thanks Doug

So… Does that mean our 2010 schedule will look like this?

HOME -————- AWAY
Houston -——— Jacksonville
Indianapolis -—- Tennessee
Arizona -———— San Francisco
St. Louis -———- Seattle
AFC East -—— AFC North

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Dec 30, 2009 8:46 AM MST reply actions

We play all teams in AFC South and NFC West. Obviously Home/Away inside our division as well.

Plus:
Two games against the teams from the other two divisions in the conference that finished in the same position (e.g., the first-place team in the AFC East plays the first-place teams from the other two divisions)

So that would be Baltimore and the Jets

So:
Indy, Houston, Jax, Tenn
Arizona, San Fran, Seattle, STL
Balt, Jets
Oakland, KC, SD [x 2]

Right?

by Todd Jewell on Dec 30, 2009 8:54 AM MST up reply actions

I'm sick of having to play Indy.

So this is war...misfortune at every bend in the road. Misery and murdered mules and sudden death in a ditch.-- Rick Atkinson "An Army at Dawn"

by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 30, 2009 9:04 AM MST up reply actions

Who knows, they might not be the same team next year.

"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".

"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.

by broncoholic on Dec 30, 2009 9:08 AM MST up reply actions

You could put Boise St. around Manning...

…and he’d find a way to beat Denver.

So this is war...misfortune at every bend in the road. Misery and murdered mules and sudden death in a ditch.-- Rick Atkinson "An Army at Dawn"

by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 30, 2009 9:17 AM MST up reply actions

lol

I still have nightmares of that game where Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison took us to the tool shed

Denver rookie head coach Josh McDaniels doesn't have a grasp on how to build a team." - John Clayton, April 23rd, 2009

by diviesti on Dec 30, 2009 9:24 AM MST up reply actions

Denver is to Manning...

…what Cleveland was to Elway. It’s karma, mojo, and the football gods collecting interest.

So this is war...misfortune at every bend in the road. Misery and murdered mules and sudden death in a ditch.-- Rick Atkinson "An Army at Dawn"

by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 30, 2009 9:50 AM MST up reply actions

Boise St. probably could kick Denver's butt with who they have, PO. LOL

by bfree2bronc on Dec 30, 2009 2:08 PM MST up reply actions

I'm okay with it during the regular season

Baltimore is the team I’m tired of playing any time of year.

by broncosmontana on Dec 30, 2009 9:23 AM MST up reply actions

So we should go 15-1 then!!!!

by boydy2669 on Dec 30, 2009 5:55 PM MST up reply actions

It would be nice to play Indy at home for a change.

Seems like we always have to play them on their turf. I can only remember them playing us here one time over the past few years.

Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal.

by MrFNSunshine on Dec 30, 2009 9:25 AM MST up reply actions

Yeah and in the cold and snow too

by AllBroncsallday on Dec 30, 2009 10:48 AM MST up reply actions

That is right except for

that the Seattle game is at home and the Arizona is on the road.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Dec 30, 2009 11:37 AM MST up reply actions

It could be Pittsburgh instead of Baltimore

They are both 8-7 right now.
And Miami could still take 2nd in the East (they are 7-8, Jets are 8-7. If the Jets lose to the Bengals and Miami beats the Steelers, Miami gets second place because they beat the Jets both times.

We will now discuss in a little more detail the Struggle for Existence.
Charles Darwin. (The Origin Of Species)

by bradley on Dec 30, 2009 9:03 AM MST reply actions

If it is Miami, at least it isn't over in their house.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Dec 30, 2009 11:40 AM MST up reply actions

Looks like Colquitt signing is confirmed!

http://fantasysports.usatoday.com/content/player.asp?sport=NFL&id=3212

A proud prognostication of 10-6 in 2009!!! (April 2009 prediction)

Revised to 11-5 due to reality!

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
John Adams

by Broncotodd on Dec 30, 2009 9:09 AM MST reply actions

This could save our season!

Haha, not really. I don’t know if I’m being blinded my usual optimism, but I expect the Texans to win, us to win, and the Jets to lose, landing us in the 6 spot. I’m guessing field position should help, though I don’t think we’re at any risk against KC. We couldn’t go into the playoffs with that P.O.S. and his 7 yard punting skills.

by Nick Costanza on Dec 30, 2009 9:28 AM MST reply actions