The Greatest Broncos of All Time....By The Numbers -- #6
by John Bena on Feb 4, 2009 4:03 PM MST
in Broncos Greats...By The Numbers
33 comments
The Candidates -
Jay Cutler, QB -- 2006-Present
Jason Baker, P/K -- 2004
Joe Nedney, K -- 2000
Bubby Brister, QB -- 1997-99
Ralph Giacommaro, P -- 1987
Enough with the kickers and punters already! Even if one of the three listed above had spent more than a season each with the Broncos I would have excluded them on principle alone. With Baker, Nedney and Ralphie out of the way I was left with a tougher than expected decision. Of course, I am never one to sit on the fence and after thinking about it over a Coke Zero I came to a decision.
The Greatest Bronco To Ever Wear #6 Is....
Jay Cutler, QB -- (2006 - Present)
It really wasn't that tough, I mean, come on, Cutler is the future of the franchise and has already shown just how talented he can and will be. While the wins have come as fast and furious as we would like, Cutler hasn't been to blame, and his handling of the Jake Plummer situation, the Brandon Marshall incident and his medical situation shows why the QB was voted a Team Captain before the 2007 season.
While there is room for growth, both on and off the field for Cutler, you can see he has all the pieces of the puzzle to be great. Now it's just a matter of putting the pieces together to create a perennial All-Pro.
A quick note about the other #6, Bubby Brister. A journeyman QB at best, he did provide the Broncos a solid backup at a time when John Elway struggled to get on the field each and every week. During the 1998 season, Brister was forced into action in 5 games, starting 4. The Broncos won them all on their way to their 2nd straight Super Bowl title. In hindsight, I wonder if Shanny ever second-guesses his decision to skip Brister in favor of Brian Griese heading into the 1999 season.
A MHR Hattip to Brister for a couple years of solid service as the backup to a legend on a World Championship team. For me, Cutler has proven to be much more valuable, both now and in the future. He has only scratched the surface of what he can do and be. For that reason, what he has done and will ultimately do, Jay Cutler gets the nod as the Greatest #6 in Broncos history.
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I don't think many will vote for Brister....except maybe Bill Romo
Is there such a thing as a Playstation 3 Anonymous? I can't seem to stop thinking about or playing COD 4 and COD 5. I hear this is quite normal for a teenager, but I haven't been a teenager since Bill Clinton was frolicking with interns.
by Tim Lynch on Feb 4, 2009 4:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
In the Alfred interview with Brister, linked by purplesox...
Alfred said Shanny admitted that his biggest coaching mistake was benching Bubby… Bubby also said he had written to Shanny years later and they had reconciled their differences.
by tunga77 on Feb 4, 2009 4:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I voted Bubby
Hey he has two Super Bowl rings! I had to give the Bubby some love.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
by Broncoman on Feb 4, 2009 4:41 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Biggest mistake
Shanahan blew it totally in 99 by benching Brister in favor of Griese. Broncos would have had a good shot at a three-peat with Brister. That said, Cutler has already surpassed Bubby.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for my eyes to behold the sun.
Ecclesiastes
by bradley on Feb 4, 2009 4:42 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
+5,304,883
Shanny’s biggest blunder…
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by papigrande on Feb 4, 2009 4:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
Show me some playoffs and less INTs and I’ll vote Cutler. But as it stands Bubby was a BIG reason we got the 2nd Superbowl…he was fantastic in those 5 games.
I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.
by sadaraine on Feb 4, 2009 4:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Okay
I agree. As of today, maybe Bubby should get the nod. I have nothing but respect for him. I was just thinking of Cutler’s record setting season, his 2 and a half years, etc. But I totally agree that without Bubby, the Broncos wouldn’t have had a second SB win in two years.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for my eyes to behold the sun.
Ecclesiastes
by bradley on Feb 4, 2009 4:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you Guru for a balanced assesment.
Cutler is the man right now, but as you point out Brister could (and did) stand in for Elway and won the games that he did, leading to SB winning seasons.
Had Brister not been benched for Griese, I think we would have gone far for a few more years (as Bradley points out).
Yes, it’s a tougher vote than most folks might think without deeper thought.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Feb 4, 2009 5:05 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
One thing is for sure, TD would have had many more years
As he got hurt on a Greise interception
by purplesocks on Feb 4, 2009 8:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Cutler will prove to be the better QB. But Bubby deserves respect.
He stepped up when the team needed him.
by ThorpeBroncosfan on Feb 4, 2009 6:16 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Cutler is the easy choice,
however props goes to Brister for keeping out undefeated record at the time going or as Sharper would say “This is a ferarri, so just don’t grind the gears.”
I agree that Shanny probably does regreat benching Bubby. We definatly would have been better than 6-10 in 1999.
"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan
Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9
by weazel on Feb 4, 2009 6:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Bubby mentioned that he had sent Shanny a letter
to bury any shadow of a hatchet that existed between them because of the benching, and he said that Shanny got a hold of hima dn told him he considered the move (benching bubs) to be hsi worst move. I believe Shanny has also publicly said as much, after he was dismissed.
I voted Bubby, because he deserves a vote for something, and this might be my only chance. Cutler will get his share of fan votes over his career, no doubt. Just spreadin the love…
Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 4, 2009 6:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't know about a letter.
At least Shanny came out and admitted it. Thanks.
"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan
Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9
by weazel on Feb 4, 2009 6:59 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting...
I remember at the time the press was speculating that Bubby couldn’t pick up the entire playbook. Granted, I’m sure the Shanahan opus was damned heavy… lol
And who can forget how he took it so well! Challenging Shanny to a duel? That alone was sheer entertainment value!
+100 for Bubby for getting over it eventually, and winning whenever he was asked to (LOVED that KC meltdown game!!!) but Jay is the significant 6 on this team.
Win or lose, do it fairly. -- Knute Rockne
by broncosmontana on Feb 4, 2009 8:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I bet bubby never would have bet 10yrs later he would be getting props from the fans.
by ThorpeBroncosfan on Feb 4, 2009 6:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Let's hope...
….he sees all of this.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for my eyes to behold the sun.
Ecclesiastes
by bradley on Feb 4, 2009 6:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I sure hope someone tells him about it…much love for BB!
I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.
by sadaraine on Feb 4, 2009 9:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, Bubby has seen this on MHR and he says thanks for the votes and comments!
Check out his new site which will go live next week at www.bubbybrister.com
by ceaiv on Feb 5, 2009 6:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Is this going to be in regards to his minicamps?
I’m not sure what you call them, but the camps he was planning for kids around the country? Any word on any other guys he has gotten on board to help him out?
Its awesome that he got the word that the fans dig him and wish him the best!
Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 5, 2009 11:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, the website will have all of the information about the camps
We’ll be running QB/Skills camps around the Gulf Coast with tentative plans to be in Denver in August. This is year one for us with the camps and we still have several possible sites still to be confirmed. Bubby has been doing private lessons for some time and this was the natural progression from that. He’ll also by in Houston and Dallas in March/April at the Debartolo Camps – see http://www.debartolosportsu.com/news/view/239 and he will be at the Manning Camp in July. Thanks!
by ceaiv on Feb 6, 2009 5:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I grow uneasy...
Are we having MHR Radio tonight? It should start in one minute..
Average Bronco Fan's IQ: 120!
Average MHR Mod's IQ: 145!
John Madden's IQ: Fried Chicken!
Click here to beat these scores!!
by papigrande on Feb 4, 2009 6:59 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
No, I wouldn't think Shanny thinks twice
about opting for Griese over Brister. As you said, Guru, Bubby was a journeyman at best.
Remember, Griese had the highest QB rating in 2000, while guiding the Broncos to a 11-5 record and ending up with an invite to the Pro Bowl that year . . . something of which Bubby was incapable. That Griese thereafter went off the wall was a freaky occurrence, which could not have been predicted. So I don’t regard the decision to go with Griese as a bad one at the time.
Anyway, thanks for the good comment. I believe Cutler is not only the best #6, but he is headed for the Ring of Fame, and maybe the Hall of Fame, if he is able to shed the Bronco image with those idiots.
Never argue with a fool, lest you take on his appearance. - my daddy
by AZDynamics on Feb 4, 2009 9:47 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
By the time Cutler can go to the hall,
Guru, Styg, and HT will be voting on it. So, hopefully they will not hold a grudge. :)
Average Bronco Fan's IQ: 120!
Average MHR Mod's IQ: 145!
John Madden's IQ: Fried Chicken!
Click here to beat these scores!!
by papigrande on Feb 4, 2009 9:51 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with this
Benching Brister in favor of Griese is analogous to benching Plummer in favor of Cutler, with the obvious caveats that the Plummer/Cutler decision came in the middle of the season and Plummer was more than a journeyman. And while some argued with the Plummer benching, I think most serious fans saw even at the time that it was the right decision (I was not hanging around here at the time so I’m not sure what you all thought of it). Hindsight is 20/20 and in retrospect starting Cutler looks pretty good while…and honestly Griese was good for us several years (2000 especially), i think he gets too bad a rap. I don’t think we would have done much better with Brister in ’99 or thereafter.
by appleshampoo on Feb 4, 2009 10:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
d'oh
Meant to say “…in retrospect starting Cutler looks pretty good while honestly…”
by appleshampoo on Feb 4, 2009 10:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
you said
(I was not hanging around here at the time so I’m not sure what you all thought of it).
Just a cool piece of info I wanted to point out: This site was started around the time of the Plummer/Cutler debate, and one of John’s main motivations was that he was disappointed with Bronconation for letting the issue divide them. The boards were battlegrounds, camp Plummer vs. camp Cutler, and Guru had had enough.
That whole debate is one of the reasons that MHR will always be a positive place focused on feedback and civility. If we can’t enjoy talking about football then we’re pretty much screwed as people….
Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 4, 2009 11:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Voted for Bubby . . .
but damn, do I hope I’ll be voting for Cutler in 2010 or 2011. It’ll mean that Cutler has advanced from “Overly Adequate” to “Epically Awesome”.
"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." -- Vince Lombardi
(No, I'm not a Packers fan)
by Donut King on Feb 4, 2009 10:21 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I voted for Jay but...
I always liked “Bloody Blister”
Col. Sandurz: Prepare ship for light speed!
Dark Helmet: No, no, no, light speed is too slow!
Col. Sandurz: Light speed, too slow?!
Dark Helmet: Yes, we're gonna have to go right to . . . ludicrous speed!
Col. Sandurz: Ludicrous speed?! Sir, we've never gone that fast before. I don't know if the ship can take it.
Dark Helmet: What's the matter Colonel Sandurz? Chicken?
by orangeblood on Feb 5, 2009 5:21 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
I don't know...
I kind of like that ‘Bybby Brister’ guy. LOL
by TheMastermind on Feb 5, 2009 9:13 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
Errr...
Cutler set the franchise record for completions and passing yards. No offense to Brister, but holding franchise records for just about anything trumps being a backup on a Super Bowl winning team.
by jack_ on Feb 5, 2009 10:51 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
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