From The FanPosts: Dear Mr. B -- Just a reminder of sorts....

Very well thought out and because I’m only about a year or so older than you I have many of the same memories of the Broncos however I grew up on the other side of the Rockies so getting to games and meeting players wasn’t as easy. The Broncos always played a basketball team over in Grand Junction where I grew up once a year so we did get a chance to meet some of the players then. Regardless I agree very much with the premise that Bowlen shares blame in McD’s failure and I hope he finally learns his lesson and hire’s a strong and talented personnel man to be GM. Then allow the GM along with Bowlen and maybe Elway and Ellis to pick the next head coach.

Rec’d. Hope someone gets this in front of Pat.

This was the most comprehensive post-McD piece I have seen. And it was obviously from the heart… a rarity these days. And by the way, I’m a 68 year old who also wants to see a Broncos resurgence before riding off into the orange sunset. Rec’d.

Go Broncos!

Bet on it.

Easy to scrawl this kind of thing when you really mean it, ya know?

Just about captures all of it.

Well done.

J

Great work

I can definitely relate…..grew up in South Denver, was a senior in high school in 1977. The city was so proud of that team, it put Denver on the map….and it made us hungry for more glory. Hopefully we’ll return to those ways!

MHR

that is an outstanding post and I wish I could rec it more than once.

I say “Hi John, when’s your offensive line gonna start blocking for you?”.

This is classic….LMAO!

I really like it. Thanks, George.

I’m an old fart who has loved my Broncos for the better part of 45 years. I’m really wanting to have a few more playoff praties myself. Miss ’em I do. I hope Pat reads your post buddy. Good luck with that little one too! Get him or her an orange and blue outfit!

and it went from 42 to 44…you tell me.

I loved the tone, the reason & the passion – you really nailed it for this Broncos fan. Thank you. This is the kind of writing and fanship that makes the Broncos and this site so incredibly special.

I hope this does make it Bowlen’s desk somehow. This is one of the most level-headed pieces after the firing that I have seen, and I really appreciate it. This is the type of article that drew me into MHR. Not the mock drafts, or whos-blaming-who now, or any of that other random junk. Its the stuff that gets to the core of what it mean to be a Broncos fan and the stuff that takes a very unbiased and objective look at the team that I really love. There hasn’t been enough of them. Luckily this piece was amazing enough that I should be pretty full for a little while – I’ll survive until another good true-to-MHR article comes about.

P.S. I loved your “P.S.” at the end!

IDK how to thank you enough for refreshing my boggled down mind like that. This was your magnum opus my friend, your opportunity to ride into the soul warming sunset – much like John in 1999, after hoisting two Lombardi’s. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this will be your last chance at this – much like John coming back home, helping to restore our glory.

Hands down the best post I’ve seen on here in an age – once again, thank you.

P.S. The Marine above me shares my feelings about your P.S.

very well written and really enjoyed it, super.

You mention

Just take it slow

I hope we extend that courtesy to the next guy(s). Quick fixes are tough to make happen. let’s do it right this time.

Broncos Country needs to heal thyself and this is good start.

Very nicely written, super7!

I’m the same age as you as well… but I grew up in the midwest, so I didn’t get to share some of the experiences that you have had in Denver. Boy, I’m jealous I didn’t get to see the naked lady on the horse! ;)

But as a fan of the team for ~27/28 years now, we’ve shared the same ups and downs. As you say, we’ve been pretty spoiled and it’s been mostly highs for that time and now that we are experiencing what could be characterized as the lowest low in our lifetime as Bronco fans, it’s a relatively new experience for many of us and frankly, we’re having a hard time dealing with it. As you say, we went all “Lord of the Flies” on Bowlen and the team.

However, not only that, but my biggest fear lately is that I personally do not very attached to the team at the moment. As many of you will say, you’re a fan of the team first and foremost. Well, so am I, but what I’ve also enjoyed over the years is the ability to find 4-5 players on the team to get really attached to… To get super excited every time they touched and were near the ball. To look up highlight reels of their plays every day between the Sundays and during the offseason. To be extremely proud of them both on and off the field. To love their attitudes, classiness, and their larger than life persona’s that let them transcend into a state of worship for us fans. I’m a fan of the Denver Broncos, the Team, yes… but it is also my fandom of certain key players that keeps this team fandom alive and well.

With the past couple of years’ worth of squads, I’m having a really hard time finding anyone that I feel this way about. I’m not even just talking a John Elway-like persona, but how about finding myself a Rod Smith, an Easy Ed McCaffrey, an Albino Rhino, a Big Al, a Dennis Smith, or so many others that we loved thru the 80s and 90s. I find that our players these days are either great on the field, but not so good off the field; great some plays, but then seemingly taking other plays off; surrounded by drama and controversy;

Maybe I’m not as “true” of a fan as others; maybe I’m not putting in enough of an effort; maybe I’m being too harsh on current players; maybe I’m living in the past too much; or, maybe it’s just that we’re losing; or maybe it’s just all the upheaval and turnover on the team… but all I can say is that despite recognizing these as potential issues, I still just can’t very riled up about our team as I used to day in and day out for the last two and half decades… even the number of times I hit MHR during my workday has dwindled… and that scares me. :(

I wonder if how many other Bronco fans out there share this same problem as me…

Your words have been too kind! You all know exactly what I was trying to say and that means a lot.

I think everyone here at MHR knows what I mean when I talk about how much the team means to this city and state and fans.

Fortunately we are not callous to losing games and being a franchise in disarray. We DON’T want to feel like we’re settling for it and that’s why everyobne was so uncomfortable recently.

Hoping for a win this weekend, regardless of draft pick. Do us proud Broncos!

Best post I’ve read on this site for some time. Rec’d.
I’ve been a broncos fan since the ‘71-’72 season and have endured the good and the bad since, but never have I been down about the Broncos as this year.
The spygate II was the ultimate low for me. Although I believe that McD will someday be an excellent coach, I can never forgive the shame of cheating being associated with the good name of the Denver Broncos. It was time for Josh to go, simple and clear. He’ll probably never admit it, but I believe that is what pushed Pat Bowlen over the edge to fire McD.
Whomever is our next coach, I will be behind 100%, whether I agree with him 100% of the time or not. I’ll continue to cheer for the Broncos every time they’re on the field and I will bleed orange and blue until the day I die.
Floyd Little taught me everything I need to know about what it means to be a Bronco and to be a Bronco fan. You’ve got a job to do, you bring it every Sunday and conduct yourself with class, win or lose.
Hopefully, the apparent front office problems get fixed and we’re back on the road to the superbowl.
GO BRONCOS!!!
Oh yeah, absolutely, bring back the Orange uniforms, too

Well written, not antagonistic. Thank you super7 for expressing our collective thoughts so well!!! Made my day reading this. This is what MHR is supposed to be about.

the details might be different,I grew up and still live in California, but the heart of the message is exactly what I have been feeling lately. I love the Broncos, I grew up as one of maybe one or two other Broncos fan’s in my highschool of over 1100 students. I bleed blue and orange, and this is my biggest hobby. And posts like this are one of the main reasons that I lurk around MHR everyday. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us have been feeling.

and I loved it!!1

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed your thoughts.

I can relate. Even though I was born and raised in NC and now live in SC, I’ve been a Broncos fanatic since 1974. I was watching the NBC game that week (called by Curt Gowdy and Al Derogatis), Broncos vs. Raiders. I remember being awestruck my the orange and blue uniforms and the crowd at Mile High, even on TV. They became “my team” and I’ve stuck with them through thick and thin.

For Christmas on my 12th b-day (1975), I got an electric football set. In those days, they came with the teams from the last Super Bowl so I think mine had the Dolphins and Redskins. BUT….there was an order form where you order another set for $5….so I filled it out, put 5 ones in an envelope and order a set of the Broncos. Played it almost daily, Broncos against whoever (I had a great imagination and used the Dolphins, they had their white jerseys, for whoever the opponent was).

Living in NC, I only got to see a Broncos game a couple of times a year but it was Must See TV….if I saw they were on that week in the TV Guide, I’d defer family outings, anything, and was planted in front of the TV to watch them. I remember always wanting the late NBC game to end early in hopes they’d cut to the finish of the Broncos game just so I could get a fix. Or for the Broncos game to go into OT so they’d cut over once the primary game was over.

I’ve followed them religiously since, living and dying with them. More t-shirts and jerseys than I can count. My most treasured piece is an autographed John Elway pic my late wife got directly from the Broncos for me for Christmas after the 2nd Super Bowl win. I was remarried in 2008 and my new wife has quickly been indoctrinated in the Bronco Way. She knows not to schedule things around their games on Sunday or Monday or Thursdays. I got the Sunday Ticket just so I could watch every game the Broncos play each year……one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

My biggest thrill was actually getting to see the Broncos and Elway play a pre-season game against Carolina in one of his last years. It was something I’ll always remember.

GO BRONCOS!!

This has really helped what being a Broncos fan in the days of the Orange Crush and John Elway was really about, and I thank you for that. I haven’t really been around long enough to remember that stuff. I can sort of remember my parents getting together with this other family for parties both years we won the Super Bowl, but really didn’t start paying much attention until 2006-ish, so I would love to see the franchise return to that state you talk about.

What a great post! One of the best I have ever read and so true! I printed this and have it hanging up at my desk. You are a great Bronco fan George! Thanks!!

I am 45 years old and felt like you were talking about my life when reading this article. I really appreciate your thoughful article. Very nice read. Go Broncos!

Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec.Rec. ad infinitum

No better post has been at MHR since I joined 2 years ago. A truly great post can only come when everything is going to crap…..anything done at other times is cherry picking by comparison.

Thanks for saying exactly what needed to be said, and with just the right tone.

And George, you just snapped me out of it. Love your sincerity and the way you articulated what we all feel was right on the money. I’m still miserable, but it doesn’t feel as rotten any more. Just when I was about to write most of the fanbase off as raving nutters, you come out with this. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this inspired post.