Pat Bowlen, NFL Lockout, & 1983
Hello friends. Another week has gone by and not much has been going on in Broncoland. Although there were a couple of interesting things.
A big Zappa welcome to Brian Shrout and EJ Ruiz. I've known EJ online for a couple of years now and I feel like I've known Brian longer than he has been here, but apparently only about a year. ha!
MHR took a hit when it lost a couple of key contributors, but like the Lynch train, the MHR-train never slows or derails. The show must go on!
As for me, I am still glowing over the Floyd Little nomination to the Hall of Fame and I cannot wait until I get to watch his induction on the television.
We are looking at a shorter post today, since there really isn't much to talk about. I'm not going to complain though. The last thing I want is another Jay Cutler-like soap opera. It made for good media, but I am fan first and that kind of drama is bad for a fan.
Pat Bowlen
I did not believe for a second that Pat Bowlen was thinking about selling the team. Of course, that belief is shrouded in the irrational mind of a Broncomaniac.
Truth is, as a student of history, we are very fortunate to have an owner like Pat Bowlen. He is an excellent chief executive. He cares as much about quality as he does about profitability. Few business models can succeed without a healthy balance between the two.
I am just 31 years old and count my lucky stars that the entire period of my fanhood exists within Bowlen's ownership of this franchise. It is an ownership that has witnessed just a few losing seasons, five Super Bowl appearances, and league-wide respect.
If you need a refresher course on just how important Pat Bowlen is to all of our fanhood, just review the coaching history of the Broncos. We are blessed to have an owner that "gets it". I am glad the rumor turned out ot be crap.
NFL Lockout
I have some nagging questions about what would happen to the 2012 NFL Draft if there were a lockout in 2011. I have yet to find a satisfactory answer. I've heard of there being no draft period in 2012, but was unable to find any other source than the one link I just provided. On the other hand, I've heard that there might be a lottery, which I think blows. We all know how lame the NBA lottery system is. At least for a Sacramento Kings fan like me.
Personally, I'd like to see the owners throw in some replacement players for the season. If they do that, then I implore Pat Bowlen to field the worst possible team in all of history. In fact, I volunteer to be your quarterback. Let Al Davis win a Super Bowl like he did back in 1982. It'll be his last hurrah and we can use the excellent draft position to begin a dynasty.
If it turns out to be a lottery, then bribe whoever needs to be bribed to ensure a solid draft position. How pissed will we all be if the Broncos get #32?
At the very least, push for the draft order to be flipped from the year prior. I don't really have a problem with the 2010 Super Bowl winner to draft first overall in 2012. Of course, I also think the Broncos will finally return to the playoff mix next year, so I do have a hidden agenda with that idea!
If anyone has a clear, well-referenced answer to my question, please respond in the comments section. I don't claim to know everything, but I'd sure like to know what the NFL Draft picture might look like in two short years.
Random Tidbits
1. Has anyone else seen a correlation between hosting the Olympic Games and national bankruptcy?
Greece and Italy are already on the verge of defaulting. Though the EU appears to have figured out a way to hold things together there.
Meanwhile, Australia's housing market is the most overvalued market in the entire world. Twice that of America's bubblelicious peak. And China's currency is now on the brink of implosion.
Totally not Bronco or football related, but I just felt the need to warn all of our Canadian breathern out there of their impending DOOM!
If you are a citizen of one of these nations. I was joking around of course. Oh wait, was that Salt Lake City in there too? Damn, oh wait, damn.
2. I am starting to wonder if Brandon Marshall will remain a Bronco. Meaning, I think he might just be a Bronco in 2010. Of course, the only basis for this opinion is that I have not heard any of the Jay Cutler-esque drama swirling Dove Valley this month.
I have gone back and forth in regards with BMarsh, but the fact is, the Broncos are better off with him than without him. For now.
Through The Years
For those of you who have been around for quite a while, you may recall a weekly regular season post I did during one season called Through the Years.
I've decided to start at 1983. The year Pat Bowlen took over the franchise. Ironically, they year after another season in which the NFL and NFLPA decided to have it out. We got John Elway thanks to that.
My focus will be, what I think is, the best game the Broncos played in that particular season. It could be a regular season or playoff game. The decision is entirely subjective to my own narrow views and bias, so enjoy.
There really is only one game that sticks out to me and I think most of us know which one that is.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
Yes. It is the first of forty-seven John Elway comebacks. After last week's controversial Manning-Elway debate, I felt it was time to do some 'community service'. I was a budding San Diego Charger fan at the time this game took place. Of course, I was just five and both my parents were raving San Di-eggo Super Charger fans. A boy is impressionable, though my parents would not leave an lasting impression on my younger self.
Though I was too young to remember and too Southwestern California to care, I have seen the highlight reels and have read about this game many times.
John Elway played against Baltimore early in the season and was harrassed and punked by the Colts for much of that game. Elway was even benched, enabling the Broncos to pull off a 17-10 win in spite of Elway's horrible play.
Week 15 proved to be much of the same for Elway. He was brutalized and harrassed for three quarters, yet this time Dan Reeves would choose to keep him in the game. The rest was history. Three touchdowns in the final quarter erased a 19-0 deficit and propelled the Broncos into the playoff mix.
Elway would finish with the best game of his rookie year. The Legend of the Magnificent #7 was also born on this day.
| BAL | DEN | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total Yards | 387 | 352 |
| Passing | ||
| Yards | 201 | 307 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 13-28-1 | 23-45-0 |
| Yards Per Pass | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 5-38 | 2-16 |
| Rushing | ||
| Yards | 186 | 45 |
| Attempts | 47 | 12 |
| Average | 4 | 3.8 |
| Turnovers | ||
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 3-2 |
| Punting | ||
| Punts | 6 | 7 |
| Yards | 276 | 280 |
| Yards Per Punt | 46 | 40 |
| Penalties | ||
| Penalties | 16 | 5 |
| Yards | 95 | 51 |
| Possession | ||
| Time of Possession | 36:44 | 23:16 |
Interesting...To Me
I probably should have put the Olympic crap down here, but oh well.
My daughter turned 9 weeks old yesterday and two months old on the 16th.
I thought the post would be shorter than usual, but apparently I vastly underestimated my ability as a blithering windbag.
3 recs |
41 comments
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Comments
LOL
That is the first I’ve seen (from that article) about no impending draft. It is old though. I wouldn’t worry about that since none of us can change it.
Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
Good. I hope its not true.
It was from a “MSM” source, so that’s what got me wondering….
Unless the “Post Gazette” is just cover for some dingus in his mothers basement(aka Colin Cowherd).
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
Nice thoughts & a trip down memory lane
Congrats on the 2-month celebration. Enjoy her while she’s little. My “little” one will turn 22 in May. :)
We live in an age when instant gratification isn't fast enough
Thanks Zap...Always enjoy your reads...
I refuse to believe that the Owners and Players will not be able to come to some sort of CBA and avoid “no football”…Too much at stake for both parties…They’ll certainly bicker and bitch but in the end, they will get it done!
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
I don't think so. The new NFLPA Prez has to play hardball to prove he is a worthy successor to Upshaw...
Hardball is the worst game to play at this juncture.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
I view it more as posturing than hardball...
Certainly the issues are complex with many moving parts and varried personalities, and I agree that it would seem to be so overwhelming that an agreement could ultimately be illusive, but my opinion is that there is way too much at stake (economically, public relations, etc.) for both sides to not be able to find common ground before a work cessation becomes inevitable…If we are to assume that there are many issues that the sides appear to be in total disagreement, we must also assume that there are also issues of common agreement that could/should/will be used as foundation for a reasonable settlement…I say, just say NO to no football!!!
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
by BroncoSense72 on Feb 18, 2010 10:50 AM MST up reply actions
There is too much at stake.
For the NFL, no season = a huge loss in revenue, but if they get better terms out of it the owners will be better off in the long run.
For the NFLPA, no season = a huge loss in revenue, but if they give into the owners then they face long term loss in earnings.
For the fans, no season = WTF man?
All I am saying is that the owners, in this case, hold all the cards and are willing to take it to the hilt if the NFLPA doesn’t concede something. The longer the NFLPA “postures” the more likely they will lose even more. It is just plain fact that the NFL has given into the NFLPA for nearly 20 years….it’s time for the NFLPA to give a little back.
That’s just my own personal opinion. 5% less is not that big of deal. Many of us out in the real world are facing a 50% cut in year over incomes….
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
I agree with all of your points here
Especially THIS…“Many of us out in the real world are facing a 50% cut in year over incomes”…And I would add…“If you are lucky enough to even have a job!”
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
by BroncoSense72 on Feb 18, 2010 12:47 PM MST up reply actions
50%? change careers.
I think there are some other issues here that are being overlooked (probably by design) here. When I hear Jerry Jones tell us that revenue sharing is a thing of the past? Can the small market teams keep up without it? I don’t know but as a Royals fan…
by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 2:46 PM MST up reply actions
Jones may want the sharing to go away, but small market teams outnumber his stupid ass.
I hope…..we’re a small market team after all! kinda….
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
sounds like the players are getting the short end thus far...
the J Jones’s, A Davis’s and Snyders are trying to turn our beloved NFL into another MLB. whatever it takes to prevent this from happening…
by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 2:40 PM MST up reply actions
59.5% is hardly a short end of a stick.
5% isn’t that much of a request…doing away with revenue sharing is very bad though.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
59.5? so they were getting 64.5% before?
I thought it was closer to 50… yeah, can’t really argue much about still getting 10% above half can u?
by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 5:16 PM MST up reply actions
no, they are getting like 59.5 now...
5% is still over 50%. I think the owners would be willing to accept it too. I hope they would…if they play harder than that then I would likely support the NFLPA more.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
I tend to agree.
But I’ve always been told I’m idealistic to a fault.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."-- Oscar Wilde
by PredominantlyOrange on Feb 18, 2010 9:33 AM MST up reply actions
haha, great stuff Zappa.
I would be super upset about the draft turning into a lottery. The NBA is a joke because of that. As a person who has seen John Wall play basketball from the 5th row in Louisville, whoever wins the NBA lottery will have….. won the lottery.
Personally, I’ve never found joy in a lottery. When my friends turned 18 years old, which is old enough to get a lottery ticket, they bought lottery tickets. They all lost. When I turned 18, I had a nice expensive steak with my friends and family and didn’t flush money down the toilet like my idiot friends did.
That’s how I feel about a draft lottery, too. Except, instead of flushing money down the toilet, you are flushing credibility down the toilet. What has made the NFL so great throughout the years has been the draft. Nowadays, it’s almost been a handicap to pay a 1st round pick, but in the past, it was the ultimate way that a team could improve itself.
You are absolutely right, Zappa. It would be an absolute shame if the NFL went the way of the NBA and had a draft lottery.
If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.
PS3 ID: broncomaniac6
I agree. Lottery's are a waste of one's time and money.
And as a Kings fan, some teams should be drafting Top 5 and never do because of the Lottery.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
Well, hope karma goes your way this year or make a deal with the devil.
John Wall is the real deal and your kings would benefit greatly from having him.
If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.
PS3 ID: broncomaniac6
by kentuckybronco on Feb 18, 2010 9:37 AM MST up reply actions
I'll hold my breath. :)
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
Lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math.
by Velveeta on Feb 18, 2010 12:57 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Circle gats the square!
Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
Thanks Tim!
And don’t you ever worry about going too long, because every word is worth the read!
MileHighReport.com member since 02/06/07, promoted to "Position Coach" (i.e. new staff writer) on 02/16/10!
by ejruiz on Feb 18, 2010 9:19 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
The game
I still remember it. I was at a Thanksgiving get together with lots of people so lots of distractions from the game, and it was pretty bad anyway. Then the 4th quarter arrived and I became glued to the set. Gerald Wilhite was amazing. Elway showed what he could accomplish when the lights came on.
The prophet Elijah told Ahab that the dogs would lick his blood, and so it came to pass, as you would imagine, since only the successful prophets are remembered.
One of my favorite calls of the game was on the highlight of that game.
“Gerald Wilhite to the two, Gerald Wilhite TOUCHDOWN! Fourth and two and the Broncos get the go ahead touchdown!”
Or something like that. Makes me wish I was just a few years older and my parents were orange and blue rather than yellow and powder.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
not too mention he broke is blocking assignment early
and there was nobody there between him and the EZ. Plus he did his backflip afterwards
- Dan Noreen.
by broncfanstuckinsd on Feb 18, 2010 12:42 PM MST up reply actions
Wilhite is always the second guy that comes to mind when I remember that game.
That was probably his high-water mark— and at that point and time, he and Elway were easily the most maligned players on the team. That game definitely signaled the start of the Golden Age in Denver.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."-- Oscar Wilde
by PredominantlyOrange on Feb 18, 2010 9:37 AM MST up reply actions
Great....
You just had to mention the Baltimore Colt game, didn’t you???
Actually that is one of my more embarrassing days as I had tickets to the game and in my quest to put them in a safe place, I lost them and had to watch the game on TV.
Baltimore misunderstands Elway just as I think Denver misunderstands Cutler, although I do not compare the two in talent.
Anyhow, I am not sure I share your view on Bowlen any more. I think Joe Ellis is calling many of the shots now and I don’t think his mind is as good as vintage Bowlen. Seldom do I think #2 men have innovative thinking… their first motivation has to be that held by most politicians… keep your job and eliminate threats to the throne… I think that is what really happened to Shanahan.
I hope pro football does not devour itself. People get greedy with success…
by Baltimore Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 9:55 AM MST reply actions
Re: Bowlen
If you are correct, then shouldn’t we be grateful that Bowlen is not like Al Davis? ;-)
Either way(your view or mine), Bowlen is still a good chief executive.
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
I Agree
Oh, I agree completely on that, Tim. Overall, I think Bowlen has been a good CEO and has done well by Denver. My criticisms are recent and largely are not attributed to Bowlen. He gives people under him lots of leash.
by Baltimore Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 11:44 AM MST up reply actions
Great post Lynchster,
Impending Doom on Olympic countries indeed, but, I do see your correlation a little.
Nice trip back to ‘83 a year I didn’t get to see much football as I was aboard a ship out of San Diego at the time and we were gone quite bit that fall.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
The Olympic thing was easy...nearly every country in the world is suffering at some level....
I was just having fun with it. :)
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
Thanks for the blast from the past.
I remember those “Through the Years” posts you did and was always fun to read. Colts fans in that 21-19 game had to be really pissed.
I had no idea that with all the CBA going on that the draft was set to end in 2012. No draft woud be a bad thing and a lottery like the NBA would be just plain stupid.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
As For the Lockout
as I’ve often said, there is too much at stake and all of us Broncos fans would probably admit to being bigger fans of the product the shield provides overall.. Deep down, I think DeMoron ERRR DeMaurice Smith HAS to realize he has no leverage at all and already you hear people like Ray Edwards of the Minnesota Vikings whining about being screwed. Remember that with no floor, some owners will not pay players anything. You see DeMaurice that’s what a salary floor provides so you can be tough all you want but it’s all smoke and mirrors. There will be no lockout I do not believe this and once DeMaruice acknowledges the obvious the players will give an inch to get a mile to paraphrase Commish Goodell’s treatise the Friday before the Super Bowl. GO BRONCOS!!!
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Feb 18, 2010 3:37 PM MST reply actions
Great read..enjoyed it!
I am anti-union in almost every way because they only hurt the company. I left a union job 4 years ago mainly because I hated the entitlement mentality of the union. There work ethic annoyed me so much I couldn’t take it.
Guess what players… Your benifit is that you play a game for living and are paid well to do it. I don’t care if you strike the whole season..because you’ll eventually cave and the NFL will be better off in the long run.
by CastorTroy on Feb 18, 2010 4:18 PM MST via mobile reply actions
I am mostly anti-union as well, BUT
that is only because Unions have forgotten their actual purpose. Without the concept of Unions, we’d still be living under the robber Baron era of the early 20th century. Many workers lost their livelihoods and indeed lives fighting for a living wage.
I just think that in most cases, the Unions have gotten too much from their employers. A balance must be achieved or both the union members and the business end up suffering.
I see nothing wrong with the concept of a Labor Union, but I see everything wrong with it when it causes the government to bail out the employer…cough, GM, cough. All that needs to happen is a happy medium. Once an equal balance is achieved…WORK TO MAINTAIN IT. Don’t try to ramrod the other side to gain the “upper” hand. In the end, you both suffer.
That is my opinion on the matter. So far, neither the Unions nor businesses have listened to my calls for sanity. lmao
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
Absolutely. The unions played a great role in our current ability to earn a fair living in this country.
But their influence on our economy (and the quality of our products) these last thirty years or so has been a negative one. IMO of course.
by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 18, 2010 5:20 PM MST up reply actions
Totally agree
Greed has taken over and has crippled the very business’ that pay them. But original intentions were good for both.
The players have to realize that it’s not them vs the owners. It’s a partnership to make sure the game stays healthy in good or bad times.
by CastorTroy on Feb 18, 2010 5:54 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
I'm actually relatively pro-union...
… and still agree completely.
Collective bargaining prevents the race to the bottom in wages and benefits that happens whenever you have inequality in society. If you have poor people in society living hand-to-mouth, it is almost always possible to find someone who can do the job just that little bit cheaper… and that little margin doesn’t usually turn into another job, but instead into a little bigger bonus for the CEO/mangement.
The problem with unions is the same as the one in executive pay… the earner’s wage is disconnected to the performance of the enterprise.
At some point, when the economy is in a downturn or the company is struggling, there has to be a coincidental decrease in wages, etc. Just as CEO’s shouldn’t still be getting 7-figure bonuses when the company is going down the tubes, the union guys should also be taking a hit.
Both sides of that coin are currently broken in US society, so blaming it on unions is kinda riduculous, even if they are a part of the problem in some cases.
So to bring it back to football, there are obvious problems with the current CBA…. for example top-5 rookie wages that outstrip the money being made by perrenial All-Pro players. If the player’s union doesn’t get that those issues need fixed before you can even start to think about the revenue split…. well I guess I just don’t have a lot of sympathy for either the owners or the players, who both are making bazillions off us fans and our $100+ nosebleed seats, $150 jerseys, etc.
by cjfarls on Feb 19, 2010 10:55 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Nail...Head. Rec'd
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The guy formerly known as ZAPPA
This may be sacrilegious to suggest
But with the possibility of the CBA going away and no ceiling on how much money can be spent on free agents would it benefit Bronco fans to have a new owner in here that has deeper pockets then Pat Bowlen.
Keep in mind I’m not advocating for a new owner, and I know some teams have said they will impose a salary cap, but, if at the end of next year owner’s feel that they benefit from not having a cap in place therefore allowing each individual owner to spend how they fit then having a owner that has the loot to compete with the bigger spending clubs in the league could be a necessity.
You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace is it?....Did Caesar live here?
You know where I wanna go? I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen




































