Are We "On the Rise"?

by Sayre Bedinger on Feb 24, 2010 2:45 PM MST

I'm watching the LaDainian Tomlinson press conference, and he was just asked about playing for a championship contender. Having to "win NOW."

He said that was not a necessity when choosing his new team, but that he does want to play for a team "on the rise" because he feels he has four good years left in him.

He also talked about the ability to mentor young players, and how he was looking forward to that with his new team. He says he has "a lot" left in him, and that his injuries are a major cause for the lack of production.

This is a guy who had 12 touchdowns last season, and most people are saying he isn't producing. I know that his ypc average isn't impressive anymore, but we clearly struggled in the short range running game this past year?

He laughed at the idea of joining the Raiders, and said even if they weren't set at RB that he wouldn't sign there. Nothing about the Broncos, and I think last year around this time he said he would have signed with us had he been released.

There are some who want to see it happen simply to flash a blue and orange "TOMLINSON" jersey in the face of a Chargers fan.

I suppose my question is, are we "one the rise"? Could we sign this guy, or do he and his agent look over our roster and say, "pass"?

Poll

Are the Broncos a team "on the rise"?

Yes

148 votes

No

29 votes

177 votes | Poll has closed

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

Screw the naysayers

We are definitley on the rise. Another year of McX and their questionable (to the MSM) and beneficial personnel moves and we’ll be fine.

by DBroncs1414 on Feb 24, 2010 2:53 PM MST reply actions

we have to win in dec

we also need to win more home games and McD needs to mix up his play calling more on offense we need to win 10 games with this sch if we can i think the key is can we spit the AFC sorth and win 3-4 against the NFC west

okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24

by j-man on Feb 24, 2010 3:00 PM MST reply actions

Hi j-man...Good to see you my friend!

Hope all is well with you…I think that McD will be more comfortable this year and open up the play book and get the wagon train rolling…Go Broncos!

-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

by BroncoSense72 on Feb 24, 2010 3:11 PM MST up reply actions

u too

bs 72

by j-man on Feb 24, 2010 4:06 PM MST up reply actions

I believe we are on the rise

But I am a Sunnysider, and I think that every year. Let LDT have his 4 years in sunny Florida.

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

by KaptainKirk on Feb 24, 2010 3:16 PM MST reply actions

Of course were on the rise

We always iss the playoffs by one game every year. I think kinda restock the D-Line Coach Martindale can keep that D consistent. Coach McDaniels makes it clear this is his team we havr to give him time he is a good mind. If Peyton Hillis could block worth a $#!+ wed have made the playoffs. Playcalling yes was bad we ran the same lead play on 3rd and 1 and failed every time. This is the year we either win the division or make the Wild Card

by broncospirit15 on Feb 24, 2010 3:21 PM MST reply actions

Hillis's blocking is why we didn't make the playoffs?

Really?

- Nick

"We got 'em right where we want 'em!" - Keith Bishop, right before John Elway orchestrated The Drive. 'Nuff said.

by ncm42 on Feb 24, 2010 8:08 PM MST up reply actions

we were doin' pretty well with spence in there...

but all our backs’ blocking needs to improve…Moreno’s first. He has to learn that in the NFL RB’s absolutely cannot block straight up—they have to cut!

Because Montana has no professional sports, I gotta support the land of my birth.

Socrates was once executed for 'trolling'.
^Needs explaining: don't call someone asking uncomfortable, slightly antagonistic questions trolls. In all odds they probably just want to learn. It's real easy to differentiate a 'Socratic' post from a trolling one (unless you're a resident of WCG).
^Needs further explaining: I have yet to post anything on WCG, don't worry, I'm not trying to rationalize anything I've done. I've just lurked over there and man, they are the model of post-peloponnesian war Athens.

by Drizzt396 on Feb 24, 2010 8:11 PM MST up reply actions

Yes to "On the rise," No to LDT

The interviews I’ve seen with McDaniels indicate that he was being very basic with his playbook — crawling before walking before running. I think we’ll see a much greater variety of plays called in 2010. Hopefully we won’t have a 40-50% turnover in the roster, which will help our players move beyond having to think about the plays, and simply execute them.

My objection to Tomlinson is the same one I have to McNabb — an older player with a 3 year pattern of declining statistics. That doesn’t strike me as a recipe for moving up and out.

We live in an age when instant gratification isn't fast enough

by Brian Shrout on Feb 24, 2010 3:27 PM MST reply actions

btw, great question sayre

We live in an age when instant gratification isn't fast enough

by Brian Shrout on Feb 24, 2010 3:27 PM MST up reply actions

I don't think LT fits if he wants to start

If he would take a Kevin Faulk roll I would be all on board, but I don’t see him wanting that.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Feb 24, 2010 4:03 PM MST reply actions

Dang...you beat me to it...

by bfree2bronc on Feb 24, 2010 4:05 PM MST up reply actions

Let me see...last I heard we flipped the team upside down and still went 8-8...Hmm.

Buckhalter was a servicable back for us last year where Jordan was’t. Moreno, Buckhalter and Tomlinson could be what th doctor ordered, but Tomlinson will have to decide if he wants to be a backup player with a backup’s salary. I leaning toward he wouldn’t and it wouldn’t be very profitable for either parties.

by bfree2bronc on Feb 24, 2010 4:04 PM MST reply actions

Of course we are on the rise

And of course we don’t need LT. It would be great to rub it in on the Chargers, but nothing else. What’re we do, make KnowMo the #2 back after picking him first lat year? Make LT the # 2 back? It’s doubtful he would take that. What about the money? What about Buck, where would he fit in?

We don’t need LT and he doesn’t need us.

Good luck with the Redskins Mr. Mike! I'll be watching and cheering for a non-Bronco team for the first time in my life. Well, except when they play the Broncos!

by Alex on Feb 24, 2010 4:22 PM MST reply actions

Ryan Pickett = $7.2MM in 2010. I told you that you were WAY TOO LOW when you predicted he would cost about $3MM. Peppers really would only cost an Orton and Pickett. Problem is, signing Pickett and Orton to long term deals would cost around $15MM per season. Maybe a bit more. And I still agree with you that we don’t need Peppers since he is not a great fit.

San Diego Super Chokers – The annual preseason Champs, eternal post season chumps. Stay Classy

by McGeorge on Feb 24, 2010 9:07 PM MST up reply actions

didn't you two bet on this?

Just wondering.

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

by johnnystarr on Feb 25, 2010 6:08 AM MST up reply actions

Nope

We talked about another sort of bet relating to WR’s, but it was quashed.

Good luck with the Redskins Mr. Mike! I'll be watching and cheering for a non-Bronco team for the first time in my life. Well, except when they play the Broncos!

by Alex on Feb 25, 2010 8:57 AM MST up reply actions

oh

cool!!

You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace is it?....Did Caesar live here?

by johnnystarr on Feb 25, 2010 8:59 AM MST up reply actions

Oh, now I remember what you were probably thinking of though

I offered a bet to Sayre about Pickett. I said he wouldn’t be extended by GB this off-season. If I was wrong, I said I’d have my signature state for a week that “Sayre’s the man”, or something to that effect. It was very clearly stated, however, that a franchise tag would be a tie and that nobody would win the bet. The bet was politely turned down, though.

Good luck with the Redskins Mr. Mike! I'll be watching and cheering for a non-Bronco team for the first time in my life. Well, except when they play the Broncos!

by Alex on Feb 25, 2010 9:11 AM MST up reply actions

Yeah, I wasnt sure

I thought I remember reading about you offering up a bet with Pickett invovled. I couldnt remember the exact terms.

For the record I doubt we see any substantial free agents hit the market this year. ALthough, a lot of times its the lesser known guys who end up being the steals. Lets hope we can grab one for the OLine

You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace is it?....Did Caesar live here?

by johnnystarr on Feb 25, 2010 9:22 AM MST up reply actions

My target there

Is Stephen Neal. I think he’ll be affordable (due to injury history) and poachable (beacuse he’s out of Boston). His injury history is concerning, but the glass is half full there, because it will give the opportunity for guys like Olsen to not be lost in the wash.

When Neal is on the field, he is always VERY effective. He’s under valued and under the radar, in my opinion.

Good luck with the Redskins Mr. Mike! I'll be watching and cheering for a non-Bronco team for the first time in my life. Well, except when they play the Broncos!

by Alex on Feb 25, 2010 9:42 AM MST up reply actions

Damnit! lol

In fairness, though, I’ve always said the franchise tag was possible. My main thing about Pickett, that I’ve written many times over, is that GB would never extend him like they acted like they wanted to. Two high priced nose tackles, both of whom are too heavy to shift to DG, to long-term deals is just crazy.

Also, I was operating on the assumption of this year’s salary with Pickett signing with us. Obviously, had that been the case, Pickett wouldn’t be making “franchise money” this year.

Anyway, as I noted then, the issue we were discussing at the time was that Peppers was a luxury, not a necessity – largely due to his high slary. I clarified that the combination of which players’ salaries weren’t important, but that the point I was making was that signing Peppers would have cost as much money in 2010 salary as three or four of our key players combined.

Anyway, you did school me on Pickett though, at least technically. Unfortunately now we’ll never know what he would have made this year if he weren’t franchised.

Good luck with the Redskins Mr. Mike! I'll be watching and cheering for a non-Bronco team for the first time in my life. Well, except when they play the Broncos!

by Alex on Feb 25, 2010 8:57 AM MST up reply actions

I voted yes but I'd like a revote following FA & the draft.

We are balanced on a knife blade right now. Will our front office take us in the right direction? I have faith but it’s definitely mustard seed sized… the koolaiders have hopeful with very little to go on. Faith is the stuff of things hoped for yet not seen…

by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 24, 2010 4:34 PM MST reply actions

btw NoWayLT

by Whidbey Bronco on Feb 24, 2010 4:35 PM MST reply actions

Yes we're on the rise, but... when choosing his new team?

I think LT is going to be let down here. He may think he’ll have 31 good offers to pick from. I think he’ll have 3-4 teams willing to give him a fair contract that will be a big step down for him in his roll and his money. In the end it will be “will I get carries?” and “will I get paid?” rather than “which of these 10 S.B. contenders will I choose to honor with my presence?”

"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton

by odarol on Feb 24, 2010 5:06 PM MST reply actions

No LT.

I’m not saying he couldn’t produce for some team in limited action, but let it be someone else. Injuries are cumulative in his case and he’ll sit more than play.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. A. Einstein

by Ponderosa on Feb 24, 2010 5:48 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

24-24 over the last four years and 16-16 over the last two years.

Where is the answer "we are on the neutral".

If we trade Brandon Marshall for a measly 2nd round pick like Peter King suggested this week. Change my answer to "we are on the decline".

San Diego Super Chokers – The annual preseason Champs, eternal post season chumps. Stay Classy

by McGeorge on Feb 24, 2010 6:16 PM MST reply actions

And NO to LT. That guy doesn’t have much left in the tank. We don’t need to sign any more washed up ex-stars. That was the Shanny way.

San Diego Super Chokers – The annual preseason Champs, eternal post season chumps. Stay Classy

by McGeorge on Feb 24, 2010 6:17 PM MST up reply actions

Ugh, King.

"All by their heads, he places crowns."

Matt Prater, pre-2009 season: Despised, lambasted, Josh McDaniels is derided for not replacing him.
Matt Prater, post-2009 season: Loved, praised, everone forgets the time when they called Josh McDaniels an idiot for not replacing him.

by Tempestuous Binary on Feb 24, 2010 10:33 PM MST up reply actions

Agree'd

This team has shown over the last 4 years that you can never count your chickens before they hatch.

You can ask the fans of 32 franchises right now if they are on the rise and 31 would say yes. The lone exception being the Raiders.

You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace is it?....Did Caesar live here?

by johnnystarr on Feb 25, 2010 6:10 AM MST up reply actions

Agreed

I’m not sure how anyone can definitively conclude we are on the rise until the team posts a winning season or two. This offseason will give us a clue though.

by NoCalBroncoFan on Feb 25, 2010 1:05 PM MST up reply actions

We are on the rise...

I think we’re just a few pieces short of really being contenders.

On the other hand, there are about 15 teams in that same position.

As far as LDT goes… He’s a bad risk. Old, oft-injured running backs don’t get better.

by Velveeta on Feb 24, 2010 8:08 PM MST reply actions

We are on the rise.

And I personally would love to see LDT here, provided he was willing to be a 3rd down/goal line type back. New Orleans showed all year that a 3 back system CAN work, if the players are willing to buy in. LDT could play the Mike Bell role (THAT felt awkward to type!), which would keep him fresh longer in the year. If Lorenzo Neal is right….that LDT is going to wow people with how much he wants to prove, I could see him squeezing a few more special moments out of his ‘old’ body.

- Nick

"We got 'em right where we want 'em!" - Keith Bishop, right before John Elway orchestrated The Drive. 'Nuff said.

by ncm42 on Feb 24, 2010 8:14 PM MST reply actions