FanPost

Wanted: Transparency

As they said in Cool Hand Luke, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

I've been refraining from jumping into this melee for months but after reading Lindsay Jones this morning, I feel compelled to open my big yap.  Heaven help us.

I hate to break it to the billboard buyers out there ("Here's to the crazy ones..."), but fans can't coach a football team.  Period.  If they are actually coaches in real life, they can coach their own team.  If they are fans, they can critique performances all they want, and turn up as much heat as they feel they should.  But they can't coach the Denver Broncos.

This is not a problem of a decision making.  This is a problem of "transparency".  Follow me after the jump for a clear-eyed view from the Treasure State.

Oddly, though EFX came running out of the gates with a new commitment to be completely open with fans, they soon closed up their windows and drew up the drawbridge.  The new "openness" has become obfuscation and secrecy.  Is this because they don't want to give away team strategies and lose whatever competitive edge that certain information would provide?  Hard to see it, honestly.  Do they simply not want to cause any locker room friction or make things tough on the new HC or shake the fragile worldview of a fledging star QB?  Perhaps, but I question that, as well. 

 

Whatever the reason, it is clear, the "new transparency" has faded into memory after a few short months.  A few salient tweets from Elway, while always welcome and appreciated, cannot convey the information that the fan base needs right now if we're to put this calamitous noise to rest.

 

What it boils down to is this.  They have told us, in simple (cliched) terms, what their decision was -- starting KO gives us the best chance to win.  They have asked us to trust them, that they have seen more of these players each day than we do every week.  But what they haven't done is given us the information to back up that trust.

 

Trust, but verify.  That's all most fans really want, even those ardent Tebow supporters railing against the brass right now.  We've been told he had a fair shot, and I personally believe that.  But what I definitely have *not* heard is any pertinent, specific information (other than speculation from third parties, as knowledgeable as they may be) as to why that decision was made.

 

Mr. Elway, Mr. Fox, Mr. Xanders -- now is the time to honor your commitment to transparency.  If you want us to rally behind the team as it is right now, you should give us an in depth analysis of where we are standing.  Some suggested you won't admit you're rebuilding because that's bad PR and a fast way to empty the stadium.  With all due respect, that would give us very little credit.  (Sounds like an Ellis notion to me.) The Bronco fans I've known and loved on sites like IAOFM and MHR are simply NOT going to abandon a team that gives them all the intimacy and information they can consume.  

 

Don't be afraid of the transparency, Broncos.  It is the surest way to keep the faith and full engagement of your fans.  If you want us to buy in, believe, and fanatically support this team, don't just tell us what major decisions have been made. Back them up -- go on the record with all of the reasons why.  

 

Respect us, and give us a fair opportunity to support your big decisions.  You don't have to let us drive the team -- just honor us by giving us the benefit of your insight.  Help us feel like we're all in this together. 

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