They guy wasn’t the complete screw up that some think he was. He was too young, with no connections around the league outside New England, and tried to rule with an iron fist before he ever earned the street cred to get away with it.

He was at fault for doing a lot of yelling at Dove Valley, which eventually fell on deaf ears. He was likely responsible for the departure of Nolan and argued with some of the players, which created a negative, losing atmosphere. It’s possible he viewed the film of the 49-ers practice before asking that it be deleted. He probably muscled his way past Xanders and made personnel decisions that should’ve been left to the GM.

But it’s also a fact that Bowlen and Ellis gave him the keys to Dove Valley in a very lazy and irresponsible way. If Shanahan couldn’t handle it, what made them think the youngest ever somehow could?

And I find it interesting that in 2009, Bronco fans demanded instant success, yet now, we are all buying into the “this is a 3 year rebuilding process and we have just had year 1” argument.

Being in the middle on an issue can give the illusion that one is on another extreme. But at the end of the day, we need to recognize that that is merely a delusion based on our own strong bias.

And in this case, for the Broncos to evolve in the passing game, the types of plays selected must improve, the linemen, backs, receivers, and QB need to execute better, and the defense still needs a starting Mike, another NT, #2CB, and SS as a minimum.

We’re in a rebuild alright. Two more years assuming the next two offseasons go according to plan and generate at least 6 new starters on both sides of the ball. IF that happens, then we should be taking no prisoners in 2014.

is a FA. In case you miss him.

How in the heck were we not 4-12 that year?

Or was it all Cutler?