My favorite aspect of the Tebow era was that the team and we as fans were forging an identity. We were tougher than our opponents; we won ugly and were proud of it; we pounded the rock; we believed in ourselves against all odds, we stood together through thick and thin. Champ Bailey stood up and watched the offense work. I loved it. We were different from every other team in the league. We were a team that everybody had to have an opinion about.

Now our front office has seen the wisdom in doing things the orthodox way. And we might win this way – none of us know. But win or lose, we are just another team now – like the Seattle Seahawks, or the St Louis Rams, or the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now some may tell me to get over it. And I will – and I will root for the Broncos all the way. But right now every one of us is entitled to grieve a little over the identity (and promise) lost.