I’m angry. I’m disappointed. I’m heart-broken. And, at the same time, I’m completely grateful for the amazing season that this year’s Broncos gave us. Thank you, John Elway. Thank you, Pat Bowlen. Thank you, Peyton Manning. I know the jury is going to be out on PFM for a while in some fans eyes – I’ve heard the familiar calls already -- but not this one’s; I am totally enamored with you still. I don’t buy the post-season choke thing for a second. This was a team-loss riddled with plenty of blame for all. The coaching, the refs, the execution by individual players at crushing individual moments. It’s all there and you can parse it all you want. I don’t care. Call me totally blind. I don’t care. I’m a Broncos fan, through the thick and thin.

The depth and length of my fan-ship helps me believe that this is a movie I’ve seen before – and it turns out with back-to-back Superbowls totally redeeming the heartache. 1996 all over again, anyone? I’m on board. The hard part’s past. That chip on Peyton’s shoulder just got a little bigger. Think for one second he’s not going to come back better next year? Think anyone on this team is not going fire harder, stronger and better this off-season knowing what they missed out on by the slimmest of margins? Not that any of that anger, disappointment, time in the gym etc. guarantees a damned thing. They could all come back, do everything right and have the whole damned thing blow up on them next year. Could happen. But I don’t think so. I smell Lombardi Trophy in 2014 and 2015 for our beloved Broncos.

Again, feel free to call me whatever you want: ridiculous, stupid, naïve, ignorant, etc.. But make sure to add Denver Bronco fan to the end of that insult – because I have been for over 35 years now and I plan to be for the rest of my life. Yes, this moment sucks, but the overall ride has been fantastic and I am completely on board for more next fall.