Horse Whisperings On a Flash Friday

A couple of things have been on my mind today. The events of this past week, not to mention this morning’s catastrophic debacle have been leaving a sour taste in my mouth. Normally when I see someone having a bad day or a hard time, I try to tell them a joke or change the subject. Anything to distract them from whatever it is bringing them down. So not unlike a KB Rant (which may be coming shortly), here is my attempt at distraction.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) created a month long Summer vacation for NFL Players before they ramp up their schedule for the new football season. During this interval between Mini Camps and Training Camp, there has been quite a bit of activity over the Police Scanner. In fact, it is double from last season. Even thought the Lockout was in effect, there were still random acts of stupidity from a few players. What made Dez Bryant, Marshawn Lynch, Kenny Britt, or just about anyone on the Detroit Lions commit their illegal acts? Was it self-entitlement? The thought they could get away with something? Of course, there is Elvis Dumervil’s episode too, but I will address that in a bit.
My theory on the increase in arrests of NFL players this season is a mixture of all of the above. I believe part of it is the new CBA. Guve a young kid more monety than he has ever had, then let him loose for a month with no responsibilities except to stay in shape and that is a recipe for disaster.
Take Dez Bryant for example. Remember two years ago when Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland asked him if his mom was a prostitute? Perhaps he he just got caught pimp slapping her. I’m not saying it’s right mind you, but it makes one wonder where this kid’s head is at.
Since the Mini Camps ended, there have been 5 DUI’s (Lynch, Britt, Robert Quinn, Eric Wright and Aaron Berry), arrests for family violence (Bryant) burglary (Kiante Tripp), resiting arrest (Adrian Peterson), outstanding traffic tickets (Odrick Ray), and Dumervil's aggravated assault charge.
Can Training Camp get here already?

DOOM
On the topic of Elvis Dumervil, there has been quite a bit of knee jerking, judgement and condemnation for the Broncos leading Sack man. First of all, arguing the semantics of "brandishing" won’t matter. Patience is a virtue and Elvis’ silence in the matter speaks volumes to me at least. Sure, his lawyer should have correctly told him to say nothing, but the witness was a bimbo from Victoria’s Secret, standing quite away from the vehicles in question and on the passenger side of the incident. If Elvis is driving his buddies car and has no knowledge of a weapon in the glove box, I want to know how this woman can see past an SUV to witness Dumervii allegedly showing someone who is threatening him and throwing an object towards him that he is armed? If Elvis doesn’t have a gun tucked into his waistband and doesn’t know there is a gun in his friend’s car, then he spoke the truth when he told the police that there was no gun in the vehicle. The fingerprints on the weapon in question will definitely reveal whether this is bogus or not. I happen to think it is, but regardless, this kind of activity (looking at you DJ) needs to stop. While the Detroit Lions have dominated the police blotter, the Broncos have surpassed the Oakland Raiders in off the field incidents. That is not the Bronco organization that I grew up with and it isn’t the vision that Pat Bowlen has for his team.

Oz and Ronnie

Brock Osweiler and Ronnie Hillman are the last remaining draft picks (or even players) left to sign a contract. Brock’s deal shouldn’t be difficult to complete, since the players drafted directly above and below him have already signed their deals. Mike Adams, drafted at #56 by Pittsburgh, got a 4year, $3.54 Million contract with a $1.01 Million signing bonus. Lavonte David, taken with the 58th pick by Tampa Bay, received $3.472 Million for 4 years, with a $964,896 signing bonus and $1.364 Million guaranteed. Sure, Adams is a Left Tackle and David is a Linebacker, but even though Osweiler is a Quarterback, he is not expected to start for at least 2 seasons if not three. There is also a rookie cap in place, so he will only get so much anyway. Backload the contract with incentives and a signing bonus and get it done. One more thing. Osweiler is represented by Super agent Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency, who also represents Peyton Manning among others.

Hillman is in a different situation, albeit not a difficult one. The draftees around his position (67th) have not been signed for some reason. There is no reason why the 3rd rounders have not completed their deals. They don’t have an option for a 5th year or any offset language to prevent a deal being done. The salaries fall like dominoes for each tier of the draft, so again I say, there shouldn’t be a problem. Rueben Randle (63) received a 4 year, $3.291 Million deal with a $834,132 signing bonus from the New York Giants and Brandon Taylor (73) got a 4year, $2.743 Million deal from the Chargers, including a $643,876 signing bonus. So split the difference and get it done.

And I’m spent.

Go Broncos!

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