Welker's out, but season is starting; time to move on

OK, so we're all a little ticked over the Wes Welker suspension.

Whether you're in the camp that believes he didn't know about the Molly or you're ready to scratch his name off the roster - or even that it doesn't matter and he deserves some leeway for his first offense - is irrelevant.

The fact is Welker is not going to be able to help the Broncos until Game 5, and unfortunately we all have to deal with it.

It's good to vent. It's good to argue with each other here.

Because come Sunday night, we're all going to be in our Orange and Blue cheering like crazy.

Believe it or not, it's great that we get mad about something like this because it means: A) this is not "per usual" in Broncos Country, even though it may seem so recently; and B) that we care.

Guess what NFL? We're still winning the Super Bowl, and we spotted you our kicker and slot receiver for four games....

— Eatin' Greedy (@Bronco_Mike251) September 2, 2014

As fans we get invested with the team and players - sometimes to the detriment of our own health (I'm sure I'm prone to anxiety attacks during every fourth quarter now thanks to the this team!)

We want these guys to be perfect. We want them to never screw up, never get injured, always catch the ball and make every tackle.

We want the coaches and GMs to be excellent role models and keep these players on track all the time.

It's our prerogative actually to want that - even if impossible. We're fans.

We crave every possible chance for our team to be the best because it doesn't just hurt not to win. It hurts to lose. It hurts to our core.

These players and this team are like our family.

So it's good to have high standards, and it's good to punish for wrongdoing. That's how kids learn, right?

I've learned as a parent it's also imperative to let it go and forego too much judgment.

He screwed up, plain and simple. Whether Welker knew what he was doing or not, he was in a situation to be vulnerable.

As a parent, these are the times we tell kids to be smarter because consequences only get worse.

And then we move on - loving, correcting as usual.

The @WesWelker suspension sucks for #Broncos fans, but I doubt it compares to Welker having to face #PeytonManning after that.

— Laurie Volkmann (@docllv) September 3, 2014

I guarantee that whatever anger fans are feeling right now, it can't compare to the shame Welker probably feels facing the team he let down and the quarterback he disappointed.

My bet is that's enough to stay on the straight and narrow.

That, and with some excellent backups ready to take his place for the first four games, Welker knows he may be fighting for a job when he gets back.

This is all going to work out fine.

Go Broncos!