It’s time to hit the reset button on the Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a mess. This is not something I expected after that magical 2015 Super Bowl run, but the days of Peyton Manning and John Elway proclaiming “This one is for PAT!” are long behind us.

Our Denver Broncos now have lost 7 straight games, they’re a team calling out their general manager, having brawls in practice and on the field, have made multiple quarterback changes, fired their offensive coordinator and have a first-year Head Coach who likely will go down best known for those words awkwardly uttered by Sergio Dipp.

It’s time to blow up the Denver Broncos.

It starts at the top too. Obviously, John Elway isn’t going anywhere(and honestly, nor should he) but hopefully this season is a giant kick in the -insert body part here- and humbles him some. Whatever he and his executives have been doing hasn’t been working and a big reason why the team is where it is.

It trickles down to the coaching staff too. Is it totally fair to fire first-time Head Coach Vance Joseph? Probably not, especially considering he inherited this mess, but he HAS to go. The team is underperforming, is undisciplined on and off the field, and he just looks lost. For someone who was proclaimed a “leader of men”, he isn’t living up to that. A majority of the remaining coaching staff can go as well. Start fresh.

Now to the roster.

You need to trim some veteran cap. Release players like C.J. Anderson (Free’s up $4.5M) and Aqib Talib(Free’s up $11M). This gives you more flexibility to make a major free agent acquisition to shore up an area of need(Like say...signing Kirk Cousins?). I’d also look into trading a few veterans on the defensive side of the ball. The window for this defense has been basically shut so put a few players on the market and see who bites. Get some much-needed picks and/or cap space in return.

Next would be figuring out your quarterback position. Will you back up the truck to pay someone like Kirk Cousins? Get a 1 or 2-year band-aid in Drew Brees? or use your potential top 5 or 10 pick on a quarterback prospect like Josh Rosen, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield? Either way, the answer to that question does not currently reside on the Broncos roster. Sorry $wag clan.

Once you get an idea of where you’re going at quarterback, it’s time to figure out the right tackle position for what seems like the third or fourth year in a row. Stop signing AFC West castoffs like Donald Stephenson and Menelik Watson. Please, stop. Get serious and spend another premium pick on one, sign a big name to a FA contract or trade someone like Shaquil Barrett or Shane Ray for one. It would suck trading away a pass rusher but you gotta do what you gotta do to acquire offensive line help.

Finally, I would address the run game. Obviously, the offense needs improvement, and getting a legit tailback will be one giant step in the right direction. The Shanahan days have spoiled this fan base thinking we can pluck some UDFA out of Murray State and turn them into an All-Pro. Those days are long gone and the Broncos need to spend a premium pick or money on a tailback, especially if you’re going with a rookie QB. Look at what Zeke Elliott and Leonard Fournette have done for the their respective teams. The Broncos need to go in that direction.

A dream scenario would be getting Kirk Cousins and then drafting Saquon Barkley in the first round. The offense would be fixed with two simple moves.

Obviously, there are more areas we need to address like which exact coach to target in the event that Joseph is fired and so on, but it’s clear. The Broncos need to ditch the PR “This isn’t a rebuild, it’s a reboot” and just rebuild.

Tuck that ego aside Mr. Elway and do it. The turn around in the NFL is fairly quickly anyways. Look at the Rams and Eagles for example.

I hope my long-winded opinion rant on what the Broncos should be easy enough to follow. What do you guys think? Am I overreacting a bit or is it time to blow this shit up?

Horse Tracks:

Aqib Talib, Michael Crabtree each suspended 2 games - NFL.com
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree were each suspended two games by the NFL on Monday for their roles in an on-field scuffle on Sunday.

Ravens stay in playoff chase with victory over Texans - NFL.com
The Baltimore Ravens capitalized on some steady defensive play and some costly mistakes by Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage to pull off a 23-16 victory on Monday night.

Patriots place Martellus Bennett on injured reserve - NFL.com
Veteran tight end Martellus Bennett is being placed on injured reserve by the New England Patriots, a source informed of the situation told Ian Rapoport on Monday.

Mike Tomlin expects 'fireworks' vs. Patriots in Week 15 - NFL.com
In an interview with Tony Dungy before Sunday night's 31-28 win over the Packers, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he has a team that can "win it all" and noted the Patriots game would be key.

The Debrief, Week 12: Rams among biggest bouncebacks - NFL.com
In his Week 12 Debrief, Gregg Rosenthal delves into how the Rams were able to get back in the win column against the Saints. Plus, other Week 11 bounce-back performances.

Vance Joseph: Paxton Lynch (ankle) out 2-4 weeks - NFL.com
Coach Vance Joseph announced Monday that Trevor Siemian will start in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins after taking over for the injured Paxton Lynch in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Raiders.

Jags' Marrone takes blame for getting 'greedy' in loss - NFL.com
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone opted to let quarterback Blake Bortles go for the win in overtime and it cost Jacksonville a potential victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Andy Reid: No Chiefs QB controversy, 'Alex is my guy' - NFL.com
Alex Smith is struggling, and with first-round pick Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings, many in Kansas City have called for a QB switch. Andy Reid, though, said Smith is still his quarterback.

Belichick scoffs at sitting Tom Brady late vs. Dolphins - NFL.com
You hear the question asked near the tail-end of plenty of unhinged Patriots romps: Why on God's green earth is Tom Brady still in the game? Bill Belichick has little patience for such questions.

Will Aaron Rodgers return to practice Saturday? – ProFootballTalk
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers becomes eligible to return to practice Friday. Green Bay doesn't practice on Fridays, but Rodgers could practice Saturday. "We'll see," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "I mean, he's still going through. . . .

After further review, Jack Del Rio changes opinion of Darian Stewart’s hit – ProFootballTalk
In his postgame comments, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio called Darian Stewart's hit on Amari Cooper "vicious." He added it's "the kind [of hit] we're trying to remove from the game.

Chuck Pagano: We’re finding unique ways to blow leads – ProFootballTalk
The Colts took a lead over the Titans with 38 seconds left in the first half on Sunday and held it into the fourth quarter, but a DeMarco Murray touchdown with just under six minutes to go sent them to their eighth loss of the season.

Malik McDowell not expected to play this season for Seahawks – ProFootballTalk
Malik McDowell, the top pick of the Seattle Seahawks 2017 draft class, is not expected to play this season. Head coach Pete Carroll said Monday that McDowell is not progressing enough from injuries sustained in an ATV accident in July to be able to take the field this season with Seattle.