When the Super Bowl mercifully concluded on February 7th, the 2020 NFL football season officially came to an end. To say that the Denver Broncos are toeing the abyss of irrelevancy in the NFL may be putting it too kindly. For the 5th year in a row, the Denver Broncos were not a good team.

This year, it is so important that new general manager George Paton hit the ground running. Free agency opens March 17th (with the 2-day tampering period beginning 48 hours prior). Rather than pretend that certain free agents are make or break “gets” for the team, I’m going to simply voice Broncos Country’s expectation that they get it right. It will be key to find those players that can immediately contribute, improving the team without breaking the bank. Also, water is wet.

When the Broncos begin to draft their 2021 class on April 29th, they will do so without an official scouting combine for the first time since the early 1980’s. I’m hopeful that the successes of the last few drafts will carry forward into this year. It is imperative that this trend continue.

Most importantly, however, the Broncos need to focus on conditioning. You can win free agency and the draft, but if injuries in 2021 continue on the unsettling trend from 2020, none of this will matter. It’s impossible to win games when a substantial percentage of the salary cap is convalescing in the training room. Them’s just facts.

In 2021, it’s not rocket science. The name of the game, as it always is, is to acquire the pieces that can help you most to win. Keeping them healthy is central to that mission. If fortunes are going to improve for Broncos Country, Denver needs to focus on these basic things in order to get it right. Failure to do so could mean another agonizing irrelevant Denver Broncos football season.

No pressure.

Horse Tracks

'I find myself getting a little emotional': Peyton Manning reflects on HOF election and sharing the news with his dad
During an interview on NFL Network, former Broncos and Colts QB Peyton Manning reflects on his Hall of Fame career, shares his reaction to the HOF surprise he received and more.

Broncos team up with GMTM to launch virtual recruiting combine
With the 2020-21 high school football calendar altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Denver Broncos and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) have launched the Denver Broncos High School Virtual Combine.

Pros and cons of Broncos QB Drew Lock and other possibilities | 9news.com
Mike Klis breaks down the 3 quarterbacks on Broncos roster and 14 others who may become available.

Broncos assistant coach Emily Zaler wants more girls in football | 9news.com
Emily Zaler became the first-ever full-time female coach with the Denver Broncos in 2020.

NFL Journal: After first-round cornerback, addressing safety in rounds 2-3 makes sense for Broncos
Even if the Broncos trade for a veteran cornerback and/or sign one during the first waves of free agency, it would still make sense to use their ninth overall draft pick on a cover man. And it would really be sensible if they used their second- or third-round pick on a safety.

Six weeks later, Zach Ertz's future in Philadelphia remains unclear - ProFootballTalk

St. Louis wants more than $1 billion over Rams relocation - ProFootballTalk

Terrell Owens didn't know that Terez Paylor had spoken up in support of Owens' HOF case - ProFootballTalk

Jalen Hurts (not Carson Wentz) will gather Eagles receivers for workouts - ProFootballTalk

FMIA: Deconstructing Super Bowl LV And The 5 Bucs Plays That Shaped It - Peter King, NBC Sports
Peter King's Football Morning In America column deconstructs Super Bowl LV and the five plays that defined it. Plus items on JJ Watt, Trevor Lawrence, more.

Tom Seipel, Cleveland Browns fan who had wish to watch team clinch playoff berth realized, dies at 39
Tom Seipel, the Cleveland fan who got to see his team clinch a playoff berth in Week 17 with the help of Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, has died at 39.

Packers among a dozen teams expressing interest in signing J.J. Watt, per report - CBSSports.com
Green Bay may look to bring the Wisconsin boy home

Leonard Fournette was almost cut by Buccaneers after Week 14, prior to epic Super Bowl run, Bruce Arians says - CBSSports.com
'Playoff Lenny' nearly never happened

Ben Roethlisberger 'still processing' Maurkice Pouncey's retirement
Continuing his career without longtime center Maurkice Pouncey is a harsh reality Ben Roethlisberger will have to deal with should he return in 2021 as expected.

'Mr. Irrelevant' to Super Bowl champ: How Bucs' Ryan Succop made last-place history by finishing first - CBSSports.com
Succop, the last pick in the 2009 draft, became the first 'Mr. Irrelevant' to win a Super Bowl

Matthew Stafford had one request from Lions when quarterback asked to be traded - CBSSports.com
Stafford just wanted to make sure of one thing when he requested a trade from Detroit