We have all undoubtedly heard one piece of the subjective Tebow media craze that has overtaken not just the Denver Broncos, but the NFL as well.  His ability or inability to play the quarterback position has been spun so many ways that his only option is to second guess his "throwability"....or"passability"; I second guess my own work on a single suggestion or correction, what is not to suggest that Tebow (a normal human being) does the same.  Now I don't mean to say you always need to rethink your work as those who are successful carry the confidence that eludes them past these tendencies; however, there comes a point where it evolves from background noise to a loud speaker hovering outside your ear.  

Anyone can say that all quarterbacks coming into the league will endure some condition of hype and speculation, but no one has come into the league with so much predisposed criticisms and elevated expectations.  It is like walking into your first job and your boss says "You are not going to succeed or receive much training but when we call on you I expect you to exceed expectations"; unfortunately that is not far from the truth in corporate America today but that discussion is for another day.  Tebow walked into the NFL thinking of it as a chance to prove the doubters he has faced all of his life wrong, only to find that he is starting to doubt himself.  If you look at his starts in chronological order his play, decision making skills, and pocket poise only suggest this...Sure he has never really had much pocket poise to begin with but his ability to make a play within the pocket (with more then two on the clock) was noticeably better in his 2010 starts as he successfully made the Broncos competitive against two superior teams.  

During his 2011 campaign we have seen a player who has not only lost the decision making ability he had but also the instinctive nature that made him so prolific in college.  We saw a glance of it during our wild South Beach comeback but we forget he carried this swagger through much of the second half against Houston and the San Diego game last year....Sure they guy looked rough against the Lions and that is being generous, but the skill needed to lead a team is there and was evident during his first matches as a NFL Quarterback in 2010.  

I am not suggesting that Tebow was meant to or will succeed as an NFL Quarterback; however, I am suggesting that the analysis of him as a person and player was so polarizing that Broncos vs Raiders coveragehe at times lost who he was and what he needed to work on.  We may never know how the media skepticism and elation affected Tebow as he presented himself as well as anyone could under these circumstances but I think it is safe to say that it only hindered his ability to achieve his potential. 

Please ignore the rough nature of this post as it is my first in quite some time but I look forward to working my way back into the daily grind and contribute to this great Bronco community.

- Justin Seyfarth

The moment has finally arrived; the much anticipated "next step" in the ongoing Marshall saga that has consumed the Denver Sports market for the better part of the off-season.    If you are reading this, you should know that Marshall has signed his tender, something many consider as a "preemptive step" towards an inevitable trade. This is something I have disagreed with and still have perceptions that go against the common "ESPN We produce content for ratings not value" grain.  Many writers including the heavily subjective blogger Bill Williamson have considered it a foregone conclusion that Marshall will be catching the pigskin for someone other than the Broncos in the  coming years.  I am not doubting that particular scenario, but I have managed to keep an open mind on this and hopefully give the Broncos more credit that they are getting from any media outlet you can find.

Sure the Marshall and the Broncos held out on talks involving him signing his tender, but this in turn has shown Brandon that his value is not exactly at the ceiling he expected it to be.  Teams did not come come bolting out of the gate to trade picks and extend contracts, the market was small from the get go and has only decreased with many "possible suitors" signing other marquee players (See Santonio Holmes and Donovan McNabb).  ESPN is adamant that there are several teams that are heavily interested in the services of Brandon Marshall but as I mentioned earlier, "the sources" ESPN has tend to create irrelevant headlines, that their bloggers use to create impressions.  Many speculate that Shanny is crazy enough to go after Marshall, forgetting that it was he himself who started questioning the receivers work ethic that would have ended up with the axe coming down before it came down on him.  I highly doubt that A. They have the resources to facilitate a trade with the Broncos and B. wants to deal with a receiver he once had major issues with.  

We also have to consider McDaniels persona/ego when it comes to this situation.  Yes, many of us might not like McDaniels and the (necessary) changes he has made to his club but we must not forget, like him or not, he is a very intelligent individual.  I highly doubt Josh would settle for anything less than the original bar he set for Brandon; which was a first rounder.  Josh realizes that he would be feeding himself to the Wolves if he sacrifices his own assertions on what he is/is not going to do.  Folks seem to be feeding into the hype that the media outlets are providing us with and after hearing anything but positive things from both camps, why should we buy into it?  The Marshall scenario was much more tumultuous during last years off-season and with exception to the last game of the season, has only calmed down with both exchanging kind words that included a congratulatory call to Brandon on his Pro Bowl election.  

I had the pleasure of seeing Marshall at a local Denver 24 hour fitness where he has been working out with his cousin who plays ball at Mullen; when asked what he wants, his response was to make his fans in Denver happy.  Sure he might be traded and I have never ruled out that possibility but as fans I believe it is our due diligence to believe in franchise that has sunk into mediocrity over the past decade under a regime we laid too much trust in.  Time to start trusting the new one folks because it is not going away, how about we wait until the dust settles and quite biting on every carrot ESPN and Bill Williamson throws our way.   This situation has not only made a mockery of the Broncos but it has exposed our city as a whole in a very unpleasant way.  

Follow me on Twitter for full sports update @ 5280SportsTakes 

Contrary to the ever annoying/speculative Bill Williamson Blog, Brandon Marshall will be donning the Blue and Orange in 2010.  This ongoing issue has been hotly contested since his demands surfaced last year, in fact I would suggest that more attention has been thrown in Marshall's direction than the McJaygate soap opera last year.  Let's face it the two (McD and BMarsh) are polar opposites, but they need each other and will eventually develop a very successful tandem.  

During the Shanny era, Marshall acted out with little regard to the public/team opinion, so much in fact that it has been rumored that Mike was going to give him the axe until that very axe came down on him.  Figuratively McDaniel's was Brandon's saving grace as he might have been posting on an out route for another team if Mike was still the defacto Coach/GM/Offensive Play Caller.  McD (insert degrading label here) came in and cleaned house or in my mind secular clicks that tore our clubhouse down and turned it into a yearly he said she said year end collapse.  Yes, the result was the same last year, fast start followed by a slow confounding crash but we still managed to exceed expectations with an 8-8 finish.  Did we really expect the Lombardi Trophy, if you did get your prescription for delusions because it wasn't going to happen.

As we move through free agency this year and towards the draft, McD and the invisible GM X Man have shown maturity with their choices and have shored up a D Line that was part of the 2010 crash.  They have also bided there time with Marshall, allowing him to explore but still reinforcing their desire for him to stay.  As Marshall ventured out into the presumptive rocky free agent waters he found that they were quite dead and ships weren't exactly pulling into his dock.  Is this a sign? I think so; of course Bill Williamson doesn't but thats the only way he is going to keep his readership so I do not blame him.  

In addition, you haven't exactly seen players come out to suggest they would want to play with Marshall.  Ochocinco has publicly endorsed Owens on Twitter when rumors suggested the aging receiver was going to visit the Bengals; when it was suggested that Marshall might do the same....there was silence.  Marshall's lack of discipline needs McDiscipline in order for him to reach his full potential and McDaniels needs Marshall to avoid any rioting in his lawn.  I suggest Bronco nation simmer down for a bit and watch as this situation boils down.  

Regardless of the outcome we are headed in the right direction.

Happy New Years Folks,

First, I want to mention that I still believe we can win at Kansas City on Sunday, we ran them over (literally) in our last meeting and I believe we can do it again.  However, if this team wants to move on from this season and be successful in the future, they have to adopt McDaniels "Team First" philosophy and McDaniels has to trust his players.  Trust cannot derive from one side of the desk, it has to come from both.  In our most recent debacle involving the two higest egos to touchdown at Dove Valley since Mike Shannahan, we have two folks who trust themselves and don't venture too far from that scope.  By scope, I mean their ability to accept someones suggestion besides their own.  Marshall suggests he cannot play, McDaniels suggests he can and he in lies the problem, they are not willing to venture into that grey area that they could use to build a professional relationship.

McDaniels is right in his sugestion that "We have to play the 53 man roster that gives us the best chance to win".  I whole heartedly agree with that and think that is a philosphy every Bronco should adopt and apply.  However, I do believe he needs to trust a receiver who after batted passes and punts has turned his attitude towards a greater goal.  That goal (to help us win and make the playoffs) has been quite evident as Marshall has been our offense through screens and routes all season. 

Marshall also needs to look over the other side of the fence and use statements that leave things open.  By telling McD he is unable to play, the pine for Marshall is already warming up in McDaniels mind.  How about leaving the possibility of playing open instead of trying to check him and get a feel for his ego and how far he is willing to take it.  If you give McDaniels one hint that your heart will not be in it he will make sure you do not have the chance to show the fans that.  Marshall seemed to be on the road towards a heavy paycheck (Bowlen suggested this mid season) but why throw this curve ball out there now.  His quip might be the difference in millions and could result in a heavily udnerpaid and underappreciated 3.3 million salary in 2010 given that an agreement isn't made on collective bargaining.

If these two Dove Valley Girls would get over themselves and accept each other, their future might be brighter.  McDaniels may get the victory he needs to get into the playoffs instead of the questions he may deserve for benching Marshall.  Marshall will get the payday he has been waiting for a la Bowlen.  It is too bad these two are stuck on both sides of the fence setting up a nice screenplay for MTV's first NFL Road Rules Challenge.

Lets get over it folks and win some games.

Go Broncos!

Happy Holidays!

Where is the swagger folks?  Where is that insatiable hunger for presenting yourself as a product to be reckoned with and fear? I can tell you one thing, it certainly is not in the hollow, once hallowed walls of Mile High.  The confidence that possessed our offense, boarded the train with Shannon Sharpe en route to Baltimore and it has yet to find it's way back.  Sure we start the season with an intensity in Defense that cannot be matched but it weathers by the time Loveland and A Basin have the "First to Open Battle Royale".  In fact we should adopt the same mentality our  slopes have, "First to Open and Last to Close".  We certainly have the first part down but come December we can't get a down.

We have been mired in December mediocrity or just short of catastrophe since 2005 and if history is any lesson, it is not about to change.  After suffering our second punishing loss to the Raiders (at home) in as many years, the Broncos find themselves on the cusp of another epic collapse.  Why is it that our Broncos can never finish what they start?  I suggest someone pick up the red phone and Dial Sharpe, Smith, or McCaffery to get some explanations.  Letting their Raiders create their own Mile High Black Hole for two years running is the definition of pretender not Decembers to remember.

This year I feel is different than past and the fifth time will be a charm.  The Broncos will go into Philly and ruin their party.  Sure you might think they are destined to turn our attentions towards the Nuggets before January but our boys in (navy) blue are going to deliver an exciting two week stretch where they won't succumb to the pressure they have in the past.  This is where we find our identity as a collective group where the only belief may be coming from their own locker room.  Buckhalter and Dawkins are going to provide some not so brotherly love and make a huge splash in their old hometown.  The smash mouth grind game we were known for during our 6 week run will return with the addition of productive deep routes to Marshall and Marshall.....and Marshall.  Orton will rediscover his Purdue Prowess, Jack Daniels in hand, and lead us on scoring drives making Praters mid range misses a memory.

Buckle up folks swagger is crossing the plains and headed straight for those Coors tapped Rockies.

- J

Morning Folks,

Hopefully you all have been enjoying the holidays, I certainly am after last nights performance.  The Nuggets needed to respond after recent media criticism tried to exploit their flaws and pin them down as a waning team that could not produce without The King of Park Hill.  They responded with a dominant performance (The best coming from J.R. Swish, who netted 41 going 10-17 beyond the arc.) shutting down the Hawks on one end and exploiting on another.  The Nuggets, who started the season red hot have been mired in contract/trade related rumors as Karl has spoken his mind on our need for a big man and his need for a top 5 contract.  The most recent coming from Kreiger in yesterdays Denver Post where he suggested we trade Mr. Swish.

Folks I think last night showed us why we cannot afford to use this young talent who may be the most overlooked 6th man in the league. Yes his inconsistency shows at times, but is improving and his effort during last years WC Finals was bar none the best overall effort on the team.  When his ability to play consistently improves he will be a force to reckon with and will have the potential to take over games (ala last night).  JR wins games for us and has come far when the "objective media" was abandoning ship after his New Jersey escapade that ended up in his friends passing.  Many analysts and Nuggets fans alike passed him off as a troubled individual who would never find his way (off the court), after doing so many still suggested that even with his legal troubles behind him, those on the court would continue.  

I believe last night was an answer to those questions as he found that sweet 3 spot time and time again, stepping back throwing up the rock 1980's fade included.  I think Denver needs to give JR a chance as it has been his only true home during his young controversial career, let's not make this an NBAesque version of Benson v Chicago (I can guarantee it will have a similar ending coming back to haunt us.)  We need to embrace Swish and more importantly realize what this community means to him.  

One last note: For those of you labeling him a "Thug" please run that by him when he is teeing up at Castle Pines with pastel colored argyle sweater with pleated shorts.

Happy Holidays.

- J

Morning Folks,

If you find yourself in the Denver area, hopefully your drive wasn't too much of a hassle; I simply feel sorry for those folks driving out East.  Before I made my way out this morning, I had the chance to read the Kreiger column in this mornings Denver Post where he suggests we trade a young talent (JR Smith) for a middle of the road stop gap (Marc Gasol/Camby).  

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14053157

On paper it makes sense; however, the intangibles that he brings to the court far outweigh the inconsistencies that Kreiger presents.  You can't argue that Denver does not have the big man presence of the traditional championship team (See LA Lakers) but it cannot be ignored that Nene must develop his inside attack.  If Nene were to abandon the pass first mentality he has succumbed to, we should be able to solve this issue in-house.  We know he can make buckets (5th in the league shooting pct) but we have yet to see Nene consistently go to the rim and dominate (20th Rebounds and 16th in blocks respectively).  If he were to take charge other lanes would open up for K Mart and Bird in the paint.  In addition J.R. might have more room to work with on the outside and maybe improve his shot selection and improve his consistency.

Kreiger is right about our lack of paint presence but he goes wrong when he suggests we look outside for the solution. 

The Nuggets can improve through their current personnel and if we were to look to help from other teams, the route of the future draft pick might be more conducive or shed older experience ala AAAAC.   If Denver is to expand its championship window, our best option is to keep our current nucleus together.  JR is an exciting personality that brings an explosiveness off the bench when points are needed and has the capability to put the hammer down on games.  Let's not put the hammer down on our championship chances. 

-J

Afternoon,

I hope you took a moment to really let that victory over the chiefs soak in as I feel it is our first true victory in that we have finally found a formula that compliments our strengths and hides our weaknesses.  We can all agree that this team was playing well in the early weeks of this season but there were some facets of our game that needed drastic improvement.  From ppg to small tasks such as third and one situations, the Denver Broncos had their work cut out for them if they wanted to last what is the marathon of an NFL season.  The 17 week period of bliss known as the NFL season is full of lows (less the 2010 Saints y Colts) and a teams ability to come out of its first real test can speak volumes when trying to predict who will duke it out in December.  

With two wins where the pundits and statistics were going against us, Denver rose to the challenge through quick cuts and a punishing YPC.  Buckhalter and Moreno have risen as a viable two-headed backfield monster that is not going to slow down.  With the compliments of the hard-hitting Hillis, the Broncos rumbled for a respectable 240 + yards on Sunday leaving the Chiefs line aggased after 3 quarters of play.

Although going largely unnoticed, our stop against the Chiefs fake punt was the play of the game and summarized our rise back to prominence.  The fake punt touchdown against Washington was the pinnacle of our mid season collapse.  Our ability to make mistakes was compounded on that play and our ability to learn and execute as a result was shown on Sunday against a similar play.  

The swagger is back and all is smiles in Mile High Land (Marshall even found it in himself to rid that Grinch persona he has been carrying around since Christmas last).  Ladies and Gentlemen, these Broncos will not fade and as the engine known as Knowshown continues to pick up so will our Defense and play action capability.  Enjoy the ride folks because Christmas will finally come in Denver.

- J

Morning Readers,

Tis a great Friday morning as our Denver Broncos prepare to play a tough match up versus a sub par team in a hostile environment.  First and foremost I want to apologize for my second blunder of the week by referring to our beloved Broncos as the "D" word, a simple term of endearment that will not be mentioned again.

On to my thoughts for our upcoming match against the Chiefs.  I strongly believe we will go against the grain on our traditional December loss where we have been 1-14 at Arrowhead in this dreadful month.  My reasons for believing so are veteran leadership acquired from tough divisions and the lack of experience with this tradition.

In the past we have had more normalcy and consistency with our team (Personnel wise) then we do this year when heading to Arrowhead.  I believe this to be a slight advantage to us as many players on our current roster do not have experience with our past match ups and I believe that will play to our advantage.  The team we have now carry a certain swagger about them that does not bow down to tradition but creates the unexpected.  I believe this game will add to the list of unexpected occurrences this season (see 6-0 start, victory over New England etc..).  

For the first time our team has an identity and carries a passion with them that is hard to match around the league with exception to the New Orleans Saints.  This passion is a result of smart free agent moves and attitude implementation.  McDaniels came in and cleaned house, bringing in smart players who have played in tough divisions (Brian Dawkins, Correl Buckhalter, Vonnie Holliday, etc.) These players have all played in marquee match ups and bring a veteran style of leadership that we have not had since the late Rod Smith/Shannon Sharpe era.  These players understand the importance of these matches regardless of their rivals current skill set. 

Our Broncos have shown us fans in this great Rocky Mountain Region that they are not afraid to shed the preconceptions of tradition and misconceptions brought on by a tumultuous off season.  This Sunday will continue to strenghten that point as they make their unprecedented run towards the playoffs.

Please weigh in and share your thoughts.

Readers!

So it looks like I made an honest mans mistake during my first blogging endeavor and did not realize your blog posted to a specific niche blog market.  It was brought to my attention that it may not be a wise investment to throw lines of rhetoric that dealt with Tiger Woods on a Broncos site.  In addition I want to clarify that JC does not in any way stand for Jay Cutler and if you have not checked out www.firejaycutler.com, I strongly encourage you to do so.  

To make up for this blatant blunder I want to discuss this same topic dealing with the ratio of negative/positive media coverage and how it relates to the Denver Broncos.  The greatly underestimated Denver Broncos received more media coverage than they have since their vaunted 98-99 dynasty for reasons that us fans would like to forget or better yet build upon.  Michael Clayton had our Donkey's finishing what he considered a respectable 3-13 and even then he considered his prediction generous, much of the sports media network was not as harsh as Clayton but still did not give us the benefit of the doubt.  The Donkeys started out full steam ahead building a respectable 6-0 record, quickly becoming the story (full of skepticism) of the NFL.  Many if not all analysts (Besides our good friend TJ and Stink) were hesitant to label us as the real deal.  Many of us in Denver had already gifted our faith to Orton and crew as they used a efficiency first chance second offense.  

It took 6 games for the Broncos to garner considerable support from respected media outlets but they were still headed into Baltimore as underdogs.  This is understandable as the Ravens were on a similar slide while coming off a bye and playing at home.  Still, once the Broncos lost one game, the media suggested all hope was lost as our team had finally been exposed.  The slide continued for for continuous weeks where everyone but those residing in this glorious city would hop off of our train packed with stout D and a swagger that could not be broken.  The media topped their negative coverage sundae with a Knowshown shove cherry on top.  Although passionate examples of competition such as Moreno's shove happen every Sunday the media pounced on it suggesting this was the end of our surprise season.

We were able to carry through last week with a dominant victory over a good Giants team that was also reeling.  However, the excellent victory was not the hot topic but the excellent expletive was.  It saddens me to see that the great evil empire of the NE (ESPN) can not see that the Broncos are as good of a feel good story as the Saints.  When has a team with so much off season turmoil come into a season with so much passion and success?  I cannot think of any.  

I am sure many of you have seen the improv interview performed by B Marsh during a locker room media session.  Knowshown was being interviewed when Marshall interjected asking him where he learned to shove so hard.  The comradery that showed between these two at that moment showed us something.  The Broncos, just like Tiger will not let this coverage affect who they are and how they play.  That my friends is something we can be proud of and something we can support.

Go Broncos.

- J

Readers,

I have officially ditched my title as the "Causal SB Nation Browser" and have decided to mail it in to jump start my blogging career through my observations of pop culture and its affects on the Sports Culture.  As we all know Tiger has been under center through Tiger vision that he would prefer to avoid.  

What started as a accident (that would have gone unnoticed had it been anyone else) has grown into a ET media frenzy full of speculation and "shame shame" rhetoric.  Tiger has consistently been in the limelight for his on and off the course achievements but has never generated so much media hype.  In the past, TW has upheld the reputation that many parents expect pro athletes to carry out in their daily lives.  Through his career he has done just that, partnering with Federer and Jeter to carry out careers dedicated to professionalism and an overt passion to how their professions affect the lives of millions.  Their sponsors not only play a huge part in their professional lives but also reach out through their philanthropic efforts.

 Although he has consistently improved our society through his sport, these efforts have vanished in an instant through ET reports and US Weekly covers.  The actual happenings behind his dealings with these women may not come out in their entirety (which they shouldn't); however, he will always carry that black spot on his back and his play will no longer be the top story for tournaments to come.  Tigers brand of purity and philanthropy will be scathed and will take some time to heal.  

Please do not take this short blip as a defense for Tigers actions as they are wrong and should not be condoned.  What I am saying is that the affects could be far greater if the media would focus/support what the image of Tiger was about and eventually return to.  Strive to be the best and use your true talents to serve other institutions and causes for he has truly championed this point.  

Take a moment to look into his dealings in life that matter and not those that will fade tomorrow.

- J