SB Nation User Blog: Jezru

I am nervous...

Jezru — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:10:27 -0000

I am nervous that we're going to lose on Sunday. I am nervous that Jay Cutler is going to get injured. I am nervous that Roland will be joining his brother Rodney on the sideline. I am nervous that Tampa Bay will self destruct. I am nervous that (sy)Phyllis will go to town on the vaunted Tampa D. I am nervous that when we play San Diego in San Diego, we'll be two teams going in opposite directions. I am nervous that we'll lose another Running Back in each of the coming weeks. I am nervous that we've played well thus far, perhaps beyond our abilities and because of the youth of our team, not be able to muster that final key victory. I am nervous that I will see Shannahan have that irritated yet resigned look on his face this weekend. I am nervous that the Bills will be up for the game. I am nervous my wife will want to talk about "us" during the game...

I am however... confident that we're putting together one hell of a team for next year. I am confident that regardless of what happens this year, we're gonna make some serious noise next year. I am nervously confident that we're going to the playoffs.

"Champ"

Jezru — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:12:17 -0000

Okay, I've made no secret at my displeasure over Champ Bailey's non-play these past few weeks. As I recall this groin thing had him projected to be out just four weeks and here we are stretching into what could possibly be his eighth... Half a season.

Upon hearing the news of Sammy Baugh's death today, I went hunting though Wikipedia to get to know more about him. That inevitably led me to the Redskins page where I found our boy Champ listed as "notable alumni" (hrmph!). Lo and behold, there on the Wikipage... What do I find? Champ's real first name! Roland!

Roland "Champ" Bailey (born June 22, 1978 in Folkston, Georgia) is an American football player, starting at cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. His mother nicknamed him "Champ" at an early age.[1] He is the older brother of Broncos linebacker and teammate Boss Bailey.

So that got me thinking... Perhaps Boss isn't his real name either... It turns out, the oft injured linebacker's name is Rodney!

Rodney "Boss" Bailey (born October 14, 1979 in Folkston, Georgia) is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.

While some of you may already know this, I was shocked! All this time I thought that Champ and Boss were names awarded them by eccentric parents with the loftiest of goals for their children.... Not so! Roland and Rodney! It just doesn't sound right, but them's the facts!

To that end, my friends... I think in order to encourage "Champ" back onto the field, I think we need to draw the distinction that when he is suited up and playing ball we should call him Champ. When he's nursing an injury on the sideline well into his eighth week, that is a man who can go by no other name than Roland.

Hurry and heal up Roland... We need our Champ back.

P. S. Until Rodney shows a little more toughness and can avoid getting injured (in every game but one that he played in - oh right there was one game he got hurt twice in) He will always be Rodney. Boss of the trainers table maybe... But Rodney of the Broncos... (for now).

Randy Cross is a Jerk Face

Jezru — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:33:17 -0000

No recent event precipitates this post, but I gotta put it out there. Sure, Phil Simms, Rich Gannon and Tony Kornheiser are wanks in their own right, but there is a special place in my hatered house for Randy Cross. I'm certain if you asked him, he'd tell you he's impartial and doesn't favor one team over another.... Not true Randy!

For some incredible reason it seems as though Randy covers every game we do. That gray loaf of hair sanded into that amorphous shape on his massive head. His teeth large and gleaming like some cheap Home Depot plastic fencing... What he does is subtle... bit by bit he degrades the team or over inflates our opponents. Jay Cutler breaks off a good run? Cross says it was luck... or that the usually dominating defense uncharicteristiclly allowed it. We get a sack? The offence took a play off, good for them - they need their rest.

When NFL Network was replaying Superbowl XXXII (as it aired on TV), the original broadcast was tossed to Cross at the studio where with the aid of computer graphics outlined how the Broncos had been lucky thus far and were clearly going to lose.

Okay, and I gotta say it... What's with the creepy mustache? As though there wasn't enough hair on that enormous mellon of his, he had to add a whisp above that big mouth of his. Was it grown to hide his pedo-smile?

This is good therapy... and Randy Cross is a Jerk Face.

I got some questions...

Jezru — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:34:01 -0000

1. When do we find out about the pro bowl voting results? I've looked all over the NFL site and there's no mention of it. How convenient would it be if they maintained a league wide calendar of events on their site? 2. How does our salary cap situation look going into 2009? Someone's gotta have it out there... 4. Where do babies come from? That is all I got for now. J

Weathering Victories - A Bronco Fan's Guide to Coping with Success

Jezru — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:14:40 -0000

My Fellow Denver Bronco Fans,

Now that we’re 8 and 5 I can now make this post as we are now assured a non-losing season. With eight victories under our belt I woke up this morning with and noticed my walk had a little swagger to it. My phone blew up as I was trying to extricate myself from the house to get to work, my bronco buddies were eager to report their excitement about the Broncos recent success. Even my mother, who (jokingly) swore the team off after our loss to the Raiders had come back around. Like a snowball rolling down a slope, each Bronco win builds momentum and excitement for the rest of the regular season and beyond. Each win means something.

THE WIN

The question is: Is it better to win by 30 or have an exciting close game that ends in a last second “Toro” type field goal? Answer: Though the last second heroics make for good lore, it is always better to beat the pee out of someone. Our two best games this year was in week one when be destroyed the Raiders and the a couple weeks back when we killed the Jets. These were decisive victories that allowed us to relax a little and not have an aneurism realizing that there is still five minutes left in the 4th quarter and anything can happen.

Now, once the victory has occurred all is right in the world. The sun shines a little brighter... You’re not so concerned with all that pesky credit card debt you’re racking up for the holidays... Even your wife is a little hotter... Everything is okay! Once the game is over you switch it to NBC for Football Night in America to watch the highlights of the game you just watched. “See that? We killed ‘em.” You savor that win for all it’s worth. It’s even better if there is footage of an opposing player/coach crying, freaking out or screaming. The only thing better than that is seeing the opposing player/coach’s wives or family look soooooo disappointed... Crying is even better. Post game press conferences are great. My favorite line this year? Jay Cutler’s “Eddie Royal beat Deangelo Hall time after time after time after time... That’s what happened.” The morning following the win you got sports radio on in the shower and in the car. You get to work to check the standings. Silently you complain to yourselves that when the rankings come out tomorrow the Broncos still won’t get the respect they deserve (“How can the freakin’ Cowboys be ranked higher than us?!). You look at the remaining games on the schedule and start calculating your projected record for the Broncos. Will we be that good? Will be get the second seed in the playoffs? Will freaking San Diego just give up the ghost already?!?

THE CURVE

Now, depending on which win it is, the level of the joy rapidly increases with each passing victory. Timing is key with these now. The first wins are only meaningful if you get them early in the season. Well... Except maybe the first one... I know Miami was super pumped when they won their game last year... I mean look at all the momentum they built going into this year! Okay, bad example.

Win 1: Hopefully this happens in week 1. The first win is, by definition, the least exciting of all wins. Phew... We’re not going to be winless this year. Ahem... Detroit. But, it’s only the first win and to be honest we’re gunning for more than just one.

Win 2: The second win is a little more serious. Dude, that’s two! We might be on to something here. Depending on who you beat for the first two wins, you can start to be pumped... Provided the second win comes before week 6 and the wins weren’t against the Bengals or the Lions.

Win 3: Now we’re talking! Three wins? Looks like we won’t be drafting in the top five this year!

Win 4 & 5: These are ones where you start to watch the rankings and shoot incendiary emails to those that make them. “Hey Bonehead! How could you dare put the Browns ahead of us! Are you crazy?!” You start to think that all your skill players are something special... Then you realize... THEY ARE! Because you have wins four and five under your belt. Now? You’re probably not drafting in the top ten.

Win 6: This is the win when you start looking beyond. Oh man! We’ve got six wins? That’s almost 8 wins! A non-losing record! But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ve got two more to go! Hopefully this win isn’t in week 17 when the playoffs are out of reach and the opposing team is resting their starters. You start looking at the calendar... Maybe we shouldn’t go visit the in-laws on MLK weekend...

Win 7: Man! We could really make some noise here! How many games are left? Really?! Man, we’re looking good here! The division title may be in our grasp! Keep up the good work Broncs!

Win 8: Eight is a magical number. We’re not going to have a losing season. It’s a win where you look forward and not back. A milestone. The Broncos won’t be losers this year! This minor success is a great comfort. With a cocky attitude, you can’t wait to see how good your boys are going to be. Heck, some teams get a wildcard berth with 8 wins!

Win 9: Dude! We’re one away from another milestone. Double digits! The playoffs are looking more and more like a reality.

Win 10: Yeah baby! We’re going to the playoffs! We’re going to play the Colts? What could possibly go wrong?

Win 11: We’re unstoppable. If we’re not at the top of the rankings those that create them should expect some serious hate mail. Superbowl?

Win 12: We’re incredible! Superbowl.

Win 13: SUPERBOWL!!!!

Win 14: We’re going to Disneyland!

Win 15 & 16: Hopefully these wins come in the playoffs and superbowl. They are the greatest wins any Bronco fan can imagine. Mmmmm.... Wins fifteen and sixteen.... mmmmmmmm.

CONCLUSION

Winning is awesome. It puts spring in your step and makes watching the NFL Network and listening to the radio more fun. As we stand atop the AFC West at our milestone 8 wins I am excited. The playoffs are right around the corner and as of right now, it looks like we’re going to participate... Possibly as a third seed. Heck! If we take care of business down the stretch we may even be able to get a first round bye..... Oh man, wouldn’t that be awesome! Winning is totally kick-ass.

Nuggies

Jezru — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:16:17 -0000

When I heard we weren't unloading Karl at the end of last season, I was concerned. When I found out we'd gotten rid of Camby and Najera I was beginning to get upset (pirmarily because I had this whole cheer thing worked out for Najera (Imagine a loud WWF style voice - Naaaaaaaaaaaaaa-HA-Raw!!!). Then Iverson was traded... So much for the season right? Right? Time to look for a "safe place" to hibernate in for another 13 years until we can be good again, right? WRONG!Pssst.... The Nuggets have won 4 in a row and they're 1.5 back of the Lakers and are tied with Utah.

The Nuggies are lookin' damn good and are winning decisively. Granted last night's win was against a beat up Spurs team, but we still beat them. Unfortunately, I can't watch all the games so I missed seeing Tim Duncan's whiny scrunched up little face over the loss. Futher, it was a shame that Manu and Tony Parker weren't there either. The three of them make the whiniest bunch of jerk-balls in the game. Nothing brings me more joy than to see them on their stomachs, binky in hand , arms and legs flailing about throwning a full-scale tantrum. Of course, considering our playoff noshows the past few years (Lakers series excluded, of course) I haven't been able to see it too often.

Tomorrow we got the Lakers and I am confident we'll take em. You won't believe the talk I'm hearing... Before they lost their first game there was actually talk of going undefeated. I know, delusional right? Incredible. Now they're just talking about beating the Bulls record in wins as though it's a formality that they should actually have to play the games. So please Nuggies, please, beat the f-ing Lakers.

Things are lookin' up!

Raiders Fan is Hurting!!!

Jezru — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:31:44 -0000

Okay, I rarely venture over to our competitors team sites, but I had to peek at what Raider fan has been up to considering their terrible run of late. Of course I found what I was looking for... a sad glimpse at a terrible franchise. The following was posted by Guru's couterpart on their blog. The day Guru posts something like this, things have gone so insanely horribly wrong. Again, do not feel sorry for them. This is their bed and they made it. Remember, despite all their awfulness of late our all time record against them is 39-54. That means we have to sweep the next fifteen games (fingers crossed for this Sunday) to be even with them. Assuming have an impressive run like that, we should tie them at the conclusion of 2015 season. One can only hope Ol' Al lives that long.... Again... Not for the weak of heart.

Mine Has Been A Frustrating Tenure:

by saint on Nov 15, 2008 7:32 PM PST

This Blog began when Art Shell was roaming the sideline, for a second time, and Tom Cable was an Offensive Line Coach for Michael Vick's O-Line...You KNOW that the Falcons were Vick's team.

The Offensive Coordinator, and this is no joke, had come out of retirement to run the "Vertical" Offense. The joke isn't so much as the fact that the "Vertical" Offense is obsolete, it is that he left running a Bed and Breakfast to start calling Al Davis's offense in 2006.

I know that I have not been writing very much lately, and it isn't because of time, it is because two years of writing about the Raiders, as a FAN, has drained me.

A friend of mine, Darren Cutlip, once wrote an album called "Shiftulate", and I think that "Shiftulation" has become the "Expectation" and not Progress.

I mean, how many games have the Raiders won since this Blog began?

2+4+2

8 WINS in 37 Games!!!!

There is no denying that these constant changes (3 HEAD COACHES in 3 years, looking like it's going to be 4 IN 4) are a detriment to this team, YET, here I go every week...WE CAN DO IT!!!

The truth is that this board has drafted better than the Raiders themselves, YET, I expect a team that gets out drafted by a message board to be able to win enough in this League to avoid the bottom!?!

Jezru again:

Ouch! That is anguish... Pure pain that poured out from his heart. Delicious...

Draft 2009

Jezru — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:05:07 -0000

I know it's sacreligious to even bring this up after a great win and with a two game lead for first place in the AFC West, but I love the draft and was curious to see our pick situation as it exists now... I figure there are people out there with the same curiousities I have and so this is what I found out cobbled together from what I found on the Broncos Country Message Boards (which don't even come close to MHR - I swear I'm not cheating!!!)

For now it looks like this:
-1x 1st round
-1x 2nd round
-1x 3rd round
-1x 4th round
-2x 5th round
-1x 6th round
-2x 7th round

The 5th and 7th could turn into a 4th and 6th depending on Keary Colberts playing time and if the Falcons resign Foxy we get their 6th and 7th. Of course Colbert is with the Seahawks now and so I don't know how that enters into the equation (we traded him up there, ya? Poor guy... Shoulda played better). Also, someone interjected that we still owe the Jets a pick for Robertson but it hasnt been determined yet... perhaps a 7th....

As we all know culling hard facts from a bunch of random posts can yeild false information.... If what I've got listed here is incorrect please let me know... Until then, I'll be checking out mockdrafts and imagining a deep and bountiful draft.... mmmmmmm.....

P. S. This is the site I use to satiate my mock draft urges... It's a redskin site, but it lists tons of mocks and it's well maintained... Check it out.

http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.htm

John Lynch

Jezru — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:13:24 -0000

John Lynch retired from the NFL today.

CBS4 says he retired as a Bronco and a Buc. Is this right? Can you retire jointly? I know he's said before he'd always retire a Buc... He should... He was a great buc and won that superbowl against the Raiders (some might say his first effort as a bronco... Heck we loved him and Tampa for it, yes?)

He was a great player. Was he one of our greatest? Possibly... But not likely... Was he Ring of Fame great? Maybe? Could he be a Reggie White-esque character loved, beloved and forever comemorated by two teams?

I liked Lynch, he was a hard hitter and a great leader. I'm curious to know where in the annals of Bronco-lore he will fall. Certainly more revered than one Tony Dorsett... But is he on par with Craig Morton? Different eras and different circumstances I know.... Will he go into the Ring of Fame? Will you be stoked when he gets inducted to the Hall of Fame? Have we any right to lay claim upon him when it happens?

So many questions....

Thank you Stokley!

Jezru — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:40:56 -0000

It turns out the penalty bug was nipped in the bug by the quick thinking of Brandon Stokeley. When Brandon Marshall scored his touchdwon in the 4th quarter he reached for "a white glove half painted black" in honor of the (totally freaking awesome) election of Barack Obama. Brandon Stokely (political affiliation unkown) jumped in front of Marshall and made him hesitate this prop assisted celebration (15 yard penalty) and he was sumarily surrounded by more players effectually stifiling such a penalty. Kudos goes to Stokeley for knowing the score and what was on the line and kudos to Brandon Marshall for not forcing this silly (though well intended) celebration. (In essence it was kind of a resolution to the 1976 Olympic celebration wherein the "black panther symbol" (as Marshall put it per his interview on NFL Network) was displayed, wherein Marshall wanted to display national unity by pulling forth a bi-colored glove - bless him for thinking of all of us!!).

Thanks Brandon for mitigating a possible penalty! Thanks Brandon for the thought in the poetic celebration of such an awesome occurance (even though your dropped balls negated your opportunity).

In all it felt good at the sports bar to hear the previously obnoxius Browns fans withdraw into private conversations once we came alive.

Rod Bless this win... And J. C.(utler) Saves.