SB Nation User Blog: Papamag

Broncos add Ty Law.

Papamag — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:27:04 -0000

Interesting move. I dont see how this could hurt us. I wonder if this move has anything to do with Williams being injured or Smith not playing well. He has yet to take a physical but barring a major problem I see him donning a orange and blue uniform soon. I wonder if he will play the nickle role or if he will be put in as a fourth Dback? I also wonder if he is in game shape and if he will be able to suit up on monday night? I think this is a good move, after all, how often do you get to add a multiple pro bowl player in the middle of a season? Go Broncos!

Loyalty and the NFL

Papamag — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:11:58 -0000

Over the last few weeks I've read hundreds of individual opinions regarding roster moves made or discussed in the NFL. Many of these opinions were based primarily if not wholly upon a concept known as loyalty. Websters defines loyalty as " unswerving in allegiance" or being " faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product." I believe this trait is all but nonexistant in professional sports as they are today.

Loyalty cannot be defined by years, yet years cannot defeat loyalty. Loyalty is unbending, absolute, and lasting. Once declared, loyalty cannot be breached. Loyalty demands this, and by its very definition requires it. Loyalty breached is loyalty lost.

Professional sports, by their nature, deal entirely upon the temporary. What is considered an important decision today is often irrelevant less than a decade later. Players that will be inshrined in the Hall of Fame rarely play the game longer than fifteen years. The average player stays with one team for less than two years. Contracts that are sometimes written for a decade, are often voided less than half of the way through. Even franchises change towns every few years. Players know this. Teams know this. Fans, although reluctantly, know it as well. There is very little permanence in sports. Yes, we will probably always have the Dallas Cowboys, or the New York Yankees, yet this is the exception rather than the rule.

Loyalty is often demanded of players by fans, yet it is impractical at best for them. How can a player owe loyalty to an organization that has none for him? They, like us, need to prioritize thier lives. We excercise the options given to us by free will, and should remember to respect their right to do as they choose.

The only true loyalty in sports is entirely set in the fanbase. As fans, we are often permanently devoted to a temporary institution. We root with all our souls for players that we have a realistic chance to one day abhor. We argue,spat and openly curse fans of other franchises, while ignoring that they are people who share our greatest interest, football. We even argue with each other, those of like mind. We argue about topics that we generally agree on and with people we generally enjoy. We get upset and often irate over a subject that we should reserve for pleasure. In all, we bring too much negativity into a positive subject.

I would like to propose an idea. Root for your team. Enjoy the game. Pull for your favorite player, but remember to respect him even if the twists of fate take him to a rival. Keep the rivalry between fans, yet remember that they deserve your respect as well, after all, you expect it from them. Above all, remember that its just a game, and have fun.

State of the franchise.

Papamag — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:09:00 -0000

I have been reading MHR for well over a year now. This is my first Fanpost. I feel that I need to make this post to get a few things off my chest. So here goes.

There has been much talk recently about Josh Mcdaniels, and I feel that I need to add my opinion on this subject. After reading several posts regarding Mcd I think that the general fanbase needs to give him more of a chance. I have seen him called by many nicknames that I find mildly offensive, namely McBushleague, Mcdoublecrosser, and others along that line. I feel that the Cutler mess has cast an unfair shadow upon both Cutler and McD. Dont get me wrong, I dont like the fact that Cutler was on the trading block. Yet, why should we blame McD for entertaining the idea of trading him? Cutler has played very well for our team, and I hope that he will continue to for a long time, but McD owes no loyalty to Cutler or anyone else on the team. Cutler was Shannys guy. McD has no stake in him, he didnt draft him, nor has he had the chance to even meet him personally. Cutler may be beloved by us, the fans, yet from a purely objective point of view he has accomplished next to nothing in this league. I would rather have a coach that objectively evaluates the team rather than blindly trusting that any given part of that team is already in place. Only McD knows what offensive system he will be running, and only he can truly know if any given player will fit into that system. If he thinks Cutler will be a liability in the system he plans to run, then he is honor bound to try to find someone who will run it up to his standards. Be that Cassel, or anyone else. I feel the same way about the free agent aquisitions he has made. I, personally, am happy that he is willing to pull the trigger to bring in players that he feels will help the team. Even if that means making moves that confuse the fans (*cough* Leach *cough*). After all, no one truly knows every side of the story except for his coaching staff and the front office.

I wrote this rambling post to make one point. I feel that it is entirely too early to make any sort of judgment concerning Mcdaniels. He has, after all, only been a Denver Bronco for less than 4 months. He has yet to even coach a single down and already people are calling for his head. The NFL is a results driven league. I feel that we owe it to him to at least reserve judgment until midway through the season, when we see the system that he puts in and how the players he has run that system. I feel that judging him at this point is unfair and counter productive. As Bronco fans we need to stand behind our coach and support the players he brings in. By no means am I denying anyone thier right to an opinion, but I think it is very important for us to show a united front. After all, there are enough so called experts and fans of other teams to sling mud at our team and its members. So please, discuss every facet of our team, give your opinions about any move or possiblility of a move, but try to refrain from making it a personal attack upon anyone, be that Cutler, McD, any other team member, or even another fan. Thank you.

GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!