Glass half full or half empty?  This issue has been discussed explicitly numerous times, and invariably, implicitly underlies most of the discussions on this site in the sense that the perspective and assumptions of a poster will typically determine his/her analysis and conclusions.  The guy who developed the concept of lateral thinking once defined thinking as, in my words, that activity that exists to justify the conclusions already reached by the person in question through other means.

To see how this relates to McD and QBs, jump with me.....

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This is my first post here, and I am utterly computer illiterate, so bear with me.

I just read Solomon Wil- (not I won't pun here, though he deserves it) cox's most recest piece (7/17) on Marshall at nfl.com and I just had to laugh at it together with you all.  I quote from it below, together with a few choice quotes from a piece he did exactly one month earlier (6/17).

Broncos should follow history and trade Marshall

July 17

“…the Broncos are in no hurry to offer [Marshall] a new contract while seemingly 50 NFL players at his same position earn higher salaries.”

“But Marshall’s desire to leave Denver stems less from the fact that the team has yet to offer him a new contract and more from his tumultuous time in the Mile High City dealing with off-the-field issues.”

“…[Bowlen] now sees his team unintentionally entering a rebuilding faze.”

“However, the Broncos don’t have a first-round pick entering the 2010 draft, having used it to acquire Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith at the top of the second round in April.”

“[Trading Marshall] is the only solution to an ever-deteriorating situation in Denver. Like Randy Moss in Oakland and Ochocinco in Cincinnati, good talent can spoil on bad teams.”

Losing Marshal would reflect poorly on McDaniels

June 17

“As the agents for Broncos WR Brandon Marshall confirmed their trade request on Tuesday, it appears as though the team’s prospects for a successful 2009 season are falling faster than shares of Enron stock.”

“When Josh McDaniels was hired as the Broncos head coach in February, he inherited the league’s second-ranked offense, which featured Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler and Marshall, a Pro Bowl receiver. But now, with team morale hovering at an all-time low, the Broncos appear to be on the verge of losing another star on offense.”

“The affects of trading Marshall could sink the McDaniels administration before it makes its maiden voyage.”

“On the other hand, Marshall has flirted with serious actions in the past which could violate the league’s conduct policy, including allegations of domestic violence. This could be a concern for Bowlen and the Broncos, and it could serve as a key factor in prohibiting the team from offering Marshall a lucrative contract with a huge signing bonus.”

“Even with concerns surrounding the lack of maturity that has led to many of Marshall’s off-the-field missteps, his on-the-field production will have several teams lining up to give him what wants.”

“It seems that the Broncos are paying a heavy price to learn valuable lessons while grooming their inexperienced first-time head coach.”

My Thoughts:

First off, notice the wonderful consistency - a clear indication that Solomon, in his great wisdom, has thought long and carefully about the situation before putting anything down on paper.  July 17:  “[Trading Marshall] is the only solution to an ever-deteriorating situation in Denver.”  June 17: “The affects of trading Marshall could sink the McDaniels administration before it makes its maiden voyage.”

Second, we learn some very interesting things and find weird logic in his two pieces.  Marshall wants to leave the Broncos because (a) he wants to be paid better, (b) his future is not bright without JC or (c) the Broncos are on the decline?  For SW, it's none of the above - Marshall’s desire to leave Denver “stems less from the fact that the team has yet to offer him a new contract and more from his tumultuous time in the Mile High City dealing with off-the-field issues.”  What the hell?  What kind of sense does this make – it’s the Broncos’ fault that Marshall fights with his girlfriends?  But speaking of non-sequiturs, how about, “[Trading Marshall] is the only solution [because] good talent can spoil on bad teams.”  So the Broncos should trade Marshall so his talents won’t “spoil”?  If SW wrote “so that Marshall’s dissatisfaction won’t adversely affect the other players” I get it, but so his talents won’t “spoil”? 

Next, the factual inaccuracies, oh heck, let’s call ‘em what they are, the IDIOTIC, INEXCUSABLE MISTAKES Wilcox makes mock the very concept and principles of journalism itself.  “[T]he Broncos don’t have a first-round pick entering the 2010 draft.”  Wow!  Not to mention the half-truths and lies by omission.  “[T]he league’s second-ranked offense.” Oh, please – this is only, ever used when the commentator is bashing our Broncos.  “Marshall has flirted with serious actions in the past which could violate the league’s conduct policy, including allegations of domestic violence. This could be a concern for Bowlen.”  He didn’t “flirt,” he violated!! – as in suspension from games during the regular season.  Or how about a hip operation as another potential consideration?  The Broncos don’t even know how well he can run since he hasn’t worked out with them since prior to the operation!!

And finally, the nasty disdain for the Broncos.  “…[Bowlen] now sees his team unintentionally entering a rebuilding faze.” (oh so clever misspelling of phase!)  “ever-deteriorating situation in Denver” (with all of the improvements we’ve made on defense, ST, and in fortifying the offensive running game, Oline, TEs, WRs, the upgrade in coaching???)  “good talent can spoil on bad teams.”  (hey, clearly bad talent in writing will obviously spoil pretty badly on bad MSM sites, creating an ever-deteriorating situation for journalism!! – right back at you WS!)  “the team’s prospects for a successful 2009 season are falling faster than shares of Enron stock.” (I can’t tell you how often he uses these tired “falling faster than” clichés – pathetic attempts to become a writer through correspondence “Journalism 101”)  “with team morale hovering at an all-time low” (according to whom??? come on now, I’ve heard this over and over from our ersatz MSM “writers” and only from them, never from our players– it’s just an empty assumption that based on what we have heard from our players is complete nonsense) 

Frankly, if you wanted to bash our Broncos for their performances during the last two, maybe three years – hey, what can I say?  I haven’t been particularly busting the top buttons off of my shirts swelling my bosom with pride myself.  But to bash us when Bowlen and McD and co. are undertaking one of the most complete and significant (and NECESSARY) restructurings the team has possibly ever seen to get it back to the Bronco standards of yore??  Isn’t this supposed to be the time we are being admired for our guts and determination?

And finally, to demonstrate once again the soundness of his logic, I remind you of his prediction on June 17: “his on-the-field production will have several teams lining up to give him what wants.”  Uh, did anyone hear the phone ringing?  With all the crying need for WRs among teams, if BM’s only problems were “flirting” with violating league policy, wouldn’t we have been getting the numerous first round offers SW predicted.  Don’t hold your breath.

Don’t get me wrong, as I’ve written before in comments, I like BM a LOT, think he will be a great help to our team, am a little more patient with his immaturity than some and understand his playing the holdout card as his only hope to get more money this year.  I’m fine with all that as long as he continues to mature (I think he has, despite setbacks), continues to get physically better (hand and hip), doesn’t receive further suspensions and plays hard for us in 2009, (including less drops), all of which are absolutely in his own best interests to do.  THEN give him the contract that he will THEN deserve.

But BM aside for a moment – MSM – what is your frakking problem with our Broncos!?!?  I am going to DEMAND apologies from all of these guys – I’m taking names!!!  We should as a group do open letters to each of these so-called writers at the end of the season!

GO BRONCOS!!!!  13 and 3, BABY!!!!