SBNation.com User Blog: tonks

Loyalty. Screw it.

tonks — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:54:05 -0000

It's time to move on from Doom, but also something else. Loyalty.

Lots of folk are using loyalty like a punch line here. I'd like to think that loyalty to teammates and fans would have kept Doom here, and would be an intangible incentive for him to stay. But y'know, that's all loyalty thing, and in this day and age, this doesn't cut it. It's about cash. So for much for loyalty. Screw it.

And for the FO. You might not have personally created the contract with Doom that you didn't like now, but you are part of an organization that created it. In the world I live in, that means you honor the damn contract. You don't expect to give people a 30% pay cut and like it, after a better than average (statistically speaking, that's a fact) year and have them stick around. If a player played well enough to deserve that cash at one point, perhaps you give him a shot to earn it again. But loyalty to a team member? Screw it.

And fans, many on this site. Those who cheered for Doom. Those who watched him take down Brady. Those who watch a business transaction and take sides in a nobody wins situation and slam a player who played hard for our team. Those who bought a jersey and now want to stomp on it. Loyalty? Screw it.

Sadly, this is one more example of an ADHD society - but let's not let it define Bronco fans. Let's move on, wish Doom well, and wish the Broncos better. Because hopefully if there's something we've learned on this process is value loyalty, and not to screw it (up).

It's time to move on from Doom, but also something else. Loyalty.

Optimism, Accountability, and Learning

tonks — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:18:51 -0000

One thing I love about this website is the eternal optimism. It's true that you only live once, there's no point getting down and angry about things you can't control, and hey, football is only a game, right?

I admire those who are already looking forward to next season. I understand and appreciate the great team we have, and the fact that we had a great season and will have a great team next year.

However, please allow me to be the proverbial Debbie Downer today, Monday the 15th after a gut-wrenching loss. There are ton of reasons to be frustrated about the game, the refs (See McGeorge's post), Praters botched field goal (but we sorta expected that, right), Moore's horror movie-esuqe screw-up (I felt the groan from Mile-High in a basement 5 miles away, and the walls of my home bent inward Matrix style as we all sucked in air and groaned), and Manning's final nail-in-the-coffin INT. However, I reserve my still-burning fury for Fox & McCoy over the ridiculously conservative play calling.

Calling the play-calling Saturday conservative is an insult to the word conservative. Soft, weak, pathetic, embarrassing and testicular-deprived feels more appropriate.

There's many reasons none of us on this site are NFL coaches. Ignoring the relative and obvious lack of skill and knowledge that's required, I'd like to think that coaches also have the knack of making appropriate calls, in crunch-time situation. These coaches are played a lot of money, to make calls in crunch time. This is (supposedly) where they earn at least part of their bread and butter. Yesterday's games saw aggressive calls from Mike Smith and Gary Kubiak late in the game. It's a justifiable position to claim that those guys did so under duress and in desperation. But if anything, it showed that the coaches still had enough belief in their players to make tough plays when any of them could spell doom to the team.

If you have PFM as QB, your top two RB's are not on the field (admittedly one on IR), and your last drive ended in a pass TD – then WTF are you doing running it 3 times – even 2? With ample time outs and 30 seconds left, why are you taking a knee? You just watched what Joe Flacco - no PFM to be sure – did on the last play. Do you not have the same faith in your team? If so, what are you doing as coach?

This has got me so wound up, I have changed (for at least 72 hours), my opinion of Jim Harbaugh. Up until yesterday I despised him as a loud mouth overly emotional hothead and enjoyed cheering against him, and hoping his massive QB switch would result in a bigger backfire than my first Ford would belch on a cold morning (which was seismic). Now, after Saturday, I have new respect at his making such a ballsy call, one which can only ever be attributed to him, which may have (and may still) blow up in his face. He made this call which could have defined his career, and our coach will not EVEN CALL PASS PLAYS WITH 90 SECOND LEFT WITH A HOF QB!!!

Just like Moore and Manning have done, Fox needs to own up to his culpability. See, for me unless you acknowledge and take accountability for your actions, you're never really admitting there is an issue, and you don't feel there is an issue to be resolved. In turn, how do you learn from your mistakes if you don't think you made one?

Again, I admire the optimism here. I don’t for one moment expect people to jump into my torpedo and take the deep-six ride to depression (although just writing this has been very therapeutic). But unless we see someone, somewhere in this organization take some accountability for what happened Saturday, it's going to be very hard for me to be jumping for joy when we win 10 straight when I know that Fox is going to take knee, and go out with a whimper, when we need to be standing up and playing the damn game, and at least go out fighting.

GO BRONCOS

Moving On, Moving Up. Thanks Peyton.

tonks — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:27:09 -0000

I loved last season. I love unpredictability, passion, just the excitement of it all.

I loved Tebow. I loved the never-say-die, prove-the-doubters wrong attitude, all with humility. I was at the Houston came the year before, and last year the Jets game (I won't talk about the Lions game) and the Steelers game.

As much as I would supported TIm as starting QB, loved to him stay as backup, and always been on his side, there was always an element of the 'flaky girlfriend' syndrome about him…. You know how it is, the girlfriend that you really really really want to be 'the one'… but there's the part of you, deep down, that you try not to listen to, that tells you that there are problems.

Cute, sweet, funny… but every now and then at a table full of friends she asks 'What time does the 9pm flight leave?" or "When do they have Christmas in Australia?" ….and it's like… facepalm, awkward smiles…. And you just know. You don't want to know. But you do.

When Peyton was signed and Tebow booted, I was nervous - not because I didn't think he'd kick butt as a Bronco.. .but just because I wondered if I'd ever get to the same excitement level as I did last season. I mean, who reading this was sitting down at the end of the Bears game. Or the Chargers game. Or the Miami game. The Jets game? The Freaking STEELERS game? Anyone? I seriously think my blood pressure is better because of the near-heart attacks I was suffering each week.

I was worried that Peyton would be clinical. Systematic. Professional. Cold. Perhaps I'm an idiot for that, but that’s how I felt.

All that ended tonight.

Tonight was freaking awesome. Even 4 from 7, it was Peyton Freaking Awesome Manning. It was sharp, tight, slick, awesome. And yes, exciting.

With Tebow you were on the edge of your seat, never knowing what you were going to see, just hoping "gawd, don't screw it up", holding your breath.

With Manning it was edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating each bullet pass, with a confident "BRING IT" feeling. I like this feeling. I'm gonna like this season. I'm gonna like other teams thinking 'uh-oh, we got the Broncos this week'.

So thank you Manning. I'll keep tabs on Tebow, respect him, and hope he does well. But that era is how past. I'm exhaling. And I couldn’t be more excited. Some of you will say "I told you so", some will say "I felt like that when we drafted him", some will say "Tebow was a loser anyway"- and I'm happy for you (well, some of you). But just like the flaky girlfriend, sometimes no matter what your friends tell you, you just gotta get to your own conclusions, even when they are right in front of you.

GO BRONCOS

I loved last season. I love unpredictability, passion, just the excitement of it all.

I was worried that Peyton would be clinical. Systematic. Professional. Cold. Perhaps I'm an idiot for that, but that’s how I felt.

All that ended tonight.

Tonight was freaking awesome. Even 4 from 7, it was Peyton Freaking Awesome Manning. It was sharp, tight, slick, awesome. And yes, exciting.

With Tebow you were on the edge of your seat, never knowing what you were going to see, just hoping "gawd, don't screw it up", holding your breath.

GO BRONCOS

On Opinons

tonks — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:34:11 -0000

Wow, a lot of back and forth on the boards these last few days. A lot of "Calm down", "How could you know more than Elway", and "What were they thinking" comments and posts.

Personally, I like the players we picked, I just we could have got a little more… evidenced by watching Baltimore trade from a worse position than ours and end up in a better one - I thought we could have ended up with an additional pick alongside these ones, and I'm also a bit confused with the timing of these picks. I thought that we were in dire need of defensive help, but ended up with 2 offensive players in our first three picks. And a QB? Most confusing of all - if not totally unexpected - but I'm sure that situation will be debated in many other threads.

But while I'm disappointed, I'll give those folk who are trying to put a positive spin on it a break, because now I understand what it must have been like for those folk when I and others were very excited over Tebow. I couldn't have convinced you he was a good thing, and you couldn't have convinced me he wasn't, and here we are again, roles reversed. As long as we are all heading in the same (general) direction, it's just opinions…. (even if Tebow was actually a god, and Elway is dumb for trading him)

Speaking of opinions, I thought I might put out a list of observations about opinions, given things are getting a little.. 'testy'…

Just because someone feels differently about any particular Bronco related issue than you, does not make their opinion any less important than yours. It's just their opinion.
Just because someone voices a dissenting view with that of the Front Office, a Post, another fan, or a media personality, does not mean they need a 'chill pill', an anti-depressant, a pep talk, a separation from sharp objects or lobotomy. It's just their opinion. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that their panties are not in a bunch, either (if they are so disposed to be wearing anything that could be described as 'panties'.)
Just because you are young and have access to more statistical analytical technology does not make your opinion more important on this site (I hope). More informed perhaps, but not more important, and by no means more correct.
Just because you are old and saw the Broncos play in '70 and have seen every game they've ever played, ever, does not make your opinion any more important either.
Just because someone doesn't have E, F or X's job doesn't mean someone can't critique it. They get paid very very (very) well to make decisions that most of us would love to be in a position to make for free, unlike those that Special Forces operatives, Brain Surgeons, or a Test Pilots make, for even less money. They chose this position, and if they may mistakes, those of us who pay to go and watch games will (quite literally) pay for it. And so we deserve to voice our opinions.
Just because someone is very supportive of the Front Office decisions and think it's important to get behind them, doesn’t mean they are just "Drinking the Kool-Aide" and have an unhealthy man-crush on Elway. It's just their opinion. ( Man, I had to grit my teeth to write that one though :-)

This is a website based around opinions. Without different opinions it'd be boring. Different opinions, while at first glance (and without proper delivery) can seem obnoxious, stupid, repetitive, can also be educational. Without any opinions the site would cease to exist, so please respect other peoples. (I often need to remind myself of this also).

So, please those of you who like the draft allow dissenting opinions without treating the those who don't of us like Raider fans, and those of you who are unhappy with the draft allow those others to get excited. This site is an important place for many people and doesn't need to degrade itself into some political style all-caps shouting match website.

I'm still a little disappointed with the draft, a little disappointed we traded Tebow, but I guess I'll just have to settle with us kicking a** all the way to the Superbowl and then taking that sucker too.

GO BRONCOS

Wow, a lot of back and forth on the boards these last few days. A lot of "Calm down", "How could you know more than Elway", and "What were they thinking" comments and posts.

Speaking of opinions, I thought I might put out a list of observations about opinions, given things are getting a little.. 'testy'…

Just because someone feels differently about any particular Bronco related issue than you, does not make their opinion any less important than yours. It's just their opinion.
Just because someone voices a dissenting view with that of the Front Office, a Post, another fan, or a media personality, does not mean they need a 'chill pill', an anti-depressant, a pep talk, a separation from sharp objects or lobotomy. It's just their opinion. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that their panties are not in a bunch, either (if they are so disposed to be wearing anything that could be described as 'panties'.)
Just because you are young and have access to more statistical analytical technology does not make your opinion more important on this site (I hope). More informed perhaps, but not more important, and by no means more correct.
Just because you are old and saw the Broncos play in '70 and have seen every game they've ever played, ever, does not make your opinion any more important either.
Just because someone doesn't have E, F or X's job doesn't mean someone can't critique it. They get paid very very (very) well to make decisions that most of us would love to be in a position to make for free, unlike those that Special Forces operatives, Brain Surgeons, or a Test Pilots make, for even less money. They chose this position, and if they may mistakes, those of us who pay to go and watch games will (quite literally) pay for it. And so we deserve to voice our opinions.
Just because someone is very supportive of the Front Office decisions and think it's important to get behind them, doesn’t mean they are just "Drinking the Kool-Aide" and have an unhealthy man-crush on Elway. It's just their opinion. ( Man, I had to grit my teeth to write that one though :-)

GO BRONCOS

It's not just a Freaking Business, ok?

tonks — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:20:56 -0000

This is a rant. I’m sorry. I’m happy to have Manning – who wouldn’t. We are now an instant contender.

But throughout the day I’ve seen all posts, primarily from folk crawling out of the woodwork, with all of these ‘holier than thou’ (ironic given we’re discussing Tebow) posts. Most of these folk would have been happier with a Cheerleader than Tebow, win or lose, and are now using Manning as an excuse to jump back on the bandwagon. You see them everywhere, all this fake ‘maturity’. I’m sure some people genuinely mean it, but for many, it’s just a cliché folk are throwing out to hide their distaste for Tebow, for whatever reason.

It’s like watching 23-year old “Consultants” come in and try to tell 20-year veterans how to do their own job better, using a flurry of diagrams and buzzwords with no real substance. Mainstream media anyone? The statements typically boil down to the following.

“Get over it, it’s done”

“Football is just a business”

This is a rant. I’m sorry. I’m happy to have Manning – who wouldn’t. We are now an instant contender.

“Get over it, it’s done”

“Football is just a business”

Let’s go through these:-

“Get over it, it’s done”

Sorry, I might be happy to get Manning, and I will cheer for the Broncos louder than most, (I’m open to competition, I have a very very loud voice) on opening game day but right now….

… I don’t feel like ‘getting over’ the emotion I felt along with 75,000 others at the Steelers game.

I don’t feel like getting over watching a guy defy all the ‘talking heads’ every week, during that seven week stretch, get kicked to the kurb.

I don’t feel like getting over the fact we are ditching a QB who was actually a role model, when there are so many players today who are about as far from a role model as you’d want, including those who held dogs underwater or drunkenly slothed over females. Ditching a QB who - as much as admittedly it drove me nuts – who chose to wear their beliefs on their sleeve. Who was pressured at every single interview and media appearance to show signs of anger or frustration, and instead chose to steer the conversation to some terminally ill child or soldiers he was visiting.

I don’t feel like getting over the fact that I truly think that Tebow may have been ok to sit behind Manning – he started behind Orton after all this season – if the FO, Elway in particular, could pull their heads out of their a**es enough to make a simple statement like “We see great potential in Tim, and feel we now have the best in the business to learn from” and show some true support. Tebow may have still chosen to leave, that would have been prerogative. But we didn’t have to shove him out.

I don’t feel like getting over a guy who made the rest of the team stand taller, who make players like Champ make statements like (Courtesy your sig, Boydy –“ Tebow is a special player. I have never seen a player quite like him in my whole career! I’m gonna play all out for the guy! I know he will be out there giving 110% every play every week, so I’m gonna give 120%!:”

I don’t feel like getting over a QB who was held to ridiculous standards by a rabid fanbase, obsessed media, and ADHD FO in his very first season, folk who still feel the need to compare his first games not to their own (cough, Elway?) but to some artificial levels that are simply not realistic, and still came out with his team in the playoffs and head held high. Will we ever know what a full off-season would have provided?

So please don’t do the patronizing ‘get over it’. The reason it’s difficult to get over for some of us, was that we were loyal fans supporting a QB who gave us *everything* in the face of adversity, who *did* cry over spilt milk, who played his heart out for the Broncos. If you don’t feel anything for someone who gave that much to the team you supposedly love, then go back to your video game and take those ADHD pills. This guy was a Bronco, and your hate has no place here.

“Football is just a business”

I’m sorry again. Unless you are gainfully employed in a way somehow connected to the NFL, I’m sorry, that statement is just another cliché meant to make people feel better about decisions they don’t agree with. And even if you are getting paid by the NFL, Tebow was great for business.

But I’m taking that statement to the extreme, I know. Let’s take is as how it’s meant.

“Football is a business, where people make cold hard decisios to improve success and in turn profitability”.

Hmmm… that still doesn’t sound right. You know why? Because football is not just a freaking business.

Do you get up and scream at your business?

Do you play ‘fantasy business’ – at your business?

Do you drink at your business?

Do you spend valuable time you could be sharing with your family, going to a game with buddies, or a bar, or in front of the TV, for you business?

Do you pay for your own jersey – with numbers and names on the back – at your business?

Do you drink - more than a couple – at your business? Tailgate even? (If you do, I’m very happy for you)

Do you any of the above – unpaid? Of course not. So get off the high horse, football is not just a business. It’s entertainment, that we all invest in at different emotional and financial levels. Our passion and support *make* it a business to those others. And those deserve our respect. It's not often that a player, coach, or FO who truly disrespects the fan lasts a long time in this 'business'. Just ask McDaniels.

“The haters”

I feel sorry for those of you who really hated Tebow, or were cynical toward him, someone who didn’t have a cynical bone in his body. It must have really sucked for you to watch the Steelers game. For the rest of us – it was something special. I won’t forget it.

And yes, it’s possible to be both happy and excited for Manning, and yet sad and disappointed in what has happened to Tebow. It’s called “not being an extremist”. Those of us who feel that way are not all “Tebowites” – although I know it makes you feel better to call us that. It’s this sort of mindless labeling that has made any sort of reasonable discussion on politics completely futile. If you just ‘tend to believe” point ABC, then you must be a raving loony XYX from the 123 party. Sigh. Hey, just because we like Tebow, doesn’t mean we think he is better than Manning, ok?

Most of us folk who express concern at a 36-year old with 4 neck surgeries at 95 million dollars think he is *still* way better than Tebow. Of course he is - every rational human knows Manning is the best *right now* choice, we’re just a little nervous about *what’s next*. And at that same time, we’re disappointed that a QB who – I won’t bore you all again with the records he set last season – with little internal support, no off-season, no faith in his ability, took us to the playoffs, is being booted to the kerb quicker than a Kyle Orton.

“The FO”

I know the FO are all slapping themselves on the back right now, but Manning made his decision like someone buying a house. You look it over, you do your research, and you buy it. The realtor? As long as they don’t screw the deal up, they are making gravy. Elway was freaking realtor in this deal. Nothing more. Tennessee had the leaky roof, the 49ers had bad neighbors. The Broncos were it. I am probably going over the top a little in my Elway disrespect. But sorry, the guy showed zero class to a guy who gave it his all. You don’t have to coach little league to understand the downstream impact of that type of attitude.

In the end, we’ll all come to grips with it. I can even feel relaxation at the thought of not having to go through the draft, and training camp, not knowing who our QB truly is, or with every bad Tebow game (yes, I’m happy to admit I’m sure there would be some), calls for his head. There’ll be less arguing, less passionate debate, less hanging on every single play. It’s a good thing.

Right?

On Underdogs, Elway and Egos..

tonks — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 04:43:24 -0000

Wow, never a dull moment in Broncos country. Just when I thought I could dedicate my home internet connection to Netflix for a few months, here we go again with another crazy off-season.

I apologize for those I'm about to offend with this post, because this is not my intent. Like many, I post to 'get things out of my system' so to speak, not to make others angry. I'm going to throw out some blasphemy here, so be prepared.

First, it's frustrating to see once again the 'absolute' judgements take place on this board.

To those who suggest "It's all about winning, winning solves all" - I'd ask you, using a extreme (to the point of irrelevant) example - would winning feel as good with a QB who was convicted of a heinous offense? Ok, perhaps an example closer to home. Would winning feel as good with a pouting, arrogant, selfish QB? Anyone remember that?

To those who suggest "winning is not important" - I was at the Lions game. I love Tebow as much as the next guy... But that game was sickening. I posted afterwards that it took another 9 games like that to make me see Tebow wasn't the guy, then that was the way it was. I would feel sad for him, but I'd be up for shipping him out. Lucky for us, it didn't go that route.

For many people, being the underdog is what makes winning extra special. That's how I feel about Tebow. This is not about pity, he gets paid a lot of money to face criticism - as did Orton. It's just more exciting. After all, who would want to watch a movie where the rich, arrogant, popular kid with all the breaks got the girl? Nobody likes an foregone conclusion.

This is where I get to Elway.

I'm sorry, I think this has a lot to do with his ego. There, I said it.

It's not ALL about ego, of course. He wasn't out looking at Luck to make his ego feel better. He also wasn't interviewing Manning to strengthen his ego either.

But I truly think that the criticism leveled at him this year - rightly or wrongly - p'd him off the the point where he just wants to get rid of the whole problem.

I don't blame him. This was a guy who was famous for his competitive spirit, so it is unexpected to not have him feel in any way competitive with Tebowmania? This is the Duke, the King of Denver after all. His name spoken in reverence for more than a decade. If you think this wouldn't touch him in any way, then I think you're at best wanting to ignore it or hoping it isn't so, and at worst, a little naive.

What I do blame him him for his lack of respect of Tebow, and in turn, the fans. Tebow is a guy who had commentators question his being in the NFL at all. We gave him a 1-4 start with no off-season and no 1st team reps, and he took us to the playoffs and even won a game, one that will go down in history. I was there and will never forget, regardless of what follows.

I'm Australian, and the last thing I'll ever be accused of is being oversensitive. But the way Elways has treated Tebow through the Orton situation, through the season, after the win, and now courting Manning publicly with zero comment, makes me sick. Tebow, along with Miller and others, made this whole city stand up and cheer again.

I know people who know Elway, which I guess you could say is one step above reading a tabloid. But to a person they suggest that the crap he had to put up with would not go down well. And - my opinion only - as a result he's rushing to force Tim out before we even know what we've got in him.

At the end of the day (I made this comment somewhere) - I will give Elway this, his does have balls.

Because if he dumps Tebow for Manning, and if Manning busts and Tebow booms elsewhere, then he won't have to worry about Tebow's threat to his legacy, he'll have damaged it all by himself.

And I'll still cheer for the Broncos, and many of you will forgive Elway, and you are all the better people for it. I wish I could be as understanding, football is a business after all.

Because I sure as hell won't forgive him. Because football is only a business because fans like me support a team passionately, and of some of us it's about who plays the game and they way they play it that makes winning all the more special. That includes how a team treats it's players, and how the team treats its fans.

And if Elway wants to treat fans like me like crap, and not even acknowledge us and what this process is doing - just like last season - then he can take his legacy and shove it.

(And I mean that in the nicest possible way.)

Wow, never a dull moment in Broncos country. Just when I thought I could dedicate my home internet connection to Netflix for a few months, here we go again with another crazy off-season.

This is where I get to Elway.

Things I loved about yesterday.

tonks — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:48:36 -0000

1. I loved the fact that we had way, way, way more fans at the game than the Steelers. I was at the AFC 2005 game - and it was rough. I was at Mile High Station before the game and thought "Wow, we are dominating, I hope the game is the same". And it was. Whatever they did to limit ticket sales to locals - they should do it again. Every game. :-)

2. I loved the fact my wife got to see me scream and jump like a total idiot the whole game. I hugged complete strangers at the end the game from the row behind me, and in front of me. I loved them too.

3. I loved the way the stadium felt at half time. It wasn't "we've won it" over-confidence, it wasn’t (totally) nervous "we can still lose it" - it was reveling in the moment. It was like a party. I loved it.

4. I loved the way we won. It had a bit of everything. If we blew them out and we limped home - it just wouldn't have been the same. It *felt* like a comeback. We had a fumble, it wasn't perfect. There were blown calls. It wasn't a 'everything went right' game. It showed that even with Tebow having a blinder, we (and he) - still have room to improve.

5. I loved the beer. Man, it tasted good. I didn't love it at 1am when my infant daughter woke up - but hey, that was today, not yesterday.

6. I loved seeing DT play well. I know Tebow gets all the love/hate… but everything I've read about this guy is that he is a genuinely good guy. It was great to see him do so well, and charge down the field like they scary big WR we knew he could be. I got texts from some mates who went to Georgia Tech asking me to thank them for him. I loved them.

7. I loved coming home, and sucking every last replay on TV, every online article report, and post here on MHR - consuming them all till 1am. I re-read the game threads (all of them) - like I do if I get to chance to get to a game - from start to finish. I love - especially - reading the posts that came in right after the OT TD. Awesome.

8. I loved calling my Father-in-law after the game to thank him for his tickets (he was feeling ill), and having him answer the phone "Go Broncos". The man gave me not only his daughter, but Playoff tickets. I love him.

9. I loved the fact that going to bed, I'd be waking up to even more news coverage, articles, post again, and on this site.

10. I loved, loved, loved Elway's reaction. Now, I'll get crap for this, but I felt like Elway simply didn’t want Tebow to succeed. I don't think he was nasty, petty, small-minded, or jealous at all. I just think on a subconscious level, he wasn't ready to let his title of "The man" go - and here was a potential threat to that status. I'm not suggesting he would ever be - but I suspected that John may have felt deep down he may be one day. Peter King made a recent statement along those lines about Dan Marino and how he probably feels about Drew Brees breaking his passing record. It's not bitter, or envious, it's just that deep down, it's sad to see someone taking something that you held for so long. Which is completely understandable. That's all I'm saying. But watching Elway jump for joy like I was on the sideline, and the footage of him in the room after the game- I feel like Elway is in. I feel like after his statement "just pull the trigger" - and watching what Tebow did - somehow Tebow now is also "his boy". That's how I feel about it, anyway. And I love it.

11. I love the fact I get to share this win with you guys. There are folk I disagree with here, and folk who think so similar my brain must have been genetically spliced around 40 years ago from the same cell. But coming home and reading the posts, and feeling the joy from a lot of who whose posts I have read for so long now I feel like I know you. I love it.

'Twas the Week before Miami

tonks — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:08:35 -0000

(To the rhyme, as best I could, of "The Night Before Christmas", but a bit shorter, that thing is loooong)

‘Twas the Week before the Miami Game when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, Not even a (Bluetooth-enabled) mouse.
Bronco fans in Florida were donning their wares,
In the hopes that young Tim Tebow and his band, soon would be there.

Ignoring MSM howls from pundits and other talking heads,
Visions of Superbowls danced in their heads..
Our offense, so far, was but good for a Sunday nap,
Until last week at half-time, Couch Fox game Tim’s shoulder a tap.

Out on the field in 4th Quarter, there rose such a clatter,
We sprang from out Lazee-boys to see what was the matter
Into to the Endzone we watched young Tim he did crash,
And Moreno – with that screen pass - oh, what a dash

The roar at Mile High during the last few minutes did grow,
Cheers of “Go Broncos”, and even louder “TE-BOW”
When to what to my wandering eyes should appear,
But a missed Pass Interference call, to me, very clear
But at least I knew now we had a QB, so lively and quick.
Even if ideally he’d linger in a the pocket a bit more, and stick.

Then more rapid than eagles his critics they came,
Whistling, doubting, shouting and debating his game,
“Not a passer, bad footwork, no training will fix him”,
“I’ll brand him a failure to all who will listen.”
“I’ll stake my future on this, on watching him fall”.
“He won’t make it in this game, not running the ball”

But as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When Tebow meets with an obstacle, well, it just makes him try.
And if he can’t throw like a Brady, well, he will make do.
With a sleigh full of passion, heart, and willpower too.

He’ll speak not a word, but go straight to work,
Ignoring those voices, like Hoge, what a jerk.
Will he succeed, not sure, but who really knows?
But I’m pretty sure that improvement with experience grows.

So this Sunday I hope as the Ref blows his whistle,
Tim hits young DT, fit and healthy, with a throw like a missile.
And we Bronco Fans, as we leap in the air with delight
Can exclaim “We had faith in you Tebow, and you know, WE WERE RIGHT!!!!!”

(P.S I know will take more than a few good throws to confirm Tebows future, and it's not about 'being right' but the rhyme worked.)

(To the rhyme, as best I could, of "The Night Before Christmas", but a bit shorter, that thing is loooong)

(P.S I know will take more than a few good throws to confirm Tebows future, and it's not about 'being right' but the rhyme worked.)

Dear Johns (Pt 2),

tonks — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:05 -0000

Dear John(s),

After our first loss, I sent my first "Dear John" letter. For the most part, I was expressing sympathy at your plight, while defending the reaction of fans – especially in regards to the QB situation. If you didn’t catch it, you can read it here http://www.milehighreport.com/2011/9/13/2422904/dear-john-s . (For those of you at MHR who think I’m anti-Orton, you can read that also).

At that point, I was writing to you on behalf of the fans, to defend (most of us) for questioning your behavior and choices. After all, we’re fans. What are we doing if not second-guessing coaches, players, commentators, and the mainstream media?

Now I’m writing to you on behalf of the fans, regarding a much more serious issue.

I’m writing because your actions (or lack thereof) are tearing apart our great fanbase, and destroying our hope for this season.

Sure, fans are often (Some would say always) divided. But this is different. This is ugly divorce divided, and by ugly, I mean Mel Gibson after a big night on the booze ugly. I ugly like Nancy Grace in a bad mood ugly. Am I exaggerating? Perhaps, but tell me which of the following you haven’t seen:-

- I see rational, dedicated, passionate Bronco fans on both sides of the QB argument resort to name calling. (Some are funny names, but still).

- I see rational, dedicated, passionate Bronco fans wanting Orton to get hurt, injured and/or downright fail as bad as the opposition.

- I see rational, dedicated, passionate Bronco fans wanting Tebow QB to get hurt, injured and/or downright fail as bad the opposition, and fall flat on his face, so they can say "I told you so."

- I see rational, dedicated, passionate Bronco fans questioning the motives of their owner, coach, and most famous QB in history.

I see rational, dedicated, passionate Bronco fans hoping we will lose every game of the year, just so we risk everything on *another* QB next year.

Some fans will argue – often correctly – that they don’t really *hate* Orton, or Tebow, they just hate their fans. But it always starts that way. Sooner or later, the desire - generated by the debate and simply human nature – drives a fan to levy that ill-will on the player. As above, there are a number of folk on this site – who want Tebow to fail dismally before he has really begun (if ever). This is guy who – let’s keep religion out of this – is an ideal role model for young fans in terms of humility, dedication, hard work and respect for others. There are a number of folk on this site who want Orton – a humble, anti-arrogance personified, non-nonsesne solid guy, to have his legs broken to just get out of the way. This doesn't make sense. And this is what people do when they see the same results, and no visibility of any hope of a change.

So please, take some steps to show us you aren't simply ignorant of what – in many cases- are open, honest questions. Treat us like adults. If the entire populace of Bronco Country knew Miami was in talks with Orton, don’t treat us like it didn’t happen, don’t use the Eddie Murphy "Raw" defense. - "Wadn’t me". Because in the absence of you guys actually ‘leading’ and reacting to a problem, the fanbase is tearing itself up while you seem to be ignorant of the problems.

These steps can also rectify the other issue I mentioned, that of hope. Hope might be an irrational, illogical thing. But it’s what keeps folk following teams in their deepest, darkest hours. And I don’t think we’re there yet. I’m excited whenever our defense takes the field – even as depleted as they are, they still make plays. Decker is looking great – perhaps I don’t have to keep lighting a candle for DT.

But before people start saying "It’s not all doom and gloom tonks, don’t be so dramatic" - you're right, but let’s all be real guys: during pre-season, there was unquestioned hope for the playoffs, and they sky was the limit. So we’re doing great – but our expectations, on the whole, have been greatly diminished.… and sadly, occasionally undeservedly, we are starting to lose our hope for this season in Orton.

As I said in my last post – I will, and have, cheered for Orton. And I will keep doing so. But it’s getting harder with each game. And here’s why.

Most of us fans are adults. We don’t really have superheroes to cheer for anymore. Football games, as much as any sport, is one of the few areas a healthy male will scream his lungs out in support of another adult male that he’s not related to. So we want our players to be Superheroes. And of all the players we want to be a Superhero, the one we want to come through at the climax, at the critical moment, in the "clutch" – it’s the QB.

Look, we know QB’s are human. But, Superheros screw up too. Look, even Superman forgot about Louis Lane when her car when into the ditch and had to roll back the earth ("Oops!"). At least he could spin the Earth back and… … sorry, I digress.

But for the most part, we should be able to count on the QB to come through in the clinches, to rescue is when the chips are down, to carry the game on his shoulders when it needs to be carried, to be cool as a cucumber, and put the crowd on its feat. If anyone has to be *almost* that superhero, it’s the QB.

Yes, its’ a team sport. But our team just keeps us in the game, and puts our QB in a position to win it. Awesome RB’s can have that impact too, and yes, occasionally you can win on TOs but really, it’s the QB who has the ball in his hands most of the time. This isn’t the X-men, or the three musketeers, or Batman and Robin. So sure it’s a team game, but the QB is the ‘closer’. And the last three games, I’d argue that our team has kept us close. Close enough we should be winning these games.

Orton is simply not that guy, the ‘closer’ god bless him. I don’t get excited when he has the ball near the goal like I should for a superhero – anything can happen now!!! – I get nervous. I get worried. And you know the worst part? I think he does too L

I cheer for him, I will him to win, I want him to succeed, and I *don’t* get disappointed when we do win with him. But rather than feeling euphoria after a win, I just feel relieved. And that’s not really how I should feel. I should feel like "Yeah YEAH, we kicked some BE-HIND – I’m ready for the next guy!" (even if we only win by 2).. not "Oh gawd, I’m so glad we scraped in with that one, My heart stopped 3 minutes go can you pass the defibrillator?" I don’t want to keep feeling like we are about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I’m not sure if Tebow is the answer. But for a lot of us, he gave us some hope last year when he played Perhaps he’s not ready to start, but I think even most who don’t want him to start now ‘hope’ he is going improve enough in future that his skill matches his intangibles.

By not putting him in Sunday at the goal line – where even many who are not ‘fans’ agree his record is great – was the first sign that our hopes are perhaps completely irrational. Perhaps Fox really does ‘not like him’. Perhaps he doesn’t have a future here. Perhaps we should jettison our hope. And that’s a sad, sad thing when right now we have more hope than results.

So I’ll keep watching, keep cheering for Orton and the team, and keep hoping. Just one thing – please give us something to hope for, ‘k?

GO BRONCOS

P.S Please cheer for the Mighty Magpies this Friday night in the Australian Rules Grand Final, my ‘other’ team.