Denver Broncos: The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

Generally speaking, a writer likes to keep it in the third person when analyzing football games.

This day, however, is unique. From here on out, I’d like you to pull up a chair, pay attention in class—don’t say I didn’t tell you so—and recognize your local professor is here to help.

I’m here to help you.  

Yes, I'm being cynical and it's satire. But it should strike a chord with a positive response.

I’ve had enough, we’ve had enough.

So I’m begging you to just take this symbolic effort and carry it over to the game. Tell your friends and fans alike.

Send a message to the team in a constructive, fun and positive manner.

In the same spirit, there’s a line in the movie Fever Pitch that I think Broncos fans can relate to right now and have to question supporting the team with their hard-earned dollars at this point.

“You love the Red Sox, but have they ever loved you back?”

It’s a viable question for Broncos fans, especially those that feel the franchise has sold them short.

The winter snow is in the mountains, and it’s on the way to the front-range of Colorado. The Denver Broncos' season is officially in the tank, though not entirely mathematically. 

As the grey clouds ease their way into the Mile High City on the plain, remember the holiday season is here, and with it a wind of change.

Let’s keep in mind there are multiple NFL franchises suffering from blackouts right now because they are failing to put the product on the field. They are failing at reaching the fans.

On the personal side, I don’t want to see that come to Denver. But if the franchise refuses to listen to the fanbase, just mark these words: There will be eventual fallout from that.

Cheap Sunglasses

When you get up in the morning and the light is hurt your head
The first thing you do when you get up out of bed
Is hit that streets a-runnin' and try to beat the masses
And go get yourself some cheap sunglasses
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Now go out and get yourself some big black frames
With the glass so dark they won't even know your name
And the choice is up to you 'cause they come in two classes
Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

-ZZ Top / Gibbons, Hill, Beard

The Broncos have a very well-documented identity crisis going on.

It’s about the team receiving a new stadium from the fans and surrounding community about a decade ago, only to deliver a cheap product on the field. The problem is the Broncos rode a wave of success in back-to-back Super Bowls only to sell the fanbase short. 

Now, obviously, it was unintentional fallout that eventually saw it lead us to where it is today. However, you have to keep in mind that it was a fanbase that was so strong that it essentially demanded that the franchise rise above the first decade of being cellar dwellers. 

The team last went 5-15 roughly 40 years ago. The Broncos eventually became the most successful NFL franchise in the win department for three solid decades. 

Now they have come full circle in less than a decade to reach their rock-bottom, humble beginnings again.

So moving forward, you have to see it as being an emblematic symbol to send a message back to the team on Sunday when they take on the St. Louis Rams. 

You have to believe in the power of the masses.

Go to Mile High with your cheap sunglasses.

Oh-yeah!

I Gotta Crazy Teacher, He Wears Dark Glasses

It's Thanksgiving week and it’s strange to think, but I’m going to say it: I deserve better, and so do you. 

We all deserve better than we are getting out of Josh McDaniels and his version of the Denver Broncos, a.k.a. Patriots Mirage West. 

I am one of the originals who was ridiculed by the Josh McDaniels backers for my not being on board with a number of his decisions since Mike Shanahan’s termination. It’s true, it’s easier to look at things in 20/20 or in a negative light.

That, however, was never my personal take. My take has always been about what I’ve seen as being best for the franchise and best for the fans. 

So I evaluated everything from Jay Cutler to Tim Tebow. But here’s the thing: These decisions have put the fans in disarray and are killing the franchise on a whole new level.

The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!

So as your professor of the midway (Ha-Ha-Ha!!!), I feel a personal obligation to set the lot of us all straight in understanding the plight of the 2010 Denver Broncos. With that I felt a stanza of lyrics dating back to the 1980’s is in order to drive the point’s home on this “snow on the way” day in the Mile High City. 

I find it a temporary panacea for the fans, and it’s something that should become a symbolic sign of uniting the fans while showing displeasure with the current results on the field. Realize this Denver Broncos franchise has not won five out of 20 games for the first time since 1970-71.

Life itself is somewhat cyclic, and the Denver Broncos have certainly come full circle.

The Denver Broncos have shown more flaws than an old celebrity facelift. So on the personal side, I’m over the bashing of Josh McDaniels—I really am.

I’m just resigned to the fact that he’s not a very good head coach. I’m resigned to the fact that he dismantled a team on the brink of being a playoff contender and made them one of the worst in franchise history.

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades

            “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”

            Timbuk 3 / Pat McDonald 

You see, I am your crazy teacher. I prefer professor, but whatever floats your boat.

You probably think I’m crazy.  In fact, a few weeks ago, many of the Josh McDaniels backers took me to task when I threw out the crazy idea of having John Elway and Jon Gruden come to Dove Valley to help mend fences. 

I was so crazy, in fact, that in the unscientific poll, 80 percent of the roughly 600 responders sided with my idea. Only 13.5 percent still backed Josh McDaniels as the head coach of the Denver Broncos.

OK, so maybe more of you are on board with the ideas than I just made out, but I’m just here trying to stir the pot a bit. The list of wrongs at this point is self-evident and long, but this NFL franchise has more than a few issues to address and correct.

So while I’m here to help, you can, too.

Now is the time to help shape the future of this franchise at Sunday’s game. It’s time the fans stand together and ignore which side of the fence you’re on. 

It’s time to send a message to the players, the franchise and the owner that the product on the field is not living up.

You have to show them just how you see it.

So are things going great, and only getting better?

There’s just one catch: You gotta wear shades!