Bleacher Report - Articles by Jay Drudge

Denver Broncos Break 36-Year-Old Record: And It's Not Good

Jay Drudge — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:49:44 -0500

The Denver Broncos are running low on bullies. At least in the backfield. The Broncos have, for more than a decade now, bullied their way through opposing defenses.

This is in large part due to the zone-blocking scheme the Broncos have employed for years, but also because of a host of mostly unheard of backs such as Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns, Olandis Gary, and Tatum Bell. Well, they were unheard of until they entered the spotlight via Mile High Stadium.

But lately, the Broncos' ground game has been...grounded.

They have produced only one 100-yard rusher in the past 11 games. Seriously. Granted Shanahan's job is still safe in Denver as most of the debacle can be chalked up to injuries, But considering that the Broncos are likely to go without a 1,000-yard rusher this year, things are looking bleak for a now 4-4 team that started off hot.

Cutler led the league in touchdown passes for the first few weeks, and even though the Broncos defense looked terrible most thought that Cutler's play could hold off the opposition until the Denver defense could find its form. And when that happened, look out AFC.

Well that never happened and Denver looks more like a goat than the fierce bucking Broncos of old. And as the articulate Ron White once said, "you can't ride home on a bowl of goat...I've always said that."

If the Broncos don't get more consistent play from Cutler (and I don't mean consistently throwing interceptions) and find a little running back support from deep within it's practice squad, they won't be riding into the Orange Crush Sunset...they'll be packing up the goat sooner than expected.

Michael Pittman (neck) and Andre Hall (hand) are done for the season. Pittman's injury doesn't appear to be career ending as once suspected, but that doesn't help for the remainder of this season.

That leaves the Broncos' running game square on the shoulders of Selvin Young, in only his second season, but who currently has a strained groin. Rookie Ryan Torain looked unimpressive last week carrying the ball three times for 1 yard. Rookie fullback Peyton Hillis played a principle role in the offense this week...and since no one has heard of him, maybe he holds similar promise to the unknown heroes of the past.

The Miami Dolphins limited the Denver Broncos running game to 14 yards on 12 carries; its worst performance in 36 years.

The Broncos play the struggling Browns this week. Browns coach Romeo Crennel insisted that the Broncos running game still poses a problem. For who? Denver or the Browns? Maybe the answer is both.

Nevertheless, the Broncos need to get healthy, or good, or both, very quickly. Otherwise riding home on a bowl of goat seems like a real possibility.

Top Five NFL Head-Shakers

Jay Drudge — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:45:25 -0400

Teams Bring Jelly to Denver: Dre Bly continues to look like the piece of toast he has been since arriving in Denver. He resembles a weak, albeit fast, high-school corner when attempting to cover anything that remotely resembles an NFL receiver. Bly has been toasted more than any other cover man on the team.

And now that Champ Bailey has injured his groin, Bly will be called upon to cover the oppositions No. 1 receiver. That doesn’t bode well for the already anemic Denver defense. Expect opposing offensives to bring their favorite flavor of jelly to smear all over Bly.

Kellen Winslow II is an Infection: Kellen announced he was the latest Cleveland Brown to succumb to a staph infection, bringing the teams total to five players. Coach Romeo Crennel said they are doing everything possible to curtail the spread of the infections, but presently they don’t yet have a handle on it.

Amusingly, Winslow whined to a local paper saying he was upset the GM Phil Savage didn’t check in on him while he was in the hospital. Newsflash Kellen, it's typical that your boss' boss' boss doesn't call when your out sick. He claimed to feel like “a piece of meat” and unappreciated.

He went on to add that head coach Crennel and his position coach checked in on him, “But I never heard from him…Savage, and that disappoints me. Sometimes I don’t even feel apart of this team,” Winslow said. Maybe if you played a little harder, talked less, and made a few more catches when it mattered, you’d feel more a part of the team. Just a thought. It’s a shame he doesn’t have more of the class that his father brought to game.

Calling Pacman to Rehab: I offer that we take a vote. Let’s change Adam “Pacman” Jones name to Adam “Imathug” Jones. This week, he entered an alcohol rehab treatment facility “in another part of the country” said Dallas owner Jerry Jones. All this because, in addition to all of the previous thug-like actions, he got into an altercation with a member of the Dallas Cowboys security staff who was hired to keep Pacman...excuse me, Imathug, out of trouble.

It’s possible that when Imathug is willing to get into a fight with the one person who is in charge of keeping him out of fights...well, he could be a lost cause. Let’s not forget that Imathug gave commissioner Rodger Goodell a mere 41 days of peace and tranquility after the last “issue.”

Let’s hope the commish, no, not the commish of the Miller Light beer commercials, but Goodell himself will just see the need to kick these guys out of the league all together.

Kansas City is Smoking: And not just because the iconic steakhouse the Hereford House went up in flames recently. But because it’s most prolific running back Larry Johnson is being investigated on allegations that he spat a drink in a woman's face at a nightclub. If memory, and Google, serves me correctly, I believe this is the fourth time in five years he’s been accused of assaulting a woman. Dare I say...trend?

If my golf swing was that consistent, I might be able to win my weekly $5 nassau. Take the 20 ATF agents, yes 20, that are investigating the fire at the Hereford House and put them on the L.J. case and resolve the issue once and for all.

Cut Cutler: OK, well he doesn’t need to be cut. But just last week I asked if Tony Romo deserved to wear the Star and mentioned he needed to toughen up if he was going to earn the respect of fans like his idol Brett Favre did.

And the Broncos definitely looked more like donkeys last night.

The defense is awful, to say the least. Cutler hurt his hand on the first play from scrimmage and looked like my neighbor's 12-year-old daughter throwing lawn darts while spinning herself dizzy in circles. If the guy can’t throw completions to the talented corps of receivers that the Broncos...er, Donkeys...have, put the horseshoe around his neck and yank him.

My Affair With Favre

Jay Drudge — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:58:21 -0400

Where there’s smoke, there is Favre.

We know them as drama queens. Those people in our lives who always seem to have “nonsense” constantly surrounding them. They manipulate. They lie. They cheat.

They ask for patience yet refuse to give it in return. They cause a fight so they can walk away never to be seen or heard from again.

The Packers only wish that was the case with Brett Favre. Unfortunately, he’s not going away. Mind you, I love Brett Favre. But eventually, one has to wonder if he isn’t guilty of causing his own problems.

The smoke just isn’t going away. There is always something new. When did Brett become so controversial?

It’s becoming tiresome really. I mean, I really wanted to have a relationship with the guy...well sort of. I mean, NOT like that.

We knew each other for years. We finally decided to date and see where it led us. Then it turned into this long-distance relationship; which was tough, but we managed. Neither of us expected it really. And while he professed his love for me, he was cheating on me. Talking with other teams about coming back.

I fell in love with his passion, his toughness, and his love for the game, but all of a sudden, he was going on trips to other cities with other guys. Next thing I know, he’s taking their money, driving new cars, living in fancy places that he can’t really afford. He’s a kept man.

And we know what that makes him.

All the while he claims he’s doing it for the love of the game. Taking this chance to spread his wings and grow because he may never have the chance again. And while that seems plausible, and I want to believe him, he keeps doing things that cause me to question his real intentions.

Is Brett really the type to call Detroit and spend an hour on the phone with their coaches in hopes of giving the Packers a loss? I mean, it is Detroit after all. The Pack could announce the play at the line of scrimmage and Detroit still couldn’t stop them.

So why stoop to that level? I would like to think that he didn’t. We will likely never know.

But what we do know is that lately there is always smoke surrounding Brett. Even his own family members started to sabotage him. That NEVER happens...Not with family. Blood is thicker than water, right?

It is, unless what you’re doing is so disappointing to those closest to you that they leave your side.

That should be a wake up call. But six touchdowns, some new clothes, and some fancy bling can easily divert attention away from the noise and the smoke.

Brett, if you really are doing this, please stop. Please come back. What we had was real.

I want the relationship we once had, without all the distractions. You need to stop getting in your own way and just let things happen naturally. Because we all know, where there is smoke, there is fire.

The only smoke I want to see is you smoking opposing defenses; lighting up the scoreboard and adding to your highlight reel. I really do love you. I want you to chase those dreams. But please don’t do it in a manner that ruins our relationship.

You are so much better than that. So act like it.

Does Tony Romo Really Deserve To Wear the Star?

Jay Drudge — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:55:25 -0400

From the time I started playing football at eight years old until my career ended in college, it’s been a time-honored tradition to reward great plays with a small sticker that is placed somewhere on your helmet.

Tremendous defensive plays or vicious hits have always been awarded a skull and crossbones sticker. Great offensive plays or TDs were given either a small football sticker or a star.

And this brings me to the Dallas Cowboys.

Growing up in the shadow of the Cowboys, I’ve followed the team most of my life. I’ve seen the lows of the 1-15 team and the highs of the great Super Bowl teams of the '90s.

Now, I’m not here to debate who is a better QB, Aikman or Romo. Nor am I here to compare the current Cowboys to the '90s Cowboys with Aikman, Irvin, Smith, and a FB named Moose.

But I am here to pose one simple question: Does Tony Romo really deserve the star on his helmet?

We all know Romo stands in the long line of those trying to fill the void of an iconic QB. It's an unenviable task at best. Few replacements have been able to fill the shoes of the previous icon.

Dallas has had eight starting QBs since Aikman retired in 2000.

Brian Greise had the NFL pedigree but couldn’t make those orange crush sunsets in Denver quite as beautifully as Elway did.

Babe Laufenberg couldn’t make lightning appear "at will," like Dan Fouts did in San Diego.

Jay Fiedler could not have stayed afloat as a Dolphin, even if he wore those arm floats my son used in the warm confines of the pee-infested kiddie pool. Marino was just too prolific of a passer.

Aaron Rodgers, who has a size-14 foot, the same as Favre, will never fill those shoes, even with a Dr. Scholl's insert.

In fact, Steve Young is the only QB to follow a previous Hall of Famer into the Hall of Fame. The rest of the followers were just...well, followers.

In Aikman's first 38 games, he threw for 7,082 yards. So far, Romo has amassed 8,803 passing yards in four fewer games. Give Tony a star.

Aikman had Jimmy Johnson, a real football coach; Romo has Wade Phillips, the second best bobble-head coach next to whoever lands the Raiders' gig. Another star to Tony.

Romo has thrown 69 TDs in those 32 games. Aikman tossed a mere 31, even if you add the 1992 Super Bowl season where Aikman threw for 23, which only brings his total to 54. Give Romo another star.

Aikman won the Super Bowl; that deserves a star. He also won Super Bowl MVP—what the hell, make that two stars.

If you add it up, Romo has accumulated more stars in fewer games with a far less talented group of coaches and players around him.

However, in the end, it seems to be the intangibles that make the difference. No, not Carrie Underwood or Jessica Simpson. Rather the ability to complete those throws in the final minutes that lock up a win.

Having that pocket presence so as not to take a sack at the most inopportune time. The ability to take care of the football and not make a sloppy throw leading to an INT. Or, most notably, not fumbling the hold on a kick that would've won your team the game. Those type of intangibles.

But now Romo is out for four weeks with a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand. Someone remind Romo that the old school icons, like Ronnie Lot, cut his pinky off and played the next week.

That’s what it means to be an icon. It's about a willingness to do the things that others wouldn’t normally do. While Romo won the “battle of the stars” against Aikman in this article, I don’t know if he deserves to put the sticker on his helmet just yet.