Bleacher Report - Articles by Henry Gula

There Is a Pulse in Denver: Broncos Finally Wake Up and Step Up

Henry Gula — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:01:55 -0500

"Wake up and step up."

A phrase that has defined the Denver Broncos since their Monday Night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks ago.

It took them three weeks, but they finally did it. Going into a crucial primetime matchup with the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Night, the Broncos absolutely needed to win.

And, for the first time since mid-October, they did just that.

Just four short days ago, things looked bleak in Denver. The Broncos had lost four straight, the offense was hapless, and the defense tired. Brandon Marshall and Knowshon Moreno were fighting on the sideline.

It's amazing how quickly things can change.

A short practice week and a game on Thursday night were just what the doctor ordered for the Broncos. There was no time to mope, as practice time was in short supply.

This is a young team with a young coach, both of whom needed the proverbial "fire" lit under them.

Josh McDaniels' smack-talking incident with members of the San Diego Chargers may have been the perfect fire-starter.

When the coach makes a controversial move like that, especially following a loss, the players are more motivated to win, not just for themselves, but to protect their head man's reputation and image.

Regardless of the motivation, the Broncos were able to wake up from their daze, regain some of their early-season swagger, and put a 26-6 beatdown on the Giants.

The Broncos played well in all phases of the game, and looked like the team that fans "knew and loved" through the first six weeks. They were able to repair the holes that had developed over the four-game skid.

The defense held New York to a mere 57 rushing yards, forced three turnovers, and sacked Eli Manning three times.

The Giants only managed one red zone trip the entire game, and scored only the two field goals. This is the same Giants offense that hung 456 total yards and 34 points on the Atlanta Falcons four days earlier.

The Broncos' defensive effort set the tone for the entire game, and gave them confidence to open up the offense and once again take risks.

Elvis Dumervil was "back in the building" racking up two more sacks (he leads the league with 14) and forcing a fumble. His ability to pressure the quarterback is crucial to the success of the defense.

The Denver rushing attack finally got back into gear, as Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter teamed up to consistently put pressure on the Giants and keep the offense moving in the right direction.

Finally, Brandon Marshall's performance cannot be overlooked. His play is critical to the offense, and he made two spectacular catches.

Those kinds of catches help boost confidence for both Orton and McDaniels, which will ultimately lead to more aggressive play calling—something the Broncos undoubtedly need.

In the end, though, the Broncos won the game they absolutely had to win. At 7-4, they now have nine days before they travel to Kansas City to take on the "streaking" Chiefs.

With last season's Kansas City trip in mind, the Broncos must not overlook the 3-7 Chiefs.

At this point, they need as many wins as possible in order to either beat out the Chargers in the West or obtain a Wild Card spot in the competitive AFC.

Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu once said, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

The Denver Broncos took their first step. They look to be back on track. Now it is time to buckle down and, ultimately, win.

More Than a Tailspin: The Denver Broncos Are Now in an All Out Free-Fall

Henry Gula — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:24:46 -0500

It's official. The floodgates have opened. The Denver Broncos' three game tailspin is over. It's now a full on free-fall.

Today's 32-3 pounding at home to the rival San Diego Chargers is the fourth consecutive loss for the Broncos, and none of those games have really been close.

The Broncos are being dominated on offense, and their once vaunted defense is struggling to keep up. To their credit, they have been putting in their best effort, as they held the Chargers to only three touchdowns on seven red zone trips.

It has now been clearly established that Chris Simms is incapable of competing in the NFL anymore. A once viable starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Simms was nearly killed three years ago when his spleen was ruptured in a game against the Carolina Panthers.

Simms was signed by the Broncos this offseason to be the primary backup and played well in preseason. However, in nearly four quarters of regular season action, Simms has failed to produce, totaling five completions on 17 attempts for a total of 23 yards, an interception, and a lost fumble.

The situation became so bad that Josh McDaniels was forced to put the injured Kyle Orton into the game late in the second quarter, as the Simms-led offense was going nowhere.

Orton and the offense showed signs of life for a short period of time just before halftime, as Orton executed two nice passes to Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Marshall to get to the San Diego four yard line. However, Knowshon Moreno fumbled at the goal line and killed the drive.

The Broncos look like a shell of the team that was once flying high at 6-0 going into their bye week. At 6-4 they are now one game behind San Diego in the AFC West race and are right in the middle of the wild card race.

Despite having a respectable record, there is very little to be respected in this Broncos team.

The lack of commitment to the ground game, the frustrating predictability of the play calling, and bad fundamentals make the Broncos look like the team people thought they would be going into the season.

After being blown out by Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the team was still capable of getting back on their feet, but the ensuing loss to Washington and the injury to Orton put them in an uphill battle. This loss only makes the hill steeper.

The Monday night win in San Diego seems distant and the days of a potent offense and lights-out defense are quickly fading.

With a short week and a date on Thanksgiving Night Football this Thursday against the Giants, the Broncos will get another opportunity to snap out of this free-fall.

The outcome of Thursday's game could very well be the difference between hanging in the AFC playoff race and quietly "slipping" under the proverbial water.

After Inexcusable Loss, Reeling Broncos Must Put Up or Shut Up

Henry Gula — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:33:00 -0500

This was the game they couldn't lose.

The 6-2 Broncos against the 2-6 Washington Redskins. The Redskins were thought to be a well-established "trainwreck." An incompetent owner, a terrible offense, a confused coach, and an angry fan base made Washington the laughing stock of the NFC East.

And what did the Denver Broncos do? They went into the Nation's Capital, and lost to them.

The Denver Broncos lost by ten points to the Washington Redskins. Inexcusable.

There are plenty of excuses. Kyle Orton was knocked out of the game after Redskins defensive end Brian Orakpo tackled him by the ankle.

In the second quarter, the Redskins lined up for a field goal, then went into punt formation, and then punter Hunter Smith threw the ball 35 yards downfield to the fullback for a touchdown. The Denver special teams were taken completely by surprise and had no answer for the trick play.

Chris Simms came in for Orton to start the second half and played "like crap" for lack of a better term. In two quarters of play, he made three completions on 13 pass attempts for a pitiful 13 yards and an interception to DeAngelo Hall.

On the bright side of things, the offense came out gunning in the first quarter.

Kyle Orton and Josh McDaniels had been heavily criticized for playing a conservative offense devoid of the "big play." Determined to change that, Orton connected with Brandon Marshall on two big plays of 40 and 75 yards, showing that this tandem is capable of stretching the field.

However, the once-vaunted defense looked soft. The Redskins were playing without star running back Clinton Portis, and the banged-up Ladell Betts ran on the Denver defense 26 times for 114 yards and a late touchdown that put the 'Skins up for good.

The statistics speak for themselves. The intangibles are what make this loss more distressing for the Broncos and their fans.

Denver is now 0-3 after the bye week. Over that week off, the rest of the league caught up to the them, and they have been unable to make any adjustments to regain their edge.

The cold reality of the NFL has now set in for Josh McDaniels. It's nice to start 6-0, but it will mean nothing if this team misses the playoffs. Still haunted by their three-week meltdown last December, the time for this team to be kicked in their rear-ends is now.

This cannot continue. They had a chance to rebound and they let it slip away. Orton needs to be healthy for next week's game against the Chargers.

Pending their game with the Eagles today, the Chargers and Broncos could be tied for the AFC West lead going into that game. The desperate struggle keeping this sinking ship afloat has begun.

The season is not lost by any means, but it is now going fast, and it's time for the Broncos to "put up or shut up."

It's Time for the Denver Broncos to Wake Up and Step Up...or Just Shut Up

Henry Gula — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:37:37 -0500

This is the worst a 6-2 record has ever felt.

To most teams in the NFL, entering week 10 at 6-2 is impressive and promising. For the Denver Broncos of 2009, it feels like a recipe for disaster.

If you've been following football this season, you'll know that the Denver Broncos were everyone's biggest surprise entering their bye week at 6-0. Many analysts even predicted an insulting 3-13 record for the squad.

The Broncos were riding a wave of adrenaline and energy, mixed with some luck and some big-time play from just about everyone on the roster.

Unfortunately though, every wave eventually "breaks." It happened to the 2007 Patriots at the most inauspicious of times, Super Bowl 42. And then, in week 8 of 2009, it happened for the Broncos.

The energy ran out over the bye week. The edge that Josh McDaniels, Mike Nolan, and the Broncos coaching staff had over the competition went dull.

The Broncos got exposed by the Ravens and then by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Suddenly, the offense couldn't put up any points. The revitalized defense, although putting in their best effort, spent far too much time on the field.

During the second half of their Monday Night game against Pittsburgh, the Broncos offense held the ball for six minutes. That means the defense was on the field for roughly 24 game minutes.

People who want to assign blame might point fingers at Kyle Orton, who threw three interceptions, two of which came at critical points in the game. They might point fingers at McDaniels, who clearly has not prepared his players well enough for these past two games.

While we're at it, why not point fingers at newly-acquired punter Mitch Berger, who averaged a pitiful 33.4 yards on seven punts.

As good as it may feel to make someone the "goat," this recent slide is no individual's fault. Orton needs a running game to be successful in the system. He does not have the arm strength or poise to beat a team like the Steelers on his own.

He has thrived in the system that McDaniels has implemented for him. But this system includes a running game, and 27 total yards on the ground is not a "running game."

It's time for this team to show what they are really made of. Is this the year they return to being legitimate contenders, or is it yet another strong start that quickly turns into a desperate attempt to bail out a sinking ship?

And, don't look now, but the Chargers and their ever-despisable quarterback Philip Rivers are one game back.

The veteran leadership is there. Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, and even newly acquired nickelback Ty Law have all been here before. They need to be talking to the rookies and younger players to keep their spirits up.

Luckily for this team, they have an opportunity to get back on track against the Washington Redskins next weekend, one of the clear-cut " train wrecks" of the NFL.

The Denver schedule is such that they do not get too many breaks. It is imperative to take this one and capitalize on it, because the following week in "Charges" San Diego.

The Broncos are not dead. They are 6-2, and we have seen what they're capable of. They've beaten the New England Patriots, the Dallas Cowboys, and those Chargers.

This is a good team that has lost track of who they are, and have fallen out of rhythm. They were riding a wave, it broke, and now they're stuck somewhere in between. But great teams find a way to get back up, find another wave and take it for all it's worth.

They've felt winning and now they've felt losing. Now they know that winning doesn't come that easily in the NFL.

It's time to wake up, and it's time to step up.

Broncos-Browns: Firing on All Cylinders, Denver Rolls Over Cleveland

Henry Gula — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:41:32 -0400

And the streak rolls onward to nine.

The Denver Broncos have now beaten the Cleveland Browns in their last nine meetings.

The game began with legendary Broncos tightend Shannon Sharpe parachuting into the stadium. Sharpe was officially inducted into the team Ring of Fame today.

Also worthy of note, the Broncos won their tenth straight home opener, and have now started 2-0 for the third straight season.

Today's win, 27-6 over the Browns, was an outstanding team effort by all members of the Broncos. Everyone did their job, and the team looked very impressive playing in front of it's fans at Invecso Field.

The game opened with a disastrous play, during which Peyton Hillis fumbled (and lost) the kickoff and gave Cleveland excellent starting field position. However, the Broncos defense held fast, and forced the Bronwns to settle for a field goal.

After a Broncos three-and-out gave Cleveland the ball, newly acquired linebacker Darrell Reid was able to recover a Brady Quinn fumble, giving the Broncos excellent field position. Kyle Orton capitalized with a nice two yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Scheffler.

The rest of the first half was uneventful, with the Broncos adding three more points on a Matt Prater field goal.

The second half opened with the Broncos defense making more big plays.

Elvis Dumervil tackled Browns wideout Joshua Cribbs and forced a fumble that was recovered by Brian Dawkins. The Broncos were able to capitalize with another Prater field goal.

The Broncos entered the fourth quarter up 13-6, but were not done by any means. The offense was ready for their "best quarter" of the young season.

On a second down and eight from the Denver 49-yard line, Kyle Orton hit Jabar Gaffney on a deep-out route. Gaffney ran away from the defenders and sprinted all the way to the two yard line. Peyton Hillis then bull-rushed his way into the endzone to put Denver up 20-6.

After another Browns three-and-out, Correll Bucklhalter put the game out of reach. Taking a handoff at midfield, Buckhalter ran easily into the secondary, where he put a beautiful move on two defenders.

He had to stiff-arm and fight cornerback Eric Wright for the final five yards, but was able to make it into the endzone, putting the game away for the Broncos.

Brady Quinn's final, last ditch effort pass was intercepted by rookie safety Darcel McBath.

This game, in addition to being another solid Denver win, was a very promising sign for fans. The Broncos defense turned in a lights-out performance, holding the Browns to just 11 first downs and 200 net yards on offense.

On the other side, the Broncos offense woke up in a big way, tallying 449 net yards of offense.

Elvis Dumervil had a career day, getting to Quinn for four sacks and forcing a fumble.

The Denver rushing attack also looked excellent. Correll Buckhalter led the way with nine touches for 76 yards, including the big 4th quarter run. He was followed by rookie Knowshon Moreno (17 for 75 yards) and LaMont Jordan (seven for 19 yards).

Kyle Orton also had a solid day, finishing 19 for 37 with 263 yards and a touchdown. He has yet to throw an interception.

The Denver offensive line did not allow any sacks.

Overall, today was a very good day in Broncos Country. The defense backed up last week's performance and showed that they might just be "the real deal". Mike Nolan's defensive playcalling was excellent once again.

The offense made up for last week's sluggish start, and the team looks confident and ready.

Coupled with a Chargers loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos now sit alone atop the AFC West.

Next Sunday, the team will travel to Oakland to take on an improved Raiders team. It is very important for the Broncos to open the season 3-0, and they will work all week to accomplish that goal.

Broncos-Bengals: Denver's Defense Shines and Stokley Saves the Day

Henry Gula — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:37:24 -0400

The Denver Broncos entered their week one game against the Cincinnati Bengals trying to leave a tumultuous offseason behind. They absolutely succeeded.

With what seemed like the world (minus their fans) hoping to see them be blown out, the Broncos stepped up and delivered for their fans.

The analysts said that the Broncos defense was still terrible, and would be "lit up" by Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and the rest of the Bengals offense.

Cincinnati did not score a point for the first 59 minutes and 19 seconds of the game.

The defensive line that "did not do nearly enough to improve itself over the offseason" racked up three sacks of Palmer, all by new acquisitions.

Andra Davis, Darrell Reid, and defensive captain Mario Haggan all got to Palmer.

Champ Bailey showed that he is still the best cornerback in the NFL, holding Ochocinco to 89 yards on 5 catches, and putting himself in position to perfectly read a route and tip a pass that would be intercepted by linebacker Wesley Woodyard.

Not surprisingly, Brian Dawkins led the defense with seven tackles and four assists.

The Broncos' unit held the Bengals to only 86 yards rushing, and stepped up on third down, as Cincinnati converted only five of 15 opportunities.

In the first quarter, in a stunning repeat of the snowy game in Denver two years ago, the Cincinnati holder missed a snap on what would have been an easy field goal. The ball bounced to midfield where it was recovered by the Broncos.

As good as the Denver defense looked, the offense was equally mediocre. Kyle Orton did not complete a pass until there was 1:20 left in the first quarter, when he completed a short pass to Brandon Marshall.

The Broncos were forced to punt eight times, and the offense was not very efficient.

Orton showed flashes of brilliance, including a perfect 21-yard strike to Jabar Gaffney who was wide open. Orton finished the day 17/28 for 243 yards, one touchdown, and most importantly, no interceptions.

The rushing duties were split by Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno, with each player getting eight touches. Buckhalter led the team with 46 yards rushing.

Kicker Matt Prater turned in a stellar performance, hitting big field goals from 48 and 50 yards out with perfect accuracy.

The real drama came half way through the final quarter. Denver led 6-0, and was forced to punt the ball away with 6:29 left in the game.

The defense, which had held fast all afternoon, was finally overpowered as the Bengals put up an impressive 11-play, 90-yard drive to score on a Cedric Benson run with just 41 seconds left to play.

Down by one point, backed up to their own 13 yard line, things did not look good for the Broncos.

But, after holding the lead all afternoon, this team was not about to be let down in the final minute.

Orton attempted a pass to Marshall, who could not make the catch. On the next play, with just 28 seconds left, Orton attempted another deep pass to Marshall, but it was tipped high in the air by cornerback Leon Hall.

That is when something truly magical happened.

Veteran slot receiver Brandon Stokely was in perfect position to catch the ball as it came down. With no defenders around him, he did, and took off down the field.

Stokely sprinted 87 yards all the way to the Cincinnati "inch" line and tiptoed along in an effort to "waste" as much time off the clock as possible before stepping into the endzone to the elation of Broncos fans everywhere.

The two-point conversion attempt failed, however with only five seconds remaining, Carson Palmer had no choice but to throw a desperation pass that was intercepted by tight end Tony Scheffler, of all people, to end the game.

The Denver Broncos return home 1-0, with rookie head coach Josh McDaniels kicking off his tenure with the team on a very high note.

The Broncos can use this energy to prepare themselves for their home opener against the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.

The Denver Top Five: Preseason Edition

Henry Gula — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:59:39 -0400

Looking at a NFL preseason roster, one can get lost in the sea of names, numbers, experience levels, and statistics. A preseason roster is full of guys vying for a roster spot come the regular season. It has superstars, career-backups, and rookie prospects hoping to make a name for themselves. I have decided to sort through the plethora of orange names on the Broncos' online roster and pick the five best players. "Best" can be a very subjective word. I wanted to choose the five players that I think, a) have the most raw talentl, b) have lived up to their potential so far in their careers, and c) are likely to have outstanding seasons in 2009. While the players who made the list may not surprise a Bronco fan, the order might. So, without further ado, the top five Broncos in 2009.

Begin Slideshow

Madden NFL '10 Rankings: An Insult to Many Denver Players

Henry Gula — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:06:52 -0400

Each August, EA Sports releases it's annual edition of the well-known Madden franchise.

Madden has long been regarded as the best NFL video game out there, in many ways simply because it has been the only game that includes rosters of real players for a number of years now.

Each edition includes updated "ratings" for players and teams.

Each player is given an overall rating on a scale of 0—100, which is complied using more specific rankings of various skills.

Common skills include speed, acceleration, awareness, and strength, as well as specific skills for each position. For example, a cornerback is rated on his "shutdown" ability and a linebacker is rated on his "big hit" ability.

These numbers, especially for rookies, are almost entirely subjective. Real NFL statistics do not play an important role in determining ratings.

That means the developers and analysts who work for EA are the ones dishing out the ratings. That fact has led to some insulting results, in the eyes of a Broncos fan.

For starters, the Broncos received a team rating of 70. The offense alone is rated at a very respectable 88. While many fans would argue for at least a 90, 88 is acceptable.

The defense, on the other hand, is given a lowly 62, above only the Chiefs, Rams, and Lions. Back in grade school, that would translate to a D.

Champ Bailey is fairly ranked second among corner backs with a 96. He is the highest-rated Bronco.

On the other end, Matt Prater is insulted with a rating of 58. The EA developers essentially gave him a big fat F as an NFL kicker.

The majority of the team is underrated across the board, but no group so much as the offensive line.

The Denver offensive line was regarded as the premier group of the NFL in 2008. Jay Cutler was sacked merely eleven times...in over 600 pass attempts.

If there was one player who absolutely held down the line, it was Ryan Clady.

Clady had an outstanding season, absolutely shutting down the likes of Julius Peppers, John Abraham, Luis Castillo, and Derrick Burgess.

For these efforts, EA rewarded him with a ranking of 88, good for 12th among left tackles.

In comparison, Joe Thomas is the top rated at the position, followed by the likes of Jordan Gross, Jason Peters, Matt Light, and Jake Long.

Although these are all very respectable linemen, quite honestly they are not on the same level as Clady.

When the camera was focused on him, fans could see the opposing lineman or linebacker attempt to bull rush Clady, be knocked back, then attempt a spin move, only to be overpowered and fall to the turf.

That is the mark of a dominant left tackle, not a B+ left tackle.

As for the rest of the offensive line, Ryan Harris receives a 73, Chris Kuper a 78, Casey Wiegmann an 87, and Ben Hamilton an 81.

No player on the offensive line is graded above B+, and Ryan Harris, one of the better right tackles in the game, has a lowly C—.

In retrospect, none of this really matters. We, as fans, know that Clady and the offensive line will continue to be the best. Matt Prater will continue to improve, and the Broncos may surprise a lot of doubters around the NFL this season.

Although they might not be the best group of guys to play as against your friends on your Xbox, they might be a great team to watch in real life.

The EA ratings do not really matter, however it would be nice for Bronco fans to be able to see their favorite players perform as they actually do when they are playing a video game.

Kind of like how Patriots fans are treated to a team ranked 92 overall that will dominate any Madden online match-up.

Jay Cutler Hasn't Changed a Bit: Still Mouthing off, Still Immature

Henry Gula — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:41:36 -0400

"It's a lot (different). Denver's like a six, and Chicago's like a nine. It's quite a bit different. Just the fans and how passionate they are, that's probably the biggest difference."

Yes, this is the Chicago Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler speaking on a local Chicago sports show about the fans in Denver.

I do not blame Cutler for speaking out about the Broncos, as the terms of his departure were by no means friendly.

I do blame him for going after the passion of the fans of the Broncos, though.

The debate as to whether it was Cutler or Josh McDaniels (or both) at fault for the messy situation over the winter may never be settled. However, most people in Denver have moved on from talking about Cutler.

Evidently, Cutler himself has not.

According the details given, "Interviewed Tuesday night on ESPN Radio in Chicago, Cutler was asked about the 20,000 fans who showed up to the Bears' practices over the weekend."

That's it. Nobody asked him for his opinion of the fans in Denver. They might have asked him how that compared to training camp in Denver, but Cutler himself was the one who brought up passion.

I believe nearly all fans of every team in professional sports are passionate. Maybe not "bandwagon" fans or fans of the Florida Marlins (or one of the more dysfunctional organizations around the sports world). Other than that, most fans have passion.

Some more than others, though.

There is no disputing the fact that the Denver Broncos have some of the best fans in the NFL. Mile High Stadium, the "Thunder", the Barrel-Man.

Very few people have the audacity to question the passion of Broncos fans.

Clearly Cutler is trying to "stir things up."

He could have ripped on Josh McDaniels, Pat Bowlen, or the front office. He could have blasted the Broncos' defense that let him down many a time in 2007 and 2008.

But he didn't. He went after the passion of the fans, and Denver as a football town.

Nobody said he had to feel any love for Denver, for the Broncos, or even the fans.

He could at least respect the fact that fans stood by him after he fell flat on his face leading the Broncos down the stretch last season—losing the final three games to complete one of the worst collapses in the NFL.

Fans even stood by him in his fight with McDaniels, Bowlen, and the rest of the Broncos' front office after he threw a fit about hearing his name in trade rumors.

People called for the firing of Josh McDaniels, simply to appease Cutler.

So, when asked, what right does Cutler have to bash the very people who supported him while he was becoming the player he now is today?

Broncos fans should use this as a spark. Go out this season and show the team the kind of passionate support they're used to. Even if this year is a "down year", which it may or may not be.

Jay Cutler is just as mature now, as he was back in December when he screamed, "What the f**k Eddie?" after Eddie Royal couldn't quite reach a pass that Cutler had air-mailed 10 feet too high in that infamous San Diego Chargers game.

Yeah, not very mature at all.

With New Perspective, I Bid Bleacher Report...Hello, Again

Henry Gula — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:56:18 -0400

The rising of the sun each morning is undoubtedly a beautiful sight. Each new day brings new chance and new hope for some, and for others a new perspective or new inspiration.

I will save you from the entirety of my metaphor. As I make my return to writing somewhat regularly in the Denver Broncos community here on Bleacher Report, I do feel that I have gained some perspective on the value of this community.

Sports are undoubtedly a major part of my life. Besides school, family, and other relationships, playing, watching, and talking about sports is one of the main things that keeps me "going."

Before my "sabbatical" from B/R, I was one of the more active writers in the Broncos community, which I believe is the best in the NFL and here on the site. However, eventually life began to get in the way, and I "burned out" much of my inspiration to write.

I took some time off, and after awhile I began to really miss it.

Bleacher Report provides a place where true sports fans can talk about the teams they love, with both their fellow fanatics and with members of rival communities.

Without B/R, it was more and more difficult to stay current and up to date on the news and transactions that I had been right in the middle of while writing.

Without anyone to really talk to about the Broncos—I have many friends who are NFL fans, but none who follow the Orange and Blue as passionately as myself—I began to lose touch with "my" team.

So, I have decided it is time for me to end my time away and return to the community.

Training camps will soon be starting, and the Broncos have a drastically different team. There will be a lot to talk about and a lot to cover.

And then September will come, and we will be launched into yet another season of NFL football, where anything can happen.

Not to mention the New York Mets, my MLB team, is in action. That is all I can say on them at the moment.

With a new appreciation for the culture of the site, I am happy to return to Bleacher Report. I'll resume writing about them within the next week.

With the Pieces in Place, Broncos' Running Game Puzzle Becoming Clear

Henry Gula — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:49:13 -0400

The waiting is finally over. The NFL draft, and all its anticipation, predictions, and mocks is done and gone for another 350-some odd days.

Now, the real predictions can begin. Most teams will soon be opening mandatory minicamps, and the new rookies will begin their NFL careers.

The Denver Broncos had an interesting draft. It surprised many. It confused others. But in the end, the Broncos added many of the pieces that they will need to bounce back from a disappointing end to 2008.

One of the key factors for this resurrection (an AFC West title) will be the running game.

The historically strong unit ranked 12th in the NFL in yards per game in 2008, with 116.4 yards per game. While this is not a shabby number by any means, this year's backfield will have more pressure to excel, the main reason being Jay Cutler's departure from Denver.

While projected starting quarterback Kyle Orton is a highly competent player, he is not Jay Cutler, and isn't expected to be. He can make most of the throws Cutler could, but not with such ease.

As the football adage goes, "Use the run to set up the pass."

The Broncos will undoubtedly be doing a lot of this in 2009. With that said, on to the predictions.

The Broncos have six running backs and two fullbacks on the active roster going into minicamp. They are J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torain, Knowshon Moreno, and Kestahn Moore. The fullbacks are Peyton Hillis and Spencer Larsen.

As the 2008 team proved, there is never a surplus of running backs that is too large. At some points in 2008, it seemed a back would be placed on IR every week.

This offseason has seen a full "renovation" at the running back position. The only returning players are Torain, Hillis, and Larsen.

Gone are Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, Tatum Bell, P.J. Pope, and any others seen lining up behind Cutler last season.

The team signed Buckhalter from the Eagles, Arrington from the Cardinals, and Jordan from the Patriots. They drafted Moreno with the 12th pick in the first round, and added Moore as a college free agent last week.

This group has players with different specialties, and it is likely that four or five of the current six players will be on the week one roster.

As of now, first round draft pick Knowshon Moreno has a good chance to be #1 on the depth chart for week one. He will likely be followed by Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan.

The jury is still out on Ryan Torain. The fifth round pick in 2008 injured himself in training camp and missed the first eight weeks of the season.

He got his first start in week ten, but tore his ACL in the second quarter of that game and was placed on IR.

In his quarter-and-a-half of work, he rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, and looked to be a promising young player.

However, the addition of Moreno and veterans like Buckhalter and Arrington could push him off the initial depth chart unless he really impresses Coach McDaniels in training camp.

J.J. Arrington began to make a name for himself during the Arizona Cardinals' unlikely Super Bowl run in 2008. He spent the majority of his game time as a third-down back, but also established himself as a very good receiver out of the backfield.

Arrington rushed 31 times for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 29 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. He is expected to be a situational back who could come in for shotgun formations.

LaMont Jordan is a journeyman who has spent time with the Jets, Raiders, and Patriots. He had 80 carries for 363 yards and four touchdowns in 2008.

He is only 5-foot-10 tall, but weighs 230 pounds and is a power rusher. He could be used in goal-line and short-yardage situations for McDaniels's offense.

Correll Buckhalter rounds out the new group of veterans, and will be the primary backup to the starter. He has been a solid backup in eight seasons for the Eagles, stepping in whenever All-Pro Brian Westbrook was injured.

Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos' first pick of the 2009 draft will be going into 2009 with high expectations.

He earned offensive MVP honors from a Georgia team that also featured #1 pick Matthew Stafford, and rushed for over 1,400 yards in 13 games for the Bulldogs.

Before the draft, I previewed the impact Moreno might have on this team if drafted. I said that "The one thing this group does not have is a true star back. A guy who will be the starter every week and who will definitively lead the team in overall rushing."

This is exactly what Knowshon is expected to be for the Broncos. Barring any injury, it is very plausible that #27 on the Broncos will be the AFC West's second most feared running back (LaDainian Tomlinson is still #1) by the season's midpoint.

He has all the elusiveness, versatility, and intelligence that is required to be an every-down back. It is even noted that he's a better receiver out of the backfield than he gets credit for, and will be a valuable weapon for McDaniels on the field.

In the locker room, there is no shortage of praise for this young man. He was a team captain at Georgia, and according to scouting reports, is an "Extreme competitor who can put the team on his shoulders. Wants the ball with the game on the line."

Moreno looks to be a smart draft choice in every sense, and should quickly make his way into the top running backs in the NFL.

In his first season, he will be eased into his duties with a strong group backing him up. As I mentioned earlier, J.J. Arrington will spell Moreno in third-down situations and Jordan on the goal line.

Peyton Hillis will be slicing a path through the opposing defense as the primary fullback, and the stellar offensive line of 2008 is returning all five starters.

Running backs coach Bobby Turner was one of two holdovers from the Shanahan era, and he will undoubtedly be a mentor to Knowshon, as he was to Terrell Davis in the late 1990's.

All signs point to a revived Broncos rushing attack in 2009, one that will once again make Denver one of the most feared running teams in the NFL.

Preliminary Predictions:

Moreno (Starter) 1,000-1,200 yards rushing, 8-10 touchdowns, 30-40 catches for 300 yards.

Buckhalter (Primary Backup) 250-300 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns, 10 catches for 100 yards.

Arrington (3rd Down) 150-200 yards rushing, 1 touchdown, 20 catches for 250 yards.

Jordan (Goal Line/Short Yardage) 200-250 yards rushing, 4-5 touchdowns, 5 catches for 40-60 yards.

Hillis (Fullback) 100-150 yards rushing, 2-3 touchdowns.

Torain (Situational Back) 200-250 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns.

Team rushing totals: About 2,200 yards, 22 touchdowns.

Why Knowshon Moreno Would Be A Smart Choice For The Denver Broncos

Henry Gula — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:58:19 -0400

The NFL's biggest offseason event, the Draft, is now only one day away. By Monday, all the guessing, all the mock drafts, and all the speculation will be finished.

Each team will have seven aspiring young men hoping to make a name for themselves at the highest level.

But before that can happen, the GM's, Scouts, and Coaches must do their jobs. Correctly picking the right players for a specific team is a skill practiced by professionals, amateurs, and fans alike.

When the 12th, and later the 18th picks come into the spotlight, Josh McDaniels, Brian Xanders, and the rest of the scouting staff for the Denver Broncos will have 15 minutes to get it right.

The Denver Broncos will be drafting defense in the first round, we can be sure of that. They have two picks, and therefore they can also afford to use one of them on offense, if Coach McDaniels chooses to do so.

If an offensive player is drafted by Denver on Saturday (the first and second rounds), it should be Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

With their first pick, the 12th pick, the Broncos will most likely draft a defensive lineman or linebacker. Tyson Jackson and B.J. Raji (if he's available) are the most practical and obvious targets.

Presumably, the Broncos will have a defensive hole filled by the time their second first round pick, the 18th acquired from Chicago in the Jay Cutler deal, rolls around.

With the 18th pick, it is almost certain that Moreno, arguably the top running back in this year's draft, will be on the board.

Most mock drafts have Moreno going to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 21st overall pick. Others have him going as late as the 29th pick, and still others have him going in the top 10.

If the Broncos are forced to decide between Moreno and a defensive player such as "Ziggy" Hood, Clay Matthews, or Peria Jerry, it would be wise for them to go with Moreno, who is a better value overall.

Running back is a definite need for the Broncos. If last year's new-starter-every-week trend is going to be prevented in 2009, the team will need as many quality backs as they can get.

Currently, the Broncos have five running backs on their roster. They include LaMont Jordan, J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, Ryan Torain, and Selvin Young. Peyton Hillis is listed as a fullback.

The current group includes two career-backups (Arrington and Buckhalter) and two younger guys still trying to prove themselves (Torain and Young).

The one thing this group does not have is a true star back. A guy who will be the starter every week and who will definitively lead the team in overall rushing.

Jordan and Hillis are big, strong backs who may be used on the goal line. Arrington made a name for himself as a third-down runner. Buckhalter has always been a solid backup. None have experience being the true No. 1 guy.

Moreno could be "that guy" for the Broncos. He has tremendous upside and very few negatives. Analysts have put him on their "can't miss" lists.

His only weaknesses; the lack of "top-gear" kind of speed and smaller frame have caused some teams to shy away from him. The Broncos do not need a big back. They already have Jordan and Hillis.

If a scenario happens where the team must choose between Moreno and a slightly-lower potential defensive player, it would be a smart move to draft the running back and leave the defense for the second round and beyond.

Considering the man making the decisions for the Broncos, Josh McDaniels, is an offensive guy by instinct, it is not unreasonable to think that he might draft an offensive player with good talent over a defensive player. Especially if they have a Tyson Jackson-type player already drafted.

It is also important to consider that the Denver offense will have to be more balanced in 2009.

2008's offense was dominated by the passing game to the point where the team would use empty-backfield shotgun formations for drives on end.

Without Jay Cutler the offense will be more dependant on the running game, and as the old adage goes "the run will set up the pass."

A good running game with a star back at the front of a deep group would undoubtedly take pressure off of Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, or whoever the starting quarterback may be.

The Broncos should think carefully about drafting Knowshon Moreno with the 18th pick, as it will be a move they are unlikely to regret.

Be sure to follow the draft this weekend (April 25th and 26th) on the NFL Network, NFL.com, ESPN, and other sports broadcasting services. It will be an interesting day.

NFL Schedule Release: Broncos Set to Take on a Tough Slate of Opponents

Henry Gula — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:45:24 -0400

The biggest offseason event in the NFL community that falls between the scouting combine and the draft is undoubtedly the release of the full regular season schedules.

For months, fans wait eagerly to see their team's "road map" for the upcoming season, and almost immediately begin to predict potential records and wins/losses.

For the 2009 schedules, today was that day. The schedules are public, so let the predictions begin.

The Denver Broncos' 2009 schedule looks like this:

The season opens at Cincinnati, then versus Cleveland, at Oakland, home against Dallas, home against the Patriots, and at San Diego.

Week seven is the Broncos bye week.

The marathon then begins. Week eight is at Baltimore, followed by the Super Bowl champion Steelers at home, then to D.C. to play the Redskins.

The Broncos are home for the Chargers, then the Giants on Thanksgiving night at Invesco. A two-game road trip ensues to play the Chiefs then the Colts.

The season closes with a game at home against Oakland, to Philadelphia for one, then back to Denver to close out the season against the Chiefs on January 3, 2010.

Three games will be shown in primetime, the Thanksgiving night game on NFL Network, along with week six in San Diego and week nine against the Steelers, both on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Taken at face value, this schedule is a challenging one.

On the bright side, the Broncos will get a relatively easy start, and the first three games against the Bengals, Browns, and Raiders (none of whom eclipsed the five-win mark in 2008).

The team must use this time to jell in their new lineups (especially on defense) and Josh McDaniels must use the first three games to get his playbook finalized and game-tested.

Do not be surprised if the Broncos emerge the first three games with a 3-0 record. After that, it will get harder.

The first major challenge will likely come when Tony Romo and the Cowboys fly in for the week four matchup. The Broncos' improved rush defense will be tested by Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

Then, week five will bring the moment many people have been waiting for. Josh McDaniels against his mentor, Bill Belichick. A straight up battle between teacher and pupil. McDaniels will be looking to perform better than his fellow former New England coordinators. Mangini and Crennel are a combined 1-7 against their former boss.

The Broncos will then get their first look at the Chargers before taking a much needed week off.

I think 4-2 is a good goal for the team going into the bye week, and 5-1 would be an accomplishment. They must take advantage of the easy beginning and start 3-0. If they are able to go 1-2 against the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers, it should be considered a success.

As was mentioned before, week four on will be a marathon. Week four begins a nine-week stretch during which the Broncos will play teams who finished 2008 with a record at or above .500.

The team will finally get their respite after their short-week Thanksgiving game against the Giants. I think the best the team could do up to week 12 is 7-4. If they hope to be 10-6 by the season's end, they must find a way to beat the Ravens, Redskins, and Chargers.

McDaniels will finally get a look at his former project, Matt Cassel, when the Broncos play in Kansas City in week 13. After the Giants and before the Colts, that game will be a must-win.

After the Colts, the team comes home to play the Raiders in another game they must have. Then Brian Dawkins will return to the City of Brotherly Love for a much- anticipated encore in Philly.

The season will end in Denver against the Chiefs. The Broncos could very well be locked in a playoff battle with the Chargers, and that game could be a win-and-in situation.

Looking at the "dark side," that is the schedule of the Chargers, a Bronco fan should feel good about the season's final "sprint".

While the Broncos have the Eagles and then the Chiefs to end the season, the Chargers will finish with two tough games, at Tennessee and home against Washington. They must also play the entire AFC North and NFC East.

Based on their schedule, I see the Denver Broncos finishing 2009 with a 9-7 or 10-6 record. Look for the team to use their difficult schedule to their own advantage to build chemistry and strength, and hopefully to be well prepared for their first playoff appearance in three years.

Why the Denver Broncos Should Pass on Drafting Mark Sanchez

Henry Gula — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:35:38 -0400

Everyone knows what transpired in the Rocky Mountain football community over the past month. There is not a single NFL fan who has not been bombarded with interviews and analysis of the situation that came to be known as "McJay-gate."

Jay Cutler, once thought to be the next John Elway, has moved on in his life and so will the Broncos.

Part of moving on will be a successful draft, one that takes advantage of the two first-round picks that that Broncos now possess.

Looking back, most NFL insiders and fans agree that the Broncos were able to get an extremely generous package for their disgruntled quarterback. Two first-round draft picks and a legitimate starting quarterback with a career 15-2 record at home is quite a haul.

Still, despite this, there have been many rumors, talk from the "professional" analysts that has hinted that the Broncos may be wise to draft Mark Sanchez with one of their first-round picks, or worse, trade up to choose him.

I would strongly advise the Broncos' player personnel staff to think twice before making a selection like this.

Without taking anything away from Sanchez as a player, I do not think he would be worth a pick or a trade by the Broncos.

The most blatant reason is that both picks in the first round could be used on much-needed defensive players. Sayre Bedinger's suggestion of Tyson Jackson and Brian Cushing was one that stood out to me as being particularly smart.

Aside from defense, however, there have also been rumors that the Broncos may be interested in one of this year's top-flight running backs, guys like Chris "Beanie" Wells and Knowshon Moreno.

The Broncos set the precedent in 2008 that a team can never have enough running backs, and there are currently many competent running backs on the roster—but no superstar. Either Wells or Moreno could prove to be the star back that could take some pressure off of the passing game.

Despite all of these various rumors and ideas, the notion that the Broncos would be looking for another quarterback in Sanchez does not make sense from a football or from a business perspective.

If the Broncos were intending to trade up for Sanchez, they would not have asked for Kyle Orton in their compensation. It would have been far more beneficial as far as trade talks are concerned to ask for a second-round pick instead of Orton and a third rounder.

I believe that Josh McDaniels wanted Orton in Denver so he could compete with Chris Simms for the starting job when the season opens.

Kyle Orton has always been a good quarterback. It is unfair to compare him to Cutler, although these comparisons will undoubtedly be swirling almost immediately after Orton appears for the first time on a football field.

His 15-2 record in home games almost speaks for itself, since Chicago is a difficult environment for a quarterback. It has been said that a 40-yard pass in Miami is a 20-yard pass in Chicago.

Orton could make the deep passes in Chicago, so there's no reason he wouldn't be able to do the same in the thin air of Denver.

Most importantly though, I believe that Orton has that drive, the motivation to study the playbook for hours and hours in order to give the team a better chance of winning.

I like Orton's style, and I feel that he has leadership qualities that Cutler lacked.

The bottom line is this: Orton should get a chance to compete with Simms, another veteran who was highly competitive before suffering a ruptured spleen two years ago, for the starting job.

In the worst case scenario, neither quarterback will fit the bill. The Broncos may see a season of quarterback switching and inconsistency.

And then, in the 2010 draft, they will take a quarterback.

Next year's class includes the likes of Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, and possibly Sam Bradford.

These three men will be the "backup" plan for the Broncos. If both Orton and Simms fail, the Broncos will undoubtedly be able to land one of the elite college signal-callers following the season. Even if it takes both of the first-round picks the Broncos are slated to have in 2010.

For Josh McDaniels, it is a positive situation all around. He will get the chance to work his developmental "magic" on Orton in 2009, and have the insurance of quality quarterbacks to choose from if he should fail.

For the fans, it should also be positive. The defense will be improved for 2009. The offensive core is still the best in the NFL, and Josh McDaniels will most likely be able to turn Orton into a very legitimate starting quarterback.

There is no need for Sanchez. Let a team who needs a quarterback take him. For the Broncos, he would be an unnecessary waste of a draft pick.

A Necessary Gamble: Breaking Down the Jay Cutler-Kyle Orton Trade

Henry Gula — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:56:11 -0400

The Jay Cutler situation is nearing its end.

After weeks of hurt feelings and immaturity, on Cutler's part, and cleverly avoided questions, on McDaniels' part, the Broncos have found their deal.

Jay Cutler will be departing the Mile High City for the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois.

Bears quarterback Kyle Orton and the 17th pick this year will be exchanged for Cutler. There are several other draft picks involved, most importantly a first-round pick in 2010, but these should not drastically impact either team.

At first glance, this trade may look like a bit one-sided. As of now, Jay Cutler is clearly a better player than Orton, and recently, the Bears have done a marginal job finding first round studs.

If you dig a little deeper though, it appears that Pat Bowlen, Josh McDaniels, and Brian Xanders made the best deal they could and got a very fair package for Cutler.

The Kyle Orton era will soon be underway in Denver. While this trade is certainly a gamble for both sides, I do not believe that Orton will be a major step backwards for the Broncos.

First, Orton is 26 years old and was a fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue University. He stands six feet, four inches tall and weighs 217 pounds.

In 2008, he threw for 2,972 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He missed one game due to a leg injury. He was also sacked 27 times for a total loss of 160 yards.

While his statistics from the 2008 season may not be Jay Cutler's, they are respectable.

It is important to note that Orton had very limited offensive weapons, especially in his receiving corps which consisted of Devin Hester, Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, and Rashied Davis. These are not exactly household names.

Despite this, Orton still managed nearly 3,000 yards and probably would have reached that mark had he not missed a game.

In Denver, Orton will have a well-regarded receiving corps, a very respectable running game, and a stellar offensive line to support him.

Orton can make almost all the passes and is a "real" football player. His right arm is not the same as Cutler's, but he does not need it to be.

He is a smarter player on the field than Cutler was. The days of forced throws into triple coverage should be over.

Josh McDaniels is famous in the football world for his development of Matt Cassel. Now, he will try his hand again with Orton.

Denver fans should be confident that McDaniels will be teach Orton the offensive scheme during training camp, and Kyle will be ready to lead the Broncos into their week one game this September.

In all the talk about the Cutler for Orton deal, it is sometimes forgotten that this trade also includes draft picks, first-round draft picks!

The Broncos will now have the 12th and 17th picks in the draft. They will use one of these on a defensive player, but they will have many options for the other one.

One option is trading the 17th pick for a top wide receiver such as Braylon Edwards or use it to draft a guy like Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Brandon Marshall will miss training camp and possibly up to eight games of the season, so the Broncos are going to need another receiver to take his place alongside Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, and Brandon Stokley.

Even without a new receiver, Orton will have many more options to work with than he has in the past. He can also count on having enough time to make his reads and find the open man behind the offensive line that gave up just 12 sacks in 2008.

Although it will be difficult for almost every Denver Broncos fan to see Jay Cutler suit up for another team next season, this was a trade that was absolutely necessary.

Cutler was not going to play for the Broncos in 2009. I hoped it would work out, but it didn't. Cutler proved too immature and Bowlen too distant.

The Bears will be getting a new start with Cutler. The quarterback they have been missing ever since Jim McMahon.

Now, they must hope that Cutler will want to play in Chicago and hope he likes Lovie Smith. He will be under a microscope to see how he reacts at the first inkling of trouble.

The Broncos should be getting a leader. Orton was a team captain for the Bears in 2008, and hopefully, he will be well-liked in the locker room.

Orton needs time to gel with his new teammates and set up a home in Colorado; he should show up at the optional mini-camp and answer his text messages from Coach McDaniels.

This was necessary. It was going to happen as soon as Jay Cutler unexpectedly heard his name on the news. It is unfortunate, but I believe that the Denver Broncos are better off.

Light at The End of the Tunnel in Jay Cutler Situation: Can We Just Move On?

Henry Gula — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:27:58 -0400

This has ground on too long. The now-infamous "McJay-gate" as coined by Mike Klis and Woody Paige of the Denver Post, among other local sports reporters, should be over. It should have been over weeks ago.

This is really an issue that was blown far out of proportion by Cutler and his agent, Bus Cook.

Now, however, the important thing is moving on. Moving on for the fans, the players, the management, the analysts, and Jay Cutler.

Josh McDaniels made it clear, in his interview with Scott Hanson, that he is ready to move on.

Despite the swirling rumors, the recent talk of an imminent trade, and the constant speculation on ESPN and NFL Network, Cutler and McDaniels can end this. Face to face, man to man. The way it should have been handled from the onset.

At the very beginning of this problem, I said the two should simply meet, share the blame for blowing the story out of proportion, and move on. Obviously, that did not happen. But I, unlike many analysts around the NFL, do not believe this situation is irreparable.

This is not about assigning blame. Blame is one of the major roots of this entire problem. Every man has an ego, and, in general people do not like being blamed for a problem or a mistake.

The situation turned into finger-pointing, the need to assign blame to either Jay Cutler or Josh McDaniels by the media, the fans, and the two men themselves.

If one of them had simply said, "I am sorry. I made a mistake, and we both need to move on," I think this could have been a much smaller and less public issue.

Nonetheless, McDaniels says he wants to move on with Jay Cutler as quarterback.

The ball is in Jay's court, and it is his time to step up, walk into his coach's office, and take the initiative to fix this situation from his end. I am confident that if Jay makes the effort, Josh McDaniels will not "turn him away."

Jay Cutler needs to realize he is much better off in Denver.

The Broncos and their fans need to realize they are better off with Jay Cutler at quarterback.

Enough speculation about where Cutler might go, or what the Broncos might get in return. There is no quarterback available who would be better then Cutler.

Matthew Stafford has potential, but not as much potential as Cutler had coming out of Vanderbilt in '06.

Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson—these guys are all adequate, but like it or not, they are not on the same level as Cutler.

Could McDaniels develop a Brady Quinn-type player over the course a season? Of course he could, but he wants to win now.

And so do the fans. And so does Pat Bowlen. And Jay Cutler. And the veterans of the defense, Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

McDaniels had a very successful free agency. He was able to land some of the bigger names by telling them the team they were joining was going to win now.

Without Jay Cutler, the Broncos have a much lower chance of winning now.

That being said, maybe Cutler is not the leader we (the fans) wanted him to be.

Champ and D.J. Williams are among the best at their respective positions, but they are not really leaders.

Yes, they were "captains" but the captain does not always have to be the best player.

The team will have its share of men truly worthy to wear the "C" on their uniform. Brian Dawkins will be the undisputed defensive and locker room leader.

I think Daniel Graham is worthy of that post on offense.

Cutler, despite his on-field skill set, should not wear the "C" on his jersey. He does not have the right charisma to be a team captain.

After all is said and done though, I think there is a good chance Jay Cutler will be back under center for the Broncos in 2009.

After the storm of speculation and rumors, there is once again hope that the quarterback and the coach will begin to make amends.

When Josh McDaniels was hired, before all of this was even a thought, fans were excited to see the offensive genius improve the Broncos offense that was already ranked second.

To many fans, that did not mean trading Cutler. And, in the end, it might not.

Can we please move on?

Here Comes Goodbye: Jay Cutler May Be Out of Denver in the Twinkling of an Eye

Henry Gula — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:58:40 -0400

Is this the end for Jay Cutler, the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos? The man who was so highly coveted by the Broncos organization in the 2006 draft, the undisputed winner among quarterbacks in the class of '06?

Will this angry, immature, 25-year old quarterback, his money-grubbing agent, and the new 32-year old head coach be allowed to finish the job on the worst player-team relations debacle in recent memory?

Will the blue-and-orange No. 6 jerseys that sit in so many closets in Denver, in Colorado, in the Rocky Mountain region, and all over the country soon become memorabilia?

Most fans do not want to see it happen. But it is growing more and more likely with each passing day.

Maybe it is over. Maybe this cannot work. Maybe, as Vic Carrucci of NFL.com writes, "Cutler is not looking to find some sort of common ground so that he and McDaniels can work together, because it doesn't exist."

The situation that began with a fired coach and then a failed trade has now escalated into a debacle, a complete failure and lack of maturity on the part of Jay Cutler.

There is no need to go back over the proposed deal, or to give a blow-by-blow account of the past week for Jay Cutler. Those stories are plastered across the front pages of just about every major sports news venue.

But things like this do not just happen, they are triggered by a chain of events. The first event in that chain was the late-season collapse of the '08 Broncos.

Then came the dismissal of Mike Shanahan, which made Cutler publicly angry. Then came the next straw, when Jeremy Bates was allowed to walk.

The final straw was of course the trade rumors, but the Broncos might very well have lost their immature quarterback the moment the Shanahan news broke. And that is not their fault.

Pat Bowlen was absolutely convinced that Mike Shanahan had overstayed his welcome in Denver. His ways had grown old, and a change needed to be made.

Bowlen loves winning, and he wants his team to win. He is regarded as one of the best owners in professional sports. He is completely confident in Josh McDaniels, and he is allowing him to work through this.

It looks like that change that McDaniels promised will run deeper than anyone imagined.

And the fans, as one would expect, have been under siege from varying emotions since this started.

There is the contingent that blames Josh McDaniels. They might say things like, "Who does this guy think he is anyway, coming in and bullying our star quarterback?" and "We didn't hire this guy so he could dismantle our offense too."

These people have their valid point, but they must understand that it is very likely that McDaniels could sense trouble the moment he arrived at Dove Valley.

Some of the players were eager to talk to their new coach, but Cutler was not one of them. The two had to trade several phone calls before finally making a connection.

This came just weeks after Cutler had blasted his boss, Pat Bowlen, for firing Mike Shanahan.

It it very possible that McDaniels made his run at Matt Cassel because he knew Cutler was asking for a trade, he knew that Cutler was angry about the departure of Jeremy Bates, and he knew that he had an opportunity to get rid of the "problem child" and be reunited with the quarterback he successfully groomed for the NFL.

McDaniels may have sensed that, if Cutler was forced to stay, things would be awkward at best. After the first failed drive in the fourth quarter of a game, Cutler would walk back to the sidelines and indignantly accuse McDaniels of calling the wrong play.

That is no way to win football games.

On the other side, there are the fans who believe that Jay Cutler is showing his vast lack of maturity, and has been stubborn and unwilling to accept the fact that the new coach realizes that he is not the player he says he is.

Jay Cutler is a very good quarterback. He has an extremely strong arm and can move well out of the pocket. But he is not Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or even (as much as it hurts for me to say) Philip Rivers.

And, one could go so far as to say that if he leaves Denver, he may never attain his full potential. With Detroit, Cleveland, or the Jets, Cutler would be a solid starter but he would not have the excellent supporting cast or coaching staff that the Broncos can offer.

Rex Ryan is a defensive mastermind. Josh McDaniels is Tom Brady's former offensive coordinator. Eric Mangini was run out of New York. Jim Schwartz is another defensive mind.

If Cutler leaves, he will be hurting himself more than he would be hurting the Denver Broncos.

And, he does not seem to care. NFL.com's Thomas George writes "McDaniels...wanted to run his own offense with his own hand-picked offensive assistants...Cutler's attitude at that point was, well, you might as well get rid of me, too."

And to top it all off, Pat Bowlen has all but given up on Cutler as well, "I would like to keep him here, obviously. But if you are going to be an unhappy camper, there is no real reason to be here."

The most recent rumors have Cutler being traded to the New York Jets in a three-team deal that would send Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn to Denver along with another player or a high draft pick. The Browns would receive a package of players or high picks from the Jets.

The second, and more appealing scenario includes the Broncos trading Cutler to an undisclosed team for a quarterback and two first round picks, one in 2009 and one in 2010.

At this point in time, on Mar. 19, 2009, nothing is certain. Nothing has been decided. The owner's meetings are approaching, and as Sayre Bedinger reported earlier, Cutler could be out as soon as this weekend.

For Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels, their fate is in their own hands. If either side suddenly backs down, this situation could still be fixed. It is doubtful, but nothing is impossible.

The sooner this problem is ultimately resolved, the better. If Cutler is to be traded, it needs to be executed presently. The new quarterback will need as long as possible to gel with his teammates and coach.

For all we know, this could all turn out for the better for the Denver Broncos.

For now though, as the song by Rascal Flatts goes, "Here comes the start of many sleepless nights, the first of many tears I'm gonna cry...but here comes Goodbye."

It Was Matt Cassel or Bust for Denver Broncos; Now Jay Cutler Has to Be QB

Henry Gula — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:40:25 -0400

I will begin this article by confessing to my own mistake. A week ago, I wrote an article promising I would not write any more on the subject of Jay Cutler and his current situation, but recent developments have forced me to take back that promise.

The Jay Cutler situation, as I have called it, is still alive , and the two sides are reportedly no closer to terms after an icy conference call.

Jay Cutler, however, is still a Denver Bronco.

This is a story that has been told many times over, speculated on by "experts" at every major sports network, and torn apart by Broncos fans.

The deal, that would have landed Matt Cassel in Denver, truly was the ONLY deal the Broncos could have made for Cutler.

Cutler, despite his questionable leadership and controversial personality, had a fantastic season for the Broncos. Considering the lack of defensive help he received, he was remarkable.

Among the four worst defenses in the NFL in 2008 (Denver, Seattle, Kansas City, and Detroit) Denver's 8-8 record was far and away the best.

While Cutler overcame his defensive woes, the quarterbacks in charge of the other three teams tallied six wins combined.

One would think Josh McDaniels would be eager to see what Cutler could do with a defense that did not consistently give up 20 points in the first half.

The new Denver defense, led by Brian Dawkins, will be better. So should't Cutler get a shot working with a decent defense backing him up?

In any case, McDaniels wanted Matt Cassel in Denver, and that would not have been a tragedy. Cassel comes from USC, had an "internship" of sorts under all-pro Tom Brady, and then flourished in his role after being called upon.

Cassel was not a one-season wonder. I do believe, however, that he needs a strong supporting cast around him. Dwayne Bowe does not count as a "strong supporting cast." But Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Ryan Clady do.

McDaniels was probably right to believe that Cassel would flourish in Denver in his familiar offensive scheme.

But McDaniels fell flat on his face when it came to working out a deal. If McDaniels did contact the Patriots about Cassel, it was probably already too late. Worse still, he let it leak to the media.

This deal was truly "Cassel or bust" in two ways.

First, in this kind of trade, and especially with Jay Cutler, if the media is going to hear about it, it better happen. It didn't, Cutler heard about it, and all hell broke loose (that is, of course, what happened).

Second, Cassel was the only quarterback that the Broncos could potentially deal for who would be somewhat acceptable in the eyes of the fans.

Now, as the prospects of a trade still going through are getting more and more realistic, the question remains, who will play quarterback?

Speculation has Cutler being traded to the Lions, Bears, Vikings, or Buccaneers. None of these teams has any kind of quarterback talent to offer for Cutler.

Detroit could offer Matt Stafford (the first pick in the draft), but this team is not rebuilding. Veteran free agents were recently signed to help the team win now.

This is not the time for a rookie or a renovation project at quarterback. This is not the time for McDaniels to try to turn Chris Simms back into a starter, or for Alex Smith to try his hand at being a productive NFL player.

This is the time for McDaniels to work with Jay Cutler, to minimize the mistake throws,and help him better utilize his valuable arm strength.

The Broncos are built to win now with Cutler. The switch to Cassel would most likely have been a "lateral" one, not really an upgrade but not a vast decline in talent either. He is unique in this way.

Unless the Broncos can work a magical, Madden-esque deal for Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, there is not going to be a player brought in who is better than Cutler.

Cutler is not worth the first pick in this year's draft, considering the talent. Last year, with the likes of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, it might have been. But not this year.

The Broncos are and will be a pass-first offense. They need a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback to lead the offense. This is not a team that can get by with a competent game manager.

The Broncos do not need Jay Cutler (Cassel would have been adequate), but his attitude must improve. Although his services are extremely important to the team, and he would be hard to replace, this all requires his cooperation—something the team does not have.

There are now reports that Cutler contacted a real estate agent to put his $2 million dollar home in Denver up for sale, and nobody puts their house up for sale in this economy just to move down the street.

The perspective quarterback trade was Cassel or bust; now Cassel is off the market. There are no more deals the Broncos could make that would be acceptable in the eyes of their fans. I do not believe Cutler is going to be traded.

Jay Cutler has to be the starting quarterback.

So get off your high horse, be respectful, and stop ruining your own reputation, Jay! This team could be great if you just stop your whining and your tantrums, and show up at OTA's on Monday! Please.

Denver Broncos Move Forward to the Draft Much Improved

Henry Gula — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:00:25 -0500

Throughout the past week, Broncos Country has been busy. The free agent signings, the euphoric feeling that came with the introduction of Brian Dawkins quickly faded to anger and disbelief when the Jay Cutler rumors surfaced.

Then came another scrape with the law for receiver Brandon Marshall.

And then, of course, all the speculation on Josh McDaniels as a head coach, Marshall as a person, and the state of the franchise.

As the week comes to a close, however, the Denver Broncos are most definitely an improved football team. If Cutler is able to work out his problems with McDaniels in next week's meeting, things will be looking up.

In mid-February, I wrote an article about the new front office and coaching staffs, and about the importance of the 2009 NFL Draft, which is coming up on April 25 and 26.

McDaniels has been under the microscope so far in free agency, and has been accused of trying to make the Broncos "Patriots West" or "the J.V. Patriots."

While McDaniels has certainly targeted players from his former team, in particular, Jabar Gaffney, Lonie Paxton, and LaMont Jordan are all solid assets who will help Denver win games.

These players all come from a "culture of winning." The same can be said for Brian Dawkins from the Eagles and Renaldo Hill and Andre' Goodman from the Dolphins. When rebuilding a defense that ranked near last in every category last year, it is important to have guys around who know "how" to win.

In any case, McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders will be in control on draft day, and their options have become much clearer over the past week.

It is highly likely that the Broncos will draft a defensive player with the 12th pick in the first round. Of course, with McDaniels at the helm, nothing is absolutely certain.

Initially, most fans and experts believed the Broncos would draft B.J. Raji, the dominant nose tackle out of Boston College.

However, Raji's stock skyrocketed at the senior bowl and combine, and it appears that he will not be available at the 12th pick.

After the Raji hype faded, Rey Maualuga's name began to be mentioned. A dominant inside linebacker from USC, which boasted one of the nation's best defenses, Maualuga showed heart by attempting to overcome a hamstring injury and participate in the combine, and he shows great potential to have an excellent NFL career. However, the addition of Andra Davis from Cleveland and the availability of young Spencer Larsen may cause McDaniels to look elsewhere.

The defensive line undoubtedly needs a new player. Marcus Thomas, Darrell Reid, Kenny Peterson, and Ronald Fields are competent defensive tackles, but none are dominant.

In order for the new 3-4 defense to work, there must be a big nose tackle to clog up the middle of the opponent's offensive line. If B.J. Raji is still on the board, the Broncos will pick him.

The more likely scenario, however, is that Raji and possibly even Maualuga will be drafted by the time McDaniels must make his decision.

Don't be surprised if the Broncos take a top-prospect cornerback in the first round. Vontae Davis from Illinois and Alphonso Smith from Wake Forest will be available and would be smart selections.

Although the Broncos did significantly bolster their secondary through free agency, Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman are both 31 and are not getting any younger.

In addition, the team will need a quality nickel back, a role that looks to be currently occupied by Josh Bell or Jack Williams. A rookie with more skills such as Davis would fill that role, and get to train under the best cornerback in the NFL (when healthy), Mr. Bailey.

If the starters are ever injured, fans would feel confident putting a guy like Vontae Davis out in the secondary to cover an opponent's second best receiver. Even with Bailey out, a tandem of Goodman and Davis would be better than the Bly-Bell combination that was used for much of 2008.

On offense, McDaniels filled most of the glaring needs by bringing in several competent, but not spectacular, running backs at very reasonable prices.

While Correll Buckhalter is expected to be the starter in Week One, Jordan could get the ball in goal-line situations and J.J. Arrington may be the third-down guy. Peyton Hillis will resume his duties as starting fullback, and be available to play tailback if needed.

It does not appear that the Broncos will be looking at any running backs in this year's draft, although McDaniels may try to bring in a gem in the sixth or seventh rounds.

The offensive line is set for 2009 and beyond, with young center Kory Lichtensteiger waiting to take over when veteran Casey Wiegmann retires. Ryan Clady, Chris Kuper, and Ryan Harris are all under 26 years of age.

Wide receiver is a need that the Broncos may look to address in the draft. With Brandon Marshall beginning the season serving a suspension, Eddie Royal, Gaffney, and Brandon Stokley will have a heavy load.

The Broncos could look at wide receivers such as Brandon Tate, Brian Robiskie, or Derrick Williams in the second and third rounds.

Finally, a player I would like to see in Denver is Worrell Williams, the brother of current Bronco D.J. Williams. Worrell has said he'd love to be mentored by his brother, and could be the primary backup at inside linebacker.

McDaniels has done a very strong job of rebuilding the defense through free agency, and with a good draft this could be one of the best defensive single-season turnarounds we've seen in a long time.

On offense, some of his moves have been questionable, but we have to believe that he has a plan and knows what he wants for this team.

There are only seven weeks until the draft begins, and in eight weeks the Broncos will have improved themselves even more.

Let This Be the Final Word: Jay Cutler Is a Denver Bronco

Henry Gula — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:39:11 -0500

This should officially be the final article regarding the Jay Cutler trade talks. After four days of apprehension, anger, and angst, Broncos fans can finally relax.

Head coach Josh McDaniels was finally reached for comment on the incident, and his words could not have been any more concise,

“Let me be as clear as I can about this,” McDaniels said. “We are not trading Jay Cutler—period.”

This statement is released one day after the shortest front page news article I've ever seen was posted on the Broncos' official Web site.

The article read:

"Head Coach Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler will meet next week when Cutler returns to Denver from Nashville."

"The Denver Broncos are not trading Jay Cutler. Period," Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth said.

Things are beginning to level off in the Mile High City.

It is my hope that McDaniels and Jay Cutler will have a successful meeting, and Cutler will emerge with an improved attitude regarding the recent change in the organization.

Everyone knows that Cutler was upset when Mike Shanahan was fired. He was angered by the departure of quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates, and at that point apparently asked for a trade.

For the record, the idea that Cutler demanded a trade is still unconfirmed, and is very much a rumor. His agent, James "Bus" Cook, maintains that he was never approached with a trade demand from his 25-year-old client.

There were many ideas that were thrown about, including possible trades with the Buccaneers, Browns, and 49ers, along with many more, somewhat fantastical propositions.

I realize that Denver fans were about evenly split, with some being angry at Cutler for acting immaturely about the matter, and others upset with McDaniels for his attempts to trade the franchise player.

Hopefully the two men will end their meeting with higher respect for each other and for the rest of the franchise. Both men are young for their positions, McDaniels at 32 as a head coach, and Cutler at 25 as a third-year starting quarterback.

Provided these two can get along, this offense can be No. 1, and this team can make the playoffs very soon—if they can get along.

In life, no relationship is always smooth, and this one has gotten off to a particularly rocky start. But, relationships can almost always be mended if both parties are committed to the same goal—winning a title.

I believe they are.

The Jay Cutler Drama: Share the Blame and Move On

Henry Gula — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:22:31 -0500

When the phone rang in Josh McDaniels' office on Saturday morning, he was not expecting to talk quarterbacks. Defensive lineman, running backs, cornerbacks, yes; but not quarterbacks.

The Denver Broncos have their quarterback. They have their man in Jay Cutler. The team's first round pick in 2006, the starter of two seasons, a first time pro bowler.

Cutler is in the process of becoming the face of the Denver offense. He is the most promising quarterback that Denver has seen since the departure of John Elway.

So why, then, would any other GM even dream that he would be on the trading block?

My friend and fellow Broncos writer Sayre Bedinger said it best: "It is unbelievable to me that the Broncos were even approached about this trade...Nobody calls the Colts asking about the availability of Peyton Manning...Nobody is trying to take Eli Manning off the Giants’ hands. This is NOT Madden ‘09."

We can say what we want about the absurdity of the offer in the first place, but we can't take back the fact that two teams, the Lions and the Buccaneers, apparently made those calls, and asked those questions.

First, let's understand the proposed deal. The Lions/Bucs were prepared to trade their first round picks, respectively, to the New England Patriots for quarterback Matt Cassel. Detroit or Tampa would then have sent Cassel to the Denver Broncos, in exchange for Cutler.

New England would have ended up with a first round pick, Denver with Cassel, and Tampa or the Lions with Cutler.

Now, realistically, why would McDaniels even consider that?

A franchise, pro-bowl quarterback who is a fixture in, and leader of the NFL's second best offense for a career backup who had one good season playing with an all-pro offensive supporting cast?

Once again, this is McDaniels, the former Patriots offensive coordinator.

We know that he's interested in bringing some of his former players to Denver with him. He's already brought in Lonie Paxton and Jabar Gaffney.

McDaniels has repeated many times that he was evaluating the entire roster, but nobody thought that Cutler's job was in jeopardy.

On the NFL Network's Total Access, the analysts dedicated a segment to the situation. Adam Schefter made the point that McDaniels may be trying to prove a point.

He might be setting the precedent that "anything goes" and that nobody is guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup.

That being said, McDaniels was not brought in to make blockbuster deals to change the look of the offense. Cutler is the quarterback in Denver, and McDaniels is going to have to work with him.

So, McDaniels deserves some of the blame for this incident.

He was so enthusiastic about calling each and every player when he was first brought to Denver, so why didn't he place a personal call to Cutler's cell phone and tell him that his job was safe and that he was not going to be traded?

Sometimes, a public statement is not the best way to handle things.

On the other side of it though, Cutler has been quite vocal during his career, and not always in a positive way about matters such as this.

I am the first one who will admit that I have defended Cutler. I've bashed Philip Rivers on his behalf, and I've tried to see things from his perspective whenever possible.

The truth is, many Broncos fans are tired of hearing the 25-year old blast the decisions of his elders.

“My understanding at this point is they’re trying to trade me,” Cutler said. “We’ll see where I end up at. I liked it here, I liked playing with these guys, but obviously they’re not going to let me have that opportunity.”

He went on to say, "I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block."

Let's be clear on that before moving on, Cutler is not on the "trading block" and never was. Two teams placed phone calls to the Broncos asking about him. McDaniels briefly pondered the idea of working with Cassel again, but then said no.

Furthermore, Cutler's agent, James "Bus" Cook was quoted in saying, “They never definitely told me one way or the other whether Cutler would be traded or not. Nobody has talked to me, and no other teams have talked to me.”

So where's the problem?

The way I see it, Cutler was never "shopped," he was never on the "trading block," and he was never going to be traded. There was an inquiry made about him—that's all.

Could McDaniels have handled the situation more effectively? Yes.

But it's a learning experience for him as well, remember he is only 32-years-old.

Obviously, the head coach needs to respect the players and earn their respect, but he does not need to "cater" to their specific personal preferences. Cutler needs to understand this. He's not always going to be idolized and protected.

In fact, McDaniels has done an excellent job thus far with this team. He has shown dedication and he placed personal calls to every player on the roster. Most members of the team have nothing but positive things to say about their new coach.

Instead of complaining to every major news venue in Denver, and saying passive- aggressive things such as, "I liked playing with these guys, but obviously they’re not going to let me have that opportunity,” Cutler should have kept quiet until he knew the full extent of the rumor, and learned that it was ultimately false.

Still, Cutler maintains that "anything can be mended," and the relationship between the young coach and the young quarterback should be fine. Cutler has always been a bit immature, and that is a learning process on his end.

Of course, "learning process" means that eventually he will learn to let rumors blow over without making a big deal out of them.

And what's more, this little drama has soured the weekend that began with important deals that brought in many players that the Broncos desperately needed, and all at good prices.

In fact, the NFL Total Access team dedicated another segment to the Broncos and explained why they and the Washington Redskins are the winners so far in free agency.

McDaniels is bringing the famous "Patriot Way" to Denver. Signing specific players to reasonable deals beats out bringing in the big name free agent, aka Albert Haynesworth.

So, as a fan of the Denver Broncos and of Cutler the quarterback, I strongly hope that Cutler and McDaniels are able to laugh about this little incident over lunch in Denver at some point during the summer.

Maybe something along the lines of "Did you really think I would trade you away?" to which Cutler would chuckle and say, "Nah, but I was scared for a while there...I thought I might have to go play for the Lions or something."

Brian Dawkins Is Officially a Denver Bronco

Henry Gula — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:22:03 -0500

The Denver Broncos have officially announced the signing of former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.

The rumors of Dawkins' signing in Denver had all been unconfirmed, but now the Denver Broncos official website is announcing the signing.

A press conference will be held at the Broncos' facility in Dove Valley, Colorado at 1:30 PM MST (3:30 EST) to introduce Dawkins to the Denver media. The video will not be streamed live, but will be posted to the website as soon as possible.

In addition, a Broncos reporter will sit down for a one-on-one interview with the five time all-pro safety immediately after the press conference.

Terms of the deal have not been announced as of now, but are expected to be in the neighborhood of four to five years, and around $20 million.

This signing is the seventh that the Broncos have made in the past 30 hours, and Dawkins joins running back Correll Buckhalter as the second former Eagle that will be donning a Broncos uniform in 2009.

Stay tuned in to the Denver Broncos community for more updates as we welcome the man who will be the true leader on defense that the Broncos have lacked since the departure of linebacker Al Wilson.

Why Rey Maualuga's Hamstring Injury Is a Positive for His Projected Team

Henry Gula — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:19:25 -0500

Traditionally, the NFL combine is an event that allows college players who are entering the draft to show off their raw skills in front of their prospective coaches and general managers.

It is not an event meant to injure players.

An exceptional performance can raise a player's draft stock, and an exceptionally terrible performance can do the opposite, but overall it is just extra material to help teams make their decisions.

In this year's combine, however, three prospective first-round picks have limped off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, one of the best players of the 2009 class, may miss significant time with a stress fracture in his foot. Nonetheless, he has decided to press forward.

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga both injured hamstrings during their 40-yard dashes.

Maualuga, regarded as one of the premier college linebackers in the country, was projected by many to go to the Denver Broncos with the 12th pick.

Maualuga was interviewed by the NFL Network's Scott Hanson shortly after his run.

“I could feel it for the past two weeks,” Maualuga said. “I just wanted to come out here and compete with the very best. I wanted to show the coaches and scouts I could do everything. Now I’m just going to go to the trainer and get right and hopefully be able to do the Pro Day."

“I didn’t want to come out here and use my hamstring as an excuse," Maualuga added. "Unfortunately, it’s been bothering me, but I felt I could go. I wasn’t pressured to do it. I thought I could go out and do the 40 and do it in a good time.

Luckily the injury is not serious and Maualuga will make a full recovery, most likely in time to participate in Pro Day.

I look at this incident as a positive reflection of Maualuga's character and motivation.

The Denver Broncos defense was largely devoid of character and spirit in 2008. Linebacker Jamie Winborn was often an exception to this, but he has since been released.

Maualuga proved to me that he will be a no-excuses, 120-percent player for whichever team he ends up playing with. That is exactly the kind of character the Broncos defense needs.

There has not been a linebacker of this intensity in Denver since Al Wilson was released. D.J. Williams is a premier player and was voted defensive co-captain, but he gives the impression of being a guy who leads by example, instead of vocally.

In Maualuga, the Broncos would be getting a linebacker who would start and make an immediate impact on the defense. Aside from that, it looks like he could quickly develop the intangibles that made a player like Al Wilson a true leader and fan favorite.

Fans should look forward to seeing Maualuga show off at Pro Day, and then hope to see him drafted with the 12th pick of the 2009 draft. Now more than ever, I believe he is a pick that will pay off.

After All The Subtraction, Denver Fans Can Soon Expect Some Key Additions

Henry Gula — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:48:39 -0500

In the five weeks that Josh McDaniels has held the position of Head Coach for the Denver Broncos, he has not had an opportunity to prove very much.

We don't know how he will coach the team on the field, and we don't know how effective he will ultimately be at evaluating personnel.

What we do know, however, is that Josh McDaniels is a man of his word.

When he said in his initial press conference and subsequent interviews that he was going to be evaluating each and every player on the roster, he meant it.

So far, 12 players from the 2008 squad have been shown the door. The cuts range from surprising with Jamie Winborn, Nate Jackson, and Anthony Alridge, to necessary with Marquand Manuel, Dewayne Robertson, and John Engelberger.

With all these subtractions from the team, the next step must be additions.

The Denver Broncos now have at least 12 open roster spots, and upwards of $40 million in salary cap room, which means that Josh McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders have plenty of freedom.

The team elected not to use their franchise tag on any of their outgoing free agents. The only outgoing players who the team may consider re-signing are running backs Michael Pittman and/or Tatum Bell.

Players such as Ebenezer Ekuban, Nate Webster, Patrick Ramsey, and others will be allowed to search for jobs elsewhere.

There is no question that the Denver Broncos will look much different in 2009. They already do, for that matter.

It is likely that USC standout inside linebacker Rey Maualuga will fall to the Broncos at the 12th pick. However, the injury to wide receiver Michael Crabtree may change the outcome of the draft.

It is widely anticipated that the Broncos will look to add players at every position on defense, and look for a running back and slot receiver on offense.

Reports have said that the team may be interested in free-agent running back Derrick Ward. This would allow them to forgo the need to use a draft pick at that position.

In free agency, besides Derrick Ward, the Broncos may go after defensive lineman such as Igor Olshansky of the Chargers, and safeties such as Mike Brown of the Bears or James Sanders of the Patriots.

The Broncos will have all seven of their picks for the 2009 draft, along with an extra fifth round pick from the Seahawks and a conditional seventh round pick from the Falcons, which could become a sixth rounder if cornerback Dominique Foxworth re-signs in Atlanta.

If the team is able to add at least three veterans in the free agent process, and then nine rookies (in the needed positions) via the draft, fans should consider the 2009 offseason successful.

Of course, then the task will be adapting to the new schemes and tendencies of the renovated coaching staff, and filling the depth chart in such a way that gives the team the best chance of winning.

This is all easier said than done, but so is freeing up $40+ million dollars of salary cap room. Especially when teams such as the Jets are above the cap.

Josh McDaniels has started his process, and the path to a successful 2009 is laid out in front of him.

Denver Broncos' New Coach Josh McDaniels, GM Xanders Face Important Draft

Henry Gula — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:53:55 -0500

The renovation of the Denver Broncos is in full swing. The coaching staff, for the most part, was gutted and replaced with fresh, young minds.

The front office was next in line for a change.

With the dismissal of Jim and Jeff Goodman, the Broncos appointed a solid general manager in Brian Xanders.

As with new head coach Josh McDaniels, Xanders brings a new and fresh look to the player personnel department, and the two hope to mold the Denver Broncos into champions.

The expectations being placed on them are high, and their first task—the one that will set the tone for their (hopefully) long and successful careers in Denver—is fast approaching.

Those events are the NFL Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft.

The draft is quite possibly the most important team building event in all of professional sports. The top college players make immediate impacts on the teams they join and a bust pick can result in an unsuccessful season.

This is the first time in 14 years that Mike Shanahan won't be seen on draft day. Neither will the Goodmans. It is a new sensation in Broncos Country—two men in their 30s running the team.

For Xanders and McDaniels, the 2009 draft will be integral to the team's success. Defensively, the Broncos need help. Mike Shanahan always had a knack for finding offensive talent, but was less successful in recent years on the defensive side of the ball.

On offense, of the 11 players on the field in a standard "I" formation, nine were drafted by the Broncos. Center Casey Wiegmann and tight end Daniel Graham are the only offensive starters brought in by free agency.

Nearly the entire offensive line—the best in the NFL in 2008—was brought in by Shanahan.

The 2006 Denver draft class, one that included Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, and Tony Scheffler, was touted as one of the best ever—until the 2008 draft came around.

Last year's class consisted of Ryan Clady, Eddie Royal, Peyton Hillis, Spencer Larsen, Josh Barrett, Jack Williams, and Ryan Torain.

Offensively, these two classes rank among the best ever.

On defense, Shanahan's only bright points are linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Many fans see 2007 rookies Tim Crowder and Jarvis Moss as busts, but neither has had the chance to make any impact in the 4-3 system. Josh Barrett has also shown good potential.

Now, however, there will be new faces making the picks. These men will have Shanahan's glowing offensive draft record to build upon. They must create their own defensive draft records.

It is predicted that USC standout linebacker Rey Maualuga will become a Bronco in the first round. From that point on, the calls will be in the hands of Josh and Brian.

They know what the team needs, and Broncos Country is counting on them to do what Shanahan couldn't over the past few years—build a defensive unit that can stop opponents.

Free agency will play a role, and this year's defensive class is good, but ultimately, the success of the Broncos defense in 2009 will rest on the impact rookies brought in on April 25 and 26.

Of course, the team's needs are not exclusively defensive. The Broncos need a running back to be the workhorse, and they need a slot receiver to eventually replace the aging, but sure-handed Brandon Stokley.

McDaniels has made it clear that he will be sparing no one. He is going to look at every player on the roster and make sure that player fits his role.

The team's owner, Pat Bowlen, has shown complete confidence in McDaniels and Xanders, similar to the confidence he had in Mike Shanahan for 14 years.

Now, it is time for Xanders and McDaniels to step up to the proverbial plate, and hit a home run for the Denver Broncos and their fans.

It's time to win again in Denver. The draft is the first giant step.

Change Is in the Air: Five Broncos Are Released in First Roster Moves of '09

Henry Gula — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:58:14 -0500

A little more than a month into 2009, change is a major theme across the country. President Obama has begun to initiate change in the country, and on a smaller level, Coach Josh McDaniels has begun to initiate change in the Denver Broncos.

McDaniels has said many times that he intends to look at, and evaluate, every player on the roster, and make the necessary changes. It appears he started with running backs and receivers.

It was announced that five players were cut on Wednesday, in the first roster move executed by McDaniels. The eliminated players included three running backs, a tight end, and a receiver.

The receiver was Clifford Russell. Russell was on special teams and filled in at wide receiver for two games early in the season, but sustained a head injury in the week four contest in Kansas City. He had to be removed on a stretcher, and was placed on injured reserve.

Chad Mustard, a fourth-string tight end for most of the season, got his chance when Nate Jackson, the man above Mustard on the depth chart, was placed on IR. He saw action in eight games, but was not involved in any significant highlights.

The most significant cuts came in the running back group. Everyone knows the story of last year's running game—nine backs made their way to the IR at all points during the season.

The group has now been cut to seven players, with the release of Alex Haynes, P.J. Pope, and Anthony Alridge.

Haynes is no surprise. He had two stints with the team, but did not record any statistics.

Pope came off the practice squad and performed decently in his five games, including one start, however he too found his way to IR. Still, he was not enough of an asset to the team to win a spot on the '09 squad.

The biggest surprise of the day, and possibly of the young McDaniels administration, is the release of Anthony Alridge from the team.

Alridge was a promising rookie, with 4.37 speed and an elusive nature. He injured his ankle in the team's final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and spent the entire season on IR.

Still, Alridge was expected to compete for a share of the carries in the regular offense in 2009. He was described as a Reggie-Bush-type back.

His removal from the team demonstrates that McDaniels is looking to take the running game in a different direction, possibly more toward the power-running styles of Peyton Hillis and Michael Pittman.

The removal of Alridge could also be an early projection of the direction the team may take on draft day. Aside from defense, they may be looking to add a new elusive running back. My personal favorite is Shonn Greene, but clearly, nothing is guaranteed.

It will be interesting to see the next set of moves that the coach and front-office staff make. A new era is most definitely afoot in Broncos Country.

Jay Cutler Is Lucky that Denver Is Cold

Henry Gula — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:28:03 -0500

Watching the 2009 Pro Bowl this past Sunday, fans of the AFC saw Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler fail to execute a game-winning drive.

Cutler was put at the helm of the AFC offensive unit for the fourth quarter of the game, and he did not play well. He had two clutch opportunities, one with four minutes left and another with two minutes left, to lead an all-star team down the field and win the game.

The Pro Bowl is, of course, an exhibition. Most guys don't give their usual 110-percent effort, and it doesn't really matter who wins or who loses.

Still, any NFL player is a competitor, and every NFL player wants to win whenever he is out on the field.

Jay Cutler, who ran the NFL's second-ranked offense and threw for over 4,500 yards in the regular season, finished the Pro Bowl 7-of-15 in passing attempts for 48 yards and an interception.

The interception was caught by soon-to-be-free agent defensive end Julius Peppers, a player Denver fans have talked about as a prospective signing. While that possibility has gotten more and more distant in recent weeks, it was an ironic moment when he picked off Cutler.

All fans know about Cutler's major health problem. He has a serious case of type-one diabetes. If his blood sugar falls too low, he can break into a cold sweat, among other serious symptoms, and completely lose his composure in the game.

As Andrea Kramer reported during the final minutes of the game, Cutler had been struggling to control his blood sugar during the game due to the heat.

The Pro Bowl, at about 80 degrees was the hottest game that he has played in his career.

Cutler was clearly not as effective as he normally is, and it is highly possible it had something to do with his blood sugar.

Hot temperatures often make blood sugar levels more difficult to control because they increase rates of dehydration.

Since Cutler was unaware of his condition when he was drafted, he can consider himself very lucky that the Broncos, a cold-weather team drafted him. If he was forced to play in Miami heat, for example, his career may have been completely different.

In Denver, Cutler does not have to deal with extreme heat, as the Mile High City's average temperature during football season (September-December) is about 45 degrees, getting slightly colder in the winter months.

Overall though, Denver fans should not be overly concerned about the sub-par performance, and all signs point to Cutler being a top-five, if not the best quarterback in the NFL next season.

Funniest Moments: Top Five Podium Meltdowns in Recent Memory

Henry Gula — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:33:13 -0500

When I heard that Bleacher Report was going to be opening up a page on the "Funniest Moments in Sports,"

I was stuck deciding a topic upon which to theme my article. To help get inspiration, I decided to look around YouTube a bit.

I searched "funny sports moments," and a clip of former Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green reciting his famous line from the 2006 season (More on that later).

I remembered how much I enjoyed watching coaches (and sometimes players) meltdown during interviews.

I kept watching, and after some laughing and some elimination, I came up with my top five.

I decided to keep this list "within recent memory," since there are not a lot of clips on YouTube from events that took place prior to 2000.

Now, without further ado, please enjoy the top five podium meltdowns in recent memory:

Meltdown No. 5: "They are who we thought they were!"

The Monday Night Football contest featuring the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals was a memorable one.

Not only because the Bears managed to score 24 points with only three coming from the offense, but also because of Arizona coach Dennis Green's press conference following the game.

I guess Coach Green was trying to make it clear that the Bears were, in fact, "who he thought they were," because apparently, it's a big deal to be able to recognize one's opponent.

Meltdown No. 4: "I'm tired of bleepin losing!"

The Seattle Mariners of 2008 were pretty pathetic. The team that went out and signed some big names over the '07 offseason was expected to compete with the Angels for the AL West title.

By June 4, the Mariners were the worst team in baseball, and former manager John McLaren couldn't take it anymore.

He's tired of bleepin losing! Unfortunately, he didn't get to see that "total team bleepin effort" because he was fired just days later.

With a $100 million payroll and the worst record, I'd be pretty pissed off too.

Meltdown No. 3: "Offensive rebounding!"

You know it's a bad day when the coach's first action of a press conference is hurling his papers at the podium.

That's what the University of Michigan girls basketball coach Kevin Borseth did.

He's damn sick of never getting any offensive rebounds, and he's letting everyone know it. Pounding on the podium while screaming at the reporters doesn't get better than this.

I just feel bad for the girls on the team who have to go to practice the next day. I wonder what the "focus" of that practice will be?

Meltdown No. 2: "That's my quarterback"

I am sure that just about every sports fan has heard this line, and seen the press conference that goes along with it many times. It stands as one of the funniest and most emotional conferences ever, and who better than Terrell Owens to be the star?

T.O. put on his teary show just after his team lost the NFC Divisional playoff game to the New York Giants. Quarterback Tony Romo was under scrutiny for going on a vacation to Cabo with his girlfriend Jessica Simpson during the bye week.

He made it clear that Tony Romo, is in fact his quarterback, that that it is really unfair if the reporters make any association between the quarterback's vacation and the loss.

That really is unfair, you know? Trying to say that a team is at some kind of a disadvantage because their most important player took a week off from practice...what were those mean journalists thinking?

That is definitely a hilarious meltdown, but who gets the No. 1? Let's find out...

The Best Podium Meltdown in Recent Memory: "I'm a man!"

There have been a lot of tirades from coaches in the past few years. We have seen that with some of the examples here, and others from all different sports. The factor that sets this one apart is the passion and the heat of Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy.

This meltdown, over a newspaper article talking about one of his players, consisted of a good three minutes of Gundy chewing out a single writer from the crowd.

Turns out that Gundy is a man, and he's 40!

Reporters: go after him if there's a problem. Also, the newspaper is garbage.

Mr. Gundy wins the award for top meltdown, and his "I'm a man! I'm 40!" line will be remembered above the rest for a long time.

Honorable Mentions: Meltdowns that didn't quite fit

Michael Strahan getting pissed off on The Best Damn Sports Show Period. I wouldn't want to be the guy he was mad at. He wasn't at a podium or in an interview, but it's worth watching.

Hal McRae. This guy went absolutely nuts after a reporter asked a question he didn't like. We're talking about hurling a full-size desktop phone at the ceiling.

Chris Berman. Looks like Swami isn't such a great person to work with. A crazy rant all because apparently someone walked in front of him while he was on the air. WARNING- this video contains explicit, unedited language. There wasn't an edited version available.

2009 New York Mets Outfield Preview: A Puzzle Still Unsolved in Left

Henry Gula — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:38:35 -0500

It is almost time for another season of New York Mets baseball. The truck has departed Queens and is headed to Port St. Lucie, FL. Pitchers and catchers will report in about six days.

General Manager Omar Minaya has found an answer to several pressing questions this offseason, but there are still some remaining. The outfield situation, and more specifically the left field situation, is most definitely one of them.

The New York Mets currently have nine outfielders on their 40-man roster. Of those nine, only two can be expected to play every day.

The Center field position should be already set, barring injury, with Carlos Beltran. The Gold Glove outfielder can be counted on for excellent defense, a leadership position among the other outfielders, and above-average offensive production.

Beltran's power numbers were down in 2008, although he improved his batting average eight points from 2007. In 2009, look for Carlos to have a slightly better year power-wise, while driving in 115+ runs and batting in the .280 range.

In right field, Ryan Church is the favorite to win the starting job. Church got out to an excellent start in 2008 but suffered a concussion on May 20 and was not the same player following his return.

If Church starts off the season the same way he started off the last and sustains his numbers as the season goes on, he should be the man in right field. Look for his average to hover around .300, and his RBI total to be around 80-100.

The left-field position is where the puzzle begins. The Mets have not had an everyday left fielder since Cliff Floyd departed following the 2006 season. Omar Minaya signed veteran Moises Alou, hoping to get one year out of him.

Alou was unable to stay healthy, but produced good offensive numbers in 2007. Minaya made a mistake by giving him an extension for 2008, and Alou only managed to play in 15 games.

The left field position then turned into a revolving door, seeing Angel Pagan, Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy, Endy Chavez, and Nick Evans all getting starts.

The Mets must find some continuity in left field if they want to win the NL East. The platoon of Murphy and Tatis was the solution that Jerry Manuel used most over the summer, with spot starts for Evans and others.

In the offseason, the Mets did not re-sign Moises Alou, and traded Endy Chavez away. They acquired utility outfielder Jeremy Reed in the Putz trade, and signed former Rockies center field backup Cory Sullivan to a minor league deal.

Power hitting left fielders Adam Dunn and the now-infamous Manny Ramirez are still available on the free agent market, but Minaya has publicly stated that the Mets won't be making any more big signings.

Provided Beltran and Church get the majority of the starts in center and right field, respectively, and Reed is their backup, who will play left field? Right now, it looks like Daniel Murphy will get the first shot at it, although many believe he is better suited to second base.

Fernando Tatis stepped up at the plate in the second half of 2008, but I can't see him becoming the starter.

Maybe it is finally time to try top-prospect Fernando Martinez in the major leagues. He is a center fielder by trade, but who's to say he couldn't take a shot at left field? He has been making good progress in the minors, and has tremendous upside, although his glaring weakness is batting against left handed pitchers.

If the Mets do not want to bring F-Mart up quite yet, and would like to try a Murphy/Tatis platoon in left, I would suggest signing Orlando Hudson to play second base.

That scenario would leave Murphy to commit his time to left field, and the platoon could work, if only until the trade deadline when Minaya could deal for a more established left fielder.

As spring training gets underway, fans will have a better idea of who will be the left fielder. Until then, good luck to Murphy, Tatis, and everyone else who will be competing for that last outfield spot.

Pro Bowl '09: Trio of Broncos Look to Impress Fans and Bring Pride to Denver

Henry Gula — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:31:00 -0500

"One last, final last game." This Sunday, one last NFL game will be played, featuring the best players from the AFC facing off against their NFC counterparts. It is, of course, the Pro Bowl, the NFL's annual all-star contest.

This year will mark the final appearance of the event in Hawaii, as it is slated to move to Miami in 2010.

The Denver Broncos have sent multiple players to the Pro Bowl in past years, namely Champ Bailey and John Lynch among others. This year, a new set of Broncos will be representing the Mile High City, a trio of offensive players.

Receiver Brandon Marshall will start the game, lined up alongside Andre Johnson of Houston and catching passes from Peyton Manning, a nine-year veteran of the contest.

Jay Cutler will back up Manning, along with Kerry Collins of Tennessee. It is Cutler's first Pro Bowl experience, and he has been writing a daily journal of his activities.

The third and final Bronco is veteran center Casey Wiegmann. Wiegmann secured his first career Pro Bowl roster spot after Kevin Mawae opted out. Casey will finally be rewarded for his 12 seasons of NFL service and his performance as one of the anchors of the stellar '08 Broncos offensive line.

John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff will guide the AFC, while Philadelphia's Andy Reid and his staff will coach the NFC. It is customary for the staffs of the two Super Bowl runner-up teams to make the trip to Hawaii.

Cam Cameron will be running the AFC's offense, and Cutler has expressed his excitement about having fun with a different playbook.

The week is not all about football, though, the players typically have the entire afternoon to themselves.

Cutler describes some of the fun the players have during their free time, "I knew something was up when [Kris] Dielman and Nick [Mangold] asked me for my phone when we were standing by the pool. I didn’t think anything of it, foolishly, and being a Pro Bowl rookie, I gave it to them. As soon as they got it, they pushed me right into the pool, shirt and sunglasses and everything. They had a pretty good time with it. Rookie initiation. Thanks, guys."

Aside from the pranks, Jay has also gotten to meet some past and current NFL legends, "I also got to meet Archie Manning for the first time on Tuesday. That was pretty cool. Talk about a quarterback family. At one point, it was Archie, Peyton, Eli and myself talking. All SEC guys."

The Pro Bowl is also a great opportunity for players to showcase their talents, as the offensive coordinators typically "open up" the playbook and allow selected fans to choose a play.

In any case, it is a good opportunity for Cutler, Marshall, and Wiegmann to represent the Broncos and the city of Denver, make new friends around the league, and relax in a beautiful island paradise while still practicing their football skills and staying in shape.

This year's game looks to be a good one, especially for Bronco fans who will be expecting to see Cutler and Marshall "light it up."