Denver Broncos: How Could Things Get to This Point?

Let me begin by saying I'm a little bit handicapped here, because I am not anywhere near Denver, or Colorado, or US. I am a diehard Broncos fan who lives in Brazil, so I've been following this story on-line.

If somebody told me, right after the last game, that our star-pro-bowler-young-but-immature-starting-face-of-the-franchise-quarterback would be on his way out of the town, I wouldn't have believed it, even after the unprecedented debacle that happened.

Sure, you simply don't blow a three-game lead and just pretend it did not happened.

First and foremost, you wonder why on earth did it happen. One could begin by saying that the team suffered badly with an also unprecedented storm of injuries that kept most of the running backs sidelined. That's true.

It's also true that the quarterback rating on the last games was really bad. And here's another truth—the defense was as porous as a sponge, ranking very low on nearly every stat. And you could also point that Mike Shanahan was simply not getting it done anymore and had to go after so many seasons.

So, it was time for a change. A big change.

But there's one thing that might have been disregarded so far. Decency.

When Bowlen fired Shanahan, everybody was shocked because nothing leaked, there were no speculations, nobody saw it coming. When interviewed, Mike said that Bowlen called him to his office and he went there thinking it would be an invitation to lunch!

Instead, the owner looked the head coach in the eye and said he was letting he go. Now, if you are going to fire somebody, that's the way to do. It may be disappointing, it might hurt your feelings, but it's dead straight. No one else is involved and no one else has to.

So, the Denver Broncos owner had the decency of telling first hand to Mike Shanahan that he would not coach the team anymore.

Then comes Cutler's reaction. Many people pointed fingers at Cutler because he publicly criticized Pat Bowlen for firing the coach that drafted him. All right, but you have to remember that everyone is entitled to his opinion and Cutler's job is not to make that kind of decision, but to throw passes.

That being said, if you are not the one to make that decision and if the team's owner simply don't have to ask you what do you think about that before the firing, the only thing you can do is tell people what you think of that after it happens.

To tell you the truth, I would be surprised if Cutler told he was pleased with the move. Up to that point, Cutler never said a word (and then again, I cannot be precise about that because I'm far away from there) about playing for another team.

Even after Jeremy Bates left the team, nothing was mentioned about Broncos, Cutler parting ways.

Then there's Josh McDaniels hiring. The young and brilliant offensive coordinator for the mighty New England Patriots and the three championships.

From what I could read, most of the fans were pleased about the move, because the new head coach is offensive minded, our offensive unit has plenty of talent whether it's running the ball or passing it, and, after fixing the defensive problems, the Denver Broncos would be up to a great season.

Kudos for McDaniels for turning a backup quarterback into a very capable replacement for Brady, from the very first game of the season. For that to happen, you must be able to do two things—getting the most of the player and developing a system in which that particular player, with his particular skills, fits and plays his best.

And now here's my point. If you will be the head coach of a team who has so many talent in the offensive unit, and if the starting quarterback is nothing short of a pro bowler, and if you are offensive minded, couldn't you make that quarterback play the way you want him to?

Couldn't you just develop (or adjust) a system in which you could explore all the potential of the quarterback?

After what he has done to Cassel, couldn't Josh McDaniels do the same with Cutler? Who is a better quarterback? Who's more gifted? Cassel? Give me a break.

Now, back to the "decency" part. When McDaniels was asked, he said he wouln't trade Jay Cutler. Then he said he just answered some phone calls because "that's his job." I thought he was a coach, not an operator.

Then he gives serious consideration about bringing his trusted quarterback to work with him. And never, ever, told Cutler, eye to eye, that he is now in charge and wants his own players.

Cutler heard about it and was angry. Who wouldn't be? He is a great quarterback who went to a Pro Bowl and broke several records last year. I think he deserved better.

Now who's running this show? Not Pat Bowlen. Not Josh McDaniel,s and certainly not Jay Cutler. The media is.

Aw, but Cutler is such a crybaby, many people say, and he is not acting with professionalism. I'll give you that, but if you hear things that concern you from third parties, you have every right to be mad.

Remember, when we all heard that Mike Shanahan had been fired, it was done already, after a man to man talk between him and Pat Bowlen.

So, how could the team's owner let the situation get to this point? What's the good about it? Here's what he had to say: "I really would like to keep him here (and who wouldn't?) but if you are not going to be a happy camper, there's no reason for you to be here".

I don't know about you, but as a Broncos diehard fan (to the point of having gone all the way from Rio de Janeiro to Denver, three times, to attend to games), what I REALLY would like to hear from the owner is:

"This situation is just disruptive to our team and I want to solve this as quickly as possible, and that's why I called both Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels to my office so the three of us can talk and solve this once and for all".

If the team's owner calls you to his office, you better shave and hurry up.

So, no agents. No media. Just the owner, the new head coach and the immensely talented but young quarterback.

One wise old man (or so I suppose), a headcoach who has the entire right to make the team play the way he wants to, with the players he wants, and a quarterback who will listen from no one else but them what it's gonna be.

Give them one hour, two hours, three, I just don't care how long it takes, but they have to settle it between the three of them quickly.

I still think the Broncos would be a very serious contender if Cutler and McDaniels could work their differences. I cannot believe such a thing is just impossible. If it turns out to be, I have a No. 6 replica jersey (orange) I bought for $80. Any of you can have it for $20.

Thanks for reading and excuse me for my bad English.