Denver is only a second-rate market for second-rate people - 'Melo is gone, but Champ returns

The city of Denver has seen its name sullied over the past few months during the never-ending controversy surrounding Carmelo Anthony.  That sad chapter in Denver sports history has closed with a blockbuster trade sending the now-despised Anthony to the New York Knicks, along with home-town favorite Chauncey Billups.  I won't claim to be any kind of expert on the NBA, but I know these two things to be certain.  I hated Carmelo Anthony before it was trendy to, and I've always loved Chauncey Billups.  That being said, I hate to see a CU Buffalo and former NBA champion leave Denver, especially after hearing him voice his desires to stay in town, but dealing 'Melo was crucial for the future of the Nuggets and the sanity of its fan base.

What bothered me the most about the controversy was the implication that Denver is a second-rate market, incapable of keeping high-profile athletes as franchise players.  It was no secret that Carmelo wanted out of Denver, and the storm that grew over our city sent the message to the sporting world that Denver was on par with Cleveland; a statement that induces nausea, headache, and a general sense of helplessness.

My biggest take-away from this whole scenario is that Carmelo doesn't deserve our city.  One spoiled, lazy, and overhyped diva doesn't make or break the repuation of any one city.  The fact is, there is more evidence disproving the second-rate market implication than there is supporting it.

The Rockies have set a surprising precedent this year by signing their two biggest stars to long-term contracts.  Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, two players that would have likely earned more by leaving for a "top-tier" market (Chicago, New York, or LA), decided to commit to spending the prime years of their careers in the Mile High City.

That tells me two things:

1. Both Tulo and CarGo exhibited a rare quality that has all-but vanished from professional sports.  The word is "fidelity", but I'd be willing to guess that Carmelo Anthony would have a hard time spelling the word, let alone defining it.  One year of college at Syracuse doesn't give me reason to believe that he's any more intelligent than he comes off in interviews.

2:  Denver is a city where legitimate superstars can feel comfortable spending the duration of their professional careers.  Given the possibility of earning more money elsewhere, they chose to stay put.  By doing so, they've earned the respect and admiration of hundreds of thousands of fans, and they can enjoy those benefits for the rest of their career in a city that has a mix of city living, scenic beauty, and a family-friendly quality that New York or LA couldn't touch with a 400 foot pole.

Today was a disappointing day for Denver fans for many reasons.  Exchanging Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for three player's I've never heard of doesn't give me much hope for the Nuggets' immediate future, but after the black eye suffered by this embarassing fiasco, Champ Bailey and the Denver Broncos alleviated a lot of that pain for a city that needed a break.

John Elway announced via twitter that Champ Bailey has signed a four-year extension with the Denver Broncos, news that seemed unlikely at best a week prior.  Bailey has been a shining star in a dismal Bronco defense for several years, and his leadership is irreplaceable on the Denver roster.  Bailey, still one of the best shut-down cornerbacks in the NFL, has been very vocal about his desires to play for a championship team, and that has led to a lot of speculation that his Denver days were done. Denver fans have been dreading the announcement that Champ had been shipped off to the New England Patriots, or some other team poised for a Super Bowl run in 2011-2012.  Thankfully, we managed to hold on this time.  You think Champ would have stayed if he were playing for the Cleveland Browns?  What about the Detroit Lions?

The truth is, Denver is a great market for players that value the important things in life.  Champ, Tulo, CarGo, Sakic and Elway seem to enjoy it...

'Melo, on the other hand, is going to love New York.  It's overrated, arrogant, and classless: he should fit right in.

-Sam

Three's Company: QB Controversy in Denver

I read an interesting article on the Mile High Report today about the relationship between Denver's two quarterbacks.  The article states that Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow's relationship has become somewhat adversarial, and there is discussion as to whether or not the two can coexist in the same locker room.  To me, the Broncos have put themselves in a precarious spot by inserting another quarterback into the situation: John Elway.

I realize the journalistic suicide in mentioning Elway's name in any context that depicts him as anything other than a demi-god, but try to separate names from the situation, and look at it from a purely sociological standpoint.

Football is a sport of type A personalities.  Denver's two quarterbacks are alpha males who have spent their whole lives as on-field leaders.  Pitting them against each other in a competition for the starting job is going to cause friction, but a little competition can be healthy.  Orton hasn't earned the reputation to be a true mentor for a young quarterback, and that dynamic doesn't exist with their relationship.  Tim Tebow wants to play, and he believes in his heart that he is better than his counterpart. It's not altogether unhealthy so long as the issue is resolved prior to the start of the season.  Certainly no reason to panic.

This issue I see is inserting John Elway into the situation.  His role within the Broncos' front office has been laid out in semi-specific terms, but I'm not too sure I fully comprehend what is expected of him, both from fans and from his superiors.  The article, linked below, talks about Elway being active on the practice field with the QB's, and I think this is a huge misstep by the unproven football executive.  Since the Shanahan era, the coaching staff and front office have been one-and-the-same, and the overwhelming sentiment is that this model is no longer effective.  Elway's presence on the practice field sends the message that not only is he the final say in personnel decisions, but he is serving as an unofficial QB coach.

It's no secret that Elway is the quintessential alpha male, and getting him involved in the current QB controversy on this level will only muddy the waters. With ego's of this size, you're going to have a few too many cooks in the kitchen.  The best GM's in the NFL don't spend the time mentoring specific atheltes, because they realize that they become biased and more emotionally invested in certain players.  If Elway wants to grow into an effective executive, he needs to distance himself from situations that will confuse emotion with rational thinking.  This is a step backwards, not only for the Broncos' quarterbacks, but for the new-look front office as well.  Leave the coaching to the coaches, and observe the situation as it unfolds.  Only then can Elway make an objective and informed decision about who's under center next season.

If you want to read the article, here's the link:

http://www.milehighreport.com/2011/2/4/1974728/more-john-elway-this-time-on-the-vic-and-gary-show

-Sam

Patience is a Virtue

It's been a rough year for Bronco Nation. I don't think many educated fans went into this season with visions Kyle Orton hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and I certainly wasn't checking travelocity for cheap airfare to Dallas in February. Managed expectations aside, while most fans expected to see some great competition for AFC West supremacy, we watched as as storied franchise and a great football town quickly imploded. With a blowout loss to the loathsome Raiders, a deplorable spygate 2.0 scandal, and a 4-12 finish as notable lowlights, Denver quickly took on the persona of a blood-drunk mob, storming Dove Valley with torches, pitchforks, and an unquenchable thirst for Josh McDaniels's head on a silver platter. Fans got their wish, but I maintain that it happened too soon.

The man's 28-game resume certainly wouldn't impress many people. He wasted no time in pissing off the majority of Denver's fanbase in a very public feud with franchise QB Jay Cutler, resulting in a trade with Chicago. After starting 2009 6-0 with wins over two division rivals and a thrilling overtime victory over the dynastic New England Patriots, McDaniels's Broncos slogged their way to a .500 finish, eventually missing the playoffs once again.

That offseason, McDaniels continued his hurricane-esque personnel approach, chasing off standout WR Brandon Marshall and trading RB Peyton Hillis straight-up for QB Brady Quinn. He continued to focus intently on offensive personnel, neglecting to bring in many big names to improve an aging and underachieving Bronco defense. He also brought in one of the most divisive players I have ever seen in QB Tim Tebow (taken significantly earlier than most experts predicted with the 25th overall pick). Many people were wondering why a 32-year-old first-time head coach was given absolute authority in personnel decisions, and fans and media began publicly questioning his qualifications and capabilities.

The 2010 season got ugly. Real Quick. As the losses piled up, I started hearing more and more outcry from Denver fans for Joshy's firing. Vendors were selling t-shirts outside Invesco Field with the word's "Not My Coach" plastered across the front, sporting a silhouetted picture of Coach McDaniels. After the aforementioned Raider fiasco and the embarrassing videotaping scandal, owner Pat Bowlen finally dropped the ax, appointing RB coach Eric Studesville as interim coach. The excitement that ensued was comparable to that of a Bronco playoff victory. As bad as it all looks on paper, I can't help but stick to my guns. I said it then, and I'll say it now: It happened too soon.

The coaching carousel seems to be spinning quicker and quicker as the game evolves. Fans have become more and more impatient, and we are seeing a lot of college and NFL coaches being fired before they can even finish their second year. I recognize the evidence. I realize trends when I see them, and going from 8-8 to 4-12 in two seasons doesn't amount to the kind of results we want to see as fans. That being said, good things take time.

After dismantling and reassembling Denver's offense, the final product produced some pretty impressive results. WR Brandon Lloyd led the league in receiving, something Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and Brandon Marshall never managed to do. Kyle Orton, well known early in his career for his mediocrity, was on pace to break Dan Marino's season record for passing yards. In two seasons, McDaniels had turned a perennial rushing factory into a pass-happy offense that was, at times, a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

I'm not making an argument that our running game didn't stink, or that our last-ranked defense was even worthy of the NFL logo printed on their uniforms, but it was crystal clear that our coach/acting GM had a long term vision that was still under construction. If the Broncos spent the offseason bringing in more offensive talent and turned in another losing season in 2011, I would have been standing in the riot with my own torch and pitchfork, but we didn't give the man sufficient time to put his plan to the test.

Pro football isn't college, and you can turn things around with free agency and smart drafting faster than you can with college recruiting, but you have to give a coach at least three seasons to execute any well-thought-out plan. I raised hell when the 1-15 Miami Dolphins fired Cam Cameron after one season. I am a firm believer that Mike Singletary, Ty Willingham and Rich Rodriguez both deserved one more season before getting let go. We as fans need to be patient and allow the men we place our trust in to carry out their plans before we throw them to the wolves.

John Fox (the only coach to post a worse record than Josh McDaniels this season) has been brought in as the new face of the Denver Broncos, and John Elway has been given control of personnel decisions, and Denver fans seem cautiously optimistic. I implore everyone to exercise some patience as our beloved Broncos rebuild. It isn't going to be quick, it isn't going to be easy, and I don't foresee a playoff birth for some time. Let's give Fox a chance to carry out his plan. In the meantime, don't waste your time and money on t-shirts and angry facebook statuses calling for Fox's head. Support your team and be patient.

-Sam