Fantasy Football

You know, I write this blog and I feel like I am fairly apt in the trials and tribulations of the NFL and fantasy football. But truth be told, much like everyone else that writes about football either professionally or for recreation, I am very much a layman. Outside of a couple of summer workouts when I contemplated going out for receiver in high school, I’ve never played the game on a competitive level, never coached it, and when I post I usually prefer to keep this in mind: There’s a strong chance you’re embarrassingly wrong.

That said, when first your pro-bowl caliber quarterback, whose never had a problem with anyone in the organization, never complained about anyone in college despite him being heads and shoulders better than everyone else on his team, suddenly decides he wants to skip town because of a new coaching regime, I’m a little skeptical when the team claims he’s being too demanding.

But again, I’m not there. I have no idea what the circumstances are or how NFL front office politics work.

I'm not convinced he isn't a rogue cell for the Raiders.

However, if a few months later your pro-bowl receiver who led the league in receptions last season decides he wants traded as well, then I think it’s safe to say you made a poor coaching hire. I know Brandon Marshall hasn’t exactly been a model citizen, but just like with Cutler, I don’t remember any of his teammates or Mike Shannahan having any complaints about him. I guess what I’m wondering (and the only thing that can save Josh McDaniels’ reputation before he even coach’s a single game) is if his two best players are/were disgruntled because they have personal/professional issues with McDaniels himself, or if they’re displeased with the firing of Shannahan in the first place.

The latter might make him a viable candidate down the road when he goes looking for another job (because he’s getting fired from this job in two years tops, and my prediction is by the end of the 2009 season) after this team goes 2-14 (if they’re lucky). Honestly, if you’re looking at the type of season the Broncos are staring at, you do not, under any circumstances, spend your first round pick on a running back. That was his first mistake, after isolating his two best weapons on the offensive end.

At least there is one constant in Denver.

And you know what? Those two wins might be generous. Cutler and Marshall made that team respectable (they didn’t really blow that lead in the AFC West so much as they realized their talent level), and the team was offensively explosive with one of the ten worst running games in the league.  They had the second worst defense, and in just about any other year it would have been top dog, they just happened to exist simultaneously with the first ever 0-16 team in the history of the league. What are they going to look like with Kyle Orton as their starting QB and Eddie Royale as their biggest offensive threat? Shudder.

I suppose the good news for Broncos fans — other than the cheerleaders, of course — is that the turnover rate for playoff teams in the NFL is high. And so long as you can keep from becoming a permanent fixture in the cellar (Raiders, Lions, etc), you’re never that far removed from being in the playoffs. Problem is, I’m not so sure they aren’t closer to finding themselves amongst those teams than they are to making a wild card.

Back later with whatever may come across the ticker.