LINCICOME: Broncos map new direction
By Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 2, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.
Are the Broncos getting left behind by their lack of movement so far during free agency?
To use the old Titanic joke, time again to rearrange the deck chairs on the good ship Bronco.
Goodbye Javon Walker and Ian Gold, the hopeless leading the useless. Hello to . . . well, the list is usually longer than this. Keary Colbert?
As dependable as spring snow have the Broncos been, using NFL free agency to gather recycled bodies and to kid themselves into thinking they will be better.
At this time of year we are used to the annual boasts from fresh arrivals such as the likes of a Travis Henry, the next 1,500-yard back (not reaching half that), or a Walker as just the game-breaking receiver the Broncos need.
A Dre Bly comes with a reputation surprising to anyone who saw him play in Detroit, yet he is presented without challenge as a shutdown corner, a designation that comes to Champ Bailey on merit.
Or the huge pile of defensive linemen like Sam Adams or Daryl Gardener or Courtney Brown or Kenard Lang, and on a later whim, Simeon Rice, all to be miraculously resurrected by wearing a horse head on their helmets.
One wonders if all this low profile, low wage, discount shopping by the Broncos is not to somehow reclaim some of the $3 million wasted on Rice.
This is not to even mention the Henry baggage that included scattered children and distracting drug tests.
The point is, we were reassured that the Broncos were active, working hard to improve, identifying needs and fixing holes, all motion if little improvement.
Better to fight than hold the coats, no matter how bloody the nose. Something like that.
Between now and when it matters again, the list shall grow longer than the unremarkable Colbert (they're still chuckling in Carolina about the price the Broncos paid), as it must. A team that finishes 7-9 does not improve by simply getting older, though if an overall strategy can be detected it is that.
Oh, the Broncos stayed old enough by re-signing safety John Lynch, a bit more calcified than when he arrived in just this same way, and cheaper.
And defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, retained off the inert list, and some others like tight end Nate Jackson and defensive end John Engelberger.
Still pending are the likes of Jason Elam, the ancient and iconic kicker, and safety Nick Ferguson, already replaced by Hamza Abdullah, so that sudden holes must be filled however they can, the kind of inconvenience that brought in Bly last March.
Likely to be gone is cornerback Domonique Foxworth, alas, a complete human being as well as a football player, an example that sometimes football permits the better souls a brief bit of glory.
Certainly, Elam must be kept, if only because he can still kick better than anyone the Broncos could find. If Elam can no longer kick deep enough on kickoffs, he is still deadly inside the 40 and matchless under pressure.
If the Broncos are playing a cheap game with Elam, as they did with Lynch, assuming that the market for a 38-year-old kicker is so limited they can keep him on their terms, Elam not only deserves better but as long as Morten Andersen could get a job at 47 or John Carney at 43, Elam is practically a teenager.
The Broncos have learned that there is just not enough spackle to fix a team on the fly, as well as the growing awareness that no matter Mike Shanahan's standing as a coach to play for, he is just another coach to play for.
No one is better here than they were there, the example of Henry even ruining the myth of which every running back who gets the ball gets 1,000 yards.
So now the Broncos are looking at the draft - not exactly a dependable treasure chest - to find what they need. Last year's defensive line choices Marcus Thomas, Tim Crowder and Jarvis Moss, along with the remarkable Elvis Dumervil from the 2006 draft, will need to play as they were drafted to do.
Couldn't be much worse than 30th in rushing yards allowed, or 28th in scoring, as the Broncos were.
Someone will have to play for Gold, a linebacker who could not tackle and could not cover, but Jamie Winborn is already there, just the kind of little known free agent the Broncos are pondering.
As for Walker, he had been superseded by Brandon Marshall already, with Marshall being the fourth-round surprise that No. 1 Ashley Lelie was supposed to be, giving some evidence that Shanahan is not a complete bungler at draft time.
And there is still the core of whatever happens next, quarterback Jay Cutler.
Clearly since patience is required as Cutler develops, so is it with the rest of the Broncos, whomever they turn out to be.
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March 2, 2008
5:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
hharlin writes:
Article from Jacksonville
Shocker: Denver gives Colbert 3 years, $7.2 M
Indeed, America is the land of opportunity.
Brace yourself, because this deal is one that Don King would love.
Panthers free agent receiver Keary Colbert, who was no longer wanted by Carolina and figured to be down the line on the list of unrestricted free agents at his position, got a sweetheart deal Saturday from the Denver Broncos.
His terms: $7.2 million over three years, including a $2.5 million signing bonus.
If ever there has been proof that of the 32 teams in the NFL, it only takes once to make you rich, this is it.
Colbert had an oustanding rookie season for the Panthers, but hasn’t played up to that level since. He caught 32 passes last season for 332 yards and no touchdowns.
Word out of Denver is that he’ll have a chance to start as the team’s No.. 2 receiver.
Seriously, here’s hoping he does very well there.
CHARLES CHANDLER
March 2, 2008
8:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
LarryB writes:
You've written some bad ones, but this has to be the worst.
March 2, 2008
11:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Seawen writes:
And this is why newspapers are dying. Crotchety old sportswriters who contradict themselves 3 times in the same article without anything useful to say. Good riddance grandpa.
March 3, 2008
1:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
bestinthewest24 writes:
Man you suck at writing. Move to San Diego or something
March 3, 2008
6:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
waterwalker writes:
With the colbert getting that kind of money I guess its obvious denver isnt going to draft one of this DRAFTS GREAT reciever prospects for cutler that will surely be there at no. 12. NOOOooo!!! They are gonna end up with that tackle from vanderbilt with the really terrible footwork!! Oh well there will be some good recievers in 2009 or 2010 when denver has the first pick!! No wait, by that time they will need a new QB after this guy from vandy gets cutler killed!! And how about Elam giving back to the broncs and signing for alot less, after all we need to fill extra roster spots when we have him because I can kick off better than him! Isnt he rich enough? didnt shanny give him enough? All that money a few years ago, a spot in the hall of fame with the 63 yarder! If not send him packin too! With that red zone offense it shouldnt take a rookie long to get pretty good. He'll get lots of kicks in!! We need to get back to that mentality of outscoring the opponet!! Draft offensive threats. period!! It worked perfectly for New england in 17 out of 18!!
March 3, 2008
11:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
mmorg17 writes:
Sick and tired of your sick and tired approach. I feel sorry for you, for if your life is as down trodden and negative as your columns it is a very miserable life indeed. I vow to never read your Bronco bashing articles again. I am watching a DVR of the "Top ten sports stories in Colorado history" about the '77 Broncos, when expectations were low and spirits were high, I for one will not subscribe to this drab journalism, do yourself a favor and find a new job, possibly writing obituaries it seems to suit you.