All in with Tebow, it's just One Game

I just don't know how Tebow and the team could have played any worse today against the Lions. Tebow was awful, short throws, long throws and that weird throwing motion of his didn't help him at all today. The OL couldn't pass protect. No running game at all. And the Defense was atrocious, no pass rush, couldn't cover, bad tackling. From top to bottom one of the worst games I've seen. That's saying a lot too considering where we came from with Orton. That said we'll only get better from here.

As bad as Tebow played today I'm all in with Tebow the rest of the season. No way do we back up and put Orton in as starter. We sink or swim with Tebow until the end of the season to see if he can get better and if he doesn't I'm not opposed to making a change for next year if that's what it takes. The haters will come out in force today and say I told you so but it's just one game there's still 9 games to go. Tebow's played 5 games, he didn't play well today nobody can deny it but he deserves at the very least to call this team his own until the last day of the season.

I'll leave the wrecking balls to the haters out there I can't do it. I don't have the heart to say much more about the game this week. We just have to rebound and come back, play better and beat the Raiders next week. That's football, that's life, pick yourself up and live to fight another day.

No Quit In Tebow In Miami

I must get this out of the way first before I go into the amazing game we Broncos Fans saw in Miami today because it’s the one football play that mattered least. It was the kick by Matt Prater in OT that gave the Broncos a win.

To say this kick won the game is true but not true, the win had more to do with great defensive play throughout by the Broncos D to keep the game close, a big play by the DJ Williams to force a turnover, a special teams miracle in the final minutes of the 4th Q and the grind it out guts of the no quit Tim Tebow.

It you’ve followed anything I’ve written over the years about football you know that I have an intense hatred of Kickers. I won’t go into the reasons here again only to say that in this game our Kicker made what should have been a much easier victory that much more difficult by missing 2 FG’s. So give him a tiny butt slap for kicking the 52 yarder to gave us more points at the end of the game but that’s all he deserves. Kickers get paid to do one thing make Kicks and there can be no excuse for the 2 misses, none. I’m done here.

Fox doesn’t Coach like a Sly Fox

It was clear early on that Fox was going to play a very conservative game. He ran the ball on 1st and 2nd down and had Tebow try to pass it on 3rd in the first half on almost every series with little success. Willis MaGahee did put up some yards in the 1st half but they mattered little because they didn’t contribute to any points.

Fox played not to lose this game instead of win it and nearly lost it because of that philosophy. Instead of attempting to at the very least get some respect from the Corners of the Dolphins he should have let Tebow throw it more on first down and deep a time or two also.

The Dolphins were stacking the line on 1st and 2nd down with 6 to 8 guys on every Broncos offensive series looking for the run and since the Broncos obliged the O could not sustain any drives. The Dolphins D didn’t have to think it the first half because the game so was predictable anyone could have stopped the Broncos O.

Fox has to turn Tebow loose more often and let him go deep, even if he doesn’t complete a pass. It’ll put the D on their heels and give the Broncos better opportunities in the running game as well as the passing game.

Tebow wins Ugly but Wins

I’m sure many who will write about Tebow today will point to his poor play in the first half. I counted at least 5 different times that he missed wide open Receivers down the field. He wasn’t looking for a 2nd or 3rd option when he was under pressure. A few times he probably shouldn’t have taken off on a run and a few times he’d of been better just to get rid of the ball safely than take a sack.

Given these bad choices as earlier noted since Fox was hell bent on running the ball on 1st and 2nd down it was all Tebow could do to make a play down field because the Dolphins brought the house after him since they knew he would have to throw on 3rd.

I don’t know about you guys but every time they cut away to Urban Meyer on the sidelines I said to myself damn, I wish he were the Head Coach of the Broncos instead of Fox. With him at the helm he would put Tebow’s strengths to maximum use as he did in Gainesville. Since that’s very wishful thinking I hope that Fox has learned after this game that it’s better to rethink how to use Tebow and build an offensive scheme around his talents, instead of forcing him to comply with a more tradition conservative one.

Given Fox’s and McCoy’s conservative game plan Tebow found a way to gut out a ugly win but ugly or not I’ll take a win every time. This is the last time you’ll hear me mention Orton’s name this season. In the same situation with the game on the line does anyone really believe he could have engineered a come from behind win like this?

I said last week that people needed to be patient with Tebow, he’s going to make mistakes but the undeniable truth about him is his unwillingness to quit and his supreme belief in himself to bring a team back despite the odds or the score. You can’t Coach that Guys, it’s either in your DNA or it’s not. I believe that this is just as valuable if not more valuable as a QB gifted with supreme talent. And remember that with more playing time Tebow WILL get better, play by play and game by game.

One thing that probably won’t be writing about as much today is Tebow taking a knee and the end of the game and giving thanks to God. And I doubt many talking heads will mention the first comment out of mouth his when interviewed after the game. Do you remember it? He said, “First of all I give thanks and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Some don’t believe in a Higher Power, I do, so I admire his willingness to honor God and his unapologetic attitude about his believes in him. I thank God for Tebow and I cannot wait for his next game. Fox and the team must be starting to believe, the Fans surely believe and I believe that the Broncos have picked themselves up dusted themselves off from the gallows were they lurked and now will begin a whole new era of winning football. GO BRONCOS!

Gaddafi's Is Latest Foil To Cover Obama's Indiscretions

Obama's Good Buddy Muammar.

It's a lock Obama will be doing some major fist pumping and chest thumping this week over the death of Muammar Gaddafi; he’ll probably have a gala parade down Pennsylvania Avenue with a grand military contingent marching right behind him to take credit for it. All the while the adoring media trailing behind saying what an amazing world leader and a glorious hero he is.

It’s incredible how this man claimed to be this ardent pacifist during his 2008 campaign with his sole issue being the removal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan now he’s the biggest Democratic military hawk since Lyndon Johnson. Regardless of this being labeled a combined “NATO” mission this was an American lead effort with most of money, risk and military support leading the way in Libya.    

Amazing then isn’t it that troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Gitmo detention camp is still holding prisoners of war and the media is completely silent like a ban of compliant crickets. Obama raved on and on about the cost of the Bush wars and yet no one will question that a cool $1 billion dollars of taxpayers’ money was used to rid the world of a tyrant only Obama judged worthy of removal.

The main stream media daily bashed Bush about, “When are the troops coming home?”  “Bush is a nation builder and doesn’t respect the sovereignty of foreign countries.” “Bush is all about the oil riches in the Middle East,”  “Bush is a war monger and a mass murder” etc. The Democrats today and the Obama loving media sure are hypocrites and have very short memories.

It’s just assumed that Obama can write checks for military campaigns he deems worthy without consent, fund fraudulent solar companies, pitch loans for so called American electric car companies who then build them in Finland, sale firearms to Mexican drug gangs as a ruse to promote gun control in America and still retain any respect from the media and the American public.    

Gaddafi’s death will be good cover for him as one corrupt story after another continues to surface. The MSM should be asking at the very least for honest investigations or impeachment hearings and at most an outright resignation for the variety of scandals he and his administration have perpetrated over the last 2 years.

Think this will happen? If you do I’ll sell you some stock in Solyndra or maybe a Fisker electric car for only $97,000 backed by a 529 million dollar federal loan guarantee for a car made in Finland. What is the remedy you ask? Vote for whoever the GOP nominee is in 2012, even if it’s Daffy Duck.

1776 by David McCullough: Book Review

1776 by David McCullough

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love history and this book was one of the best yet. The dramatic crossing of the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton, NJ was the most famous battle of 1776 but I was just as fascinating by the Battle of Boston, the Battle of Brooklyn and maybe one the most forgotten events was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga by Henry Knox.

The amazing fortitude, hardships and setbacks of George Washington and the Continental Army are examined in great detail. I think some people may forget what those men did in the way of sacrifice. Some of have taken for it granted, we should always honor those who gave so much and be grateful that we live in a country with all liberty and freedoms we possess. That and we must always work to preserve it.

I was amazed at what Know and his men went through to remove Cannons from emplacements at Ticonderoga. He and his men then proceeded on a 300 mile winter expedition across frozen rivers and mountains so the cannons could be used in defense of Dorchester Heights during the Battle of Boston. Though it was only one of many amazing acts of masculinity, heroism and patriotism that helped win the war for Independence it should be remembered.

View all my reviews

Brandon Llyod and DJ Williams Trade Spin

Brandon Lloyd should be traded I have no problem with it.  He's way overrated and was a scrub on the NFL scrap heap before Orton singled him out as his only WR last year. He piled up yards and receptions as a result, not because he's some extraordinary talent. For all those yards he wasn't a clutch red zone WR. The Broncos can do much better from a talent and a salary standpoint.

His mouthy defense of Orton since the start of the season probably didn't help his cause with teammates or management either. It's a lock he'll never repeat the numbers he did last year whether he stays or gets traded to another team, even a good passing team.

We still have other serviceable WR’s on the team. If Royal and Thomas can get healthy that’s a start. Decker’s game has gradually improved and Willis while undersized and not that speedy seems to catch whatever is thrown to him.

See ya Lloyd, don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

As for DJ Williams trade rumors I 'll say he was a great LB for the Broncos but he's seen better days and injuries have slowed him down. The Broncos LB's have not played well against the run thus far. Von Miller while proving he's a great pass rusher has yet to impress in the running game.

Mays, Haggen, Irving and Woodyard’s play has not advanced in the running game either. It’s hard to say if any one of them play with the Broncos next year. We need help at LB. the tackling in the Chargers game was horrendous not just by the LB’s but by the DL and the DB’s. We lack a tough run stopping LB and Williams who in his youth and free of injury was one of the best for us but has lost a step so I understand wanting to trade or unload him and his salary for a youthful pick in next year’s draft if that's the plan.

A Football Life: Walter Payton

I loved watching this show last night. It's great to see any show honoring Payton. I'm 51 years old so I remember just like it was yesterday watching Payton play football as a teenager. He played on some very crappy Bears teams for years when he was the only player on offense they had. Despite that the guy still pounded out tough yards week after week. Every defense that played him knew he'd get the ball and he still pounded out yards.

I'll always remember well the game when he set a NFL single game rushing record of 275 yards against the Vikings that still had a very tough defensive unit in 1977. Carl Eller, Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon and Paul Krause were playing on the Vikings D. Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman and Amad Rashad we’re on the O so it was no small feat. I saw the entire game on TV.

Before the game they said he was sick with the flu, throwing up and had a temp over a 101 and it was questionable whether he would even play. The Bears won the game 10 to 7 on the lone TD scored by Payton. It was the most amazing performance by a RB maybe ever against one of greatest D's let alone teams of that era.

Payton had it all, speed, power and moves that faked guys completely out of their shoes. He blocked well and became a good receiver. He was the ultimate warrior and he labored on one of the worst teams ever until 1984. He earned every yard on his stat sheet.

I've said this many times in my life and I still stand by it, Payton was not just the best overall Running Back in the history of the game, he was the greatest football player to every put on a uniform. The show they did a while back on the NFL Network rating the greatest players ever where they picked Jerry Rice #1 was BS. Rice was the greatest WR no one would disagree but Payton was the greatest player ever. I know many claim Jim Brown was the greatest RB ever but he did play on one of the greatest overall teams of his era with the help of one of the best OL’s, QB and Head Coach of the era also. Peyton didn’t have that luxury.

Thanks for the memories Sweetness I'll never forget what an amazing player, inspirational person and role model you were for me as a kid. Thank you and God speed.

Finally...The Tebow Era Begins

No matter what detractors of Tim Tebow had to say about him becoming the starter before the Chargers game Kyle Orton had an overall record with the Broncos coming in of 12-21, 12-22 after today. Another in your face stat is that Orton NEVER has won a game for the Broncos when the team trailed by 3 or more points at halftime.

So why didn’t Fox let Tebow become the starter on opening day? The reasons given were that Orton had more experience and gave the Broncos a better chance to win, really? Of course it wasn’t, the real answer was driven more by $’s and not how great Orton executed X’s and O’s. Orton couldn’t be traded prior to the start of the season and the Broncos are set to pay him a whooping $9 million dollars (Thank you very much Josh McDaniels) in this his last and one would think after today the final year of his contract. The sad truth is today Pro Football is a business first and a game second and that my friends was the primary reason Orton kept the job.

In today’s dollars this may seem to be a fair wage to pay a starting QB in the NFL. Man, I just don’t see it even in today’s dollars; he didn't even come close to earning that much money. The League minimum is $340,000 it could be argued he wasn’t even worth that given his results on the field.

If you’re still not convinced that Orton was an overpaid stiff keep this in mind. In 1983 John Elway was signed by the Broncos to a 6-year contract worth $12.7 million. In those 6 years he gave us 3 AFC Championships and 3 Super Bowl appearances. Not bad for $12.7 mill huh?

What has Orton produced? Zippo!! He came from a great Defensive team in the Bears who had a lot more to with the wins he has on his resume than he did with his skilled play at QB. As the Broncos starter without a solid D to back him up his bogus game has been proven a fraud for all to see over and over.

So with this as a the backdrop going into today’s game I was all set to watch another dark and dull horror show against the Chargers this week. Orton in his usually style came out and played horrible to start the game while the Boo-Birds came out early and often. 3 and outs, incompletions, an interception, underthrown and overthrown balls the same game we’ve all seen from game 7 of 2008 season until today. He was 6 for 14 for 32 yards and 1 INT in the first half. The Broncos had a whooping total of 126 yards of total offense at the half with Willis MaGahee being the only man who was generating anything. MaGahee had a 125 yard rushing day the first Broncos RB to go over a 100 since 2006. Tebow got a token 2 yard QB draw call in the first half that was completely obvious to the Chargers D and everyone in the stadium and that was it for offense.

The only play of note in the first half was made by CB Cassius Vaughn who had Interception return for a TD which was a great play but was negated by the 42 yard TD reception he gave up to Malcolm Floyd right at the end of the second half. He giveth and he taketh away. The Broncos CB’s stink but that’s for another time. The tackling in the first half by the Broncos was some of the worst I’ve seen this season.

After wading through another cesspool in the first half I was sure Orton would come out and start the second half and secure a another win for the Chargers, but NO!! To my surprise #15 trotted out onto the field and suddenly my heart started beating a little faster I sat up in my chair and just like that I was brought back from the dead. Did you notice the transformation of the fans at the stadium when he came in? They were on their feet and screaming. Believe or not for the first time in a year and half I was even screaming and excited.

After Tebow had two 3 and outs the game dramatically tuned. With the Chargers up 26-10 with 13:35 left in the 4th Quarter Tebow led the offense to one score then another off the Rivers fumble. And if not for a dropped pass and a catchable 2 point conversion by Brandon Lloyd the game would have been tied!! Kudos to Lloyd though, he did make a couple of circus catches to keep drives going.

Even after the Chargers kicked another FG to go up 29-24 Tebow was within one play of winning the game with just 24 seconds left in the 4Q.

Did you see the immediate impact the energy of Tebow translated to his teammates on O and even on D? It was dramatic and electric, something we just haven’t seen since Jay Cutler played in Denver. Tebow in just one half proved he’s a warrior, a great runner and scrambler. He also proved he could make the throws when he needed to get the Broncos back in game. To all the critics of his mechanics I say “So what”, if he gets the ball off and makes completions and the team scores in the red zone what more could you ask for? A game that was over at half time with Orton came down to the last play with Tebow.

We finally have seen the end of the Orton Era and the beginning of the Tebow Era and thank God almighty for us long suffering Broncos Fans it was sooner rather than later. Fox would be completely out of his mind to bring Orton back after the bye week. Its Tebow job to lose from now on and I don't see that happening, Orton is done.

I can hardly wait to see how well Tebow plays in his first start at Miami 2 weeks from today. GO TEBOW!!! GO BRONCOS!!!

Kyle Orton lacks, "Controlled Desperation or Sense of Urgency"

Orton may be smiling but he's about to lose his job.

First and foremost I understand football is a team game, I get it. I understand it’ll take time for Fox’s Offensive and Defensive philosophy to gel. Got it, thank you.

 I see and understand how the Broncos D has already improved (Von Miller is awesome) and will continue to improve, how the Broncos Corners must improve, how the young OL still is not playing well in the running game or pass blocking, how the Broncos don’t have a young speedy or even a powerful RB on the roster, how they don’t really have a solid (Sorry, Lloyd isn’t it) go to WR and how they don’t have much depth at many positions. Understood, got it. Lastly, no matter how many fans want to avoid it or deny it, our starting QB is one of the worst in league and isn’t going to improve. So...DEAL WITH IT!!

That is where I choose to focus my attention because it’s the most important leadership position on the field. A good QB can make an enormous difference for a struggling team despite these problems and help the team win tough games. Orton is never going to be the guy, it’s pure stupidly to believe he’s going to shed his skin and turn into Brady.

Speaking of Brady, just remove him from the Patriots, or Manning from the Colts as we’re already seen and what do you have left? About the same sort of talent the Broncos have on both sides of the ball right now. So this ridiculous notion that a staring QB doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things is a big load of bunk and the lamest excuse ever to defend Orton.  

One of the things I’ve noticed is that the fans who support the idea of starting Tebow have less hate and discontent directed at them than by Orton supporters (Of the few who still do) than during our last big QB controversy. Tell me if I’m wrong here? We’re only at week 4 of the NFL season and the rats are jumping the Orton ship much quicker than the same fans that defended Plummer over Cutler in 2007.  

During the Plummer/Cutler nuclear war in Broncos Country back then at the very least you could say that if you loved Plummer or hated him he did play well enough to get the Broncos to within one game of a Super Bowl.

As much as I hated the overrated Plummer and was overjoyed that he finally lost his job at least he had a few more tools to win a game or make a comeback in the 4 Q at times. Though he lacked talent in consistently delivering a long ball, many times the short pass, threw to many INT’s, lost to many fumbles, telegraphed his throws and missed wide open WR’s (Sounds a lot like Orton) Plummer at least had a second chance to make a play with his feet. The other worthy intangible you could hang on Plummer was the guy was a warrior with some heart and passion and played the game that way even in failure. His feet and his passion made his game.

Orton has all the flaws that Plummer had and absolutely zero chance of making a play with his feet. On the field Orton never seems to have that “controlled desperation or sense of urgency” to be a leader when the chips are down and the game is on the line. Orton looks like a zombie who took 3 bottles of Xanax before game time. Being calm, cool and collected is alright if you had a team like Montana had in front of him but when you don’t being a benign disinterested stiff on a team struggling to win at crunch time doesn’t get it either. I’ll take some fire over ice; Orton isn’t ice he’s just frozen solid.

Given all of the flaws in Orton’s game, I just don’t see how the argument can be made that he gives the Broncos a better chance to win than Tebow. Tebow has 2 great intangibles that Orton doesn’t. He’s a big strong young man and is capable of either running or throwing for a TD in the red zone.

The only intangible that Orton can claim is NFL experience. If it were good experienced none of this would even be debated, his job would be secure. But as Woody Paige noted this week, “His overall record as the Broncos' starter is 12-19. The team has won four of Orton's last 20 — a winning percent of 20. He is 0.00 percent when the team trails by three or more at halftime.”

I’m a Diehard Broncos Fan but I’m not a homer, I’m a realist, the Broncos will get slaughtered by the Packers this week. It’s just a question of how wide of a margin it is. So after he leads the team to yet another uninspiring performance I have to believe that Elway and Fox would say uncle.

Like Tebow or not he absolutely cannot play any worse than Orton has over the last 2 seasons. He must be the starter for the Chargers game so we can see if he’s capable of salvaging what’s left of this season. If he stinks, fine, at least we’ll know and then the Broncos can figure out what to do with him next year. He’ll win some and lose some with Orton we could lose all. If nothing else with Tebow in there watching the Broncos won’t be like putting needles in our eyes, throwing rocks at the TV or falling asleep from 3 ½ hours of mind numbing boredom.