Ok I give up, I can't defend Jay Cutler

Cutler mopes and pouts on the sidelines.

Since Elway’s retirement the Broncos have been in a futile search for that QB who could lead them back to the promise land. So far it’s been an 11 year curse that has damned the team and the fans to mediocrity and worse. The Broncos have had one playoff game win since he retired, ONE. There are various reasons for it but lets’ just examine the QB position alone for the moment. Would Cutler have broken the curse if he’d of stayed with the Broncos? I’ll address this question in a minute but first…

You never blame losses totally on the QB because it is a team game but having said that a great one can make the difference when the chips are on the line in any game. Defense wins championships but even a good defensive unit can a make a few bad plays in a big game. It then is up to the offensive to score and the focus turns to the talent of the most important leader on the field, the Quarterback.

I researched all the starting QB’s from every Super Bowl and this is what I found out factually but already knew. There have been exceptions don’t get me wrong were a below average QB has been at the helm of Super Bowl winning teams but very few, only four in fact. Four times in 44 games not very good odds is it?

The 4 worst QB’s to ever win a Super Bowl

The single most glaring example is Trent Dilfer of the Ravens team from SB XXV. I think he stands alone as the single worst QB to ever win a Super Bowl period. He had a good college career at Fresno State but was a total bum in the NFL. It cracks me up now that today he’s an analyst on ESPN passing judgment on QB’s when he couldn’t carry most of their jocks including even the beguiled Cutler.

I’d have to put Jeff Hostetler on the list from the Giants team that won SB XLV over the Jim Kelly lead Bills team. Hostetler was far from being a consistent pro and was only put in the starting spot because Phil Simms had been injured. If not for a gimme FG that Scott Norwood missed Hostetler doesn’t even enter into this conversation.

Personally the most painful example of a lousy QB winning a SB was Doug Williams of the Redskins in SB XXII against my beloved Broncos. I remember the 1987 NFL season just like it was yesterday. The Broncos had a great season and I was thrilled that they drew the Skins because in every aspect of the game coming in they were better. Williams was a lucky bum, he was far from a great QB and that season it was the D that helped the Skins win it, not his superior talent. That and one of the all-time worst defensive collapses in Broncos team history.

Next up for some critics would be Brad Johnson of the Buccaneers in SB  XXXVII. Yeah, maybe at that point in his career but before the Super Bowl and early in his career he was one of the best in the game when he played for the Vikings. If not for the multiple injuries he suffered from he was talented enough to be on the list of great QB’s in his era.  He was just one of those unlucky players who spent more time in the training room than on the field. So I’m not sure he truly belongs in this group but for the sake of argument I know others will so I will include him here.

The 4 worst QB’s to ever lose a Super Bowl

Now that we’ve established who the worst QB’s lucky enough to have a team carry them to Super Bowl wins let’s look at some of losing QB’s in the SB’s. Could these teams have pulled out a win with a better QB? Debatable yes, but in my opinion they probably do win instead of lose.

David Woodley of the Dolphins who lost to the Redskins in SB XVII

Neil O'Donnell of the Steelers who lost to the Cowboys in SB XXX.

Matt Hasselbeck of the Seahawks who lost to the Steelers in SB XL.

Rex Grossman of the Bears who lost to the Colts in SB XLI. 

Simple put Woodley wouldn’t have started on a bad Division II College team.

O’Donnell could throw but was a total slug if he had no protection in the pocket.

Some would argue that Hasselbeck doesn’t belong on that list but he does. He’s one of those QB’s that gives then takes away. One week he’ll throw 5 TD’s looking like an All-Pro and the next week throw 5 Interceptions and play like a confused Rookie. Sorry Seahawks Fans, it was his crappy play in the 2nd half of that Super Bowl game that lost it for the Seahawks not the bad ref calls.

Why Grossman was even drafted by an NFL team is still a mystery to me.

By the numbers there have been 44 SB’s played, of those in only 4 cases did a team with a mediocre or a below average QB win. In 4 other SB’s it could be easily argued that if the teams had an above average QB’s they win but who knows for sure.

Now to the bottom line, hard to admit since I’m never wrong

I totally bought the idea that Jay Cutler was in line to be one of the great NFL QB’s. I honestly believed that of all the QB’s that had been on the Broncos post Elway he gave them the best chance to win a Super Bowl.  I’ve defended him throughout, in almost every case I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because he does have a better than average physical skill set and he’s also a very cerebral smart player.

It’s hard for me to admit a mistake but after the Packers game on Sunday Cutler has been permanently removed from my list as a “potential” great QB. Everybody was right I was wrong.

I read today were Cutler has a Grade II MCL tear in his knee, something that can take up to four weeks to properly heel. Hmmm?

Some people may not agree I still think he should have come back in the game.  It seems very clear to anybody watching that Cutler quit on the Bears, knee injury or not. I watched the replays over and over and just can’t see how the injury to his knee was so bad that he was unable to return. The proof was there for all to see when he stood on the sidelines and watched the game. If his knee hurt as bad as he claimed why the hell was he standing on it and even riding a stationary bike? If he was done for the day he should been in the locker room. Cutler is no rah, rah type personality; his whole body posture and that whining baby look did nothing to inspire the Bears that he was really hurt bad enough not to play. He had no business being on the sidelines with the true warriors who were still trying to salvage the game with that attitude.

Cutler does his best impression of a pathetic crybaby quitter on the sidelines of the NFC Championship game.

The other problem I had with Cutler was he couldn’t even say which play it was he got hurt on. Really? If I had a severe knee injury one bad enough to take me out of a game I’d sure as hell know what play it happened on. I believe he got roughed up a little in first half of a very cold game in which he didn’t play well and used the knee to quit on the Bears. There I said it.

Did you think John Elway or Brett Favre would have set on the sidelines under the same set of circumstances? How about old warriors like Joe Namath or even old Broncos QB Craig Morton do you think they’d of pulled themselves out? Not a chance, not a chance in hell I should say.

I was willing to defend almost every red flag that Cutlers career had generated up into this game but I will never ever defend a quitter. Cutler needed to be out on the field and play in the game and show some respect for the fans and his other teammates who were just 30 minutes away from a Super Bowl. I'd bet the bank that he'd give anything to go back and finish out the second half of the game. To late Cutler, my guess your Super Bowl opportunity is done and over with forever and rightfully so.

I “quit” on Cutler, thank God he didn’t stay in Denver. For all the criticism and doubters out there about Tim Tebow I bet even he would have toughed it out. I’ll take a rough around the edges warrior over a talent quitter every time.

Side note: Packers beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl. That is all….

Late add on watch this video below. Point made in bold colors, thanks Paul.

Tebow's 20 Yard TD Run on a Broken Leg

Why are we still debating Global Warming?

When are we going to put a stop to letting the Greenies destroy our economy and our national security with this insane climate change hoax?

It drives me berserk that the EPA and Obama have no problem with us paying $100 a barrel for imported oil from the Venezuelans, the Saudis', the Russians, the Iranians and even the United Arab Emirates whose rear ends we saved in the first gulf war. Especially since we have abundant supplies of cheap oil, natural gas and coal right in our own backyard.

We must end the drilling bans in Alaska and offshore. We need to let the coal industry continue to mine to help provide inexpensive electricity. We must also refine more of our own natural gas. Every resource should be used until the day the alternative energy sources make economic sense. Right now all this wind, solar and bio-fuel shame can produce is maybe 10% of our total energy needs. The bio-fuel fiasco is doing more to spurn food shortages than producing cheap energy. And how well is solar and wind energy going to work in Astoria? Answer: it isn’t.

What do we do starve ourselves of cheap oil to make a point? What is the point? Do we go back to horse and buggy, walk or ride bikes until the miracle renewable energy source is fully developed? Answer: No.

Fossil Fuels are still the most inexpensive energy source in the world and by not exploring domestically we are committing national suicide.

We risk an economic and as well as a national security collapse by being dependent on the people who would love more than anything to see us go totally bankrupt all in the name of worshiping Mother Gaya. They must be laughing their collective butts off at us.

Why are we still debating Global Warming/Climate Change? The science used to say it was legitimate has proven to be nothing but fraudulent junk science. Americans need to shake this nonsense out their heads so our nation can recover, prosper, be less dependent and more secure. That is all!

There’s a new Sheriff in Town, his name is Tim Tebow

I’m sure, like many of you Die Hard Broncos Fans out there, getting swept by the Raiders would have been the big Hurt Locker story not just of the week but maybe the entire 2010 season. Am I right?

I know for me personally the loss, in combination with the sweep, any other year would have really ticked me off. It would have set me off on a long and very angry nuclear rant. Despite forcing 2 first quarter turnovers the defensive effort the Broncos gave in this one was another of the all time worst I’ve seen against the Raiders.

Don’t get me wrong “any” loss to the Raiders is a devastating ass kicker.  The truth is had Orton started this game, the Broncos still would have lost and by a wider margin.

Rather than reviewing all the boring, crappy plays by maybe the worst defensive unit (the tackling was horrendous) in Broncos team history, let’s deal with Tebow’s first start and his future with the Broncos.

From the opening snap of the game his sheer presence and demeanor alone made you know something different was in the air. Was I the only one to notice the difference in the intensity of the offense? Granted that change wasn’t going to be enough to help the Broncos beat the Raiders, especially since Studsville called an unbelievably predictable conservative game; but the intensity was at a higher level because Tebow’s was.

First and foremost Tebow is a warrior who has no fear. What he lacks in polish he makes up for in heart, blood and guts. Despite being rough around the edges and inexperienced, he exhibits confidence.  I think people forget how important an intangible self confidence is in the game of football. It’s part of the reason he was a winner in college. He’s no quitter and I’ll bet we’ll never see him give up on a game in a Broncos uniform either.

Tebow ran for a 40 yard TD, his first as a starter. No worries Broncos Fans they'll be many more.

Too many talking heads say Tebow’s college career is irrelevant. Really? He’s played in 2 National Title games and he’s a Heisman Trophy winner, but that’s irrelevant? This doesn’t mean his great college career will automatically translate to success in the NFL but having a resume like that is very impressive.

He has a better arm than people give him credit for. His scrambling and running ability is a tremendous asset, which the Broncos will need with this young OL and terrible running game going forward. Those two aspects of his game combined with his other qualities certainly demands that he replace the cloddish clunker that is the lame duck Kyle Orton.  

Here’s how Tebow has described himself, “I’m a football player who happens to play QB.” Can anyone disagree after watching the game yesterday?  I can’t wait to see him play this week against the Texans lousy pass defense. He should have a big day if Studs will use that bean on the top of his neck and let Tebow throw the ball.

Tebow starting has renewed my dying Broncos spirit. My ashes lie in a heap, just like so many Broncos Fans a week ago, but Tebow begs to make it a whole new day, a whole new week and whole new season next year. I was actually back to screaming and yelling at the TV yesterday, something I haven’t done in a long time. For 2 years I’ve sat in angry silence mainly muttering obscenitie

and when the moment was right yelling a loud one but this game was different. Change is coming and the orange and blue blood transfusion is flowing through my veins again. 

I’ve never been a blind homer, and I know it’s just one game but I have a feeling Tebow with a little help on D next year is going to bring back the pride and glory of our beloved Broncos.

Broncos humiliated by the Cardinals, thankfully I was spared

Yesterday morning I was up at 6 a.m. because I couldn’t sleep. I’d left open the bedroom window for a little fresh air so I could sleep better. I just don’t do well if I’m too hot when I sleep. The wind was blowing so hard yesterday morning that the curtains were flying at a 90 degree angle and the door to our bedroom even though it was closed was thumping as wind inhaled and exhaled out our the bedroom.

A Broncos Fan at the Cardinals game knows what time is and I agree.

Though I could have used some more sleep I lifted my sorry old carcass out of bed, made some coffee, checked my fantasy lineups, and then turned on the TV to watch the NFL pregame shows.

As soon as I turned on the TV which was around 8:30 a.m., I got the dreaded news all DirecTV Fans hate to see on their TV screens, NO SIGNAL! I knew immediately it was because of the very strong winds and the rain blowing sideways that assisted in the moving of my dish. I stepped outside to go check and see if my dish was still even upright. My dish is mounted to a wooden pole on the windward side of my house so when I made my way through the wind and rain I could see the dish wiggle ever so slightly against what was truly a Gail force wind.

It didn’t help either that I have one of the new HD dishes which are much bigger and have a bigger surface area than the old DirecTV dishes. I said a few choice four letter words and come back inside to get out of the weather and thought, “Well, I’m screwed.”

The wind had been strong enough to move my pole even though it was reinforced with concrete. I knew that any hope of watching the Broncos game was out. None of the Sunday Ticket channels came in including NFL Network or ESPN.

Around 1:30 after I had sat in front of the TV crossing my fingers hoping the wind would stop I said one or two more choice four lettered words and said to myself that it’s just not going to happen. For the record this is first Broncos game I haven’t seen for so long I can’t even remember. Back to the late 70’s I think.

As it turned out I spent a nice day with the wife. When she got up late yesterday afternoon, we decided to go out and have Mexican food and then go buy a Christmas tree and put up the decorations.

We didn’t get started on the tree around 9 p.m. Putting up decorations is no small job; Jenny over the years has collected more trinkets than 3 families. All together we have 6 large plastic tubs and 3 or 4 cardboard boxes of decorations to put up.

It took us until around 4 a.m. this morning (7 hours) to get it all in place. I have mixed feelings about Christmas for a lot of reasons but Jenny’s personality always makes whatever we do fun so I got into the Xmas spirit as we worked to get it done. Our new house looks very beautiful and it ended up being a fun day with Jenny.

So now to the unseen Cardinals game…

As it turned out I didn't miss much but just another crappy performance. I said in a post on the Denver Post message board yesterday before the game that if the Broncos probably wouldn’t win the game if they couldn’t stop the run. They couldn’t and the Cardinals Beanie Wells rushed for 148 yards and 2 TD’s. The Broncos D is in total shambles as if we needed another game to understand that right?

That and the dismal O is just as bad maybe worse. Orton did start the game and aren’t we glad, he had 3 INT’s and passed 168 yards. Wow! And he’s the best QB that gives the Broncos the best chance to win? Really? I know the O line has had problems and it doesn’t help that Rookies are staring but the Broncos could only generated 288 yards of total offense against one of the worst D’s in the league? Come on! How low do we have to sink?

Tebow should have opportunity to start the last 3 games of the season. Studsville is playing for a job so he’s convinced himself Orton will give them the best chance. I don’t buy it.

What Tebow lacks in experience, he more than makes up for with his physical tools. I can’t believe that Bowlen wouldn’t pressure Studs and make him start Tebow in at least one game before the end of the season. Tebow’s held a clipboard long enough, START HIM NEXT WEEK!

I just talked to the Direct TV guy he’ll be here Thursday to so I can watch the Broncos get swept by the crappy Raiders next week. The Football God’s had my best interest in mind this week but my love/hate relationship with the Broncos will be set to be continued next week. Maybe there will be another wind storm.

Paying 3 Coachs Better Than The Alternative

Pat Bowlen shouldn't worry about paying 3 coaches next year if he fires McDaniels at the end of the season. What he stands to lose if he doesn't fire him could set the Broncos back another 5 to 10 years. I don't care how the Broncos finish, to many times bad teams in this situation who have nothing to lose play a little better and close out the season with wins.

 Bowlen needs to think long term not just about the remaining 2010 season and get fooled into believing that wins by a team who ducked out and quit weeks ago could save McDufus. The Raiders game was the boiling point, no other Coach in Broncos history can claim such a mind numbing loss. Even if he didn’t have this loss on his resume the aggregate body of work McDaniels has produced deserves a firing by any reasonable measure.

Paying Shanny, McD and a new Head Coach is cheap compared to the alternative.

The AFC West really has no dominate team and a win over the Chiefs or Raiders is no indication the Broncos will have turned the corner. Even a win over the Chargers should be no lock on job security. Philip Rivers may be the single most talented player in the division right now but the Chargers are far from being an elite team who’ll make a strong playoff run.

Today in the AFC the AFC West is THE bottom feeder. The Chiefs have been the beneficiary of a crappy transition for both the Chargers and the Broncos and I don’t believe for a second the Chiefs have any hope of going far in the playoffs. Their defense is one of most inconsistent in the league.

Their offense has improved but I don’t see them beating better teams in the playoffs.

Frankly I think if you were having a discussion about who the has the best chance of going all the way to the big show and winning it the teams in the NFC have the best chance.

With the ongoing talks for a new labor agreement and a possible strike endangering the 2011 season I believe an even stronger case could be made to fire and rehire a new Head Coach. The transition is going to be difficult whether the players strike or not and at least if the Broncos fired McD in January the new staff could begin to evaluate and formulate a new program to bring back a team we can all be proud of again once it’s over.

From the Ashes of a video and a Chiefs Loss a new Era begins...

(I figured I'd post this even though it doesn't come close to equaling the big news today. Keep in mind I started this at 1 p.m. before the firing news broke. The blog does have some value I guess,  it was just one more sorry episode in the many that got Josh McDaniels his walking papers.)

Frankly, I knew the game was on ice for the Chiefs at the start of second half. The Broncos D make a nice goal line stand on KC’s first offensive series. The bumbling Broncos offense gets the ball back then proceeds to go 3 and out. The Chiefs get the ball on the next series and the Broncos force what appeared to be a fumble but the Refs call it grounding instead. Another bad break in season of record bad breaks for the Broncos I suppose.

It was one of the many bad breaks, along with boneheaded plays, lousy tackling, poor pass coverage, poor pass rushing, unimaginative offense game plans, penalties etc, etc the Broncos have made in all the games this season. When you’re down and having a bad year the breaks and the bounces NEVER go your way. It’s like living in an avalanche of ineptitude.  If you continue to make mistakes the sheer number of mistakes just automatically catches up to you and can't be overcome it’s as simple as that. You combine that with terrible Coaching and it’s a recipe for disaster.

The wicked little troll in the Hoodie is Dead. Long live the Broncos!!!

So now let’s fast forward to arguably McDummy’s biggest Coaching mistake of the entire season, the one where his brilliant mind decides punting the ball on 4th down late in the 4th quarter is better than going for it instead.

On their own 49 yard line on 4th down with 2:32 remaining in the 4th quarter and with the Broncos still holding 2 timeouts and the two-minute warning they punt? McD thought it was better strategy to punt the ball away and hope they could hold them to a 3 and out? Is he nuts? Had the Broncos D played well enough to stop them on 3 plays at the end of the game? No.

What did the Broncos have to lose by going for it on 4th at this point in the season? It was really their last mathematical chance to have a miracle shot at winning the division and they punt it? Nothing showed the unbelievably bad judgment McD has exhibited all season than in this single situation.

Newsflash!

Just read the news at 4 p.m. Pacific.

McDaniels fired by Bowlen! My work here is done. Yes!!!