Mr. Toad’s Wild Bronco Ride

It’s been one heck of a ride this year for Broncos fans, which actually began on New Year’s Eve 2008 with the firing of Mike Shanahan! Mr. Toad has nothing on Bowlen and the Broncos. Denver fans were stunned when Shanny was let go, but not too many cried over it after the 2008 Broncos became the first NFL team ever to blow a three game lead with three games left since the league started divisional play in 1967. Then came the surprise hiring of Josh McDaniels as the youngest head coach ever to take the helm of the 50-year-old franchise. This was followed by a four-month long media feeding frenzy.

The young brash coach wanted to clean house and get the type of players on the roster that he was used to working with in New England. Having connections to the Patriots, McKid knew there might be an opportunity to bring Matt Cassel (whom he knew could run his offense) to Denver and opened talks with the Patriots. Of course we all know what happened when Baby Jay caught wind of this. What I want to know is why a QB that has never had a winning season or taken his team to the playoffs was making personnel decisions with Shanny AND labeled a franchise quarterback? Remember this quote after his coach was canned:

“I was talking to Mike yesterday about personnel moves,” he said in an interview on KCNC-TV in Denver. “I’m as shocked as anybody else. I think it’s the wrong move.”

Hmmm, wonder why neither one of them is no longer with the organization. Of course, the whole Jaygate fiasco put crazy ideas into Baby TO’s head and he started throwing tantrums in hopes of being traded and subsequently getting mo’ money. Not only did sitting out put him waaaay behind in learning McKid’s complex new offense, but didn’t give Orton the reps needed to get timing down with the team’s #1 receiver.

Finally B-Marsh joins the team because he can’t afford to sit out, get fined, pay fat attorney fees and pay for an engagement ring on his measly salary. Pre-season starts and Bronco Nation gets a look at their new team, literally. There were only 24 players remaining on the roster from the 2008 squad, a totally revamped 3-4 defense led by the fiery veteran Brian Dawkins, and a new quarterback with an average resume managing a New England style offense. McDaniels was trying to put together a team and still working kinks out during the four meaningless August games, so there were times when it looked like Mullen HS could beat these guys and the boobirds let them know it.

The first real test was at Cincinnati against a future playoff contender and it seemed the Immaculate Deflection gave the Island of Misfit Players some confidence and swagger. Although fans and media types weren’t giving Santa Josh any kudos it kick started the Broncos on a 6-0 run and soon the bandwagon overflowing. Then along comes the big bad bye week and a 0-4 stretch characterized by really bad football. Denver has righted the ship, but fans are never sure which streaky team will show up from week to week. The boys in blue and orange, and for a couple of weeks brown vertical stripped socks, are still in the playoff hunt. I’m sure the next three weeks will keep us on the edge of our collective seats, but I don’t see this Bronco team losing the last three games and getting knocked out of the playoffs. I wonder if Jay will call Bowlen for playoff tickets?