I nominate the 2009 Denver Broncos for worst offseason in NFL history

[Chronic Husker 85]

To begin the offseason, the owner forces the only coach who ever won Denver a Super Bowl out the door.

 

Beginning the free agent offseason, the Broncos paid Brian Dawkins big money over five years. Dawkins is 63 years old. I went along with that one because it showed a commitment to make a playoff push this year.

 

Then, the new jackass coach creates a train wreck that chases the franchise QB out of town. So much for the playoff push....

 

Meanwhile, Denver decides spending money on Buckhalter, Lamont Jordan, and Arrington is a good idea even though the team has two young, promising backs in Torain and Hillis.......

 

On draft day, with no pass rush, no nose tackle and not a single linebacker that can tackle, Denver decides adding another RB with the first pick is a good decision.

 

Knowing that Denver will be awful next season and will likely own a top 10 pick, the Broncos trade their 2010 first rounder for a second rounder this year. I don't even have a joke, here.

 

McDaniels brings the 3-4 with him and as of the end of the draft, Denver has zero nose tackles and six roster worthy running backs.

 

Good Lord.

[patweisers44 846]

and six roster worthy running backs.

 

Good Lord.

the spirit of Mike Shanahan is alive and well in Denver.

[kozmiq 70]

With Shanahan gone and the flubbing of Cutler and the lousy Draft, it makes one not hate the Broncos nearly as much.

[swirvenirvin 25]

Crap I need to pick a new team again

[Franknbeans 46]

-- Ryan Torain Not Expected to Remain in Denver --

Sun Apr 26, 2009 --from FFMastermind.com

 

ESPN's Bill Williamson reports Broncos RB Ryan Torain is not expected to remain in Denver for the regular season. The fifth-round draft pick, who suffered a torn ACL last season, is probably out of the mix with the addition of RB Knowshon Moreno.

[Sho Nuff 720]

It has been pretty bad.

The Cutler thing was mishandled...I don't think it was wrong to find out about Cassell...but they handled it poorly (as did Cutler IMO).

But wow, the RBs they signed and then to draft one...and giving up that 1st rounder next year...Seattle is mighty happy for that one.

[Belushi 9]

At least your not the worst team in your division. You'd better hope Al Davis leads a long, long life.

[Kilroy 0]

Good Lord.

 

I think you just about covered everything.

 

I wouldn't be too upset about the Shannahan firing, because at some point you do have to move on. And it's not like they brought in Eric Mangini to replace him. Bringing in McDaniels seemed like a solid move while knowing they had Cutler, Marshall, Royal, and Scheffler to work his offense around.

 

Now once they ended up with Orton and Chris Simms as their potential starting QB, it really killed the excitement surrounding what that offense could be. There's also rumors out there that they are willing to trade Scheffler (not that he'd be a huge loss with Marshall and Royal there had they held onto Cutler).

 

The running back situation I don't understand. They can likely afford to cut every back on the roster without taking much of a cap hit, so in that sense I don't think it hurts them any. But why sign 3 RBs in free angecy only to use the 12th overall pick in the draft on Moreno?

 

I don't really think it's a big blunder - but it was a bit surprising.

 

The Dawkins signing seems like a big waste considering what they spent on him and the fact they just shipped their franchise QB to the Bears for draft picks. By the time the team may be competing for a deep run in the playoffs, Dawkins won't really be a part of things there.

 

The rest of your comments about the defense and trading their 1st next year for a 2nd this year - well, I think I'd be doing this all day if I tried to make sense of it.

 

Seems like their embarking on at least a 2-3 year rebuilding phase. Kyle Orton is a solid game manager, but I'm not so certain he'll be able to fling the ball around all that well in the Broncos offense - especially if their defense is piss poor and the offense is playing from behind all the time.

[edjr 6,592]

Broncos will win more games than the Bears this year.

[Kilroy 0]

Broncos will win more games than the Bears this year.

 

That may not be saying much though. Both teams could finish with losing records, although I'd expect the Bears to finish with more wins than Denver this year.

[NewbieJr 541]

Drafting a running back with their first pick was the final straw. Why the fock did they chase after all those 2nd-tier running backs? Makes absolutely no sense.

[Raider 84 29]

That was a bad offseason. Good to hear being a Raider fan, but we don't have much to brag about ourselves.

[edjr 6,592]

Drafting a running back with their first pick was the final straw. Why the fock did they chase after all those 2nd-tier running backs? Makes absolutely no sense.

 

Terrell Davis isn't walking through that door

[mahoney 9]

Broncos will win more games than the Bears this year.

 

 

The Broncos play : NYG, PHI, WAS, DAL, BAL, PITT, NE, INDY and SD twice in 2009.

[Joey Gladstone 33]

Thanks Denver

[edjr 6,592]

The Broncos play : NYG, PHI, WAS, DAL, BAL, PITT, NE, INDY and SD twice in 2009.

 

The Bears play the Lions twice.

[Chronic Husker 85]

I already follow the Royals more than the Rockies but God save me if I ever start rooting for the Chiefs.

[GhostofMeanMachine99 1]

To begin the offseason, the owner forces the only coach who ever won Denver a Super Bowl out the door.

 

Beginning the free agent offseason, the Broncos paid Brian Dawkins big money over five years. Dawkins is 63 years old. I went along with that one because it showed a commitment to make a playoff push this year.

 

Then, the new jackass coach creates a train wreck that chases the franchise QB out of town. So much for the playoff push....

 

Meanwhile, Denver decides spending money on Buckhalter, Lamont Jordan, and Arrington is a good idea even though the team has two young, promising backs in Torain and Hillis.......

 

On draft day, with no pass rush, no nose tackle and not a single linebacker that can tackle, Denver decides adding another RB with the first pick is a good decision.

 

Knowing that Denver will be awful next season and will likely own a top 10 pick, the Broncos trade their 2010 first rounder for a second rounder this year. I don't even have a joke, here.

 

McDaniels brings the 3-4 with him and as of the end of the draft, Denver has zero nose tackles and six roster worthy running backs.

 

Good Lord.

 

Yeah. Pretty bad.

[roroco 75]

I don't know... Oakland could hold their own in this dummy fight. Their draft alone brings them down to "King of the Idiot" status.

[Admiral Awesome 0]

Yeah, it isn't looking good for Mile High.

[RLLD 4,230]

With Shanahan gone and the flubbing of Cutler and the lousy Draft, it makes one not hate the Broncos nearly as much.

 

I almost feel sorry for them, mostly for their fans I guess....

[Lesman 1]

McD running off the Franchise QB as your first order of business was an EPIC FAIL.

 

I actually like what they did in the first round. I don't have a problem with taking Moreno. RB wasn't a dire need, but when you see a talent that is too good to pass up, take it. We didn't NEED a QB when we took Cutler, but it was the right move. Shanny realized that you don't get a crack at that kind of talent every year so he jumped on it. I think McD saw the same thing in Moreno. It think Ayers was one of the guys we were targeting at the 12 pick, so the fact we were able to get Moreno and still get Ayers at 18 is great.

 

Now the second round is basically just WTF? I don't get why you give up a potential top ten pick for the 37 pick, then take a 5'9" corner. Even if you decided that you don't want that pick based on top ten rookie salaries, deal it next year. There's always someone looking to trade up. Look at what Cleveland got for their 5 pick this year. Didn't Dallas get 2 first rounders out of theirs a couple years ago when the Browns traded up to draft Brady Quinn, and I don't even think that was a top ten, IIRC. First round picks are just too valuable to give away like that.

 

I guess my biggest problem is if your going to trade your franchise QB for first round draft picks, you better make sure you get max value out of those picks. Now, maybe Smith ends up being a stud, and McD proves everyone wrong, but I doubt it. More importantly I think the Broncos set a reputation for themselves that they can be pushed around in trade negotiations. First they let Culter and Bus dictate their fate, then they let the Seahawks demand a potential top ten pick for a second rounder?

 

More big WTF? moments include trading up in the second to take a blocking TE, when we already have Daniel Graham.

 

You've got a first year coach and a first year GM, so I guess I should be glad they didn't F it up even worse.

[shovelheadt 71]

I remember sitting there during the draft kind of shaking my head when the Jets traded up to get Sanchez. I was thinking specifically of the Broncos and two things: Has a coach ever come in and wrecked an organization like McDaniels has, and jeez I bet Broncos fans are beside themselves. The Moreno pick actually got a chuckle out of me.

[RLLD 4,230]

They will have to hope one of the numerous QB's in the 2010 draft fall to the Chicago (from Cutler trade) pick in the first round, since Seattle just lucked in to the #1 overall pick next year (formerly Denver's until they moved up to 37 this year)

[berven 0]

I'm still flabbergasted by Denver's off-season--and it's only April. What next? Troy Aikman commented that the Cutler fiasco developed so fast that he believes McDaniels was daydreaming about Cassel before he even accepted the Denver job. Aikman rightly wonders if Bowen would have hired Josh had the owner known that Josh's first major move would be to run their Pro Bowl QB off the ranch.

 

Besides the direct effect of all the blunders, you can add in the divisions that this has inevitably created within the team. The Shanny and Cutler allies who are still on the roster can't be too eager to get the season underway. I have a feeling that more will happen in Denver yet.

[wiffleball 4,790]

On draft day, with no pass rush, no nose tackle and not a single linebacker that can tackle, Denver decides adding another RB with the first pick is a good decision.

 

Knowing that Denver will be awful next season and will likely own a top 10 pick, the Broncos trade their 2010 first rounder for a second rounder this year. I don't even have a joke, here.

 

McDaniels brings the 3-4 with him and as of the end of the draft, Denver has zero nose tackles and six roster worthy running backs.

 

Good Lord.

 

 

Yep. McDaniels at least admitted that he focked up when he was on the clock. He was trying to swing a deal and screwed the pooch.

 

Huh, sound familiar (Cassel?)

 

How the FOCK you spend your first round pick on a RB when your D is one of the worst in the league is beyond me. McDunce has pretty much ended my 40 year relationship with the Broncos. Bowlen tried to get in on the latest NFL trend - young HC's - and is realizing the downside to doing so.

[wiffleball 4,790]

Besides the direct effect of all the blunders, you can add in the divisions that this has inevitably created within the team. The Shanny and Cutler allies who are still on the roster can't be too eager to get the season underway. I have a feeling that more will happen in Denver yet.

 

Yep. That's the story that's not being told. It long ago stopped being about Cutler. McDaniel's first move as HC was to lie to Cutler. Then screw up a deal for Cassell, then lie about lying. Then admit he was lying. Then state that his (totally unproven) system is more important than any player.

 

Think there might be a few trust issues in that locker room?? Plus, you gotta think there's some veteran FA's that didn't / won't sign with this trainwreck and their unproven, lying, icompetent rookie HC.

[Belushi 9]

Yep. McDaniels at least admitted that he focked up when he was on the clock. He was trying to swing a deal and screwed the pooch.

 

That's the first time I've heard that. Do you have a link?

[berven 0]

In a surprisingly adulatory article about McDaniels on ESPN.com, the writer quoted a Denver journalist as saying that most Broncos fans supported the team in its duel with Cutler; the author suggested that Jay had forever alienated the Denver faithful with wise-guy remarks comparing himself favorably to their beloved Elway. Can this be true? Do most Denver fans have more faith in The System than they had in their Pro Bowl QB?

 

The article also quoted some Denver players who had worked with McDaniels on other teams. They couldn't say enough good about the man and their excitement about reuniting with him. Josh knows what he's doing, one player replied when the interviewer questioned Denver's drafting of a running back when they have a dozen or so on the roster and gaping holes at other positions.

 

I wonder how long it will be before a Denver player breaks ranks and criticizes McDaniels on the radio. If there's another Bronco out there who wants to leave town, that will be his ticket out.

[Big_Pete 0]

You've got a first year coach and a first year GM, so I guess I should be glad they didn't F it up even worse.

My centements exactly

[LOD01 198]

The idiot has pretty much done everything wrong so far. Good thing fantasy wise is that their D still sucks and they HAVE TO THROW to my guys.

[macca 0]

That's the first time I've heard that. Do you have a link?

 

Yeah, he brought that up in another thread and I responded, but I think he is sorely mistaken. I'm not going to type out my whole response but McDaniels actually did very well in the draft and post draft addressing the defensive needs and getting good value for his picks.

[Lionsjunkie 1]

Yep. McDaniels at least admitted that he focked up when he was on the clock. He was trying to swing a deal and screwed the pooch.

 

That's the first time I've heard that. Do you have a link?

 

 

Yeah, he brought that up in another thread and I responded, but I think he is sorely mistaken. I'm not going to type out my whole response but McDaniels actually did very well in the draft and post draft addressing the defensive needs and getting good value for his picks.

 

Once you get to know wiffleball you'll realize two things...

 

1) He's one funny mofo

2) When he doesn't have cred to back himself up he'll disappear from thread and/or ignore said question

 

[MDC 7,428]

I think the Broncos go 5-11 and McDaniels gets fired at the end of the season.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Well you have to give McDaniels a chance to prove himself during the season before you can completely give up on him. The guy is a hell of a coach and I could see him bringing that team together on the field. But yeah, he sure has focked up a few things so far.

[FlaHawker 24]

The guy is a hell of a coach and I could see him bringing that team together on the field. But yeah, he sure has focked up a few things so far.

Hell of a coach? Really? What is his record at any level as a head coach? I'll save you some time. He's never been a head coach--anywhere! Hell of a coach? I think the jury's still out.

[shovelheadt 71]

Hell of a coach? Really? What is his record at any level as a head coach? I'll save you some time. He's never been a head coach--anywhere! Hell of a coach? I think the jury's still out.

 

Well put. It's real easy to be a 'hell of an offensive coordinator' when you don't have to worry about anything else on the team.

[berven 0]

Rick Reilly, who refers to McDaniels as "Boy Blunder," heaped scorn on Josh in a recent column for his draft performance, including Josh's trading up for a 5'9" corner. Reilly correctly labels McDaniels as a double menace, because the freshman coach is a lethal blend of excessive confidence and excessive naivete.

 

I agree. I believe McDaniels will single-handedly end the current fad of hiring young coaches. His doubtful handling of difficult situations hasn't seemed to humble him at all; the less he has to be confident about, the more confident he becomes. I think he's good for a few more headlines before the regular season starts. I predict a couple of additional oddball personnel moves, and a few more disgruntled players complaining to the media.

[The Moz 69]

when KO goes for 1250 yds ru 50 rec and another 450 yds rec and 12 TD's folks will change there minds on Moreno

[dcgangstas 41]

Thanks,Husker.

 

At least I know the Raiders aren't the worst NFL organization anymore.

 

Gotta love that Bill Belichek "coaching tree". Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels, Eric Mangini; sounds like the tree has a really bad case of Dutch Elm disease.