The Denver Broncos appear to have struck draft gold with 2011 #2 Overall Pick – outside linebacker Von Miller.  On Saturday Miller was named the NFL Rookie of the Year on defense.  Panthers quarterback Cam Newton joined Miller on the pedestal, bringing home Offensive Rookie of the Year after being drafted with the #1 Pick .

“It’s special because you only get one rookie season,” Miller said. “You don’t get two tries at it. It’s really a one-and-done thing. That was probably the most special thing about it – you only get one shot to accomplish this feat.”

Meanwhile, Tim Tebow was awarded GMC Never Say Never honors for his breathtaking comeback performances through a 6-1 Broncos streak that elevated them to the top of the AFC West.  The Never Say Never is given for, “the best moment or play of the year that represents determination and perseverance.”

Tebow rose above other candidates with two gutsy drives for a touchdown and then a 59-yard field goal in the final three minutes of a crucial win over the Chicago Bears in Week 14.  The Tebow-led Broncos ground out 33 hard-fought yards over 9 plays in overtime, and Matt Prater was true from 51 yards to seal the victory.

At the time Tebow commented, “If you believe, then unbelievable things can sometimes be possible.”

After he accepted the award this weekend in Indianapolis, Tim was sure to give more credit to his team.  “No matter how bad it looked or how bleak it was, we continued to fight and show a lot of courage.  So I’m very thankful for my teammates and my coaches.”

Tebow could have singled out Von Miller as a particularly important cog in the Broncos’ comeback machine.  After a 1-4 start, Miller sparked a defensive resurgence in six Broncos wins by averaging a sack, a defensive stuff, and almost 7 tackles per game.  And it was when Miller was slowed by a massive cast on his surgically repaired hand that Denver returned to earth, finishing the regular season on a three game losing streak.

For sure, the Broncos will need both Tebow and Miller to hold form and even improve if Denver hopes to play beyond the divisional round of the playoffs next season.

For his part, Miller swore to improve drastically in 2012.  “I have no doubt that I’ll be a totally different player next year. It will be night and day.”  Von will have a chance to improve under new Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack del Rio.

Articles similar to this:

• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• January 9, 2012 -- Therapy for the Tebow Haters (6)
  Now, with Tebow doing exactly what was asked of him and...
• November 27, 2011 -- Tebow’s legend grows as Broncos nip Chargers in OT (7)
  Broncos notch a quality division win on the road, stunn...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Just a couple years removed from an ill-fated attempt to turn Denver into Patriots West, head coach John Fox is turning the Broncos into Panthers West.  John’s old pal Jack Del Rio will be the Denver Broncos’ next defensive coordinator.

Late Friday the Broncos came to terms with Del Rio, who served as defensive coordinator under John Fox in Carolina in 2002.  With Del Rio, the Panthers went from the #31 defense in the league to the 2^nd best in a single season before Jack was hired away by the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Del Rio was fired in November after 9 years as Jacksonville’s head coach.

The Broncos turned to Del Rio just days after the Oakland Raiders poached defensive coordinator Dennis Allen from Denver and installed him as their new head coach.  Under Allen and Fox the Broncos improved from the NFL’s worst defense to 20^th.  Denver’s overhauled D played extremely well during an 8 game stretch that saw Tim Tebow and the Broncos grab 7 wins.

There is no doubt that Jack Del Rio is an exceptional defensive mind.  Even as the Jaguars’ offense plummeted to worst in the league, Jacksonville still rolled out the 6^th best defense in 2011.  Del Rio looks like a perfect pickup by the Elway/Fox Administration fresh off a shocking playoff win and division title.

The Broncos will look to Del Rio to provide stability at defensive coordinator.  Jack is Denver’s 7^th new defensive coordinator in as many seasons.  He inherits a young Broncos defense that will need to add talent through the draft or free agency to shore up its porous secondary and lack of depth at interior lineman.

Jack Del Rio is 48 years old and played 11 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker.  He earned a Pro Bowl nod as a Miami Dolphin in 1994, but retired in 1996 after losing his roster spot to rookie Zach Thomas.  Del Rio was a linebackers coach with the Ravens and a conditioning coach in New Orleans before joining Fox in Carolina.

Tweeted Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins from Hawaii, “Love the hire, just hope we can keep him around.”

Articles similar to this:

• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• November 11, 2010 -- Denver Broncos 2010 Season Preview: PART TWO (0)
  Just because the Chiefs have the best view on the compo...
• September 9, 2010 -- Denver Broncos 2010 Season Preview: PART ONE (0)
  And now Ian’s annual Broncos prediction piece, which ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Throughout the NFL world folks are wondering what the Denver Broncos will do next.  With a battle against the AFC-best New England Patriots on the horizon, that seems like a fair question.

Denver started the season with a new coach, a boring quarterback, and a defense that finished last in the league a year ago.  The Broncos had moved on from a 4-12 season by hiring the only coach whose team finished worse than Denver in the 2010 NFL standings.  They picked up a running back named McGahee that was supposed to be three years past washed up, and plugged in a rookie linebacker to spark a non-existent pass rush.

Four months later the Broncos are two wins from the Super Bowl, and their quarterback is the most popular sports figure in America.  Tim Tebow’s Broncos came off a 1-4 start to win 7 of their next 8 before stumbling through a 3-game winning streak and into the playoffs.

For Denver sports fans that was enough.  In Broncos Country the word “playoffs” was so sweet after years of mediocrity that Colorado engaged in a sort of statewide revelry.  When Denver beat Pittsburgh in a Mile High slugfest it was gravy, and the way Tebow-to-Thomas won in OT was nothing short of epic.

Now it’s the high-and-mighty Patriots standing between Tebow and an AFC Championship Game.  So what will the Broncos look like on Saturday evening in Foxborough?  Would you be surprised if Denver came out hot and blasted off to a quick lead?  Would it really be a shocker if they outplayed the Pats?

For the record, it doesn’t matter.  This passionate football fan base is rocking the town no matter what.  We’re living large here in Broncos Country and even Tom Brady can’t spoil the party.

That said – the Denver Broncos can beat New England.  The Patriots are a white collar football team dependent upon tricks and schemes.  The Jets and Ravens have shown the world how soft New England is by knocking them out of the playoffs the last two seasons.  Both New York and Baltimore went on the road to beat the Patriots, and a charged Broncos team can do the same on Saturday.

Denver came out of their win over Pittsburgh with an energy that started two months ago and took weeks to solidify.  The Broncos were already playing hard for John Fox, and then Tebow elevated the whole team to another level.  John and Timmy are the kind of guys football players go to war for.  You cannot scheme for momentum and willpower.  The robotic Bill Belicheck is a great coach, but he is no great leader.

In an era of football that has been defined by spread offenses and big blitzes, the Broncos play traditional football.  They hammer away at opponents as a team for four quarters, and that is the root of all their late game heroics.  Tim Tebow is a warrior, and so are his teammates.  From a bruising offensive line to a smash-mouth defense to a no-nonsense defensive head coach, Denver is playing with a different kind of consistency.  The Broncos play with a brand of determination that is rare and powerful.

So when sports pundits tell me that the Broncos don’t stand a chance against the powerhouse Patriots, I chuckle and wonder how well Tom Brady will play if Denver can get after him early.  I laugh out loud and ponder Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas and a healthy Willis McGahee exploiting the AFC’s worst defense.  I break into gut-busting guffaws thinking about how easy it is to take the Patriots’ fair-weather fans out of a game in New England.

Should Denver go down at Foxborough on Saturday, it will still be a nightcap on a fantastic season.  But don’t count these Broncos out.  Whatever it is, they’ve got it.  The Patriots are a mirage drawn up on a chalkboard.  Denver is in town to play some real wild football.

The question is not, “Do the Broncos stack up?”

The real question is this… “Is New England ready for war?”

Articles similar to this:

• November 7, 2011 -- Fox has his QB in Tebow (0)
  Time will tell how far John can ride Tim’s limited but ...
• January 28, 2012 -- Jack del Rio lands Broncos defensive coordinator gig (2)
  The Broncos will look to Del Rio to provide stability a...
• October 24, 2011 -- The simple mystery of Tim Tebow (2)
  Denver is a football town despite supporting a wide var...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The new rules, enacted last season, read more like the fine print on your mortgage than a way to decide a football game. In the end, the problem the rules were amended to solve went entirely unsolved. The concise version of the changes is this -  both teams have a chance to possess the ball in overtime unless the team that receives the initial kickoff scores a touchdown or the defense scores on an interception, safety or fumble recovery.

The time-honored old way – sudden death – is no more. At least for playoff games. The change seems like the league wants it both ways. Since the coin flip played as much into deciding the winner as the plays on the field, they wanted to make overtime a more level playing field, so to speak, without going as far as the college game by adopting a matching-possession rule that can take a 17-17 game and turn it into a 41-38 barn-burner.

Sudden death was the warrior’s way to decide a playoff game. Play until someone scores. Period. Even if it takes an already brutal and exhausting game and doubles it in length. If you lose the coin flip, your defense had better hold. If you win the coin flip, it’s your one best chance to win the game while your defense sits comfortably on the bench.

But the NFL solution is half-baked. Each team gets a possession – unless the first possessor scores a touchdown. Then, as happened in Denver last Sunday night, the game could end on one snap. Even Demaryius Thomas, the receiver of the touchdown pass that will go down in Broncos history as one of the most exciting moments the Broncos have ever produced, was confused. He scored the touchdown and was already steeling his nerves to sit on the sideline and pray the worn-out defense could hold. But the game was over, and the mayhem around him soon clued him in to the fact that he was the hero.

So, NFL, what do you want? Matching possessions? Or sudden-death? Pick one. The Broncos were the beneficiaries this time, and I am not complaining about that. But for the good of the game, quit trying to confuse your fans, get down off the fence, and come up with a system that works. And while you’re at it, implement the system across the board – from preseason on. Even the prospect of a tie during the regular season makes fans shudder. Hockey eliminated the tie by introducing the shootout, which is one of the most exciting situations professional sports have to offer. NBA plays until there’s a winner. So does MLB. Either go back to pre-2010 rules with strict sudden death and regular season ties, or give us a matching-possession system all season.

And since we’re talking changes, about that replay system…

Articles similar to this:

• February 23, 2011 -- Broncos sign Bailey as Melo memories fade (0)
  In swooped the woebegone Broncos with a four-year $43 m...
• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• November 7, 2011 -- Fox has his QB in Tebow (0)
  Time will tell how far John can ride Tim’s limited but ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Everybody has an opinion on Tim Tebow.  From ESPN talking heads to water cooler conversationalists to old friends swearing vendettas, everybody is talking Tebow.  Following the Broncos’ big Wild Card Round win over the defending AFC Champion Steelers on Sunday, the argument has reached a fever pitch.

With Denver moving on to a Divisional Round playoff game in New England this weekend, the Tebow haters will need to dig deep to find new complaints.  It will be exhausting, but the will to hate Tim Tebow is strong.  As a refresher, let’s take a therapeutic journey through Tebow anti-fandom…

You would think that Tebow’s first 300 yard throwing day – including an 80 yard game-winning toss on the first play of overtime – would silence Timmy’s many haters.  Tebow’s defenders expected to spend today basking in their supreme rightness for having stuck by the erratic quarterback with the winning touch through a couple of tough games.  Any other quarterback with a more traditional approach would be getting nothing but kudos right now for his otherworldly leadership and poise.

But, hark!  What’s that I hear?  He only completed ten passes?  Tim Tebow pitched a few into the dirt?  His completion percentage was sub-.500?  So what if the Steelers were without superb free safety Ryan Clark?  Did Pittsburgh forget to send an 11^th man onto the field to replace him?

The criticisms now border on ridiculous, and the hating can now best be termed ridicule.  Haters gotta hate, and that’s the name of the game for now.  Because Tebow draws so much public attention off the field, everybody feels obligated to manufacture an opinion of his on-field play.  And the easiest opinion to have is that this quarterback doesn’t do it “right”.  The knee-jerk reaction is that Tim Tebow does not look like the gunslinger QB’s we’ve been trained to worship.

What is so astounding is that this knee-jerk reaction has lasted for three months.

Make no mistake – this is not a complaint.  The Pittsburgh Steelers bought into the anti-hype and played arrogant defense.  Hall of Fame Defensive Coordinator Dick Lebeau must have listened to a little too much talk radio last week, because he bit hard on the notion that Tim Tebow could not beat single press coverage on his receivers.  Every pregame chorus of ex-players echoed each other; stack the box and take away the run and the Broncos are done before the halftime break.

Obviously Tebow did beat the coverage.  Against the league’s best passing defense Tim Tebow beat the coverage repeatedly, and the Steelers failed to make adjustments even heading into overtime.  Demaryius Thomas had the game of his life recording 200+ yards on just four catches.  The Broncos played home run football and mashed their way to victory.  So what’s left to say?

Apparently there is plenty of room left for criticism.  Because in this hyper-analytical era of sports, just winning isn’t enough.  And because “football insiders” simply refuse to acknowledge that Tim Tebow is not playing their game.

When Drew Brees is putting up 466 yards in a playoff pitch, it’s easy to foster a skewed perspective.  When the ideal for success is throwing the ball 43 times per game, then a ten-completion effort by Tim Tebow looks paltry by comparison.  But why is this suddenly the only way to play?  The only way to win?

Let’s dig a little deeper for some much-needed perspective…

The Detroit Lions only rushed the ball 10 times against the Saints on Saturday in New Orleans and they lost badly.  The contest was close until the fourth quarter, and the Lions actually led throughout the first half.  But without clock-sapping run plays to limit the scope of the game New Orleans was allowed to run 81 offensive plays to the Lions’ 53.  The imbalance led to a 15-minute difference in time of possession in the Saints’ favor.  That’s a whole extra quarter of offense for New Orleans!

Now where is the criticism of Detroit coaches and players for their over-commitment to throwing the ball?  Is it possible for the Broncos to run the ball “too much” and win?

In Denver on Sunday the Broncos ran the ball 34 times on 55 offensive plays.  The Steelers rushed 23 times on 68 offensive plays.  Yet the difference in time of possession was just 2:01.  The Broncos were more efficient as an offense, outgaining the Steelers 447 yards to 400.  The average Denver pass play went for 15 yards versus 6.1 for Big Ben and the Steelers.  Tebow threw for 72 more yards in half as many attempts.  The Broncos and Tim Tebow (125.6 passer rating) outplayed the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger (75.9 passer rating) hands down.

More importantly, though, the Denver Broncos’ coordinators and coaches put together a better game plan than their Pittsburgh counterparts.  That game plan only required Timmy to complete 10 magnificent throws for an upset victory.  Now, with Tebow doing exactly what was asked of him and winning a playoff game, what is left to hate?

Is it his insistence on communicating with the almighty on national TV?  What’s that got to do with his game, and why is it his problem that his faith makes others uncomfortable?

Is it the way he thanks God for the strength to play football at the highest level and come away with a win?  What is so offensive about a good man carrying the strength of his convictions onto a football field?  Would you rather root for Ben Roethlisberger and his disgusting history of forcing himself on women?  Would you rather root for an assassin like James Harrison who plays to take his opponents out of games?

In the end, the Tim Tebow Hater phenomenon is an exercise in self-loathing.  Tebow is too good, as a man and as a player.  Tim is a constant reminder of how good each of us could be.  He is the sum of his convictions and it makes lesser men froth with jealous rage.  His passionate, sincere belief reminds us where we have failed to follow our own convictions.  He is an example of true heroism in a culture that worships false heroes.  And that is the source of the hatred.  And Tim Tebow just weathers the storm.

So before all you Tebow Haters spend another precious week of life spitting on a righteous man, take a moment in the mirror to ponder just what about Tim Tebow makes you so uncomfortable.  Remember that while you are doing that, Tim Tebow is challenging the established mold for NFL passers on the field and he is challenging the mold for NFL players off the field.  Whether you wish to follow his faith or not is not important.  He is an example of a very successful man, and we should all strive to carry the full force of our own righteous beliefs (religious or otherwise) with us wherever we go.

Now I’ve got to get going.  I’ve been driving this Tebow bandwagon for a few months and its due for a tune up.  While we’ve got it in the shop, I think we’ll add a few thousand extra square feet of carrying capacity.  You know… just in case some haters come around.

Articles similar to this:

• February 6, 2012 -- Broncos’ Miller wins ROY, Tebow grabs comeback award (1)
  Tebow could have singled out Von Miller as a particular...
• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• October 24, 2011 -- The simple mystery of Tim Tebow (2)
  Denver is a football town despite supporting a wide var...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

It’s going to be the lead topic of all the talk shows in the morning – Tim Tebow, leading the Broncos to a rare victory in San Diego, and an overtime thriller at that. It was, in fact, only the third time in twelve tries the Broncos have beat San Diego since Phillip Rivers came to town.

But the story in tonight’s game, remarkably, is not Tebow, at least no more than the story should be about the starting quarterback. Tebow put up numbers not unlike those of his counterpart, at least in terms of raw production. Tebow threw for 143 yards to Rivers’ 188. Each QB had a single touchdown and no interceptions. Tebow put up his yards with half the attempts, resulting in a much higher rating. Of course, Tebow also added nearly 70 rushing yards to the stat sheet before the night was over.

As in the past several weeks, the Broncos defense continues to shine. Von Miller continued his impressive rookie campaign with 8 tackles and 1 sack – and just generally harassed Rivers all day.  There’s just a level of intensity that the Broncos have not seen on the defensive side of the ball in years. Attribute some of this to the overall team success, some to the motivating presence of Miller and Dumervil, and some to new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the game — and since we can’t leave the Tebow factor alone — was to see that while Tebow’s passing has improved (I really only saw 2 passes that he just plain missed his target), the hands of his receivers have steadily gotten slipperier. (That’s right, I said ‘slipperier’) Tebow put a ball right on Royal’s hands for a first down, and Royal couldn’t haul it in. Jeremiah Johnson mishandled a pitch. If the Broncos can bring their receivers back to a level of consistency in terms of handling the ball, Tebow’s numbers will instantly improve.

But in wrapping up tonight’s game, I am struck by a couple final thoughts.

1. Tebow is improving. He is the QB of this team. Elway will draft a backup, I’m sure, but this is Tebow’s Team, and Tebow’s Town.

2. How did the refs miss the flagrant facemask and the obvious P.I.? Even SD homer extraordinaire Dan Fouts called them out on that.

3. McGahee is ageless, at least for now. There’s going to need to be a new RB next year though.

4. Rivers looks lost. First time in his career I’ve seen that. Maybe he’s just starting to resemble Norv Turner, in the way pets and owners begin to resemble one another.

5. Denver expects to win. For the first time in YEARS, they expect to win, and it shows.

All in all, another quality division win for the Broncos, extending the improbable run of 2011.

Articles similar to this:

• February 6, 2012 -- Broncos’ Miller wins ROY, Tebow grabs comeback award (1)
  Tebow could have singled out Von Miller as a particular...
• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• January 9, 2012 -- Therapy for the Tebow Haters (6)
  Now, with Tebow doing exactly what was asked of him and...

Image by Jeffrey Beall via Flickr

Tim Tebow’s first mistake as an NFL quarterback was gaining the attention of our frenzied American media.  By accepting a role as an outspoken representative of his faith, Tebow became a lightning rod for praise and criticism alike.  The media bit hard and locked in, and Tim Tebow became a cultural force of puzzling proportions.

Timmy himself is simple, though.  He wears his faith on one sleeve and his pride on the other.  He would likely not shy away from the moniker “Christian soldier”, but such a loaded term seems to hang too heavy.  He knows himself because he built himself in a vision of what it is to be a good Christian man.  He knows his place because he built his life according to plan.

Outside of the nuanced world of football fandom, Tebow draws predominantly black and white reactions to his persona.  You love him or you hate him.  You relish his unwavering faith and willingness to represent his beliefs in every phase of his life, or you cast him as a fool running errands for an obsolete church.  You see him as the conquering hero rallying teammates and teenagers to his cause, or you see him as a model for arrogance.

Following the Denver Broncos’ comeback win in Miami on Sunday, a friend remarked to me that Tebow had a chance to become a singular cultural powerhouse capable of swaying the opinion of millions.  This comment draws on complexities.  By finding himself in Colorado, Tim Tebow landed at the epicenter of a cultural conflict that may someday consume him.  Here in the Great Middle Ground of America, the world is viewed in shades of gray. And as simple and seemingly pure as Tim is, the debate that rages around him is not.

Denver is flanked to the south by Colorado Springs – home to the Air Force Academy, Focus on the Family and a host of other culturally conservative institutions.  To the north and west are Fort Collins and Boulder – both notoriously liberal cities dominated by college campuses, live music and edgy art.  Denver itself is a hybrid of the two – at once liberal by definition, but just as comfortable with Libertarian ideals of personal freedom from governments and nosy neighbors alike.

Colorado has long been a little-known battleground culturally and politically.  Often referred to as a “Purple State” due to its even allotment of Democrats and Republicans, Colorado takes on an even more interesting hue when considering the vast ranks of Unaffiliateds, Libertarians and Greens.  In fact, the state now sports more Unaffiliated voters than D’s or R’s.  That means people with dynamic views transcending platform beliefs.  Rural populations interfacing with urban ideals.  The unassuming expanses of grassy plains contrasted against the imposing depths of the Rocky Mountains.

Into this mess of contrasts steps Tim Tebow.  Should he become his own self-fulfilling prophecy as an NFL quarterback, Tebow will also become an unquestioned hero to fans of all stripes.  No matter how fervent his beliefs, if Timmy is winning football games then he’s already won the hearts and minds of Coloradans.  It’s that simple.

Denver is a football town despite supporting a wide variety of sports franchises.  Elway is God.  Tebow is the Good Lord’s left hand man.  And that too seems wicked simple.

It may be that Tim Tebow is right where he should be.  It might be the case that this is all part of a grand cosmic plan.  It is entirely possible that God saw fit to send Tim Tebow to Denver and start him on Sundays.  Right now anything seems possible for Timmy and his Broncos.

Time will tell whether or not Tebow can affect a fourth-quarter comeback every week.  Some time after that we will know how hard Tim plans to push his very strong Christian beliefs.  But despite the national media splitting violently over whose guesswork best describes the rest of Tim Tebow’s life on and off the football field, here in colorful Colorado things are pretty simple…

The man is a gamer.  The Broncos are suddenly very exciting.  And once every week we all get together to enjoy the simple beauty of Tebow Time.

Articles similar to this:

• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• February 23, 2011 -- Broncos sign Bailey as Melo memories fade (0)
  In swooped the woebegone Broncos with a four-year $43 m...
• February 6, 2012 -- Broncos’ Miller wins ROY, Tebow grabs comeback award (1)
  Tebow could have singled out Von Miller as a particular...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen sent a letter to season ticket holders (presumably with the bill for the mythical 10 games to happen at Invesco Field this fall), apologizing for the lockout and assuring fans the team will be ready to play come August, assuming a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Like nearly all teams in the NFL, the Broncos are still requiring season ticket holders to pay for their seats on a normal schedule, with the promise of refunds for any games not played. The New York Giants are the only team not asking its season ticket holders to pay up front for games that are still very much in doubt.

In fact, as the front office goes, it is in many ways business as usual at Dove Valley. Elway, Xanders and Fox (sounds like a law firm, doesn’t it?) are busy scouting and preparing for their first draft as a leadership team, and the marketing arm is busy trying to sell tickets and keep from losing long-standing fans in the wake of the McDaniels Disaster. Players are not allowed to work out at team facilities or to be in contact with team officials. Now that the lockout is going into its second week, we’re mostly stuck waiting for the injuction hearing April 6th, since the NFLPA decertified and gave up its power as a union for collective bargaining.

With the looming possibility of a lost season, many players are looking for alternative employment. Anybody know of some job openings for current Broncos? For instance, Demaryius Thomas could sign up as Chevy Chase’s stunt double. Knowshon Moreno and is happy feet at the line of scrimmage might be a good fit on Dancing With The Stars. Ryan Clady as the new power forward for the Nuggets?  I’m sure you have much better ideas than I do. Leave your answer in the comments.

Here’s the full text of Mr. Bowlen’s letter:

Monday, March 14, 2011

Dear Broncos Fan:

You have every right to be disappointed and frustrated with the lack of a Collective Bargaining Agreement that would ensure the health of the National Football League for the 2011 season and beyond. As owner of the Denver Broncos and co-chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee, I want to say that I share your level of frustration.

I am sorry the negotiating efforts have yet to yield a new deal.

Although we had expected to reach an agreement by this point, I assure you that we are committed to this process. We have a shared responsibility to resolve this matter as soon as possible in a way that benefits teams, players, and most importantly, the fans. The fastest way to a fair agreement for everyone is for both the clubs and union to continue negotiation through mediation, not litigation, and we are eager to return to the bargaining table.

We will come to an agreement, and when a new deal is reached, the Denver Broncos will be ready to play.

John Elway, John Fox and Brian Xanders, along with the rest of our coaching and personnel staffs, continue to work hard in advance of the NFL Draft and the season. They are committed to building a championship team that will make you proud. We are making progress every day, and I am excited with the direction of our team.

Along with everyone in this organization, I care greatly about our players and am hopeful that the union resumes negotiations as soon as possible. It is unfortunate that this matter has taken the focus away from the game that we love. However, I am confident that this process will result in a long-term agreement that ensures the growth of the game well into the future.

I sincerely appreciate all of the support, patience and trust you have shown in the Denver Broncos. We will keep you updated and communicate regularly while maintaining an unwavering commitment to a resolution.

Yours truly,

Pat Bowlen

Owner, Denver Broncos Football Club

Articles similar to this:

• January 5, 2011 -- Elway rejoins Broncos as VP of Football Operations (0)
  Elway was consistently pressured to define his position...
• January 11, 2012 -- First test of new overtime rules no test at all (2)
  It was the first time the NFL's new overtime rules for ...
• February 23, 2011 -- Broncos sign Bailey as Melo memories fade (0)
  In swooped the woebegone Broncos with a four-year $43 m...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox will go to trial on felony sexual assault charges this Wednesday in Douglas County south of Denver.

Two felony charges leveled against Cox by the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office allege that Cox sexually assaulted a helpless victim, specifically a woman that was “incapable of appraising her own condition.”  Law enforcement and prosecutors spent three months building their case against Cox.

Court documents detailing the charges have remained sealed ever since Cox was arrested on December 9^th of last year.  Unknown details include the alleged victim’s identity, although a number of gossip websites claim that a Denver-area model went to Lone Tree police with the sexual assault charge against Cox on October 28^th.  Douglas County began pursuing a case against Cox on September 6^th.

The alleged victim’s name was briefly revealed on a privately-operated online database that posts case information from the Colorado judiciary.  The information was both posted and removed on December 14^th.

The nature of these sexual assault charges could mean prosecutors believe that Cox had sex with the alleged victim while she was heavily intoxicated or under the influence of “date rape” drugs.  However, those details and more may not be revealed for weeks, if at all.  Whether or not documents related to the case are unsealed will be determined by the judge in charge of the case.

Cox’ attorney Harvey Steinberg attempted last week to have his client’s pre-trial hearing closed to the public so that details of charges would not be widely available to the media.  Steinberg claimed that the high-profile nature of this case necessitated an elevate state of privacy, but a Douglas County judge denied the motion saying that the defense did not provide any evidence that a public pre-trial hearing would prevent a fair trial.

Cox and his attorney waived their right to a pretrial hearing following the decision.

Said Steinberg after his motion to close the initial hearing to the public was denied, “We want a trial that is fair and we intend to fight this vigorously.”

Perrish Cox came to Denver as a bargain-buy 5^th Round Draft Pick in 2010 after a number of character issues prevented other teams from drafting the Oklahoma State product.  Perrish ended up playing behind Broncos DB Champ Bailey for most of last season, but started the last two games after Bailey went down with an ankle injury.  He logged an interception, 14 passes defended and 58 solo tackles playing in 15 games for Denver during his rookie 2010-2011 NFL Season.

Cox will be arraigned on Wednesday in Castle Rock with local and national media crowding the courthouse looking for details that might illuminate the more sordid details of these accusations.  If found guilty on either of the two felony sexual assault charges, Cox could face as little as two years in prison or as much as a life sentence.

Articles similar to this:

• February 23, 2011 -- Broncos sign Bailey as Melo memories fade (0)
  In swooped the woebegone Broncos with a four-year $43 m...
• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• January 11, 2012 -- First test of new overtime rules no test at all (2)
  It was the first time the NFL's new overtime rules for ...

Image by StefanRalle via Flickr

When the Broncos announced that they had re-signed Champ Bailey to a four-year deal on Tuesday afternoon, it came as a little bit of a shock.

After all, Bailey had put his Denver-area house on the market a week prior.  Carmelo Anthony had just ditched the Mile High City for Manhattan.  The Avalanche had just dumped their top goalie, power forward and defensive prospect in two knee-jerk trades. The much-loved Mammoth were still in the midst of the worst slide in franchise history.

Nothing in the Colorado sports landscape seemed safe.

Then in swooped the woebegone Broncos with a four-year $43 million deal that will virtually assure Champ Bailey a Denver retirement, a spot on the Ring of Fame, and the enduring love of Broncos fans.  What contrast!

And perhaps that explains the Broncos’ willingness to extend their rebuilding franchise’s checkbook to sign a veteran corner on the downside of his career to a multi-year deal.  Compared to the Avalanche, the Broncos look like they have their proverbial shit together.  Compared to Carmelo Anthony, Champ Bailey (who could have easily found another NFL suitor) seems like a saint.

So when John Elway tweeted Tuesday, “We are thrilled to announce that the Broncos have agreed to terms on a new four-year contract with cornerback Champ Bailey” what he was really saying was, “We’ve got you Denver.”

A sports market bludgeoned by months of Melo-drama and weeks of downright bad hockey got the glimmer of hope they had been secretly praying for.  Champ was back, seemingly for good.

And when Elway tweeted yet later on Tuesday, “The commitment and loyalty that Champ has shown to the Broncos, the city of Denver and this region is exemplary” he was showing off his hand.  President Elway was the proud papa of the most exciting contract that the second-worst team in the NFL had ever signed before Draft Day.  The commitment to keeping defensive stalwart Champ Bailey to complement Tim Tebow on offense said to a beleaguered Broncos fan base, “We’ve got you Denver.”

Whether it be clever marketing or an honest attempt to rapidly right the ship, the Denver Broncos have reminded fans that they are a proud franchise dedicated to putting players on the field worth rooting for.  By filling one hole on an atrocious defense, the Broncos reminded a battle-weary Denver sports market that this is still a football town.

Articles similar to this:

• January 12, 2012 -- Living Large in Broncos Country (1)
  Don’t count these Broncos out. Whatever it is, they’ve...
• January 11, 2012 -- First test of new overtime rules no test at all (2)
  It was the first time the NFL's new overtime rules for ...
• October 24, 2011 -- The simple mystery of Tim Tebow (2)
  Denver is a football town despite supporting a wide var...