Manning Madness

In case you missed it, the Denver Broncos signed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning this past Monday in one of the biggest coups in NFL history. Manning is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the greatest, and possibly the greatest, quarterbacks of all time. In his illustrious career, he has completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 54,828 yards and 399 touchdowns against 198 interceptions. He boasts a career 94.9 quarterback rating, has won a Super Bowl, and is the only four-time MVP in NFL history.

We love 6'5" rocket-armed quarterbacks

Simply put, he is the greatest free agent ever to hit the market, and Denver--which is never a huge player for top-tier free agents in any sport (sigh...Rockies)-- managed to snag him. It is a huge move for a franchise on the upswing after hitting rock-bottom from 2009 to the early part of 2011.

Naturally, Denver fans were ecstatic about this development, and took to Twitter to laud revered icon John Elway, the team's Executive Vice President for Football Operations, with congratulatory tweets and Facebook posts such as:

"Plan B should be to get rid of Elway before he causes any more damage. But he is right up there with McDaniels now."

"@johnelway Shame on you for tossing Tebow aside!"

"The dumbassery is astounding. They're foolish enough to let @TimTebow go."

"@johnelway you sir are a prick. classless bastard."

"have fun in church repenting your sins you horrid SOB"

And:

"This is the worst day ever in my 30 years as a Broncos Fan"

Um... okay... that was definitely not the reaction I expected.

You see, Tim Tebow has an ardent, passionate fanbase that is borderline crazy. It's understandable; by all accounts, Tebow is a wonderful human being and fine man. He is a source of inspiration for many. He does tremendous acts of charity, such as building a hospital in the Philippines, and is one of the nicest guys around. Say what you will about his religious beliefs, but he stands by his convictions and is who he is. He's genuine and sincere. Most importantly, he's grounded. Tebow realizes how blessed he is (pun slightly intended) to be playing football for a living.

He is the consummate teammate and is a true team player. The guy's intangibles are off-the-charts. He is one of the fiercest, most fiery competitors around, and his will to win and work ethic are second to none. He has always been doubted yet has proved the critics wrong at every level. At the University of Florida, he became one of the greatest players in NCAA history, becoming the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy and winning two national titles.
  
Most NFL experts doubted he had the skills to make it as a quarterback in the NFL, but then-coach Josh McDaniels stunned everyone by trading up to draft Tebow in the first round. Last year, the Broncos stumbled out of the game to a 1-4 start under the much-maligned Kyle Orton. Tebow replaced Orton and rallied the team to an 8-8 record, AFC West division title, and a first-round overtime upset of the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers. Along the way, Tebow unbelievably pulled out a win in the final minutes week after week, each victory topping the last on the "HOWINTHEHELLDIDHEJUSTDOTHATWHATTHEHELLJUSTHAPPENED?!" chart. "Tebowing" became a national phenomenon as Tebowmania took full flight, especially here in Denver.

Nobody knew what to make of the guy. He'd look downright awful and cringe-worthy for 3+ quarters, seemingly confirming all the experts' beliefs that he couldn't hack it as a quarterback, then in the fourth quarter, he couldn't miss. I was at the Jets game with my dad, and when Tebow ran 20-yards for the deciding score with under a minute left, we both just looked at each other and literally burst out laughing because we couldn't fathom how that had just happened.

Despite all of that, many were still not sold on Tebow, most notably Elway. Last year, Tebow ranked 34th in the NFL in completion percentage. In case you were wondering, there are only 32 teams in the NFL. Tebow completed a measly 46.5 percent of his passes for 1,729 yards-- an average of only 123.5 yards a game. He did throw 12 touchdowns against 6 interceptions and added another 6 rushing touchdowns, but he also lost 6 fumbles.

Plus, Tebow is as maddening as he is exciting. His footwork needs work, and he has the elongated throwing motion of a pitcher. He struggles reading defenses and hesitates to pull the trigger on throws. For long stretches, the Broncos offense was the most boring entity in sports, running up three-and-out after three-and-out. We'd pull our hair out in exasperation for three quarters watching drive after drive end with Britton Colquitt punting the ball away.  

There is no denying that Peyton Manning is a clear upgrade at the quarterback position. He would be an upgrade for all but 6-8 teams in the league. He instantly makes the Broncos better, and Denver is now a favorite to defend their division title in the weak AFC West.

Yet Tebowites are up in arms.

There are numerous arguments about why the team would have been better off going with Tebow over Peyton Manning-- no seriously, there are.

1.) Elway is jealous of Tebow and how the youngster is threatening Elway's legacy

"Elway is letting his ego get in the way of his brain. Can't handle Tebow getting the attention he was getting."

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It makes absolutely zero sense! John Elway is one of the top five greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. When he retired, he had won more games than any quarterback in history up to that point. He threw for over 50,000 yards with 300 touchdown passes, won back-to-back Super Bowls, a Super Bowl MVP, and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Why in the world would he be jealous? Further, if he really were jealous about someone surpassing him, then why would he go out and sign PEYTON MANNING? Elway even said that his goal is to help Manning go down as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Does that sound like envy to you?

Even when Elway traded Tebow, thus giving him the opportunity that so many of his fans desired, the fans were still seething at Elway because he traded Tebow to New York instead of Jacksonville. Many felt that Denver owed it to Tebow to send him where he wanted to go. Um... no. That's not how it works in sports. You try to accommodate if you can, but the franchise comes first. Never mind that Tebow actually preferred the opportunity with the Jets, how dare Elway put the needs of the team ahead of Tebow! New York gave up two draft picks for Tebow whereas Jacksonville only offered one.

2.) Manning is a significant injury risk

"Think @timtebow better long-term for Broncos. Manning long-in-tooth, coming off 4 surgeries. One hit and hysteria is OVER."

This is actually a legitimate concern. Manning will soon be 36 and is coming off four neck surgeries, so the worry is valid. However, Manning has been cleared by renowned surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins. Furthermore, doctors at Northwestern University did a study of 99 NFL players who had suffered herniated discs like Manning. Of those, 53 opted for surgery, and the study found that players who chose surgery had higher return-to-pay rates and longer careers. In an article in The Denver Post, Dr. Eric McCarty, chief of sports medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said, "You do have to make sure that it's healed and that the bones are completely fused to each other. But once that occurs, that's not going to break." The real concern is nerve regeneration. Nerve damage affects arm strength, but by all accounts, Manning has looked great throwing the ball.

As for the "one hit and hysteria is OVER" sentiment, it's the NFL. Every player runs the risk of having their career ended with one hit. Football is a violent game. Tebow could suffer a career-ending injury as a result of a vicious hit. In fact, it's more likely to happen to him than Manning because of his physical running style. Tebow got battered pretty good in that New England game. If the Broncos had won, he would not have been available to play in the AFC championship game the next week. 

3.) Manning is old, only has a few years, and the team has no backup plan

Manning is 36 and no spring chicken. He likely will only have a few years left where he performs at an elite level. Considering he's Peyton Manning, I'll gladly take three of those years. Elway won back-to-back Super Bowls at ages 37 and 38. Kurt Warner took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in the twilight of his career. Brett Favre had one of his best seasons and quarterbacked the Vikings to the NFC championship game at 40.

Sure, Manning is not the long-term answer at quarterback for Denver, but he is a nice bridge to whoever is. The team is going to draft a quarterback and groom him to succeed Manning in a few years, just like Aaron Rodgers did in Green Bay. Teams do plan for the future in the NFL. It does happen. Besides, who better to learn from than Peyton Manning?

As for not having a "Plan B", people are panicking because the only other quarterback the team has is Adam Weber, who spent last season on the practice squad. Again, the Broncos are going to sign a free agent to serve as the backup QB. Billy Volek, backup QB extraordinaire, is available and would be a good choice, for instance. Tebow would not be a good backup to Manning because the two are so different. Tebow simply cannot operate the same offense as Manning.

4.) Elway lied! LIES! DAMN LIES!

"worst move broncos ever made next to puting elway in charge - two faced elway KEEP TEBOW"

Much of the outrage stems from a statement Elway made months ago when he said that Tebow had earned the right to be the starting quarterback entering training camp. Obviously, that has no changed, and Tebow fans are furious. They are vilifying Elway for going against his word. How could do he do such a terrible, terrible thing to Tebow!

Elway made those comments about Tebow being the guy back in January. At the time, Peyton Manning wasn't even on the radar. It wasn't known whether Indianapolis would even release him. The Broncos were set to enter training camp with Tebow as the starter, and the team was going to bring in a free agent--backup Brady Quinn was a free agent and not expected to return-- as well as draft a young quarterback.

Two months later, a future Hall of Fame quarterback is suddenly available; would you expect Elway to not make a play for Manning because of comments he made weeks before? The situation had changed, and Elway had to react and act accordingly. He didn't intentionally lie about Tim Tebow. He had planned on going to training camp with Tebow as the starter, but when Manning became available, he decided to gamble and go all-in. There was no malice behind it.

Tebowites need to understand that this happens in sports all the time. Where was their outrage for Alex Smith, Matt Moore, Kevin Kolb, Matt Hasselbeck, and Jake Locker? I didn't hear them crucifying 49ers management for the way they treated Smith, who had just taken his team farther than Tebow took the Broncos.  

The majority of Bronco fans are ecstatic. They stench of the McDaniels era is finally dissipating, and the future is bright. Unfortunately, there is an extremely zealous and outspoken minority that is dominating the interwebs.

Tim Tebow took us all on a great ride in 2011, and it was one of the best stories of the year. It was like nothing I've ever experienced, and I'll always remember going crazy with disbelief as he brought the Broncos back time after time. From the miraculous triumph against Miami to the scintillating overtime victory in the playoffs against off Pittsburgh, Tebow restored hope and promise to a proud franchise.

However, it's time to turn the page and move on to a new chapter. I wish Tebow the best of luck in New York and truly hope he succeeds. If anyone can do it, he can.

In the mean time, I cannot wait to see Peyton Manning don the Orange & Blue and lead the Broncos out of the tunnel at Sport Authority Field at Mile High. 

Dealin' With Doherty: Iron Chef Edition

I am not what you would call a "foodie."

"Simpleton" may be a better choice. "Vanilla" is certainly an apt description, in more ways than one.

I am a notoriously picky eater and am one who doesn't like to stray from the box. I like the box. It's comfortable in there.

My roommate often likes to pick what I'm going to have at a restaurant because I am rather predictable. I'm also pretty plain when it comes to food. For instance, I love vanilla ice cream... but just vanilla. No chocolate syrup or other toppings. Just vanilla. I get a cup of plain vanilla at Cold Stone, and they look at me like I'm an escaped mental patient.

The reason I bring this up is because last night my roommate and his girlfriend were watching the Food Network. They caught the tail end of Worst Cooks in America and then the subsequent episode of Iron Chef America. I had never seen either show before, so it was an interesting experience.

Both my roommate and his better half are more accepting and daring when it comes to food. They both cook, and they like to try new things. Basically, they're the Anti-me.

My roommate proposed this idea: for his birthday, he wants his girlfriend and the wife of one of our friends to engage in an Iron Chef-style competition. He, along with our friend, would be the judges as well as one other fellow.

Me.

See, this is the flaw in his plan, one his girlfriend so gleefully pointed out. I'd be the worst judge ever, mainly because I wouldn't eat anything they would actually make.

High-end food is lost on me. My dinner that night was a burrito. I cooked some ground turkey that was roughly two weeks past the "use or freeze by" date--side note, apparently turkey that has been refrigerated that long is still good because I'm not dead yet--put it in a store-bought tortilla, added some lettuce and Kraft shredded cheese, and topped it off with Cholula. That's about as gourmet as I get.

In Iron Chef America, the competing chefs are given one ingredient that they must use in every course. If I were the judge for this competition, that ingredient would have to be vanilla because I don't have anything with my ice cream for dessert. My roommate's girlfriend just shook her head in shame for me when she realized that.

As the show went on, we starting talking about what it would be like if I were on Iron Chef. It would be hilariously disastrous.

For one, the chefs on that show get 60 minutes to create like five courses. They're racing the clock at the end, scrambling madly to get everything ready before the clock strikes double-zeroes.

Me? I wouldn't need the entire hour, not by a long shot. I'd be done in like 15 minutes and would just spend the next 45 sitting in a chair... probably eating what I just made.

The chefs make these creative, exotic dishes--okay maybe they're not all THAT exotic, but you're talking to a guy who goes to Cold Stone and just gets vanilla. They're exotic to me. Last night, they had to use sausage as their main ingredient. You know what I would have made? A sausage pizza and sausage sandwiches.

Another reason why I would fail spectacularly at this show: plating. It's one of the three categories chefs are judged upon. I have no idea what it means.

I said, "What in the world is plating?" and my roommate and his girlfriend looked at me with an odd mix of pity and bewilderment strewn across their faces. They explained that it was how the food was arranged on the plate to make it look aesthetically pleasing. I asked why that was important and received shaken heads and "Oh dear lord." I bring out religion in people, apparently.

See, that doesn't matter to me because I segregate my food. I'm a food racist, as a girl I once knew so eloquently put it. She called me that because of my love of vanilla and lack of fondness for chocolate. When I admitted that I like the filling of Oreos but am not a fan of the chocolate cookie part, that's when she labeled me a food racist.

The point is that I don't mix my food. I generally eat things one at a time. I'll have all the vegetables before going on to the spaghetti. If I have mac'n'cheese with a hamburger, I'm finishing the burger before digging into the mac'n'cheese.

I'm weird, I know.

Anyway, just the thought of what I would do if I were ever on Iron Chef should be horrifying to many of you who like fine food and, well, culture, but at any rate, it would be hilarious... and probably sad. Hilariously sad.  

What Could Have Been...

Last week, the Mountain West and Conference USA announced that they will form a new conference starting in 2013. The new conference would have at least 16 schools with the possibility of expanding to 18-24 and would be split into regional divisions. The new league would span from coast-to-coast and have members in five time zones. Perhaps the most interesting piece of information regarding the new conference is that not only would there be a conference championship game in football, but semifinals as well. That would be the first type of playoff of any kind at the Division I-level in college football.

As of right now, the schools forming the conference are Air Force, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, and Wyoming from the Mountain West along with UAB, East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss, UTEP, Tulane, and Tulsa from Conference USA. Fresno State, Nevada, and Hawai’i are joining the Mountain West this coming year as well.

UNLV President Neal Smatresk said, “This is an exciting development that will stabilize the current conferences and create the first truly national conference with members in five time zones and television viewership from coast to coast. We are moving our plans forward rapidly and expect to complete our conversations in the near future. Look for further announcements soon as we work together on this exciting new venture.”

School and conference officials are, naturally, putting the best possible spin on this.

“This partnership brings together like-minded institutions to improve the integrity and stability of intercollegiate athletics,” Smatresk said.

Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowksy said, “It is apparent that this association has great potential and there are leaders within the group that are committed to maximizing it.”

Tulane President Scott Cowen said, “We think this new conference will draw considerable interest from the networks.” Both the Mountain West and Conference USA have television contracts that run through 2015-16, and there is hope that the new conference will receive a new television deal.

Many college football fans and pundits have scoffed or laughed at the news. The Mountain West has long coveted an automatic BCS berth, but many believe that this new conference isn’t worthy of one. Conference expansion has gutted the elite of both conferences. BCS busters Utah, TCU, and Boise State have deserted the Mountain West for the greener pastures of the Pac-12, Big 12, and Big East, respectively. Mountain West basketball power San Diego State is also leaving for the Big East, and Houston, SMU, Memphis, and Central Florida ditched Conference USA in favor of the Big East.

The national appeal has also been called into question. Sure, the new conference spans from coast-to-coast and has schools in every time zone, but none are in major markets or have huge national followings.

Travel is also a concern. Hawai’i is 4,864 miles away from East Carolina and 4,358 miles from UAB. That will be mitigated by organizing the new divisions along regional lines, meaning that the Warriors will only have to travel to play the Pirates and Blazers every few years. Still, in these tough economic times when money is tight, questions can be raised about the wisdom of incurring more travel costs across the country, especially since many of these universities are smaller in size and budget than their BCS counterparts.

Finally the sheer size of the conference has led some to question its viability. After all, the WAC tried to create a 16-team superconference back in the early ‘90s. Its problems led eight schools to break off and form their own conference. That conference was the Mountain West. What makes school and conference officials think this time will be any different?  

Make no mistake; this consolidation between the Mountain West and Conference USA was done solely for survival.

Conference realignment has a ripple effect. The impact on the major conferences draws most of the attention, but the effect is most keenly felt by the smaller conferences. The Mountain West has seen five members depart over the past two years. It was the top non-BCS conference in the nation with numerous top-10 finishes over the past few years. Now, it is a shell of its former self, its fans aching over what it could have been. In order to survive, it raided the WAC: first Boise State, then Nevada, Fresno State, and Hawai’i. Those four schools won every WAC championship in football from 2002-2010.

That left the WAC in limbo, as questions arose about whether the conference could even survive. It was down to just five members, and adding schools such as Seattle, Denver, UT-Arlington, UT-San Antonio, and Texas State isn’t exactly a strong recovery. Denver, Seattle, and UT-Arlington don’t have football teams while UTSA and Texas State are moving up to Division I football.

Utah State already turned down an invite to the Mountain West, but the Aggies are an obvious expansion candidate for the new conference. Louisiana Tech, the defending WAC champion in football, has long been rumored to covet a spot in Conference USA. The new conference is western-heavy, with only two schools located in the Eastern time zone. Adding Louisiana Tech would alleviate that. Those two schools are the two best remaining WAC schools in football, and losing them would be a huge blow to the conference, one that it likely would not recover from.

Conference USA is in better shape than the Mountain West, at least for football. Losing Houston--which was a game away from a BCS bowl last season—and Central Florida hurts, but Memphis has been absolutely dreadful while SMU has improved from atrocious to mediocre. Tulsa and East Carolina have enjoyed recent success, and Southern Miss knocked off Houston and won the conference last year.

Other leagues could be affected, too. The remnants of the WAC are the most likely candidates for expansion, but reports have indicated that schools in the Sun Belt, MAC, and A-10 are also on the list of possible targets.

For all of its many flaws, the worst thing about the BCS is how much it has changed the landscape. Automatic bids have created an unequal playing field that has left teams chasing after the almighty dollar. The Big 12 was nearly torn apart because of Texas’ power and the Longhorn Network. The Pac-12 expanded in order to get a championship game and a better television deal. Utah and Colorado bolted for the conference because they would receive more money. TCU originally departed for the Big East because of the greater revenue derived from the conference’s automatic bid to the BCS.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh dumped the Big East in favor of the ACC because of long-term stability. That caused TCU to back out and head to the Big 12—the one move in all of this that actually makes sense. West Virginia was desperate to leave the Big East for any conference that would take it, having been rumored to join the SEC and ACC before finally ending up in the Big 12. Louisville and Connecticut have made overtures to other conferences. Texas A&M wanted to get out of Texas’ shadow, so it left for the SEC. Missouri decided to join in on the fun and do what all the cool kids were doing, so it also left for the SEC.  

The Big East was on the brink of destruction, so it raided smaller conferences because it had the one thing they coveted: a BCS berth. The only reason Boise State is joining the Big East is because of that berth. The Broncos got tired of seeing lesser teams make BCS bowls while they were shipped off to second-tier games. This past season, the seventh-ranked Broncos played a 6-6 Arizona State team that had long given up on the season in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas while four teams ranked lower played in BCS bowls. In 2010, the Broncos were left out while unranked and 8-4 UConn got shellacked by Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

The irony is that when the current BCS contract ends in two years, automatic bids may no longer exist. If that happens, what will these teams do? It doesn’t make any sense for Boise State and San Diego State to play in the Big East. If there is no guaranteed BCS berth, then do they stay in the conference?

It’s depressing to witness what has happened to college sports because of the BCS and money. The storied Texas-Texas A&M rivalry may not continue. Kansas-Missouri, one of the most bitter and heated rivalries in college sports, is finished, at least for the foreseeable future. Colorado fans eagerly awaited the annual Nebraska game the day after Thanksgiving. TCU and Boise State could have had one of the best matchups in all of college football. Those two teams have played each other for three straight years, and each game was decided by a touchdown or less. Utah and TCU played with a BCS berth on the line. Can you imagine what the Mountain West would have been like if Utah, TCU, BYU, San Diego State, and Boise State had all stayed? Now that would be a fun conference. Instead, we’re left to wonder.

Other sports are feeling the effects, too. The Mountain West is the best basketball conference out west. San Diego State made it to the Elite Eight last year. The Aztecs and UNLV are both in the top 15 this year, yet both are trailing New Mexico in the conference. Wyoming and Colorado State have pulled off upsets. Missouri is one of the best teams in the country this year and is having an unbelievable season, yet those thrilling matchups with Big 12 powers Kansas and Baylor will be a thing of the past.

It’s sad to see what has become of college athletics, even more so when you think about what could have been.  

A Battle for the Ages

This past Sunday morning, I did not go to sleep until around 9:00 am. That's extremely late, even by my standards, yet I don't regret it all.
I was too busy watching the greatest tennis match, and one of the best sporting events, I have ever seen.

Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, outlasted #2-ranked Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set thriller, winning the 2012 Australian Open after a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory that was the longest final in the Open era. The match took nearly 6 hours-- 5 hours and 53 minutes, to be exact-- and was Djokovic's third-straight Grand Slam title, all of which came at Nadal's expense.

Words simply cannot describe what occurred the other night in Melbourne. In the 2008 Wimbledon final, Nadal bested Roger Federer in another epic five-setter, a match that many called the greatest of all time. While Djokovic's victory may have lacked some of the astounding shot-making that the Wimbledon final had, it more than made up for it in sheer determination and willpower.

Make no mistake, though, this was not a sloppy match. This was a fine display of top-notch tennis. Almost every game was tightly contested and full of long rallies. Seemingly every Nadal service game went to deuce. There were amazing shots and even better gets. The defense in this match was incredible.

Djokovic was coming off a five-set victory over #4 Andy Murray while Nadal has dispatched #3 Federer and was looking to exact some revenge on the man who had owned him in 2011. Djokovic was shaky in the first set, missing with his forehand. Nadal came out aggressively, winning a first set that was two minutes shorter than the woman's final from the night before.

Djokovic rebounded to take the second set and cruised through the third (I can't say what happened during the third set because I dozed off  and missed it). The Serb looked to have the match in hand at this point. He had finally gotten his game untracked, and it seemed inevitable that he would eventually break Nadal's serve. He had his chance at 4-3, 0-40, but Nadal rallied to hold serve. The match went to a tiebreaker, and you just had this feeling that it would be decided here. Nadal was on the rise, and Djokovic seemed to be faltering just a bit. Djokovic went up 5-3, but Nadal roared back to win the next four points and take the match to a deciding fifth set.

Rafael Nadal presents an interesting dichotomy. He is one of the nicest, most gracious people off the court, but on it, he is a vicious predator. He snarls and glares constantly as he stamps around the baseline. Whenever he wins a big point, he pumps his fist as shouts of "Vamos!" echo throughout the arena. He is a beast in a man's body... actually, judging from how ripped and muscular he is, he might just be a beast.

Nadal is one of the fiercest competitors in all of sports. He is blessed with prodigious talent and is insanely fit, but it is his iron will and refusal to yield a single inch that are his greatest strengths. He simply wears down opponents mentally, browbeating them with his fighting spirit. He won't go away, and as soon as they get just one seed of doubt planted in their mind, it's over. When Nadal senses there is blood in the water, he pounces like a shark.

Even Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player in history, is not immune. Federer dominated men's tennis for years. Nobody could beat him. In final after final, his opponent would have to play lights out with miscues from Federer just to take a set, and even then, it was won in a tiebreaker. They couldn't sustain that level of play against his brilliance. He won all four major tournaments and set the record for most Grand Slam men's singles titles with 16. People lauded him as the Greatest of All Time.

Then a funny thing happened: he couldn't beat Rafael Nadal. At first, it was simply dismissed as Nadal being so dominant on clay. Then Nadal beat Federer on the grass courts of Wimbledon, a surface and event that Federer had owned. Nadal kept on winning, proving that it wasn't just the clay where he was superior. Questions began to arise: how could Federer be the greatest of all time if he wasn't even the greatest player now?

Federer has an elegance that harkens back to the aristocracy of Europe. If this were another time, he surely would have been a nobleman. He plays tennis with an artistry and a flair, rarely showing emotion. His backhand is a picturesque thing of beauty, and his creativity is something to marvel at. Nadal, on the other hand, is a brute, all muscles and physicality. His passion and desire fuel him, and his heavy southpaw shots break down Federer's one-handed backhand. He can run down anything Federer throws at him. Nadal outlasts the Swiss star; he simply wants it more than Federer.

Entering 2011, Nadal seemed poised to break all of Federer's records. He had nine major titles and would add another at the 2011 French Open after defeating Federer in the final. He had beaten Djokovic at the 2010 US Open in four sets to claim the career Grand Slam. He was the unquestioned top player in the world.

Then Novak Djokovic brought that all crashing down.

Djokovic started the year on a tear, winning his first 43 matches. By the time the year was over, he had won three of the four major tournaments and ascended to the #1 ranking. He'd beaten Federer in two semifinals, dispatched Murray to win the Australian Open, and vanquished Nadal at Wimbledon and the US Open. He had one of the best seasons in tennis history, and Nadal even admitted that the Serb was in his head.

Going into the 2012 Australian Open final, Nadal had lost his past six matches to Djokovic, and all came in tournament finals. He was determined to stop the bleeding and show that he could beat Djokovic. As he had time and time again, the Spaniard dug deep into his reserves and clawed his way back. You could just feel the tide rising in Nadal's favor as the fourth set tiebreaker loomed. Djokovic had to seal the deal before the match went to a tiebreak. The Nadal onslaught was coming, and you had to like his chances in a tiebreak.

Lo and behold, the fourth set went to a tiebreak. Nadal jumped out to an early lead, but Djokovic came back and eventually got a mini-break to take a 5-3 lead. Nadal took it right back and then clinched the set when Djokovic pushed a forehand wide.

At that point, the result seemed a foregone conclusion. Nadal had all the momentum. He was fresher, and Djokovic was showing signs of fatigue after being on court for almost ten hours in two days. Nadal was outlasting another opponent yet again. He had seized the upper hand; the finish line was in sight, and he would not be denied.

Djokovic had the look of a man who knew the end was only a matter of time. Sure, he was going to keep fighting. He is a champion after all. It's just that it seemed like he didn't have enough left in the tank. This was not an easy match. Nearly every point was a hard-fought affair. Both players were sprinting back and forth as they ran each other ragged. There are only a few players on tour who can go toe-to-toe with Nadal physically. Djokovic is one of them, but he wasn't coming in 100 percent. That epic semifinal against Murray had taken its toll. It's tough to keep up with an energized Nadal even when you're at your peak. Djokovic was walking slowly between points and definitely did not have the same energy as before. You could see his legs start to give a bit, and the commentators were suggesting that he start conserving energy during Nadal's service games. If he didn't win the first point or two, they suggested that Djokovic concede the game.

Serving 2-3 in the final set, Djokovic finally faltered. Nadal, who had barely touched Djokovic's serve since the first set, broke to go up 4-2. That was the chink in the armor that Nadal needed. He had the match in his grasp, and like a terrier, he was not going to let go. His indomitable will would carry him through. We'd seen it so many times before.

Yet this match would not play out that way. Just as Nadal is the one man who can get the upper hand on Federer, there is one man who can do the same to Nadal. That man is Novak Djokovic.

Affectionately known as the Joker for his sense of humor and comedic impressions of fellow players such as Maria Sharapova, Djokovic is somewhere between the contrasting styles of Federer and Nadal. He plays with the same brutal, single-minded efficiency as Federer but without the artistry and elegance. He does not exude the same raw physicality as Nadal, but if there is one man who can get to a shot that Nadal can't, it's Djokovic. He has a more potent serve than Nadal and a better all-around game, and he is perhaps the best returner in the game since Andre Agassi. As this match revealed, he also has heart, grit, and tenacity to rival that of Nadal.

Djokovic promptly breaks Nadal back to put them back on serve at 4-3. The key play was when Nadal, up 30-15, pushed a backhand wide. It would have been a winner and given him a 40-15 advantage. Instead, it was 30-all. The break rejuvenated Djokovic. You could see the fire return to his eyes, and while you knew Nadal wasn't going to back down, you could tell that Djokovic was going to rise up. It was going to be a titanic clash all the way till the end.

At this point, these two warriors had been on court for over five hours. They'd sprinted almost a combined 30 miles. In the next game, they had an epic 32-ball rally that Nadal finally won. Djokovic collapsed on the court afterwards, gasping heavily. It was a miracle that he could even stand, let alone sprint all over the court like a jackrabbit. Nadal was beginning to feel the effects, too, which is something you never see. While Djokovic was sprawled on the ground, Nadal was doubled over with his hands on his knees. These two were giving it everything they had.

Nobody had ever been able to out-Nadal Nadal until now. The Spaniard is renowned for his mental toughness, yet much like Federer against him, Nadal's confidence gets shaken when it comes to Djokovic. The Serb summoned his own final reserves and willed himself to victory. His legs were rubbery, his fleet bleeding, and he was facing a pumped-up Nadal, yet he persevered and would not yield. He dug deep, tapped into his last remaining reserves, and simply refused to be beaten. That's what Nadal does; people don't do that to him, yet Djokovic did. He broke Nadal again to go up 5-4 and wouldn't surrender the advantage. After saving a break point in the final game, Djokovic hit a sharp serve that Nadal could only put back in play. Djokovic charged the short return and hit a forehand winner to end it. He had defeated Nadal for the seventh-straight time and third-straight major.

Both players could hardly stand during the lengthy trophy presentation. They were both stretching, trying to avoid cramping up, and Nadal eventually sat on the net. Mercifully, someone finally brought them chairs.

What made this match so remarkable was the determination and grit displayed by both players. They would not cede and inch. When Nadal wins the first set, his is practically unbeatable. Djokovic responded by winning the next two sets. Down two sets to one against the man who had owned him for the past year, Nadal did not give up. He fought tooth-and-nail to win the fourth and take it to a deciding fifth set where he had all the momentum and advantages. Djokovic was gassed at this point and could not have been blamed for resigning himself to his fate. Instead, he summoned the strength--God only knows how-- to keep chasing down balls and launch blistering groundstrokes at his opponent.

Every game was tightly-contested. There were countless 20- and 30-shot rallies. For nearly six hours, the two best tennis players in the world blasted away at one another, each doggedly chasing down the other's punishing groundstrokes. When one would make a tremendous shot, the other would answer in kind. Nadal was hitting the ball harder in the fifth and final set than he was in the first. Djokovic somehow found the energy to engage in a 31-shot rally after being on court for nearly 11 hours in two days. He lost that point yet somehow had the fortitude to not let it affect him as he went on to win the game and the match.

It was an incredible display of willpower and high-level tennis. It was truly a match that nobody deserved to lose and was a scintillating way to start the 2012 season. Djokovic now has five career Grand Slam titles and has won four-of-the-last five majors, including the past three. He has beaten Nadal in their past seven matches, all finals. The only major that Djokovic has not won is the French Open, where he lost in the semifinals last year to Federer, snapping his 43-match winning streak. Djokovic has never made it to the finals at the French, and it is a tournament that Nadal dominates. The Spaniard has won six-of-the-past-seven French Opens and is widely considered to be the best player in history on clay. Will Djokovic complete the career Grand Slam and triumph over Nadal in Paris, or will Nadal put and end to the streak and finally beat Djokovic, putting him one title closer to Federer's record? Speaking of Federer, will he show that he is far from finished and win another title, either by overcoming his nemesis on his own turf or defeating the reigning champion of men's tennis?

The answers remain to be seen, but one this is for certain: the French Open can't get here soon enough.

A Lesson in Poor PR and Dumb Decision-Making: Mullen High School vs. Dave Logan

Former Mullen Head Coach Dave Logan

Dave Logan is one of the most storied and celebrated sports figures in Colorado history. A phenomenal athlete, he starred at Wheat Ridge High School and was the Denver Post Gold Helmet winner in 1971. The Gold Helmet is awarded to the state's top senior football player, scholar, and citizen. Logan was a dual-sport athlete at the University of Colorado and was drafted by the NFL, MLB, and NBA. He played several years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos.

After hanging up his cleats, Logan went on to become the play-by-play man for the Broncos as well as one of the most successful high school coaches in Colorado history. Over 19 seasons at three different schools (Arvada West, Chatfield, and Mullen), Logan compiled a record of 201-43 with six state titles. He won a title with every school he coached. At Mullen, he won four of those titles, including three straight, and had a 34-game winning streak that was halted this past season. He has never taken a salary, instead divvying up his pay amongst his assistants.

This past season, Mullen went 9-3 and was bounced from the state playoffs in the quarterfinals by Pomona.

Naturally, Mullen fired him.

For Coloradoans, this was even more shocking than when the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan. Dave Logan is high school football to many people. He's a Colorado icon. His voice can be heard every Sunday by legions of Broncos fans tuning into the game on 850 KOA. His face is seen all over the state in FirstBank advertisements. Let's face it, the guy's a legend.

As if his ouster wasn't enough, the tale just keeps getting stranger and stranger as Mullen officials, already facing a wave of negative opinion, seemingly keep digging themselves a bigger and bigger hole.

When the firing was first announced, Mullen president and CEO Ryan Clement, a former Mullen and University of Miami quarterback (who was, according to his bio, offered a scholarship by EVERY Division I school in the United States. No word about Canadian schools), said that he wanted a coach who could be around the school full-time. Clement said, "Our responsibility is to always be aware of the entire culture at Mullen according to Lasallian values. After discussions, we decided the best interest of the school in the long term was someone who can be a full-time member of the school community and be engaged in every facet. Part of that is to be a full engaged member."

Clement went on to say that Logan had become the face of the school, stating, "In the case of Coach Logan, he had a greater celebrity outside, which was even magnified more. The analysis of the impact on our culture is magnified by how the head football coach engages within the school. For that position, we felt we needed to have (the coach) be full-time faculty. If our greatest asset is our football coach, who's not here very often, you can see it's not who we've been."

Logan is not a teacher and hosts a daily afternoon talk show on 850 KOA. However, only about 10 percent of Mullen's 100 coaches are full-time faculty. Having a coach who isn't a teacher at the school is pretty common. I played baseball and tennis at Columbine, and neither of my head coaches were employed at the school, for example. Students held brief protests supporting Logan, indicating that how he "engaged within the school" was greatly appreciated by the student body.

Plus, what is the problem with football being the face of the school? Success breeds recognition, and few schools have been as successful as Mullen at football over the past decade. As a private school, Mullen needs the attention that football brings. Prospective students will hear about the Mustangs' success and become interested in learning more about the school.

It happens to schools all the time. When you think about Rocky Mountain High School, the first thing that comes to mind is their stellar baseball team. Same thing with Eaton. Cherry Creek is known for its dominant tennis program and stellar baseball team coached by legendary coach Marc Johnson. Rudy Carey and boys basketball are the face of Denver East. Columbine is known for its strong football program with its punishing ground game. One could make an argument that Coach Andy Lowry is the face of the school.

That explanation, shaky enough to begin with, became even more suspect once it was revealed that prior to last season, Mullen administrators wanted Logan to replace three assistant coaches with full-time faculty, one of whom was Clement. The former all-state quarterback wanted to become the team's quarterbacks coach. Logan admitted that Clement did talk to him several times about becoming the quarterbacks coach but that he declined because he already had a quarterbacks coach (a pretty good one, too, as the past few Mullen quarterbacks have received Division I scholarship offers). He did add that he doesn't believe that was the reason he was fired. Mullen officials, mainly Clement, have denied the reports, but according to The Denver Post, multiple sources have confirmed the school wanted full-time faculty on the football staff.

Another angle to this story indirectly revolves around Regis' Mark Nolan. Mullen's new principal, Jim Gmelich, was at Regis prior to coming to Mullen last year and is close to Nolan. Speculation is that the new Mullen administrators want Nolan to be the football coach at Mullen. I have heard the same thing from someone I know who knows someone close to the situation.

The latest bombshell is that last night, Mullen reported recruiting violations to the Colorado High School Athletic Association. The school claims the violations were committed by Logan and his staff. Clement again reiterated that the football program cannot be run by someone who is not at the school full-time and that compliance with state regulations deteriorated during Logan's tenure.   .

These allegations are not surprising. Public school fans have long suspected and accused private schools such as Mullen of recruiting. The Denver Post recently ran an excellent series of articles, mainly centered around newcomer Valor Christian, about the rise of private school powerhouses in the state.

Logan himself has been accused of recruiting. Before he was the head coach at Mullen, Logan coached at Chatfield. In 2001, they won a state title behind LenDale White and several transfers from Denver South. White went on to play at USC and in the NFL. While no action was ever taken against Logan, rivals cried foul that these players all happened to transfer to Chatfield, a school that is not a football powerhouse. They went there because of Logan, and the common belief among Jeffco League rivals was that Logan and his staff recruited them.

In his defense, Denver South's football team had been going through a tumultuous time. In 2000, their head coach and an assistant were suspended, and another placed on leave, after an incident in which the coach's brother pointed a gun at an assistant coach after practice. Reports surfaced of other problems with the program, including allegations of player abuse. It is understandable that players would want to leave a program after something like that. It is a gray area between recruiting and helping kids out.

Regardless, the timing of these allegations is highly suspect. If recruiting violations did occur, then why weren't they mentioned at the time of Logan's firing? The story then was that Logan was let go because the school wanted a full-time faculty member to coach the football team, somone who could be around the school more often.

Clement said at the time, "Coach Logan is a great coach. He's a man of integrity. He does a great job in all that he does. But he's just not here as often as necessary for the head football coach at Mullen."

He won four state titles and went 110-12 in nine years at the school. Sounds like he was there often enough.

After the strong public backlash and criticism, all of a sudden now Logan and his staff were fired because of recruiting and other violations? Seriously? What about his integrity and the great job he did? If that were indeed the case, then why not come out and say it when it was first announced that he was fired? Why the charade about wanting a full-time faculty member to coach the team?

Oh, but it gets better.

Logan's name is not even listed among the people accused of committing recruiting violations in the package Mullen sent to CHSAA. Logan adamantly denies any allegations of wrongdoing, saying. A further video interview can be found here. Other members of Logan's staff have strongly denied that anything violations occurred.

In this day and age, especially after last year's college football season that was riddled with scandal, "recruiting violations" has a sinister undertone to it. Want to know what nefarious deeds Logan and staff committed?

On October 21, during a game against Arapahoe, several eighth graders were on the sideline during the game. The students were eventually asked to sit in the stands. That was it. If you've ever been to a high school football game here in Colorado, you know that there is a lot going on and that kids wander around all over the place. It wouldn't be that hard to sneak onto the sidelines, and I doubt coaches actively asked them to come stand with the team. Logan wouldn't know about them because he would have been too busy coaching the game. His attention is focused on his players and what's going on out on the field.

Logan admitted that several other eighth graders were going to eat a meal with the team but were denied once the staff realized it could be a recruiting violation. Before you think it was some plot to go around the rules, the kids had older brothers who were coached by Logan. Presumably, the older brothers were current players. It stands to reason that young kids, who usually look up to and try to emulate their older brothers, simply wanted to be a part of the team and hang out with their older brothers. They were denied, and that was the end of it.

Clement wants us to believe that was the reason Logan was fired? Some eigtht graders stood on the sideline during part of one game, and some others almost had dinner with the team? Really? That's your reasoning for firing Logan?

Clement and Mullen just keep digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole. Public opinion was already against them, but now it's going to get even worse. Clement keeps putting his foot in his mouth. In a statement, he said, "My handling of the communication and outreach efforts to the Mullen family and the general public in the immediate aftermath of our decision to part company with our coach was handled poorly..."

Ya think?

The vague reasoning and constantly changing stories don't do much for Mullen's credibility. In fact, it comes across as Clement and Mullen trying to cover their own asses while smearing Logan's name to try and salvage their own. If indeed their side of the story is accurate, then they simply come across as incompetent and grossly lacking in PR ability and should not be allowed to run a school.

My money's on the former. Look, I've never been a fan of Mullen, and Logan has always coached schools that are rivals of my own. However, Logan has never been accused of any wrongdoing by CHSAA. By all accounts he is an upstanding and honorable man who is well-liked and admired. He has been a highly-successful coach and coaches the right way. He encourages kids to play other sports in an era of specialization and realizes football isn't everything, unlike many dictatorial coaches these days. He works for free and gives his salary to his assistants. He has taken the high road all throughout this ordeal, unlike Clement.

This whole thing just comes off as an ill-conceived and poorly executed power trip by Clement and Mullen officials. There's no good reason to fire Logan. They simply resented his power and influence. They wanted the spotlight. Well now it's shining on them, and they've proven they can't handle it. I suppose the one benefit to this whole thing is that Clement will get his wish: the football program will no longer be the face of the school because if you're a prospective football player, would you want to play for Mullen after all this? I think not.

Rumors have been rampant that Logan will end up at Cherry Creek, the state's largest high school and one with a rich football tradition of its own. Coach Mike Brookhart stepped down as football coach yesterday (he still remains the head basketball coach), leading to further speculation that Logan will replace him. I despise Cherry Creek-- pretty much every non-Creek student in Colorado does-- but I honestly hope that Logan takes the job and crushes Mullen for years to come.

The Big Picture

Remember one week ago?

The whole state of Colorado was on cloud nine, basking in the glory and good feelings that spewed forth after the Broncos' shocking upset of the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had the league's top-ranked defense, and the Broncos were coming off a three-game losing streak in which they'd looked terrible. Tim Tebow and the offense couldn't even muster a touchdown against a woeful Kansas City team with nothing to play for; how could they hope to do much of anything against the Steel Curtain?

Tebow responded with his best day ever as a pro, throwing for a career-high 316 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Denver jumped all over Pittsburgh in the second quarter, racing out to a 20-6 lead behind numerous deep balls from Tebow. Denver was up 23-13 in the fourth quarter before Ben Roethlisberger brought the Steelers back. The game went to overtime, and on the first play, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas across the middle. Thomas stiff-armed Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor and then outran Taylor and safety Ryan Mundy to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown pass to win the game, setting off raucous celebrations all over Denver. The Broncos had won their first playoff game since January of 2006, and did it in memorable fashion. Tebow Time was alive and well.

Unfortunately, the magic ran out.

The Broncos had to travel to Foxboro to take on the top-seeded New England Patriots in a rematch from the regular season. Denver had won six-in-a-row going into that game and gave the Patriots all they could handle, rushing for 167 yards in the first quarter alone and jumping out to a 16-7 lead. Denver unraveled in the second quarter, turning the ball over on three straight possessions, enabling the Patriots to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Things were going to be different this time around, as there was no way the Broncos were going to turn the ball over like that. New England's porous defense was atrocious all year long, so while Brady figured to put up some points, the Broncos could do some damage of their own.

Or so the theory went.

Brady and the Patriots absolutely demolished the Broncos in a humiliating 45-10 New England victory. Tom Brady threw for a record-tying six touchdown passes against a hapless Denver defense that had no answers. The Patriots marched up and down the field, throwing the ball at will. Brady was 26-of-34 for 363 yards and those six touchdowns with one interception. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught ten passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, and three other Patriots had at least 55 yards receiving. The game was over at halftime as New England went into the locker room up 35-7.

That porous New England defense suffocated Denver's offense, limiting the Broncos to 252 total yards. Tebow was a meager 9-of-26 for 136 yards with no touchdowns. Denver had at least 15 plays where it lost yardage. Frankly, it was embarrassing.

That being said, Bronco fans need to get over the loss and reflect upon the amazing season this team had. It's hard to believe after such a devastating defeat, but this was a great year.

Denver was coming off arguably the worst season in franchise history. The Broncos were an abysmal 4-12 and were lifeless much of the year. The defense was the worst in the NFL, and the offense couldn't run the ball to save its life. Head coach Josh McDaniels became embroiled in a videotaping controversy and was fired, becoming the most reviled figure in Denver sports in some time. The glory days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.

Hell, the mediocre days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.

John Elway was brought in to right the ship and turn things around. He hired John Fox to replace McDaniels, and for the first time in awhile, there was optimism and hope surrounding the franchise. Still, practically all the pundits believed it was going to take some time for Denver to become relevant again.

Sports Illustrated picked the Broncos to finish last in the AFC West. ESPN the Magazine predicted another 4-12 finish. The Broncos were on the right track, drafting lineback Von Miller, but they just had too many holes to fill and not enough talent.

These prognostications seemed to be coming true when the team stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 start. The already shrill cries for backup Tim Tebow became even more prevalent, and the team finally decided to go with the unheralded former Florida quarterback.

What happened next defied reason.

It seems there are two kinds of people when it comes to Tebow: the Haters who believe that he is the worst quarterback in the NFL and has no business running an offense, and the Believers who think he can do no wrong and simply wills his team to victory.

Tebow proved them both right.

Numerous times, he'd look downright horrid for three quarters. Forget about hitting the broadside of a barn, he couldn't even hit the cornfields. Passes were off-target. He'd hold the ball way too long, totally unsure of whether to throw it and who to throw it to. The offense couldn't get a first down, much less put up points.

Then all of a sudden, it was a complete 180. Tebow couldn't miss. He'd fit throws into tight windows and complete nearly every pass he threw. He'd rip off chunks of yardage with his legs to get first downs and keep drives alive. The defense would make a crucial interception or force a key fumble. Marion Barber would ramble out-of-bounds and stop the clock. The Broncos would end up winning in stunning fashion. Denver won six-straight behind Tebow to thrust themselves back in the playoff picture and ended up winning its first AFC West title since 2005.

However, you can't sustain that type of winning. The miracles will run out, and they did against the Patriots. New England exposed this team's holes and showed that much work remains to be done, but this shouldn't come as a surprise. Remember, there was a reason this team was picked by so many experts to do so poorly.

Were the Broncos as good as their record? Probably not. They got incredibly lucky a few times, so this playoff run was ahead of schedule. None of that takes away from what they accomplished this year.

This season showed that the Broncos do have some pieces to work with and that the rebuilding project will not take as long as many feared. The Broncos have the right people and plan in place. More importantly, this team now has confidence in itself. The players know they can compete and win. That culture of losing has been washed away. They believe that they can win any game. Denver won four games this year in overtime and had a couple more fourth-quarter comebacks. That will pay huge dividends down the line because these guys won't get rattled or tight if they are losing in the fourth quarter. They've been there before and overcome the odds.

Like I mentioned above, some of the pieces are in place. Von Miller had an outstanding rookie season and is a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Before he sustained torn ligaments in his hand that limited his effectiveness, Miller formed a fearsome pass rushing duo with Elvis Dumervil. He's only going to get better, and the two of them will terrorize quarterbacks for the forseeable future. Champ Bailey continues to play at a high level, and undrafted rookie Chris Harris was a great find. He showed himself to be a sound tackler and made some plays in coverage this year. He became the team's third corner. Fellow rookie Quentin Carter struggled initially but really came on late in the year, recording a pick in each playoff game. Robert Ayers, a much-maligned draft pick of McDaniels, also came on late, sacking Roethlisberger two times in the playoff win. Broderick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas had solid years up front on the defensive line. Bunkley was a great acquisition, and the defensive line held up much better than was expected.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Broncos were the number one rushing team in the NFL, a drastic departure from the McDaniels Era. Wide receiver Eric Decker had his moments, particularly early in the season, and was the team's leading receiver. Demaryius Thomas came on over the second half of the season and had a monster postseason, racking up an astounding 204 yards receiving on only four catches against Pittsburgh. If those two can stay healthy and cut down on the drops, Denver will have quite an effective tandem at wide receiver. Willis McGahee rushed for over 1,000 yards despite being over 30 years old and provided the kind of tough, inside running the Broncos had lacked. Even when teams stacked the box to stop him, he was still able to grind out the yards. The offensive line, the youngest in the NFL, was solid. They paved the way for the league's leading rushing attack but struggled at times in pass protection. They're young but talented, and will only improve. Their future looks bright.

The special teams were a bright spot for the Broncos. Punter Britton Colquitt had an oustanding season, and were it not for Shane Lechler, likely would have made the Pro Bowl. He constantly pinned teams deep and helped the Broncos win the field position battle. Kicker Matt Prater had his best season yet, kicking big field goals all year long. He hit a 57-yarder to tie the game against Chicago and kicked numerous clutch field goals during the team's winning streak. He also doesn't yield many runbacks on kickoffs. Eric Decker and Eddie Royal both had punt returns for touchdowns this year.

The season showed that the Broncos still have some work to do. As Tom Brady so brutally pointed out, the secondary lacks depth and playmakers. Andre' Goodman was burned badly this year. Percy Harvin abused him, and teams picked on him all year as they stayed away from challenging Bailey. The Broncos didn't record many interceptions or force many turnovers, and that will have to change. Brian Dawkins was hurt late in the year and may have to retire, but when he was healthy, he struggled in coverage. Plus, those guys are getting up there in years. Bailey and Goodman will be 34, Dawkins is 37. The Broncos need to infuse some youth and talent in the secondary to combat all these spread passing attacks. Safety Rahim Moore, the team's second round pick, began the season as the starter but regressed and fell down the depth chart. He was inactive for a couple of games, and the team can't have that from such a high pick. He must improve next year. The defensive line has been a problem for years that, for some inconceivable reason, has never been addressed in the draft. The Broncos seemingly refuse to draft a defensive tackle. Bunkley and Thomas played well, but the team was gashed by the run at times and failed to get pressure once Miller was hurt. More depth is needed, especially at the tackle position.

Nothing needs to improve on offense.

Okay, we all know that's not true as it's been well-documented. Unless you live under a rock, you've heard somebody give his or her opinion aobut Tebow.

Regardless of what you think of the guy or his beliefs, you can't deny that he must improve next year. He completed only 46.5 percent of his passes, and while he will never have Drew Brees' pinpoint accuracy, that number must go up. He needs to make defenses respect him as a passer to take the pressure off the running game. Plus, the team will be able to open up the playbook more if he shows he can make more throws. He also needs to work on his footwork, which will improve his accuracy, and must get better at reading defenses and making quicker decisions. He will have a full offseason with the coaching staff for the first time, which will help immensely. Tebow is known for his tremendous work ethic, so you know that if it doesn't work out, it won't be for lack of trying.

Remember, this was basically his first season as a starting quarterback, so cut him some slack. He's still a young quarterback who has more to learn than most because of the system he ran in college and his style of play. Let's see how he progresses over the offseason and into next year before rendering a final judgment on him.

The team will likely draft a quarterback, and people will go nuts about it. Backup Brady Quinn is a free agent, and if he doesn't re-sign, the team needs a backup. That has nothing to do with Tebow. The interesting part will be in who management decides to bring in. Tebow has been announced as the starter going into next year, but his unique style presents a challenge. People talk a lot about the option, but the team generally ran a normal style of offense: conventional handoffs to McGahee, dropback passes, etc. The Broncos ran more read-option and quarterback draws than most teams, but it wasn't like they all of a sudden became Air Force and were going with the triple-option every play. Drafting a dual threat quarterback makes sense because then the team can run the same plays if Tebow goes down, but a conventional quarterback can work, too, because then you just don't call the option stuff. Personally, I would love to see the Broncos draft Kellen Moore (he's deadly accurate, cool under fire, and all he does is win, even more than Tebow), but a sleeper pick would be Northern Illinois' Chandler Harnish. He's a dual-threat quarterback who averaged over 100 yards rushing a game this past season. He should be available in the later rounds.

Running back is another area that needs to be addressed. McGahee ran well but was bothered with hamstring injuries at times and is over 30. He also lacks top-end speed to break big runs. He needs someone to complement him and give him a breather. Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL and probably lists the trainer's room as his permanent address, but when he has been healthy, he hasn't done much. Lance Ball is a tough player, but he's not the answer. Jeremiah Johnson showed some flashes but wasn't given much of an opportunity. There are always diamonds in the rough when it comes to running back (see: Davis, Terrell and Foster, Arian), so the team shouldn't use a first-round pick on a running back. My Boise State love aside, I would love it if the team drafted the Broncos' Doug Martin. He's a tough, powerful running back with nimble feet who is also a skilled receiver. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead is another guy I wouldn't mind seeing in a Denver jersey. He's quick and makes decisive cuts, and it was fun watching him run in the Liberty Bowl against Vanderbilt. He's not as well-known because the Bearcats throw the ball a lot, but he's been very productive in college.

Wide receivers Decker and Thomas showed flashes of brilliance this year, but not at the same time. Decker was hot early but cooled off and was almost an afterthought down the stretch while Thomas came on late. They must become more consistent for the offense to reach the next level. Both are young and didn't play much as rookies, so they deserve the benefit of the doubt. It typically takes longer for young recievers to make an impact than other positions, but they must make significant strides.

Tight end presents a conundrum. The Patriots have two of the league's best in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and they killed Denver this year. By comparison, the Broncos' tight ends had a whopping one catch in the playoff debacle. Dante Rosario and Daniel Fells are both free agents. However, the team drafted Julius Thomas and Virgil Green last year. It's too early to write them off, especially Thomas. He had a great training camp but suffered an ankle injury against the Bengals and was neither seen nor heard from since. If you have any clues as to the whereabouts of Julius Thomas, please call...

Okay, I digress, but the point is, Thomas was invisible after he was hurt. Green played some on special teams and as a blocker, but I don't recall him having a catch. They need to make an impact next year. Thomas didn't play much tight end in college, so he is still raw. The team knew he was a project when they drafted him, so they shouldn't give up on him. Still, if there's a good tight end available, Denver should pick him up. They just shouldn't do it ahead of more pressing needs.

The season ended sourly, but Denver fans should take heart in what this team accomplished this year. It was a fun ride while it lasted. Nobody expected them to do what they did, yet they made the playoffs and pulled off a shocking upset in one of the most memorable Bronco games in history. The future looks a helluva lot brighter now than it did a year ago, and the Broncos are on the rise. They may take a step back next year against a tougher schedule, but the team will continue to improve.

The AFC West is wide open: San Diego is in decline, and the Chargers' window appears to be closing. Phillip Rivers will always make them competitive, but poor drafts have cost them. The defense lacks playmakers, and the offense has some holes to fill on the offensive line. Antonio Gates has been hampered by injuries, and Vincent Jackson has had some issue. Kansas City will benefit from the return of Jamaal Charles, Tony Moeaki, and Eric Berry from injury, but that team still has significant question marks. Matt Cassel has struggled, and Romeo Crennel's Cleveland teams weren't exactly stellar. The Raiders are, well, the Raiders. They just fired their head coach, and who knows what they are going to do. They put the 'fun' in dysfunctional. Trading for Carson Palmer means they won't have any picks in the first few rounds of the draft this year, so Oakland won't be able to address its issues as easily as other teams.

For the first time in years, things look bright for the Broncos. Optimism abounds, and while the Broncos suffered an ignominious end to the season, it was a success nonetheless. Remember the Miami, San Diego, Chicago, and Pittsburgh games, Broncos fans. Remember how Mile High Magic returned and how we all believed the game wasn't over late in the fourth quarter. Remember Darrelle Revis being afraid to tackle Tebow. Remember Miller laying the boom on Mark Sanchez. Wesley Woodyard stripping the ball from Marion Barber. Ayers lighting up Roethlisberger.

Remember Demaryius Thomas streaking down the sideline to the end zone in overtime.

Those are the images to take away from the 2011 season. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come.

Angriest Playoff Appearance Ever

This past Sunday, the Oakland Raiders lost to the San Diego Chargers, thus clinching the AFC West title for the Denver Broncos. It's the team's first playoff appearance in six years.

Naturally, nobody seems happy about it.

The Broncos backed into the playoffs, losing three straight and making it in despite finishing the season 8-8. The offense has looked terrible the last few weeks (and before that, to be honest). On Sunday, the Broncos lost 7-3 to the Chiefs. Quarterback Tim Tebow had a forgettable day throwing the ball, completing 6 of 22 passes for less than 100 yards. The knock on Tebow coming out of college was that he couldn't throw very well. He wasn't accurate enough, and his throwing motion is too long.

If you don't know what that means exactly, it means that he throws more like a baseball pitcher rather than a quarterback. Pitchers have long windups; their hand drops down near their waist, extends back behind the head, and then comes forward. Quarterbacks throw more like infielders. The ball is held high-and-tight near their head and doesn't go back as far.

Anyway, Tebow quieted his critics during a six-game winning streak that got the Broncos back into playoff contention and included several miraculous come-from-behind wins. That momentum stopped against the Patriots three weeks ago as the Broncos were done in by several costly turnovers. It seemed to sap their confidence.

The Broncos were blown out on the road against an awful Buffalo team that had lost seven in a row, and then laid an egg at home against a Chiefs team that had nothing to play for. Denver hasn't shown that it's capable of playing with the elite teams of the AFC, and it figures to be a short playoff appearance. The Broncos drew Pittsburgh in the first round, and the Steelers are capable of making a Super Bowl run, having done so just last year. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and the Steelers are known for their tough, rugged defense. If Tebow and the offense can only manage a feeble three points against Kansas City, how bad will it be against one of the top defenses in the NFL?

I don't understand why so many Broncos fans are so upset about all this, though. One of my friends said that he'd prefer the Broncos didn't make the playoffs so that they wouldn't be embarrassed on national tv in the playoffs. He was also upset that they played themselves out of a higher draft pick.

I've read numerous posts online from people calling for John Fox to be fired, and others have ranted and raved about how awful this team is.

My question is: why?

One that upsets me about sports fan is how impatient we can be at times. We demand instant success and have unreasonable expectations. If you had said before the season that the Broncos would be 8-8 and make the playoffs, every Denver fan would have taken it. Hardly any would have believed you. Yet now that it happened, few people seem happy about it. It's almost like it's a disappointing season.

Lest we all forget, none of this was supposed to happen. The Broncos were coming off a 4-12 season in which Josh McDaniels, the most reviled and loathed coach in Broncos history, was fired. The team was so terrible that it "earned" the number two pick in the NFL draft, the highest pick in franchise history. Everybody knew this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I remember reading the season previews in SI and ESPN the Magazine; they both picked the Broncos to finish last in the division. One of them predicted another 4-12 season. People figured the Broncos would be in the running to draft Andrew Luck. Denver Post columnists argued that Denver should lose its games so that it could draft Luck.

You don't do that with playoff contenders.

Things didn't go according to script, though, once Tebow was named the starting quarterback. He inspired the team to play better and led them on a six-game winning streak. All of a sudden, the team had an identity: suffocating defense with a strong, punishing running game. It wasn't pretty by any means (it was pretty boring), but it was effective. All of a sudden, Denver was in playoff contention.

Let's face it, a lot of this has been a fluke. You can't rely on luck and getting every break all the time. They even out over time, as we have seen.

The Broncos will most likely get beat this Sunday, but none of us should be upset about it, at least no more so than normal (losing sucks). But this season is already a success. This was supposed to be a multi-year rebuilding project, and it still is. Things just happened to go Denver's way this year that resulted in an improved record. This team needed a big talent infusion to compete with the upper echelon and return to prominence, and that's not going to happen overnight. Cam Newton has torn it up in Carolina, for example, but the Panthers' defense can't stop anybody. Look at the Lions. They had to have several good drafts before they finally had enough pieces in place to make the playoffs this year. It was a gradual process. It'll be the same for Denver.

There are plenty of bright spots, though. Von Miller looks like he's going to be a stud for years, provided he has the use of both hands. Elvis Dumervil has returned to form and has teamed with Miller to give Denver one of the top pass rushing duos in the league. The defense that had been horrendous for years is now fearsome and will only get better provided the team drafts some good corners and safeties to take over for current aging starters Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, and Andre' Goodman. A team can never have too many defensive tackles, either.

The offense is still a work in progress, obviously. Major questions remain, and it all starts with the quarterback position. Tebow will be open next season as the starter. Remember, he's still basically a rookie quarterback who didn't have the benefit of an offseason. I say give him a chance and see how much he improves between now and the start of next year. He has a lot to work on, but if anyone can get it done, it'd be him.

Besides, there aren't really any alternatives. Free agent quarterbacks don't usually pan out; most teams that make it to a Super Bowl do it with homegrown guys. Brady and Rodgers were drafted by their current teams. Drew Brees was a free agent, but he was coming off major shoulder surgery. Matt Flynn, the backup in Green Bay who just set franchise single-game records for passing yards and touchdowns, will be a much-discussed name over the offseason, but he's going to cost a lot of money and is still unproven. Just look at Arizona and Kevin Kolb to see how risky that'd be.

The Broncos should draft a quarterback this year because Brady Quinn will be a free agent, so at the very least, they need a backup. The big question is do you stick with the running offense currently operated by Tebow with its quarterback runs and option plays. If so, then you need a mobile quarterback who can run. If you decide to ditch that and go with a conventional attack, then that opens up options but also takes away Tebow's strengths. That's the major question that will have to be answered.

My personal preference is Kellen Moore. Yes, I am a Boise State fan and am biased, but you can't argue with his results. He was extremely productive in an offense that is fairly close to a conventional pro-style attack and has the benefit of starting all four years in college. He's extremely accurate, smart, and has ice in his veins. He does not get rattled. Tebow supporters always say that all he (Tebow) does is win. Well, Moore is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. He may not be very tall or have the strongest arm, but neither do Drew Brees or Dalton, for that matter. I just hope someone gives Moore a chance.

Russell Martin is much the same way with the benefit of much greater mobility. He's another option that could work out very nicely. He's very accurate, has a lot of experience, and has been very productive. Both guys, along with Brandon Weeden, should be available after the first round. Draft a defensive tackle or cornerback in the first round and pick up a quarterback later.

Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. My point is that the Broncos weren't going to become Super Bowl contenders overnight, so everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. They've come a long way but still have a ways to go. The idea that John Fox should be fired is ludicrous. It makes no sense. He inherited a big mess and a team that was 4-12. In one year, he improved the record by four wins and won the division while changing the offense mid-season. How is that firing-worthy? If anything, he should be a candidate for coach of the year.

Yes, I know there are gripes about the conservative style and overly cautious play-calling, and I get it. I have them myself. It's quite a jarring adjustment for fans used to the high-flying Shanahan days. Those teams were fun to watch, but they also had a ton of talent. This team doesn't have that. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have shown flashes of talent but need to be more consistent. They're still young players, though, so they should be cut some slack. The offensive line is young but talented and paved the way for a strong running attack. A few more pieces are needed, but they're on the right track.

People are critical of the play-calling-- and yes, McCoy should take more chances-- but remember the Miami and Detroit games? Without this current boring style, the Broncos very well could have been 4-12 again. Give Fox and McCoy credit for playing to the team's strengths. Also bear in mind that this switch occurred mid-season, so the players haven't had much time to work on everything. The offense will improve over the offseason once they figure out what type of system they want to run and have a few months to work on it. You also have to give props to Fox for changing tactics mid-season to fit his players. A lot of coaches believe it's the "system" and not the players. As the saying goes, "it's not the X's and O's, but the Jimmys and Joes." Tebow's not a great passer, so having him throw it 30 or 40 times a game makes no sense. Pound away at a defense and wear them out so you have a shot late.

As for the draft pick argument, it's not going to make much of a difference. Is there really a huge talent disparity between the 18th and 22nd picks in the draft? I just can't fathom why some people would prefer the Broncos sucked rather than making the playoffs and at least having a chance. Once you're in, anything can happen. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals a few years ago; they were 9-7 but got hot and made it all the way to the Super Bowl where they were a late drive away from winning the whole thing (they knocked off Fox's top-seeded Panthers that year, too). Look at the Rockies in 2007 or last year's Cardinals. Who's to say that the magic of Tebow Time doesn't come back and spark the Broncos on a magical run? Roethlisberger's hurt, Baltimore's inconsistent, Houston is down to its 972nd quarterback, and the Patriots can't play defense. Stranger things have happened.

The fact is, that high-flying offense that Shanahan had with Cutler and Marshall wasn't good enough to make the playoffs. It camouflaged the team's erosion into mediocrity. Fox's formula works. Defense wins championshps. Give it time.

Regardless of what happens this weekend, it's been a good season here in Denver. For the first time in a long time, there is hope surrounding the team. Optimism abounds rather than pessimism and despair. Another good draft or two, and the Broncos will be back in the thick of things, especially in a weak division.

Relax and have patience, Bronco fans. Success won't happen overnight, but the Broncos are on the right track.