Josh McDaniels' Rocky Start in the Mile High City
Posted July 2nd, 2009 at 09:25 PM by shamika1035
It’s pretty safe to say that Josh McDaniels has had a less than ideal offseason so far. First with trading disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler to Chicago after the QB’s name came up in trade talks. Now Denver’s star receiver Brandon Marshall wants out of the Mile High City. What are the Broncos to do with all the drama?
Well maybe if we go back to the beginning, we might be able to find out where the Broncos went wrong.
It all started on December 30 when head coach Mike Shanahan was fired after failing to make it to the playoffs for the third year in a row. Shortly afterward, McDaniels was hired to replace Shanahan. Despite being upset that Shanahan would not be coaching him in ’09, Jay Cutler was eager to work McDaniels. In an interview with Jim Rome, Cutler talked about losing his head coach. “I was shocked,” said Cutler. “You know, I was in the office the day before talking to him. You know, going over the new year, and talking about what we needed to change. And, you know, I mean I saw it on ESPN like everyone else.” He later explains that his next emotion was anger. “You know, I was a little upset about it. Obviously Mike was there was there when I first got there. I loved playing for him. Loved playing in that system and working with everyday. But we gotta move on.” Later in the interview he had plenty of good things to say about McDaniels. He told Jim Rome that he thought Josh was ready.
Another thing brought by Rome was the issue of respect. Cutler said that respect work both ways. I wonder if anyone ever told Jay that ignoring some one above you disrespectful. I also have to wonder if Cutler wants to take everything he said in this interview.
So what exactly was McDaniels hoping to get by trading the 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback? Matt Cassel. Of Course Josh McDaniels would want Cassel. However, Cassel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Well Cutler was not happy after learning that he had become trade bait and decided he was not going to go to the first team meeting or any of the teams voluntary work outs. Finally on April 2, Cutler was traded to the Bears for Kyle Orton and a number of draft picks.
Then McDaniels made some curious moves in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Broncos selected Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia. This made no sense since Denver had already signed three running backs through free agency. They also drafted Tom Brandstater, a quarterback out of Fresno State. To me it doesn’t make much sense to draft offensive player when the real problem is defense.
Brandon Marshall then decided that he wants his contract restructured. He became an unofficial hold out, and later requested a trade. Okay, we get it. No body wants to be in Denver any more. I think the Mile High City is shrinking these guys’ brains. Haven’t figured out that playing in the National Football League isn’t a right? It is a privilege that they must earn. It’s hard to believe that these guys have been given an amazing opportunity and they still want more.
The whole point of the Rookie symposium is to try and get rookies to understand that they must prove they deserve to be in the NFL. But then you get guys like Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall who forget who they are. There are kids that look up to people like them and all they see are pompous jerks who will cry when something doesn’t go their way, or ask for more when they can’t stay out of trouble.
Okay well I kind of lost track of where I was going with this blog. After all of the Mile high Drama, I must- well I don’t actually have to- make a prediction. The Broncos will finish either 7-9 or 8-8. Either way Denver will not be going to the playoffs.
Well maybe if we go back to the beginning, we might be able to find out where the Broncos went wrong.
It all started on December 30 when head coach Mike Shanahan was fired after failing to make it to the playoffs for the third year in a row. Shortly afterward, McDaniels was hired to replace Shanahan. Despite being upset that Shanahan would not be coaching him in ’09, Jay Cutler was eager to work McDaniels. In an interview with Jim Rome, Cutler talked about losing his head coach. “I was shocked,” said Cutler. “You know, I was in the office the day before talking to him. You know, going over the new year, and talking about what we needed to change. And, you know, I mean I saw it on ESPN like everyone else.” He later explains that his next emotion was anger. “You know, I was a little upset about it. Obviously Mike was there was there when I first got there. I loved playing for him. Loved playing in that system and working with everyday. But we gotta move on.” Later in the interview he had plenty of good things to say about McDaniels. He told Jim Rome that he thought Josh was ready.
Another thing brought by Rome was the issue of respect. Cutler said that respect work both ways. I wonder if anyone ever told Jay that ignoring some one above you disrespectful. I also have to wonder if Cutler wants to take everything he said in this interview.
So what exactly was McDaniels hoping to get by trading the 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback? Matt Cassel. Of Course Josh McDaniels would want Cassel. However, Cassel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Well Cutler was not happy after learning that he had become trade bait and decided he was not going to go to the first team meeting or any of the teams voluntary work outs. Finally on April 2, Cutler was traded to the Bears for Kyle Orton and a number of draft picks.
Then McDaniels made some curious moves in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Broncos selected Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia. This made no sense since Denver had already signed three running backs through free agency. They also drafted Tom Brandstater, a quarterback out of Fresno State. To me it doesn’t make much sense to draft offensive player when the real problem is defense.
Brandon Marshall then decided that he wants his contract restructured. He became an unofficial hold out, and later requested a trade. Okay, we get it. No body wants to be in Denver any more. I think the Mile High City is shrinking these guys’ brains. Haven’t figured out that playing in the National Football League isn’t a right? It is a privilege that they must earn. It’s hard to believe that these guys have been given an amazing opportunity and they still want more.
The whole point of the Rookie symposium is to try and get rookies to understand that they must prove they deserve to be in the NFL. But then you get guys like Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall who forget who they are. There are kids that look up to people like them and all they see are pompous jerks who will cry when something doesn’t go their way, or ask for more when they can’t stay out of trouble.
Okay well I kind of lost track of where I was going with this blog. After all of the Mile high Drama, I must- well I don’t actually have to- make a prediction. The Broncos will finish either 7-9 or 8-8. Either way Denver will not be going to the playoffs.
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