Overwhelmed by Bebe Kids

Again I feel I should explain as I’ve let time and headlines roll on by without much to say, and while part of it is by design (you know me… I like to sit and watch the city burn before I assess the realistic damage), I had no plans to let it go this long. But I have been making a contribution to society… maybe stimulating the economy a lil’ bit…

… and gettin’ overwhelmed, by Bebe kids.

The stories floating around Mile High’s finest haven’t been as engaging as you might have hoped. We’d start with recognition of the promotion of Don Martindale (I’m not calling him “Wink”… like Highlander, there can be only one)…

… to defensive coordinator. I commented on Twitter that nearly every report made the day of this announcement was “rather vague” in that, while there are achievements, there is nothing at the college level that screams memorable dominance and he has never seen any time in anything but a secondary role at the professional level. He was a defensive coordinator of IAA schools in college, and our friend Kyle notes one year in which the team ranked sixth in yards allowed per game. He mentions Cincinnati and Notre Dame in seasons I wouldn’t recall as noteworthy resume bullets. In the professional ranks he has been a linebacker coach, and while I would agree with Kyle in noting there have been players at the position for the Broncos that have shined under his care, I would also suggest the ability to evaluate and draft that talent fell on bigger shoulders (that would be shared by Mike Shanahan – Elvis and DJ – as well as a small taste of Josh – Andra Davis).

There just isn’t much meat on that bone… until I read this report from Mike Klis at the Post. The connection and level of respect shown by the Ryan family towards Martindale is all I need to know. If there is anything I would associate with potential for this position it would be a tie to that family and a lean towards this style of football.

You are talking about a tree with the most impressive roots you would ever hope to see. I have been open and honest about my ties to Chicago (and yes, I am excited for the arrival of Mike Martz in Chitown, not to mention Mike Tice) and a suggestion that Martindale would share carry the same goals and theories and desires is alluring to say the least. You have to admit the Jets’ defense was rather impressive this year as well… I think that connection is as revealing and, I hope, rewarding as any.

BTW, the guy we thought would be getting the job ended up in Baltimore… that doesn’t really fall in line with the rumors put forth that had Pees working the vines for some big promotion elsewhere that supposedly tainted the pursuit by Denver. He actually took a step backward if you ask me. What up with that, Florio? Opie finally called him on it here.

The entire world is gettin’ their uproar on about Bryant McKinnie and his decision to blow off the Pro Bowl (and another… and another… and another… and another, though this one is pretty good… it goes on forever). Normally we would pay this no mind as the Pro Bowl has never and will never be covered from this spot… I despise the Pro Bowl and all of the demonstration “all-star” games that are offered through professional sports… but this is a story I will acknowledge on several levels, the first being my own submission that McKinnie didn’t deserve to be there in the first play. If you left the Minnesota season saying anything it was either “that coach is a total turd” or “Brett Favre got beat down,” and that’s an undeniable truth in review of McKinnie’s season. The guy has the talent to be one of the most dominating pass protectors in the history of the game (and was headed in that direction under Mike Tice… that’s why I’m excited to see him land in Chicago folks) and he officially ceased to live up to that potential.

However, I would be honest in suggesting that (a) I find McKinnie’s form of reversal on this commitment no more offensive than the same decision made much earlier by Philip Rivers, (b) I find no reason to suggest that any offensive lineman volunteer time to this game (they are the players absolutely guaranteed to be in harm’s way by the simple act of participating), and (c) I would suggest that any owner not asking their players to withdraw is putting forth a much more viable reason for my complaint. I don’t want the commodities of teams I support to be on the field risking any form of injury in games that aren’t tied to the team’s success… whether it’s Larry Fitzgerald taking surfing lessons or Ben Roethlisberger sporting a crotch rocket or Bryant McKinnie protecting the sixth, seventh, and/or eighth choices for the NFC at quarterback, I find it hard to suggest that a game that means nothing is worthy of this much risk.

And don’t give me that financial debate either… the NFL has no problems generating profit and could do just as well, if not better, with some good ol’ fashion fun that didn’t put these guys in the line of fire.

If I was Pat Bowlen I would have called Elvis and said, “Listen, I’m going to pay our Pro Bowl bonus plus 25% and we’re getting your agent in here now to talk about this new deal, so take the day off and enjoy the beach.” No one cares.

Besides, I find this headline much more juicy, and in all honesty, much more offensive (and no, he didn’t reply because he’s not all that anxious to tell it like it is… like most).

The NFL wants to claim they own rights to this that local fans can’t use the slogan or in any way make a profit off of those two words… and where is the uproar of national support on this? Type it into Google… NFL + Who Dat… you have one link on that front page noting opposition to the NFL’s stance. You get to the bottom of page 2 before you find another story noting any disdain for the NFL’s incredibly ridiculous take on this, but the original source of the story (or at least the first to break it online) was also, once again, the wisest. There is a reason the Wall Street Journal can pull of what so many other newspapers can’t: they do it better so you don’t mind paying for it if necessary online. They hit this from both sides rather than offering the bland AP offering that fails to dive into local sentiment and, you know, the facts.

You can’t fight with the biggest bully in the yard… and I don’t understand why the NFL feels they need to act like it.

Seems most are starting to turn to talk of the NFL Draft and that means most are either wonder who the Broncos will draft and if that will include Tim Tebow, because everyone loves Tim Tebow. Actually, it feels like everyone doesn’t love Tim Tebow because all we can talk about is his troubles in taking snaps… like so many of the quarterbacks in the NFL these days are taking snaps from under center all that often, like other collegiate passers aren’t finding the same woes (or others), and like most of the teams shouldn’t be worried about other things.

(Quick note… Mort from ESPN did this guy a favor in tweet praise for his site and now I feel like a jerk for missing it for this long… at this time of year you should hit up MoveTheSticks.com… Mort’s right, he’s doing an AWESOME job.)

Turning back to Denver, the talks also revolve around the pending trade of Brandon Marshall, which seems to be all but a certainty at this point. If you hit the search engines again you’ll find rumors sending him to Cleveland, Baltimore, the Jets, the Bears, the Niners, and others. Whatever… I want to know what’s coming back in return.

The general consensus would put, if Josh goes after draft picks, a 1st and 3rd in Denver’s lap. If it were my fantasy team I’d trade him to move up in the 1st with a 3rd and 5th this year and, of course, a player… and I wouldn’t be looking at wide receiver so much as other pressing needs, say defensive lineman or maybe even tight end. One team not mentioned above that might make sense is Tennessee, working a sign-and-trade for local product Bo Scaife. The Titans would like to get something for Scaife… they have multiple players worthy of the franchise tag… I’m not sure the change in draft positions means too much but I think there would be positive options to discuss there.

I’d say of the teams listed in rumors online, the Jets and the Niners make the most sense to me (though I don’t envision, as put forth in the story linked, Michael Crabtree as the target of choice for Denver… that Niners squad has some great young defensive commodities many of which were drafted by Mike Nolan, so they would tend to be a natural fit with the work done in Season 1 of the McDaniels experience). For me, a trade in the 1st with a 3rd and Justin Smith might make sense (if you don’t mind the continued emphasis of experience on D)… or if you want to go way off the reservation of sanity…

… why not inquire about Vernon Davis?

Other news/links of note…

… the Football Outsiders show the Broncos enjoyed some of the best health in the league.

… thought Thomas George, former member of the team at the Post, had a take on Shanahan that sounded awfully familiar to another take from our own scene.

… another local boy made good, Bill Williamson thinks Josh will sink or swim with Martindale.

… my favorite read of the week.

… I’m telling you… it will be a mistake if the Broncos do not consider Taylor Mays, though most would be happy to see this.

… you will enjoy this. Well, at least I did… Sam, you might want to stay away you right-wing nut job.

…. here’s another edition (3 of 4) of the Blogger Blitz from my good friend Josh at Bronco Zone.

… think the Rams could move north of the border? Bernie thinks so.

… I’ll be drafting Joe Flacco in fantasy leagues again next year.

… a solid look at the evolution of the Denver rushing attack for 2010.

… a different way to look at the upcoming draft from good friend Steve O’Reilly at the Skinny Post.

… if you are into golf.

… if you are into seams.

… if you are into hoops.

… if you like Balls Deep.

… if you just like ball…

… if you like to think ahead.

… if you like to think at all.

And that’s all I’ve got… sorry it took me so long.

Thanks for stopping in.

Tags: 1985 Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Bo Scaife, Brandon Marshall, Bryant McKinnie, Buddy Ryan, Chicago Bears, Dan Williams, Dean Pees, Denver Broncos, Don Martindale, Josh McDaniels, Mike Martz, Mike Tice, MoveTheSticks.com, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL Draft, Pat Bowlen, Pro Bowl, Rex Ryan, Russ Tucker, San Francisco 49ers, Taylor Mays, Vernon Davis, Who Dat