Commentary with an Overtone

Over the last two weeks I have been focused on various updates for the mothership as well as publication duties for the coming NFL Draft and I return to find one of my favorite members of the Broncos has been released.

I stated my adoration for Casey Wiegmann shortly after entering the Stable (not quite one year ago) and expected he would be the leader of men under the new regime. On numerous occasions I pointed to Wiegmann as my crutch for hope. Just two weeks ago I put forth offensive line updates on the AFC West and, while struggles were noted on the interior, we put the full force of the blame on the guard positions. In film study there were signs of trouble, but the undying sense of failure at the positions on both sides of Wiegmann led me astray.

I didn’t want to believe Wiegmann was falling short. And to be fair, neither did Josh.

Coming into training camp, I wasn’t the only one using Wiegmann as the crutch for hope. While the roster was suffering massive overhaul at various positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive backfielders), the offensive line remain unchanged. Not only did it remain unchanged but Wiegmann was rewarded with a new two-year contract extension paying him enough duckets to rank his services among the most costly in the NFL at the position.

I don’t believe McDaniels and Xanders signed on for the plan thinking one year later that number would be used as a convenient and totally justified gain for the salary cap (if there is one).

None of us thought Wiegmann was going to be an issue. We all thought he would be the bull at the front of the herd… but he wasn’t. In another offensive line offering produced during a small break from the blog (the NFC East) I spoke at length about the Dallas Cowboys and the fates dealt by simply getting old. In 2008 that crew was responsible for what was one of the most feared offenses in the league, supporting Marion Barber, a late-season surge from Felix Jones, and Tony Romo. In 2009 Flozell Adams turned old, Marc Colombo turned old, and everything crumbled from there.

In Denver it was Wiegmann turning old, suddenly looking like less of a Pro Bowler and more of a 37-year-old veteran in his fading years… but I didn’t analyze it that way coming in. Josh didn’t analyze that way coming in. None of us saw it coming and, without notice, like Flozell and Colombo, he just got old.

The hard part is that I still wasn’t saying it when the season ended. I pointed the finger at the guards, assumed their failures and downfalls were to blame for it all, and continued to keep the faith. Maybe I didn’t want to believe the Broncos needed this many pieces to get back on track. Maybe I wanted to believe Wiegmann and his contract were signs of confidence and not liability. Maybe I didn’t want to be wrong.

I was (at least I had good company). His game and his paychecks were liabilities. And the Broncos do need that many pieces.

Thanks for stopping in.

Tags: Casey Wiegmann, Josh McDaniels, NFL Draft