2009 NFL Football Preview - Denver Broncos
Owner Pat Bowlen gave longtime coach Mike Shanahan the pink slip after a three-game skid to end the season and allow San Diego to claim the AFC West at 8-8. Shanahan was long considered a good coach, but things had grown increasingly STALE (synonymmm please) since the Elway Super Bowl years a decade ago. Bowlen went to New England and plucked offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels from the Patriot staff to shake things up. And the 32-year old did, indeed, shake things up. He fired most of the people in the Denver front office who had a great 2008 draft (Ryan Clady and Eddie Royal were the top two picks). |
Then he tried to pick up Matt Cassel, albeit haphazardly. That sent incumbent Jay Cutler into a fury. The talented and established QB is entering his prime, and was sent to the Bears for their QB, Kyle Orton, and two future No. 1 draft choices. In the draft, he traded a No. 1 from next year for a second-
round cornerback that's likely too small or slow to make difference at that position. He also drafted a running back in the first round, eschewing the chance to help a defense that's in dire need of help across the board.
ASK the bookie? - Maybe McDaniels will be proven as a genious and The Bookie will have it all wrong. But this arrogant kid will likely be given a rude awakening to this league by making all of these quirky decisions. The division is so weak that four wins appears almost automatic and three is the absolute worst. But the Broncos make four trips to the east coast this year (San Diego did that last year, and a trip to London just for kicks). There might be
nough banana peels and enough questions that even a wild-card berth looks tough. The Bookie thinks the total of seven (7) wins looks about right. Pass.
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