Dylantp20

Going into this years superbowl I was honestly very torn. On the one hand I HATE the Patriots (sorry pat's fans, I know it's a tough pill to swallow but your team isn't real well liked outside of your fanbase) and secondly, I'm not a big fan of the manning family. So it came down at the time to which I hated more, the pats or mannings.....I basically decided that no matter how much I disliked either the games outcome was already set....the pats were just the "better" team. But after watching part of the game I realized a few things, Eli isn't his brother Payton Manning (who I've grown to hate over the years as well) he's doesn't go running to the sidelines screaming at his wide receives whenever he under throws the ball, he doesn't cry and moan when he gets hit, he plays football and plays it well. After watching him escape a scramble that you would expect out of someone like Brett Favre or elway back in the day but never from Eli Manning he really earned a lot of respect from me because not only did he get away from huge amounts of pressure he kept his cool and launched the ball down the field to David Tyree who made an impressive and improbable catch to keep the drive and the Giants hopes alive and capped the drive off with a beautiful corner of the endzone pass to Plaxico Burress who had done next to nothing all game but was there when they needed it.

All in all this game renewed my faith in the NFL and reminded me that even the superteams that are supposedly unbeatable can be taken down and that's really why we watch, to see the unexpected. When the giants started the season out 0-2 I really doubt anyone had them pegged as superbowl winners (or playoff contenders) but that's just what makes the NFL so great, the 10-6  giants can take down the 16-0 patriots because it's not about which team is better it's about who wants it more, who has more heart.

The other big thing this game did for me is remind me just why it is that I didn't like the patriots to begin with, they are smug arogant and despite finishing the regular season with a better regular season record than any other team in NFL history (yes better than the 72 Dolphins as well since they played a shorter season) they still decide to completely abandon the field as soon as the game ended, funny enough Randy Moss was the only pat to really stick around and give his congratulations to the pats, Tom Brady, Bill Billacheck and the rest of the pats turned tail and ran for the locker room (billacheck did it before the game was even actually over) I never thought that out of all the players on that team Randy Moss would be the one with the most class who actually stuck around to act civil, for that Randy I salute you! Job well done!

Now before any pats fans rip me to shreds realize this, yes I do have a hatred for you, and it's mostly because your team has won so darn much, that's why most people hated the Cowboys in their glory days and why I can't stand any of the hendrick motor sports guys (speaking of which I'll have something to blog about come the 17th Daytona baby!!!) It also doesn't help that you've got a VERY VERY smug coach who has very smug remarks for everything during interviews...I have respect for your team and it's players I just flat out don't like them, it's almost like the Raiders, Chargers, Chiefs, even though the pats arn't in the same division as the bronco's I think there's a bit of a rivalry going on there and I just flat out haven't ever liked the pats (ok that's not completely true, I wanted to see them beat green bay back in the day when bledsoe was still around)

But when all is said and done, this has been all around a decent year, sure my team sucked (bad) but it's been good football all year, expecially through the playoffs and I think I can say I enjoyed football more this year than I have in awhile (probably since the last time the Broncos won a superbowl of their own against green bay since the Atlanta superbowl was a joke....we creamed them!!) I can't wait for next year however it's now time for the NFL to move over and make room for nascar!! Daytona 500 hear we come!!

Oh yea and Go Bobby Labonte!!!

The answer probably, but at least a few good things have happened so far in the off season, number one on that least being that Jim bates has left the building. I'm still not sold on Bob Slowik his replacement being the "savior of our defense" but one can hope, since he's been looking over our defensive backs we've always had a strong secondary and the players from what I've read really like him and say he's one of the best coaches they've ever played under because he really listens to his players and works the system around the players (unlike bates who tried to work players around the system and make players work with that system even though their talents would be best used elsewhere)

A couple things I think need to happen in the off season, first and foremost we need to kick Travis Henry's butt out the door, with Javon Walker being next in line if he keeps shooting his mouth off. The one thing this team doesn't need is a bunch of players with a me first attitude.......we need guys that will play for the team and not the name on the back of the jersey. Second thing I think needs to happen is we need to really work on our lines (both offensive and defensive) we took a huge hit with Matt Lepsis calling it quits and losing Tom Nalen partway through the season for sure had an impact on the running game (the passing game looked ok we just couldn't run the ball down the center without Nalen there)

Another thing I'd like to see happen this off season is bringing back Al Wilson (provided that he's healthy enough to come back) I've heard some comment on the last thing we need is some paralyzed guy laying in the grass however what those people may or may not remember is John Lynch came back from something similar and has played great for us for the most part free of injury (until this year) Al was the heart and soul of the Denver defense and while some may say his play was "slipping" I his play most of the year was excellent until he sustained a neck injury and was cleared to keep playing anyways without getting it corrected. To see Al come back (even in a limited roll as run downs only) would be a great boost for this team as he has always been a great leader and motivator on the defensive side of the ball.

The things I look forward to the most next year is seeing guys like Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall having pro-bowl years next year (something I think will happen) Cutler had one of the most surprising years for someone who is really a "first year QB" when it boils down to it. Broncos fans knocked his play a lot but when you compare his play this year to that of some of the all time greats in their first full year his stats are excellent and a sign of how great he can truly become. As far as Marshall he had an outstanding sophomore year posting 102 catches (one of only six players to do that this year) 1,325 and 7 TD's with an average YPC of 13. Even if Walker doesn't come back next year (which I doubt he does) Denver will still be more than alright in it's receiving core, between Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler and Brandon Stokley Denver racked up 2509 Yards this year.

The one place aside from the offensive line of course, that I feel Denver could use some help on during the off season is the RB and FB positions. There have been rumors that Denver could end up going after Greg Jones from Jacksonville in the off season (who is an UFA) However I wouldn't expect Jacksonville to give him up he's one of the 3 best FB's in the AFC. I would like to see Denver use at least one draft pick on a good RB then use the remainder of the picks patching up our defensive line (if we don't manage to pick anyone up through the FA market)

But basically when it boils down to it, will the broncos suck in 08? Most likely so I would expect no better than an 8-8 season but with the amount of youth this team has I wouldn't be surprised at all if they end up being a deep playoff team in the next year or two once the young players start to gain some experiance.

oh well I doubt anyone checks mine anyways!!!