Introducing MAN CRUSH MONDAYS!!!! (Catching you up today on Friday)

So we all LOVE our Denver Broncos, and Yes it is Friday, so I will be catching you up on a NEW Post I am doing every MONDAY featuring non other than our AMAZING DENVER BRONCO BOYS! So to lead you off .......

The ONE, the ONLY Peyton Manning, aka The Sheriff, aka THE BOSS!

Peyton Manning is one of a kind, a role model on and off the field. Even the LOUD MOUTH from Seattle CB Richard Sherman couldn’t knock the The Sheriff, saying after our devastating loss in Super Bowl XLVIII “He was really concerned about my well-being. After a game like that, a guy who’s still classy enough to say ‘How are you doing?’ To show that kind of concern for an opponent shows a lot of humility and class.” Richard Sherman didn’t stop his praise there as relayed on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show "He’s a Hall of Fame player, he’s a living legend, he’s a record-holding quarterback, he’s a Super Bowl champion, he’s been a Super Bowl MVP," On February 2, 2014 Sherman even took to his Twitter saying “Peyton is the Classiest person/player I have ever met! I could learn so much from him! Thank you for being a great Competitor and person” and “There is no reason to bash him on here please Seattle let's just enjoy this one!!!! He is still a Future HOF player” (source ~ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1946920-richard-sherman-touts-class-act-gesture-by-peyton-manning-after-2014-super-bowl?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national). 

Manning involves himself in many community projects, reaching out to fans, most recently sending a letter to the Ricketts family; Manning sent an autographed picture and a hand written letter. Gayle Ricketts wrote to the Denver Broncos QB letting him know that her grandson, Logan, who had been killed by a drunk driver, idolized him as a player. The last thing the family expected was a response, but that is what they got, Manning told the family he was honored Logan was such a big fan. (Source ~http://www.14news.com/story/29391644/teen-killed-by-drunk-driver-gets-birthday-gift-from-peyton-manning) 

Peyton Manning never boasts about his numerous community service projects he established such as the PeyBack Foundation, which awards scholarships to the University of Tennessee, donates 25 tickets to every Broncos preseason and regular season home game to youth-serving organizations in Colorado and awarding grants of $1 million to community organizations supporting programs serving youth and at risk children and families in 144 community agencies in Colorado, Tennessee, Louisiana and Indian. Please see http://www.peytonmanning.com/ for the MANY community service projects that Peyton Manning has either partnered with or established himself. 

Lets all congratulate Manning on his recent ESPY Award! 

Manning’s exceeded Brett Favre with career touchdown No. 509 last season (2014) was named the Best Record-Breaking Performance of the past year by ESPY voters. Congrats!!! A Mile High Salute!!! 

Never Count Yourself out When Peyton is your QB!

 

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Much Love 

K@tes 

Post Season Catch-up

As I have milked my wounds at the embarrassing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII with a final score of 43 – Seattle, 8 – Denver I am finally able to write about the postseason and the developments around the league. As the end of March approaches and news of Champ Bailey being released sets in, as well as Eric Decker signing a five-year $36.25 million contract with the New York Jets on March 12, 2014. With the first Bronco to go on March 11 being Guard Zane Beadles who signed a 30 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Maybe no Super Bowl contender there but hey who can pass up 30 million? With the retirement of Chris Kuper, the cap money freed up enough for John Elway and Head Coach John Fox to move fast signing Safety TJ Ward to a 23 million 4 year contract, Defensive End DeMarcus Ware to a 3 year 30 million contract and in the most surprising move Cornerback Aqib Talib to a 6 year 57 million contract.
In true fashion from Bill Belichick, the drama in signing Aqib Talib was the controversial Wes Welker hit knocking out Talib in the AFC Championship Game, infuriating in Patriots coach. Belichick of course attempted to call the hit illegal, but the NFL ruled otherwise. Talib holds no grudges and believes Welker did nothing wrong. No drama there, thank goodness as they are teammates now. 

The Broncos are also hoping to keep several starters that ended the last season on injured reserve back in the lineup. Defensive end Derek Wolfe, defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris and safety Rahim Moore all who started for Denver in 2013 and ended the season on injured reserve.

So are the Broncos looking at Wide Receivers in the upcoming draft? Currently we have Wes Welker and Demaryius Thomas, only problem there both of their contracts expire next year. However the Broncos retained Andre Caldwell and Emmanuel Sanders, both of whom played reserved roles last year. And Sanders will be able to fill multiple roles. Reportedly the Broncos are still interested in Moreno, but so far nothing has been offered. Of course we have tight end Julius Thomas, so our offense is still looking pretty good, with the hopes of everyone staying healthy, including our starting Quarterback Peyton Manning. There is competition coming straight from the practice squad, Nathan Palmer and Greg Wilson and reserve-future signee Jordon Norwood. Norwood coming from Cleveland had 36 receptions for 405 yards and a touchdown in 16 games during the 2011-2012 seasons. It may be unlikely Elway is done with Wide Receivers, but it does seem with Caldwell and Sander resigned we are set. So bring on the Draft.

Other News around the League

It is with deepest regret that Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson passed away at the age of 95, the news was announced Tuesday March 25, 2014 by the Bills. Wilson was the longest active owner in the NFL and inducted into the Pro-Football hall of fame in 2009. He was also co-founder of the American Football league. Wilson was a World War II veteran; he purchased the Buffalo Bills in 1959 making the Bills one of eight original American Football teams which also included the Denver Broncos. Ralph Wilson will truly be missed as one of the true American Football Founders and leaders. May he Rest in Peace.

The 4th Quarter's Defining Image, Manning Down

Tonight as the two minute warning hit, the Broncos still in possession of the ball and up by eight points, we all stopped breathing for a minute as San Diego's Corey Liuget went below the knees and took Peyton Manning down. Manning having just completed a 9 yard pass to Demaryius Thomas was struggling to get up. If your heart didn't drop, and think, or scream GET UP, GET UP, I am not sure if you realize how serious this could be. The clock stopped, a time out was called and the medical personal ran out onto the field to check the damage on our QB. Just to clarify in the NFL rule book, Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9 (e) A rushing defender is prohibited from forcibly hitting in the knee area or below a passer who has one or both feet on the ground, even if the initial contact is above the knee. However in note 2 it also states: It is not a foul if the defender swipes, wraps, or grabs a passer in the knee area or below in an attempt to tackle him. 

So the question was it legal? No penalty was called and it seems as if the refs went with the exception. I personally disagree.

 

If you have been following the Broncos this year, Manning has been on the injury report since week 7, and a lot of speculation went around as he and several other players were given a day off in week eight before our match-up with the Redskins. Much of the attention went to Manning missing practice for the first time since becoming the Broncos star QB, both Coach Fox and Manning stating ankle problems as the reason for the day off. Coming off the BYE, Manning stated he was feeling better, but as he was sacked twice in the lower area in tonight’s game, the much needed rest on his ankles may not be enough. Monday Manning will go in for his second MRI in as little as three weeks. With the big game against KC next week and an excellent shot at a Super Bowl win, the team, fans and Manning are hoping for nothing but a normal MRI.

So what does this mean for next week? It’s the game we have been waiting for all season, the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. We will host the Chiefs at home and Manning is not looking to miss out on this game. Feeling sore, and right now our superstar QB has no intentions of being sidelined. Thinking positive and looking at this from an outside perspective, Manning stayed in the game, he is a fighter. After all he endured throughout his surgeries and has come through superseding his previous MVP years, proves he is a fighter. After the take down Manning did what needed to be done, he got that 1st down, keeping focus on the game and not his pain. That 1st down gave us our eighth win, ending the game at 28-20 and moving our record to 8-1.

As week 11 begins and news about the injuries from tonight game and the MRI results on Manning are released, Broncos fans - Keep the Faith! One thing going forward Manning needs to be better protected, in the last 3 games Manning took some hard sacks, no excuses he is our QB and his protection needs to be tightened up. We need Manning and our weapons healthy; the next 3 games (KC, NE, and KC) are important games and will challenge us at every level.

So for tonight, here’s to a win, a healthy report for our players and the game of the season next week! Keep that Mile High Pride shinning fellow Bronco Fans!



K@tes

Walking into Week 10, Minus 1

As week 9 in the NFL came to a close, and a much needed break for the Broncos, the week did not pass without changes and some bad news from the home front. John Fox, Denver’s head coach was rushed to the hospital on Saturday November 2, after feeling light-headed while playing golf. The following Monday Fox underwent a successful aortic valve replacement surgery. The verdict is still out on how long Fox will be sidelined, according to Dr. Eric Skipper, the Medical Director of Adult Cardiac Surgery at the Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute (Dr. Skipper was not a part of the team who performed the surgery), the general recommendation for recovery can be up to 10 weeks. Including easing back into normal activates and especially heavy lifting. 10 weeks is a long time, especially in the middle of football season and with the Broncos 7-1 record no time was wasted in advancing Jack Del Rio to the interim head coach, who will also continue his duties as the defensive coordinator.

The question lingers, what will change? Not a lot according to many players on the team. While some teams may be thrown for a loop losing their head coach in the middle of the season, the Broncos are as prepared as possible to cope with the absence of their head coach. Of course many of the players will also have to step up, including leader Peyton Manning, who’s famous for coaching on the field as it is. Many of the other players have stepped forward as well, according to Terrance Knighton (defensive tackle) stating that there is more urgency now to not allow the season to end as it did last year, although Fox will not be there, Del Rio has no intentions of replacing him and to reinforce his message – We are not coming up short this year.

As week 10 opened and the week 10 NFL power rankings were released, we have once again gripped the top spot, and although the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated I think it is pretty clear that many still believe we are the team to beat and the Chiefs are not the best team in the NFL (we are ranked 3rd according to NFL.com). The battle between US and the Chiefs has drawn so much attention that our game in week 11 was moved from 2:05 MST to the Sunday Night Football spot. And the following week we are up in the Sunday Night prime-time schedule again against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The move in week 11 was a smart one, it will give the Broncos their spot to take the Chiefs head on and show that we are the strongest team in the AFC West and League. Week 11 can’t come soon enough.

As we approach the game this Sunday – remember the San Diego Chargers? I know I am looking forward to KC too (I thought we were playing them this weekend!) one week at a time :). Let’s compare what we are up against. Firstly, taking a look at our offense this season, well it has been epic, as in NFL EPIC! Currently we rank first in yards per game (466.4), passing yards per game (358.5) and points per game (42.9). I am also going to throw this out there (because I can), our 42.9 average is 12.9 points higher than the Chicago Bears who has the second highest scoring offense in the league, and they are putting up 30 points per game. Not only do we have some incredible weapons including Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno (to name a few),we have “The Sheriff” as they are calling him. Peyton Manning is first in passer rating (119.4), yards (2,919), touchdowns (29) and completions (237) and second incompletion percentage (71.2) and average yards per pass (8.77). And while it is true that the chargers QB Phillip Rivers has the highest completion percentage of any QB at 72.2 percent, their offence still is nowhere near ours. Rivers currently ranks third in passer rating (106.5), fourth in touchdowns (19) and average yards per pass (8.38), and is tied for fifth in completions (213).

As for the defense sadly the Chargers franchise-record of 12 straight quarters without permitting a touchdown came to an end last week against Washington, allowing four touchdowns in the red zone. They also scored their first defensive touchdown of the season off of a ricocheted pass in the end zone. Players to watch on the Chargers side, Eric Weddle who is leading the team with 62 tackles, and both Jarret Johnson and Corey Liuget both with 3 sacks each. In comparison the Broncos possess a resourceful defense leading the NFL with 13 interceptions. Danny Trevathan and Chris Harris Jr. each hold the team with three picks individually. Trevathan is also Denver’s front runner defense in tackles with 59, not far behind is Duke Ihenacho’s 50 tackles. To top that off former Charger Shaun Phillips has 6.5 of the team’s 22 sacks. Trends are leading towards the Broncos for Sunday’s game, as the Broncos have a 9-3 record in their last 12 divisional road games, whereas the Chargers are 1-5 in the last 6 divisional home games.

Our biggest disadvantage is Head Coach Mike McCoy, Denver’s former offensive coordinator. McCoy played a key role in attaining the talent that is now playing on the roster. He has studied our offensive players and instituted game plans around our strengths and weaknesses. I would say this gives him an exclusive perception on attacking our offense. McCoy also has knowledge on key players such as Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Julius Thomas allowing him to provide his team with an understanding on how to handle these dangerous play-makers in remote match-ups. However the most dangerous knowledge McCoy perhaps, possesses is his relationship with Manning. McCoy knows all about Manning's restrictions as a passer, including his arm strength, velocity and touch on vertical throws. Looking back at losses in the last two years harassing Manning seems to be the key to rattling the Broncos; I have to ask would McCoy advise his defensive coaches to target a specific lineman too beat Manning, taking him down? And this point there is no doubt in my mind he will and is. McCoy could in reality be the one to lead the Chargers' defenders on how to play and possibly beat “The Sheriff”; after all he overhauled the offense to suit Manning’s game while in Denver. No doubt the Broncos have anticipated this and will adjust the game in their favor. After all as much as McCoy may be a disadvantage, he could also be just as much of an advantage, relationships run two ways so I am confident we have his weaknesses in mind as well.

As for the Broncos going 8-1, I am confident. This will be a challenging game and just the kind of warm up we need before we play KC in week 11. After a week off and some adjustments I think we are going into week 10 as a stronger team. I know that our players will be there winning for Coach Fox! This one's for you!


Always ~

K@tes