Atlas
04-03-2005, 09:24 AM
Broncos' season going to the dawgs
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Sports Columnist
The ghosts of Mile High and Cleveland Municipal, buried beneath parking lots where their hallowed stadiums once stood stately, must be clanking in their crypts.
Three legendary American Football Conference championship games were played between the Broncos and the Cleveland Browns in the Januarys of 1987, 1988 and 1990.
The Broncos were reviled in Cleveland. The Browns were laughed at in Denver. The Browns never have gotten to the Super Bowl because of the Broncos. The Broncos dropped three Super Bowls after beating the Browns.
A tale of two cities. Those playoff games were the best of times in Denver, and it was the worst of times in Cleveland. The Broncos won on The Drive, The Fumble and The Blowout. Cleveland lost the games, then its franchise.
So, 15-18 years later, the Browns and the Broncos are a couple of also-rans in the NFL.
How did they get joined at the hip suddenly?
Four of the Browns' defensive linemen - two tackles, two ends - and a line coach have jumped to the Broncos. The Broncos' leading rusher has run to Cleveland.
You got your oranges and blues and browns all mixed up.
Good thing the Bros aren't playing next season. We'll discuss the schedule momentarily.
Some people - well, some several hundreds of thousands of people - in Colorado are asking why the Broncos would trade for three Browns and sign a fourth as a free agent when none has distinguished himself as an all-pro stalwart, and considering that the Broncos have an all-pro stalwart in Trevor Pryce whom they have agreed to trade.
Well, Pryce was injured last year.
As was Courtney Brown, the defensive end the Broncos wooed as a free agent.
Out with the Big Hurt, in with another, Bigger Hurt.
This defensive end Ebenezer should come in handy at Christmas.
Bah, humbug! say Broncos fanatics.
Michael Myers should be helpful at Halloween. Is he that scary movie character or the comedian who played Austin Powers?
Does Courtney Brown change his name to Courtney Bronco?
Gerard Warren?
It is good to remember the Browns finished last season with a 4-12 record, and new coach Romeo Crennel thought so little of those four defensive linemen and assistant coach Andre Patterson he let them go - unceremoniously. Crennel was a defensive coordinator on an NFL dynasty, so he must know defensive players. Patterson is now a defensive front coach, not to be confused with a defensive backs coach.
Cleveland's plain dealers are claiming the Browns are better off without the four, while the Broncos are claiming they are better with the quartet.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Then there is Reuben Droughns, who was transformed from fullback to tailback, from nobody to somebody, in 2004.
Cleveland reportedly is interested in inducting Droughns into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.
First, the city might want to consider those other 1,000-yard runners who have departed Denver.
Olandis Gary, who replaced the gimpy Terrell Davis, did 1,159 yards for the Broncos in 1999, then sat. The Detroit Lions obtained Gary in 2003. He rushed for 384 yards, then didn't play in 2004.
Clinton Portis was the league's leading rusher in 2003 with 1,591 yards, a 5.5-yard average and 14 touchdowns. After whining about a new contact, Portis was sent to the Washington Redskins for "shut down" (shut up?) cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis was underutilized initially by the Redskins before winding up with 1,315 yards. But he managed only five rushing touchdowns, and his average carry dropped to 3.8 yards.
Don't other teams get it?
The Broncos can turn Droughns and drones into 1,000-yard runners with their blocking schemes.
But can the Broncos turn this bunch into a championship team? I can't twist my mind to make that work. They have been outscored 90-34 in two playoff games by Indianapolis; the Broncos don't seem to be improved, and San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City do seem to be improved.
The Broncos will be fortunate to end up with a 3-3 split in the division.
They play both Super Bowl teams, New England and Philadelphia. Yes, they get them in Denver, but that new stadium is not a home advantage, and the Eagles and the Patriots are superior. In addition to San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City, the other opponents in Denver for the Broncos are the New York Jets, Washington and Baltimore.
Not one is a homecoming or a Hostess kind of game.
And there are no bargains on the road. The Chargers were in the playoffs last season, and the Raiders and the Chiefs will compete for postseason spots this year. The AFC West has returned to prominence. Two New York teams - the Giants (the other Manning) and the Buffalo Bills - will be hard (especially if they're late in the season in the bitter cold) - and two Florida teams - Miami (with a fresh coach) and Jacksonville - will be difficult (especially if they're early in the season in the oppressive heat). You have to believe Bill Parcells will have Dallas cowboying up (especially if it's Thanksgiving).
Where's an Arizona, a New Orleans or a Detroit on the schedule?
Or the Cleveland Browns?
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Sports Columnist
The ghosts of Mile High and Cleveland Municipal, buried beneath parking lots where their hallowed stadiums once stood stately, must be clanking in their crypts.
Three legendary American Football Conference championship games were played between the Broncos and the Cleveland Browns in the Januarys of 1987, 1988 and 1990.
The Broncos were reviled in Cleveland. The Browns were laughed at in Denver. The Browns never have gotten to the Super Bowl because of the Broncos. The Broncos dropped three Super Bowls after beating the Browns.
A tale of two cities. Those playoff games were the best of times in Denver, and it was the worst of times in Cleveland. The Broncos won on The Drive, The Fumble and The Blowout. Cleveland lost the games, then its franchise.
So, 15-18 years later, the Browns and the Broncos are a couple of also-rans in the NFL.
How did they get joined at the hip suddenly?
Four of the Browns' defensive linemen - two tackles, two ends - and a line coach have jumped to the Broncos. The Broncos' leading rusher has run to Cleveland.
You got your oranges and blues and browns all mixed up.
Good thing the Bros aren't playing next season. We'll discuss the schedule momentarily.
Some people - well, some several hundreds of thousands of people - in Colorado are asking why the Broncos would trade for three Browns and sign a fourth as a free agent when none has distinguished himself as an all-pro stalwart, and considering that the Broncos have an all-pro stalwart in Trevor Pryce whom they have agreed to trade.
Well, Pryce was injured last year.
As was Courtney Brown, the defensive end the Broncos wooed as a free agent.
Out with the Big Hurt, in with another, Bigger Hurt.
This defensive end Ebenezer should come in handy at Christmas.
Bah, humbug! say Broncos fanatics.
Michael Myers should be helpful at Halloween. Is he that scary movie character or the comedian who played Austin Powers?
Does Courtney Brown change his name to Courtney Bronco?
Gerard Warren?
It is good to remember the Browns finished last season with a 4-12 record, and new coach Romeo Crennel thought so little of those four defensive linemen and assistant coach Andre Patterson he let them go - unceremoniously. Crennel was a defensive coordinator on an NFL dynasty, so he must know defensive players. Patterson is now a defensive front coach, not to be confused with a defensive backs coach.
Cleveland's plain dealers are claiming the Browns are better off without the four, while the Broncos are claiming they are better with the quartet.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Then there is Reuben Droughns, who was transformed from fullback to tailback, from nobody to somebody, in 2004.
Cleveland reportedly is interested in inducting Droughns into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.
First, the city might want to consider those other 1,000-yard runners who have departed Denver.
Olandis Gary, who replaced the gimpy Terrell Davis, did 1,159 yards for the Broncos in 1999, then sat. The Detroit Lions obtained Gary in 2003. He rushed for 384 yards, then didn't play in 2004.
Clinton Portis was the league's leading rusher in 2003 with 1,591 yards, a 5.5-yard average and 14 touchdowns. After whining about a new contact, Portis was sent to the Washington Redskins for "shut down" (shut up?) cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis was underutilized initially by the Redskins before winding up with 1,315 yards. But he managed only five rushing touchdowns, and his average carry dropped to 3.8 yards.
Don't other teams get it?
The Broncos can turn Droughns and drones into 1,000-yard runners with their blocking schemes.
But can the Broncos turn this bunch into a championship team? I can't twist my mind to make that work. They have been outscored 90-34 in two playoff games by Indianapolis; the Broncos don't seem to be improved, and San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City do seem to be improved.
The Broncos will be fortunate to end up with a 3-3 split in the division.
They play both Super Bowl teams, New England and Philadelphia. Yes, they get them in Denver, but that new stadium is not a home advantage, and the Eagles and the Patriots are superior. In addition to San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City, the other opponents in Denver for the Broncos are the New York Jets, Washington and Baltimore.
Not one is a homecoming or a Hostess kind of game.
And there are no bargains on the road. The Chargers were in the playoffs last season, and the Raiders and the Chiefs will compete for postseason spots this year. The AFC West has returned to prominence. Two New York teams - the Giants (the other Manning) and the Buffalo Bills - will be hard (especially if they're late in the season in the bitter cold) - and two Florida teams - Miami (with a fresh coach) and Jacksonville - will be difficult (especially if they're early in the season in the oppressive heat). You have to believe Bill Parcells will have Dallas cowboying up (especially if it's Thanksgiving).
Where's an Arizona, a New Orleans or a Detroit on the schedule?
Or the Cleveland Browns?