Mayday! Broncos Draft Up in Smoke

[PatsWin2002]

Sorry....I don't make the headlines. :)

http://broncos.scout.com/2/371860.html

Mayday! Broncos Draft Up in Smoke
By Sam DeWitt Broncos Update Columnist
Date: Apr 20, 2005

The more things change, the more they stay the same, at least according to Broncos Update Columnist Sam DeWitt.
It all seemed so promising. A draft stocked with talent. A reasonable first round pick. Needs that could have been met.

The lesson: When Mike Shanahan says, “I will turn this car around,” he means it.

Apparently the only way to save this franchise is to burn it to the ground.

I’ve never been the sharpest pencil in the box, but let’s just be crystal clear on this one; the Broncos trade their first round pick this year for Washington’s first round pick next year, evidently hoping and wishing that the Redskins continue their run of mediocrity (now in it’s award-winning 5th straight year) for one more season so Denver can collect a high first-rounder. What I don’t understand is how this helps us improve now. Why not trade corner Lenny Walls and a shoulder injury to be named later to the ‘Skins for this year’s first-round pick, at number nine? That pick is likely to be Adam “Pacman” Jones from West Virginia, also known as the Best Shutdown Corner in the Draft.

The Bronco Brain Trust (if they can still be called that) claims that this was a great move, stopping just short of saying they put one over on the Redskins. Are you looking for a congratulatory handshake? Putting one over on Washington is like hitting a blind man in the back of the head. With a hammer.

"I'm very excited about this trade; our guys did a great job," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said Tuesday. "Everything is falling into place. We (restructured) Trevor Pryce, added more to the defensive front and now we made this deal."

Remind me again how picking up one of the worst defensive lines in the league, then following up that move by trading our one first round pick away is an improvement? Ted Sundquist?

"We had the nets out there," said the Broncos’ General Manager. "Washington was interested, and we thought it was something we wanted to do."

Right. Mr. Sundquist, President Bush called and asked you to stop being so vague.

"We're looking real good next year," Sundquist said. "We have a lot of flexibility."

If you want flexibility, take a yoga class.

If you want to win, find the problems with your team and then draft young talent to make the team better.

The problems (and there are a lot of them) are that the Redskins are not as bad as Sundquist and Bowlen and Shanahan hope they are, and they play in a much easier conference than Denver. I look at it this way: Washington finished 6-10 last year, but are only a few players away (quarterback, offensive linemen) from making the playoffs. With the wealth of cornerbacks in this draft, I look for the Redskins to take Aaron Rodgers (if he’s still on the board) at No. 9 and a quality offensive lineman with Denver’s No. 25. St. Louis made the playoffs last year with an 8-8 record, and Seattle got in at 9-7. Going from 6-10 to 9-7 shouldn’t be that much of a challenge for this Washington team, and that’s my worry.

Of course, all of this could be moot if the Deadskins go in the tank and lose all but a few games. Given the brief history of Daniel Snyder’s ownership in Washington, this is a distinct possibility, but not a likely one. Head Coach Joe Gibbs does not accept failure, and he is going to work around the clock to make the ‘Skins competitive in ’05.

Best case: Snyder’s hands-on ownership style continues and Washington finishes 4-12, near the bottom of the league and we get a top-ten pick.

Worst case: The moves that Gibbs makes, combined with the new talent influx (keep in mind that the Redskins already have some top-tier talent in halfback Clinton Portis and cornerback Shawn Springs) makes Washington good, even excellent, and they challenge for a playoff spot. Then we get a pick – you ready for this? – right around the 25th overall.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[RaiderH8r]

That sounds a lot like Kiszla's type of writing. Is this his nom de plume?

[watermock]

It's all part of the "plan".

We all lined up like good little penguins and took it up the ass.

[Rascal]

Walls and our 25th would not have moved us up enough to get Pacman.

[Mile High Shack]

good lord, talk about chicken little

that article sucked

everyone knows this draft is pretty much the same after the top 15 players

[frerottenextelway]

Anyone that says this wasn't a fantastic deal is either a.) lying, or b.) too dumb to be bothered listening to. We basically moved up about 10 spots or so in a better draft class, and we got a 3rd and an 4th on top of it.

Washington could've probably of done a very similar trade with Miami instead of us.

[bronco militia]

who is this guy?....

[Ballhawk]

The talent level in this draft from #25 to #76 is very close. So basically we will get a similar player and 2 picks next year. I do not think Washington will be that bad, may even win 10 games, really not the point. Denver will get a much better player at 20-25th pick next year than they would have got this year.

[sirhcyennek81]

Picks 20-100 are close. then again, every player in the draft is a project, they all need work. even the "sure" things.

[PatsWin2002]

everyone knows this draft is pretty much the same after the top 15 players

That was my first thought too.

It's almost like the guy is trying to get his name out there just by taking the position he did. Negative press works just as well for attention-getting...maybe more so.

[Merlin]

That is a very poor article. Only an ignoramus would assume that you could get a low first round draft choice for Walls. Did he not notice the total lack of interest on Walls by other teams? All they had to provide in compensation was a first round draft choice. Not even Clements will be worth a first round draft choice (and I mean the 25th not the 9th) because he is only under contract for one more year. This was either written by an arrogant, ignorant 18 year old (or the intellect of an 18 yr old), or by a know-nothing writer who sees his road to fame as being achieved through controversy. Or maybe it is just Kizla under a different nom de plume trying to create the belief others feel as he does (or are as uninformed as he is, depending on one's take)

Merlin

[Taco John]

Wow. I've read some poorly thought out takes in my time, but this has got to be the most short sighted article I've read in the last five years...

[Atlas]

Sorry....I don't make the headlines. :)

http://broncos.scout.com/2/371860.html

Mayday! Broncos Draft Up in Smoke
By Sam DeWitt Broncos Update Columnist


I’ve never been the sharpest pencil in the box, but let’s just be crystal clear on this one; the Broncos trade their first round pick this year for Washington’s first round pick next year, evidently hoping and wishing that the Redskins continue their run of mediocrity (now in it’s award-winning 5th straight year) for one more season so Denver can collect a high first-rounder. What I don’t understand is how this helps us improve now. Why not trade corner Lenny Walls and a shoulder injury to be named later to the ‘Skins for this year’s first-round pick, at number nine? That pick is likely to be Adam “Pacman” Jones from West Virginia, also known as the Best Shutdown Corner in the Draft.

.

This guy is obviously a moron and not a legitimate sports writer.

[PatsWin2002]

Wow. I've read some poorly thought out takes in my time, but this has got to be the most short sighted article I've read in the last five years...

Do I win a prize? :D

[PatsWin2002]

In fact this post is so stupid I'm tempted to neg rep Pats for posting it.

Hey! Don't shoot the messenger!

This is right from Broncos Update. If I hadn't posted it someone else probably would have.

If it's "out there" then it's fair game and makes for good message board fodder - whether good or bad. If you disagree with the guy then roast him or email him!

This board has never shyed away from hammering knucklehead columnists. Let's not start now. :)

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Damn this guy is stupid. Carl Peterson said at a PC today that he'd wished Washington had called him wanting to do a similar deal. There are very few non-Skins fans who don't think that Denver completely put one over on the Skins.

http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122018

I think the majority of the posters at KFFL are pretty good, but this poll is even more lopsided than I thought it would be.

[Atlas]

Hey! Don't shoot the messenger!

This is right from Broncos Update. If I hadn't posted it someone else probably would have.

If it's "out there" then it's fair game and makes for good message board fodder - whether good or bad. If you disagree with the guy then roast him or email him!

This board has never shyed away from hammering knucklehead columnists. Let's not start now. :)

I edited it after I reread it.

[Finger Roll]

thanks for the good laugh Patswin2002 I needed it.

[Merlin]

Actually, this article is worthy of a moronic post at the extreme skins which suggested that Gibbs would be able to make a straight trade of his 9th draft choice for Miami's or Cleveland's higher draft, just because they did not know what to do with them :kiddingme

[Taco John]

I think I just lost IQ points for having read and given this article any thought.

The worst part is that they guy started his article with completely bogus information... "It all seemed so promising. A draft stocked with talent." Just lovely. Already in the opener we know that we've got a guy who's got an opinion, whether he knows anything about the subject or not. The idea that this draft is "stocked" with talent is widely disputed, and laughable. Anyone who thought that a first rounder in this years draft was going to be able to come in and help out immediately needs to have their expectations checked. This is a draft chock full of projects. There will be the exception or two, to be sure, but the odds we were going to find it late in the first are pretty slim.

It's incredible to me how what I view as a master-stroke can be viewed by someone else as burning a franchise to the ground.

Also, any Broncos "fan" who equates our defensive dealings as simply "picking up one of the worst defensive lines in the league" is a moron. Yes, we picked up two young guys that we hope will start for us from the Browns... Everyone else are rotation and camp guys. I think that the "buy low, sell high" approach is a good one, and for what we're paying these guys, it's well worth the risk.

[DBroncos4life]

Im willing to bet money that this guys lunch went up in smoke as well.

[Phantom]

finished 6-10 last year, but are only a few players away (quarterback, offensive linemen) from making the playoffs. With the wealth of cornerbacks in this draft, I look for the Redskins to take Aaron Rodgers (if he’s still on the board) at No. 9 and a quality offensive lineman with Denver’s No. 25.

:giggle: :dummy:
Hey, they are only a QB and an Offensive Line away from making the playoffs - that's all. But they draft a CB with the nine pick.

This guys is an idiot.

[MT-Tdawg]

Im willing to bet money that this guys lunch went up in smoke as well.

I doubt it DB, you have to be smart enough to work a lighter for that to happen. I want the 3 wasted minutes of my life back for reading that article. What an idiot.

[dbroncos31]

The talent level in this draft from #25 to #76 is very close. So basically we will get a similar player and 2 picks next year. I do not think Washington will be that bad, may even win 10 games, really not the point. Denver will get a much better player at 20-25th pick next year than they would have got this year.
next year i'm hoping for the #15 pick (washington) and the #32 pick (us)

[RaiderH8r]

next year i'm hoping for the #15 pick (washington) and the #32 pick (us)
Next year I'm hoping to bookend the first round #1 for the 2-14 Redskins and #32 for your SB champion Broncos. :homer:

[The Lamma]

everyone knows this draft is pretty much the same after the top 15 players

I disagree. I think this draft is pretty much the same after the top three players. May just be the most unexciting draft in recent memory.

[watermock]

The Redskins will be lucky to win 7 next year unless they hire Bang.

[Mediator12]

Pats, do me a favor and never waste our time with this websites articles again. Aaron Rogers dropping to nine and turning around the skins along with the weak first round OL available at 25? Pacman is not at the top of any draft boards I know of either.

[dbroncos31]

Next year I'm hoping to bookend the first round #1 for the 2-14 Redskins and #32 for your SB champion Broncos. :homer:
that's way too unrealistic...there's no way the redskins lose to the chiefs, raiders and chargers. i'm hoping for 3-13...with the wins being over the queefs, the faders, and the dolts.

[bombquixote]

wow. that take was so bad it was just amazing. you found this in a highschool paper, right, patswin? i'd call the guy a moron, but some dip**** actually paid his ass good money for this egregious swill. there are morons, and then there are morons. jeez.

[Hulamau]

I like the trade, but it also implies that Shanny has likely got his SB sights set on 2007. At best, we are going to get 3 or 4 development guys out of this one. We still have some holes and depth issues and will likely lose a few older starters in the next two years.

They are obviously shooting for a huge draft next year, and hope that at least 5 or 6 catch on fast and, along with any FA we pick up, are ready to rock with the other starters who will still be here for a return to glory in 2007.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[dbroncos31]

I like the trade, but it also implies that Shanny has likely got his SB sights set on 2007. At best, we are going to get 3 or 4 development guys out of this one. We still have some holes and depth issues and will likely lose a few older starters in the next two years.

They are obviously shooting for a huge draft next year, and hope that at least 5 or 6 catch on fast and, along with any FA we pick up, are ready to rock with the other starters who will still be here for a return to glory in 2007.

Sounds reasonable to me.
not reasonable at all!!!!!!!!!!! we'll be winning our 3rd SB in a row in 2007. :homer:

[Rohirrim]

First, tell me the last time a QB and a CB (or especially an Olineman) came in his first year and made a major difference to a team, as in, won games for them...

Second, tell me who the Ben Rothlisberger is in this draft.

Oops! There isn't one, is there.

The Skins got hosed.

Next!

(thanks for the laugh, Pats)

[Taco John]

So... Uh... Anybody get a subscription there yet?

[dbroncos31]

So... Uh... Anybody get a subscription there yet?
subscription where??

[Broncoman13]

I think I just lost IQ points for having read and given this article any thought.

The worst part is that they guy started his article with completely bogus information... "It all seemed so promising. A draft stocked with talent." Just lovely.


He lost me about that quick as well! I still took the time (lost time that I will never recoupe) to finish the story. Very poor. Think about it this way.... this is the worst we can count on for 2006.

1.Matt Leinart, QB, USC
2.D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT,
3.Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas
4.UvaMathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston Col
5.Michael Huff, CB, Texas
6.Rodrique Wright, DT, Texas
7.Eric Winston, OT, Miami
8.Darrell Hunter, CB, Miami-OH
9.AJ Hawk, ILB, Ohio State
10. Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan

[Broncoman13]

I also wouldn't be suprised to see guys like Reggie Bush and Bing coming out of USC next year. Leinhart will be gone and Bush and Bing will follow him out a year early.

[Kaylore]

This is just another good example of why the Mane is better than all the talking heads out there. They have no clue what they are talking about.

Why do people like this moron get paid to write crap when there are people like Wabbit posting great stuff on a fan site?

[dbroncos31]

Worst case: The moves that Gibbs makes, combined with the new talent influx (keep in mind that the Redskins already have some top-tier talent in halfback Clinton Portis and cornerback Shawn Springs) makes Washington good, even excellent, and they challenge for a playoff spot. Then we get a pick – you ready for this? – right around the 25th overall.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
again, we will have TWO picks in the 1st round of the 2006 draft, a draft which kicks this draft's ass. id rather have two mid 20s picks next year than one this year. also, if the skins do tank (and judging from the great leadership of CP they will) we will end up with a high number pick from us(at the worst i see us going 10-6, another early playoff exit) and a top 15 pick (the skins) win for us, IMO

[Northman]

I’ve never been the sharpest pencil in the box,

Good enough for me. :)

[DBroncos4life]

This is just another good example of why the Mane is better than all the talking heads out there. They have no clue what they are talking about.

Why do people like this moron get paid to write crap when there are people like Wabbit posting great stuff on a fan site?



Because I turned them down to write for the forum.....Penthouse Forum :devil:

[broncohaven]

Denver Hits Washington for a Second Helping of Snyderosity
Filed under: broncos.mostvaluablenetwork.com
It’s been widely reported that the Denver Broncos, among more than a few, have wanted to trade down in this year’s draft. The Broncos had been looking to trade out of the first round entirely. Well, it appears that Denver enjoyed dealing with Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins so much last season that Shanahan and company decided to return for another helping of Snyder’s generosity. Snyder was so impatient to improve Washington’s rushing offense that he was willing to deal, arguably, the game’s premier cornerback, for a running back with only one full year in the league; and within a system that can make an average back seem supreme. Snyder sweetened the deal by including Washington’s 2nd round pick in last year’s draft. A pick the Broncos used to select Tatum Bell, the heir apparent to Portis who has perhaps even more upside.

Ask most folks who got the better end of that deal, and all but the die hard Hog homers will tell you that Denver ran away with the spoon. Snyder seems unable to contain himself when he gets an idea, and Shanahan and Sundquist (Denver’s General Manager) are more than willing to cash in on Snyder’s impatience.

News out of Denver is that the Broncos have traded their first round selection this weekend in exchange for Washington’s third round pick this year. Denver will also receive Washington’s first and fourth round selections in next year’s draft.

The knock on this year’s draft class is that the top end talent is somewhat below par, but that there is considerable depth. Meaning that there will be a lot of high value guys in the middle rounds. Denver now has a total of four picks in rounds 2 and 3. The combination of Shanahan’s ability to find mid round talent, and the high value of the middle round talent would appear to add up to a successful recipe.

Denver will avoid shelling out first round money for a player that maybe wouldn’t be a first rounder in a better draft year. That fact will make their cap outlook very good for 2006. But the real genius behind this trade is that Denver will have two first round picks in a draft where they will be looking for their future franchise Quarterback.

Shanahan has been happy with the play of Jake Plummer since his arrival in Denver, but he doesn’t pretend that Jake is among the elite at the position. Plummer is also no longer a young gun in the league. With two first round selections the Broncos will have the ability to target any player they want, and then let him learn the system behind Jake for a year before leading the Broncos to greatness. Whether they use the two picks to trade up in the first, or the pick from Washington turns into an early selection. Given the turmoil in Washington this off season that certainly isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

Time will of course tell the tale of who runs off with the spoon this time around, but on first glance the Broncos seem to have gotten everything they could have hoped for and, as always with Snyder, more.

[Mr. Trout]

I only had to read the first two paragraphs to realize this guy is an idiot

[Kaylore]

Denver Hits Washington for a Second Helping of Snyderosity
Filed under: broncos.mostvaluablenetwork.com
It’s been widely reported that the Denver Broncos, among more than a few, have wanted to trade down in this year’s draft. The Broncos had been looking to trade out of the first round entirely. Well, it appears that Denver enjoyed dealing with Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins so much last season that Shanahan and company decided to return for another helping of Snyder’s generosity. Snyder was so impatient to improve Washington’s rushing offense that he was willing to deal, arguably, the game’s premier cornerback, for a running back with only one full year in the league; and within a system that can make an average back seem supreme. Snyder sweetened the deal by including Washington’s 2nd round pick in last year’s draft. A pick the Broncos used to select Tatum Bell, the heir apparent to Portis who has perhaps even more upside.

Ask most folks who got the better end of that deal, and all but the die hard Hog homers will tell you that Denver ran away with the spoon. Snyder seems unable to contain himself when he gets an idea, and Shanahan and Sundquist (Denver’s General Manager) are more than willing to cash in on Snyder’s impatience.

News out of Denver is that the Broncos have traded their first round selection this weekend in exchange for Washington’s third round pick this year. Denver will also receive Washington’s first and fourth round selections in next year’s draft.

The knock on this year’s draft class is that the top end talent is somewhat below par, but that there is considerable depth. Meaning that there will be a lot of high value guys in the middle rounds. Denver now has a total of four picks in rounds 2 and 3. The combination of Shanahan’s ability to find mid round talent, and the high value of the middle round talent would appear to add up to a successful recipe.

Denver will avoid shelling out first round money for a player that maybe wouldn’t be a first rounder in a better draft year. That fact will make their cap outlook very good for 2006. But the real genius behind this trade is that Denver will have two first round picks in a draft where they will be looking for their future franchise Quarterback.

Shanahan has been happy with the play of Jake Plummer since his arrival in Denver, but he doesn’t pretend that Jake is among the elite at the position. Plummer is also no longer a young gun in the league. With two first round selections the Broncos will have the ability to target any player they want, and then let him learn the system behind Jake for a year before leading the Broncos to greatness. Whether they use the two picks to trade up in the first, or the pick from Washington turns into an early selection. Given the turmoil in Washington this off season that certainly isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

Time will of course tell the tale of who runs off with the spoon this time around, but on first glance the Broncos seem to have gotten everything they could have hoped for and, as always with Snyder, more.

Thank you for canceling the crap review with a good one. This one is a better read and offers less conjecture anyway. Thank you.

[broncohaven]

Thank you for canceling the crap review with a good one. This one is a better read and offers less conjecture anyway. Thank you.
I thought we needed some balance in here. Anyone who thinks the Redskins got the better end of this trade is completely out to lunch.

[Play2win]

Hey! Don't shoot the messenger!

Unless he's a Pats fan...

Then, FIRE Away!!!!

[Taco John]

I like the trade, but it also implies that Shanny has likely got his SB sights set on 2007. At best, we are going to get 3 or 4 development guys out of this one. We still have some holes and depth issues and will likely lose a few older starters in the next two years.

They are obviously shooting for a huge draft next year, and hope that at least 5 or 6 catch on fast and, along with any FA we pick up, are ready to rock with the other starters who will still be here for a return to glory in 2007.

Sounds reasonable to me.



How do you figure anything done in this draft speaks to sites being set in 2007? Nothing we did on Saturday would have spoken to a Superbowl in 2006. I can't imagine even one of these draft picks being the difference between winning it all this year and not.

We don't have a single hole on our current roster right now. Every position has a starter waiting to go. Depth is a problem, for sure, but dropping our first pick in this draft while picking up a third addresses that. The player quality between the 25th pick and the 80th pick is pretty relative.

And then we've got June 2nd picks still ahead of us to shore up some of the depth problems that we have.

I definitely don't buy the idea that this trade has any sort of implications that the team isn't focusing on winning this year. The argument could be made that we don't have the talent to get there, but then, that argument has been made every year that the Patriots have won it all, except for this one...

This is a parity league. Arizona can win the 2006 Superbowl. Nobody guessed Gruden would win it all his first year in Tampa Bay. Nobody bought the idea that Trent Dilfer would hold up a trophy. Bill Belichick was the leagues sloppy-seconds clown-shoes rebound before he won it all.

There is no reason to believe we can't compete this year.

[FADERPROOF]

I also wouldn't be suprised to see guys like Reggie Bush and Bing coming out of USC next year. Leinhart will be gone and Bush and Bing will follow him out a year early.

Especially snce Norm Chow is in Tennessee now, I see a lot of guys taking off at USC.

[Garcia Bronco]

That sounds a lot like Kiszla's type of writing. Is this his nom de plume?


I stopped reading after the tard said lenny walls and his bum-shoulder are worth a 1st round pick......specifically the number nine overall pick.

[-Slap-]

Back in the mid 80s I subscribed to a periodical called Broncos Update. It was not timely and they went out of business without notice, let alone a refund.

[DBroncos4life]

Especially snce Norm Chow is in Tennessee now, I see a lot of guys taking off at USC.


Good NU plays them in 07 and 08.

[BombsOverBaghdad]

Back in the mid 80s I subscribed to a periodical called Broncos Update. It was not timely and they went out of business without notice, let alone a refund.

Make that two of us.

[ro_50]

As a writer myself, this is a bunch of garbage. I would rather do a column arguing that Michael Jackson is white instead of black.