D-Will says some Broncos have quit - The Orange Mane

RunSilentRunDeep · 12-11-2006, 10:27 PM

DENVER (AP) Pass rush. Pass protection. Run defense. Special teams. Pass coverage.

Locker room turmoil?

Mike Shanahan's long list of things he must address for the Denver Broncos to recover from their four-game losing streak grew by one very big item Monday when second-year cornerback Darrent Williams suggested some of his teammates didn't believe their season was salvageable.

"Some people are ready to hang it up, you know, you can tell," said Williams, who didn't name names. "And it's hard when you're losing. It makes everything hard, it makes coming to practice hard. It makes coaches harder on you. It just makes everything harder when you're losing.

"So, a few guys are probably ready to hang it up. I don't know who. But I'm not."

The Broncos (7-6) believe they must win their final three games to reach the playoffs.

Yet, Williams, who gave up several big plays in Denver's 48-20 loss at San Diego on Sunday, said that while nobody was outwardly conceding the season, he sensed some teammates were ready to cash it in.

"It's just a feel around some people. You can kind of feel that it's just one of those seasons," Williams said. "... It can get hard right at this time, and it's easy to just say, 'I'm going to just play these three games and get an early vacation."'

As possible evidence of his charges, Williams blamed the Broncos' four-game skid — only the second in Shanahan's 11 seasons — on some players taking some plays off.

"Because," he suggested, "if we got 100 percent effort from everybody, we could easily win these games."

Williams' remarks came three weeks after veteran wide receiver Rod Smith blasted his teammates' hearts in an emotional outburst following Denver's loss at Kansas City.

They also were made about half an hour after Shanahan met with reporters. At that time, Shanahan said he sensed some frustration on his team: "Oh, I think everybody's frustrated. If you're not frustrated when you lose four games, then you're in the wrong business."

Several players, however, including Champ Bailey, Domonique Foxworth and Kenard Lang, said Monday that they were certain everyone in the locker room believes they can win their last three games, starting Sunday at Arizona.

"One hundred percent, I believe everybody believes, we have talent here and we've got mature guys who have seen crazier things happen," Foxworth said. "Needing to win these last three games, it's something that's definitely within our reach."

Tight end Tony Scheffler said the Broncos were confident they could turn things around and he doesn't feel there's any fissures in the team.

"For losing four games in a row, everybody's still upbeat," Scheffler said. "I don't see anyone hanging their head or anyone too down. The spirit is still kind of upbeat."

Lang said he thinks everybody is still on the same page.

"I haven't heard nothing else. I mean, if anybody's down, they're down because we're losing. But nobody's not playing hard. I think everybody's still playing hard," he said.

Besides, Lang said, there was no reason to think the Broncos were finished.

"We still have a chance to go to the playoffs, so I don't see why you'd be down at all," he said.

In the last 10 years, seven teams have rebounded from a four-game skid to reach the playoffs.

The last time the Broncos lost four in a row was in 1999, when they started out 0-4 while adjusting to life without John Elway, who had retired that offseason after winning his second straight Super Bowl.

This time, the Broncos are adjusting to another new quarterback, but rookie Jay Cutler is the least of their worries:

_Their offensive line isn't protecting the passer.

_Their defensive line isn't pressuring the passer.

_Their depleted secondary isn't playing the pass very well.

_Their linebackers could do better against the run.

_Their special teams are exacerbating all these troubles with poor tackling and bad blocking.

Shanahan said every player and coach has to step up his performance the rest of the season.

"If we do that, we've got a chance to do something down the stretch," he said. "If we don't, we'll be sitting home."

Hercules Rockefeller · 12-11-2006, 10:28 PM

Did he name himself, or does he not count since he hasn't shown up this season?

Ray Finkle · 12-11-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

Did he name himself, or does he not count since he hasn't shown up this season?

but he's got spunk!....

I would love for some of the insiders to narrow the list of who quite down....

BlaK-Argentina · 12-11-2006, 10:33 PM

He should be worrying about making a damn play when the ball goes he's way.
But he's right, I think we could take out a BUNCH of our starters and put some fans in there and they'd want it more.

That said, I hope they can pull it together and make the playoffs.

Go Broncos!

Bob's your Information Minister · 12-11-2006, 10:35 PM

They're just following the lead of the head coach.

Clockwork Orange · 12-11-2006, 10:36 PM

Darrent seems to do more deflecting in the media than he does on the field.

-Slap- · 12-11-2006, 10:40 PM

Unfortunately, this is one lesson Rod has passed on to the pups. The annual "some guys aren't trying hard enough" song and dance.

Even if this were 1,000,000% true, it belongs in the lockerroom not in the newspapers.

anthonypacino · 12-11-2006, 10:47 PM

I want to be optimistic about the rest of the year but these 3 games are basically pre-season games for us

Rascal · 12-11-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Unfortunately, this is one lesson Rod has passed on to the pups. The annual "some guys aren't trying hard enough" song and dance.

Even if this were 1,000,000% true, it belongs in the lockerroom not in the newspapers.

I agree, but unfortunately I do think he is right based on the actions on the field.

That One Guy · 12-11-2006, 11:03 PM

Maybe if Dwill would cover anyone but his own f'n shadow then there'd be more hope. I don't doubt some players could be doing more but at least Dwill could worry about himself and do his job. I really doubt he's slacking off but you wouldn't be able to tell if you just watched the games. Other than maybe Foster who obviously has talent as a first round pick, I'd be hard pressed to identify anyone not giving it their all. Well, him and that limp legged punter we have.

Chupacabra · 12-11-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

They're just following the lead of the head coach.

Agreed.

WABronco · 12-11-2006, 11:13 PM

Why does it matter who the messenger is? That's two players now that have said the same thing.

Where there's smoke there's fire.

ludo21 · 12-11-2006, 11:14 PM

REPLACE DARRENT NOW!!!

I never knew how bad he was till I saw him live. ugh

That One Guy · 12-11-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WABronco

Why does it matter who the messenger is? That's two players now that have said the same thing.

Where there's smoke there's fire.

Because if any players are taking a play off, they apparently aren't performing worse than Dwill is. Dwill has been our glaring weakness since the Indy game. Now, if other players are taking plays off yet still outperforming Dwill... I think that's a concern and should be on Dwill's mind more than whether he thinks other players are letting their team down. We have statistics and proof that Dwill is letting his team down.

ozomulsion · 12-11-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cah412

Other than maybe Foster who obviously has talent as a first round pick, I'd be hard pressed to identify anyone not giving it their all. Well, him and that limp legged punter we have.

Gerrard f*#*#*# Warren

Maximus · 12-11-2006, 11:26 PM

I think he was talking about your head coach. As soon as he changed QB's while the donks were still in the playoff hunt... I knew he was packing it in!

Taco John · 12-11-2006, 11:26 PM

Darrent is going to take a lot of heat starting opposite Champ. That is the least enviable position in the entire league. He's most certainly strained my patience, but I still have hope for him to turn up his game. I wouldn't mind replacing him with Foxworth at this point, but nothing I've seen from Foxworth convinces me that he'd be any better opposite Champ.

BlaK-Argentina · 12-11-2006, 11:33 PM

Besides Warren, Foster and Ernster, anyone else jumps out that isn't giving it all?

brncs_fan · 12-11-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Darrent is going to take a lot of heat starting opposite Champ. That is the least enviable position in the entire league. He's most certainly strained my patience, but I still have hope for him to turn up his game. I wouldn't mind replacing him with Foxworth at this point, but nothing I've seen from Foxworth convinces me that he'd be any better opposite Champ.

I think we would all like DW a lot more if we had a viable and consistant pass rush that would help out the secondary more often.

yavoon · 12-11-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludo21

REPLACE DARRENT NOW!!!

I never knew how bad he was till I saw him live. ugh

how many more busts can we afford?

Rascal · 12-11-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaK-Argentina

Besides Warren, Foster and Ernster, anyone else jumps out that isn't giving it all?

I've wondered about Ian.

24champ · 12-11-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

I've wondered about Ian.

For me, Im going to take alot of heat for this but where's DJ Williams? I don't know if it is the position switch or what but he is invisible on defense.

ozomulsion · 12-11-2006, 11:43 PM

If Foxworth was so good, Darrent would be returning kickoffs and Fox would be starting. It's that simple. How could some folks be so blind to not see the pass rush is the real problem. I'm glad many do. Champ may be able to cover with no pass rush but not many corners can. Good god.

epicSocialism4tw · 12-11-2006, 11:50 PM

It was obvious in the Seattle game that the team had given up. I dont know how any Bronco fan could have overlooked that.

listopencil · 12-11-2006, 11:53 PM

"Some people are ready to hang it up, you know, you can tell," said Williams, who didn't name names. "And it's hard when you're losing. It makes everything hard, it makes coming to practice hard. It makes coaches harder on you. It just makes everything harder when you're losing."

He says, as if he is going to give a scoop to the reporters. Then he says-

"So, a few guys are probably ready to hang it up. I don't know who. But I'm not."

This is D-Will being a drama queen and enjoying some media attention.

12-11-2006, 10:27 PM	#1
RunSilentRunDeep Ring of Famer I root for laundry Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,403 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	D-Will says some Broncos have quit DENVER (AP) Pass rush. Pass protection. Run defense. Special teams. Pass coverage. Locker room turmoil? Mike Shanahan's long list of things he must address for the Denver Broncos to recover from their four-game losing streak grew by one very big item Monday when second-year cornerback Darrent Williams suggested some of his teammates didn't believe their season was salvageable. "Some people are ready to hang it up, you know, you can tell," said Williams, who didn't name names. "And it's hard when you're losing. It makes everything hard, it makes coming to practice hard. It makes coaches harder on you. It just makes everything harder when you're losing. "So, a few guys are probably ready to hang it up. I don't know who. But I'm not." The Broncos (7-6) believe they must win their final three games to reach the playoffs. Yet, Williams, who gave up several big plays in Denver's 48-20 loss at San Diego on Sunday, said that while nobody was outwardly conceding the season, he sensed some teammates were ready to cash it in. "It's just a feel around some people. You can kind of feel that it's just one of those seasons," Williams said. "... It can get hard right at this time, and it's easy to just say, 'I'm going to just play these three games and get an early vacation."' As possible evidence of his charges, Williams blamed the Broncos' four-game skid — only the second in Shanahan's 11 seasons — on some players taking some plays off. "Because," he suggested, "if we got 100 percent effort from everybody, we could easily win these games." Williams' remarks came three weeks after veteran wide receiver Rod Smith blasted his teammates' hearts in an emotional outburst following Denver's loss at Kansas City. They also were made about half an hour after Shanahan met with reporters. At that time, Shanahan said he sensed some frustration on his team: "Oh, I think everybody's frustrated. If you're not frustrated when you lose four games, then you're in the wrong business." Several players, however, including Champ Bailey, Domonique Foxworth and Kenard Lang, said Monday that they were certain everyone in the locker room believes they can win their last three games, starting Sunday at Arizona. "One hundred percent, I believe everybody believes, we have talent here and we've got mature guys who have seen crazier things happen," Foxworth said. "Needing to win these last three games, it's something that's definitely within our reach." Tight end Tony Scheffler said the Broncos were confident they could turn things around and he doesn't feel there's any fissures in the team. "For losing four games in a row, everybody's still upbeat," Scheffler said. "I don't see anyone hanging their head or anyone too down. The spirit is still kind of upbeat." Lang said he thinks everybody is still on the same page. "I haven't heard nothing else. I mean, if anybody's down, they're down because we're losing. But nobody's not playing hard. I think everybody's still playing hard," he said. Besides, Lang said, there was no reason to think the Broncos were finished. "We still have a chance to go to the playoffs, so I don't see why you'd be down at all," he said. In the last 10 years, seven teams have rebounded from a four-game skid to reach the playoffs. The last time the Broncos lost four in a row was in 1999, when they started out 0-4 while adjusting to life without John Elway, who had retired that offseason after winning his second straight Super Bowl. This time, the Broncos are adjusting to another new quarterback, but rookie Jay Cutler is the least of their worries: _Their offensive line isn't protecting the passer. _Their defensive line isn't pressuring the passer. _Their depleted secondary isn't playing the pass very well. _Their linebackers could do better against the run. _Their special teams are exacerbating all these troubles with poor tackling and bad blocking. Shanahan said every player and coach has to step up his performance the rest of the season. "If we do that, we've got a chance to do something down the stretch," he said. "If we don't, we'll be sitting home."

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12-11-2006, 10:28 PM	#2
Hercules Rockefeller Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 16,005 Adopt-a-Bronco: DJ Williams	Did he name himself, or does he not count since he hasn't shown up this season?

12-11-2006, 10:33 PM	#4
BlaK-Argentina Pampita says... ... support your team! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mar del Plata, Argentina. Posts: 5,174 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eddie Royal	He should be worrying about making a damn play when the ball goes he's way. But he's right, I think we could take out a BUNCH of our starters and put some fans in there and they'd want it more. That said, I hope they can pull it together and make the playoffs. Go Broncos!

12-11-2006, 10:35 PM	#5
Bob's your Information Minister Chiefs > Broncos Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 25,920 Adopt-a-Bronco: CHRIS KUPER!!!	They're just following the lead of the head coach.

12-11-2006, 10:36 PM	#6
Clockwork Orange Persona Non Grata I seen him! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,438	Darrent seems to do more deflecting in the media than he does on the field.

12-11-2006, 10:40 PM	#7
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	Unfortunately, this is one lesson Rod has passed on to the pups. The annual "some guys aren't trying hard enough" song and dance. Even if this were 1,000,000% true, it belongs in the lockerroom not in the newspapers.

12-11-2006, 10:47 PM	#8
anthonypacino off season mode Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,283	I want to be optimistic about the rest of the year but these 3 games are basically pre-season games for us

12-11-2006, 11:03 PM	#10
That One Guy Producer of Nonsense Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sun and Beachville Posts: 14,042 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Maybe if Dwill would cover anyone but his own f'n shadow then there'd be more hope. I don't doubt some players could be doing more but at least Dwill could worry about himself and do his job. I really doubt he's slacking off but you wouldn't be able to tell if you just watched the games. Other than maybe Foster who obviously has talent as a first round pick, I'd be hard pressed to identify anyone not giving it their all. Well, him and that limp legged punter we have.

12-11-2006, 11:13 PM	#12
WABronco WE SUCK AGAIN All dat force Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 4,976	Why does it matter who the messenger is? That's two players now that have said the same thing. Where there's smoke there's fire.

12-11-2006, 11:14 PM	#13
ludo21 RIP Darrent Williams Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 17,907 Adopt-a-Bronco: Paul Ernster	REPLACE DARRENT NOW!!! I never knew how bad he was till I saw him live. ugh

12-11-2006, 11:26 PM	#16
Maximus The Razor! Public Enemy #1 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Western, NY Posts: 5,207 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tim Tebow	I think he was talking about your head coach. As soon as he changed QB's while the donks were still in the playoff hunt... I knew he was packing it in!

12-11-2006, 11:26 PM	#17
Taco John 24/7 Broncos In Elway I Trust Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 49,706 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Manning	Darrent is going to take a lot of heat starting opposite Champ. That is the least enviable position in the entire league. He's most certainly strained my patience, but I still have hope for him to turn up his game. I wouldn't mind replacing him with Foxworth at this point, but nothing I've seen from Foxworth convinces me that he'd be any better opposite Champ.

12-11-2006, 11:33 PM	#18
BlaK-Argentina Pampita says... ... support your team! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mar del Plata, Argentina. Posts: 5,174 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eddie Royal	Besides Warren, Foster and Ernster, anyone else jumps out that isn't giving it all?

12-11-2006, 11:43 PM	#23
ozomulsion Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,597 Adopt-a-Bronco: The ladies man.	If Foxworth was so good, Darrent would be returning kickoffs and Fox would be starting. It's that simple. How could some folks be so blind to not see the pass rush is the real problem. I'm glad many do. Champ may be able to cover with no pass rush but not many corners can. Good god.

12-11-2006, 11:50 PM	#24
epicSocialism4tw Tebowing the long haul all the way to the title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TX, USA Posts: 37,072 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	It was obvious in the Seattle game that the team had given up. I dont know how any Bronco fan could have overlooked that.

12-11-2006, 11:53 PM	#25
listopencil [sarcasm]text[/sarcasm] BOOM! Winner. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The People's Republic Of California Posts: 8,580 Adopt-a-Bronco: Broncos FO	"Some people are ready to hang it up, you know, you can tell," said Williams, who didn't name names. "And it's hard when you're losing. It makes everything hard, it makes coming to practice hard. It makes coaches harder on you. It just makes everything harder when you're losing." He says, as if he is going to give a scoop to the reporters. Then he says- "So, a few guys are probably ready to hang it up. I don't know who. But I'm not." This is D-Will being a drama queen and enjoying some media attention.