C-R-E-A-M ….. Cash Rules Everything Around Me ……………..

I’ll say this for the Denver Broncos , their off-season and preseason incidents. It’s been thoroughly entertaining and given the fans there in Denver far more excitement. Than they’ve witnessed on the field , as to their competitiveness over the last two years. The NFL and its franchises has a venerable way of keeping its fans interested in the sport year round. Be it the fact , that it now has its own network (NFL Network), which gives it even greater visibility. And also from the mere fact that its very own coverage is far superior to that of the broadcast networks and cable outlets that are pitted against it , in terms of the coverage.

Broncos' wide receiver Brandon Marshall seen here at the team's training facility in Englewood , Co,. The player was today suspended by the team for an as yet to be determined period. This may well lead to player being traded as has been his want for much of the off and preseason. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ David Zabulowiski .............

That being said the episodes that’ve unfolded as to the off-season and preseason concerning the Broncos have made for great soap opera. The departure of Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears and the fact that Broncos’ coach, Josh McDaniels made his presence felt, with his actions. The fact that those actions were very much in the vein of a tornado sweeping through a rural community laying waste everywhere. The destruction and its aftermath are now easily explainable. He got his wish , as he now has all that he wants. Never-mind the fact that by appearance alone, the team may well now be worse off than it was before the departure of Cutler. I can hardly envision that the addition of Kyle Orton and with Chris Simms as his backup , that this Broncos’ team will send quakes and shivers down the spines of the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers or indeed the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West . But such are the vagaries of the NFL , that when there’s no drama or intrigue within its midst. The fans’ attention is drawn elsewhere as they may well feel that it is becoming somewhat tedious and monotonous.

Broncos' starting quarterback Kyle Orton seen here playing against the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason game played at Qwest Field Seattle , Washington. The Seahawks would go on to defeat the Broncos 27-13 . picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Otto Greule Jr. ...............................

McDaniels is now faced with the task of trying to bring back the glory days of John Elway and Terrell Davis . When the franchise reigned supreme over the NFL with its back to back Superbowl triumphs. The fans long for it and yearn for it with a zeal that borders on being ravenous. They’ve been starved of that sort of success for over a decade. Whether or not McDaniels is the man to lead the franchise out of their rut remains to be seen. The fact of the matter is , he’s off to a very tenuous start. And to top it all , he’s had the unique distinction of running a Pro bowl class quarterback out of town. Albeit, that the lines of communication between the two bordered on being like watching two young kindergarten boys having a fight in a sandbox. Neither was able to land a meaningful punch on one another. However, it led to the team owner, Pat Bowlem , having to intervene and making somewhat of a rash decision.

Chris Simms backup quarterback of the Broncos hands the ball off to running back Darrius Walker in the game against the Seahawks . picture appears courtesty of ap/photo/ Elaine Thompson ..........................

And if you thought the craziness had been abated. Then look no further than what’s said to be happening within the Broncos’ preseason . Wide receiver , Brandon Marshall , now appears to be in McDaniels’ doghouse . The player’s own off-season turmoil we thought was over. Considering that he’s been in trouble with law enforcement on numerous occasions as to his behavior. Several assault complaints have been filed against the player over the last 18 months . And seemingly, the hierarchy of the NFL was nowhere to be seen . But that asides , it has been the player’s constant whining as to the fact that he feels disrespected and the franchise’s failure to acquiesce to his demands for a trade. It makes the situation within the organization unpalatable for its fans. But then again what’s new ? It’s not as if this wasn’t the norm for any player within the NFL who feels that they’re due in one form or another when it comes to their own perceived self importance . There’s no I in team but when it comes to playing as part of a team. Then ” it’s all about me ” as the saying goes. And so , we’re led to believe that this is merely about Marshall wanting some respect as he sees it. Pardon me , for not understanding his position. But what have you done for the Broncos lately ?

Jim Mora Jr (left) of the Seattle Seahawks greets his opposite number Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos after the game. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 27-13 in the game played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wa,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Elaine Thompson ..........................

Courtesy of Yahoo Sports and AP:

Denver Broncos suspend receiver Brandon Marshall

Englewood , Colo, (AP) Pro bowl receiver Brandon Marshall openly unhappy with the Denver Broncos , was suspended by the team Friday for unspecified “detrimental” conduct. The club did not say in its 15 word statement how long the suspension would last.

Marshall has asked for a new contract or trade and has acknowledged that he hasn’t learned new coach Josh McDaniels’ playbook. He was held out of last Sunday’s preseason game at Seattle.

During Wednesday’s warmups, Marshall walked while the rest of the team ran. He punted the ball away instead of handing it to a ball boy and swatted a pass thrown to him. His actions were caught on video and broadcast by KMGH-TV.

Marshall told ESPN on Thursday that he wasn’t trying to force a trade through insubordination but frustration got the best of him.

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It’s strange to hear the opinions of former NFL players who state what a joy is to play the game and be around teammates that are equally like minded when it comes to achieving the same goal. Funnily enough, you’ll never hear one actually come out and assert that there’s never any turmoil within the locker room. They’d have you believe that within their world there’s always a camaraderie there. I’ve always maintained that if you want to see true camarderie then you won’t see it in its purest form on the field of competitive play. The only time one will ever see it is through the eyes of a combat soldier. There and only then would you actually see and know what true camaraderie is all about ! And having served in the military and been in a combat arena . I know of what I speak. When your life is on the line you can only count on that of those who are at your very side at the moment when everything is heightened and danger is within your midst. Not so , for a bunch of prissy , hissy-fit throwing bunch of overpaid primadonna athletes !

One can opine as to what may well lie ahead for the Broncos this season. But with there now being far more action happening off the field than anything productive having been yet produced on it. You can only but wonder whether or not McDaniels can live up to the hype of offensive genius and enfant-terrible , who cut his teeth with the New England Patriots , under the auspices of their coach, Bill Belichick.

It’s been one thing to reek havoc just as you start your first managerial tenure. But it’s certainly another when you’ve now got to quieten down the quells of mutiny and in-order within an organization that in part you created to begin with. That being said, the apparent relationship between McDaniels and Marhsall though not yet dead. It may well have been irretrievably broken at this juncture. With the player now having been suspended for a yet to be determined period. It’ll be interesting to see the lines of communication being made and how it is all being demarcated.

McDaniels can ill afford to go through another tumultuous situation at this juncture. And at the same time, Brandon Marshall for all of his apparent abilities. He’s now making himself something of a pariah within the NFL. His perceived talent is one thing , but it has been his off the field baggage and tendency to be just about himself that may well scare some teams off when it comes to acquiring the player. Marshall would have you believe that from the outset it has never been about the money. But in actuality he’s done very little to persuade us otherwise.

It’s always been about the C-R-E-A-M …… ” Cash Rules Everything Around Me .” As if anything else ever really mattered !

McDaniels May Have The Credentials, But He Has Lots To Prove

Hot-shot young coaching prospects are the way NFL owners and general mangers are going. Gone are the days when coaches who have been in the business for 20 years and gradually worked their way up before becoming a head coach. While the practice has worked in some situations (Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who become the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl last season), there have some examples of failure (Lane Kiffin with the Oakland Raiders).

The latest team to experiment with a young coach is the Denver Broncos, who hired 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, a former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots. Denver previously had Mike Shanahan as its head coach for 13 years before firing him after a disappointing end to the 2008 season. Shanahan was one of the best coaches in the league, an offensive guru who won two Super Bowls during his time with the team. Owner Pat Bowlen felt that a change was needed after the Broncos collapsed and lost their final three games of the season, blowing their division lead to the San Diego Chargers.

McDaniels was the man handed the job, to the surprise of many. During his time with the Patriots, McDaniels spent just three seasons as offensive coordinator, but all three of those seasons were special, most notably the 2007 season in which the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season and broke multiple single-season offensive records. His best job, however, may have come in 2008, when quarterback Tom Brady went down with a torn ACL in the first game of the season. Most pundits wrote the Patriots off at that point, figuring there was no way the team could contend without Brady at the helm. McDaniels and head coach Bill Belichick had a plan, which was to play and succeed with backup Matt Cassel, who had not even started a game since high school. And succeed they did. The Patriots went on to finish the season 11-5, falling just short of making the playoffs. Off of the success the Patriots had without Brady, McDaniels become much of a commodity than expected, and Bowlen chose him to lead the Broncos franchise back to having winning seasons.

McDaniels is young, but he already compiled the résumé of someone who deserves a shot at being a head coach in the NFL. Especially considering that he spent seven years in New England learning under Belichick, arguably the best coach in the league, it made sense for Denver to take a chance. But just because McDaniels learned from a great organization doesn’t mean he’s not going to make mistakes. And that is the risk teams take by hiring young coaches.

Cassel may have ascended McDaniels all the way to being a head coach, but that ultimately to McDaniels’ first quibble as head coach of the Broncos. He like Cassel so much that he attempted to swing a trade to bring Cassel to Denver, which then-Broncos quarterback, Jay Cutler didn’t take kindly to. Cutler had been the man in Denver ever since he was drafted 11^th overall in 2006. Shanahan had tabbed Cutler as the team’s quarterback of the future, the player who was finally going to live up to the John Elway-level expectations fans in the Mile High city have. Cutler wasn’t happy that McDaniels was hired in the first place, and attempting to trade for Cassel only made Cutler angrier. Eventually, Cutler requested a trade, which the Broncos granted. He was traded to the Chicago Bears – along with a fifth-round pick – for fellow quarterback Kyle Orton, first-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010, as well as a third-round pick in 2009. Cutler is a top-10 quarterback in this league, and trading away a young franchise quarterback is virtually unheard of in the NFL.

McDaniels will have to prove to everyone around the NFL that he didn’t make a mistake in trading away Cutler, and that starts with developing Orton into more than a serviceable quarterback. Orton has always been solid – somewhat of a game manager who rarely makes mistakes – but the Broncos are going to need more than that. Cutler has arguably the best arm in football, as he is able to make all the throws imaginable. Nothing is off-limits for Cutler, and that gives offensive coordinators the ability to greatly expand the playbook. Orton, on the other hand, doesn’t have the strongest arm but is accurate, something Cutler struggled with at times. McDaniels believes Orton will do a good job of grasping the playbook, something that he believed Cutler wouldn’t have an easy time with. No matter what McDaniels says about Orton, football logic still says that Cutler is and always will be the better quarterback. McDaniels is going to have a chance in 2009 to immediately show just how good of a coach he is. If Orton plays well and the Broncos succeed, McDaniels will look like a genius. But if Orton fails, McDaniels will be on thin ice with Denver’s fan base. The Orton era hasn’t gotten off to a good start, as he threw three interceptions in the team’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

McDaniels didn’t get off to a good start in handling disgruntled players, but he has another chance with Brandon Marshall, the team’s star wide receiver. Marshall, one of the most talented receivers in the game, wants a new contract. His numbers say that he clearly deserves a dramatic pay raise, but his off-the-field actions complicate the situations. Marshall has had various domestic violence disputes, one of which got him suspended for the first game of the season in 2008. And just last week, Marshall was found not guilty on misdemeanor battery charges. He and his agent, Kennard McGuire, have asked for a trade if no contract extension can be worked out, but McDaniels and the Broncos have refused to comply with either request. Marshall has refused to practice in the meantime, claiming he is still suffering pain due to offseason hip surgery. Marshall is clearly unhappy and reportedly has “trust issues” with the organization. McDaniels likely isn’t helping matters, either, as he is often vague in his responses to the media and refuses to even begin to broach the subject of a contract extension for Marshall. McDaniels must prove that he knows what is doing, because if he trades Marshall after trading away Cutler, it will appear that he has no concept of how to run a football team.

The easiest way to erase the memories of a tumultuous offseason will be to win games, but that will be no easy task for a team with a shaky defense, running game and now passing game as well. McDaniels will have to prove himself right away.

It’s The Same Old Raiders And Absolutely Nothing Has Changed …….They Continue To Stink Up The Joint

It’s being widely reported around the sport’s talk radio networks and broadcast television that an altercation took place between Oakland Raiders‘ coach Tom Cable and his assistant defensive coordinator Randy Hanson. And whilst , the denials have come quick and fast that an altercation never took place. It can only create the perception that all is not right within Raider Nation . Especially amongst the coaching staff of the Raiders. The team’s antics of which haven’t been anything desirable by the franchise as to its competitiveness on or off the field.

Tom Cable gives you his inner being as to what makes him tick.

And while we can all opine as to what ails the Raiders as an organization. This latest incident can only provide clear proof that this once beloved franchise is still a downright mess. From the executive level on downwards. And though Cable has only been in the position but a year as the team’s coach. He’s been able to bring some semblance of discipline back to the franchise. Albeit , that their level of competitive play is still inconsistent. There’s no veteran leadership on the team. And even with the acquisition of wily veteran Jeff Garcia as a free agent. One is hardly liable to view Garcia as the person who can provide the erstwhile intuitiveness and leadership qualities one would come to expect. His limited physical attributes notwithstanding ,this team struggles to find an identity. Furthermore, its draft picks over the last five years haven’t exactly panned out whereby , there’s been anything tangible or advantageous that it can hang its hat on.

Tom Cable (left) and assistant defensive coordinator Randy Hanson (right). An altercation is said to have taken place between the two during a team meeting. Both the NFL and the Raiders' organization are now said to be conducting their own investigation into the incident. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Steven Goyer .......

And though Cable was said to be succinct in his explanation as to what actually took place. How much more will the fans be allowed to tolerate at this juncture ? Cable’s predecessor Lane Kiffin was about as well equipped to handle the position. As Paris Hilton would be considered, to be ready to perform open heart surgery on a patient in need of an urgent heart transplant. For Cable, his first season was something of a baptism of fire under the auspices of team owner, Al Davis . And Davis, as of late has been going through coaches, the way that former Filipino first lady, Imelda Marcos went through a pair of shoes. No laughing matter there, considering the economic plight of the Philippines. As to the wealth of the Raiders’ franchise, its wealth can be best judged by the fact that whatever value it’s said to have can only be really based in its history. Rather than anything that it’s said to have achieved as of late.

Raiders' owner Al Davis speaks with members of the press having just made the formal announcement that the interim coach's tag had been removed and that Tom Cable was now the team's head coach. The formal announcement was made in February at the team's training facility in Alameda County , California. picture appears courtesy of reuters/ Robert Galbraith .................

No doubt this all looks embarrassing for the franchise. But in reality, should we expect anything different from an organization that still has trouble finding some semblance of a game ? Much less, one that actually can still play the game with the deftness expected of a popular franchise. Granted, their fans are still very much passionate about all things Raider-esque. But then again when you’re said to be the only game in town . What else is there to do ? Support the Oakland A’s ?

Raiders' starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2) is sacked by the Dallas Cowboys' Keith Brooking (51) in the first quarter of a preseason game played at the Oalkand-Alameda County Coliseum on August 13th 2009. The Raiders would end up defeating the Cowboys 31-10. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Jeb Jacobsohn ..............

Much has been made of the Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell ,starting quartetback for the team. And that we ought to see improvements in his play. Now, as a third year starter , the franchise can ill afford to have him once again have another sub par season by most people’s standards. It’s bad enough that the talents of their running back , Darren McFadden has been under-utilized. But then again, the Raiders’ offense as it is , has never been anything to write home about, recently. Potency for them , would be to be caught out in bare sunlight without using sunscreen with the factor of SPF 15 or above. That’s how banal they’ve become offensively, as a team ! Never-mind the fact that defensively they’re as porous as a sponge against the run. And when it comes to tackling , one can espouse to the idea that there may well be male ballet dancers who possess more athleticism and physical traits than the entire Raiders’ defense !

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey of the Oakland Raiders warms up prior to beginning of the preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Jeb Jacobsohn ..................

Draft wise the team did well in terms of the acquisitions made through the draft. And their prize acquirement was that of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey . It’s hoped that he can be that missing piece that they require at the wide-out position. It’s hoped that with he and Javon Walker , working in tandem . We can see more potency upfront from the team.

The expectations are high once again for this Raiders’ team . And if they’re to live up to those expectations of prevailing in the AFC West against the likes of the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. Then this Raiders’ organization, will have to definitely get its house in order, both on and off the field.

No doubt now , with the NFL about to conduct its own investigation into the alleged incident, between Cable and his assistant Randy Hanson. This is something that’s about to create another PR nightmare for a franchise that has in recent times become the laughing stock of the NFL. And though the much maligned owner , Al Davis is thought to still have some of his faculties about him. I can only hazard a guess, that he , himself , won’t think anything of it, that his coaching staff on appearance, are no more saner than he is. After-all , this is the Oakland Raiders that we’re talking about ! It’s not as if, in recent times they’ve given the fans of the NFL much less their own fans something to be happy about. It’s still a comedy of errors within the organization. Be it on the field or off it , for that matter !

Courtesy of the Washington Post :

Cable Denies He Hit Assistant Coach

By Mark Maske of The Washington Post

Oakland Raiders’ coach Tom Cable has denied a report that he hit one of his team’s defensive assistants in the jaw during a meeting, resulting in an injury that required treatment at a Napa, Calif., hospital emergency room earlier this month.

Cable told ESPN that no punches were thrown.

Several news organizations reported that Raiders defensive assistant Randy Hanson was treated at a hospital following the Aug. 5th incident. The league-owned NFL Network reported that Hanson told police he’d been struck by another member of the team’s coaching staff. A report by the website FanHouse indicated that Cable had punched Hanson in the jaw. cont’d ……….

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NB For more of an update as to the latest in the ongoing saga as to this incident. Then please click on the link provided below, to view.

NFL investigating alleged Raiders coach scrap ; Cable denies fight ….. From the Associated Press.

Training Camps Are Here, And So Are The Storylines

The long NFL offseason is finally over. All of the minicamps, OTAs and voluntary practice sessions are over. It’s finally time for teams to step out onto the field and begin preparing for the 2009 season. The Cleveland Browns rookies became the first to begin camp when they got went onto the field this morning, which means the push towards the regular season has officially started. The grind of training camp will hit teams shortly, as two-a-day sessions are just around the corner. The sweltering summer heat will undoubtedly test the mental fortitude of all players, and that’s what training camp is all about. It’s where championship teams are built. New offensive and defensive schemes were implemented in after the draft. New plays and concepts were drawn up and practiced during OTAs and minicamps. Training camp is a time to build team chemistry and camaraderie. There’s a reason coaches love training camp — it’s where the strength of the team is crafted.

This is always a great time in the NFL, because each team’s city is optimistic that this is their year. Every time is undefeated right now, meaning everyone can dream of making a trip to Miami, the site of Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010. Each and every team that struggled last season can think of being this year’s Miami Dolphins or Arizona Cardinals.

With the start of training camps comes the endless storylines that NFL fans around the country will be debating day-after-day. The list of intriguing camp battles, coaching changes and players returning from injury will make every training camp exciting to follow. These are just some of the intriguing storylines as we head into camps:

>> The quarterback battles: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will battle all of training camp to determine who will be the starting quarterback battle when the team opens up the season on September 13 against the Minnesota Vikings. This won’t be an easy competition by any stretch, as new head coach Eric Mangini is expected to work Anderson and Quinn vigorously. Who wins this competition is anyone’s guess. Anderson has the bigger arm by far and therefore is a better threat to bring the team’s vertical passing game back to its 2007 form, when Anderson routinely hooked up with wide receiver Braylon Edwards to make the Browns one of the best offenses in the league. Quinn, meanwhile, is more accurate and a much better game manager. This battle is likely to extend well into camp, as Mangini has indicated that he won’t make a decision until the third preseason game.

San Francisco is another team with a QB competition about to start. Alex Smith(pictured, left), the No.1 pick of the 2005 draft, has recovered from injury and will look to win back the starting job. He will have to beat out Shaun Hill, who has performed surprisingly well over the last few seasons for the 49ers. Smith took a dramatically reduced salary to stay with the 49ers, because this is without question his best start to win a starting job. The coaching regime that drafted him is gone, but that doesn’t mean the team does not want to see him succeed. Those in the organization who were apart of the drafting process who love to see Smith do well. Ultimately it will come down to who gives the 49ers the best chance to win football games. Smith has had trouble staying healthy over his career, while Hill has seemed to have always played well when the team has called his number. Head coach Mike Singletary will have a tough decision to make this summer.

Another fierce competition will be taking place in Tampa Bay, where three QBs are likely to be involved in the competition for the Buccaneers. Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich, and first-round draft pick Josh Freeman are the participants, but not one of them particularly stood out in the spring. There will undoubtedly be pressure on the organization to start Freeman, especially considering the team traded up two spots in the draft to select him. But Freeman is viewed by many as a project who will need 2-3 years to develop, meaning it is unlikely he will earn the starting job at the start of the season. Then, the battle is down to Leftwich and McCown. McCown has indicated that he think this is “his job to lose,” and he’s probably right. Leftwich, the No.7 overall pick by the Jaguars in 2003, hasn’t yet made his mark on the league. He has always had a slow delivery, which is a no-no in the NFL. Still, he’s a solid QB, as is McCown. The way this battle is shaping up, the player who immediately steps up will earn the starting job.

>> Coaching Changes: Like every offseason, 2009 featured a number of coaching changes throughout the league. Each new coach brings energy, enthusiasm and a different perspective to his new team. The coach with the toughest job this upcoming season will be Jim Schwartz (pictured, right) trying to rebuild the Detroit Lions, who last year became the first team to go 0-16 in a single season.  Steve Spagnuolo won’t have an easy job, either, as he will try to rebuild a Rams franchise that has won just 5 games over the last two seasons. Eric Mangini takes over in Cleveland, and questions about how effective his demanding coaching style is persist throughout the league. Rex Ryan, the fiery defensive coordinator from Baltimore, inherits a New York Jets team that was just one game away from reaching the playoffs last season. Josh McDanies tenure as coach of Denver Broncos hasn’t gotten off to a great start, as he traded away franchise QB Jay Cutler, making his job in 2009 much more difficult. Todd Haley steps in as new coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and he had the good fortune of acquiring QB Matt Cassel from New England; unfortunately, most of the rest of the team is mediocre at best. Tom Cable stepped in as interim coach for the Oakland Raiders last season, and did a good enough job to shed off the interim tag, but QB questions, a mediocre receiver corp and a shaky defense won’t make his job easy. Rahim Moore takes over in Tampay Bay, and he did not get on the fans’ good side by dumping veterans such as Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn. Mike Singletary steps in for the 49ers, and it will be interesting to see how much his hard-nosed style will improve the team. Finally, Jim Mora is the new coach in Seattle, where the window to win with veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck is closing.

All are good coaches who could make a big impact on the league in 2009. Ryan may have the best chance of them all to make the playoffs, as he has a veteran group, with the exception of rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who is likely to start. Also, don’t count out Mora, who was with the team last year as the secondary coach. He knows the team well and is playing in a wide-open NFC West.

Two injured players make their return: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers will be back on the field in 2009.

Brady tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 regular season game against the Chiefs. He has had a lot of time to recover, and all indications are that he will be ready to go at the beginning of the regular season. The Patriots traded away backup QB Matt Cassel, which should be a clear indication that they feel Brady is fully healthy and will have no trouble recovering. There has to be some level of consternation among the Patriots fans, though, as most QBs who tear their ACLs take two years to recover. Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer ar good examples of what to expect in the first season back from a knee injury. Both didn’t play up their ability, as they were still in the recovering process. Working to Brady’s advantage, however, is the fact that the injury has had so much time to heal.  When he steps onto the field on September 14, the injury will have occured over a year ago. How he moves in training camp will be a good sign of how he is feeling.

Merriman, meanwhile, tore multiple ligaments in knee during last year’s training camp. He was able to play in the season opener against the Panthers but was forced to sit out the rest of the season, as it was clear that he simply wasn’t himself. Merriman is one of the best linebackers in the league and his absence was certainly felt by the Chargers. The defense’s production declined without Merriman, proving just how valuable he is to the team. The is a crucial year for Merriman, as his contract expires after this season. Absent a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, he will only be a restricted free agent next offseason. According to league rules, only players with at least six years of service can become unrestricted free agents when there is no salary cap due to the lack of a CBA. Therefore, Merriman will need to performn extremely well and prove to the Chargers that he deserves a new contract. If he doesn’t, the Chargers will have the ability to offer him a low-ball contract offer because of the fact that he will be restricted.

Rookie holdouts: Teams will have rookies report to training camp over the next week, but how many of the actually show up is in question. Only two first-rounders — Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez — are under contract with their respective teams. Teams are going to work hard over the next few days to try and get their first-round picks under contract, but it’s not going to be easy. Negotiations usually depend on other signings. For example, Cincinatti OT Andre Smith was the sixth overall pick in the draft. His agent, Alvin Keels, will look at the contract given to last year’s sixth pick, Jets LB Vernon Gholston, as well as the contract of Sanchez — taken directly ahead of Smith — and Oakland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey — taken directly behind him. There are multiple problems with that strategy, however. First off, Sanchez’s $50.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed has to be looked at differently considering QBs always make the most money. Second, Heyward-Bey has not yet been signed by the Raiders, so Keels does not have the ability to ask for something in between the 5 and 7 draft slots.

More disconcerting is the lack of second-round selections that have signed. As of this post, only seven second-rounders have signed contracts. A flurry of deals should be signed sometime soon, but teams are going to have to work extra hard to make sure that these rookies get to camp in a timely fashion. It is imperative that the rookies get to camp on time, because they all have a lot to learn. Showing up late can hamper a rookie’s progress — just ask Raiders QB JaMarcus Russel, who held in ‘07 and played in only four games that season.

What’s Not To Like If Your Name Happens To Be Mike Shanahan ?

So you’ve been fired by the team that you guided to two successive Superbowl wins. You’re still highly respected amongst your peers. Albeit that in some circles , tv pundits and some of the Denver Broncos’ fans you’re thought of as being past your prime.

Mike Shanahan , now the former coach of the Denver Broncos. Shanahan had a long and distinguished career with the team guiding them to two successive Superbowl (XXXII & XXXIII) wins in 1997 and 1998. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Richard Matthews ...........

Well if your name happens to be Mike Shanahan , then you’ve to be smiling a like a Cheshire cat that’s been given several bowls of milk. Having been fired by Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen , from a position that’d made you one of the longest tenured coaches in the NFL. You can now can sit back knowing that you’re still owed $14million , for the remaining two years left on your original contract.

Isn’t it funny how the business template is set when it comes to the NFL ? Coaches are given guaranteed contracts but yet the players are basically paid according to incentives. And about the only thing guaranteed for them is their signing bonus . One can only surmise even in failure you’re still rewarded handsomely. Not unlike the corporate executives on Wall St and within many of the large financial institutions that’ve almost brought the country to the brink of an economic disaster. And low and behold , we have the federal goverenment now giving them an assist. Meanwhile , the ordinary citizen will be lucky if he or she actually knows whether or not they’ll be able to make their next mortgage payment on time.

Pat Bowlen the owner of the Denver Broncos. picture appears courtesy of afp/ photo/ Mithchell Hines ..................

For the Denver Broncos the off-season was filled not only with tension but also a great deal of comedic value. Especially in light of the way Shanahan’s succcessor, Josh McDaniels handled his initial foray into coaching with the Broncos. He ran the wrath of the teams’ then quarterback , Jay Cutler . And the aftermath of that encounter left everyone within the Broncos’ organization and outside it completely perplexed by the inanity and infantile behavior of both McDaniels and the young quarterback.

Newly acquired Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler is seen here in attendance in his first formal public announcement that he's now a Chicago Bear. Inset also is Bears' GM Jerry Angelo in the background. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Jim Prisching ..........

With the ensuing inaction by both Cutler and McDaniels, both being unwilling to give ground on what they may well have each believe to be a power struggle for dominance . It was felt that the club’s owner Pat Bowlen would intervene and bring calm to the tension within. Nothing could remain further from the truth , as the owner remained as silent as a docile church mouse. In the end the player’s demands to be traded were met as the relationship between he and the coach were irretrievably broken. Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton , cumatively for two fist round picks and a third round pick. Non-sensical as this trade seemed on paper, in terms of the Broncos’ perspective on Cutler’s perceived value. Someone got the short end of the stick on this trade. However, both teams seem to have been happy with the end result.

Denver Broncos' head coach is seen here after the formal announcement has been that he's the team's new head coach. picture appears courtesy of reuters/ Nathan W. Armes .....................

With Culter now said to be happy in his new environment and new teammates. It’s viewed that the Bears’ll be a team to be followed as they set out to prove their dominance in the NFC North. As for the Broncos and Kyle Orton , he now has the privilege of trying to beat out Chris Simms for the starter’s job on the team. No that wasn’t a misprint that you read , as it is indeed Chris Simms on the roster of the Denver Broncos.

As for Shanahan, he could have his pick of positions, should one become available. But more likely than not he’ll remain on the sidelines. Perhaps working in the broadcast booth , providing his insight and analysis on NFL games. Much like , Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher , two other coaches who remain seated on the sidelines. They can sit and wait for that call from a team looking to make a change at the top of their coaching ladder. Shanahan’s got fourteeen million reasons why he needn’t really worry at present. But if anything as a lifelong disciplined coach, he yearns for being back on the coaching sidelines. Chances are however , is that he’ll sit out this year and next. But who really knows ?

Broncos' quarterback Kyle Orton is seen here with the team's head coach Josh McDaniels at the Broncos' indoor training facility in Englewood , Colorado. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ David Zabulowski ...........................

With a number of coaches this season said to be in tenuous positions as far as their overall job security is concerned. Shanahan’s number and that of Gruden’s and Cowher’s have got to be on speed-dial of a number of GM’s around the league. The guess is, whose number will be dialed first ?

Marshall Deserves a New Contract

This offseason has been a tumultuous one for the Denver Broncos. The firing of long-time head coach Mike Shanahan was surprising considering the Broncos missed the playoffs by just one game and seemed to have a bright future.  One player clearly unhappy with the move was QB Jay Cutler, who voiced his displeasure with the changes the organization had made. That fiasco led team owner Pat Bowlen to trade Cutler to the Chicago Bears. At that point, it seemed that the drama was over and new head coach Josh McDaniels could go ahead with installing his program in Denver. As college football analyst Lee Corso would say, “not so fast.”

A few weeks ago, star WR Brandon Marshall began looking for a new contract. He is nearing the end of his rookie deal, and he wants more money.  In fact, he wants one so bad that he is willing to be traded in order to receive one. Earlier this week, he had a meeting with Bowlen and thereafter declared on his website that Bowlen had agreed to trade him. But if the Broncos are even thinking about trading Marshall, something is wrong with the organization.

There’s no denying that Marshall has had legal issues in the past, most notably domestic violence charges. These problems led to a one-game suspension last season, and with another case set to be settled in August, he could still face more punishment from the league office. His problems have been well chronicled, but he has now said that his life is turning around, as he is getting engaged to be married.

Despite all of the off-the-field issues, Marshall has developed into one of the best WRs in the game. Over the past two seasons, Marshall has made 206 receptions for 2,590 yards. Those are remarkable numbers, especially for someone who is so young. At just 25 years old, Marshall is still developing, and he has the potential to be the best WR in the game. His 6-foot-4, 230 pound frame is perfect for a No.1 WR. His combination of size and speed is excellent, and he uses his height well when going up to grab the football. All of those characteristics make it seem obvious that he should receive a new contract.

Currently, Marshall makes under $3 million, which means that he is grossly underpaid. Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the best WR in the league, makes $10 million a year. Based on his production, Marshall deserves something very similar. So far, the Broncos have not, by any accounts, moved towards negotiating a contract for Marshall. This decision has more to do with McDaniels than Bowlen.

McDaniels came over from New England, a franchise that is all about the team-first mentality. Members of the Patriots rarely gripe about contracts publicly, because their first concern is winning football games. McDaniels has been molded to believe that players should not complain about contracts; rather they should internally discuss the situation with the organization’s front-office. It’s the Bill Belichick way, and it is how McDaniels will operate as a head coach.