I’m all for almost all takes.
Whether they be hot, cold, warm, lukewarm, smart or even bad, at least having a take on a specific issue drives conversation.
Sure, shows like First Take, well, take it to a nauseating level, but every good sports conversation should have a little tension.
More than half the fun in sports is arguing about them. Games are the ultimate distraction, but killing time debating what did happen and what will happen fills the time between those games. It’s the reason sports talk radio exists, and frankly, it’s the reason you’re reading this article.
There just aren’t enough games to keep up with our 24/7/365 desire to be plugged into the sporting world.
So, with that very important caveat laid out, I have a simple request when it comes to Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak’s future: Please don’t have a take on it.
It’s not our place.
Ever since Kubiak was rushed via ambulance to a local hospital after Denver’s 23-16 loss to Atlanta, the head coach’s health has been a hot topic of discussion.
Fortunately, most of it has been nothing more than well wishes, which is obviously the correct response to have in this situation.
But there have been people, on both sides of the equation, who have had some frighteningly bad opinions.
A handful of folks have said Kubiak needs to hurry back, that he has a responsibility to the Broncos and the second he’s feeling the slightest bit better, Kubes must return to the team.
That’s asinine for multiple reasons, the chief among them being Kubiak’s health and family are far more important than football – even on the level he’s coaching. The comparison isn’t even close.
The other poor opinion, which is just as baffling, is that Kubiak needs to resign immediately. This is the second time in three years Kubiak has been rushed to the hospital from a football stadium (true), so it must mean he has to leave his profession.
First, a decision of that magnitude is for Kubiak, his wife Rhonda, his doctors and his children to decide. It’s not our business whether or not a man should give up his dream job.
Second, it’s unclear if the incident in 2013 in Houston, described as a “mini-stroke,” is at all related to the incident this past weekend, diagnosed as a “complex migraine.”
Finally, encouraging someone to give up a gig because of health concerns feels like discrimination or intimidation. Judging by the average-looking football coach framed against Kubiak, he’s doing just fine. Just tune into a Chiefs game.
I know what you’re thinking, I just told you not to have a take and then rambled on with a take of my own.
Without diving too far down the rabbit hole figuring out what is and isn’t a take, hopefully it’s become clear this stance on Kubiak is, at worst, a neutral take.
Telling the head coach to rush back is a poor take; so is saying the man should resign.
At this point the only acceptable take is that Kubiak needs to put his health and family first, get sound advice from his doctors and ultimately make a decision he’s comfortable with.
Kubiak’s a smart man and has a helluva football mind. He’s 19-5 as the Broncos head coach, including the playoffs, and has a Super Bowl ring to show for it after his first season. The peanut gallery clamoring about what his next move should be just doesn’t feel right.
Get your Paxton Lynch vs. Trevor Siemian take fired up.
Scream and yell about DT’s perceived lack of effort at times and inconsistent hands.
Clamor for Von Miller to be the NFL’s MVP.
But don’t hot take this Gary Kubiak situation.
We don’t know what’s best for Denver’s head coach. Taking a hard stance on it one way another is not a good look.
Almost all takes are worthy. Almost.