Before I go full Bill Belichick and completely move on from our Super Bowl-winning season, I do want to ask Denver fans to enjoy this. Who cares what would have happened if (insert scenario here)? Let’s focus on what did happen, which is that our team just WON THE SUPER BOWL!
Ok … now let’s go full Belichick: “We’re on to 2016”
What now? The Broncos may have a Lombardi Trophy and all the bragging rights in the world, but if we want to keep this ball rolling, what next? What are the three biggest priorities for this team moving forward?
First and foremost, John Elway has to reward Von Miller for both the player and person he has become. Remember, we are not that far removed from a time where all of Broncos Country, myself included, was seriously questioning whether Von’s stay in Denver would be coming to an end.
But, man, how far things have come …
Since his six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in 2013, Miller has turned his life around, on and off the field. And it all started when his mother made the move to the Mile High City after Von tore his ACL at the end of that same season.
A young man, with all the talent in the world, just needed someone in his daily life to keep him grounded, and the same could be said for most young, talented athletes; sometimes you just need some more mommy in your life.
And with is mother now in Denver, and with the addition of DeMarcus Ware, Von transformed from an athletic kid to a full-grown man in the game of football.
Reward that Mr. Elway. He has earned it. The rumor is that Von wants to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league, and from what I watched on Super Bowl Sunday, he should be. John Elway said he wanted to win from now on when he took the job, and keeping this defense together is how he can accomplish that, no matter who lines up under center.
The Broncos’ second offseason priority also needs to be on the defensive side of the ball, and that is to retain the services of Malik Jackson.
On the various radio shows I’ve been a part of over the last two years, I’ve called Jackson the unsung hero of Denver’s defensive front. You don’t hear his name a lot in the national media, even local, but Malik Jackson means just as much to this team, if not more, as Derek Wolfe, who just got paid. Again, it’s not my money, but Jackson has earned the payday that is coming his way. And while that may not be in Denver, it would be foolish for Elway to let him leave.
The third and final priority comes on offense. Yep, you guessed it: Brock Osweiler.
I was never #TeamBrock. While a lot of you turned your back on the old Sheriff, I stayed true to the old dog who had a little fight left in him. I did, however, see some things from Osweiler that showed me he could lead this team in the future: He can run the bootleg, he can actually be a play-action threat and he can make some plays with his feet. And all of those things will only become exaggerated once Peyton Manning is no longer serving as his backup. Imagine the pressure. With a full offseason under his belt as the starter, Brock will finally be able to get his hands dirty in Gary Kubiak‘s offense, and likewise, Kubiak will be able to mold Osweiler to fit his scheme.
As stated above, I am more than willing to give money out on behalf of the Bowlen family, but Brock is where the buck stops! Okay, well, at least after $12,999,999.99.
It’s a quarterback driven league, and there will be a team out there willing to overpay for a guy like Brock, but it cannot be the Broncos, and it cannot come at the cost of anyone on the other side of the ball. I would like to see Osweiler back next year as the starter, but only if it’s at the right price.
Keep the bulk of the defense together, get healthy on the offensive line, bring C.J. Anderson and Brock back at the right price, and this team will be poised to make another run next season!
