This go-around let’s enjoy the beautiful ride, even if it’s just as wild.
The Broncos will host their annual media barbeque Wednesday, something the general public couldn’t care less about it, but it’s still a significant day.
The BBQ marks the unofficial start of training camp. And while watching folks who cover the team eat ribs won’t excite anyone, the fact we’ve made it to this point should get you fired up.
The grills are hot and football is back. Thank goodness.
The dull days of summer have been well-documented, and while the Rockies have held on a little bit better than most expected, the main course in the sporting world has returned.
Don’t sleep on the BBQ as a ho-hum event. Three years ago Von Miller was peppered with questions surrounding his alleged marijuana use (man, we’ve come a long way), two years ago it was announced Pat Bowlen would be stepping down as owner on a very emotional day and last year marked the start of a new era.
Gary Kubiak’s regime was officially in for their first camp, the bumbling boob John Fox and his turncoat assistants were out. What a championship change it turned out to be.
But when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 the overwhelming emotion around the Mile High City wasn’t jubilation, but relief.
I’m not sure people were happy when Peyton Manning and Company hoisted the Lombardi Trophy on that sunny Sunday in Santa Clara so much as it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from their shoulders.
The 2015 NFL season was stressful for Denver fans; no one is going to argue that. The tension was high, especially when it came to Manning and Broncos supporters fighting off those who were more worried about being “right” about Brock Osweiler being a better option at QB.
Not only was Osweiler not a better option, as switching back to Manning in the San Diego game proved to be crucial in securing the No. 1 seed and eventually winning it all, but the way Oz handled this offseason showed his true colors. That guy had his mind made up the second he was benched for (arguably) the GOAT he was gone. Denver became just a bargaining chip to drive up the price in Houston.
With that hot take, I digress.
The intentional tangent was to prove a larger point. Everyone had a strong opinion last year, particularly on the Manning / Osweiler debate, and it took away from some of the team’s success. Rather than celebrate wins, if the guy they wanted under center didn’t earn it, a certain faction of Broncos Country was angry.
That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Sports, in particular title runs, should always be fun.
So this year, let’s make a vow: I, Broncos Fan X, solemnly swear on an Orange and Blue Colorado sunset that every time the Broncos win I will be happy.
If the team starts losing and the season heads downhill, feel free to fly off the handle and go crazy. That’s what you’re supposed to do.
But if the quarterback situation gets messy again, as most expect it will, yet the defense keeps delivering wins and the Broncos are rolling toward a sixth straight AFC West title, try to stay positive. It’s going to be alright.
Everything on the topsy-turvy roller coaster that was last season ended brilliantly. The coaster didn’t crash. It parked safely at the finish line, with a shiny trophy in hand.
Why can’t it happen again? For all the hoopla about losing Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, keep in mind the Broncos are returning nine of their 11 best players on that side of the ball.
Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart are all back. Throw in Shane Ray, Sylvester Williams and Shaq Barrett and the Broncos still have the most dominant defense in football.
While the offense is full of question marks, particularly under center, there’s no reason 2016 can’t end like 2015.
If it does conclude with a second straight parade, it won’t be pretty.
It will be just as ugly as last year, possibly even worse. Hell, “The butt fumble” Mark Sanchez was involved in one of the ugliest plays in NFL history…the butt fumble! And he’s the likely starting quarterback.
It’s going to be grotesque at times, like final scores of 13-12 gross, but it also has the potential to be glorious.
So get yourself in that mindset now and this year enjoy the ride.
There’s no need to get worked up about the journey, especially when the destination could be as beautiful as ever.
