red98
03-25-2009, 01:05 AM
Taken from the mane (Uberbronco)
Can't take the credit for this one, as Mojo really found something interesting over at BM.
http://www.sportingnews.com/archives...article14.html
Some excerpts:
This year, they return with a relatively young squad built on the rock-solid foundation of a stingy defense (its 226 points allowed were the fewest by any team in '89), a more consistent offense that will feature second-year running back Bobby Humphrey and, of course, the impressive gifts of Elway, who vows he won't repeat his '89 misdeeds, which included 18 interceptions. Considering the way Denver dominated the AFC last season -- it was the only team that won more than nine games -- It's difficult not to choose the Broncos this time around.
That is the new Elway attitude. Less complaining, more rolling with the punches. Of course, John McEnroe has been talking about a new attitude for years and he still can't control his tennis temper tantrums. Elway didn't have temper problems, just rabbit eyes and ears. Criticism would infuriate him, so much so that it affected his personality and, to some extent, his performance. He wasn't happy about his play last year, but he was pleased that he finally got things off his chest midway through the season.
That's when he complained, in a Sports Illustrated article, about feeling "smothered" by media coverage in Denver -- there was even a story about what he handed out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween -- and wasn't so sure he wanted to take it anymore. Then, in a revealing press conference, he calmly told the local press to, basically, go to hell. He unloaded all his complaints and felt good about doing it. Since then, his attitude has undergone a positive change.
"I've matured," he said. "When I was growing up, I dreamed of being in this league, playing quarterback. Then I was doing it and not having any fun. That had to stop."
Let's back up to last January and the days preceding Super Bowl XXIV. Along with preparing for the 49ers, Elway had to deal with reports by a Washington, D.C., television station, still unsubstantiated, that three white quarterbacks in the NFL had failed past drug tests, and with criticism from CBS-TV analyst Terry Bradshaw, who cast Elway as a stagnant, not-very-smart quarterback who hadn't developed his vast potential. Then, to go out and lay such a big egg against the 49ers made the whole episode the most unhappy period of Elway's adult life.
He didn't have to look far for more motivation. This time, it came from Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, who once called Elway a spoiled brat for not wanting to play for the Colts, the team that made him the No. 1 pick overall in the 1983 draft (a few days later, he was traded to Denver). During the offseason, Unitas wondered when everyone would concede that Elway never would become as good as his press clippings.
Keep in mind this was after Elway's SEVENTH season in the league. Cutler is just now entering his fourth.
Can't take the credit for this one, as Mojo really found something interesting over at BM.
http://www.sportingnews.com/archives...article14.html
Some excerpts:
This year, they return with a relatively young squad built on the rock-solid foundation of a stingy defense (its 226 points allowed were the fewest by any team in '89), a more consistent offense that will feature second-year running back Bobby Humphrey and, of course, the impressive gifts of Elway, who vows he won't repeat his '89 misdeeds, which included 18 interceptions. Considering the way Denver dominated the AFC last season -- it was the only team that won more than nine games -- It's difficult not to choose the Broncos this time around.
That is the new Elway attitude. Less complaining, more rolling with the punches. Of course, John McEnroe has been talking about a new attitude for years and he still can't control his tennis temper tantrums. Elway didn't have temper problems, just rabbit eyes and ears. Criticism would infuriate him, so much so that it affected his personality and, to some extent, his performance. He wasn't happy about his play last year, but he was pleased that he finally got things off his chest midway through the season.
That's when he complained, in a Sports Illustrated article, about feeling "smothered" by media coverage in Denver -- there was even a story about what he handed out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween -- and wasn't so sure he wanted to take it anymore. Then, in a revealing press conference, he calmly told the local press to, basically, go to hell. He unloaded all his complaints and felt good about doing it. Since then, his attitude has undergone a positive change.
"I've matured," he said. "When I was growing up, I dreamed of being in this league, playing quarterback. Then I was doing it and not having any fun. That had to stop."
Let's back up to last January and the days preceding Super Bowl XXIV. Along with preparing for the 49ers, Elway had to deal with reports by a Washington, D.C., television station, still unsubstantiated, that three white quarterbacks in the NFL had failed past drug tests, and with criticism from CBS-TV analyst Terry Bradshaw, who cast Elway as a stagnant, not-very-smart quarterback who hadn't developed his vast potential. Then, to go out and lay such a big egg against the 49ers made the whole episode the most unhappy period of Elway's adult life.
He didn't have to look far for more motivation. This time, it came from Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, who once called Elway a spoiled brat for not wanting to play for the Colts, the team that made him the No. 1 pick overall in the 1983 draft (a few days later, he was traded to Denver). During the offseason, Unitas wondered when everyone would concede that Elway never would become as good as his press clippings.
Keep in mind this was after Elway's SEVENTH season in the league. Cutler is just now entering his fourth.