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06-04-2009, 12:00 AM
By Hunter Ansley
As I sat in the Sports Column Bar watching the 2009 NFL Draft, I heard a few
four letter words. I heard name-calling, suggestions of mutiny and even a sigh
or two.
But the statement I heard the most?
“We traded our best player for Kyle Orton, Robert Ayers and Alphonso Smith
Josh McDaniels is an idiot.”
It hasn’t been an uncommon sentiment around the area. But I was immediately
reminded of another quote:
“I’m not looking for the best players. . . . I’m looking for the right ones.”
While Herb Brooks may not have been a football coach, he did navigate the
greatest underdog story in the history of sports when he led the 1980 U.S.
Olympic hockey team to a gold medal, and his message transcends the ice
rink. It’s a quote that might be worth remembering. After all, the Broncos will
find themselves playing the underdog for most of 2009.
Jay Cutler and Dre Bly may be considered some of the best players by guys in
a sports bar, but after dropping a three-game lead and missing the playoffs
again, they certainly weren’t the right players.
Of course, Ayers and Smith haven’t proved anything yet. Neither has played a
down in the NFL, and neither has earned a starting spot in May. Ayers is a
tweener who may not find a comfortable fit in the new 3-4 scheme until
midseason. Smith is an undersized corner who ran a slower-than-expected
time in the all-important, yet completely overrated, 40-yard dash. But before
we condemn them for what they are, why not praise them for what they’re
not.
Neither scuttled from the NFL combine prematurely without working out or
even giving a heads-up to the teams in attendance. So they’re not Andre
Smith.
Neither tested positive for marijuana at the most crucial time not to do so.
Neither came in with a reputation as a coach’s nightmare who spends more
time acquiring an entourage than refining his route-running. So they’re not
Percy Harvin.
Neither left school early after only one season as a starter. Both stayed all
four years, honing their skills and honoring their commitments. So they’re not
Mark Sanchez.
Neither was suspended during their college careers. So they’re not B.J. Raji.
And neither hid behind Bus Cook after being “picked on” by a new coach.
Everyone of those players was rated higher than Smith or Ayers at some point
during the offseason. Three of them were drafted before the Broncos made
their first selection.
But McDaniels didn’t want those guys. McDaniels was interested in building a
stronger team by dropping some strong individuals. It’s a formula that worked
well for his last team, a team that won three Super Bowls with a sixth-round
quarterback. With linebackers so old that 31 other franchises had no interest.
With creaking wide receivers who played both ways when it helped the team,
despite what it did to their stat sheets. When was the last time a New
England Patriot held a news conference to air his personal complaints?
Football is not now, nor has it ever been, a sport than can be conquered by
one person. There are 22 men on the field, and each is as vital as the next.
The importance of finding players who believe in each other with more
conviction than they believe in the spotlight cannot be overestimated.
That’s what McDaniels has been doing, though to the untrained eye it might
come off as amateurish. That’s okay. That’s what makes it work. That’s why
only one team wins the Super Bowl — because 31 others were too busy
buying talent when they should have been luring character.
Denver needs players like Brian Dawkins, a guy who was considered the
greatest leader and teammate in the history of the NFL by his former fellow
Eagles. They need Alphonso Smith and his record-setting interception
production and team-first attitude on the field. They need his bright, yet
intent, outlook off the field, too. The Broncos need Robert Ayers, whose work
ethic and high motor were confirmed by top pick Knowshon Moreno just as
much as they need his strength and bulk on defense. They need a guy like
Richard Quinn, who played an unheralded position in the most unheralded way
by becoming the best blocking tight end in the draft.
Denver needs a team.
What they don’t need is anyone else to take notice. They don’t need the
constant praise and gold stars from the media because guys like Mel Kiper do
nothing but talk. The athletes on the field know that actions speak louder
than words. So when you hear another random fan shout that McDaniels is
ruining the Broncos, just turn your attention to the team. The actions on the
field will be deafening.
http://www.indenvertimes.com/2009/06/02/the-secret-life-of-josh-mcdaniels/comment-page-1/#comment-5236
-----
As I sat in the Sports Column Bar watching the 2009 NFL Draft, I heard a few
four letter words. I heard name-calling, suggestions of mutiny and even a sigh
or two.
But the statement I heard the most?
“We traded our best player for Kyle Orton, Robert Ayers and Alphonso Smith
Josh McDaniels is an idiot.”
It hasn’t been an uncommon sentiment around the area. But I was immediately
reminded of another quote:
“I’m not looking for the best players. . . . I’m looking for the right ones.”
While Herb Brooks may not have been a football coach, he did navigate the
greatest underdog story in the history of sports when he led the 1980 U.S.
Olympic hockey team to a gold medal, and his message transcends the ice
rink. It’s a quote that might be worth remembering. After all, the Broncos will
find themselves playing the underdog for most of 2009.
Jay Cutler and Dre Bly may be considered some of the best players by guys in
a sports bar, but after dropping a three-game lead and missing the playoffs
again, they certainly weren’t the right players.
Of course, Ayers and Smith haven’t proved anything yet. Neither has played a
down in the NFL, and neither has earned a starting spot in May. Ayers is a
tweener who may not find a comfortable fit in the new 3-4 scheme until
midseason. Smith is an undersized corner who ran a slower-than-expected
time in the all-important, yet completely overrated, 40-yard dash. But before
we condemn them for what they are, why not praise them for what they’re
not.
Neither scuttled from the NFL combine prematurely without working out or
even giving a heads-up to the teams in attendance. So they’re not Andre
Smith.
Neither tested positive for marijuana at the most crucial time not to do so.
Neither came in with a reputation as a coach’s nightmare who spends more
time acquiring an entourage than refining his route-running. So they’re not
Percy Harvin.
Neither left school early after only one season as a starter. Both stayed all
four years, honing their skills and honoring their commitments. So they’re not
Mark Sanchez.
Neither was suspended during their college careers. So they’re not B.J. Raji.
And neither hid behind Bus Cook after being “picked on” by a new coach.
Everyone of those players was rated higher than Smith or Ayers at some point
during the offseason. Three of them were drafted before the Broncos made
their first selection.
But McDaniels didn’t want those guys. McDaniels was interested in building a
stronger team by dropping some strong individuals. It’s a formula that worked
well for his last team, a team that won three Super Bowls with a sixth-round
quarterback. With linebackers so old that 31 other franchises had no interest.
With creaking wide receivers who played both ways when it helped the team,
despite what it did to their stat sheets. When was the last time a New
England Patriot held a news conference to air his personal complaints?
Football is not now, nor has it ever been, a sport than can be conquered by
one person. There are 22 men on the field, and each is as vital as the next.
The importance of finding players who believe in each other with more
conviction than they believe in the spotlight cannot be overestimated.
That’s what McDaniels has been doing, though to the untrained eye it might
come off as amateurish. That’s okay. That’s what makes it work. That’s why
only one team wins the Super Bowl — because 31 others were too busy
buying talent when they should have been luring character.
Denver needs players like Brian Dawkins, a guy who was considered the
greatest leader and teammate in the history of the NFL by his former fellow
Eagles. They need Alphonso Smith and his record-setting interception
production and team-first attitude on the field. They need his bright, yet
intent, outlook off the field, too. The Broncos need Robert Ayers, whose work
ethic and high motor were confirmed by top pick Knowshon Moreno just as
much as they need his strength and bulk on defense. They need a guy like
Richard Quinn, who played an unheralded position in the most unheralded way
by becoming the best blocking tight end in the draft.
Denver needs a team.
What they don’t need is anyone else to take notice. They don’t need the
constant praise and gold stars from the media because guys like Mel Kiper do
nothing but talk. The athletes on the field know that actions speak louder
than words. So when you hear another random fan shout that McDaniels is
ruining the Broncos, just turn your attention to the team. The actions on the
field will be deafening.
http://www.indenvertimes.com/2009/06/02/the-secret-life-of-josh-mcdaniels/comment-page-1/#comment-5236
-----