Skinny
11-07-2007, 09:01 PM
November 7, 2007
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Jay Cutler seems less worried about his badly bruised left leg than he does the state of the Denver Broncos.
The second-year quarterback who practiced through the pain Wednesday suggested the Broncos, losers of five of six, are in panic mode.
Coming off a 44-7 blasting by the Detroit Lions, the Broncos are facing just their second losing season in coach Mike Shanahan's 13-year tenure. They went 6-10 in 1999 when Terrell Davis blew out a knee and John Elway retired after leading Denver to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
"The Broncos aren't used to this. We're not used to going 3-5. We're not used to giving up 40 points in two games so far and getting blown out. It's just not something that's accustomed to this organization," Cutler said. "And it starts at the top; (owner Pat) Bowlen's not used to it. Coach Shanahan, I mean it's never happened to him before in his career.
"So, everyone's a little embarrassed, everyone's a little bit in a state of panic. But we've got a lot of football left. If we keep playing the way we are, we're going to keep just going downhill. So, some things have to change. Players have got to start playing better, myself included."
The Broncos have been dismal on offense, defense and special teams. Were it not for three game-winners by kicker Jason Elam, they could be facing an 0-8 record.
They have eight players on injured reserve, including top draft pick Jarvis Moss, who broke an ankle last week. No. 1 receiver Javon Walker is recovering from a knee operation and top tailback Travis Henry is fighting the NFL over a failed drug test, trying to keep the league from suspending him for a year.
The defense hasn't been able to adjust to Jim Bates' scheme and even has trouble getting the proper personnel groups on the field. The Broncos signed three defensive ends Tuesday in a rare midseason shake-up.
Informed of Cutler's comments, Shanahan said he wouldn't necessarily use the word "panic."
"There's a difference between panicked and a sense of urgency," he said. "Any time you play like that and give up 17 points on offense, get 12 penalties, you have four turnovers, six or seven dropped balls, there had better be a sense of urgency."
That's how cornerback Dre' Bly characterized the state of the team: "It's more of a sense of urgency. I'm not going to say guys are panicking. We need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are giving it our all."
"The crazy thing about it, we're still just one game behind in our division," Bly added.
Kansas City and San Diego lead the middling AFC West at just 4-4 and a Denver win on Sunday at the Chiefs, combined with a win by Indianapolis over the Chargers could put the Broncos in a tie for the division lead at 4-5.
Regardless, safety Nick Ferguson agreed Broncos headquarters was a stressed-out place these days.
"It's just kind of chaotic and dismal right now because we're losing and no one in this locker room ... I've been here five years, I'm not used to this," Ferguson said.
Ferguson recalled how the Broncos dedicated their season to Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, who died in the offseason.
"So, is this how we want to have our season be remembered? No. And this is a season that we dedicated to two of our fallen comrades. And to me, I don't think this is how they would want us to remember them. So whatever it is, we have to try to fix it and get it fixed right now," Ferguson said.
Cutler feared his season was over and his leg broken Sunday when Lions defensive end Cory Redding speared him with his helmet.
"To get the MRI back and to see that it was just a deep bruise and nothing was cracked or anything, it was a relief," Cutler said. "I mean, it's a bruise. I can go ahead and push it and if it hurts, it hurts, but it's not going to get any worse."
Cutler took most of the snaps at practice and moved around well, Shanahan said.
"He looked good," Shanahan said. "Unless there's a setback, he should be ready to go."
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=301566
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Jay Cutler seems less worried about his badly bruised left leg than he does the state of the Denver Broncos.
The second-year quarterback who practiced through the pain Wednesday suggested the Broncos, losers of five of six, are in panic mode.
Coming off a 44-7 blasting by the Detroit Lions, the Broncos are facing just their second losing season in coach Mike Shanahan's 13-year tenure. They went 6-10 in 1999 when Terrell Davis blew out a knee and John Elway retired after leading Denver to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
"The Broncos aren't used to this. We're not used to going 3-5. We're not used to giving up 40 points in two games so far and getting blown out. It's just not something that's accustomed to this organization," Cutler said. "And it starts at the top; (owner Pat) Bowlen's not used to it. Coach Shanahan, I mean it's never happened to him before in his career.
"So, everyone's a little embarrassed, everyone's a little bit in a state of panic. But we've got a lot of football left. If we keep playing the way we are, we're going to keep just going downhill. So, some things have to change. Players have got to start playing better, myself included."
The Broncos have been dismal on offense, defense and special teams. Were it not for three game-winners by kicker Jason Elam, they could be facing an 0-8 record.
They have eight players on injured reserve, including top draft pick Jarvis Moss, who broke an ankle last week. No. 1 receiver Javon Walker is recovering from a knee operation and top tailback Travis Henry is fighting the NFL over a failed drug test, trying to keep the league from suspending him for a year.
The defense hasn't been able to adjust to Jim Bates' scheme and even has trouble getting the proper personnel groups on the field. The Broncos signed three defensive ends Tuesday in a rare midseason shake-up.
Informed of Cutler's comments, Shanahan said he wouldn't necessarily use the word "panic."
"There's a difference between panicked and a sense of urgency," he said. "Any time you play like that and give up 17 points on offense, get 12 penalties, you have four turnovers, six or seven dropped balls, there had better be a sense of urgency."
That's how cornerback Dre' Bly characterized the state of the team: "It's more of a sense of urgency. I'm not going to say guys are panicking. We need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are giving it our all."
"The crazy thing about it, we're still just one game behind in our division," Bly added.
Kansas City and San Diego lead the middling AFC West at just 4-4 and a Denver win on Sunday at the Chiefs, combined with a win by Indianapolis over the Chargers could put the Broncos in a tie for the division lead at 4-5.
Regardless, safety Nick Ferguson agreed Broncos headquarters was a stressed-out place these days.
"It's just kind of chaotic and dismal right now because we're losing and no one in this locker room ... I've been here five years, I'm not used to this," Ferguson said.
Ferguson recalled how the Broncos dedicated their season to Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, who died in the offseason.
"So, is this how we want to have our season be remembered? No. And this is a season that we dedicated to two of our fallen comrades. And to me, I don't think this is how they would want us to remember them. So whatever it is, we have to try to fix it and get it fixed right now," Ferguson said.
Cutler feared his season was over and his leg broken Sunday when Lions defensive end Cory Redding speared him with his helmet.
"To get the MRI back and to see that it was just a deep bruise and nothing was cracked or anything, it was a relief," Cutler said. "I mean, it's a bruise. I can go ahead and push it and if it hurts, it hurts, but it's not going to get any worse."
Cutler took most of the snaps at practice and moved around well, Shanahan said.
"He looked good," Shanahan said. "Unless there's a setback, he should be ready to go."
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=301566