Denver Broncos: Culture of Winning

[WARHORSE]

I just wanted to point out what a helluva football town Denver is.

I know, I know....we all know.

But after listening to Jake Plummer talk about Treviathan, it just makes me smile how people love the culture of the Denver Broncos. Plummer left on his own terms.....not too happily in most opinions. But the man is drawn, like so many others....to Denver.

Look at the players that come back here and seek to live here. Guys that have more years with other teams even. Coaches like McCoy....who says it was not even close on where to go in being an offensive coordinator after his time in San Diego.
John Lynch. Demarcus. Stokely. Big Al. Peyton. Atwater. Terrell. Stink. Jake.....I can go on and on and on.

Other franchises have loyal players also....no doubt. But the fact remains: Denver is a football town and Denver is a family town. Two draws, along with fantastic people and environment that keep people coming to call it home.

I rent a 2 bedroom apartment for my daughter in Cherry Creek and she attends the Denver School of Nursing.....she just raves about the 'feel' of the town....the heritage....the history......the people. And even though shes an island girl from Hawaii, and will always love the beaches and the ocean, Denver is definitely soaking itself into her makeup. (of course.....it helps that she was raised a Broncos fan)


Denver is seems to be in a great place right now.......and thats why people are flocking there. (sorry locals)

Ya got it good.

GO B R O N C O S!!!

[Shazam!]

I went to Denver in 1997 (that's WHY they won the SB lol) to see the Broncos play and was one of the greatest 4 days of my life. Broncos Country baby

[Shazam!]

A great story about Denver is how, as a Franchise, us long time Fans and Followers of our beloved organization, they completely evolved from a reputation (as it was sort of earned) as losers and choke artists after 4 SB blowouts.

Now, almost twenty years after they won their first Lombardi Trophy, the Denver Broncos are an elite Team up their with other legendary dynasties who had their roll with a rich history.

Ill tell you i was so happy to see this team finally win, not once but TWICE. I was prepared to never see Denver win again because I didnt believe I could ever seem them be that good again. Enter Peyton Manning.

Look at them now.

"I love this organization." - Shannon Sharpe

We do too Shannon. We do too.

[tripp]

Wasn't sure which thread to post this in, but thought this might be a good threat to do it.

Was just thinking how many GREAT players we have on the team right now that aren't even in the top 4 rounds of the draft... just to name a few, maybe you guys could add some names in here on our current roster.. Shaq Barrett, Chris Harris, CJ Anderson, Matt Paradis, Brandon Marshall (LB) in a way feels like an undrafted guy simply because Jax didn't even want him and we developed him into a something great.

Could be just me, but it feels like we have an exceptional tendency of finding hidden gems, and developing players who are undrafted or drafted in the later rounds

[Simple Jaded]

I <3 Jake.

I don't care who knows.

[Joel]

A great story about Denver is how, as a Franchise, us long time Fans and Followers of our beloved organization, they completely evolved from a reputation (as it was sort of earned) as losers and choke artists after 4 SB blowouts.
Yet I've been accused of being a "bandwagon fan" for hopping on board right after they blew a home playoff game and #1 seed against a two-year-old expansion team: "Oh, sure, EVERYONE suddenly became a Broncos fan when we went to the SB!" Except that 1) in January 1996 the Broncos were far from an obvious choice to win the SB a year later and 2) it's not like Denver had never been to a SB before—they'd just never been to one where they weren't outscored (at least) 2:1. Funny thing:

The Broncos STILL retain some reputation as chokers yet the Cheatriots are widely acclaimed the GoAT (despite never facing nor consistently beating a rival as strong as the Landry Dynasty that confronted the Steelers Dynasty, nor the Walsh Dynasty that confronted the second Cowboys Dynasty.) Yet here are their respective SB records:

Chokers: 3-5
"GoAT:" 5-4.

So apparently the yawning gulf between Best of the Best and WORST of the Best is winning not quite 20% more of their championship games. And I guess we'll just conveniently ignore what happened to NE* against the '85 Bears (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XX) and '96 Packers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXI).

Throw out "championships" tainted by taping opponents' walkthroughs, deflating footballs and taping opponents' signals and the franchise record for most SB appearances is three-way tie between 3-5 Denver, 5-3 Dallas and 6-2 Pittsburgh, firmly placing us among the NFLs most elite company.

[Cugel]

Wasn't sure which thread to post this in, but thought this might be a good threat to do it.

Was just thinking how many GREAT players we have on the team right now that aren't even in the top 4 rounds of the draft... just to name a few, maybe you guys could add some names in here on our current roster.. Shaq Barrett, Chris Harris, CJ Anderson, Matt Paradis, Brandon Marshall (LB) in a way feels like an undrafted guy simply because Jax didn't even want him and we developed him into a something great.

Could be just me, but it feels like we have an exceptional tendency of finding hidden gems, and developing players who are undrafted or drafted in the later rounds

Yeah, it's totally weird, I have to admit. Those guys you mentioned are great finds. But, then there's all these 1st, 2nd & 3rd round picks that didn't work out: Paxton Lynch, Ty Sambrailo, Montee Ball, Michael Schofield, Brock Osweiler, Rahim Moore, Orlando Franklin, Nate Irving.

Now, some guys don't work out, so the odds are at least 1 or 2 of these players would have been busts, and that would not prove a bad drafting, but all of them?

[Simple Jaded]

I thought Brent and Deebo worked out just fine.

[Cugel]

Yet I've been accused of being a "bandwagon fan" for hopping on board right after they blew a home playoff game and #1 seed against a two-year-old expansion team: "Oh, sure, EVERYONE suddenly became a Broncos fan when we went to the SB!" Except that 1) in January 1996 the Broncos were far from an obvious choice to win the SB a year later and 2) it's not like Denver had never been to a SB before—they'd just never been to one where they weren't outscored (at least) 2:1. Funny thing:

I am a total bandwagon fan. Jumped on board in '78 during the Broncos Super Bowl run, and never jumped off. I'm still not happy about that January 1980 playoff loss to the Oilers.

[Joel]

I am a total bandwagon fan. Jumped on board in '78 during the Broncos Super Bowl run, and never jumped off. I'm still not happy about that January 1980 playoff loss to the Oilers.
Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure the all-time playoff series heavily favors Denver, even if we go back to Houston winning the first two AFL Championships when Denver was lucky to win ANY games. If we're comparing THOSE fan cards: Luv Ya Blue through and through; I didn't leave the Oilers, they left ME. I can't believe I had to wait my entire life to see any Coach Phillips get a SB Ring.

[7DnBrnc53]

Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure the all-time playoff series heavily favors Denver, even if we go back to Houston winning the first two AFL Championships when Denver was lucky to win ANY games. If we're comparing THOSE fan cards: Luv Ya Blue through and through; I didn't leave the Oilers, they left ME. I can't believe I had to wait my entire life to see any Coach Phillips get a SB Ring.

I really don't remember the Luv Ya Blue days (I didn't start following the NFL until 1981 when I was 8), but the impression that I get of that era is that it was the first time the Oilers were popular (perhaps around the country as well as Houston). I know they won the first two AFL titles, but that league wasn't taken seriously at the time.

[topscribe]

A great story about Denver is how, as a Franchise, us long time Fans and Followers of our beloved organization, they completely evolved from a reputation (as it was sort of earned) as losers and choke artists after 4 SB blowouts.

Now, almost twenty years after they won their first Lombardi Trophy, the Denver Broncos are an elite Team up their with other legendary dynasties who had their roll with a rich history.

Ill tell you i was so happy to see this team finally win, not once but TWICE. I was prepared to never see Denver win again because I didnt believe I could ever seem them be that good again. Enter Peyton Manning.

Look at them now.

"I love this organization." - Shannon Sharpe

We do too Shannon. We do too.
You apparently don't bleed orange.

I saw the first game the Broncos ever played on 9 September 1960. I then waited for
14 years after that for a winning season. 14 years. I was a snot-nosed kid delivering
the Rocky Mountain News when the Broncos were conceived, and a hard-driving
insurance agent with a family when they finally won.

I wasn't alone. We had a bevy of hard-boiled fans who never gave up on them. Their
winning culture, which began in 1973, has been our reward. The little bumps and
bruises since were only to keep us humble in the interim. :)

[Joel]

I really don't remember the Luv Ya Blue days (I didn't start following the NFL until 1981 when I was 8), but the impression that I get of that era is that it was the first time the Oilers were popular (perhaps around the country as well as Houston). I know they won the first two AFL titles, but that league wasn't taken seriously at the time.
Well, we're evidently almost exactly the same age, but my recollections of that era as a native Houstonian match yours.

You also have to remember that was the peak of Landrys Cowboys dynasty (the 1978 Steelers singlehandedly prevented historys first and only All-Texas Super Bowl; what they did to Houston in two straight AFCCGs and the Cowboys in both their SB meetings is a huge part of why I hate them so much.) It's a measure of how good Bums Oilers were that anyone in the state, much less their hometown, even noticed them; getting The Tyler Rose straight out of UT helped immensely. Sadly, that teams only lasting legacy is that an AFCCG game in Pitt where EVERYONE but the refs knew they scored a TD prompted the NFL to accept replay review.

[Shazam!]

A great story about Denver is how, as a Franchise, us long time Fans and Followers of our beloved organization, they completely evolved from a reputation (as it was sort of earned) as losers and choke artists after 4 SB blowouts.
Yet I've been accused of being a "bandwagon fan" for hopping on board right after they blew a home playoff game and #1 seed against a two-year-old expansion team: "Oh, sure, EVERYONE suddenly became a Broncos fan when we went to the SB!" Except that 1) in January 1996 the Broncos were far from an obvious choice to win the SB a year later and 2) it's not like Denver had never been to a SB before—they'd just never been to one where they weren't outscored (at least) 2:1. Funny thing:

The Broncos STILL retain some reputation as chokers yet the Cheatriots are widely acclaimed the GoAT (despite never facing nor consistently beating a rival as strong as the Landry Dynasty that confronted the Steelers Dynasty, nor the Walsh Dynasty that confronted the second Cowboys Dynasty.) Yet here are their respective SB records:

Chokers: 3-5
"GoAT:" 5-4.

So apparently the yawning gulf between Best of the Best and WORST of the Best is winning not quite 20% more of their championship games. And I guess we'll just conveniently ignore what happened to NE* against the '85 Bears (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XX) and '96 Packers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXI).

Throw out "championships" tainted by taping opponents' walkthroughs, deflating footballs and taping opponents' signals and the franchise record for most SB appearances is three-way tie between 3-5 Denver, 5-3 Dallas and 6-2 Pittsburgh, firmly placing us among the NFLs most elite company.

The thing is with the Pats is the level of dominance now for 15+ yrs. No team has ever had such a string, maybe the Canadiens and Yankees... other dynasties.

As far as the Broncos from 96, Denver was set to have a good year. Mike Shanahan brought in premium talent like Alfred Williams and Bill Romonowski. Romo was a huge addition that gave the Defense a much needed anchor and teeth at LB after watching some of the worst Defense I've ever seen (94). Romo and John Mobley would go on to become a great LB duo through the years.

Ill never forget Anthony Miller's waltzing into the end zone backwards as they crushed the NYJ in the first game.

As far as their chances at the Dance back then from every outlet I read, here in NY anyway, in 1997, had the Broncos as the AFC champion. NE won the AFC the year before that should have been Denver's.

Even in 1996 the Broncos were seen as vastly improved.

[WARHORSE]

You apparently don't bleed orange.

I saw the first game the Broncos ever played on 9 September 1960. I then waited for
14 years after that for a winning season. 14 years. I was a snot-nosed kid delivering
the Rocky Mountain News when the Broncos were conceived, and a hard-driving
insurance agent with a family when they finally won.

I wasn't alone. We had a bevy of hard-boiled fans who never gave up on them. Their
winning culture, which began in 1973, has been our reward. The little bumps and
bruises since were only to keep us humble in the interim. :)

Gotta respect it. Few men like you. *bow*

I came in after playing for the 'Denver Broncos' as a pop warner center and middle linebacker. I went to DENVER elementary school and our team had the same logos as the old time Broncos. They went to the superbowl the next year and I became a fan even though they lost to the Cowboys.

Once Elway came to the show, life has never been the same.

[Shazam!]

A great story about Denver is how, as a Franchise, us long time Fans and Followers of our beloved organization, they completely evolved from a reputation (as it was sort of earned) as losers and choke artists after 4 SB blowouts.

Now, almost twenty years after they won their first Lombardi Trophy, the Denver Broncos are an elite Team up their with other legendary dynasties who had their roll with a rich history.

Ill tell you i was so happy to see this team finally win, not once but TWICE. I was prepared to never see Denver win again because I didnt believe I could ever seem them be that good again. Enter Peyton Manning.

Look at them now.

"I love this organization." - Shannon Sharpe

We do too Shannon. We do too.
You apparently don't bleed orange.

I saw the first game the Broncos ever played on 9 September 1960. I then waited for
14 years after that for a winning season. 14 years. I was a snot-nosed kid delivering
the Rocky Mountain News when the Broncos were conceived, and a hard-driving
insurance agent with a family when they finally won.

I wasn't alone. We had a bevy of hard-boiled fans who never gave up on them. Their
winning culture, which began in 1973, has been our reward. The little bumps and
bruises since were only to keep us humble in the interim. :)

Top. Do not question other fans loyalty because they werent ALIVE to see the games. That's ridiculous. It took Denver 30+ years to finally win. Excuse me if i didnt think id live to see it again.

[Cugel]

You apparently don't bleed orange.

I saw the first game the Broncos ever played on 9 September 1960. I then waited for
14 years after that for a winning season. 14 years. I was a snot-nosed kid delivering
the Rocky Mountain News when the Broncos were conceived, and a hard-driving
insurance agent with a family when they finally won.

I wasn't alone. We had a bevy of hard-boiled fans who never gave up on them. Their
winning culture, which began in 1973, has been our reward. The little bumps and
bruises since were only to keep us humble in the interim.

I love the fact that Top is such a geezer! :cool:


"In 1957 I saw him turn turn the Secretary of Agriculture into the Secretary of the Interior. It was hell on their wives, but it sure brought down corn prices. Built a house out of corn once. It was the worst home I ever owed. When it got really hot it smelled like Frito's." -- Abe Simpson

11112

[Joel]

The thing is with the Pats is the level of dominance now for 15+ yrs. No team has ever had such a string, maybe the Canadiens and Yankees... other dynasties.
Yeah, no. Much as it pains me to say, the '9ers who won the '81, '94 and THREE MORE SBs in between those were as good as long. So were the late '60s-1981 Cowboys; they just had the misfortune of having to compete with Lombardis five-time-champion dynasty at the start, Pitts four-time-champion dynasty at their peak, and SFs five-time-champion dynasty at their ebb. Dallas lost by 4 to the Steelers dynasty twice and once by 3 to Unitas, but Denver fans remember the margin in SB XII, and remember those "perfect" 1972 Dolphins? Their last loss before that perfect streak was a 24-3 SB beatdown by a Cowboys team that only allowed a SINGLE TD the whole postseason; only the Vikings managed multiple SCORES against them.

When NE* reaches five SBs against THAT kind of competition (and without cheating) they'll be comparable. The '9ers had to dethrone THAT team, plus contend with Ditkas Bears, Parcells' Giants and Gibbs' 'Skins.

That was the good and bad thing about the pre-FA pre-cap dynasties: They provide truly EPIC contests, but left a lot of really good teams on their couches watching with the rest of us. Most notably the Vikings, who were good enough long enough to constitute their own dynasty—except they never won the Big One.

'69 Vikings: Chiefs year
'70 Vikings: Lost a close divisional game to SF, who lost a close NFCCG to Dallas, who lost a close SB to Baltimore
'71 Vikings: Managed the only playoff TD and only multiple playoff scores against Dallas, in the divisional
'72 Vikings: .500
'73 Vikings: '73 DOLPHINS, whom many who saw both claim better than the "perfect" '72 team
'74 Vikings: '74 Steelers.
'75 Vikings: Staubach christens the Hail Mary in the divisional, blows out the Rams, and loses the SB to Pitt 21-17
'76 Vikings: '76 Raiders
'77 Vikings: Lost the NFCCG by the same three scores Denver lost the SB two weeks later
'78 Vikings: Blown out by the Rams in the divisional a few weeks before Tarkenton turned 39 and retired.

Really good team, just a HELL of a time to try to win SBs; briefly trading away Tarkenton to ride with Joe Kapp didn't help.

When NE* climbs to the top of a heap of champions like that, WITHOUT CHEATING, I'll respect them. The only team that might come close would be the Steelers; the Ravens certainly don't, nor Manning nor Lucks Colts, nor Plummer nor Mannings Broncos, and certainly not the Jets.


As far as the Broncos from 96, Denver was set to have a good year. Mike Shanahan brought in premium talent like Alfred Williams and Bill Romonowski. Romo was a huge addition that gave the Defense a much needed anchor and teeth at LB after watching some of the worst Defense I've ever seen (94). Romo and John Mobley would go on to become a great LB duo through the years.

Ill never forget Anthony Miller's waltzing into the end zone backwards as they crushed the NYJ in the first game.

As far as their chances at the Dance back then from every outlet I read, here in NY anyway, in 1997, had the Broncos as the AFC champion. NE won the AFC the year before that should have been Denver's.

Even in 1996 the Broncos were seen as vastly improved.
The Broncos back then were set to have a good year many times, and '97 was hardly the first time they were a popular preseason pick to win their CONFERENCE. But winning a conference has no bearing on whether a team wins the SB—except 1980-1996, when the AFC Champ was guaranteed to LOSE unless they were the Raiders. In fact, before the '97 Broncos, the AFLs all-time SB record was 7-24. That's a "top five draft pick" percentage.

Picking ANY AFC team to win a SB in the mid-nineties was like buying a lottery ticket, but the Broncos and Bills doubly so, because there was a double certainty there: They were as likely to reach the SB as they were guaranteed to get blown out of it (well, SB XXV was close.)

[Shazam!]

The thing is with the Pats is the level of dominance now for 15+ yrs. No team has ever had such a string, maybe the Canadiens and Yankees... other dynasties.
Yeah, no. Much as it pains me to say, the '9ers who won the '81, '94 and THREE MORE SBs in between those were as good as long. So were the late '60s-1981 Cowboys; they just had the misfortune of having to compete with Lombardis five-time-champion dynasty at the start, Pitts four-time-champion dynasty at their peak, and SFs five-time-champion dynasty at their ebb. Dallas lost by 4 to the Steelers dynasty twice and once by 3 to Unitas, but Denver fans remember the margin in SB XII, and remember those "perfect" 1972 Dolphins? Their last loss before that perfect streak was a 24-3 SB beatdown by a Cowboys team that only allowed a SINGLE TD the whole postseason; only the Vikings managed multiple SCORES against them.

When NE* reaches five SBs against THAT kind of competition (and without cheating) they'll be comparable. The '9ers had to dethrone THAT team, plus contend with Ditkas Bears, Parcells' Giants and Gibbs' 'Skins.

That was the good and bad thing about the pre-FA pre-cap dynasties: They provide truly EPIC contests, but left a lot of really good teams on their couches watching with the rest of us. Most notably the Vikings, who were good enough long enough to constitute their own dynasty—except they never won the Big One.

'69 Vikings: Chiefs year
'70 Vikings: Lost a close divisional game to SF, who lost a close NFCCG to Dallas, who lost a close SB to Baltimore
'71 Vikings: Managed the only playoff TD and only multiple playoff scores against Dallas, in the divisional
'72 Vikings: .500
'73 Vikings: '73 DOLPHINS, whom many who saw both claim better than the "perfect" '72 team
'74 Vikings: '74 Steelers.
'75 Vikings: Staubach christens the Hail Mary in the divisional, blows out the Rams, and loses the SB to Pitt 21-17
'76 Vikings: '76 Raiders
'77 Vikings: Lost the NFCCG by the same three scores Denver lost the SB two weeks later
'78 Vikings: Blown out by the Rams in the divisional a few weeks before Tarkenton turned 39 and retired.

Really good team, just a HELL of a time to try to win SBs; briefly trading away Tarkenton to ride with Joe Kapp didn't help.

When NE* climbs to the top of a heap of champions like that, WITHOUT CHEATING, I'll respect them. The only team that might come close would be the Steelers; the Ravens certainly don't, nor Manning nor Lucks Colts, nor Plummer nor Mannings Broncos, and certainly not the Jets.


As far as the Broncos from 96, Denver was set to have a good year. Mike Shanahan brought in premium talent like Alfred Williams and Bill Romonowski. Romo was a huge addition that gave the Defense a much needed anchor and teeth at LB after watching some of the worst Defense I've ever seen (94). Romo and John Mobley would go on to become a great LB duo through the years.

Ill never forget Anthony Miller's waltzing into the end zone backwards as they crushed the NYJ in the first game.

As far as their chances at the Dance back then from every outlet I read, here in NY anyway, in 1997, had the Broncos as the AFC champion. NE won the AFC the year before that should have been Denver's.

Even in 1996 the Broncos were seen as vastly improved.
The Broncos back then were set to have a good year many times, and '97 was hardly the first time they were a popular preseason pick to win their CONFERENCE. But winning a conference has no bearing on whether a team wins the SB—except 1980-1996, when the AFC Champ was guaranteed to LOSE unless they were the Raiders. In fact, before the '97 Broncos, the AFLs all-time SB record was 7-24. That's a "top five draft pick" percentage.

Picking ANY AFC team to win a SB in the mid-nineties was like buying a lottery ticket, but the Broncos and Bills doubly so, because there was a double certainty there: They were as likely to reach the SB as they were guaranteed to get blown out of it (well, SB XXV was close.)

You may hate the Patriots for cheating... But we're you outraged when Mike Shanahan slathered the Oline in vaseline before the KC playoff game? No you weren't and none if us here were.

[Joel]

You may hate the Patriots for cheating... But we're you outraged when Mike Shanahan slathered the Oline in vaseline before the KC playoff game? No you weren't and none if us here were.
Insulation: As Bill Nye said of the Great Plains, "There's nothing between you and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence—and that blew down last week!" ;)

[topscribe]

Top. Do not question other fans loyalty because they werent ALIVE to see the games. That's ridiculous. It took Denver 30+ years to finally win. Excuse me if i didnt think id live to see it again.
Take it easy Shazam. We're old friends, and that's the way I meant it. If it were in person,
I would have had a wry smile on my face and a wink that would indicate to you that I was
just elbowing your ribs a bit.

I know you're a loyal Broncos fan, or you wouldn't have been here all these years. :)

[Shazam!]

Top. Do not question other fans loyalty because they werent ALIVE to see the games. That's ridiculous. It took Denver 30+ years to finally win. Excuse me if i didnt think id live to see it again.
Take it easy Shazam. We're old friends, and that's the way I meant it. If it were in person,
I would have had a wry smile on my face and a wink that would indicate to you that I was
just elbowing your ribs a bit.

I know you're a loyal Broncos fan, or you wouldn't have been here all these years. :)

I cannot Hi5 on this app I use. Thanks Top.

You were MIA for awhile. Glad you are back.