Denver Native (Carol)
10-05-2009, 09:03 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13485880
There were Brandon Marshall and Josh McDaniels, the orange-and-blue odd couple, wrapped up in a big man hug for God, America's Team and more than 76,000 witnesses at the stadium to see, as if being together on these undefeated Broncos was the best thing that ever happened to either one of them on a football field.
Don't you love it?
What's next? A Denver defense that takes you back to 1977 faster than "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac? An undefeated team that proves life can go on after Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler? A crow casserole big enough to feed everybody who predicted gloom and doom for the Broncos? The playoffs? Super Bowl dreams?
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow. Yesterday's gone. And now, with Coach McD and B-Marsh as tight as a hug, why not think about the good times to come?
"He's just one of us," McDaniels said of Marshall, after the 25-year-old receiver who was suspended indefinitely a scant five weeks ago produced the winning touchdown Sunday during Denver's 17-10 victory against Dallas.
If Marshall has bought into this team's dreams, then there's no telling how good reality could turn out to be for the Broncos, the most shocking success story of this young NFL season.
"I've never been 4-0 in my career. I've been other places where after Week 4, you're looking at Week 5, 6, 7 or 8, and the next thing you know you're out of the playoffs and it looks like a long season," said Broncos running back LaMont Jordan, who has known the agony of playing for the Oakland Raiders and the ecstasy of being a member of a New England franchise that had McDaniels on its staff.
Why are the Broncos winning?
"I know this formula works," Jordan said.
There is a distinct order of importance in all the Broncos do. It is organization first, then the head coach, his assistants and the players. Nobody is bigger than the franchise.
"And we're not going to beat teams the same way every week," Jordan said.
We tend to be drama kings and queens, living in a world where conflict is invented quicker than you can say Nancy Grace. The Broncos were the NFL's favorite soap opera of 2009. Remember?
Cutler wanted out. The pouting of Marshall was alleged to be proof that all a rookie coach from New England brought to town was an insufferable ego under his hoodie. Denver was destined to be a disaster.
Well, here's the truth. Kid McD can coach a little. Denver's unblemished record is not a misprint. The 26 points surrendered by this defense in four games is exactly half the damage suffered by the Broncos in Shanahan's final game. What's more, Marshall and McDaniels never truly despised each other in the way Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann do. This was a football dispute about money, not personality.
"You never heard me say anything about him coaching or what he brings to the organization," Marshall said.
Added McDaniels: "I'm not going to comment on where (Marshall) was, but he is one of us. Our team loves him, we love him and I think he loves being part of this team."
The 51-yard touchdown pass caught by Marshall not only put the Broncos ahead to stay with 1 minute, 46 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, it also was vintage Beast.
Marshall bullied the football away from Dallas cornerback Terence Newman, then made like a Pamplona bull, stomping and snorting all the way to the end zone.
"It probably was one of my most emotional plays ever," Marshall said.
Welcome to the party, Beast. Good to have you back.
From a courtroom in Georgia to a contract showdown with ownership at Dove Valley and many hours spent on the training table, it has been one long battle back to Pro Bowl form for Marshall.
"When you go through something like that, it's tough. But in a big game, when you go out and make a big play like that, it's very emotional. I was happy for B-Marsh," Jordan said.
"I think this shows how professional we are as an organization, with everything that was going on, to see the head coach and a wide receiver (hug), with you all making a big deal of the relationship, is something special."
So, how do you like your Broncos now? This team does not get down on itself. If you miss the pouty lower lip of last year's team in Denver, then catch the next commercial flight to O'Hare Airport.
"Like I told you about Cutler: You all can go to Chicago. He's in Chicago. We're the Denver Broncos. Kyle Orton is our quarterback," Jordan said. "I'm not surprised at anything that has happened here."
I'm not saying there will never be another outburst of frustration by Marshall, or promising that McDaniels is ready to be bronzed and shipped straight to Canton, Ohio, or predicting the Broncos will make the playoffs without sweat or tears along the road.
But if Coach McD and B-Marsh can give peace a chance, all I'm saying is:
Nothing's impossible.
There were Brandon Marshall and Josh McDaniels, the orange-and-blue odd couple, wrapped up in a big man hug for God, America's Team and more than 76,000 witnesses at the stadium to see, as if being together on these undefeated Broncos was the best thing that ever happened to either one of them on a football field.
Don't you love it?
What's next? A Denver defense that takes you back to 1977 faster than "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac? An undefeated team that proves life can go on after Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler? A crow casserole big enough to feed everybody who predicted gloom and doom for the Broncos? The playoffs? Super Bowl dreams?
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow. Yesterday's gone. And now, with Coach McD and B-Marsh as tight as a hug, why not think about the good times to come?
"He's just one of us," McDaniels said of Marshall, after the 25-year-old receiver who was suspended indefinitely a scant five weeks ago produced the winning touchdown Sunday during Denver's 17-10 victory against Dallas.
If Marshall has bought into this team's dreams, then there's no telling how good reality could turn out to be for the Broncos, the most shocking success story of this young NFL season.
"I've never been 4-0 in my career. I've been other places where after Week 4, you're looking at Week 5, 6, 7 or 8, and the next thing you know you're out of the playoffs and it looks like a long season," said Broncos running back LaMont Jordan, who has known the agony of playing for the Oakland Raiders and the ecstasy of being a member of a New England franchise that had McDaniels on its staff.
Why are the Broncos winning?
"I know this formula works," Jordan said.
There is a distinct order of importance in all the Broncos do. It is organization first, then the head coach, his assistants and the players. Nobody is bigger than the franchise.
"And we're not going to beat teams the same way every week," Jordan said.
We tend to be drama kings and queens, living in a world where conflict is invented quicker than you can say Nancy Grace. The Broncos were the NFL's favorite soap opera of 2009. Remember?
Cutler wanted out. The pouting of Marshall was alleged to be proof that all a rookie coach from New England brought to town was an insufferable ego under his hoodie. Denver was destined to be a disaster.
Well, here's the truth. Kid McD can coach a little. Denver's unblemished record is not a misprint. The 26 points surrendered by this defense in four games is exactly half the damage suffered by the Broncos in Shanahan's final game. What's more, Marshall and McDaniels never truly despised each other in the way Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann do. This was a football dispute about money, not personality.
"You never heard me say anything about him coaching or what he brings to the organization," Marshall said.
Added McDaniels: "I'm not going to comment on where (Marshall) was, but he is one of us. Our team loves him, we love him and I think he loves being part of this team."
The 51-yard touchdown pass caught by Marshall not only put the Broncos ahead to stay with 1 minute, 46 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, it also was vintage Beast.
Marshall bullied the football away from Dallas cornerback Terence Newman, then made like a Pamplona bull, stomping and snorting all the way to the end zone.
"It probably was one of my most emotional plays ever," Marshall said.
Welcome to the party, Beast. Good to have you back.
From a courtroom in Georgia to a contract showdown with ownership at Dove Valley and many hours spent on the training table, it has been one long battle back to Pro Bowl form for Marshall.
"When you go through something like that, it's tough. But in a big game, when you go out and make a big play like that, it's very emotional. I was happy for B-Marsh," Jordan said.
"I think this shows how professional we are as an organization, with everything that was going on, to see the head coach and a wide receiver (hug), with you all making a big deal of the relationship, is something special."
So, how do you like your Broncos now? This team does not get down on itself. If you miss the pouty lower lip of last year's team in Denver, then catch the next commercial flight to O'Hare Airport.
"Like I told you about Cutler: You all can go to Chicago. He's in Chicago. We're the Denver Broncos. Kyle Orton is our quarterback," Jordan said. "I'm not surprised at anything that has happened here."
I'm not saying there will never be another outburst of frustration by Marshall, or promising that McDaniels is ready to be bronzed and shipped straight to Canton, Ohio, or predicting the Broncos will make the playoffs without sweat or tears along the road.
But if Coach McD and B-Marsh can give peace a chance, all I'm saying is:
Nothing's impossible.