Bronco Warrior
10-06-2009, 03:00 PM
Foreward: OK I have to finish this opinion article for a local rag by wednesday at 4pm to make presstime and I'm so beat I haven't been able to finish it. It is more of a sports psycology piece (My Schooling area) and I figured if I post what I have so far it might motivate me to finish it lol! Be kind!
Warning: it is a FeelGood Sports Puff piece..just my take on it all!
Closer thru Conflict
It is almost cliché to say that people and groups can bond and become stronger through conflict...but in the best of cases it really is true. No team has endured more stress and unrest in recent times than did the Denver Broncos after the end of the '08 season.
Coming of a humiliating loss off a game and the Division, it was followed by the firing of the Coach that had finally taken Denver over the top but had floundered as of late...a breakup that resembled a knee-jerk divorce between a couple that had had a fight but still loved each other, than a firing of a sports franchise head by an owner.
Enter the young cocky control freak Offensive Phenom from Foxburough Josh McDaniels, the self appointed Boy King, an ego much bigger than could fit in his 5'8 frame and a hoodie. Josh immediately began tearing down the house that Shanny built; ideologically dismantling the league's 2nd best, franchise record setting offense and alienating arguably the most talented young quarterback in the game ..reportedly from the start, by being critical and denigrating of Cutler's ability and technique as a quarterback and his ability to play in Josh's offensive scheme. How that turned out is Denver lore and the team, and the world, was looking on in disbelief.
Brandon Marshall was one of those players: Coming off a stellar year largely owing to the cannon arm of Cutler and the Marshall heavy offense of Shanahan. Throw in the fact that Marshall was top 3 in production, and would be the 59th best paid at his position, and felt that the Broncos had not handled an injury right. Factor on top of that the vilification he had suffered from the media and the world for a crime that he knew he was not guilty of. This led to a discussion about his future in Denver and his contract, and Brandon allegedly asking for his ticket to follow Cutler out of town. ESPN had gone so far as to air an ""Inside the Lies" piece on His off the field issues and paid the woman that was lying and blackmailing Brandon a ridiculous amount of money to slander and defame him and ESPN knew it*.
When he was vindicated of the charges as he had told those around him he would be, the reaction was tepid and team representatives went so far as to instruct his team mates to not "Gloat" or to appear overly happy about his acquittal. To an emotional transparent young man like Marshall that had to have felt like a dagger in the back to a player that because of injury already felt on the outside looking in. Add to that the parasitic media that had nothing better to do than stir the post and see if they could fan the flame the same way they had in McJay -Gate.
Meanwhile a subtle yet important change was going on in McDaniels. Somewhere along the line he had put together a fantastic group of coaches and teaches and was absorbing their experience and integrating it into a style of his own, especially not his mentor's, which had caused disaster in his short King's reign in Denver: Belicheck’s "My Way or the Highway" wasn't going over any better than it had for previous young NE prodigies. Under the radar the transformation progressed.
Re-enter Marshall trying to handle the media with a smile, all the while saying the right things and suffering in silence. Josh was also saying he was anxious to have Marshall as a part of the offense, and many doubted the sincerity of both parties.Next thing we know is Marshall is a bad teammate and is acting up in practice and being childish, and the media feasted on the story forcing action from Coach McDaniels and a preseason suspension ensued.
Part 2 coming soon! Trust me it has and happy ending and Explains a lot about “The Hug” lmao!
Ok I finished it maybe too hurriedly, what do you guys think! I was right it did motivate me to finish!
[B] Part 2 as promised[/B
At this point it was inevitable, Marshall was on the way out and would never fit in with Josh Mcdaniels and his team first concept. 13 days passed and Broncos fans held their collective breath. Days before the big day of Marshall’s return, some old friends got him on the phone and had a Heart to heart, that is if you can call two of the toughest no nonsense players in the history of the Broncos reading you the riot act and letting you know just what time it is, a “heart to heart”. One of the keys to the conversation was their advice to let his “play on the field” do his talking for him. This approach drew sharp criticism and praise alike for his handling of the parasitical media.
Meanwhile, he had been held out of most of the first half of the Bengals game and had flashes of brilliance in the second half. A small sign of things to come Orton did chose to throw to him on the make or break play that ended with Stokely’s catch for the win. Baby Steps. That week came the infamous 1:49 second media session where Marshall focused on the Cleveland game…much to the dismay of the rift mongering reporters and the media at large. Still people questioned his team spirit and doubted that Marshall could possibly be happy with the offense and his participation in it. Quietly Josh McDaniels was going about preaching his team concept: Would Brandon swallow it? Would he buy into it? time would tell! As the weeks progressed Brandon’s new attitude and work ethic had returned to what his teammates had been used to in times past and Josh McDaniels praised him for it in the media, and they scoffed! Week by week Marshall was becoming more comfortable, and more productive in the new offense, much more a part of the team and less the disgruntled outsider looking in.
Then came the Cowboys game, the toughest test yet for the team and Marshall. This game would validate both men in ways that can’t be described easily. McDaniels as his first true test, a chance to prove the detractors wrong! Marshall a big stage to prove he was a big time game changer and to show he was worth the trouble. In one critical moment, one critical down, Josh McDaniels called Brandon’s number! A 5 step drop, tight man press coverage and a classic battle of who had more “Want it”. that person was Brandon Marshall. All that perceived mistrust, disrespect. vilification and frustration, packed up in a pigskin package and flying at him 10 feet off the ground and somebody in his face trying to keep him from his vindication. Not this time! As Deon Sanders put it, he ran angry shaking off tacklers and pursuers 51 yards of “see I told you so” to the endzone and the go ahead score! At that moment two worlds collided in a way that does not often happen in sports, the teacher and the student, the Mega star and the team concept coach! All the frustrationand anger, all the “Do it my way and it will work out” flooded out into one spontaneous explosion of manly affection on the sidelines, and later in the press conference. You could see the relief, and I’ll say it joy, come rushing out in a sincere show of emotion and mutual respect.
You wanna know what was said between Josh McDaniels and Brandon Marshall in that brief exchange? I think it went something like this: “Coach thanks for not giving up on me and for believing in me!” And Josh saying something to the effect of “I told you it would work out! Thanks for trusting me and being a part of this!”. As has happened so many times in sports history these two men have grown and matured and grown closer through trial and adversity to come out stronger and better people and team for it
Warning: it is a FeelGood Sports Puff piece..just my take on it all!
Closer thru Conflict
It is almost cliché to say that people and groups can bond and become stronger through conflict...but in the best of cases it really is true. No team has endured more stress and unrest in recent times than did the Denver Broncos after the end of the '08 season.
Coming of a humiliating loss off a game and the Division, it was followed by the firing of the Coach that had finally taken Denver over the top but had floundered as of late...a breakup that resembled a knee-jerk divorce between a couple that had had a fight but still loved each other, than a firing of a sports franchise head by an owner.
Enter the young cocky control freak Offensive Phenom from Foxburough Josh McDaniels, the self appointed Boy King, an ego much bigger than could fit in his 5'8 frame and a hoodie. Josh immediately began tearing down the house that Shanny built; ideologically dismantling the league's 2nd best, franchise record setting offense and alienating arguably the most talented young quarterback in the game ..reportedly from the start, by being critical and denigrating of Cutler's ability and technique as a quarterback and his ability to play in Josh's offensive scheme. How that turned out is Denver lore and the team, and the world, was looking on in disbelief.
Brandon Marshall was one of those players: Coming off a stellar year largely owing to the cannon arm of Cutler and the Marshall heavy offense of Shanahan. Throw in the fact that Marshall was top 3 in production, and would be the 59th best paid at his position, and felt that the Broncos had not handled an injury right. Factor on top of that the vilification he had suffered from the media and the world for a crime that he knew he was not guilty of. This led to a discussion about his future in Denver and his contract, and Brandon allegedly asking for his ticket to follow Cutler out of town. ESPN had gone so far as to air an ""Inside the Lies" piece on His off the field issues and paid the woman that was lying and blackmailing Brandon a ridiculous amount of money to slander and defame him and ESPN knew it*.
When he was vindicated of the charges as he had told those around him he would be, the reaction was tepid and team representatives went so far as to instruct his team mates to not "Gloat" or to appear overly happy about his acquittal. To an emotional transparent young man like Marshall that had to have felt like a dagger in the back to a player that because of injury already felt on the outside looking in. Add to that the parasitic media that had nothing better to do than stir the post and see if they could fan the flame the same way they had in McJay -Gate.
Meanwhile a subtle yet important change was going on in McDaniels. Somewhere along the line he had put together a fantastic group of coaches and teaches and was absorbing their experience and integrating it into a style of his own, especially not his mentor's, which had caused disaster in his short King's reign in Denver: Belicheck’s "My Way or the Highway" wasn't going over any better than it had for previous young NE prodigies. Under the radar the transformation progressed.
Re-enter Marshall trying to handle the media with a smile, all the while saying the right things and suffering in silence. Josh was also saying he was anxious to have Marshall as a part of the offense, and many doubted the sincerity of both parties.Next thing we know is Marshall is a bad teammate and is acting up in practice and being childish, and the media feasted on the story forcing action from Coach McDaniels and a preseason suspension ensued.
Part 2 coming soon! Trust me it has and happy ending and Explains a lot about “The Hug” lmao!
Ok I finished it maybe too hurriedly, what do you guys think! I was right it did motivate me to finish!
[B] Part 2 as promised[/B
At this point it was inevitable, Marshall was on the way out and would never fit in with Josh Mcdaniels and his team first concept. 13 days passed and Broncos fans held their collective breath. Days before the big day of Marshall’s return, some old friends got him on the phone and had a Heart to heart, that is if you can call two of the toughest no nonsense players in the history of the Broncos reading you the riot act and letting you know just what time it is, a “heart to heart”. One of the keys to the conversation was their advice to let his “play on the field” do his talking for him. This approach drew sharp criticism and praise alike for his handling of the parasitical media.
Meanwhile, he had been held out of most of the first half of the Bengals game and had flashes of brilliance in the second half. A small sign of things to come Orton did chose to throw to him on the make or break play that ended with Stokely’s catch for the win. Baby Steps. That week came the infamous 1:49 second media session where Marshall focused on the Cleveland game…much to the dismay of the rift mongering reporters and the media at large. Still people questioned his team spirit and doubted that Marshall could possibly be happy with the offense and his participation in it. Quietly Josh McDaniels was going about preaching his team concept: Would Brandon swallow it? Would he buy into it? time would tell! As the weeks progressed Brandon’s new attitude and work ethic had returned to what his teammates had been used to in times past and Josh McDaniels praised him for it in the media, and they scoffed! Week by week Marshall was becoming more comfortable, and more productive in the new offense, much more a part of the team and less the disgruntled outsider looking in.
Then came the Cowboys game, the toughest test yet for the team and Marshall. This game would validate both men in ways that can’t be described easily. McDaniels as his first true test, a chance to prove the detractors wrong! Marshall a big stage to prove he was a big time game changer and to show he was worth the trouble. In one critical moment, one critical down, Josh McDaniels called Brandon’s number! A 5 step drop, tight man press coverage and a classic battle of who had more “Want it”. that person was Brandon Marshall. All that perceived mistrust, disrespect. vilification and frustration, packed up in a pigskin package and flying at him 10 feet off the ground and somebody in his face trying to keep him from his vindication. Not this time! As Deon Sanders put it, he ran angry shaking off tacklers and pursuers 51 yards of “see I told you so” to the endzone and the go ahead score! At that moment two worlds collided in a way that does not often happen in sports, the teacher and the student, the Mega star and the team concept coach! All the frustrationand anger, all the “Do it my way and it will work out” flooded out into one spontaneous explosion of manly affection on the sidelines, and later in the press conference. You could see the relief, and I’ll say it joy, come rushing out in a sincere show of emotion and mutual respect.
You wanna know what was said between Josh McDaniels and Brandon Marshall in that brief exchange? I think it went something like this: “Coach thanks for not giving up on me and for believing in me!” And Josh saying something to the effect of “I told you it would work out! Thanks for trusting me and being a part of this!”. As has happened so many times in sports history these two men have grown and matured and grown closer through trial and adversity to come out stronger and better people and team for it