Just when I thought Mike Shanahan couldn't get any dumber, he goes and does something like this.
And totally redeems himself!
Mad props to the Broncos' head man for fleecing the Cleveland Browns out of big-name defensive lineman Ebenezer Ekuban. Sure, last year was his first even close to productive campaign, but he’s only been in the league for a half-dozen seasons. Sometimes it just takes longer for it to click for some guys. No doubt he'll work out from now on.
Not only that, we picked up defensive tackle Michael Myers, who will provide depth. I know saying a guy will provide depth makes it sound like he's just training camp meat, but sometimes Coach Shanahan sees things in players before anyone else does, and I’m confident this is one of those times.
All we had to give up was tailback/fullback/kick returner Reuben Droughns. Sure, he might be the best player on the roster at all three of those positions, but we all know the Broncos can just plug anyone in their system and he’ll pick up 1,000 yards. And who cares about role-playing positions-who are we, the Patriots?
In fact, the next superstar runner is probably already on the roster. Can we forget Quentin Griffin and Tatum Bell? Yes, they have worse hands than Saudi Arabian thieves, but if they falter, don’t forget about former Offensive Rookie of the Year Mike Anderson. It seems like he’s been around forever, but he’ll be just 31 when next season starts.
Ekuban and Myers join former teammates Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown on Denver’s reloaded defensive front. I know what you're asking yourself right now: if these guys are so good, why were the Browns so bad last year?
You have to dig a little deeper. Despite Cleveland’s 4-12 record last year, the Browns defense and D-line in particular actually put together a fantastic season. The team held opponents to just 144.6 rushing yards per game.
And these guys will pressure the quarterback more than recent busts like Reggie Hayward and Trevor Pryce-again, despite their sorry record, the Browns finished with more sacks than the Raiders, 49ers, Texans, and Chargers. And the Chargers went to the playoffs.
Apparently new Cleveland head man Romeo Crennel knows nothing about defense, so we might as well take advantage of it and get his best players while we still can.
Once we finally get the dead weight of Pryce off the roster, the transformation to a championship-caliber defense will be complete and the Broncos will be Super Bowl-bound.
All hail the Mastermind!
4 comments:
i couldn't disagree more.
something about the thin air.
broncos & rockies continually investing in "projects" and trading them for "prospects"
No, this isn't just clever semantics. Denny Nagle, Mike Hampton, Bret Saberhange, Bill Swift... projects, old has-beens. Who have we given up, oh, just Todd Walker, Jaun Pierre...
Broncos do the same thing. Trying to revive careers as opposed to investing in legitimate, young, moldable talent.
Newsflash, Mike S. hasn't one a playoff game since... oh, since he had the greatest QB of all time. I could've won the freaking back to back superbowls with the best qb and rb in the game. Hell, i would've won it in 97 when we lost to jacksonville and natrone means.
*won a playoff game...
Uh...yeah. I agree, I was trying to be sarcastic earlier.
For the record, I actually think it's a horrible trade. I don't know why we felt like we had to get rid of Droughns just because he wanted to start. Why don't we just let him start here? He's the best runner we've got!
Even more bonus, the Denver Post reports today that if we can't get a good trade for Pryce, we're just going to cut him. That ought to completely eliminate any semblance of leverage we had in negotiations. Smart move a) sharing that with a reporter, and b) even considering waiving our best defensive lineman in the first place.
That's why I call him Sham-nahan.
mike.
oh.
i like sarcasm.
i agree with everything you've said.
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