In The Cut

The Broncos made final cuts yesterday. Quentin Griffin and Matt Mauck are out. Jerry Rice made the team but won't be the #3 receiver, which may signal retirement for the greatest ever. I hope he decides to stay. His work ethic alone is enough to keep him on as a player-coach. Griffin may catch on somewhere else, but former Broncos runners tend to struggle in other systems. He might just disappear into the silent mist from which he appeared. Matt Mauck, however, may soon be a starter in Florida or #1 backup to the mercurial Joey Harrington. The Broncos want him for the practice squad, but the guy played too well not to be claimed off waivers. I think he's a better passer than Van Pelt and has the potential to be a starter on any number of teams. It's too bad the Broncos couldn't find a way to keep him. However, the Broncos were able to keep inconsistent rookie kicker Paul Ernster, prompting many, including myself, to wonder what the heck they were thinking. Alas, the fool and the wise man often walk side-by-side

The Broncos also found a way to keep six receivers and five tight-ends, but only two back-up offensive linemen. This fits perfectly with the twisted logic of making Jake Plummer a great QB. Plummer has always done better under pressure, outside the pocket, and generally running around like a decapitated chicken. Perhaps the Broncos have found a way to capitalize on this by starting four offensive linemen and six receivers/tight-ends. In such a line-up (tentatively dubbed the "What the @$#%" by confused defensive players), opposing team will find it easy to put pressure on Plummer, and Plummer, in improvised mad dashes designed to avoid getting squished by large, angry, ill-tempered fellows, will inevitably complete 70% of his passes to an array of receivers and have a TD/turnover ratio of 10/1, far surpassing his own mediocre career numbers as well as the numbers of any other quarterback in the league, en route to his first MVP award and Super Bowl victory.

Or, he'll just be mediocre again this year. You can never tell in the NFL.

(Here's hoping that Mike Anderson dominates and Plummer doesn't have to do much of anything other than hand-off and not fumble.)

The Broncos face Miami next Sunday in their season opener. Miami has so many offensive problems that their potential starting QB was just cut by the Broncos. But Miami's defense has always been good. Unless Plummer evokes memories of Joe Montana (Bronco fans would probably be okay with memories of Jim McMahon), expect a defensive-oriented, grind-it-out kind of game. Mike Anderson might need 30 touches to go over 100 yards, but he'll get a touchdown or two. My prediction - Broncos 24, Miami 10.