Closing Time

It was a good run. The Broncos did what no one expected. In the process, they flipped the bird at some analysts and commentators and knocked off the defending champs. The Mastermind showed he still has some brilliance pulsing through his throbbing head-veins, and superstars like Champ Bailey came though in the clutch. Despite the critics, Plummer played his ass off in that last game against a superior opponent with a superior gameplan. Sure, they licked some dirt in the penultimate game but no one thought they'd get that far. A successful season all told.

Now the illustrious offseason begins where brilliance and idiocy walk hand in hand. When it comes to the Broncos it's hard to distinguish the tomfoolery from the skullduggery. So in the interest of successful continuity, here's a little tomfoolery the Broncos should be wary of, and some skullduggery they should pursue.

Tomfoolery first: Drawing out the contract negotiations with Matt Lepsis could be fatal. The Broncos were wise to act quickly and secure Tom Nalen for the remainder of his career - They need to do the same with Lepsis. The Broncos would be foolish to let him go. The silent five who make up the offensive line ARE the Denver Broncos offense. Without them, Jake Plummer is mediocre at best, the running game is less than average, and the offense never breaks the top 15. Nalen and Lepsis are the anchors of arguably the best line in the NFL. With them Denver is top-five in running every year, Plummer gets to the Pro-Bowl, and Denver is a perennial playoff contender. Sign Lepsis fast.

Tomfoolery number two: Denver cannot let Gerard Warren slip away. The "Browncos" experiment was a success, none more so than Warren. The Broncos need to keep this run-stopper on the team. The other "Browncos" played hard, but Warren is the one worth keeping. He needs a new contract and the Broncos should reward him.

Skullduggery: The Broncos need to find someone, anyone who can pass-rush. Maybe they pursue a linebacker or maybe a lineman, but either way the Broncos need a 10-sack guy quick. The Broncos are great at stopping the run, but their pass rush is dismal which makes the secondary vulnerable. Say all you want about "pressuring" the QB, but a a sack or two in big games, which the team rarely got, would be even better. Securing a prominant passrusher would be the highlight of the offseason.

Skullduggery the second: The Broncos have some good draft-picks this year, which could turn into a boon for Shanahan and the coaches. Right now they have a lot of options. They could draft where they're at, trade up, or swap the picks for a bonafide starter (see the skullduggery above). Last season was probably Shanahan's best in the draft (despite the Clarrett debacle), and if this offseason is similar the Broncos could be a consistent threat for years to come.

Somewhere in between: The Broncos are openly pursuing T.O. and quietly trying to add Ricky Williams. Pursuing these guys is like going to Vegas and betting everything you've got on one turn at the roulette table. You might get lucky and walk away the big winner, but most of the time you lose and then wallow in your room while raiding the mini-bar and watching bad porn. The Broncos don't want to be that guy, but they're at the roulette table with chips in hand. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground with Owens and Williams. Either they're brilliant or they self-destruct. A brilliant year by either one might equal a Super Bowl victory, but a bad year might sink the whole organization. We'll just have to wait and see on this one. . . .