Dog Days of Summer

Training camp is in full swing, John Lynch has left the team, and just this morning Mike Shanahan boldly guaranteed that the Broncos will make the playoffs. Do you hear that on the wind? Do you hear the faint background hum in the quiet of the 100 degree day? That 's football people. It's waking from its slumber. It's stretching its creaky limbs and getting ready to stalk its prey.

It's still early, but the first preseason game is only eight days away. And there's so much to consider. In the form of an ode, if you will, to the old "Thoughts, Myths, and Half-Truths" articles written by Bob Kravitz, here are some tidbits to get you ready for football season.

Broncos nuggets:
1) Will Brandon Marshall be suspended by Roger Goodell? Yes, the question is duration.
2) For how long? Nobody seems to know.
3) Will this affect the Broncos? Undoubtedly, because let's face it Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert just aren't as talented. But the length of the suspension will determine the fate of the Broncos' early season efforts.
4) Brandon Marshall, just so you know, is really as good as the hype.
5) He's probably a top-five receiver in the NFL, even with the hand injury.
6) And Roger Goodell - well, he's maintained a strange punitive mystique. Kind of like the God of the Hebrew Bible. I like it. But I'm still afraid.
7) This is Cutler's year. It has to be.
8) This also means that it's the year of the offensive line.
9) Which isn't looking good since Montrae Holland is too fat, literally, and Tom Nalen has a bum knee.
10) On the plus side, Ben Hamilton seems to be doing okay.
11) And we haven't really heard anything about Ryan Clady, which at this point is also pretty good.
12) But back to Cutler. He needs to be probowl caliber in order to back up Shanahan's playoff claim.
13) And the word out of camp is that he is right on track.
14) The defense also needs to step up.
15) Shanahan's defensive units have never been elite, but they have always done the job.
16) Until last year, that is. Last year, they were among the worst in the league.
17) They will go with a more traditional scheme this year.
18) In theory, this should allow their top-notch atheletes - Champ Bailey, Dre Bly, Foxworth, DJ Williams, Boss Bailey, and the young guns on the defensive line - to make plays.
19) We might not be spectacular, but we should be in the top-half and maybe the top-ten.
20) And that might be all that Cutler and the offense need to excel.

Rookie nuggets:
1) Eddie Royal is impressing everyone so far. He's pushing for one of the top receiver slots. He might be a difference maker.
2) ESPN is reporting that Ryan Torain is a potential starter as well.
3) This is looking pretty good, people.
4) Otherwise, nothing on the rookie front.
5) Which is why the draft is a bit of rubbish wrapped in a shiny package.

NFL nuggets:
1) What the hell is up with the Brett Favre situation? Retirement, unretirement, trades, releases, now I hear about $20 million bribes, which Favre seems to be considering. Craziness.
2) Packers GM Ted Thompson may be the most insane man on earth. But he makes the offseason exciting, doesn't he?
3) I expect Favre will play this season. . . . for someone besides the Packers. Whatever team he plays for will make the playoffs. The Packers should make the playoffs as well. Might get interesting around the new year.
4) The Patriots signed a washed-up Lamont Jordan this week.
5) They still officially have no running game.
6) They're still Super Bowl favorites.
7) Steve Smith beat up teammate Ken Lucas. Feisty little guy isn't he?
8) Orpheus Roye, a mighty DT, is still available as a free agent.
9) I would suggest the Broncos sign him. But he's a former Brown. I don't know if we can take another Brownco.
10) The AFC has way too many solid teams. Tops: New England, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Jacksonville. Decents: Jets, Broncos, Browns, and Titans. There's six playoff spots, and I listed nine teams. Houston, we have a problem.
11) It'll be just like the NBA: a bunch of undeserving NFC teams will get into the playoffs while some impressive AFC teams will get left out. The Broncos are a potential victim of this.
12) Although the Giants won it last year. So I guess you never know.
13) I'm secretly a Texans fan. I don't like to admit it because I don't like most things from Texas (San Antonio excluded), but it's a Kubiak thing. So yeah, I like the Texans and I'll be rooting for them this year.