calling it like it is

So, the 2007 season was a bust. A tremendous Hindenberg style bust. Let's be honest folks and call it like it was. The Mastermind tends to confuse style for substance and 2007 was no different. He brought in big reputation players to make a serious push for the Super Bowl. But with a 7-9 record things were pretty much a disaster from the get-go.

However, the wonderful thing about sports, the thing that separates sports from life, is that there is a chance for redemption every year. So what if the Broncos' season forced sober fans to the bottle? So what if Simeon Rice and Sam Adams couldn't tackle a dummy or come within 10 yards of the QB? Who cares if Travis Henry's character issues make Dale Carter and Daryl Gardner look like relative saints? Not to mention Henry's inability to actually run the football? It just doesn't matter this season. Rice and Adams are gone. And while Henry is getting another shot at redemption, or at least a steady source of child-support payments, backups Andre Hall and Selvin Young are ready and eager in the wings. And Todd Sauerbrun? Hardly knew you were here, pal.

And thus a new season begins.

So, let's call it like it is. 2008 is a building year. The common term in sports venacular is "rebuilding," but that implies you had something in the first place. And the Broncos definitely did not have anything last season. So, 2008 is a building year.

The Broncos are building their secondary by signing young, solid, character guys in Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel. One of them will be starting next season for sure, and the other will back up John Lynch which means plenty of game-time when the old duffer gets injured. Boss Bailey comes in to replace Ian Gold, though I'm not sure this is a talent upgrade. Bailey's a solid player, but he's basically Ian Gold from about 4 years ago. The Broncos picked up the Nate Webster deluxe model sans detachable helmet in Niko Koutouvides, and hopefully they'll resign FB Cecil Sapp or pick up someone even better to fill that position in the free-agent market. Keary Colbert is a decent number three receiver, though he'll be entering camp as the number two guy opposite Brandon Marshall who was simply phenomenal last season. The move however allows Brandon Stokely to move back to the slot where he's had tremendous success. The Broncos are solid at TE with Daniel Graham, Tony Sheffler, and recently resigned Nate Jackson. The offensive line will have to deal with the retirement of Matt Lepsis, but they'll get center Tom Nalen back, who is arguably the best center in the league when healthy. Also, Ben Hamilton will likely return from concussion problems to shore up the left side. He's all-pro caliber when healthy as well. And Cutler (so far) stands out as a diamond-in-the-rough compared with many of Shanahan's horrific drafting decisions - where are you now Maurice Clarett?

Which leaves the defensive line. Unfortunately, there's not much news to report on this front other than Marcus Thomas's "cocaine incident" a week ago. Now I'm not passing judgment, but I think our grandiloquent president said it best when he said, "fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." A la Hemingway, I'll let you piece together that little gem.

The Broncos made, and perhaps will continue to make, solid moves during the free agency period so far. The Broncos have hopefully given up on the flashy big rep. guys in favor of solidity and potential quality. This M.O. worked in San Antonio, it worked in the Rockies clubhouse (though I'm not sure what to make of the strange Christian factor at Coors Field), and hopefully it will help the Broncos have a solid 2008. . . . so we can finally start talking about the Super Bowl again. . . .in 2009.

Next up. . . .the draft! (Though there are still free agents available, I can't name any.)