Month: July 2016
Whither The Rooney Rule?
ESPN’s Mike Sando released a comprehensive article on Monday logging how minority representation at the NFL’s highest coaching levels has again lagged behind the general minority populace of NFL players and coaches, thus bringing into question of the efficacy of the Rooney Rule, or whether it is being executed faithfully. This, in turn, launched a spirited debate over here. This is a subject that I have natural interest in as an NFL fan, but one that I knew I couldn’t just shoot at the hip on. So I spent yesterday listening and thinking, then slept on it before writing this article. Continue reading Whither The Rooney Rule?
Broncos Greatest Games, Round 6
Round 6. 8 games left.
1 CLE 23-20 01/11/87
The Drive. After a 48 yard TD pass by Bernie Kosar, the Broncos found themselves trailing 13-20 in Cleveland, with 5 minutes to go and the ball on their own 2 yard line. The Cleveland fans were quite rowdy, but Elway did, what he does best.
“I suddenly flashed on something I was thinking about before the game,” Elway said later. “Great quarterbacks make great plays in great games. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”
Elway marched the team down the field, on a 15 play drive, including a 3rd and 18 conversion, and a 3rd and 2 conversion to get their first first down. Elway found Jackson from 5 yards out on 3rd and 1 to tie the game at 20. The Broncos would go on to win the game in OT, and send both Elway and Bowlen to their first super bowl. Elway finished 22/38 for 244 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT, and Sammy Widner had 83 yards rushing. The Broncos D forced 3 turnovers, including two picks.
HOF write up Complete Drive on youtube. Continue reading Broncos Greatest Games, Round 6
OTC: Von Miller’s Contract Contains Team Options In Final Two Years
The final two years of the contract are option seasons. Denver has until the final day of the prior League year to pick up each option season. If the options are exercised Miller will have $6 million and $7 million of his 2020 and 2021 salaries become guaranteed.
As we’ve discussed before, this has become modus operandi for the Broncos in negotiating major extensions. Such team options also exist on the extended contracts of Demaryius Thomas, Derek Wolfe, and Brandon Marshall. The purpose of a team option like this is to have the contract void instead terminated should the Broncos wish to part ways at that time. Such contract voids allow the player to qualify for the compensatory pick formula, of which the Patriots took heavy advantage of for their 2016 comp pick slate. The Ravens also set up a similar option on Mike Wallace this offseason. As long as this loophole in the formula exists, I expect the Broncos, Ravens, and Patriots to continue to exploit it, and other teams may soon follow suit.
It’s All Orange, Fat Man: 07/19/16
Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
Continuing along with the fantasy football rankings, I have the running back rankings after the jump.
As for the planned fantasy league on Yahoo, I am still on the fence about that. We had about seven or eight people who said they would be interested.
Some general notes about running backs in fantasy leagues: Many of the proven players carry some question marks, so you don’t necessarily want to follow the old advice of taking two RBs with your first two picks. Drafting one in the first two rounds is a good idea, but from there, look for value.
Continue reading Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
It’s All Orange, Fat Man: 07/18/16
Broncos greatest games, round 5
Round 5. Same as before, vote in the comments. Looking like we should wrap up on Thursday.
1 CLE 23-20 01/11/87
The Drive. After a 48 yard TD pass by Bernie Kosar, the Broncos found themselves trailing 13-20 in Cleveland, with 5 minutes to go and the ball on their own 2 yard line. The Cleveland fans were quite rowdy, but Elway did, what he does best.
“I suddenly flashed on something I was thinking about before the game,” Elway said later. “Great quarterbacks make great plays in great games. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”
Elway marched the team down the field, on a 15 play drive, including a 3rd and 18 conversion, and a 3rd and 2 conversion to get their first first down. Elway found Jackson from 5 yards out on 3rd and 1 to tie the game at 20. The Broncos would go on to win the game in OT, and send both Elway and Bowlen to their first super bowl. Elway finished 22/38 for 244 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT, and Sammy Widner had 83 yards rushing. The Broncos D forced 3 turnovers, including two picks.
HOF write up Complete Drive on youtube.
17 PIT 24-23 01/07/90
The Broncos entered this game as 10 point favorites, yet endured quite a scare in the first game of this super bowl run. The Broncos had a dominant Wade Phillips lead D that year, finishing 1st in points allowed.
Bubby Bristor started this game for the Steelers. Pittsburgh jumped out to an early lead, and the Broncos were fighting to catch up all game long. Down 23-17 with 7 minutes to go, Elway lead the team on a 71 yard TD drive to take the lead. Bristor had his chance, but the Broncos forced a bad snap on 3rd and 10 and recovered to seal the win.
It’s All Orange, Fat Man: 07/17/16 (Sunday Open Thread)
Von Miller and Sacks Trivia
As we continue to celebrate the Von Miller extension, here’s some light weekend trivia questions for you:
- There are four teams that Von Miller has yet to play. Name them.
- In addition to the four teams above, and excluding the Broncos, there are only four other teams that Miller has yet to sack. Name them.
- As far as I can tell, there is only one player in NFL history that has sacked all 32 teams. Name him.
- As far as I can tell, there is only one player in NFL history that has sacked 31 teams, excepting the one team he’s been with his whole career. Name him.
UPDATE: Congrats to Kndh19 for working through and answering all four questions correctly! The answers are now posted at the bottom of this article.