Author: Bob Morris

I'm a sports writer in real life, though I've always focused on smaller communities, but that hasn't stopped me from learning more about some of the ins and outs of the NFL. You can follow me on Twitter @BobMorrisSports if you can put up with updates on the high school sports teams I cover.

The Morning After: Early Broncos Impressions

Good afternoon, Broncos fans! It always feels good to start a season at 2-0, especially when there were a lot of skeptics, doubters and cynics out there who thought the Broncos were destined to struggle because they didn’t have a top QB and their defense couldn’t possibly be as good as it was last year.

Through two games, we know that the Broncos are having a few growing pains, but the defense overall remains strong and the offense has shown it can do some good things. And while there’s a lot of football left to be played, it’s becoming clearer that the Broncos have the makings of being a playoff contender again this year.

Let’s look at each area of the team and address what might be some of the concerns with each at this point.
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Why Kneeling During The Anthem Is Like Past Protests

For a few weeks I had been debating about writing about Colin Kaepernick and his decision to sit down during the playing of national anthem at NFL games as his means of protesting the mistreatment of black people at the hands of some police officers.

Much has changed since that time, starting with Kaepernick’s conversation with Green Beret Nate Boyer (who spent a year in Seahawks training camp as a long snapper) and the NFL quarterback opting to kneel instead, and followed by more NFL players joining in kneeling for the anthem or other forms of protest, with Denver Broncos LB Brandon Marshall among those players.

Between being busy with my job and other activities, and wanting to sort out my thoughts on the subject, I have not written about this until now. And given that Marshall, a Broncos player, has joined the protests and that two companies dropped him as a spokesperson as a result, it’s even more fitting I address this subject. Continue reading Why Kneeling During The Anthem Is Like Past Protests

The QB Nonsense Rankings (With Apologies to Mike Tanier)

In years past, one of our favorite writers, Mike Tanier, put together his Quarterback Nonsense Index, in which he evaluated the storylines that surrounded each team’s quarterback or QB situation and just how ridiculous the debates or narratives had become.

Tanier has not yet put one together this year, but fear not, my friends. I am going to attempt to put together my own version of Quarterback Nonsense, but I call mine the Quarterback Nonsense Rankings, because I need to make it look like I am doing things differently from the way Tanier does things, just in case he’s kept his own Index under wraps in preparation to unleash it upon everyone without a moment’s notice!

And while Tanier applies the best statistical science he can find to determine his rankings, I use my own version of statistical science (in other words, I just threw stuff together and hoped people agreed with it) to determine just how much Nonsense one has seen either generated or can expect to be generated. Among the factors I considered:
Continue reading The QB Nonsense Rankings (With Apologies to Mike Tanier)

Open Thread: Broncos And Other Roster Cuts

Use this thread to talk about the cuts the Denver Broncos and other teams make to get their rosters down to 53.

Every NFL team must trim its roster down to 53 players by Saturday, Sept. 3, at 2 p.m. Mountain (4 p.m. Eastern). Therefore, not all of the roster moves will be announced Friday.

I will try to keep this updated regarding the players the Broncos cut, along with the more notable cuts from elsewhere around the league.

Continue reading Open Thread: Broncos And Other Roster Cuts

A 53-Man Final Roster Projection

There’s one more preseason game left before final cuts are made. However, there are some indications as to who might not be sticking around on the final roster.

Last week, I made a few observations about the roster decisions and when I expected them to be made. I was wrong about the punter and it’s becoming clearer that the Broncos aren’t that concerned about keeping two receivers who can return punts and kicks. The Broncos also made a quicker decision about the tight end position, though they still need to figure out who will be the third tight end.

Although the fourth preseason game has yet to be played, I’m seeing enough information to figure out a likely 53-man roster and practice squad. So here are my predictions and what I believe will be the Broncos’ reasoning, even if I don’t agree with it.
Continue reading A 53-Man Final Roster Projection

Key Roster Battles And Practice Squad Primer

Hello, Bronco fans! Hard to believe that the first game of the season is just two weeks away. Of course, everyone following preseason action is watching some of the battles for roster spots and starting jobs and a few have already made predictions about the final roster.

I’m going to examine some of the most notable battles for starting jobs and roster spots and when I expect head coach Gary Kubiak will make his final decisions.
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How Can We Really Improve The HOF Voting Process?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place this past weekend, and while we are all aware about the field issues that led to the cancellation of the Hall of Fame game, I’m not here to discuss that. Instead, my attention focuses on the Pro Football Hall of Fame itself.

I’ve written previously about this subject, but wanted to examine the process by which members are selected, what are really the problems with the process and what might be done to address it.

My point is to get discussion steered in a better direction than what tends to be the usual cries about the process.
Continue reading How Can We Really Improve The HOF Voting Process?