Happy 1st Birthday, Thin Air!

On this day one year ago, many of us became refugees from It’s All Over, Fat Man! when it decided to call it a career.  I was determined to not let that refugee status last very long, having created this website on the fly.  In that one-year time span, quite a lot has happened. (Of which this was of the upmost importance!)

I’ll keep it brief: I did not want this anniversary to go by unnoticed, and I wanted to thank you all for your constant participation in both articles and comments.  I hope your experience here has been positive, and we can continue to improve upon the community we’ve built.  I’ll wrap it up by saying that the Denver Broncos should never be counted out.

On Goodell: It’s Called Consistency, Folks

By now, you all know that Tom Brady’s Ballghazi suspension has been reinstated. Before people get tuned up with their opinions, let’s talk about something else.

You remember how the Denver Broncos were penalized for salary cap violations dating back to their Super Bowls win during the John Elway-Terrell Davis-Mike Shanahan era, right? Let me ask you to consider a few things.

Consider what would have happened if ESPN had decided to make a major uproar over the violations and how they impacted the integrity of the game. Consider what would have happened if social media was all around and people were flooding their feeds and timelines with memes about how the Broncos were cheaters. Consider what would have happened if the Internet was as widely used as it is now and everyone gave their hot takes about the implications of the Broncos’ machinations.

Finally, consider what would have happened if Roger Goodell, not Paul Tagliabue, was the NFL commissioner at the time the violations were first reported.
Continue reading On Goodell: It’s Called Consistency, Folks

Thin Air’s Operations During The 2016 NFL Draft

With the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft only two days away, it’s time to give a heads up on a few things that will be going on.

  • On Thursday morning, I will likely start an open thread for the draft in general, in which we can comment on all aspects for the entire weekend, Broncos-involved or not.
  • If the Broncos select in the first round on Thursday, I will start a thread dedicated to this player in which we can collect data and discuss his prospects going forward.
  • I will be unable to watch the draft on Friday, as I’ll be attending an important fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County.  (On that note, if you’re looking to make a charitable donation somewhere, in either money or time, getting in contact with your local Boys & Girls Club is highly recommended.  David Bruton would approve.)
  • Therefore, I will be asking for another member of the community to start a thread for each player the Broncos select in the second and third rounds.  For the sake of uniformity, I will ask that whoever volunteers uses the following format for the thread title: [pick]: [player name], [position], [college].  As an example from my mock draft, it would go like this: #31: Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida.
  • I should be around on Saturday to handle the 4th through 7th rounds, but my time may be split between this site and in adding all the new rookies in on Over The Cap.  I have programmed a new function that I hope will make the addition of the rookies quicker than usual, so my time won’t be eaten up too much.

The excitement for several new Broncos rookies builds!

A THR-Influenced 2016 Broncos Mock Draft

I’ve commented very little on the incoming college talent in the 2016 NFL Draft.  That’s because, I’ve expressed here before, I’m not good at breaking down film in order to be an acceptable judge of talent.  Thus, I’ve come to rely on those who are good at it to help me figure out how the Broncos and other teams end up doing after draft weekend is over.

The one site that I’ve found the most helpful since 2004 is The Huddle Report.  Unless you’ve seen me mention it in comments here, you probably haven’t heard of it.  It’s not a fancy site, in either style or substance.  But in 13 draft seasons, I’ve found that it’s helped put me on the right track more often than the wrong track. Continue reading A THR-Influenced 2016 Broncos Mock Draft