I love my Broncs. I do. I don't always understand them, but I love them all the same. They're like a family member you don't introduce your girlfriend to until you're well into the relationship.
Why? Well, they're smart, but chaotic. They're proud, strong, and tricky. They will do their best for you, but could steal your girl by the end of the night.
What am I talking about?
The Denver off-season...
In my honest opinion, Denver has had the second best off-season behind the Patriots, and we're not done yet.
To review... Denver trades for cornerback Dre' Bly, making not only one of the scariest cornerback tandems in the NFL ever (with Champ Bailey), but an acceptable amount of depth in secondary with Foxworth and Paymeh. Denver picks up Daniel Graham, making a very scary TE combo with Tony Scheffler, as well as improving our line blocking skills. Denver picks up Travis Henry, a back who has compiled good numbers over the years despite being placed behind awful lines, and upset in position by guys who may not have deserved it. With Mike Bell, a great 1-2 punch behind an offensive system that could make the kid with the limp down the block look good. There was also: Brandon Stokely (WR) Patrick Ramsey (QB) Paul Smith (FB) Montrae Holland (G) Alvin McKinley (DT)
Sure, we lost some guys, but most weren't much worth keeping (Jake Plummer, Tatum Bell, George Foster, Michael Myers), some were the result of hardship and cap (Al Wilson, Patrick Chukwurah), while others were the victims of unforeseeable tradgedy (Darrent Williams, Damien Nash). Still, the Broncos stay strong.
Well, apparently, we are not finished yet.
With the loss of Wilson and Chukwurah, we need at least one new LB. Because of DJ Williams ability to play Sam side or middle, it doesn't matter where the new guy plays. What does matter is his talent level. I'm thinking it will be Ed Hartwell.
We need a burlier DT. I'm thinking it's a trade to get Kris Jenkins for a 3rd. Rumor has it, that may happen... but now for the shocker.
Rumors have the Broncos waiting anxiously for draft day to see what Oakland will do. If the black hole sucks JaMarcus Russell in (and I personally think they should... they need a true franchise QB), then Denver has apparently brokered another trade with Detroit, forfieting 4 first day picks (1, 2, and 3 this year and a 1 next year) for the #2 slot to draft Calvin Johnson. Could you imagine the depth there? Brandon Stokely, Rod Smith, David Kircus, and Domenik Hixon competing for the 4th spot?
How do we get the money for these guys? I don't know. How do we plan for the future? I don't know. I don't know what the contracts look like. I don't know what the Broncos will manage with 4 picks in the 2007 draft (with a Detroit trade and Carolina trade mentioned above, it would be: #2, #176, #198, #233). I don't know if Calvin Johnson is worth that much stuff. I don't know.
What I do know is that the off-season has been, and will likely continue to be, quite different in the mile high city.
