Not long after the conclusion of Sunday’s Broncos-Houston Texans preseason game, someone had the bright idea of gathering all the former Colorado State Rams at Invesco Field – Cecil Sapp, David Anderson, Erik Pears, et al. – for a warm-and-fuzzy, precious memory photo. Ultimately, though, the plan fizzled under the weight of the NFL’s keep-the-chains-moving reality, with team officials on both sides hustling players into their respective locker rooms.
Apparently, only NFL Films can make time stand still.
But not even Steve Sabol can control the future. Which brings us to the biggest anti-Buff of them all. When he wakes up this morning, Bradlee Van Pelt will be one step closer to moving from stud muffin pro quarterback to a decidedly more blue-collar existence – wondering if he’ll be able to hold on to his job.
When the Broncos officially announce the first 13 cuts of the year, Van Pelt isn’t expected to be among them, lest Mike Shanahan decide to entrust Thursday night’s exhibition finale against the Arizona Cardinals to Preston Parsons.
But that’s really the whole idea. At this point, Van Pelt has become little more than roster fodder.
Even if he throws for 300 yards against the Cardinals, will it really matter when the final cuts are made this weekend? Given Denver’s needs on defense, and its desire to protect as much of the depth at running back and wide receiver as possible, the chances of the team keeping three quarterbacks seem about as good as Todd Sauerbrun starring in that next ephredra commercial.
Like impromptu college reunions and flickering Rockies playoff hopes, it’s time to let go and move on.
While there’s no denying that Van Pelt has made strides since his CSU days, the whole, “Hardscrabble kid from the hood makes it in the big leagues and leads the local NFL team to glory” was always so very “Invincible,” anyway. The same can be said of the idea of Van Pelt magically converting to an NFL-caliber safety to eventually replace John Lynch, or following in his dad’s footsteps as a linebacker.
If it’s some fanciful Philadelphia Story you’re looking for, better to flip the script to “Rocky IV.” It could be, after all, that we’re thinking a bit too provincially. If there were ever a true “need” position these days, it’s American heavyweight champ. A look at the current configuration in boxing’s one-time glamour division, where natives from the former USSR hold all four title belts, is enough to make any red, white and blue-blooded sports fan wonder what in the name of Ivan Drago is going on?
If creaky old Evander Holyfield can make a comeback at 43, and the horrific Mike Tyson is approached about the chances of his returning to the ring, it probably wouldn’t take much for BVP – who already certainly has proved he knows his way around a good scrape – to become a contender.
Forget the NFL. Stick Van Pelt in a meat locker full of sides of beef, give him a blender filled with raw eggs to help put on 15-20 pounds and then – “LET’S GET READY TO RUUUMMMBLE!”
But short of convincing Van Pelt that his future lies with Don King, the honorable thing would be to get him a real shot somewhere else, because with Jake Plummer and the backup in name only, Jay Cutler, on hand, Van Pelt isn’t going to call any meaningful signals around here for the next 12 to 15 years.
And there are those – besides Van Pelt – who feel that, given the right opportunity, he could be doing exactly that.
“He’s very interesting. I don’t know if he’s an NFL-caliber quarterback, but I do know that he’s an NFL-caliber competitor,” Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson said Monday. “A classic NFL quarterback? I’m not sure I know what that is anymore. He may not be, but I wouldn’t say that Jake is either.
“I would think that if Denver were to let him go, he’d definitely be picked up by somebody else rather quickly, without question.”
Somebody in need of a little fire behind center? Somebody who would welcome a man with a “Commitment to Excellence”?
Wouldn’t that be enough to keep a mastermind ruminating all night? Instead of becoming the prince of the city as one of the Broncos, Van Pelt comes back to town in the silver and black and prevents them from reaching the big one.
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
