Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posts his Broncos Mailbag every Tuesday during the 2007 NFL season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a Broncos- or NFL-related question into the Broncos Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Take a bow, mailbaggers. Not long ago, a letter came in wondering about Brandon Stokley’s contract status and whether the Broncos would extend him. On Friday, voila! .
I’m not saying mailbaggers had influence on Stokley’s extension. The Broncos strike me as an organization that makes its own decisions. However, the mailbaggers should be commended for their vision. They saw it coming, and there it was.
On to the mailbag.
Too little, too late? I don’t care. I liked the glimpse at the future: Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley (now long term), not to mention the improved defense. How did you see Sunday’s game, Mike?
— Mike, Little Rock, Ark.
Mike – You’re a half-full kind of guy. I saw it as half-full, half-empty. The Broncos were tremendous against the Chiefs. It doesn’t get any better than negotiating a 77-yard drive in four plays to start the game. The defense was dominant at the line of scrimmage, which allowed the linebackers and cornerback Champ Bailey to shoot in for tackles.
But as the Broncos were thoroughly dominating the Chiefs, the game also left me with the feeling this was a potentially very good team that had a wasted season.
Because of all the offseason turnover, and in-season injuries, it took the Broncos longer than hoped to find the best personnel combinations and for 11 men to jell as one. The Sunday picture may have been gorgeous. But in the bigger picture, the Broncos were worse off Sunday night than when they woke up Sunday morning. They started the day two games out of the playoffs with four games to go. They finished the day two games out with three games to go.
Yes, the future looks bright. And by future, I’m talking 2008. I wouldn’t put Stokley in the same category as Cutler and Marshall, though. Stokley is a nine-year veteran who probably has more good games behind him than ahead. Regardless of his new, multiyear deal, Stokley understands the NFL is a year-to-year proposition. Pound-for-pound, Stokley is one of the league’s best football players. It’s too bad his frame couldn’t carry a few more pounds so he could take on a little more NFL pounding.
Cutler and Marshall, however, may be demonstrating glimpses of what could be truly great careers. They are second-year players with only a tad more than a full season worth of experience. Both are going to have some impressive statistics behind their names when this season is finished.
The Broncos’ collection of first-, second- and three-year players – Cutler, Marshall, Selvin Young, Tony Scheffler, Marcus Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, Tim Crowder, Jarvis Moss, Hamza Abdullah, Chris Myers, Chris Kuper, Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah – is their best young nucleus in years. Some tweaks need to be made but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos bounce back at least to 10-6 caliber next season.
Because our local affiliate purchased both the Steelers-Patriots and the Chiefs-Broncos games (yet only aired the Steelers-Patriots game), I was unable to get Sunday’s game on DirecTV – so I missed it. However, I see Jay Cutler had four TD passes and Denver rushed for many yards. Did Mike Shanahan finally deploy a double-wide, double-slot formation – as he should, given this mix of talent?
— Les Sullivan, Tustin Ranch, Calif.
Les – To the contrary, the Broncos mostly employed their max-protection packages. Not only did they often line up two tight ends in Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler, but they also usually had fullback Cecil Sapp join Young or Travis Henry in the backfield.
Your preferred formation, Les, was going to be difficult because only Marshall from the Broncos’ top three receivers was healthy. Javon Walker didn’t dress because of a sore knee, and Stokley didn’t play much after catching a touchdown pass on his opening drive.
Two reasons why Cutler had such a big game: One, the Broncos ran the ball effectively and ran it well early. And two, he usually had gobs of time to throw, especially on play-action passes.
If the Broncos and Chargers finish with the same record, who wins the division? Thanks.
— Steve, Denver
Steve – I won’t go through the 8-8 scenarios because there’s no way San Diego is losing its last three, not with Detroit and the Broncos at home, and Oakland on the road.
But for kicks, let’s say both the Broncos and Chargers finish 9-7. It’s a stretch because the Broncos would have to win their final three and the Chargers would have to lose two out of their three. I think the Broncos have a better chance of winning three than San Diego does of losing two, but let’s carry on.
Identical 9-7 records would mean the Broncos won at San Diego on Christmas Eve, so the head-to-head tiebreaker would be a wash. The next tiebreaker would be division record. The Broncos would be AFC West champ if the Chargers’ second loss is to Oakland. If the Chargers lose to Detroit (an NFC team) and the Broncos, but beat Oakland, then the tiebreaker comes down to record against common opponents. In this scenario, the Chargers would win the division with an 8-6 record against common opponents to the Broncos’ 7-7.
In other words, the Broncos would need two things to reach the playoffs: Win out, and for their good buddies in Oakland to beat the Chargers in the season finale.
Why is Tom Jackson not in the Hall of Fame?
— Mike, Hermitage, Pa.
Mike – Your question brings up a great point. The perspective of those Orange Crush years depends on your locale. Those who were watching from afar thought Jackson was the heart and soul and best player on the Orange Crush. I know I did as I was grew up in Illinois.
But since I became a Coloradan in 1984, I learned from the natives that Randy Gradishar was unquestionably the franchise’s best player in the pre-Elway/post-Floyd Little era. Gradishar is the former Orange Crush player who gets the strongest Hall of Fame push from the locals, although it hasn’t yet translated into enough national support.
I’m guessing that as someone from Pennsylvania, you, like me, probably heard the game-day announcers talk way more about the personable Jackson than Gradishar. I think both will have a chance to get in some day through the veteran’s committee. Canton should make room for a unique candidate like Jackson, whose long run as an ESPN analyst should count along with his linebacker play in Denver.
Hi, Mike. In consecutive mailbags, you’ve alluded to Javon Walker likely not returning next year. Why is that? Isn’t he under contract? And why would the Broncos want to get rid of him? Is he that much of a cap liability already?
— Doug Van Doren, Los Angeles
Doug – I believe I had categorized Walker as “possibly” not returning, but after he didn’t play Sunday, it may be closer to likely. Walker’s contract calls for him to make close to $7.5 million next year in bonuses and salary. That includes $4.4 million in option bonuses during the offseason. He has 20 catches this year. There’s no way the Broncos will bring him back for that kind of money coming off such little production.
However, I do think the Broncos will try to bring Walker back – at a reduced rate. The Broncos do like Walker. They would be better with him than without him. Mike Shanahan and general manager Ted Sundquist have a good working relationship with Walker’s agent, Kennard McGuire. Discussions will be amicable.
Let’s say the Broncos try to bring Walker back for $5 million in 2008. Could he do better in the open market? I don’t think so, not with his knee history. It’s one thing for the Broncos to give him a huge contract after one major knee surgery. But now that he’s clearly experienced a setback with the same knee this year, the risk is far greater.
Another consideration is Walker’s feelings. Knowing that Marshall is the No. 1 receiver, Walker may want to seek a team where the top receivers have a bit more age in their legs.
Hey, Mike! Just wondering why all the players in the league seemed to be wearing No. 21 decals for Sean Taylor, but only the Broncos wear Nos. 27 and 29 decals for their fallen teammates. It’s not that I mind the tribute to Taylor. Just wonder why the NFL did not ask teams to wear decals for Darrent Williams and Damien Nash as well.
— Scott Wilson, Lander, Wyo.
Scott – Timing is everything in life. And death. Darrent Williams and Damien Nash died during the offseason. So did the New England Patriots’ Marquise Hill. Months had passed between their deaths and the start of the regular season. Taylor’s death came during the season. Grieving is much more pronounced when the death is fresh in everyone’s hearts and minds.
I don’t sit in judgment of decisions in which there is no right or wrong answer. But if forced to weigh in, I would say the tributes for all the players who died too young in the past year were handled appropriately.
Mike Klis is in his third season of covering the Broncos after previously covering the Rockies and Major League Baseball for 15 years. To drop a question into his Broncos Mailbag, or visit DenverPost.com’s .
