Careful what you wish for in 2015.
The world changed in 2005, at least in the NFL. In 2004, the New England won its third Super Bowl in four years, and its second in a row.
Parity then stumbled to a greater level of mediocrity. There have been no repeat champs in the past nine seasons. Good luck, Seattle.
Something else to think about as the Broncos seek to clinch the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed by defeating the Oakland Raiders on Sunday: At least one team with a first-round bye has lost its second-round playoff game each of the past nine seasons, 15 in all.
Meanwhile, six of the past nine Super Bowl champs played a first-round playoff game.
Still, no team needs a bye like the Broncos, who are playing their 13th game in 13 weeks Sunday. Unless it’s Cincinnati, Seattle or Arizona, playoff teams that also had byes after Game 3.
Some stories didn’t make the year in sports. The Broncos worked out guard and accused bully Richie Incognito on Nov. 10. The Broncos also put in a waiver claim last week on offensive tackle Andrew McDonald.
In the Ted Wells report, McDonald was identified as Player A who was subjected to harassment by Incognito and Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner.
The bully and a victim reunited at Dove Valley? No such luck.
The Broncos decided against signing Incognito, and McDonald was awarded to the Cleveland Browns because they had a worse record.
What do rookies know? It was nice of New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham to say his top two choices for NFL offensive rookie of the year were former LSU teammates of his: Miami receiver Jarvis Landry and Cincinnati running back Jeremy Hill.
Landry has 79 catches, and Hill has rushed for 1,024 yards on a playoff team.
So? Beckham should win easily.
Even after missing the entire preseason and first four regular-season games with a hamstring injury, he has 79 catches for 1,120 yards, 11 touchdowns and the catch of 2014.
What do we know? I fear voters will get the coach of the year award wrong for at least the second consecutive year. Kansas City’s Andy Reid should have been a unanimous selection last year but finished second to Ron Rivera.
This year, it seems Arizona’s Bruce Arians is the favorite. Why? His Cardinals were 10-6 last year, and if they lose Sunday at San Francisco they’ll be 5-5 without Carson Palmer.
I know no one outside of New England roots for Bill Belichick, but isn’t it more difficult to maintain 12.1 wins a year over 14 consecutive seasons than it is to rebuild? And his Pats have averaged 12.2 wins in the 10 seasons since the NFL’s world changed.
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or
