Have the Broncos assembled a squad of Lego Orange Infernites and Transformers Prime Power Attackers, an Erector Set of medieval armaments or a Super Bowl-caliber team?
Coach Gary Kubiak believes he has the Horse Force he signed on for.
General manager John Elway says the best 53 players were held onto.
But it’s difficult to comprehend that 6-foot-4, 300-pound free-agent center Dillon Day, who looks like Hercules Unchained with his long, unwieldy blond hair and a body the size of Dillon Reservoir, couldn’t fit in somewhere. Maybe practice squad or WWE?
Check back Sunday.
The Broncos final-final roster could be altered slightly, as usual. They still need a third tight end, another left tackle, a punt returner and a dependable kicker. The waiver wire is your friend, John.
For instance, Dante Rosario was just cut by old pal John Fox. The veteran tight end can block, play special teams and occasionally catch a pass, as he did with the Broncos in 2011. Or how about big fellow Joseph Fauria, released by the Detroit Lions?
These Broncos certainly can win the championship. The organization has reached TUG (The Ultimate Game) seven times in 38 seasons.
And, as an astute player-personnel executive, who was not a mathematician, once told me, a franchise must have Pro Bowl-quality starters at three-quarters of its starting positions. That would be 16.5 starters. The Broncos have at least 14, seven on each side, who could qualify.
However, the paradigm depends on “if healthy.”
Will the Broncos avoid major injuries to major providers? And will those 14 play up to their past or their potential? Does DeMarcus Ware have too much wear and tear on his body? Will Demaryius Thomas stop celebrating his big check and begin earning it? Aqib: To be or not Talib.
The Broncos should have the No. 1 cornerback duo in the NFL. They should have the No. 1 outside linebacker quartet, including Shaq Barrett (exhibition video super- hero) in the league. They ought to be in the top five with the Wade Phillips screwdriver defense. They will have a top-five running game with Kubiak at the helm.
And there’s always Peyton Manning.
Don’t be so sure this is a farewell tour. If Peyton does get into or close to the Super Bowl again, methinks he stays and Brock Osweiler goes. Trevor “The Tremor” Siemian is the future quarterback of the Broncos. As Kubiak — who discovered Siemian at Northwestern — said Saturday afternoon at Dove Valley, he knew Siemian had a strong arm, but the Broncos didn’t know if he could respond to ACL surgery and what else he could do. A seventh-round selection was low risk, high upside. Siemian obviously was a keeper Saturday when the Broncos sliced 20 other players.
People said last week the Broncos would be trading several players. Players are like your children. Nobody else loves them as much as you do. The Broncos didn’t make any more trades. Most of the players deserved what they got. Seven or so will end up on the practice squad. The rest will be like Zac Dysert, who was cut earlier and picked up Tuesday by O.P. Fox. The Chicago Bears cut Zac again Saturday.
Some incised players tweeted that God has a plan for them — perhaps driving a UPS truck in shorts. If the Lord had a plan involving the NFL, Tim Tebow would be with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Montee Ball, Michael Schofield and Curtis Marsh should be very grateful they survived. Marsh is a bog, and Ball didn’t show a thing. Schofield must learn how to block.
Day, Jordan Taylor, Kyle Roberts and Zaire Anderson will play someday for the Broncos, but not this day. And Elway said of Ben Garland, the All-American, “You’d want your daughter to marry him.” Elway also once offered the same appraisal of Tebow. Elway is an excellent judge of talent and a matchmaker.
Are the Broncos one of the BoysRUs in the NFL this season or genuine contenders with this roster?
It’s the best defense the Broncos ever have assembled — even stronger than the original Orange Crush. And this could be the most diversified, intriguing offense the Broncos have put together since Elway was the quarterback and Kubiak was the offensive coordinator.
Saturday, according to both men, was very difficult.
The real degree of difficulty begins for the Broncos next Sunday.
Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or
