Josh McDaniels Can Blame Himself for Spygate, Denver Broncos' Failures

Feel free to light a candle in the high attitude, kiss your spouse under the mistletoe and unite collectively in the Mile High City to witness millions of twinkling lights and festive parades, but more importantly, applaud the recent firing of Josh McDaniels.

If he looked like a basic, clever head coach in the NFL, wearing his typical Broncos hoodie to impersonate his former mentor and boss Bill Belichick, it’s because McDaniels gazed at the mediocre Denver Broncos from the sidelines who unraveled each Sunday and never had a mind for coaching a pro franchise.

By now, we realize that he was never a beneficiary for cultivating an unproductive team or reestablishing faith to the Broncos, unless we are willing to include an awe-inspiring 6-0 start, winning his first six games as a rookie coach last season.

The firing of the sweatshirt-wearing coach comes as no surprise after the Broncos fell out of the postseason category, ever since he parted ways with quarterback Jay Cutler and dropped to a startling 5-17 to wipe out an unbeaten start in his reign.

There’s more to this story, as Broncos owner Pat Bowlen finally realized that he needed to redirect discretions, such as McDaniels’ ego trip and egocentric ways when he was handed the coaching gig with very little experience.

The tenor of which his dismissal loomed, as it finally came to hunt a foundered McDaniels, so often dates back to his lack of integrity and furtive issues.

And it’s at least a palpable sense of belief with a multitude of Broncos fans delighted over the sudden refinement within a once-respected franchise, to finally understand the magnitude of winning by deciding to move on without McDaniels in the Broncos’ rebuilding plans.

“I think everyone here is surprised with the timing, but not surprised it happened,” said former Broncos star safety John Lynch. “Right when I heard the Spygate thing, I thought, ‘It’s over.’”

Turns out, he was right.

Turns out the fans were, too. For those of you surprised by the latest news, even if the Broncos were reluctant canning the second-year coach, this isn’t a surprise when Broncos video coordinator Steve Scarnecchia was caught filming the San Francisco 49ers walkthrough practice on Oct. 30 in London.

Through all of which, McDaniels mistakenly acted as if he was a slow-minded moron when he was aware of Sypgate II, but never reported it to the team and kept it a secret until details were revealed publicly to humiliate him.

Thus, by putting his job status in jeopardy, by being labeled as the bonehead for an outrageous misstep that pretty much stained his credibility and principles to accommodate good character, it all backfired in McDaniels’ face and cost him his profession as a team leader.

As much as we tried to understand the variations of the human mind, we tried to understand the mind of a man with no pride and no zest, but a man who only cared strictly about his ego and legacy, not even his reputation.

When it comes to McDaniels -- the number of responsibilities the Broncos pledged they wouldn't give him -- simply for his inexperience and disadvantages, it was always about his attitude and ego. If ever there were an explanation, the Broncos weren't hesitant to admit that he was allowed too much authority at such a young age.

"I think the responsibilities that he was burdened with, it's fair to say that we probably burdened him with too much of that and we were unfair to him in that respect," said the team's chief operating officer, Joe Ellis. "And we certainly need to assess that and look at that moving forward."

Surely, Bowlen and the ownership gave McDaniels the benefit of the doubt. How dare McDumbass was aware of inexcusable sins and reacted untrustworthy and secretive, adding to the maligned crisis that stained the humility of an elegant franchise. At 34, he was the NFL's second-youngest head coach, and had never coached a team and never been permitted to make personnel decisions.


Within his stint he lacked maturity, molded by Belichick in New England and served as an outstanding quarterback coach to groom and improve the play of the obscure Matt Cassel with a majestic 11-5 record in 2008.

As it turned out, McDaniels' inability to communicate and conduct a team alone is not surprising after leaving from an organization run by Belichick, who makes his baffled coaching staff seem like worthy clones of Vince Lombardi, just as he identified a genius in Charlie Weis.

"I think it kind of evolved and grew into that and as I said, I take some responsibility on behalf of Pat for allowing that to happen," Ellis said."And it's very likely that the plan will not empower the next head coach with the kind of authority that Josh was probably unfairly put upon him. And it's also fair to say that we'll stick to that plan."

For a long time, the relationship between Bowlen and McDaniels had been severely blemished and irreparable, although Bowlen never demanded a change or fired him. The emphasis of the problem cast troubles upon the Broncos, losing an abundance of games, the loyalty of fans, conviction and ambition.

It's pretty pathetic that he had the shortest regime—less than two seasons—of any head coach in Broncos' history.

All along, McDaniels was a risk for a team considered prominent and well-respected of premier NFL franchises, clearly embarrassing himself and mishandling his toughest task. A team that was paltry, within a well-organized franchise, is facing maybe one of its painful seasons in decades, if ever.

"My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly," Bowlen said in a statement. "I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts."

To no one's surprise, he was terminated for the spying scandal revealed last week, and it prompted Bowlen to break off his relationship with Mr. Know It All McDaniels. And so when the NFL delivered a $50,000 fine to McDaniels and the Broncos for illicit taping of the Niners walkthrough, he had every reason to part ways with McDaniels.

"I am very grateful to Pat Bowlen and the Broncos for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of such a proud franchise," McDaniels said in a statement released by the team. "I would like to thank all of the people who helped us over the last two years. I am especially appreciative of the efforts of every player, coach and member of the personnel department who worked so hard every day."

The realistic understanding is that the Broncos were smart by firing McDaniels for a cause, or Bowlen would still owe him the rest of his four-year, $12 million deal.

It might be clearly an intelligent decision, after McDaniels listened to trade offers for Cassel, after he feuded with Cutler and said he never wanted to trade him, after he believed in Kyle Orton and after he selected Tim Tebow, regardless of his poor status for an NFL upstart.

In other words, if you haven't noticed all of his bad personnel decisions and dumb draft picks, including trades and free-agent signings, Bowlen waited too late to purge McDaniels. And so it ends, of which he couldn't escape an equivocal crisis or couldn't confess his rotten sins to relinquish from the national outrage in Denver.

Finally, he was divorced by the Broncos, a team that overly loved him, perhaps too long.

Broncos' McDaniels Takes a Gamble On Tebow, But Might Be a Good Pick

It’s fair to judge that the Denver Broncos gambled, a heavy burden many NFL franchises take every year. It’s a franchise equivalent to Oakland of making a fool of itself in the NFL Draft, even though it remains a mystery as to whether Tim Tebow develops and flourishes as an immediate impact at quarterback in the NFL.

Whenever critics and skeptics do the Broncos a favor, and quit doubting the mental capacities and passing mechanics of Tebow, maybe it won’t be considered franchise suicide. Like other players who were selected off the boards, he can very well emerge and adjust to the pro-style offense, be observed as a megastar, and shimmer in the pro spotlight.

In reality, he’s the least NFL ready among big names, polarized for his religious beliefs and throwing deficiencies. His presence means a lot to a league with many off-the-field issues and criminal misdeeds that has pillaged the valuable NFL image.

Every season, a misbehaved athlete brings chaotic drama and pointless baggage, sabotaging teams’ personality and soundness. So when Tebow was picked by the Denver Broncos with the 25th pick overall, the franchise drafted a player worth trusting, and a quarterback with acceptable class. He acts with strong character and manages to keep his self-control on the field. He’s not a wicked individual or a suspect of unlawful crimes, but an evangelistic and polarizing figure. It’s amazing that he handles adversity with maturity and humility, devoting much of his life to the practice of Christianity.

If there’s someone as modest and humble as Oprah within our violent, senseless, and poor economic society, it’s Tebow, setting positive examples and unselfishly giving back to children and prisoners. The league is laughing at Denver, a franchise suddenly portrayed as a laughingstock. All of the sudden, people are taunting the Broncos for all the wrong reasons, after a unanimous selection is calculated as an inauspicious blunder and the dumbest decision.

In a strange draft, of which the top projected quarterbacks were outcasts, other than Sam Bradford, who found his first NFL home with the St. Louis Rams as first choice overall in the NFL Draft, Tebow was the second quarterback taken and appreciated.

He is, indeed, an endearing and hyped athlete because of his passion, prodigy, and prosperous status in the playing days at Florida, where he captured national limelight in his four years, and engineered the Gators to a pair of national championships. It’s almost easy to suggest that the Broncos are revamping its franchise, when it nearly advanced to the playoffs a year ago after getting off to an unexpected start. Whichever way anyone reckons this pick, it wasn’t an awful or wasteful pick, and he wasn’t chosen with the perception of being the savior in the NFL and the one player who cannot do wrong.

Even though it’s a huge gamble, Josh McDaniels, the 34-year old head coach of the Broncos, was willing to give Tebow a chance of showcasing his abilities and perspicacity. By trading three second-round picks to the Baltimore Ravens, McDaniels was given the 25th pick, and recognized the improvement in his accuracy and throwing mechanics during workouts, when he began building a relationship with Tebow.

And now, he has a liking for his personality and talent, in which he demonstrated at Florida by conducting a high-powered offense with his option style formations, stamina, and explosiveness on the ground. During his collegiate career, we were accustomed to witnessing his powerful stiffed-arms, his unstoppable speed, and his agility and strength to exert effortless speed and find the end zone, which normally resulted in a touchdown.

The last three months, he has spent ample time working on his passes and precision, convincing McDaniels that in prior weeks he has improved his throwing motions. In short, the Broncos and McDaniels weren’t reluctant acquiring an uncertain quarterback whose delivery still has an unsettling and dubious throwing motion. Tebow is precisely a nice fit in Denver, where he’ll be cultivated and could excel at the highest level under McDaniels, who’s profound at molding and developing quarterbacks into an elite thrower.

Convincingly, Tebow’s style was relevant and beneficial at Florida, but in a transition to the NFL, he’s irrelevant and skeptics doubt that he’ll ever thrive as an elite quarterback.

He’s a beloved and iconic college athlete, while some dislike his overexposed and overhyped exaltation. We’ve either revered Tebow as a religious savior, or an overrated quarterback without an assuring throwing motion. But whatever critics believes, he’s relentlessly a valuable piece.

And he also can fool us all, becoming an instrumental piece in Denver’s offensive schemes. It’s easy to foreshadow that he’ll turn into a bust and disappoint all. Because he’s an unproven and polarizing athlete, he’s figured a fallen star and discounted for his irritating flaws.

Many people are judgmental and categorize Tebow as a high risk, questioning whether his lack of arm strength and footwork is well-equipped for a pro-style offense. Very well, he can develop a brilliant delivery and nifty footwork, and evolve into a pro quarterback. Consider it a gracious landing spot, where he’ll learn under McDaniels, a coach with overwhelming confidence and hopes he could upgrade his level of consistency.

But if there’s someone more skeptical of Tebow, it’s Todd McShay. He’s clearly critical of the Broncos wasting a valuable first-round pick on an unproven player. “When you still have so many needs to address as a Denver Broncos team, how do you draft Tim Tebow,” said McShay during the draft on Saturday.

"You brought in Brady Quinn, you hope that you can handle your situation at quarterback inside. And the bottom line is Tim Tebow is not an NFL quarterback. You now have to take the next two years and try to get some contribution out of him or develop him into a good starting quarterback to make that pick worthwhile. I understand Josh McDaniels is as good as anyone in the business at developing quarterbacks, but Tim Tebow I just don’t know that he can be develop into a good starting quarterback.”

At the expense of McDaniels, Tebow brings in cleverness and inspirational leadership, appropriate character that the Broncos demand. This was a gamble, but a smart gamble, one any franchise should have been willing to take. Image is important to most teams, particularity with the Broncos, after recently trading its top receiver Brandon Marshall to Miami because of detrimental behavior and foolish baggage that became weary in an organization, seeking to climb atop an undermined AFC West division.

Was this a good pick? Maybe it was. Then again, maybe it wasn’t. I personally think it was a nice pick. These days, hypocrisy and riskiness engenders thought whether a player becomes an NFL superstar or a bust. It’s the NFL. Any pick is near-dangerous, and could settle as the worst selection ever, which means picks that don’t seem valuable might mean much to a franchise years later.

It’s simple to overstate that Tebow is destined to dazzle as a big-name quarterback. As a franchise that emphasizes strong character, a trend religiously followed by Tebow, he grasps a sense of humility within a Heisman Trophy winner and decorated college player.

In pregame warm-ups and talks, he writes Bible verses and inspirits teammates with his advice. Across the world, he’s admired for his missionary and charitable work, he’s well-known for writing Bible verses on his eyeblack, and he’s a gracious athlete with much promise.

It’s really not foolish of the Broncos to pick Tebow. He’s an authentic and generous individual, and also can prosper as a pro quarterback.

Eventually, he’ll glorify football with thrilling throws and accurate passes, just as he does by the heartwarming goodness that he exposes in our society.

Cutler Redeems Nightmarish Blunders: Bears Aren't Done Just Yet

The images defined much about the game of football in a Sunday matinee. You can define it as momentum, or even a game of faltering on some occasions. Either way, the Chicago Bears might not be on the verge of hibernation. Instead they might have a chance of prolonging an auspicious season, with other teams faltering late in games.

Somehow, the Bears managed, escaping from a tense afternoon at Solider Field. And somehow they managed to survive in an uptight finish against the defending champs. Yes, the Bears outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers, notching a desperation 17-14 comeback victory. That’s a sigh of relief for them, having entered the season with high expectations after acquiring Jay Cutler, the proclaimed franchise quarterback.

It could’ve turned into an unpleasant afternoon, as disappointed fans would’ve left with doubt in their minds. Of course, fans were worried and felt uncomfortable watching them in the final quarter. They could have easily fallen to 0-2, a poor start that would have dictated the rest of their season.

But a dramatic comeback against the Steelers is enough to restore confidence for a franchise that was forlorn and seemed incapable a week ago. It seemed the Bears were done as Cutler had the worst game of his career. He threw four interceptions, and was confused, harassed, and belittled in a bitter loss at Green Bay.

Maybe a win over a potent team was needed, saving a potential season from wasting and blowing off with the gusty winds. In fact, a win this decisive favored Cutler and saved probability of him emerging into the next franchise quarterback in Chicago.

For weeks now, fans and media have dwelled on the fact that he’ll be the next to quarterback the Bears. For months now, fans have welcomed a disgruntled Cutler, defending and praising the Pro-Bowl quarterback.

His egotistic mindset cut an irreparable relationship short in Denver, when disputes with first year head coach Josh McDaniels failed and unfolded a grotesque separation all because of ego conflict.

So now, he has migrated to Chicago, where he’s quickly emerging as an icon. His jersey is a top-seller, and he’s likable, as most citizens are elated finally to have a precise quarterback. A long-suffering town feels Cutler’s presence is an unequivocal indication of multiple titles.

For a long time, the town has painfully suffered and long-awaited to embrace someone of Jim McMahon’s caliber. The mid 1980s was the last time lively fans have seen a championship-type quarterback who has shown his ability legitimately.

So the calm and thrilled fans waited to see him have a breakout game and win his first game in a Bears’ uniform. Fortunately, it came in his home debut, in front of thousands who wore a Cutler jersey. They were the same devotees who refused to surrender, allowing Cutler a chance for redemption in a notable homecoming.

He can finally sigh, capping his first victory and redeeming himself after a devastating collapse in the season opener, which led to more doubtful queries him being a cure for the long years of quarterback debacles.

Failures and different faces at the same position over the years have hindered success over the years, which is why now the average native in Chicago is exhilarated, having a reliable and more durable gunslinger.

But Sunday, fans were more pleased with the Bears managing its first win, discarding all the dismal scenes in Green Bay. To highlight this fearful and elusive contest, it came down to field goals.

The powerful foot of Robbie Gould, who’s as good as gold, not only dictated the season, but dictated the game. This saved Cutler getting belittled and doubted. More seriously, it gave the Bears life. So Gould, again, bailed out the team like he used to before Cutler even arrived.

Managing to stay composed, Gould calmly booted a game-winning field goal, outlasting Pittsburgh’s veteran kicker Jeff Reed in a kicker’s duel. Over on the sideline, Reed watched, upset with himself after missing two costly field goal attempts. That’s unusual for Reed, whose 82.8 percent career conversion rate automatically makes him the 10th accurate kicker in the league. Well, not on this particular afternoon.

If he wouldn’t had hooked his kicks too wide, the Steelers would have avoided an upset. They even would have still intimidated most with their natural ability to pull off a stunning win at the end. But on this occasion, the conversations were on how well Cutler performed, bouncing back from a sub-par week. In this game, he led a fourth-quarter rally and never turned over the ball.

He had excellent ball security, and went 9-for-10 in the fourth quarter for 92 yards. It was a solid performance, unlike last week and has giving the city a notion that he can renew quarterback heroics.

Against one of the league’s powerful defenses, Cutler wisely was careful with the ball and avoid defensive end James Harrison. Minus explosive safety Troy Polamalu, who abuses opposing quarterbacks with his speed wasn’t a factor, making times easier. Cutler finished 27-of-38 for 236 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Just a week ago, Cutler was criticized for his maturity level and arrogance. He was bashed by former coaching greats Jim Mora and Mike Martz for his rudeness at a press conference after the Bears first loss. Even irate Denver is still lambasting him for departing in such an awful way.

He was even criticized by the well-respected and former coach Tony Dungy, who said he wasn’t mature enough to establish as a leader. But willing to give him a chance was Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo. Instead the Bears were amazed with his talent more than personality, realizing his powerful arm and accurate downfield passes.

Being without their top defensive star Brian Urlacher for the rest of the season after he badly dislocated his wrist, more productivity from the offense is needed. So for the fans, it’s more of the joy to finally have a more potent passer and leader on offense.

There’s hope for the Bears after all.

Broncos' Rocky Troubles Avoidable, Must Trade Marshall

Seemingly, the irony of wide receivers is that most are starting to convert into well-behaved heroines, shaking off their moody ethics. Before imploding into insubordinate wideouts, in New England, Randy Moss has mellowed into a primary target for Tom Brady.

Terrell Owens stopped crying and has evolved into an integral superstar in Buffalo, grabbing attention at a local airport when he arrived. And Chad Ocho Cinco is seemingly content in stabilizing Cincinnati.

With unity spreading around most teams, the Mile High City is amid turbulence and surrounded by an unhinged soap opera that has lasted longer than the Days of Our Lives. When a disgruntled Brandon Marshall indicated misery at practice, times became rocky and a ruckus developed.

The Denver Broncos punished arguably their best player with a suspension for his conduct detrimental to the team. Assuming rookie coach Josh McDaniels wants to dismiss any player that plagues fortune in his first season, their primary option is to trade Marshall.

Getting rid of a dispirited player prevents slight problems from escalating into serious problems. The Broncos situation is just like a dreadful marriage, among a couple, which will never work out if one individual in the relationship is dissatisfied.

That is exactly what McDaniels, the coaching staff and executives are experiencing in Denver, a propitious receiver who isn’t satisfied. Because of Marshall’s frustration, insisting that he was upset with the team’s misdiagnosis of a hip injury that required offseason surgery, it has produced enough tension to finally wave good-riddance.

There’s no question Marshall is an elite receiver who had 206 receptions the past two seasons, but his off-the-field misconduct is unnecessary, at a time when Denver is still rebuilding and adapting to newly acquired Kyle Orton.

Having an egregious attitude and unlawful troubles off the field, is why Denver refused to give Marshall a new contract. Ever since he asked for a long-term deal, his emotions abruptly reversed into a self-centered and arrogant receiver, who still hasn’t realized it’s about the team and not the individual.

If the Broncos trade their top diva, it won’t benefit them this season. Instead it revokes disastrous nuisance from making a season in limbo more fragile than anticipated. But dealing him isn’t easy, and is seemingly inevitable. Because his reputation comprises of distasteful humor, Marshall’s marketability is devalued from most team’s standpoints.

He’s the problem-child in the league. He’s the disappointed one. He’s the newest laughingstock.

And with problems like that, he’s obviously a risk. But there’s one team amenable to take on the dispirited receiver, optimistic they can uplift his mentality. So were the New York Jets tampering with Marshall?

After collapsing a year ago, the Jets weren’t efficient in moving the ball down the field. And with a mobile quarterback as proficient as Mark Sanchez, a speedy receiver blends to construct a lethal quarterback and receiver tandem in the tough AFC East division.

It wouldn’t be difficult to ensure that the Jets would compile more than 31.5 percent of receiving yards. Following reports from ESPN’s insider Adam Schefter, the Jets are interested in the troubled wideout, but unsure if they are willing to deal Harris.

For a moment, there were talks Marshall could reunite with former quarterback Jay Cutler in Chicago. The Bears are another team without a prolific receiver, and the Windy City seems like a perfect location to once again play alongside Cutler. Since Marshall was his favorite target, he’s familiar with his style and approach, and can quickly foster into a primary receiver and regain stardom.

Whichever team is willing to take on the indecisive Marshall, it is obvious the Broncos must trade him and it’s evident that he has no intentions in repairing a fractured relationship. Bearing with ongoing issues involving Marshall is enough to implode solidity and divide a team. And it even looks bad on McDaniels, if he fails to resolve the matter after trading off a dreary Cutler.

Holding on to a troubled player who walked as the rest of his teammates ran in pre-practice warm-ups, kicked the ball skyward, and knocked down passes instead of catching them are good explanations in trading away Marshall. He’s now the equivalent to an old Moss, Ochio Cinco and T.O., a superstar who continues to infamously wreck his reputation.

But something has to be done, with McDaniels and the Broncos controlling the leverage. That’s when you wave and say good-riddance.