Mike Shanahan lead us to the AFC Championship game in 2005. He then proceeded to have one of the best drafts in Bronco History in which he selected...

Jay Cutler

Tony Scheffler

Brandon Marshall

Elvis Dumervil

Domenik Hixon

Chris Kuper

Greg Eislinger



The draft that was looking so promising has been widdled down, and looks to continue that way. Jay Cutler, the pride of Mike Shanahan, is now in Chicago. Tony Scheffler has trade rumors floating about him, and a 1st day pick pushing from behind. Brandon Marshall left Dove Valley with boxes in his hands the other day. Elvis Dumervil may be shoved out of the lineup due to his position change.

Josh McDaniels is undoing everything that Mike Shanahan did. Even the lone bright spot in the last five years that may have kept Mike around for so long.

The Broncos will have a completely new look, feel, and pretty much a new roster heading into this season.

But was it really ALL necessary?

Who's to blame for these players all the sudden being pushed out the door? Is Josh just abandoning talent to bring in his own? Or is Mike to blame for bringing in players who have legal issues and are just full of themselves?

Ever since John Elway paraded around Denver with his second Lombardi trophy, the Bronco faithful have followed this team blindly hoping to get another championship. Every year, we were told how good we would be...I remember in 2001 I was ecstatic to see that ESPN had us as the favorites to win it all. Of course, the dream went up in smokes.

The year after, I followed the team and heard of offseason signings, how great our draft was, and followed blindly again to another mediocre season.

Year after year, I watched my Broncos storm out of the gate only to fall on their faces. 9-7, 10-6, 10-6. First round exits from the playoffs. No championships still.

We finally seemed to be back to Championship form when the Jake Plummer-lead Broncos reached the AFC Championship game with a 13-3 record. But we were pummelled, and then our team was ripped to shreds. We would have to start over. Again.

After 3 years of rebuilding, high hopes, and more falling on our faces, Mr. Pat Bowlen has finally called this crazy ride to a hault. This crazy, 12-year spin to nowhere. Even though I'm sure many Bronco fans are in disarray, wondering what to think about what is coming next, one thing is finally a sure-thing.

It's going to be different. The 12 years of nothing are over. This year we can expect some of the same, high hopes, new free agency moves, following the team that many of us grew up with. But this year, the end result will be different. All or nothing is the new theme at Dove Valley. Whether the result be good or bad, we do have one thing to thank Josh McDaniels for. He is changing Broncos football as we know it. The same expectations, different approach, different results (whether good or bad). And the town, the team, all of Bronco Country can feel the excitement and the change. We're all paying attention, wondering what these crazy kids will do next.

Josh McDaniels is poking all of Denver with a stick. Whether he has breakfast ready or not is a mystery, but one thing is for sure. After 12 years of sleeping, the same ole' routine, the same ole' Broncos, we have woken up. We are alert, we are skeptical, excited, critical and we are ready for what's next.