BLOG: Enough is enough – Mike Evans

Okay, enough is enough.

I put up with ESPN’s post-draft power rankings which placed the Broncos eighth. I tolerated the Vegas wiseguys ranking Denver with the 11th best odds to win the Super Bowl. But, then along came some group called the Football Outsiders who project the Broncos to go 7-9 in 2016.

Look, I get it. NFL predictions are just that-predictions. They shouldn’t be taken too seriously. But I find it annoying the blatant lack of respect being given to the reigning champs.

Last time I checked the guts of this defense is still intact. Von, Dware, the No Fly Zone. All of it brilliantly coordinated by Wade Phillips. It’s all there.

So what’s the deal?

It all comes down to the perception of the quarterback position and what I believe is laziness on the part of the NFL “experts.” I guess any offense that lost Peyton Manning AND a young up and coming talent like Brock Osweiler and is replacing it with a journeyman like Mark Sanchez and an untested rookie in Paxton Lynch has to be worse off and thus the obvious downfall of the Super Bowl Champs, right?

Wrong. Folks out there in NFL land just seem to refuse to acknowledge how truly ordinary the QB play was last year. Osweiler’s total QBR was 24th in the NFL. Manning’s was 28th. Take away the scores from the defense and both Osweiler and Manning- led offenses averaged a tick below 20ppg which ranks among the worst offenses in the league. But, Manning is still Manning so even though he was in sharp decline his reputation still carries weight. And, because Osweiler was able to steal- er- “secure” a huge free agent contract then he MUST be pretty good right? 

No. I get that the Broncos offense will need to be better at some point. The defense can’t carry this offense indefinitely. But, they don’t need THAT much help. Remember, while Peyton Manning was tossing 17 interceptions to go along with just nine touchdowns, the Broncos still managed to go 8-2 in those games. I have a hard time believing the Broncos QB play/offense will be such a detriment that it will cost the Broncos to lose seven to nine games.

Man, I hate to sound like a homer. I hate to sound picked upon. But, come on. The lack of respect being given to the Broncos and especially what this defense did last year and what they’re capable of doing this season is unfair. Also, I can’t help but think if the same scenario was being played out in a market like Dallas, or New York, or New England that more respect would be given to those teams.

So while I normally roll my eyes when an athlete or a team plays the “we don’t get any respect” or the “us against the world” card-in this case, the Broncos are entirely justified to do so.

And that may be bad news for the rest of the NFL

Mike Evans

 

 

**Top Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports