Pritchard: Broncos ‘cannot afford’ losing season, ‘too much at stake’
Jul 16, 2018, 7:36 AM | Updated: 7:52 am
Finishing at 5-11, the 2017 season ranks among the worst seasons for the Denver Broncos since the beginning of the Super Bowl era.
And not having had back-to-back losing seasons since 1972, the Broncos have a lot at stake during the 2018 season, said “Pritchard and Cecil” host Mike Pritchard.
Everybody’s on the hot seat and everybody’s feeling that. Why do you think all of these athletes are coming in the best shape possible this year?” Pritchard said Friday. “Why do you think Emmanuel Sanders is staying in town? I mean, these guys are sweating their tails off right now trying to fix this thing.
“It’s not because of 8-8. It’s certainly not because of 7-9. They’re looking to do more than that. And I think that has been ingrained over there.”
But perhaps the biggest record at stake in 2018, Pritchard said, is since taking over as controlling owner in 1984, Pat Bowlen has shepherded the Broncos to more Super Bowl appearances than has had losing seasons.
Another sub-.500 performance in 2018 and Denver will have had seven losing seasons since 1984, equaling that of its trips to the Super Bowl.
“That’s on the line in 2018 because if they have another losing season you cannot make that statement. That right there kind of separates and kind of solidifies Mr. B as a Hall of Famer,” Pritchard said.
A number of people believe it’s time for Bowlen to earn his gold jacket and bronze bust in Canton, Ohio, Pritchard said, calling what he’s done as a contributor for this league “unprecedented.”
But Bowlen’s winning ways atop the Broncos organization only further separates him from his peers, Pritchard said, and another losing season could be a blow to that.
“From a contributor standpoint and what he’s done with TV contracts, growing the game globally that way, and certainly being a pillar owner in this league is unprecedented in my opinion,” Pritchard said. “But, if you throw in the fact that as an owner he has more Super Bowl appearances than losing seasons … that’s on the line in 2018.
“That statement right there that kind of separates him from a lot of other owners or a lot of other contributors, that’s on the line right now. The Broncos cannot afford to have another losing season.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
