The Broncos say they want to win, but their actions suggest otherwise
Aug 2, 2021, 6:05 AM | Updated: 6:07 am
The Broncos keep talking about being tired of losing. It’s been a theme throughout training camp, from Joe Ellis to nearly every post-practice player interview. The narrative the team is trying to establish is that they collectively have a sense of urgency, eager to put their losing ways behind them.
Unfortunately, their actions don’t match their words. In almost every way, Denver doesn’t seem to have winning at the top of their to-do list.
On just the third day of camp, two key defense players sat out practice. Von Miller and Kareem Jackson got a “vet day.” After two days of work.
That’s not exactly setting the standard. It’s not sending a message that it’s time to work, that everyone on the roster will do whatever it takes to stop the trend of losing.
Of course, this is also the team that used the third and final day of minicamp for “field day” instead of practice. They had gotten in all the work they needed, apparently.
When they do practice, the Broncos have a new routine this year. They take multiple water breaks. On Friday, there were three stoppages, each for five minutes, during less than two hours of work.
Now, no one is suggesting that it’s time to go back to the Bear Bryant days of three-a-days, where drinking water was a sign of weakness, but there’s a point where it gets ridiculous. Three timed breaks seems excessive.
Vic Fangio certainly seems to think so. He’s dubbed the people who’ve put these breaks in place, which many theorize was player rep Brandon McManus, as “the fatigue police.” He knows it’s silly.
Of course, Fangio’s presence at practice at all is another sign that the Broncos don’t value winning as much as they say. The head coach is 12-20 during his time in Denver. He’s repeatedly shown that he’s in over his head. Yet, he’s back for year three, trying to right the ship.
He will be trying to win without a legitimate starting quarterback, which is the only way to describe a situation that features a 50/50 competition during training camp. The Broncos had multiple chances to upgrade from Drew Lock during the offseason. They settled instead on Teddy Bridgewater, someone who probably is even worse.
Whoever wins the job will be surrounded by a good roster, but it could be better. The Broncos are $28.1 million under the salary cap at the moment, the second-most space in the NFL. If they were truly tired of losing, they’d spend the money needed to give them the best chance of ending the drought.
By themselves, none of these issues are problems. But field day, vet days, water breaks, an unproven head coach, a QB battle and being tight with the purse strings combine to send a troubling message.
The Broncos would like to win, but they won’t do whatever it takes to make it happen. That’s been clearly stated.
