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It's official. Now that the Patriots have done humanity a great service by slapping the 'Ooligans from Oakland around on national television, the NFL season can start moving down the tracks. In celebration, Exultate Justi will retain its present orange hue until the Broncos' first loss of the season. If my hiatus didn't drive my seven readers away, perhaps this will do the trick.
As has been made abundantly clear, I'm a Bronco guy. This is a Bronco town. Our support for college football may be embarassingly bad, and we may be deserting our team of MLB adolescents, but man...when you start talking about the Broncos, Denver stops to listen. The Broncs have enjoyed a sellout streak that began back in 1970, and has remained intact through the transition to INVESCO Field (it's a darn nice place, too. Still, though...nothing will ever top sitting in the south stands at the old Mile High during Chiefs games). I myself am on the season ticket waiting list, and don't expect to get the chance to buy anytime soon.
It's been a lean several years since the halciyon days of the '97 and '98 seasons, when Terrell Davis plowed through massive holes in the O-line, and John Elway still scrambled around, tossing darts to Shannon Sharpe, Ed McCaffrey, and Rod Smith.
Smith's still here, and he's a warrior. He's also 35. The QB now wears 16 rather than 7, and, though he scrambles around pretty well, lacks the cannon arm and two-minute freakishness of the guy who wore that other number. Can't seem to recall the guy's name...
I'm starting to get a feeling about this team, though. Granted...I'm a homer, and I get a feeling about every Broncos team - including the versions quarterbacked by Steve DeBerg, Gus Frerotte, Bubby Brister, and Brian Griese. Still, they looked sharp in the preseason, and they're coming out of the meaningless mini-season more injury-free than at any other time in recent history. Trevor Pryce is back, and, from all appearances, healthy. He was a monster in the preseason, and the imports from Cleveland have looked far better than I anticipated. The D-line should be more potent than it's been in the past few years, though the lack of standout players on the depth chart is a bit disconcerting, given Pryce's back problems from last season. The defensive backfield is bolstered by something we've not been accustomed to of late: a Mike Shanahan draft pick who looks to be a bonafide player. Darrent Williams, the second-round cornerback pick out of Oklahoma State, was a rocket in the preseason - making picks, playing sideline-to-sideline, and giving the team its first true kick- and punt-return threat it's had since the days of Darrien Gordon. He wears number 27 - an auspicious sign for longtime fans of the team. 27, of course, was the number of one of the most-feared safeties in NFL history: Steve Atwater - the "Smiling Assassin" (who played alongside another not-so-shabby safety, Dennis Smith).
The linebacking corps is as good as (if not better than) any other in the league, and the return of Ian Gold brings even more speed and athleticism to an already quick group. Al Wilson's a rock at MLB, and second-year standout DJ Williams looks to have picked up his new duties at the strong side with no ill effect.
The offensive side of the ball is, of course, where the most obvious question marks remain. Jake Plummer had an outstanding '04 season in many respects, tying John Elway's record for touchdown passes in a season, and eclipsing his record of passing yards in a season. Still, he threw 20 picks, and, at times, his decision making abilities seemed to rush right past "questionable", into full-on "nutso" territory. If he can lay off the goofy left-handed passes, throws into triple coverage, and other assorted no-nos, he'll be plenty good enough to win with. That's the thing, though, isn't it? This is exactly what folks have said about Plummer since his entry into the league. Here's hoping. CSU grad Bradlee Van Pelt - when not offending CU fans - has been working hard enough to have locked up the backup QB slot, and, to my mind, has begun laying the foundation for a bright future in the league, assuming he can keep his head on straight. This, again, is the guy who earned the nickname "Sunshine" while at CSU, because of both his physical resemblance to, and near-perfect personality match with the character of the same name in the Denzel Washington flick, Remember the Titans.
Former Marine and NFL ROY Mike Anderson has picked up the starting job at tailback, and looks fresh coming off of a season in which he missed all 16 games with not one, but TWO torn groin muscles. Ouch. Second year back Tatum Bell looks to have a bit more slash in him than does Anderson, and he'll likely see no small number of carries in relief of the starter as the season goes on. Ron Dayne - the thrid back in the scheme - actually looked far better than I expected him to, and seems to have picked up something after leaving the Giants. I don't know, but he just looked faster in action during the preseason than at any time since his days at Wisconsin. He's my sleeper at RB.
The O-line should continue to be effective and hated - both due to its reliance on cut blocking schemes. Last year, the line gave up fewer sacks than any other in the league, and this year should be no different. The personnel are largely unchanged, and no one on the line is so old or broken down as to be a real liability, though longtime Center standout Tom Nalen may well be in his last year.
The wideoout positions are less interesting than they might have been had the great Jerry Rice won the third receiver slot, but overall, his absence from the roster is probably better for the team in the long run, as it opens the door for a younger, quicker guy to step up, and get some playing time. Rod Smith is still the go-to guy, and, though he's lost some of his speed (something that he didn't have in spades to begin with...), he's as savvy and field-wise as any WR in the game. Ashley Lelie has finally begun to blossom into the player that the Broncos hoped for when they drafted him out of Hawaii, and he should continue to constitute the Broncos' most potent downfield threat. Darius Watts still has a tendency to make as many big drops as he does big catches, but he can be spectacular at times, and has cinched up the third WR slot.
So, with the recap out of the way, it's time for this year's fearless Bronco prediction:
11-5, with an AFC West title, home field advantage, and, after wins over San Diego and Indianapolis, a trip to the AFC Championship game, where they'll lose to the soon-to-be back-to-back-to-back World Champion New England Patriots (I'm not completely unhinged from football reality...).
There you have it; straight from the horses'...ummm...mouth.
Hey hey scrappy pals!
So, after much quality time with Microsoft Excel - the list of entrants is ready!
Check the list for your name if you signed up (it's alpha by first name)
There were a good 30-some folks who said they wanted to play- but only left a first name/screen name/nothin'... So, if you signed up for Last Scrapper Standing- but don't see your name- leave a comment here with your full name (first and last) and we'll add you to the list. If you're not comfortable having your last name out there- list your first name and a last initial (yeah, Kindergarten flashbacks!) or just make up a last name... you can be Susie Sassypants if you'd like...whatever sets you apart from the other Susies. Cuz there are over 450 entries my peoples. WOW!!!
Check in tomorrow for all the rules!
THE LIST: (THIS IS THE FINAL LIST. UPDATED AUG 2nd)
Addie Rysavy
Agnes Tan
Aida Haron
Aimee Chaulk
Aimee Ferguson
Alex Hardy
Alicia Garcia
Alicia K Nielsen
Alicia S
Alison Flynn
Alissa Fast
Allie Hoopes
Amanda Haase
Amanda Kuhns
Amanda Osborne
Amanda Probst
Amber Castro
Amber Curtis
Amber Mcdonald
Amber Packer
Amber Zimmerman
Amy Arthur
Amy Coose
Amy Cutler
Amy Lapi
Amy Mercik
Amy Welch
Amy Wilson
Ana Bernardino
Anam Stubbington
Ande Mosher
Andrea Clark
Andrea Gomoll
Andrea Peterson
Andrea Schreiber
Andrea Senn
Andrea Starmer
Anette Stalund
Angela Meredith
Angela Troxel
Angi Bustamante
Angie Friend
Angie M Aleszczyk
Angie Olson
Angie Sutton
Ania CNSL
Anja Wade
Ann Iversen
Anna-Marie Still
Anne-Marie Teo
Annette Pixley
Audrey Lafontaine-Leprêtre
Audrey Williams
Bailey Stiegler
Barb Novak
Barbara Graves
Bernadette Henderson
Beth Detloff
Beth Finley
Beth Jarrett
Beth Price
Bibi Rodriguez
Bonnie Mallette
Brandy Seitz
Breanne Crawford
Brooke Starnes
Camilla Stenlund
Cammy Plummer
Candace Riley
Candi Leonard
Candi loo hoo
Candice Mclean
Cara Vincens
Carissa Tesch
Carlene Federer
Carlie A.
Carmen King
Caroline Ikeji
Carolyn Lontin
Carrie Castillo
Catherine Ang
Catherine Matthews-Scanlon
Cathi Beresford
Cathy Pascual
Celine Dellevi
Céline Navarro
Charlotte Smith
Chelsea Giles
Chelsea Parsons
Cheryl Mackenzie
Chriselda R
Christi Nowell
Christi Snow
Christiane Müller
Christina Padilla
Christine Revels
Cindy Lyon
Claire Daly
Claire Rudd
Clara Yap
Claudine Hemingway
Colleen Jordan
Colleen Vasconcellos
Corinne Delis
Courtney DeLaura
Courtney Gregory
Courtney Holgate
Crysta Morris
Crystal Sprague
Crystal Wonitoy
Cynthia Rowe
Dana Hollis Miron
Danielle Slingerland
Danielle Young
Daphne de Jong
Darla Black
Dawn Mordarski
Dawn Oberholtz
Deanna Rafuse
Debbie Cook
Debbie McGrail
Deborah Nicholas
Dee Gallimore-Perry
Dena Coe
Denise Levy
Diane Enarson
Donna Bloxon
Donna Murray
Dorien van der Veen
EdMary Abdul
Elisa Kammerdiener
Elise Blaha
Elizabeth Agsalud
Elizabeth Bunney
Elizabeth Liggon
Elizabeth Munro
Emma Attwood
Erika Willard
Falyn Cahall
Felicia A.
Francine Clouden
Gabby Fekete
Gayle Martin
Gina Cunningham
Gina Masson
Ginny Sutcliffe
Giuseppina Lubrano
Gloria Rose
Grace Castillo
Gretchen Schmidt
Hailey Austin
Heather Redmore
Heidi Montgomery
heidi paulus
Holly Croteau
Hope Fout
Irene Chan
Irene Mueller
Iris Hiebert
J.J. Killins
Jackie Deguevara
Jacqueline Yeo
Jamaica Edgell
Jamie Bagley
Jamie Hood
Jamie Tharpe
Jan Barlow
Jan Tatomir
Jane Davies
Jane Hasty
Janelle Richmond
Janet Covington
Janet Ohlson
Janette Zomer
Jasmine Roth
Jeanne Molle
Jen Hone
Jen Jockisch
Jen Lawrence
Jenn Metzger
Jennie Jensen
Jennifer Behmer
Jennifer Croasdale
Jennifer Dooley
Jennifer Guico
Jennifer Lynn Moody
Jennifer McWhirt
Jennifer Scales
Jessica Hood
Jessika Mendoza
Jill Scripps
Jill Wiley
Joanne Neo
Jocelynne Broderick
Josie Ricchiuto
Joy Jaeger
Joy Madison
Joy Rothke
Juli Davis
Julia Richert
Julia Zakrzewski
Julie Ann Shahin
Julie Corfield
Julie Hathaway
Julie Marshall
Julie Martinez
Julie Reed
Julie Skinner
K. Solinger
Karen Clark
Karen Malloy
Karen Salo
Kari Ramstrom
Karissa Liloc
Karlynn Novitsky
Kate Bradley
Kate Sokolan
Kath Chizmar
Katherine Clore
Katherine Haleen
Kathrine Tveiter
Kathi Hilborn
Kathleen Joseph
Kathleen Payne
Kathy Montgomery
Katie Thornton
Katina King
Katrina Huerta
Katy Clipson
Kayla Freitas
KC Buck
Kell Dills
Kelley Sweitzer
Kelli Johnson
Kellie B.
Kelly Buck
Kelly Farstler
Kelly Goldsworthy
Kelly Goree
Kelly Griffin
Kelly Noel
Kelly Purkey
Kelly Van Voltenburg
Keri Burrows
Kim Christensen
Kim Frantz
Kim Henkel
Kim Sonksen
Kim Turpin
Kimber-Leigh Drown
Kimberly "Kymmie" Smith
Kimberly Lamke Calderon
Kimberly Scott
Kimberly Weinacht
Kine Saatvedt
Kirsten Williamson
Kirstie Goodwin
Kirstie MacGowan
Kirsty Dunn
Kirsty Wiseman
Kitty Foster
Kitty Whitlow
Korey Lindberg
Krista Henson
Kristen Adams
Kristi Hellyer
Kristi Livingstone
Kristin G.
Kristin Yates
Kristine Cline
Kristine Fowler
Kristy Huddle
Kristy Nerness
Kristy Taylor
Kristy Thomas
Kristy Thompson
Laura Craigie
Laura Fiore
Laura Murphy
Lauren C. Douglas
Lauren Elliott
Lauren Shaw
Laurie Barnhill
Le Anne Bull
Lea Lawson
Leah Eggers
Leah Radke
Lee Ann Brinkley
Leslie Lienemann
Leslie Rogers
Leticia Gronlund
Lily Mizrahi
Linda Buranasakorn
Linda Shull
Lindsey Krauss
Lisa Conn
Lisa Damrosch
Lisa Dixon
Lisa Evensen
Lisa Riseman
Lisa Spiegel
Lisl Sukachevin
Liz Ness
Liza Matos
Lori Draeger
Lucrecer Braxton
Lucy Chesna
Lynne Moormann
Lynne Nelson-Berg
Lynsey Hager
Madeleine Lirola
Maegan Blackwell
Malissa Chapin
Mandi Ausman
Mandy van der Zeeuw
Mara Baca
Mara Siegel
Marcy Penner
Maryfrances Fabbri
Marieke Broekman
Martha Baier
Marti Moats
Maryjo Materazo
Marylou Medina-Bolus
Meghan Clausen
Mel rRmos
Melinda Kilgore
Melisa Goh
Melissa Cassady
Melissa Early
Melissa Heather
Melissa Magee
Melissa Sartain
Melissa Sutton-Estrada
Melody Levien
Mercy Rosales
Micayla Metcalf
Michele Light
Michele Light
Michele Skinner
Michele Stevenson
Michelle Byrd
Michelle Clement
Michelle Guray
Michelle Infantino
Michelle McCord
Michelle O'Keefe
Michelle Ramirez
Michelle Sanders
Michelle Solomon
Michelle Van Etten
Michelle Vass
Minda Shultz
Mindy Guidry
Misty Dotten
Molly Bridges
Molly Peckham
Monica Dickens
Monica Gonzalez
Monica Lockhart
Monica Sharpe
Monique Darge
Moriah Bettencourt
Nadia Fauzi
Nadine Hiebert
Nancy Stolz
Nancy Streicher
Nancy Wongsotaroeno
Nathalie Kalbach
Nicole Boyles
Nicole Cooper
Nicole Klein
Nicole Samuels
Nicole Spinney
Nicole White
Norma Kennedy
Pam Alexander
Pam McCarley
Patience Bertana
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Rachel Catchings
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Rachel Ellington
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Randell Worthington Dwinnell
Rani Shah
Raunda Atkins
Reagan Gore
Rebecca Collins
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Sally Nicholson
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Samantha Montgomery
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Sandra Karlsdóttir
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Sarah Bolduc
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