Still Keeping Score

I'm not going to paint my house orange and blue, but I understand. My level of Broncomania remains at a semi-sane level, where I can tell you what time it is from a Broncos' clock, or change the channel with my official NFL authorized Broncos' remote control, complete with the horse head logo on it.  And I'm considering finally tracking down the foam Bronco shaped head gear Shannon Sharpe wore a couple times during the championship years. Based purely in Colorado vernacular, I'm a "Transplant" not a "Native." However, my story is not unique, we many who relocated to the state over the last few decades have banded together with the "Natives" to form Broncos Country. My journey from Maryland was a surprise when my Grandmother announced she was moving west.  Her, my Mom, my one brother at the time and two dogs ran the I-70 gauntlet for nearly two thousand road miles to the Mile High City.  That was 1970, and I was five.  But I was al...

     They say the higher altitude makes for less oxygen and thus harder to breath sometimes for our sea level friends in for a visit.  Apparently there is still plenty of air left for football fans to whine about everything and even stuff I wasn't sure was a category for complaints.  While I completely agree this bold move by the Denver Broncos to sign Peyton Manning is a huge risk, it isn't worth the apoplectic fits flying around online and on the radio waves this fine day.      Yes, it is a lot of money.  Yes, Manning has been injured a bunch, he is old, and he spent his best days of his youth beating the stuffing out of the Broncos.  And yes, it certainly feels like the team is throwing Tim Tebow under an orange bus.  However, if the future first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback has any ammo left in the chamber, and can stay healthy, Denver's NFL team just got a whole lot better.      Risk versus reward is somet...

     It did not seem that long ago that quarterback conversation in the Mile High City was completely dominated by another former SEC All American.  I can't quite place it, but he was famous.  And he seemed like a person the Denver Broncos also looked to guide the team for the near term.  Ah, the sports universe is a fickle place though, isn't it?      Today, Peyton Manning is visiting Dove Valley and talking shop with team Vice President John Elway and head coach John Fox.  The visit is so exciting there were photos all over the Internet before the engines on Pat Bowlen's private jet cooled down.  A jet carrying quite a bit of NFL quarterback experience, some baggage and a boatload of questions.  It was not really a surprise the fans that not only heard about the visit, they had to stand around the Broncos' headquarters facility to merely glance at the legendary possibilities that stand before the franchise.  The gatheri...