I’m Sorry, Broncos Fans

Posted by Holly Phelps on August 17, 2010   Jump To Comments

There are a lot of different football fans in my office. Heck, just in my little section of hallway, there are fans of the Steelers, Ravens, Eagles, 49ers, Jets, Vikings, Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots, and yes, even the Redskins.  During the season, it’s great fun to talk trash and make bets with coworkers.  I already have lunch wagered for the Eagles and Jets games.  I’d make a bet with the Vikes fan, but her abject hatred of Brent Favre and her wish that he suffer makes me feel like she’s got enough issues.

But the Broncos fan…I just want to give him a hug.

“Tom” doesn’t like the Packers (has an upside-down Packers magnet in his office to prove it), and loves to remind me about f’in Terrell Davis in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII.  He’s had reason to be excited about the direction of the Broncos under McDaniels, with sack-king Elvis Dumervil and a surprisingly competent offense led by ex-Bears QB Kyle Orton.

Things have taken a turn for the worse for Tom and his team.  Beginning the first day of training camp, Broncos started dropping like flies.  Starting RB Knowshon Moreno tore his right hamstring and was carted off.  Moments later, RB Correll Buckhalter left the field with a back injury.  Four days later, after signing an extension with $40 million in guaranteed money, Dumervil tore his pectoral muscle and will be out for the season.  In sheer “Murphy’s Law” fashion, Dumervil’s primary backup, Jarvis Moss, broke his hand the very next day.  All-Pro RT Ryan Clady, who ripped up his knee playing basketball in April, still isn’t back, and the offensive line is a big question mark after the only remaining member of last year’s starting offensive line sprained his ankle.

All Denver's rookies get fresh haircuts, and Friar Tebow here is no exception. (h/t LenDale White)

15 Broncos players, including Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins, have missed time at camp so far for medical reasons and two players have suffered season-ending injuries.  To make matters even worse, the Patriots claimed safety Josh Barrett during the 24-hr waiver period before he could be placed on Denver’s IR list.

But this, while devastating, isn’t why I want to give Tom a hug today.  Sure, it looks like the Broncos are getting particularly hammered by freak accidents, but the team will find ways to shore up its injury-ravaged roster.

No, I want to give Tom a hug because of Tim Tebow.

Ever since Saint Tebow was drafted and the circus arrived in Denver, Tom’s second-hand embarrassment has been palpable.  He’s been embarrassed that the team spent such a high pick on a guy who may not last in the league.  He’s been embarrassed by the legions of fans who are scooping up his jerseys faster than they can be printed.  Mostly, he’s been embarrassed because it’s becoming clear that the circus knows no bounds.  As Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez tweeted after the Broncos’ first preseason game (and wrote about it later):

2 media members asked tebow for autographs in locker room. No, I wasn’t one of them. Yes, he signed.

Um…one of the biggest no-nos ever.  (Both members were promptly booted from the locker room.)  The reactions have been swift.

From Football Outsiders’ Doug Farrar:

There are so many things wrong with this concept, I don’t even know where to begin. First, that accredited members of the media would ask for autographs from a player … that’s just one step from hitting the press box wearing your home team’s jersey and cheering through the entire game.

We know good and well that if someone from the blog universe had asked Tebow for an autograph in the locker room, his or her name would be all over the Internet right now, and his or her mistake would be used as the newest in seemingly infinite referendums on professionalism in sports media.

Doug’s point about how a blogger would be publically eviscerated in a similar situation is spot on, but I think it just emphasizes the power that this kid has over people.  It’s scary (and kind of weird) that more people have the jersey of a third-string rookie QB who will more than likely NEVER see the field during any meaningful game time…than the jersey of ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

It’s also extremely embarrassing to Broncos fans like my friend Tom, who is already suffering from the injuries that are killing his team’s postseason chances before the season even begins.

So if you’ve got a friend who cheers for the Broncos, maybe give them a hug today.  If they’re anything like Tom, they could probably use one right about now.

Need help comforting the Broncos fans in your life? Shoot me an email at holly@brentfavre.com.  You can also find me on Twitter at @htphelps and at CheeseheadTV’s The Other 31.