NFL fans have had more fun watching The Denver Broncos during the current off-season than they did in the recently-ended 2008-2009 Season. It’s true … there have been lots of wild goings-on in the last couple of months. For example: Last season, the Broncos got off great something like a won-loss record of 8-3 … it might have been even better. They looked like a “lock” for the playoffs … also to finish in first place in the AFC West Division. Then, something happened … they started losing … and losing … and losing. And, not only did they fall out of first place, but they actually missed the playoffs. Fans and experts alike called it a “colossal meltdown” or, to be less kind - a “big tank job.”
Did they choke … was young stud quarterback Jay Cutler the problem … was it coaching … the players … bad luck … lousy play … problems in the locker room - who knows? In truth, it’s always difficult to point a finger at anyone or anything and say that one problem or shortcoming was the cause of the collapse.

No matter. Shortly after the season ended, Denver fired its Head Coach. And then the team hired a new, first-time Head Coach … a guy as young and, in some cases, younger than many of his players. Denver’s new Head Coach is also very headstrong. He came in with definite ideas about his players and the direction in which he wanted to take the team. That’s all well and good, but he stepped on some very important toes.

Here’s what happened: with arguably one of the best young quarterbacks under contract - strong-armed Jay Cutler - the Broncos tried to trade with The New England Patriots for Matt Cassell, a four-year non-starter at USC who replaced the injured Tom Brady in spectacular fashion.

Now, Cassell played great … and may turn out to be a super QB at Kansas City, where he was eventually traded, but Jay Cutler is also great … just twenty-five years old … and, by all accounts, very sensitive.
When Cutler found out about the near-trade for Matt Cassell, he went ballistic. All attempts to calm him down went nowhere. Cutler eventually vowed that he would never again play for the Broncos. And … he was right.
When it became apparent that the rift between Jay Cutler and the Broncos couldn’t be repaired, he was traded - to The Chicago Bears.

The 2009-2010 Season promises to be very interesting for The Denver Broncos. Questions about them need answers. Will their offense falter miserably without Cutler? Has their defense improved enough to cover for the shortcomings of the offense? Do they have a QB they can count on? Are they a playoff team … or can they even be relied on to “cover the spread” and help you win a bet? Who knows? That’s why it makes sense to bet small on Denver this season.