The NFL Top 100 is a Joke

In 2011, the NFL launched a Top 100 show; the concept of it is the players select among themselves who is supposed to be the best from that particular season. I don't watch the show itself anymore, but after the listing for that night-- probably out of habit now-- I'll go back later and check to see who made the list.

This show reminds of the same thoughts I have towards other ranking shows, award shows, etc. It's nothing but a popularity contest, quite honestly, it's a joke. Over the years, I've seen players who normally are top stars in the league, but only played a few games that year due to a season-ending injury, yet players still vote them in for the Top 100 (e.g. Adrian Peterson and J.J. Watt).

They will hit the mark with some individuals on these shows, but to me, it seems to be about who's who that year or season, not who had the best season or who was the most valuable to their team. This brings me to three Broncos who should've made the list: WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, and safety Darian Stewart.

While Demaryius and Emmanuel particularly are very capable of cracking the top 10 or 20, I'm not saying that should've been ranked that high, but they should have been on the list, nonetheless. Again, there were players who barely played and managed to make the list, while these guys still produced 1,000 yards seasons with inexperienced quarterbacks.

Darian Stewart has improved every year with the Broncos, and he's coming off a career season and an alternate Pro Bowl nod. I thought it was disrespectful that he somehow did not make the list. So far, there are two Broncos who made the list. Cornerback Chris Harris was the first Bronco at No. 63, which was way too low, and fellow corner Aqib Talib was ranked at No. 37, which I thought was reasonable.

They're down to the top 10, and I believe Von Miller will be in this bunch, but as disrespectful as they have been to the Broncos with these rankings, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't make it at all. I'm pretty sure the top two will be America's Sweetheart, the so-called GOAT, Tom Brady, and the so-called "Michael Jordan of football," Aaron Rodgers.

Both suggestions or declarations are ridiculous and laughable, well, actually, the Aaron Rodgers declaration is an insult to MJ. Aaron's great, but he's NOWHERE NEAR Michael Jordan. Anyway, that's my predictions for the final two. If I'm wrong, oh well, it is what it is. Big deal. At the end of the day, whether it be voting for awards (not just football), or top whatever number shows, I see more and more that they're nothing but popularity contests. It's not who's the best, it's who's who.

1,000 Views Edition: There's Four Where That Came From

Last month, I was scrolling down the page of my Facebook timeline and saw a headline from the Denver Broncos page that read ESPN projects them to finish the season 6-10. Really? I already have a bone to pick with ESPN for that Joe Mixon video being played during the draft. I still think that was some b*tch made stuff they did, but I'm not here to talk about that, I've addressed that fiasco in a previous blog.

Now, I realize everyone's entitled to their analysis and opinion, but I wonder if these "experts" realize that the Broncos are not far removed from winning a championship. They dealt with inexperience at the quarterback position, and inconsistency in areas that wasn't there during their championship run, and still managed to finish 9-7. That's no excuse for them falling short and failing to defend their championship, but it is what it is.

Denver Broncos 1st Super Bowl championship, 1998.

The nucleus of the team (the defense) is still in place, and they have revamped in all aspects of this team in approach and players. As Coach (Vance) Joseph said, "This is not a rebuild, but a re-boot." I mean, with this team, as I've said before, he has been given the keys to a Porsche, just don't wreck it.

Coach Joseph, who was hired in January, is known as one of the young, bright minds (particularly on defense) in football. What's more is that he has the ability to connect with the players beyond Xs and Os, and I believe this combination is what not only made him a hot commodity among teams who were searching for head coaches, but it's what landed him in Denver, ironically a job that was considered to be a hot commodity. He added two great offensive minds in former head coach Mike McCoy (as offensive coordinator) and Bill Musgrave (as quarterbacks coach), who both orchestrated top 10 offenses last season. I'm still trying to figure out how he pulled that off. 

I thought QB Trevor Siemian played well (for the most part) considering the situation he was in, and showed fundamental prowess, and veteran-like unflappability. Paxton Lynch showed some upside; although I've heard he has made strides so far in the OTAs, he particularly is still a work in progress. The way I see it, with the two quarterbacks now having a year under their belt-- I still believe it's Siemian's job to lose-- along with the tutelage and direction of McCoy and Musgrave, the ceiling is mighty high for these young guns in Trevor, Paxton, and rookie Chad Kelly.

Back-to-back championships, 1999

They're implementing an aggressive, but flexible offense (my personal preference), with more of a downhill running game. Although they've had success in the zone blocking scheme, namely C.J. Anderson, I believe this suits the styles of C.J. and Devontae Booker better, not to mention, an explosive piece in All-Pro Jamaal Charles-- who is dangerous in any offense-- who was added two months ago.

The wide receivers are a strong unit with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders alone, but they need help. I like the picks of Carlos Henderson, who I believe can be a third receiver right away, and potentially the next Tyreek Hill in Isaiah McKenzie. Speaking of which, the return game was another area that needed vast improvement.

The offensive line, particularly the tackles, were a major issue. Trevor Siemian detractors, who were looking for every nook and crook to put Lynch-- who clearly wasn't ready-- out there, placed too much blame on him. Granted, there were times when he held the ball too long, but the blocking for the most part, was piss-poor. Ronald Leary, a sought after free agent, and a major part of the Cowboys' offensive line that made life easy for Ezekiel Elliott was added, as well as Menelik Watson. They drafted OT Garrett Bolles, who I definitely like from watching his tape. He has the tools to be the dominant blocker desperately needed in Denver.

The defense was still great, despite struggling mightily against the run last year. However, they finished with the No.1 pass defense for the second consecutive season, an NFL record. That's extremely difficult to do, and they have accomplished this in an era where most teams are pass-happy. It's even harder when the run defense isn't holding up. Speaking of which, they revamped up front on the defensive line as well, bringing in underrated Domata Peko, versatile Zach Kerr, and drafting ACC Defensive Player of the Year DeMarcus Walker.

Denver Broncos 3rd championship, 2016

To piggy-back off Coach's narrative, aside from shoring up the front line offensively and defensively, adding another receiver or two, and getting some explosive play makers in the return game, there aren't any glaring holes or needs on this team, just a few tweaks here and there. You have people who are predicting them to finish 3rd in the AFC West, and I don't know what the hell they're looking at. Of course, these are some of the same people who overlooked them the year they won their third championship.

There's continuity and chemistry within the entire team, and that's something money can't buy, but I believe it's an essential component when making a championship run. A team can have all the talent in the world, but if there's no continuity, or it lacks chemistry, they won't get very far. So my response to them (i.e. the naysayers) is there's four where that came from!

There's four where that came from!

Now that the powers that be have handed Tom Brady another championship to fit with his overcoming-suspension-so-called-f*ck-you-tour, since that bullsh*t is over, the quest for No.4 begins. By the end of this season, everyone will know that it's all about the four. Do you understand? Do you know what I mean? It is all about...the four!

Charles In Charge?

On May 2nd, the Denver Broncos added former Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, one of the most explosive backs in the league when healthy, to an already stacked backfield. Following the draft, I didn't think Elway would make a move for another running back, nevertheless, someone of Jamaal's caliber.

He is the Chiefs all-time leading rusher with 7,260 yards, and is currently the NFL's all-time leader in yards-per-carry with an incredible average of 5.5 yards. He has spent the last two seasons dealing with injuries, playing in only eight games combined in that span. Between his injuries and the emergence of Spencer Ware, he became expendable. He was released by the Chiefs after the season. He will add a spark and be a perfect complement to a loaded backfield with C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker, who are more downhill runners.

I don't think he will be asked to shoulder most of the load, like he did in K.C., which will benefit him -- as well as Anderson and "Book"-- as it will preserve him throughout the course of the season. However, he didn't come here to simply complement Anderson and Booker, he's here to compete for the starting running back position, and rightfully so.

When healthy, he's still one of the most dangerous running backs in the league, and is definitely capable of being the guy come Week One. Either way, imagine defenders trying tackle C.J., Devontae, and Jamaal. It looks like this off-season keeps getting better. After watching him be a thorn in Denver's side all these years, I await to see him blaze down the field in a Broncos uniform!