Sports fans welcome!

Well, apparently, Burger King isn't the only place you can "Have it your way."

Might as well go ahead and add Dove Valley to your list.

Consider the two sides of Shanahan.

There is a very good possibility the Broncos will finish this season with a losing record. They are 6-8 today, with a road game at San Diego and a home game with Minnesota left on the docket.

If they fail to sweep those two games, it will be Shanahan's only second losing season in 13 years. Think about that. In a league where you can go from from top to bottom as easily as you can rocket from the bottom to the top, his level of stability is phenomenal. In those 13 years, he has won two Super Bowls and led the Broncos to four AFC Championship games. That is the extremely strong emperical evidence supporting Shanahan.

However, here's the other, rarely-discussed side. In his last two years, the team will have made no playoff appearances. They finished 2006 at 9-7 and will finish this season at either 8-8, 7-9, or 6-10. In both of those years, not to mention, every year Shanahan has been in charge, the goal is to win it all.

So, correct me if I am wrong here: you can't win the Super Bowl if you don't make the playoffs, right?

Even though the "Mastermind" has done a rather masterful job here, after 13 years, everything from head coaches to potato chips, goes stale eventually.

Do I think it is time for a change? Yes and no.

I think Shanahan is a very good coach and with owner Pat Bowlen essentially giving him a lifetime pass to be head coach, that won't change anytime soon, and I don't think it should.

It reminds me of the old adage, "You never realize how much you need something until it's gone." If Shanahan leaves, you can almost bet every team with an opening in the professional and college ranks will be interested.

The reason Shanahan finds himself in this mess is, ultimately, because of what he has said and done.

He said the goal is to get to the Super Bowl. His quarterback, Jay Cutler echoed that same sentiment in training camp. However, you can't lose to teams by 38 (Chargers), 37 (Lions), and in your biggest game of the season to date, get whipped by a team missing its starting quarterback and running back (Texans).

Thanks to the Lions getting crushed by the Chargers, the way the Lions throttled the Broncos, Denver's playoff hopes are officially more lame than the Miami Dolphins offense.

That being said, it means the rest of 2007 starts to become a training ground for 2008. Will defensive coordinator Jim Bates return? That is the big question.

I say yes. It appears as though the players haven't gotten his scheme down after 14 weeks. In his tenure in Green Bay and Miami, his players were flat out flourishing by week 14.

I have said it before and I will say it again: It is easier to bring in one new defensive coach as opposed to 11 new defensive players. But lay the blame where it belongs, on the players. In recent weeks, some guys have been out of position, which is inexcusable. Other players though, have been in position and are just flat out missing or not making tackles. Coaches can't play, they coach. This is the NFL, wrap somebody up like your job depends on it. Shanahan said as much on Thursday night. He told his players if the effort isn't there, you're not likely to be back.

Shanahan, however, will be back, to the chagrin of some. Not me, though. He deserves to coach this team and fix this problem. His tremendous track record has earned him that. However, I do not support his unconditional power to stay as long as he likes, because no matter how dilligently somebody works, no sense of urgency can lead to a feeling of complacency. Do I think that might happen here? No. Can I guarantee that? No.

On the "Arby's Sports Replay" last night, both Marc Soicher and Rocky Mountain News columnist Dave Krieger agreed that Shanahan would not cede his authority on personnel to focus on coaching. I agree with them. Any form of contrition, on or off the field, would be out of character for him.

Then again, so is a losing record. The question now becomes, can he survive any more of them?

Have a great Monday!

-"Z"

Of course, this is a facetious question in nature, but I thought I'd bring it up anyway.

Are the Nuggets better outside shooters when they apparently can't even see the basket and have to rush their jumper, as opposed to having time to set into proper form?

They shot .429 from the floor last night in their incredible buzzer-beating victory at Sacramento but when they absolutely, positively had to have a basket fall----Linas Kleiza's shooting percentage was 1.000

Of course, he's not your primary option in a last shot situation, but when there is a loose ball and the frantic final seconds are ticking away----Carmelo and Allen sometimes have to take a back seat to a guy whose shooting touch from the outside---on this team, is second to none.

Then again, those last few seconds were so hectic, whoever had their hand on the basketball was going to be deciding this game's outcome---thankfully, for the Nuggets, it ended up being Kleiza.

He has a sweet touch but after the game Allen Iverson even admitted, "That was a lucky shot".

He also added "K hit that shot and I was forever smiling".

That, as Martha Stewart would say, is "a good thing" because prior to last night, there wasn't much to smile about. Head coach George Karl continues to say how proud he is of his team, apparently neglecting to look at their 15-11 record heading into last night's game. He has said injuries have slowed this team's growth and to an extent I agree.

Last night may have been the night this team turned the corner. Of course, if you follow this team, you know they have been on the corner with the right-hand turn signal on, but have yet to actually make that "turn."

Can one game change all of that? Sure. Just like one game can conversely debilitate the Kings. After the loss, head coach Reggie Theus responded by saying "it's supposed to hurt or you don't care. It's supposed to sting."

It was just one shot, one night, and one victory, but you never know. Maybe the pieces are falling into place.

Iverson had been on a scoring spree coming into last night and added 21 on Sunday, despite shooting just 6-21 from the floor.

That was fine because Carmelo Anthony, who has been in a slump at about the same time Iverson was surging, scored 30 points and looks to be back on track.

Anthony is a star but it's another "Anthony" that is beginning to shine. Anthony Carter has given the Nuggets a spark.

Add to the mix a healthy Chucky Atkins, who is providing the floor leadership and shooting the team was hoping for when they signed him and this could get interesting.

Marcus Camby looks to be fine after a back injury and despite Kenyon Martin missing last night's victory with a hamstring problem---when he has been on the floor, he has shown flashes of his old game.

So, in April will we look back at December 23 as the turning point in the Nuggets season? Maybe. If so, would you be surprised to know the hero was Kleiza. Definitely.

Have a great day, everyone!

-"Z"

You know, considering Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is from Santa Claus, Indiana, you would expect him to play better on Christmas Eve.

However, you can't put this debacle all on Cutler.

The Chargers outplayed the Broncos in every phase last night. They were more crisp on offense. They were far more aggressive on defense. Worst of all, if you're a Broncos fan, the Chargers definitely had far more energy and seemed to want it more.

That last part seems slightly disturbing.

The conventional wisdom heading into this game was that even though the Broncos were out of playoff contention--they actually had more to play for. The theory went, some Broncos were actually playing to save their jobs. What could provide more motivation than playing to salvage your career?

If that is the case, a lot of guys are going to be looking for work.

Upon further inspection, sure, the Broncos had a lot to play for, but, I think, the Chargers actually had more on the line than the Broncos.

Two reasons for this:

1) After watching this team last night, it's hard to imagine they were actually 5-5 at one point this season. With last night's 23-3 victory, the Chargers have now won five straight. This team needs momentum. If for whatever reason, the Patriots, Cowboys, or Packers were to stumble at any point down the stretch, those teams know in the back of their minds that their entire body of work is solid enough to overlook a poor outing. San Diego is not in that rarefied air. This team needs momentum, they need to keep gaining steam, any minor blip for them, for whatever reason, would stunt the collective growth this team has been thriving on lately. Sure, they have not lost in more than a month, but this team is peaking at the right time: not too early, not too late--just at the right time--and while a loss wouldn't have affected their entry into the postseason, it would possibly have affected their seeding. That leads to my second reason...

2) If for no other reason, anything that could get the Chargers into the number-three seed in the AFC Playoffs would be ideal. A third seed allows them to avoid playing Jacksonville in the first round. Right now, I can't think of anybody who wants to play the Jaguars. A number-three seed also puts them in a situation where they would not have to possibly face the 15-0 Patriots, until the AFC Championship Game.

I think that is enough incentive to have played well last night. They did.

The Broncos, on the other hand? What is there left to say? Major changes have got to be on the horizon.

The good news for Denver: they still have one game left.

The bad news for Denver: they still have one game left.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

-"Z"

Just some random thoughts as we all prepare to close out the 2007 season that started with so much promise...

-It was less than two years ago that the Broncos were in the AFC Championship Game. Really? Yep, the key cogs on that team's offense: Jake Plummer, Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell, Rod Smith, and Ashley Lelie. Not one of them took a regular season snap for the Broncos this season.

-Since the day that Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan proclaimed that Plummer didn't give them "the best chance" to win, they have failed to make the playoffs. Every year Plummer started the entire season, they never missed the postseason.

-Two years ago, this team's defense was ranked number three in points allowed and was the second-best defense against the rush. This year? Well, yeah, you know...

-Jim Bates is on the hot seat. The team has deviated from his defensive philosophy and even John Lynch has hinted the change may have been for the better. Bates may return, but if he does, and the team is not running his system, what's the point?

-If indeed there is a switch and Bates leaves, he won't be on the market very long. His track record is too good for many organizations to pass up. Any team hiring him will accentuate the positive in his successful coaching stints in Green Bay and Miami and rule out his disappointing debut in Denver as only an aberration. Judging by the numbers, that is probably correct.

-The offensive line has been battered all year long. They lost two starters and played without Matt Lepsis for a time this season. Daniel Graham, paid $30 million to catch passes, has instead been inserted to do exactly what he said he wanted to get away from---blocking. The injury necessitated the move and the coaches say Graham has been very good in his role up front. However, even he left Monday night's game with an injury, after valiantly toughing it out by starting the game, despite missing practice all week. He did it to set an example. The Broncos need more guys like him.

-The Broncos have always been known for their running game, but a strong rushing attack is predicated on solid play on the offensive line. Injuries have depleted this unit as previously mentioned. So, it's not too much of a surprise that one of the NFL's best teams on the ground, has, for the most part, been grounded.

-With very little stability on the line, quarterback Jay Cutler will consequently feel the heat--notice his four first-half sacks on Monday night. That, I feel, was a combination of a poor running game and poor line-play. The Chargers, on the other hand, have a sensational running game and solid line-play. That's why Denver is 6-9 and San Diego is 10-5 and headed to the postseason.

Have a nice day, enjoy the snow and your holiday season!

-"Z"

We are going to mention this on the news tonight, though, I thought I would give a quick preview here.

The other day, while surfing the web, I came across an article written by Mike Sando, who covers the NFL for ESPN.com. The topic was rating the potential of quarterbacks under the age of 30 and I will leave the link for the story at the bottom of this entry.

He talked to scouts around the NFL for their analysis and they came up with this conclusion: far and away, Jay Cutler has more upside than anyone.

More upside than Tony Romo, who parlayed his stellar play into the arms of Jessica Simpson.

More upside than David Garrard, the leader of a team NOBODY wants to see this postseason.

More upside than Carson Palmer, the quarterback of a team EVERYBODY wants to play.

More upside than Ben Roethlisberger, who won a Super Bowl when he was 23 years old.

More upside than both Vince Young and Matt Leinart, the two quarterbacks picked ahead of Cutler in the 2006 NFL Draft, and with whom he always will be linked.

I can't disagree totally with what Sando discovered. I do think Cutler has an astronomical upside. However, I'm surprised Romo, at least, at this juncture, wasn't the pick.

I do realize that, to this point, Romo has done everything except win a playoff game and he was, more or less, the only reason they lost their postseason affair with the Seahawks a year ago.

Then again, without his heroics down the stretch in 2006---do the Cowboys even make it?

I realize that Bill Parcells was reluctant to play him and his performance fizzled a tad down the home stretch of the regular season, though, to this point, has anybody come this far this fast? I don't think so-----then again, that may be the reason he wasn't selected.

After all, how much better can Romo play? He's already playing at an extremely high level and for the most part wisely utilizing the offensive talent around him. However, because we have seen more than occasional brilliance for Romo, his upside is narrowed. We know he's good. As for Cutler? Occasionally he has been dazzling, more often than not very respectable, and occasionally, looks like the second year player he is.

So in that particular sense, he may have only slightly scratched the surface of what we may see.

Even so, the calmness that Romo operates with is, in my estimation, one his core strengths and the reason I have to at least put him in a tie with Cutler.

The efficiency of his last drive to defeat Detroit was stellar. Cutler has yet to do anything like that. Granted he hasn't started a lot of games, but neither has Romo.

The way that Romo played in the Monday Night Football victory over the Bills was equal parts amazing and frustrating. He threw five interceptions, yet came up big when it counted and put his team in position for a game winning field goal.

He was also rather self-deprecating. After the game when asked about the five interceptions, he commented to ESPN's Suzy Kolber, "That's all, I only threw five of them?"

Cutler may be experiencing what it's like to automatically become one of the most famous people in Colorado by virtue of his new job, but Romo has become a star in a place that cares just as much about football as we do, while at the same time becoming a matinee idol. He's also doing it on a national stage--after all, the Cowboys are "America's Team."

At the end of the discussion, whether you choose Cutler or Romo, one thing we can all agree on, is that both of these players have bright futures ahead and we can all enjoy watching their potential get tapped.

Here is the link. Have a great day.

-"Z"