Confession: I’ve never been a Broncos fan. My first allegiance was to Joe Montana. Later, after he retired and I moved to the Boston area, I became a Patriots fan.
Nevertheless, it is impossible for anyone living in Broncos Country, and a sports fan especially, not to track the comings and goings of the Denver Broncos. And as of late — or, rather, for close to five years now — the team’s fortunes have been dismal. It’s a team that’s breaking all kinds of records — but the wrong kinds.
The morning after the Broncos’ embarrassing loss to the Bills, I turned on sports radio and heard the host describing cooking a stew, arguing that low and slow was the way to build flavor, whereas hot and fast just wouldn’t yield the same result. Interesting metaphor, I thought — but it turned out the host was sharing a pot roast recipe and not discussing Broncos management.
But it got me thinking. These are seemingly two models for building successful franchises. “Hot and fast” would be spending lots of money acquiring proven free agents. “Low and slow” would be good draft picks, developing talent and “seasoning” with a solid free agent.
Looking around most sports leagues, it seems either model can work, so long as the franchise is committed to the model. The problem with the Broncos is that they are floundering between the two and failing at both.
For the root of it all, look to the top. An organization that has no leadership will struggle. It’s tragic to see what’s going on in the once proud and effective Bowlen family. It seems undeniable that the dysfunction has trickled down into management and the locker room.
This is not the culture Pat Bowlen built.
Unlike much else that happened this year, the Broncos misfortunes cannot be attributed to the 2020 dumpster fire. With no foreseeable changes on the ownership front or the front office, how will 2021 be any different?
Even as a non-Broncos fan, it’s hard to watch.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at [email protected]
Copyright © 2020 by the Intermountain Jewish News
