Fantasy football fans know how much Mike Shanahan likes to play musical chairs with his depth chart, especially at running back, but we'll give it our best shot!
Actually, the racial composition of the Broncos varies very little from year to year. One would think that out of sheer blind luck that every great once in a while the NFL would field a team or two that looks a lot different from the others, but the formula of the league is entrenched on every franchise, every season. Since every team looks pretty much the same there couldn't possibly be any discrimination against white players, right? Either that or there's a whole bunch of discriminating goin' on.
Every year the Broncos start a white quarterback and four white offensive linemen. There is the occasional white tight end and wide receiver, and a token white player on defense (actually two this year). The rest of the team is black. It will probably be the same in 2017 if Shanahan is still the coach, and not much different if someone else is.
The reins on offense have been handed over fully to Jay Cutler, who has a big-time arm and seems to have the pocket savvy and ability to read defenses to succeed. He is backed up by Patrick Ramsey, a former first round draft pick who was knocked silly by amazingly porous offensive lines in Washington.
Brandon Stokley was signed as a free agent from the Colts, and has been listed at times as the number two receiver, but Brandon Marshall is a high draft pick and black and thus will be given roughly half a decade to prove himself. And of course if Rod Smith can find a way to hobble onto the field, even if he needs a walker to do so, he'll instantly vault over Stokley on the depth chart. The Peyton Manning to Brandon Stokley connection in 2004 was nearly as prolific as the Manning to Harrison and Wayne connections that year, but the following season Stokley's role was significantly reduced and '04 remains his only big season. Continual injuries haven't helped his cause either.
TE Tony Scheffler has excellent speed and receiving abilities. Cutler was hitting Scheffler for numerous big plays at the end of the '06 season, Scheffler's rookie campaign, and Scheffler seemed set as the starter for years to come. But Daniel Graham was brought in over the offseason and is generally considered the starter going into the regular season. Graham was a chronic underachiever with the Patriots, exhibiting hands of stone and little else to distinguish himself.
At tight end the team also has veteran Stephen Alexander and Nate Jackson. Jackson is an excellent wide receiver who was forced to beef up into a tight end to stay on the Broncos, but stands little chance of ever being a starter in Denver.
The Broncos always have a strong offensive line made up mostly of relatively smaller, fast and athletic white men. New England uses a similar formula, but most of the rest of the league remains infatuated with sumo-sized blacks who have little mobility. White o-line starters are RT Erik Pears, C Tom Nalen, LG Ben Hamilton, and LT Matt Lepsis. Chris Kuper, Adam Meadows, and Chris Myers are backups.
In 2003 the Broncos didn't have a single white defensive player on their team, highly unusual even for the Caste NFL. Since then the number has ballooned all the way to two, and both are starters. Free safety John Lynch is near the end of a distinguished career that should make him a slam dunk for induction to Canton, perhaps the last white defensive back to get in for decades if current racist practices continue to hold.
Eighth year end John Engelberger has always been a solid contributor and this year through attrition -- amounting to what seems like a dozen black first round picks who have flopped or been plagued by injuries over the past couple of year -- is starting for the first time. Of course that could quickly change -- there's always another "athlete" with "unrealized potential" ready to step in and take his place.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 7
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 18
GRADE: D
Edited by: Don Wassall
Actually, the racial composition of the Broncos varies very little from year to year. One would think that out of sheer blind luck that every great once in a while the NFL would field a team or two that looks a lot different from the others, but the formula of the league is entrenched on every franchise, every season. Since every team looks pretty much the same there couldn't possibly be any discrimination against white players, right? Either that or there's a whole bunch of discriminating goin' on.
Every year the Broncos start a white quarterback and four white offensive linemen. There is the occasional white tight end and wide receiver, and a token white player on defense (actually two this year). The rest of the team is black. It will probably be the same in 2017 if Shanahan is still the coach, and not much different if someone else is.
The reins on offense have been handed over fully to Jay Cutler, who has a big-time arm and seems to have the pocket savvy and ability to read defenses to succeed. He is backed up by Patrick Ramsey, a former first round draft pick who was knocked silly by amazingly porous offensive lines in Washington.
Brandon Stokley was signed as a free agent from the Colts, and has been listed at times as the number two receiver, but Brandon Marshall is a high draft pick and black and thus will be given roughly half a decade to prove himself. And of course if Rod Smith can find a way to hobble onto the field, even if he needs a walker to do so, he'll instantly vault over Stokley on the depth chart. The Peyton Manning to Brandon Stokley connection in 2004 was nearly as prolific as the Manning to Harrison and Wayne connections that year, but the following season Stokley's role was significantly reduced and '04 remains his only big season. Continual injuries haven't helped his cause either.
TE Tony Scheffler has excellent speed and receiving abilities. Cutler was hitting Scheffler for numerous big plays at the end of the '06 season, Scheffler's rookie campaign, and Scheffler seemed set as the starter for years to come. But Daniel Graham was brought in over the offseason and is generally considered the starter going into the regular season. Graham was a chronic underachiever with the Patriots, exhibiting hands of stone and little else to distinguish himself.
At tight end the team also has veteran Stephen Alexander and Nate Jackson. Jackson is an excellent wide receiver who was forced to beef up into a tight end to stay on the Broncos, but stands little chance of ever being a starter in Denver.
The Broncos always have a strong offensive line made up mostly of relatively smaller, fast and athletic white men. New England uses a similar formula, but most of the rest of the league remains infatuated with sumo-sized blacks who have little mobility. White o-line starters are RT Erik Pears, C Tom Nalen, LG Ben Hamilton, and LT Matt Lepsis. Chris Kuper, Adam Meadows, and Chris Myers are backups.
In 2003 the Broncos didn't have a single white defensive player on their team, highly unusual even for the Caste NFL. Since then the number has ballooned all the way to two, and both are starters. Free safety John Lynch is near the end of a distinguished career that should make him a slam dunk for induction to Canton, perhaps the last white defensive back to get in for decades if current racist practices continue to hold.
Eighth year end John Engelberger has always been a solid contributor and this year through attrition -- amounting to what seems like a dozen black first round picks who have flopped or been plagued by injuries over the past couple of year -- is starting for the first time. Of course that could quickly change -- there's always another "athlete" with "unrealized potential" ready to step in and take his place.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 7
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 18
GRADE: D
Edited by: Don Wassall
