The Off Season-Rate our rivals (part 1)

I can see we are all not in agreement when it comes to the Raiders off season progress.  According to Saints article, there are fans that give the Raiders an "A" so far, and and some that give them an "F".  Now I think these grades may be a little based on anger and/or blind faith and hope, and the true "grade" lies somewhere in the middle.  While our team has been making moves by trading for a good player in Wimbley, and cutting a lot of dead weight at the same time, our rivals have been trying to improve themselves as well. 

Let us start with the Denver Broncos. 

Josh McDaniels came into Denver last year and made waves immediately by trading away the franchise in Jay Cutler and distancing himself from the other main star player Brandon Marshall (soon to be wearing a Seahawks uniform).  The trade of Cutler to the Bears made the football world stare blankly at the television in shock.  McDaniels swaggered into town, younger than a lot of the fans and even some players, and shipped out the next John Elway.  This guy looked like a total jackass, the team was gutted, and the future looked bleak.  Most predictions put these guys at 2-4 wins, and a last place finish in the AFC west.  Instead, they shot off to an astounding start after one miracle (and madden like move) by Brandon Stokley vs the Bungles.  Only to collapse in the second half of the season and return this ship to earth where it belonged.  The D was good, but the offense was all over the place and lacked constancy.  The Jekyll and Hyde syndrome, aka, the Kyle Orton Effect.   

Now, the Broncos have done little so far in the off season.  They resigned players like Josh Barrett SS, and Brandon Lloyd WR, but have cut some dead weight as well.  Casualties include Chris Simms, Andra Davis LB, J'Von Parker DT, Mitch Erikson G, and Kenny Peterson DE (there are more, but not worth noting).  They also trade away Peyton Hillis, a RB whose future looked bright from time to time.  In this trade, they bring in a QB that could have just as well been sporting the silver and black.  He was crowned the most NFL ready QB coming out of the Notre Dame offense (Clausen fans beware), and we passed on him and CALVIN FREAKING JOHNSON to take none other than Jamarcus Russel.  Now we will get to see Brady Quinn two times a year as he rocks that putrid orange and blue jersey.  I hope this does not come back to haunt us (I'm sure it will).  The other key acquisitions for the Broncos are Jamal Williams, Jarvis Green, and JJ Arrington.  Nothing too noteworthy or shocking. 

I give the Broncos a solid C so far.  Nothing has been done that will return this team to a contender, but nothing too insane or crippling has been done either (see this time last year).  Moves or no moves, we need to keep this team directly in our sights, Josh McDaniels is a crafty guy, and can make a dollar out of fifteen cents.

Next - The San Diego Chargers