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Published on 11/25/2009 at Wed Nov 25 13:12.
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Broncos’ Dawkins calls players-only meeting

Posted Wed Nov 25th by

LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the San Diego Chargers rushes against the Denver Broncos during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 22, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the San Diego Chargers rushes against the Denver Broncos during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 22, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Around this time last year, the Denver Broncos were in a three-game slump after a fast start to the season. They held a players-only meeting, and those 4-4 Broncos rolled off two straight wins and four of their next five to take a three-game lead in the AFC West.

Whatever works, right?

“We talked,” safety Brian Dawkins told reporters Tuesday. After a four-game skid knocked the Broncos out of first place in the AFC West, and with another tough opponent on the near horizon in the New York Giants Thursday, Dawkins called a players-only meeting Tuesday.

“What we do as a team, we keep that stuff to ourselves,” Dawkins told the Denver Post. “But if we’re winning and we have that same argument on the sidelines, does anybody report that? If they do, they say it’s our passion. But because we lost that game, and guys were a little emotional, then it’s a bad thing.

“I don’t buy into that. That’s not who we are, who we’ve been throughout this year. I don’t worry about that. Those are things that happen on the sideline. That is passion.”

“We are on the same page,” tight end Daniel Graham said. [ESPN] “There were a lot of emotions out there. No one likes losing. Frustrations came out a little bit. This team will stick together. We are going to fight through this together.”

But talk is cheap, and as Champ Bailey told Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette, actions speak louder than words.

“What’s going to encourage me more is if we play better,” Bailey said. “It’s not really what people say, it’s what they do.”

The Broncos have a short week to put their meeting to the test, and their words into action. Hopefully Dawkins’ words were inspiring. Their actions of late haven’t been.

  • d_e_e

    Is it thursday yet?

    I like the player's only meeting, this team has solid veteran leadership and there is no way guys like Dawkins is going to go down in infamy for this collapse. I think the team will take the “US AGAINST THE WORLD” mentality as it did at the beginning of the year, the results will be positive.

    I think the DLINE steps up , Elvis has a big game, and we win convincingly. On a national stage, the Broncos again will shutup their critics.

  • AtomicLeo

    When do player only meetings work? Shut up and play.

  • d_e_e

    Why even have coaches it all it takes to win is just shutting up and playing? Sometimes you need your teammate to tell you, your a bag of **** before the message is driven home.

    Example:

    Brandon Marshall: Hey Knowshon, sorry about sunday .. you know me.. just beasting out.

    Knowshon: No Prob, Beast … I wonder what the meeting is about

    Brandon Marshall: Ya well thats the thing, Knowshon ..its about the fumbles , we cant have that and it stops now…

    Knowshon: But…. I … thought…

    Brandon Marshall: No you didnt think Knowshon, so unless you keep the rock off the ground , we may have to take other measures to solve the problem.

    Knowshon: What do you mean Beast?

    Brandon Marshall: Hey!!! Peyton you want to grab that old McDonald's wrapper from my locker?

    Knowshon: I understand Beast, I understand all too well now.

    Brandon Marshall: Good job kid, now that wrapper thought is getting me hungry lets grab some Micky D's

    Knowshon: No thanks Brandon, I'm going to ahhh practice my plays.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    1997 after one of multiple losses, resulted in the Broncos first super bowl win.

  • anthony33

    Like the fact that they had a players only meeting. Hope they can pull themselves out of this hole. If they can, it will set the stage for a long time. If not, we're right back to where we ended last season.

    Another crucial part of the learning curve for McD…and probably something he has absolutely no experience in based on where he came from. Let's hope if figures it our quick. The way I see it…we have either another Charlie Wies on our hands or (hopefully) a Cowher or Coughlin that have brought there teams back from the dead.

  • d_e_e

    Simms is built to be a pre-season QB right now, nothing else.

  • steeplebomb

    I like this. I never played football but I've been on other competitive teams and sometimes you just need this kind of thing. So much of sports is player mentality. I'm not going to lie: I'm worried about this season. But I trust BDawk and Orton. They're good leaders and they won't let a meltdown occur without a fight. Looking forward to watching the Broncos impress my in-laws.

  • dmcculley12

    I have followed football for many years and no matter how great the coaching staff is, if the players can not bond as brothers, they will never make it through the tough times…My son was knocked by parents and team mates for showing his compassion for the game when they lost their playoff hopes…The kid has 5 colleges talking to him so if his emotions were a bad thing, then the obvious compassion for the game makes that ok…Let the players vent and talk it out so they can bond and you will be surprised how great a team can be and what they can do to make a come back…

  • chooch76

    They should have a players only meeting every week. Keep the solidarity.

  • chooch76

    They should have a players only meeting every week. Keep the solidarity.