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Published on 09/19/2008 at Fri Sep 19 09:25.
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Should Lynch Come Back?

Posted Fri Sep 19th by

John Lynch stretches before the preseason New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles game.

Does that even look right? Come on… We all know how John Lynch left, with fans of the Denver Broncos confused and shocked, ultimately ending up with just a bad taste in their mouths. Then Lynch signed with the (at the time) shoe-in Superbowl contender New England Patriots. Was he interested in having a shot at starting this season or was he interested in just getting back to a Superbowl, had the fans been had?

I was at his first game as a Patriot, it was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was introduced as the starting strong safety during that preseason contest, to which the crowd gave a standing ovation, yet he didn’t start. In his first week with the Patriots he did play, but in all honesty looked very lost. Running around, attempting to do his best inside of a system he had yet to learn.

This week the Broncos worked out three safeties in practice. Glenn Earl, Vernon Fox and Daren Stone, of the three Earl is the only one who has had significant starting experience starting for the Houston Texans from 2004-06. The thing to keep in mind is that all of these players were brought in, as Denver sits with not one, but two safeties on their practice squad (rookie Josh Barrett and Roderick Rogers).

So what gives? As it stands, Denver remains with four safeties on their active roster, but with Hamza Abdullah and Marquand Manuel both having lingering injuries, is it all that likely that John Lynch couldn’t come back welcomed in Denver with a chance to start? At the very least, he remains a supporter of the Darrent Williams Foundation and a positive contributor to the community. Let’s get him back in orange and blue and hopefully back to Tampa.

  • jibbons

    I have no interest in watching Lynch in a Broncos uniform anymore. He was a great player, and did a lot of good things for the Broncos, but his football days are over. He needs to accept a broadcast job while his name is still in people’s heads.

  • LorDog

    I love Lynch but I think we’ve seen the importance of speed at this position and it’s no secret Lynch has lost a step. Others have stepped up to provide the leadership that he brought. Let’s don’t bring him back.

  • Boisebroncoguy

    Bring Lynch back? It just doesn’t “feel right”.

  • adam

    You have got to be kidding! Are you that bored? Why don’t we bring Al Wilson back while we’re at it?

  • flbronc

    thanks but no thanks.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Ha! Wow, I didn’t realize that I was so lonely in my nostalgia. Lost a step yes, unable to perform? I don’t think so, an emotional leader of which you can never have too many… Yes.

    However, I do not want to turn this into a, “Bring back Al Wilson,” type of thing.

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

    You’re not alone Ian, even though Lynch has lost a step he is still among the top safeties when it comes to run support. The Broncos could still use him on 1st and 2nd down.

  • adam

    During camp everyone kept saying the 1st and 2nd down statement. What never made sense to me was, if he is on the field aren’t guys like Rivers and Brees simply going to audible to a pass and go right after Lynch? I’m far from an expert, but considering how bad he is on pass defense (and how good he is on run) wouldn’t his even being on the field be a horrible move? And another thing, how much credibility does he really have with the team themselves? I wonder if they didn’t feel pretty abandoned!

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    Well, when he left he made it pretty clear he wasn’t going to play for the Denver Broncos this year, even when he wasn’t sure if he would play at all. I just think that, politically, it is unlikely to happen. I think Slowik just didn’t want him.

    Which is too bad. For one, any potential hall of famer really should play for us for at least 5 years. Chances are, tho, he’ll go into the HoF as a Bucc anyway, but still.

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

    Adam, there will be obvious times when a run is coming, this is when we would use Lynch. Most likely they would keep him off the field for 2nd and short and similar situation where they could throw over the top of us. And lets not go overboard on the pass defense thing, John ability to cover deep is diminishing but it’s not like he can’t do it anymore.

  • NYBronco

    I feel that if Lynch had decided to stay with a lessor role then we could put up with him on passing plays, because it would be well worth having his leadership and experience aournd for the team. However now that he walked away for “a better deal”, I don’t think the fans and players would put up with him getting burnt on pass plays.

    He was great while it lasted, he added much to our team while here, but I think it’s over…

  • broncosmang

    just for clarification purposes. I think Lowry is on the roster and Rogers is on the Practice squad .

  • ryan k

    Sure we should bring him back…at backup linebacker and special teams player. He is to slow for the secondary, but I would love to see him at linebacker.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Broncosmang-

    You’re correct and Roderik Rogers is that man on their practice squad.

  • craig l.

    our run defense is not bad this year. our pass defense or pass rush is our biggest problem so far. dont think bringin back lynch will help us much if at all.

  • Richard

    I don’t have any inside information, but Lynch is the one that walked away from Denver. He may not have completely burnt his bridges, but I have noticed the distinct smell of Barbecue. Could John help the team under present circumstances? Maybe, but I don’t think the politics are conducive to a ” last hurrah”. Besides, Slowik’s schemes are not a good fit for where John is in the death throes of his playing career.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Many players have left Denver, under Shanahan, to come back and finish off their career. Steve Atwater and Shanon Sharpe are two that stick out in my head, though there have been more (Ian Gold).

  • BroncoFan18

    Sure Lynch has lost a step or two, but he would really help our struggling run d on 1st and 2nd down.

  • adam

    I thought Atwater only signed long enough to retire a Bronco, but maybe I’m wrong.

  • http://www.pennington.net/ mikepenn

    I have two (defensive) images cemented in my brain from the Raiders game… the first is Nate Webster getting steamrolled by McFadden on the first play… later that game, McCree pivoting in a circle like a lost schoolkid as Fargas burns around him deep in the backfield… McCree never even tried to close the gap and tackle until he was chasing him from behind.

    We need better safeties… and for all we can say about Lynch and his age, he sure is solid in run support.

    I’m not sure whether he would consider coming back and being a situational player… I’d love to have him to shore up against the run, but we use other options for pass coverage.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    It’s a tempting thought, Ian, but feels a bit like the tail wagging the dog. Lynch left by his choice. The Broncos were classy enough to let him go free. As a teammate, I’d be confused why this guy was brought back and if he’s committed to winning for this team.

    This defense does need some serious help though. Those were the Chargers’ backups at o-line last week, and Rivers had all the time in the world.

  • Patrick

    I got the perception when he left it was because he didn’t think we were contenders and wanted one last shot at a ring. Maybe I took it wrong but I’m still butthurt about it. Like Mike Jones said, “Back then they didn’t want me now I’m hot they all on me.”

  • http://81trucolors.livejournal.com/ Truman

    Give Abdullah his shot!

  • http://laprit@lycos.com AtomicLeo

    Two words: old and slow. Lynch needs to hang it up.

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    I agree BRING LYNCH BACK!!!!!!

  • http://denverbroncosnewsbyjon.blogspot.com Jon Krause

    Garrett, like most often I so agree,
    Yes PLEASE, PLEEEEEZE Bring him back!

  • http://denverbroncosnewsbyjon.blogspot.com Jon Krause

    Abdullah got his chance….and he STINKS! For real he’s horrible, how can you’ll not see that!??

  • McCaffrey#1

    Great player. Bad fit. Time to move on.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    I don’t know Denver fans… If I’m the general manager/head coach in Denver, I’m definitely making peace with John Lynch, if not literally to be the team that reaches out one last time, to take Lynch in. If you’ll remember when Lynch joined the Broncos it was in a time when his former team had counted him out.

    He’s a leader, he’s a Hall of Famer, he was a Pro Bowler in 2007 and we could, in fact, use him on our team.

  • jibbons

    Are ANY other teams trying to pick the old man up? Shoot the pats, who love old guys, didn’t see any value, and cut him. The whole thing just stinks of needing to throw in the towel.

  • flbronc

    yes he was a pro bowler in 07, but in his case i equate that to being voted prom queen. if people remember your name and saw you once and thought you look ok, they vote for you. there were better safties than him last year by far that didnt make the pro bowl.

  • http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

    you’re not wrong, adam. Atwater signed a one day contract and retired.

    John Lynch has been done for at least two years. No one wants him. Nobody. There are teams out there that have worse D’s than us, and yet Lynch’s phone goes un-rung. We had one terrible, terrible game. Lets not panic and add a guy who would only make things worse. Much, much worse.

    It’s over, man. Over. Let’s all move on.

  • http://no olen

    What about his previous injuries ?

  • http://no olen

    What about his impact on the cap ? Could that money be better spent?

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    Of all the guys out there right now olen who could be signed for one year is there anybody better than the talented, experienced, super bowl winner who already knows the playbook?

  • broncfanstuckinsd

    The bottom line is would he make the defense any better? They were horrible last year with him. Plus now would he come back to be a part time player? If so then he becomes a hypocrite. I think Denver and Lynch should keep things as they are. He was good, but his time has passed. I enjoyed him while he was a Bronco but HE chose to leave not the other way around.

  • Josh

    Ian, I loved watching Lynch hit guys in a Bronco uniform; however, right now he’s a bad fit. What we’ve found is chemistry, and Lynch left because he knew he didn’t mix well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

  • gchild

    I’m guessing Lynch left because he saw how bad the Denver defense actually was. And knowing that he’d be loosing playing time to less talented players was probly the nail in the coffin.

    The dreadful Denver D needs him back. Sure he has lost a step, but he at least steps in the right direction. The passing defense couldn’t get any worse IMHO anyhow. The Broncos should welcome their emotional leader back. And being the restless competitor that he is, he just might welcome the offer.

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