The year was 867 C.E. and Vikings (not those Vikings, easy…) from Sjaelland and Uppsala were heading for Scotland. Aebbe the Younger (now known as St. Aebbe), the Mother Superior, received news of the upcoming raid; she gathered her nuns and quickly informed them that they must immediately disfigure their faces to make themselves unappealing to the Vikings. With this, St. Abbe hoped to preserve their chastity. Aebbe herself cut off her nose along with her upper lip. The nuns followed suit and did the same.
When the Vikings arrived, disgusted by the site of the nuns, they burned the entire building to the ground.
The date was January 20, 2008.
“It hurts…” Philip Rivers said.
“We had a chance. I know that’s no consolation,” said Rivers. “People didn’t think it would be close, but not us. We expected to win.”
He wasn’t talking about his surgically repaired A.C.L., which he had had surgery on the week prior, he was referring to the loss in the San Diego Chargers AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots.
You know the story, Philip Rivers miraculously returns from knee surgery to play in the AFC Championship game with a protective brace. He finished the game with 37 attempts, 19 completions, 211 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Miraculous indeed.
Quick question, what would he have done, had the Chargers won?
Think his knee was feeling better following the game against the Patriots? Or should he just have taken a backseat and let backup quarterback Billy Volek lead the team, as he’d done the week prior against the Indianapolis Colts. Volek, you will remember took the reigns from the injured Rivers went three for four on passes and ran in for the game winning touchdown.
Enter Shawn Merriman, who despite a torn P.C.L. and L.C.L. in his knee has been cleared by the team to play…
Seriously. Al Wilson, one year removed from a Pro Bowl season, cannot get a look from any team in the NFL and Merriman’s likely to start week one for the Chargers.
This is a win at all costs season for the Chargers, obviously and they themselves know that Merriman isn’t likely to last. Every doctor Merriman has seen recommended surgery. The Chargers realize that they’re putting this man’s career at risk, but don’t stress they’ve just extended his backup Jyles Tucker’s contract. The Chargers signed a man with six games worth of NFL playing time to a five-year deal worth more than 14 million. Six million of it is guaranteed, did I mention he was an undrafted free agent in 2007? Because, he was.
Wow, just wow… This is the organization that regularly employs Philip Rivers, go figure. Being a life-long Broncos fan, I’ve never really had a thing against anybody in the AFC West except for the Chargers. This year, I’m turning it up a notch and this is why. They fired Marty Schottenheimer (spelled it correctly with no spell check thank you) after an incredible season, despite that talent available on the field and now they’re literally placing the livelihood of one of their best defensive players ever on the line. Super Bowl contender indeed, but where is the line drawn?
Cutler and Shanny (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.
Yesterday’s winner – mikebirty.
“Psst, LT – let’s keep what happened last night between us….”
Honorable mention – Hercules Rockefeller: “I’m a total d-bag. pass it on.”
Remember to leave your caption for the top photo. Happy captioning!
- Jay Cutler: prime for a “gigantic jump.” [Fox Sports]
- How much better is the Denver Broncos defense? [9News]
- Andre Hall is no longer ranked among the roster afterthoughts. [Rocky Mountain News]
- Nate Webster: the Band-Aid at middle linebacker. [Denver Post]
- Patrick Ramsey hopes to tough it out and play against Arizona. [DPO]
- Did this AFC West preview really come from the league’s official site? [NFL.com]
- The 2nd grade grammar continues as the same author previews the Broncos. [NFL.com]
- Is an 18-game season coming? I sure hope so. [DPO]
BLOG BLITZ
- Our pal Stefan Fatsis gives this season preview. [Deadspin]
- The Annual Super Bowl Buzz Kill focuses on Denver. [The Hater Nation]
- Bill Williamson runs down the AFC West cuts. [ESPN]
- Nick went 3-for-3 on his WR chopping block prediction. [Thin Air]
- Guru gives his take on the Webster vs. Niko Koutouvides decision. [Mile High Report]
- Travis Henry – one passionate Democratic supporter. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
Create-a-caption’s are getting their own posts, permanently methinks. I’d like everyone to be able to discuss the blitz itself if they want – i.e., what’s the buzz around the Internet on our Broncos.
![[Marshall]](http://broncotalk.net/images/mugs/brandonmarshall.jpg)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall was excused from practice on Tuesday to visit New York for his appeal hearing. Marshall has been suspended 2-3 games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violation of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
Perhaps most promising to Marshall’s appeal is that Goodell will not be ruling over the decision himself, as originally thought. A group of NFL officials will examine Marshall’s case and make a decision regarding his status.
You all know I how I feel about this – his suspension should be reduced to at most one game, if that. Let’s see what this independent board decides.
Mike Shanahan announced just an hour ago that wide receiver Taylor Jacobs has been released. Also, the Denver Broncos have officially placed rookie defensive tackle Carlton Powell on the reserve/unable to perform list.
Jacobs participated in six games for Denver last season, but was waived early in the off-season. He was then resigned shorty after wide receiver Edell Shepherd was placed on injured reserve (on July 26th, 2008).
These moves bring the Broncos down to 75 players, the Broncos must be down to 53 players by August 30th.
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Published on Thu Aug 28 13:09. 5 Comments |
Tagged: Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, Elvis Dumervil, Floyd Little, Jay Cutler, Randy Gradishar, Ryan Clady.