Double Take

The San Antonio Spurs have quietly moved themselves into a position to make a run at a fifth championship next year. I am someone who enjoys watching a great individual player like MJ or Kobe, but I also enjoy watching a great team. With the addition of Richard Jefferson the Spurs have added another viable scoring threat to a team lacking individual star power.

With the age and mileage that have plagued Duncan and Ginobili the past two years I believe Jefferson can give them the boost they need to take one last shot at a championship. The window of opportunity is closing for the Spurs to add to their legacy and instead of wasting time trying to rebuild they are adding talent on the fly. With the Big 3, Roger Mason, and Richard Jefferson the Spurs now have five legitimate scoring threats on their team. They were able to unload three older players which should help them when they get to the playoffs next year. They had no energy against Dallas this season, but with Parker, Mason, and Jefferson they can keep a lot of the workload off of Duncan and Ginobili.

The thing that makes the most sense about this trade is that Jefferson is a player that is used to playing in a team first system. In New Jersey he played alongside Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, clearly he was not the top option game in and out. He will fit in perfectly with the Spurs. Some games he will take over and lead the game in scoring, and other games he will take a more secondary role. I'm not ready to say that this trade gives the Spurs the championship just yet. However, if they can keep their key players healthy there will be no team better prepared or more experienced going into the post-season.

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The Denver Broncos are an absolute mess! The only reasons they had a chance to make the playoffs last year were Ed Hochuli and their explosive offense. Sure, Cutler would make some questionable plays, but Brett Favre was doing in his 18th season. They had zero defense last year, and the kicker this year is that they still have an unproven defense and seem to be in the process of trading offenses with Chicago.

The only reason the Chicago Bears have ever been successful has been due to their defense. Thanks to poor management decisions on the part of Denver it seems that they will be able to piece together a top ten offense. If the Bears have any opportunity to add Broncos wideout Brandon Marshall they must jump at the chance. They past up Anquan Boldin during the draft when they probably could have gotten him for a 2nd or a 3rd and 4th round pick. They have invested heavily in Jay Cutler already, and unless the want him to look like Kyle Orton they need to add one more weapon.

Certainly Marshall has his issues, but he has respect for Cutler and Lovie Smith has experience dealing with trouble makers. The Bears have Greg Olsen and Matt Forte as options for Cutler. Adding a true number one receiver would allow Devin Hester to go back to returning kicks full time and probably put the Bears on top of a weak NFC.

Denver, meanwhile, is looking like a team lacking direction. They fired a Hall of Fame coach, which I don't disagree with. The problem comes in hiring a young assistant to take his place. There are not many Belichick disciples who have turned into a solid head coach and the beginning of Josh McDaniels tenure does not look promising.

The Broncos had defensive problems last year, so what does Pat Bowlen do? He hires an offensive coach who alienates his franchise qb which triggers his top receiver to seek a trade. You're kidding yourself if you think Marshall is trying to leave for any other reason. Without Cutler he is scared that his numbers will decline and ruin his chances at a big time contract when he becomes a free agent. The ultimate example of this dysfunction came when Bowlen said that the Broncos would try to honor Marshall's trade request and McDaniels made a statement to the contrary. I feel bad for Broncos fans. They have been floating aimlessly since Elway retired and the glimmer of hope they had in Cutler to Marshall is now completely extinguished.