| | DENVER -- The words on the magazine cover scream like something straight off the back page of a New York tabloid.
|  | | This week's Sports Illustrated cover paints a pessimistic view of the Broncos' plight. |
"We're finished."
The quote on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Oct. 11 issue is
attributed to an unidentified member of the defending Super Bowl
champion Denver Broncos, who are 0-4 and seem to be a magnet for internal turmoil.
It did not sit well in Denver's locker room Wednesday.
"The disturbing part is that's going to be the feeling throughout the country," fullback Howard Griffith said. "The cover of that magazine pretty much says it all, and that's the way we're going to be portrayed. People are going to think the whole team feels that way, but that's not the case."
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was less diplomatic.
"I call people out," he said. "No. 1, if you say it and you won't stand up for it, you're a coward. And if you feel that way after four losses, after the success that we've had and have given up on the season after four games, I don't want you."
Shanahan and several players questioned the integrity of the Sports Illustrated article because of anecdotes writer Michael Silver used while having dinner with some Broncos after Denver's
21-13 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.
The article described a scene where one player pointed to a barrel of microbrew vats and said, "See that big tank on the right? That's where I'm headed."
Another player stood up during dinner, stuck a fork to his chest and yelled, "We're done," according to the story.
"It was terrible. It was a bad way of doing business between
people who you were taking to dinner," Denver defensive end Alfred
Williams said. "I wouldn't expect any of my dinner conversations
to come up in any newspaper, no matter what the situation was."
Silver said Wednesday he understands why some players would be upset, but explained that he was trying to give readers an idea of how the Broncos are dealing with adversity in the wake of two Super
Bowl championships.
"I'm not saying these quotes mean the Broncos will quit," Silver said. "I liken it to that feeling where you're falling off a cliff and just when you realize you're about to crash land, you have some fun in your free-fall. I don't take it literally."
Silver also emphasized that the "We're finished" quote came in
the locker room after the Jets game. He said about 15 players --
"virtually one from every position" -- had similar sentiments.
The Broncos have given people little reason to believe they can
become the first team in NFL history start the season 0-4 and win a
playoff game.
Denver lost MVP running back Terrell Davis to a season-ending
knee injury Sunday and are embroiled in a quarterback controversy
that started when Shanahan benched Bubby Brister during training
camp.
Shanahan on Wednesday reinstated Brister after Brian Griese
failed to get a win in the first four weeks.
The lamentable start to the 1999 season prompted Denver fans to lash out, booing Griese during the Jets game and leaving the stadium when the Broncos still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Brister made an obscene gesture toward a group
of taunting fans, and one spectator threw a metal object that hit
cornerback Dale Carter just below his left eye.
"We're starting to realize that we can only depend on ourselves," running back Derek Loville said. "Our fans are acting crazy. We're getting hit from every angle. People in the media are taking jabs at us now. That's fine because there's going to come a time when we're back on top and everyone will be patting us on the back."
| |
ALSO SEE
Brister back in saddle as Broncos' starting QB
Bronco bummer: Davis out for year with knee injury
 |
