Further making the argument as to why Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen deserved the NFL Hall Of Fame nod over Jerry Jones

In honor of Pat Bowlen and the latest NFL HOF snubbing I wrote about earlier today, here's a post I had written last year with updated stats to support my argument on why he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame now and before Jerry Jones:

                                           “This One’s for Pat”
                                           By Michael Salavati

Here is a condensed list of accomplishments demonstrating his greatness not only to the Denver #Broncos organization and fans, but also to the #NFL. Mr. Bowlen, the owner of our beloved #Broncos for 32 Years & counting is battling Alzheimer’s disease. After a triumphant #SB50 victory and sending off the great Peyton Manning into retirement as a Champion it is more than curious why the urgency in the timing of voting Jerry Jones, who has time to be honored, to the #HOF ahead of Mr. Bowlen? It would've been far more fitting and certainly a greater more compelling story to instead honor the man known to us as Mr. "B".

Here is a list of some of the accomplishments that make Mr. #Bowlen a truly special owner not just in the NFL but in all of sports:

1. In 32 years of owning the Denver #Broncos, he has overseen 7 Super Bowl appearances. No other single NFL owner has more #SuperBowl  appearances. His 3 Super Bowl Championships make the #Broncos only one of nine elite teams in the NFL with at least 3 Super Bowl victories.

2. As mentioned above, Mr. Bowlen has an unprecedented 7 SB appearances by his teams. But what makes that even more extraordinary is the fact that he has 2 more SB appearances than losing seasons in that span! Only 5 losing seasons in 3 decades compared to 7 SBs is yet another #NFL standalone accomplishment. In contrast Jerry Jones has had 9 losing seasons in a 5 year shorter span of time owning the Cowboys.

3. His teams have qualified for the Playoffs 18 times.

4. Ever since he bought the Denver #Broncos in 1984, His winning percentage is an incredible .614

5. His 313 wins to 197 losses and 1 tie in that span is an NFL best. No other owner of a team in the 300 plus club has a better win percentage than Pat Bowlen.

6. Only two major American Professional sports teams have a better winning percentage in that span: the San Antonio Spurs at .632 and the Los Angeles Lakers at .621

7. The #Broncos during Pat Bowlen's ownership boast an NFL best home-field-advantage winning record of 187-69.

8. Perhaps even more impressive an accomplishment when one considers that the #Broncos team record prior to the arrival of Pat Bowlen was a losing record of 143-189-9. In contrast Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who got the nod before Pat Bowlen inherited a Cowboys team already known as "America's Team" boasting a winning record of 250-162-6 prior to his ownership. Infact the Cowboys' record during Jerry Jones' ownership has less wins and more losses than prior to him at 230-202-0. One can also argue that Jones' world famous ego broke apart a dynasty in the 90's which saw head coach Jimmy Johnson leave the team at the height of their success due to Jerry Jones' inability to set aside his inflated ego of himself as a talent evaluator in the NFL!

9. All of the above stats would be enough to see why he has been so special. However his true greatness and what makes him so unique is the combination of what he has meant to the  #Broncos  and his immense contributions and what he has meant to the #NFL and its current status as the undisputed king of all American sports.

10. Aided by his vision and fresh perspective, the NFL added FOX to its TV line-up and forever changed the TV revenue intake into the stratosphere. The NFL TV revenue in 1989 was $473 Million. In 2015, that number stood at an astounding $5 Billion per year!

11. He also had a huge hand in the boom of new NFL stadium venues including the #Broncos own new stadium, named Invesco Field at Mile High at the time, unveiled in 2001. This too represents a large increase to the overall revenue for the league.

12. He also is credited with a hands-on role in building a relationship of trust and respect between NFL owners and the Players union back at a time when that relationship was cold & broken.

13. Last but not least he also played a big role in the attempt of globalization of the NFL. Those of us who have been fans of the #Broncos for a long time all remember the multiple pre-season games played by the #Broncos abroad. None more memorable than the one in Tokyo which gave birth to the legend of RB Terrell Davis. Do you remember that hit he put on a special teams play that put him on the map?

These are some of the reasons why this man should be and belongs in the NFL #HOF. On November 1st 2015 during the half time of the #SNF matchup between the Denver #Broncos and the Green Bay #Packers, he was inducted into the #Broncos Ring of Fame in an emotional ceremony during which the 1997 Super Bowl winning team was also honored. Many of the players and coaches of that team, including Mike Shanahan, were present.
Let’s go #Broncos.

- Michael Salavati

#NFLHallofFame
#BroncosCountry
#DenverBroncosAficionado
#PatBowlen

The NFL Hall of Fame selection committee gets it wrong again

I'm a day late but I needed a day to cool off from the anger I felt at the Pro Football Hall of Fame for once again snubbing the Denver #Broncos organization in their ridiculous selection process. For me, yesterday was the final straw in a series of inexplicable snubs by the NFL #HOF selection committee. Yesterday they chose to select the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over the greatest #Broncos of all, owner #PatBowlen as the latest inductee for this year's #HOF class. I can't put into words the absolute disgust I feel regarding this sham of a process.

Let me be clear, it's not that I don't feel Jerry Jones does not deserve the nod, it's that he does not deserve it before Pat Bowlen does. There are no stats written or unwritten anyone can drum up that justify #Jones over #Bowlen. period. Even stats aside, when you consider both men's contributions to the well being and success of the NFL, Pat Bowlen stands tall easily side by side with Jerry Jones in being instrumental in many league accomplishments. When you add to that their individual stats regarding the successes of their respective teams and also add the timing of this vote, then this selection really makes no sense at all.

Let's discuss timing:

The #Broncos just won the symbolic #SB50 with one of the most memorable and all time defensive performances and with one of the most recognizable icons in #NFL history, Peyton Manning, riding into the sunset retiring as a Champion. Additionally Pat Bowlen suffers from Alzheimer's disease and in contrast Jerry Jones has time to receive this honor next year or further down the line in his lifetime, so why the urgency for him to get in now?

We have witnessed in any other circle, such as Hollywood for example, the timing and surroundings regarding such a lifetime achievement award would take paramount consideration in the selection voting, except apparently to these handful of morons in charge of voting for the HOF who clearly are incapable of seeing the forest through the trees. They just can't get past their East-Coast big name teams bias. To them apparently the only teams in the NFL are the Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Packers and the like! They should all be damn ashamed of themselves, the rest of us sure are ashamed of and embarrassed for them.

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati

It's the offseason and we all need a little Football! So, here are some fun stats for the #Broncos to feed your craving:

1) Last season, WR Demaryius Thomas was the 4th most targeted receiver in the NFL at 169 targets. Only behind Deandre hopkins (187), Antonio Brown (190) and Julio Jones (193).

2) According to PFF, #Broncos rookie QB Paxton Lynch was the most accurate college QB under pressure last season with a 70.3% accuracy rating in under pressure situations.

3) Two Former #Broncos' LBs made the top 5 list for the best Tackling Efficiency Ranking in 2015: LB Wesley Woodyard at #3 and LB Danny Trevathan at #5.

4) Former #Broncos TE Jacob Tamme was rated the 3rd best TE in the NFL for the least amount of drops last season playing for Atlanta. The #Broncos, specially Peyton Manning, did miss Tamme as a security blanket over the middle last year during the regular season. TE Owen Daniels stepped up huge in the playoffs.

5) Three #Broncos have made the NFL Network's Top 100 list thus far: WR Emmanuel Sanders at #74, S TJ Ward at #68 and WR Demaryius Thomas at #62. More to come from 59 to 1...

6) Six #Broncos players made PFF's Top 101 Players in the NFL list for 2015: Von Miller (6th), Chris Harris JR (36th), Emmanuel Sanders (69th), Malik Jackson (75th), Evan Mathis (76th) and Derek Wolfe (90th). The #Broncos had the 4th most players on the list edged out by Pats and SeaHawks at 7 each and Panthers with the most at 9! With a post-season performance for the ages from Demarcus Ware, he was left off the list due to mid-season injuries. No Aqib Talib? Hmmm.

7) #Broncos QB Peyton Manning had the 5th best selling Jersey in the NFL in 2015. Oddly enough QB Tim Tebow was the next player with any #Broncos connection to appear on the list at #31! The next #Bronco on the list? Demaryius Thomas at #50... #BroncosCountry needs to step up their jersey purchases! Von Miller didn't even crack the top 50 list. The lowly 49ers had 5 players' jerseys on the top 50! Seriously??!!

8) Coming into #SB50, the all-time playoff record for teams who allowed 300+ yards on defense and gained 200 or under yards on offense was 2-52. After #SB50 those odds improved to 3-52!

Continuing the theme of anemic offensive teams:

8A) The #Broncos have amazingly done well with bad offenses over the years, they have a winning 9-7 record in games since 2000 when throwing for under 105 yards passing.

8B) Peyton Manning's 104 yards passing in #SB50 represented the lowest passing yards by a Broncos QB since Tim Tebow's last regular season start in Denver.

8C) The 2015 Denver #Broncos are the ONLY team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl despite being outgained on offense in every playoff game including the SB.

9) As much as we hate the late season drama and losses that give us fans a sour stomach and nightmares, consider the fact that 8 out of the last 11 Super Bowl winners lost multiple games in December leading into the Playoffs! It seems a little late season adversity bodes well for a playoff run. I remember both the 90's #Broncos teams also lost 2 big games each late in the season panicking #BroncosCountry before those awesome SB runs. In contrast, the 2012 and 13' versions of the #Broncos entered the playoffs with long win-streaks and both failed at winning it all.

Let's Go #Broncos!

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati

Some Fun Facts about the #Broncos drafting QB Paxton Lynch with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft

Some fun facts regarding the #Broncos drafting Memphis QB Paxton Lynch last night:

- The #Broncos QB draft board rated the top 3 QBs as:
1- Carson Wentz
2A- Paxton Lynch
2B- Jared Goff
So in their evaluation they rated Goff and Lynch as equal values. Goff was drafted number 1 overall!

- #Elway ended up swapping Osweiler with Lynch and in the process saved $60 million in Cap Space which will help pay Von Miller that big contract he deserves. Not to mention the only thing Elway gave up to move up is a 3rd round pick which ironically he will get back as compensation for losing Osweiler in the 2017 draft. Can you say G.O.A.T.!

- At the time the #Broncos moved up with a trade to #26 with the SeaHawks to draft Lynch, both the Chiefs and the Cowboys were trying hard to move up ahead of Denver to snatch Lynch from the #Broncos. As he often does, #Elway won.

- By drafting a QB in the 1st round, the #Broncos now can take advantage of the all important 5th year option on 1st rd. selected rookies on Lynch which means they can have Paxton Lynch under contract for the next 5 years at a very low cap hit, for a QB, before he would be due a big contract. That will enable the team to stay strong at various positions for the next 5 years.

- Paxton Lynch was the QB at Memphis for 3 years and started all 38 games in that span. He finished with a 22-16 record as a starter, including a 2-1 mark in bowl games. In 2014, Memphis finished 10-3, beating BYU 55-48 in the Miami Beach Bowl to post the School's first 10-win season since the 1930s.

- Just for the heck of it here is how you spell Paxton as compared to Peyton... See the similarities?! Weird ha? lol

- At 6' 7" and 244 lbs. Paxton is a big QB much like Osweiler was before him. But unlike Osweiler, Paxton is actually an athletic physical specimen. It's hard to imagine that with his size he was actually the RB at his high school! This kid has way more mobility than Osweiler did, is an actual legit scrambling threat, and has a stronger arm than him as well.

- The 49ers blew it by not taking the Broncos deal on Kaepernick. As a matter of fact John Elway was totally surprised by it. This wa a type of decision that now the bumbling head coach, Chip Kelly, is becoming unfortunately known for in his short and ridiculous tenure in the NFL. That dumb decision has however led the #Broncos to Lynch and in the long term perspective should prove to be the best move for the #Broncos.

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati

Denver Broncos 2016 Regular Season Schedule

Here's the hot off the press Denver #Broncos 2016 schedule (All times Eastern Std. Time):
Give me your thoughts below.

Week 1: Panthers @ Broncos 9/8/16 (TNF) 8:30 pm
Week 2: Colts @ Broncos 9/18 4:25 pm
Week 3: Broncos @ Bengals 9/25 1 pm
Week 4: Broncos @ Buccaneers 10/2 4:05 pm
Week 5: Falcons @ Broncos 10/9 4:05 pm
Week 6: Broncos @ Chargers (TNF) 10/13 8:25 pm
Week 7: Texans @ Broncos (MNF) 10/24 8:30 pm
Week 8: Chargers @ Broncos 10/30 4:05 pm
Week 9: Broncos @ Raiders (SNF) 11/6 8:30 pm
Week 10: Broncos @ Saints 11/13 1 pm
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: Chiefs @ Broncos 11/27 4:25 pm
Week 13: Broncos @ Jaguars 12/4 1 pm
Week 14: Broncos @ Titans 12/11 1 pm
Week 15: Patriots @ Broncos 12/18 4:25 pm
Week 16: Broncos @ Chiefs 12/25 (SNF) 8:30 pm
Week 17: Raiders @ Broncos 1/1 4:25 pm

5 prime time games. A #SB50 rematch to start the season. A date with Billy Osweiler on a MNF matchup. A rematch with the evil empire and Brady late in the season. A X-Mas Game at KC. A tangle with Malik & Julius at Jacksonville. Are some of the highlights of the 2016 season. Can't wait!!!

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati

Some Denver #Broncos odds and ends this week:

1) Von Miller has reportedly been offered a contract by the #Broncos between $17-$18 million average annually which would make him the 2nd highest paid defensive player in the NFL only behind Suh from Miami.

There had been reports that Miller is looking for a $22 million per year deal a couple weeks ago, although he has publicly said numerous times that he is willing to take a hometown discount for the #Broncos. Another report also suggests that the #Broncos are somewhat flexible but are unwilling to go any higher than $19.06 million per year (Which is what Suh from the Dolphins is making). This negotiation will most likely drag on well into the summer. I only hope it does not drag as long as Demaryius Thomas' contract last year did, causing a hold out in the OTA's.

2) There have been some weird and contradictory stories suggesting Johnny Manziel is now actually living with Von Miller! As in in his house. We all know Von is fond of Manziel and he has openly talked about his desire for the #Broncos to sign Manziel this offseason. In Manziel, Von Miller sees himself as he was a few years back. A very talented kid going through a rough spot ready to redeem himself and steer his ship straight. Von is a star and beloved by the #Broncos, I wouldn't be surprised if and when (A big IF and WHEN) Manziel gets cleared of his domestic violence legal issues that the #Broncos would give him a look see in the future. Again, only if he is cleared and not convicted.

3) The #Broncos have Duke WR Max McCaffrey, son of the #Broncos great Ed McCaffrey, scheduled for a Pre-Draft workout at Dove Valley on Tuesday 04/12/2016. It would be cool to have him on the #Broncos roster next year! His dad is one of my all time favorite #Broncos.

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati

To be fair to the Broncos newly acquired QB Mark Sanchez

Just to be fair to Mark Sanchez:

He has really not been as bad as people's perception of him as of late. Perception is reality and it's not any different in the NFL either.

Consider these 2 points:

1. In 8 games played in 2014 for the Eagles who were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year in talent and dysfunction, Mark Sanchez  completed 64.1 percent of his passes, averaged 7.8 yards per throw, threw 14 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions, and generated a passer rating of 88.4. He also has a 4-2 playoff (on the road mind you) record!

2. In contrast, in seven starts last season playing with the Broncos, the best team in the NFL last season, Brock Osweiler completed 61.8 percent of his throws, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, had 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions, and racked up a passer rating of 86.4. And Zero playoff experience.

One of those guys went onto sign an $18 million per year deal, and the other still gets butt fumble jokes hurled at him! But he may have the last laugh now playing for a team with the best offensive mind coaches in the NFL and the best defense in the NFL.

Let's go #Broncos

- Michael Salavati
#MichaelSalavati