Who Benefits the Most from the Denver Broncos Troubling Offseason?

There have been so many intriguing story lines this offseason:  The Brett Favre saga, Plaxico Burress and Dante Stallworth’s legal problems, and of course the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos have had one of the more tumultuous offseasons in recent memory and it all started at the end of the 2008 season.

All the Broncos had to do was win one of their final three games in 2008 to win the AFC West and go back to the postseason.  The Broncos entered Week 15 with an 8-5 record.  However, they would end up losing that game against the Carolina Panthers 30-14.

The Broncos would collapse again in Week 16 and 17, losing to the Buffalo Bills 30-23 and in the final game against the San Diego Chargers 52-21.  They ended up finishing in a tie for first, but by virtue of a tie breaker missed the postseason.

The downward spiral continued when owner Pat Bowlen fired future hall of fame coach Mike Shanahan on December 30, 2008.  Shanahan was replaced by 33 year old Josh McDaniels who was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

McDaniels soon expressed his interest in acquiring QB Matt Cassel, which did not sit well starter Jay Cutler.  Cassel ended up with the Chiefs and Cutler then asked to be traded.

After months of speculation and bickering, the Broncos finally dealt their Pro Bowl QB to the Chicago Bears for Kyle Orton and several draft picks.

Now we hear that star WR Brandon Marshall is also requesting a trade out of Denver.  If that were to come to fruition the Broncos would lose their top two offensive weapons from last season.

Bowlen had maintained that Marshall will remain with the team.  Remember that Bowlen said the same thing about Jay Cutler, eventually unloading Cutler to Chicago.   

So who benefits the most from this turmoil?  The Chicago Bears?  They nabbed a Pro Bowl QB.  Brandon Marshall?  He may get his wish and leave to another team.  The media?  They have something to cover for all of the offseason besides Favre.

I argue that it is the Seattle Seahawks.

Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell may have orchestrated one the greatest draft day steals when he sent the Seahawks 2009 second round pick to Denver for the Broncos first round pick in 2010.

With all of the uncertainty surrounding the Broncos offense, the Seahawks have a chance to creep into the top ten in next year’s draft if the Broncos struggle this season.  This selection could lead to USC’s Taylor Mays or Tennessee’s Eric Berry.

However, many think that the Seahawks are in prime position to grab the QB of the future.  Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow are all expected to be in the 2010 draft. 

There are still several questions that will remain unanswered till the end of the ’09 campaign.  One thing is for sure, as long as the Broncos stay in the headlines, Seattle Seahawks fans will continue to grin.

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