There but for the grace of a 13.5-point favorite losing at home go we

I was definitely on board when Derek expressed surprise over Mike Shanahan's dismissal in Denver.  Definitely didn't see that coming, but it certainly highlighted how a couple down seasons might force even a guy like Shanahan (who had a rather lofty title in Denver, made all the decisions, etc etc.) out the door. 

Two months later, I find myself following the McDaniels-vs-Cutler drama out of Broncos HQ with an ever-increasing sense of perverse voyeurism.  Not exactly a healthy situation out there, is it.  Yikes -- I guess it isn't just Philly that's capable of drama in the papers. 

They went from having a potential franchise QB with a huge arm to an impasse between coach and player that may end up eanring Jay Cutler a ticket on Northwest to Detroit (where he will presumably be disappointed by L.J. Smith's poor blocking).  The owner actually had to release a statement Sunday night to clear up the noise that came out of McDaniel and Cutler's attempt to make nice. 

I cannot imagine that Broncos fans are thrilled by this (though I'm sure many of them are turning on Cutler as a result of his whingin'/ bellyachin'). 

Without veering too far into imaginary fantasy land, one can perhaps imagine a scenario where the Eagles dropped a few more games this season, and Joe Banner decided to make bigger changes this offseason.  And instead of complaining about a team that reached the NFC Championship game not overpaying to keep guys in their mid-thirties, we could be witnessing some sort of horrific break-up with a new coach and McNabb/ media drama that conjures up ghosts of the circus from the 2005 season.

Certainly, the offseason would have had a very different tone were it not for that 13.5-point favorite losing at home in Week 17.  Just a thought (for another slow news day). 

And now, just because, the Jay Cutler clip from South Park. In case you didn't know, he "might be good some day."