Here’s a couple of points that Shanny and Ted Sundquist should have asked my advice on.

1. Mobley and Gold

Both John Mobley and Ian Gold are excellent LBs. The problem is that Mobley’s spine is STILL bruised -- he's at the tail end of what was expected to be a 5 - 6 month recovery and still not close to being healed -- and he may not be able to play this season and Gold is seeking to sign with another team.

Even if Mobley can play, I suspect that -- considering the length of time he’s taking to recover and the severity of his injury -- he may play softer and be more timid than is good for the team or his career.

In light of that, it makes no sense to allow Gold to scoot via free agency.

Here’s what Denver should do.

Ask Mobley to take the season off . . . paid, and sign Gold to a cap friendly one year deal.

What good to have Mobley back on the field if he’s made a cripple part way through the season? His injury is too severe and too serious to risk his health and the loss of his ability and leadership permanently and needlessly.

Gold isn’t drawing much interest, not coming off a serious knee injury and at the salary he's asking for. So signing a one year deal with Denver would both fill a need for the Broncos and allow Gold back onto the FA market next year, after he’s had time to regain his former speed, strength and agility. It’d be a winning situation for both sides.

Now, as I just implied, I’m not sure that Gold will be recovered from his own injury enough to be the same force he has always been. At least not before the ‘05 season. But even if he’s still a year away from 100%, the depth he would add is crucial to the success of the LB corps. Even if Gold can’t start, without him Denver becomes frighteningly thin at LB.

2. The OC job.

Denver’s big jump from contenders to SB winners had at least as much to do with Alex Gibbs taking over the O-line as it did Mike Shannahan taking over the team.

I also wonder if it is mere coincidence that as Gibbs role coaching the O-line diminished, Denver’s overall success lessened and offensive production became more erratic.

Now, I really like Gary Kubiak a lot. Problem is, he’s too damned much like Shanny. They need someone who is just as good with Xs and Os, yet a superior motivator. You know, like Alex Gibbs.

Let’s face it, after a faltering defensive secondary and half-hearted special teams play, Denver’s primary reason for losing games is that neither Shanny nor Gary are especially good motivators.

Gibbs, on the other hand, is a famously effective motivator.

Letting Gibbs go was just boneheaded. Kubiak should have been pushed out of the picture and Gibbs given the OC job. If it took Shanny and Pat Bowlen on their knees begging, or paying him more money than Shanny makes, or a free case of Eskimo Bars every day for the rest of his life, then that’s what should have been done.

The biggest loss this season was not Clinton Portis. It was Alex Gibbs.