I messed with the Bronco mojo and am compelled to take partial responsibility for the loss against Jacksonville last Sunday (see "Crazy Rituals of Die-Hard Bronco Fans"). Yes, Kay and I were lured away from Joey, the Bronco mojo kitty, with the simple wave of box seat tickets and a VIP parking pass.

I am orange-blooded.

I am weak.

I hang my head in shame.

Okay, that was long enough. I'm glad I set aside my crazy Bronco fan ritual for the thrill of the Jaguar hunt. It was worth it in the end ... the not so pretty, agonizingly painful end.

Yet, even after that disaster of a game, I remain optimistic and faithful. Two and one isn't the worst-case scenario. The holes in our defense and the lack of special teams facing Indianapolis next week just might be, but that won't prevent me from wearing my orange Crocs and promising tuna to a mystical orange tabby cat.

The Bronco powers that be keep saying, "We need to improve and put points on the board." No argument there. But, as a die-hard who practices Bronco-ism on a weekly basis, I have to give them time to do just that. We all have to give them time to improve because it's the only thing that makes sense. With a fairly new team being lead by seasoned veterans, the Broncos will be a team to reckon with ... next year. That's why I was utterly baffled by the reaction of some fans last Sunday.

What's with the booing?

Here's a little dose of reality: Cutler is a first year rookie. That means, he will make bad decisions, throw more interceptions, drop the ball, panic from time-to-time and call time-outs in order to clarify plays.

Here's another little dose of reality: Cutler is a first year rookie with stats that would hold up to most veteran standards (overall rating of 84.3). A little Elway-like resemblance wouldn't you say? That means, he scrambles like nobody's business, throws with a golden-arm, handles himself well with the press and holds-up under extreme pressure. In a nutshell, he's a young leader with the ability to take your breath away ... soon.

Still more reality: This is a fairly young team with a new defensive program being put in place. That means lots of mistakes will be made. They will be run over by Mack truck offensive lines until they become a cohesive unit. In our favor,we have young rookie talent being groomed by the likes of Champ Bailey and John Lynch. Add pure determination, and they will eventually get it right, which again takes time. So, do you want to tar and feather them now or support them back into the Super Bowl later?

We are on the verge of greatness, folks, so I ask again, what's with the booing?

As a 37-year veteran Bronco fan, I can't help but wonder what happened to the classy Mile High fans of yesteryear. I remember wearing t-shirts with the "Three Amigos" and laughing in the face of those who dared to question their talent. I remember drinking Orange Crush soda in support of our infamous defense. I remember pridefully belting out that sappy song recorded by Jon Keyworth entitled "Make Those Miracles Happen." And, don't forget that the fourth quarter belongs to Denver.

We never said never in Bronco Country.

And, we never booed our guys. It was considered tacky. We were the example of what NFL fans should be. Coaches envied us. Players longed for our kind of fan support. Fans from other cities resented us. Teams feared facing us ... the twelfth man ... standing by our Broncos no matter what - never giving up that orange and blue heart.

Now, we're compared to the Raider fans. Insult duly noted.