A former Denver Broncos player comes to Bo Nix’s defense.
The Brocos quarterback was widely criticized after his Oct. 15 performance in a 17-14 overtime win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football,” including a scathing take on former NFL quarterback and current Prime Video analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick on the postgame show.
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“It was really frustrating to watch,” Fitzpatrick said. “Bo Nix doesn’t play competitively, it’s almost disrespectful to the quarterback position the way he plays football.”
Ed McCaffrey, who played for the Broncos from 1995 to 2003 and won three Super Bowls during his NFL career, took to social media Friday to defend Nix.
“Stop, stop,” McCaffrey wrote of Nix’s criticism of X. “It’s already enough. Apparently winning isn’t enough anymore.”
Nix, in his sixth game after fracturing his ankle in a January playoff game, completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards and rushed four times for 2 yards in Thursday’s win over the Seahawks. The Broncos finished with just 168 total yards.
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Fitzpatrick went so far as to question Nix’s effort and competitiveness after the game and even said that Broncos head coach Sean Payton had “no confidence” in him.
“I can only imagine how Sean Payton feels,” Fitzpatrick said. “I mean, Sean Payton, (offensive coordinator) Davis Webb, everyone blocking for (Nix). He’s not competing right now, and it’s something he’s hung his hat on for the last two years. I don’t know if he’s still hurt, I don’t know what’s going on. But it’s not enough. It’s an effort.”
McCaffrey objected to this criticism. In response to a fan who said it was fair to criticize Nix, former wide receiver and father of 49ers superstar running back Christian McCaffrey said it was “fair” to “criticize the throws, the decisions, the offense.”
“But questioning Bo’s heart and desire to win? That’s another story,” McCaffrey wrote.
The Broncos are 4-2 this season after facing a daunting start to the schedule that included wins over the Jaguars, Rams, Chargers and Seahawks as well as losses to the Chiefs and undefeated 49ers.
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“The grass is not always greener,” McCaffrey told another commenter. “And 4-2 isn’t bad.”
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: “It’s already enough.” Former Bronco defends QB Bo Nix after scathing criticism
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