2012 Could Have Broncos Fans Seeing Orange

With the possibility of an impending lockout, potential quarterback controversies, and torn achilles tendons among Denver Broncos headlines, it is important to look for bright spots to maintain optimism.  Sometimes that means looking forward.

In 2012 Predominantly Orange could be more than a super awesome place to get your Broncos fix, but it could also mark the return of the super awesome jerseys that Broncos fans have come to adore.

Woody Paige of the Denver Post was the first to report this news in December saying that the Broncos were planning to bring back the orange jerseys full time in 2012.

At this point it was pure speculation, and the Broncos made it clear that they were still in the process of evaluating which jersey the Broncos would wear in the future.  Since then, the story has grown legs and is off running.

In early February, the Broncos began talks with the NFL that would make the alternative, burnt-orange color jersey, their full-time home jersey beginning in the 2012 season.  League approval of this request would likely come in March during owners meetings, but with labor negotiations taking precedents at this point, it could come much later.

It was in 1997 that the Broncos introduced their current jersey design and for the first time since 1962, orange was replaced as the predominant color by blue.  Though the Broncos maintained that the predominant color was still orange, the fans did not see it.  Maybe the only thing that made this transition easier were the two consecutive Super Bowls that the team ended up winning at the jerseys inception.  That was then and this is now.  It seems that Broncos fans are ready for a new beginning which also embraces their storied past.

Though a spokesman for the Broncos says no official decision has been made one way or the other on the team’s primary jersey color, they are saying that a number of fans have shown interest in the team going back to its orange uniforms.  Though fans have never really let go of the old jerseys, it was after the team hosted an “Orange Sunday” at INVESCO Field against the New York Jets that the cries for a jersey change really picked up steam.

The team has conceded that they have done surveys that show that the orange jersey is the overwhelming favorite amongst fans.  If the Broncos do in fact make a push for changing the color and the league approves it, the burnt-orange color would be the home jersey for eight or nine of the 10 games.  The dark blue jersey, which had been the home jersey, would be worn in one or two games.

There is no guarantee that the team will be making the switch in 2012, but there is no denying that there is an orange movement.  BringBackBroncosOrange.com plans on sending a hard copy of their petition to the Broncos once they reach 10,000 signatures and as of February 13th, there are 9,580.  Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has always listened when the fans speak, and with requests as audible as they currently are, we could quite well be seeing a return of the mighty orange jersey.

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