Former offensive lineman Mark Schlereth scorches Jerry Jeudy, Denver for 1-4 start

The Denver Broncos stink, and count former Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman Mark Schlereth among the frustrated.

Schlereth, whose nickname is Stink, believes the Broncos players need to held accountable for their 1-4 start this season – or traded away by the franchise.

And wide receiver Jerry Jeudy got the brunt of Schlereth’s rant on the latest edition of the "Stinkin’ Truth podcast with Mark Schlereth" before the Broncos travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 6.

“Jerry Jeudy, you can have. Like, I'm not trying to besmirch Jerry Jeudy. I don't even know Jerry Jeudy. You're a first-round guy who was touted as the most talented receiver in the most talented receiver draft class in the history of the National Football League. And you haven't been worth a squirt of p---. You really haven't. You've been a bust. Can’t stay healthy. Don't make plays. Disappear. Drop the ball," said Schlereth, who played 12 seasons in the NFL, six with the Broncos and six with Washington.

Did Jerry Jeudy respond to Schlereth’s comments?

Jeudy published several social media posts following Schlereth’s sound bite.

And it appeared Schlereth took offense to one of them.

Jeudy responded: "These old heads be some lame (expletive) haters."

To which Schlereth, who won two of his three Super Bowls with John Elway and the Broncos, responded:

"Does 'old heads' mean someone that has more playoff starts that you have career starts?"

Schelereth doesn’t hold back in Broncos rant

No, wait. There’s more.

Schlereth’s rant continued by mentioning wide receiver Cortland Sutton.

And then Schlereth proceeded to run down a list of Broncos coaches who were blamed for Denver’s demise in recent seasons.

Among them: Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio, former offensive coordinators Rich Scangarello (also known as Wrinkles) and Pat Shurmur, and their most recently fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

"It was Vance Joseph’s fault. No wait, it was Vic Fangio’s fault. Wait, no, it was Vic Fangio’s coordinator Wrinkles, it was his fault. No, no, it was Pat Shurmur’s fault. … No, it’s Nathaniel Hackett’s fault. No, it's all his assistant coaches’ fault, right?

"Now, it's Sean Payton's fault," Schlereth said.

“At some point, some point, don't you have to hold the players accountable, and don't you have to start moving off the players you have on your roster?"

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy warms up against the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Denver.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy warms up against the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Denver.

Are the Broncos bound for a fire sale?

The Broncos last week traded away defensive end Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers. Players such as Jeudy, Sutton and linebacker Frank Clark could be subject to trade rumors.

New Broncos coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton could have some decisions to make about the franchise’s direction before the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET.

"We’re not looking to do business with any of our players," Payton said Tuesday. "That doesn't prevent teams from calling at times. We just – you pick the phone up, but that's kind of where it's at."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jerry Jeudy, Broncos taken to task by Mark Schlereth, ex-NFL lineman

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