Time for news and headlines…

Former Broncos defensive lineman Pete Duranko died Friday at the age of 67 from ALS.  The Broncos official site has more on Duranko’s time in Denver.

John Fox told The Denver Post he envisions a ground-oriented offense.

Even with a July 19 scheduled mediation date, talks resume Monday for the NFL and players’ union.  NFL.com has a status update.

The Denver Post‘s Jeff Legwold has more on the NFL lockout and growing sense of urgency for a quick resolution.

Fort Worth Star Telegram writes about Tim Tebow’s autobiography.

FS West updates us on a story recently mentioned on DHF – where a UCLA football walk-on met Tebow, his idol.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

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Welcome to Sky Sports, Nick Ferguson. (Courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

The Denver Broncos have struggled lately producing wins on the football field, but the franchise has a penchant for churning out broadcasters.

The newest to join the lineup?  Former Broncos safety Nick Ferguson.

Ferguson and former NFL linebacker Rocky Boiman finished atop the 16-member class at Broadcast Boot Camp, a four day crash course/tutorial/audition for ex-players wanting to transition into the booth.  Lineman Maurice Williams, who spent a month last season with the Broncos, also participated in the New Jersey camp.

This was the camp’s fifth year.  Current NFL players, who have participated in past camps, skipped 2011 because of the ongoing lockout.

To sweeten the pot, this year’s performers vied for the opportunity to showcase their television talents.  As winner, Boiman and Ferguson will serve as analysts for NFL Network’s U.K. presence on Sky News.

Ferguson told NFLLabor.com:

“This an extraordinary opportunity for me to continue my broadcasting education, especially on Sky Sports in Europe where I won a World Bowl.”

Ferguson played for Denver from 2003-07.  He also played for the New York Jets (2000-02) and Houston (2008-09).  Boiman played eight NFL seasons (Tennessee, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh).

90 players participated in Broadcast Boot Camp from 2007-2010.  Of those, 36 landed broadcasting jobs.

For more on Broadcast Boot Camp, including ‘what not to do,’ go here.

Tim Tebow’s Late-Night Shenanigans

Best-selling autobiographer and starting-quarterback-in-waiting Tim Tebow returned to the talk show circuit this week.

Promoting “Through My Eyes,” Tebow – who apparently forgot his razor – chatted with Jimmy Kimmel Wednesday night.  Tebow also discussed his involvement (or lack thereof) with the NFL lockout, his horrible rookie haircut courtesy teammates, and how Urban Meyer learned of his commitment for Florida.

Here are Parts I and II of his interview, in case you missed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQFxNDAHh_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszW8zP-LxI

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

There’s an unspoken rule that communication professionals dislike figures.

Numbers?  Stats?  Math?  Bah humbug!

In my case, not so fast…though admittedly, I fall under the “exception” category.

Numbers play such a vital role in sports.  ERAs, quarterback passer ratings, magic numbers, NBA lottery odds, and now for Denver Horse Force, readership – thanks to site analytics.

Yes, you are a statistic.

Each Monday, I will reveal DHF’s three most popular stories of the week.  See what your fellow Broncos fans read June 13-19 (in ascending order):

3.  Mad Wicked Props

When a team goes 4-12, it’s hard to say that anyone on the roster deserves much of a positive spotlight.  However, football is a team sport, and one man usually can’t turn a tide of mediocrity…just ask Champ Bailey.

In the spirit of giving credit where it is due, and probably because there isn’t much to write about in the NFL these days, ESPN recently came up with an extensive spread on underrated players.  These are the guys who are usually solid game after game, yet don’t quite bring enough pizzazz to be considered “elite” at their positions.  Continue reading Mad Wicked Props >>>>

2. Is Anyone Surprised by Tim Tebow’s Autobiography Success?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Timothy Richard Tebow, whatever you touch turns to gold.

Make that gold into Ws, and your legend will skyrocket in the minds and hearts of Broncos fans.  That is, if you’re named starting quarterback.

Tebow’s on-the-field role with Denver in 2011 – clipboard carrier or carrier of dreams – remains untold.  That outcome is in doubt, but was the success of his recently released autobiography ever in question?  Continue reading Is Anyone Surprised by Tim Tebow’s Autobiography Success?  Bueller?  Bueller? >>>>

1. Let’s Make A Deal

A report today from CBSSports.com‘s Mike Freeman indicates a deal may be looming between NFL owners and players.

Perhaps it is the warmer weather.  Maybe it’s the fact that with the NBA season now officially finished, the pressure is getting cranked up as America enters its summer sports void (yes, baseball is in season, but usually doesn’t get interesting until August).  Who know exactly what lit the fire, but Freeman reports white smoke could soon waft out of the negotiating conclave.  Continue reading Let’s Make A Deal >>>>

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Timothy Richard Tebow, whatever you touch turns to gold.

Make that gold into Ws, and your legend will skyrocket in the minds and hearts of Broncos fans.  That is, if you’re named starting quarterback.

What could make life even better for Tim Tebow? Two words: starting quarterback. (Courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Tebow’s on-the-field role with Denver in 2011 – clipboard carrier or carrier of dreams – remains untold.  That outcome is in doubt, but was the success of his recently released autobiography ever in question?

Of course not.  Just ask Nathan Whitaker.

Wait – who?

Whitaker co-authored “Through My Eyes,” now No. 6 on The New York Times nonfiction best-sellers list.  He’s also no dummy, telling a Florida radio station he expected Tebow’s life story to be a hit:

“It’s really remarkable the impact he has on people and the way people follow him…It’s interesting to see the number of people who walk away moved and emotional after interacting with him.  He doesn’t take that lightly. He moves through the line quickly, but he stops to engage folks, looks everybody in the eye and gives them that impish grin of his.”

Chalk one up to charisma.

The book’s popularity is the latest offseason accolade for Tebow: Jockey endorsing, statue unveiling, packed book signings, and media appearances galore.

Oh, and don’t forget that photo of Tebow’s golf swing, demonstrating his freakish fitness.

In between the glitz and glamour, Tebow has worked out with teammates.  He even arranged a trip to Jacksonville for Broncos wide receivers.  Last month, he proudly boasted his improvement under center, a longtime knock on him by critics.

Tebow would gladly welcome a starting role.  It’s the only logical continuation of this golden offseason.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Uh…where did the weekend go?

Over in a flash.

Like you, I’m getting up all to early this morning.  Like you, I will drown myself in all drinks caffeine.  Unlike you, I won’t need to catch up on Broncos headlines.  I’ve already done that.  I now present to you my findings.

It seems the debate this offseason among Broncos fans is Orton or Tebow.  The Denver Post tells us there are more questions that need answering.

Also from The Denver Post, Tim Tebow’s autobiography continues its climb on Amazon’s best-sellers list.

Fox Sports discusses some possible offseason roster moves, including possibilities for Denver to bolster its running game.

Jackson Sun reports a former Denver Bronco now has a new job – with Tennessee’s wildlife commission.

Von Miller fires back at critics after some pictures emerge…of his latest tattoo, writes Hip Hop Wired.

Bleacher Report profiles Josh McDaniels and his possible impact on Rams QB Sam Bradford.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

While the Horse Force extended the holiday weekend by an extra day, others barely missed a beat working right up until, and right after Memorial Day.  You can include Tim Tebow on that list.

Jabar Gaffney was one of three Broncos wide receivers to practice with Tim Tebow over the weekend. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

The 2nd year quarterback had a big day Tuesday as his autobiography, “Though My Eyes” hit bookstore shelves.  ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tebow spent part of his Memorial Day on the clock, signing copies of his book at an event in Jacksonville, Florida.

Speaking of Jacksonville, that’s where a trio of Broncos receivers found themselves shortly before the holiday.  Tebow footed the bill to bring the three out to northern Florida so they could workout together.  Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, and Britt Davis all made the trip.  Tebow invited the entire receiving corps, but Eric Decker had a schedule conflict, and Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal are still recovering from injuries.

Tebow put the trio up in a nearby hotel, and then spent considerable time working with them on conditioning, and timing.  ESPN reports the receivers who attended considered it such a success that they’ve already made plans to get the band back together very soon for two weeks of intensive workouts in Arizona.

Semi-Symposium

Newly minted NFL rookies have yet to even start work, let alone get back to it.  Luckily, for all those new to the league, there will be a chance to start learning how to become a professional.  The NFLPA announced it will hold its on rookie symposium June 28-29th, in Washington, DC.  Wonder if those rookies will get a crash course in federal mediation while they’re there?

Aside from providing Cris Carter with a soapbox to continue proclaiming the NFL “our league,” the symposium is an important event for rookies each year.  Learning how to manage your money better than Rocket Ismail, protect yourself better than Plaxico Burress (who’s set to be released from prison in just days), and be more professional than Ryan Leaf (who’s recovering from brain surgery) is crucial to every rookie.  The symposium is normally run by the NFL, but with a labor dispute still highly unresolved, the league canceled its event.  That paved the way for the NFLPA to step in and put together the event on its own dime.

The NFL said it cancelled the symposium because the event requires coordination among a number of professionals, and with a lockout barring the league from having contact with the players, the NFL thought it unfair to keep so many people’s schedules on hold.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

You know what’s scarier than Friday the 13th?

Not having any Broncos headlines.

The good news is that’s just a silly nightmare and it will never happen…

Denver Broncos hosted ‘A Night With the Coaches’ Wednesday night at Invesco Field.  John Elway, Brian Xanders, John Fox, Mike McCoy, Dennis Allen, and Jeff Rodgers answered questions from a select audience.  The team’s official website has a recap.

Broncos to media ratio at the latest player-organized workout: nearly 2:1 reports The Denver Post.

A certain possible starting quarterback wasn’t among those at the Denver practice. Savannah Morning News has the latest stop in the Tim Tebow celebrity circuit.

Digital Journal has details on Tebow’s autobiography book tour.

Football News Now points out the Broncos are all about speed with its new look defense.

The Broncos’ front office isn’t lacking the personality department writes Colorado Springs Independent.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @Aerys_Broncos and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

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MY OFFSEASON ‘TO-DO’ LIST

By Tim Tebow

• Be focus of 60-minute ESPN “Year of the Quarterback” special: √
• Establish charity golf tournament: √
• Show off modeling/acting skills for Jockey: √
• Voted cover of Madden 12: Eh, maybe next year.
• Release autobiography by age 24: √
• Have statue dedicated at alma mater: As of Saturday, √

As if Tim Tebow needed another boost to the never-ending publicity machine.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will have his life-sized likeness unveiled outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during halftime of the Gators’ spring game tomorrow.  Fellow Florida Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier (1966) and Danny Wuerffel (1996) will also be honored with statues.

GatorSports.com reports the statues were funded through private donations and Tebow, Spurrier, and Wuerffel are scheduled to participate in tomorrow’s ceremony.

Take that, Kyle Orton!

Tim Tebow has a statue.  A LIFE-SIZED statue at his alma mater.

I haven’t visited West Lafayette, Indiana in several years (and I’m not complaining), but I don’t recall ever seeing any Kyle Orton shrine outside Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium, nor have I heard any rumblings of any such plans in the works.

Not to be outdone, Purdue does have a “big unveiling” of its own at tomorrow’s Black and Gold spring game…

A new Purdue Pete mascot – sans hammer as that was deemed too violent.

Alma mater honors aside, there is still one other item on Tebow’s offseason checklist:

• Become Broncos starting quarterback: ?

Maybe Orton will have the last laugh there.

Purdue makes a big deal out of its 'World's Largest Drum,' but notably has no enshrinement of an alum and current NFL quarterback not named Drew Brees (or Colts backup QB Curtis Painter for that matter).

Tim Tebow may be the newest face of Jockey, but he won’t be the face of Madden 12.

Keep on smiling, Tim. Life isn't too shabby right now, is it? (Courtesy: Craig O'Neal)

The uber-popular quarterback was soundly defeated by Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles in first round voting of SportsNation’s Madden 12 cover contest.  While Tebow is among the most visible players in the league – maybe all of North American sport – he was the underdog 11-seed.  Final results show the matchup wasn’t even close.

427,811 votes

Charles: 64% (273,799 votes)

Tebow: 36% (154,012 votes)

Charles now faces Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew in a second-round running back showdown.

This minor “setback” aside, life is still good for Tebow.  His Jockey ad campaign begins this week.  His autobiography will be released May 24 (you can pre-order now on Amazon).  He was the recent guest of honor at the home opener of the AFL’s Orlando Predators, and he may be the Broncos’ starting quarterback come Week 1.