Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady is set to undergo surgery to repair his right shoulder. Clady hurt his shoulder in the team’s regular-season finale, but did play in the Broncos’ divisional-round loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Denver Post reports Clady, who was selected to the Pro Bowl and withdrew due to injury, should be okay for the 2013 season, but will likely miss much of the Broncos’ offseason program.
Ryan Clady will undergo surgery on his right shoulder. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)
Clady is slated to become an unrestricted free agent, though John Elway has said keeping the tackle in Denver is a top offseason priority.
Brian Xanders served purpose as Broncos’ GM, then became expendable - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Daniel Nace. Q: Is Brian Xanders no longer with the Broncos because he didn’t support John Elway’s draft decisions this year? A: Xanders was the team’s general manager in title only, and his value was shrinking. He didn’t have the power in player personnel that most NFL general managers have. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
Kiszla: Peyton Manning might get Broncos’ run game off the ground - At first blush, the claim by Broncos running back Willis McGahee seems preposterous. With pass-happy Peyton Manning as Denver’s quarterback, McGahee insists his rushing statistics can improve from the 1,199 yards he gained last season behind the ground-and-pound attack directed by Tim Tebow. Read more the Denver Post >>>>
Broncos’ Champ Bailey still cornerback through and through - Fourteen years into his NFL career and Champ Bailey said the video doesn’t lie. If he still runs like a cornerback, if he still covers like a cornerback, then the 33-year-old, 11-time Pro Bowl selection is still a cornerback. And that any late-career move to safety — ‘a la Hall of Famer Rod Woodson — isn’t even on his the radar. ”I still feel like a corner, I still see a corner,” Bailey said Tuesday. In his heart? Bailey is asked. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
Porter Fitting in Well - Cornerback Tracy Porter has been quick to adjust to a new defense in Denver and thinks the Broncos secondary can be among the best in the NFL this season. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
Notebook: Manning Benefits Defense - The offense is excited about the addition of Peyton Manning at quarterback, but the defense knows the signal caller can benefit that side of the ball as well. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
How a Healthy Peyton Manning Will Transform the Broncos Offense - Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed the first step in transforming the offense he’s taking over in Denver on Monday, stepping onto the field for the first offseason practice as part of the Broncos’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs). If he’s healthy, Manning could help transform the Broncos previously gadget offense into one of the league’s very best. His overall preparation, mastery of the playbook and the effect he could have on the rest of the offensive roster are just three reasons why a transformation under Manning should be not only possible, but expected. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
Denver Broncos’ 5 Best and Worst Moves of the 2012 Offseason - As NFL minicamps are underway and the dust begins to settle after one of the most productive offseasons in history, it’s time to take stock of what the Denver Broncos have accomplished since the conclusion of the 2011 season, which saw their first playoff appearance in six years. The Broncos have certainly been major players in the offseason, captivating national attention with blockbuster trades, like that of Tim Tebow, and unprecedented free-agent signings, like that of Peyton Manning. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
Willis McGahee believes Peyton Manning provides relief - Willis McGahee led a Denver Broncos rushing attack that ranked first in rushing attempts and yards in 2011. The 30-year-old was a yard short of the third 1,200-yard season of his career, a mark he thinks he can reach in 2012 with Peyton Manning replacing Tim Tebow at quarterback, writes Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. Read more from NFL.com >>>>
The news that the Broncos parted ways with general manager Brian Xanders seems relevant…I’m just not entirely sure how it’s relevant.
For starters, don’t bank on Denver or Xanders ever publicly recounting the exact circumstances that led to his elimination a year before his contract expired. Publicly Xanders has said he wants to pursue career advancements that can’t happen with the Broncos. The obvious translation of that is that he wants Elway’s job, and realizes it would take at least several years of Elway going full on Matt Millen to prompt an ouster. The Broncos say they’re streamlining now that Elway is acclimated. Two obvious translations there. Option one is that Xanders had become marginalized, and option two is that he hadn’t, but Elway wanted to consolidate power in his office which would’ve marginalized Xanders. That’s relevant, but it’s not new.
The moment Peyton Manning held up his orange 18 it was fully evident this was John Elway’s team. The VP of football operations didn’t need to axe a GM to prove that point.
Addition by subtraction? (courtesy Rocky Mountain News Photos via Flickr)
Without any clear evidence of a managerial rift, or a daring power grab, this story is basically finished. Xanders is gone. Elway is in charge. While this new twist may not amount to much more than a ripple of news on its own, it is part of a larger story wave: John Elway is putting himself on an island. That isn’t meant to connote a misstep by Ol’ Number 7. That’s what a boss usually does; assume more of the risk to garner more of the credit.
Elway has put the Broncos checkbook to work, spending on a gamble that could mean Super Bowls, or super futility should Peyton Manning’s neck not hold up. Elway opted to pursue an apparent heir for Manning in the second round of the draft rather than select a potential 2012 starter. Now John Elway has dismissed the man who likely provided the most help reintroducing Elway to the the league, and the workings of a front office. If the Denver Broncos return to prominence as an AFC power, and sustain that level of competition then Elway is a hero. If they wallow between average and disappointing seasons then he’s the goat. There’s no way around it.
As for Xanders…his tenure in Denver certainly had to be interesting. He joined the team at just about the worst possible time – 2008. In roughly four years he worked for and with three different head coaches, two of whom were basically allowed to veto any of his personnel work if it didn’t fit their ideologies. Still, when Xanders was an assistant the Broncos went 8-8. When he became a quasi-GM Denver produced two losing seasons (not nearly as much his fault as it was Josh McDaniels’). When he became a real GM the Broncos went 8-8. His personnel work gave coaches a chance to succeed, but never exceed.
Ultimately, Xanders’ time in Denver was spent bending to the will of someone else. In the EFX triumverate he played the role of esteemed advisor rather than partial ruler. If his career aspirations involved more power he wasn’t going to achieve them with this organization. It’s Elway’s team now as it was during his playing career, but this time he won’t get 14 years to deliver that Super Bowl.
Who is the Broncos’ nose tackle? Watch for Siliga, Bannan, Warren and maybe Franklin - The Broncos addressed one defensive tackle position in the draft with the selection of Derek Wolfe with the No. 36 overall pick overall. But Wolfe is a “3-technique” defensive tackle/defensive end. The 3-technique means Wolfe plays in the “3” gap between the offensive guard and tackle. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
Q&A with Mike Adams - When safety Mike Adams first signed in Denver, he said joining the Broncos ”just felt right.” Less than two months later, Adams is entrenched in the team’s offseason conditioning program, working hard alongside his new teammates as the 2012 season inches closer. The ninth-year veteran sat down with DenverBroncos.com Wednesday to talk offseason workouts, picking off Peyton Manning and his expectations for the season. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
10 Most Overrated Denver Broncos in Franchise History - Overrated. It’s one of our favorite terms to throw around in the realm of sports these days. ”Tim Tebow is so overrated.” ”Joe Namath was so overrated.” We have overrated lists on everything from quarterbacks to cheerleaders. But what is overrated? When you had high expectations and fail to live up to those expectations, then yes, you are overrated. When you’re thought of as being a top performer, yet never really produce? Yes, you are overrated. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
The 10 Most Shocking Offseason Developments in NFL History - The NFL offseason is one of the more entertaining times of the sports year. It features plenty of trades, big free-agent signings and the draft. Each year we have a few surprises and moves that shock the football world. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
A Tale Of Two Offseasons: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs Test The NFL’s Quarterback Maxims - Cecil Lammey called the AFC West a two-team race on Chop Talk on Sunday night. Many sportswriters are inclined to agree. While it’s unwise to ever count out Philip Riversand the rest of the San Diego Chargers, the reality is that the franchise failed to take care of business when the division was handed to them on a silver platter year after year. Now? Thanks to the front office work of John Elway and Scott Pioli, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are the talk of the AFC West. Read more from SB Nation >>>>
Rich Gannon Speaks About Peyton Manning’s Challenges - Former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon spoke out on Peyton Manning and the difficulties that he will face in coming back after neck surgery and playing in a different system. Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>
Denver Broncos’ Season Plans For Rookie RB Ronnie Hillman - The Denver Broncos sent the Cleveland Browns their third-round pick, No. 87 overall, and a fourth-rounder (No. 120) in order to move up to pick 67 to select RB Ronnie Hillman. A workhorse for the Aztecs, Hillman finished his college career with 3,243 yards rushing. That’s third on the school’s all-time list, trailing only Marshall Faulk (4,589 yards) and Larry Ned (3,462). Read more from Rant Sports >>>>
Tom Nalen Thinks Timing Of Xanders Firing ‘Kind Of Weird’ - Former Bronco Tom Nalen says he’s dropped 65 pounds since his playing days as a Pro Bowl center for Denver. He was the special guest on Xfinity Monday Live!, just hours after Broncos general manager Brian Xanders was let go. Read more from CBS Denver >>>>
A look back at Brian Xanders’ time in Denver - Brian Xanders’ tenure in Denver lasted only four years, but in that time, he worked with three head coaches, and never had final say over personnel matters. He and the Broncos parted ways on Monday. Here’s a look at Xanders’ four seasons with the Broncos, including key personnel moves since he was promoted to general manager in 2009. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
Checking In with Robert Ayers - DenverBroncos.com caught up with defensive lineman Robert Ayers after he finished his workout on Tuesday. Here’s what he had to say about his 2012 offseason thus far. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
John Elway’s Bold Offseason Moves Will Bring Denver Broncos Super Bowl Title -The Denver Broncos clearly made some noise this offseason, especially with the addition of Peyton Manning. But even if we take Manning out of the equation, Denver still had a solid offseason to prepare for 2012. With that, let’s take a look at how much better equipped the Broncos are to get through their brutal schedule this season. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
Denver Broncos: Why Peyton Manning Makes for a Perfect Brock Osweiler Mentor - The Denver Broncos did not sign Peyton Manning this spring to be a quarterbacking babysitter for whoever the team eventually drafted to be the developmental player behind him. But that doesn’t mean Manning won’t be the perfect mentor for former Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler, who the Broncos drafted at No. 57 overall in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
John Elway Unquestionably Sits Atop The Summit Of Denver Broncos - Even when leaving the Denver Broncos, Brian Xanders doesn’t a say in the matter. Instead John Elway read a statement for the both of them detailing the move — the men responsible these last 16 months for the personnel matters of around Mile High. Read more from SB Nation >>>>
Former Broncos DT Ryan McBean signs with Ravens - Former Broncos defensive tackle Ryan McBean has signed with the Baltimore Ravens. McBean became a free agent last month after the Broncos withdrew McBean’s unsigned restricted free agent tender that would have paid him $1.3 million in 2012. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
Broncos, Xanders Part Ways - Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway released a statement as the Broncos and former General Manager Brian Xanders have parted ways. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
Elvis Back in the Building - Elvis Dumervil was ready. Ready to get back to work. Ready to meet his new teammates. Ready to build toward something special. ”I think it’s always important to go back home and recharge — it was a long year last year,” said Dumervil, who spent the first part of his offseason in Miami with family. “But I was ready to get back. I just wanted to come here, get that camaraderie going and be part of something with the team, get ready for this great year that we’re going to have.” Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
Denver Broncos: 5 Reasons Denver Will Improve from Last Season - The Denver Broncos have not approached a season with such high expectations since 1998, when they were coming off the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. That team did not disappoint and the fans in Denver are hoping that the 2012 version of the Broncos will be able to do the same. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
Tebow, Manning, Elway battle for charity - Looks like Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow will be competing against each other in Denver after all this season — and John Elway is joining the fray for good measure. This competition is friendly, though, and won’t be waged on the gridiron. Read more from FOX Sports >>>>
Brandon Stokley Ready To Play And Teach For Broncos - If any Denver Broncos players threw a party on March 19, the day Peyton Manning announced he would be a Bronco, it was the wide receivers. The signing was a great thing for young guys like Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, but it also put the proverbial paddles to Brandon Stokley’s near done career. Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>
Derek Wolfe to Have Solid Rookie Season for Denver Broncos - The Denver Broncos traded out of the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft and still landed the man they wanted in the early second round. They needed to bring youth to their defensive tackle position and apparently they got who they wanted all along with Cincinnati’s DT Derek Wolfe. Read more from Rant Sports >>>>
General manager Brian Xanders is out with one year remaining on his contract with the Denver Broncos. The Denver Post reports Xanders and the team mutually agreed to part way after three years as team GM.
Brian Xanders and the Denver Broncos have parted ways. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)
John Elway, vice president of football operations, told the Denver Post:
“It was tough because I have a great deal of respect for Brian as a football man but also as a person. Even more so as a person. He was very helpful to me in this first year getting acclimated back to the NFL. I owe him a lot. Just from the conversation we had, we just thought for his career and for the Broncos we felt that now was the best time to go a different way.”
Elway added the team is not looking for a replacement.
Since joining the Broncos’ front office, Elway has assumed many typical general manager duties, such as final say in roster moves, something Xanders has always wanted, but never had in Denver.
Before joining the Broncos in 2008 as assistant general manager, Xanders spent 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Xanders told the Denver Post:
“John and I had a lengthy conversation today and we mutually decided to part ways for the best interest of my career aspirations. I appreciated everything that Pat Bowlen has done for the Broncos and for bringing me here in 2008. It was great working with Coach John Fox. I’m telling you, he’s a great coach to work with. And it was great working with John Elway.”
Perhaps the worst part of my NFL Draft night was the fact that a fiber optic line break left me without television or internet service for the entirety of the first round. The good news is that it didn’t really matter whether or not I watched the draft as the Broncos ducked, side-stepped, and ultimately relieved themselves of a first round selection. Not that I think there’s much panic over this in Denver, but just for the record…Denver’s delay is okay.
Would it have been nice to see the Broncos pick up a little more than an additional 4th round selection, and slightly improved 4th round positioning for all their efforts? Sure. However, the Broncos storyline in Round 1 of the draft is a giant “To Be Continued…”. Come 5:00 p.m. MST, I sincerely hope my restored TV and internet service holds up because I have a hunch there will be plenty to discuss by the time night two of the draft comes to a close.
Despite Denver’s recession back into the 2nd Round, most all the names realistically mentioned as candidates for Denver’s pick at 25 are still on the board. Jerel Worthy, Devon Still, Lamar Miller…they’re all there. Also, three 4th round picks. No one outside the EFX realm can no for sure how the Broncos plan to execute this year’s draft strategy, but it seems very plausible Denver could bundle two of those picks for an additional 2nd rounder. Perhaps the Broncos could leave the 4th round entirely by bundling the remaining pick with their 6th rounder for another 3rd round selection. As it stands now the team will make three selections tonight, but Denver could very well continue its maneuvering to grab one or two more picks tonight. Hauling 4-5 picks out of the 2nd and 3rd rounds, the engine room of the draft, wouldn’t be too shabby.
For many Broncos fans who are still thinking positively about last night’s draft decisions, the only other downside to the proceedings (apart from not collecting greater value in the trades) would be the fact that the Broncos basically gave Dont’a Hightower to the Patriots. Considering the expectations this team has with the arrival of Peyton Manning, it’s somewhat disheartening to see the Patriots improve on Denver’s dime…or at least on Denver’s draft selection. Then again, the fact that the Broncos are now in the discussion as a team that could go head to head with New England is an improvement over, “just trying to keep up with the Chargers.” However, this trade also shows Denver: a) is confident in its current depth at linebacker, b) is smart enough to realize Hightower could have difficulty in its 4-3 scheme, c) believes it can find better value at the position in later rounds, or d) all of the above.
So there’s plenty to watch for tonight. Keeping up with the recent trend, the Denver Broncos always seem to find a way to make things interesting.
That same Broncos plane is now bound for Raleigh, North Carolina for another meeting with Peyton Manning. Multiple sources report Manning will work out for the Broncos. Manning is visiting coach David Cutcliffe at Duke University, scene of the recent “leaked” throwing video.
The Broncos contingent includes Brian Xanders, John Elway, John Fox, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, quarterbacks coach Adam Gase, and a medical team, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer.
NFL insiders caution Friday’s workout does not mean a deal with Denver is imminent; if anything, the Broncos want – and deserve – to see Manning in action, and similar meetings with other contenders could or have already happened.
Of course, if Manning somehow finds himself on the flight back to Centennial, then yeah, the Broncos are probably atop the list – especially if Manning is wearing a navy and orange hat.
Does Peyton have one of these yet?
With Miami now out of the running, Denver is believed to be one of three finalists for Manning, along with Tennessee and Arizona. Manning met with Arizona last weekend, and spent Wednesday with the Titans.
Sources said last week Manning was hoping to make a decision before Tuesday’s start of free agency. Manning is perhaps methodical to a fault, so it’s not too surprising that “deadline” has come and passed. ESPN Radio in Denver tweeted Thursday a Broncos insider thought Manning would decide by 2:00 p.m. MT Friday, which adds a level of intrigue – as if that was lacking – to Friday’s meeting.
UPDATE: Michael Lombardi of NFL Network reports that Peyton will also throw for the Titans, though no date has been set, suggesting Manning Watch will last a little bit longer.
Multiple sources report Peyton Manning is on his way to Denver to meet with the Broncos.
Manning Watch 2012...dun dun dun. (courtesy Craig O'Neal)
Manning is aboard a Broncos’ private plane with John Elway, John Fox, and Brian Xanders. The plane is coming in from Stillwater, Okla., where the Broncos trio attended Oklahoma State’s pro day.
Thanks to “flight tracking,” we know that sane plane, which landed in Stillwater Thursday, left Stillwater this morning to pick up Manning in Miami. Manning owns a condo in the Miami area. Just over an hour later, the plane returned to Stillwater to meet up with Denver’s pro day team for the trip home.
Manning will also meet with the Cardinals and Dolphins. Insiders say Manning hopes to make a decision before next week’s start of free agency.
As they say, this is a fluid story and stay tuned for details.
