Broncos’ traffic jam at cornerback made Cassius Vaughn expendable - Today’s questions about the Broncos come from Ted Shih.  Q: With all of their problems at cornerback last year, did it make sense for the Broncos to trade Cassius Vaughn? And for a fullback?  A: Vaughn’s departure may be felt on special teams before it’s noticed in the secondary. He would have been one of the Broncos’ top kickoff returners this year.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>

Broncos Add Defensive Quality Control Coach - The Broncos had an opening at defensive quality control coach after Wayne Nunnely retired and Jay Rodgers was promoted to defensive line coach.  The team has filled that position with the hiring of Cory Undlin, who joins the team after spending the last three seasons under Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio as Jacksonville’s defensive backs coach.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Saccomano Honored for 35 Years - On Tuesday, the Broncos held their 13th annual Employee Service Awards, and one employee in particular took home the biggest honor.  Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Saccomano (pictured above, left) has been with the team for 35 years, and Team President Joe Ellis stood in front of the room to say a few words about the Broncos veteran.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Learning From Manning - Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Matthew Willis, three wide receivers that return to the Broncos’ roster from last season, have started a combined 21 games in their careers.  Their new quarterback, Peyton Manning, has started 208.  That experience is something that the wide receivers are taking advantage of, learning as much as they can from Manning during OTAs.  “It’s been great,” Decker said about working with Manning. “He’s such an intelligent person, it’s unbelievable. He digests (information) and tells us what is going through his mind.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Eric Decker: Broncos’ focus on field without Tim Tebow - When Tebowmania was happening in Denver, Broncos players dutifully said it wasn’t a distraction. Now that Tebow is gone, they all seem happy for the change.  ”To be honest with you, it is nice just to kind of focus back on football, and we talk football and there’s not — there’s still a lot of excitement here with the football,” wide receiver Eric Decker told KDSP-FM, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. “I mean, he is a great teammate. I respect him greatly. But again, like you were saying, a lot of the focus right now is on football, is really talking about how we’re going to form this team to win some ballgames next year.”  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

Denver Broncos Greatest Defensive Plays: #4 - Once again we return to the early 1990′s for another huge moment in my adolescent fanhood of the Denver Broncos.  This one came in the regular season and helped ensure I would idolize Steve Atwater for the rest of his career. Naturally, we are talking about Atwater blowing up Kansas City Chiefs fullback, Christian “The Nigerian Nightmare” Okoye.  Read more from Bronco Talk >>>>

NFL Rumors: Indianapolis Colts Wanted Kyle Orton in 2011? – The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a very ugly 2011 season. Heading into 2012, the team looks extremely different, and a lot of the pieces from that miserable 2011 unit are now gone.  Former general manager, Bill Polian (who was fired during the offseason), says that if the NFL had made the trade deadline longer last year, he would have considered trading for Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.  Read more from Opposing Views >>>>

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In typical holiday weekend fashion, It’s slim pickins in today’s headline roundup, and what headlines we do have all pertain to Knowshon Moreno.

Vaughn traded; Moreno and Williams to follow? - On Wednesday, the Denver Broncostraded cornerback Cassius Vaughn to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for fullback Chris Gronkowski. According to Mike Klis, it was the first trade executed by Matt Russell, the team’s new Director of Player Personnel.  That presumably means that Russell has essentially taken over duties which were held by former General Manager Brian Xanders, who the team parted ways with earlier in the month.  The Vaughn for Gronkowski trade was the first executed by Russell, but it likely won’t be the last.  Read more from Bronco Talk >>>>

NFL Rumors: Is Knowshon Moreno Part of Denver Broncos’ Long-Term Plans? - Knowshon Moreno, the Denver Broncos 2009 first-round pick, may have already played his last down in the Mile High City.  While the Peyton Manning-led offense will be drastically different than the Tim Tebow-led offense, a balanced and well-established running game will be vital to the team’s attack.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Should Knowshon Moreno Be Back with Denver Broncos in 2012? Fan’s Take - Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno is facing an uphill battle if he wants to be a member of the Denver Broncos this coming season. Coming off both a torn ACL and a DUI arrest in the off-season, Moreno has had some difficult times. Combine that with some increased competition in the backfield, and it looks like Moreno could be on his way out in Denver.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

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Broncos’ Mike Adams hoping to uphold tradition of No. 20 - It was almost unsettling for Mike Adams this week as the Broncos’ defense lined up for the first time against the Broncos’ offense.  Yet there he was, as a first-team safety, sharing a defensive backfield with guys such as Champ Bailey and Tracy Porter. Not that Adams isn’t used to being a starter — the veteran started 16 games for the Browns last season. He’s just used to being the underdog player, the guy who climbs the depth chart through practice.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos trade Cassius Vaughn to Colts for FB Chris Gronkowski - The Broncos today traded cornerback Cassius Vaughn to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for fullback Chris Gronkowski.  Vaughn became expendable after the Broncos added several cornerbacks during the offseason. They signed veterans Tracy Porter and Drayton Florence from free agency and drafted Omar Bolden in the fourth round.  Gronkowski is the brother of New England star tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Broncos tight end Dan Gronkowski.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos busy watching weight during first round of OTAs - Sure, this week at Dove Valley provided the first glimpse at the new-look, Peyton Manning-led Broncos.  But plenty of familiar faces are debuting new looks as well.  Defensive end Elvis Dumervil has shed 10 pounds and is down to 250, while his pass-rush partner Von Miller is in the process of bulking up. He currently weighs in at 244 and hopes to be between 252-254 by training camp.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos Defensive Additions: Players Poised to Make Biggest Impact - The Denver Broncos added a whole slew of new faces to the team this offseason. Besides Peyton Manning, most of them were on the defensive side of the ball. Under new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, the defense should continue to make big strides.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

NFL: Peyton Manning and 8 Factors That Will Impact AFC West - The dominant storyline in the AFC West this offseason was undoubtedly the departure of Tim Tebow and acquisition of Peyton Manning as the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Terrell Davis Says Manning Is More Direct, Vocal Than Elway Was -  It was a blast from the not-so-distant past as former Denver Broncos star running back Terrell Davis stopped by CBS4 studios to be the guest on Xfinity Monday Live! He touched on various topics such as Peyton Manning, the state of the running back situation, and his signature barbecue sauce.  Read more from CBS 4 >>>>

Time to get excited: Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform is nothing but great news - This week is the first time we’ve been able to see Peyton Manning on the field for the Broncos, and let me tell you, as someone who’s entering my seventh season covering the team, I couldn’t be more excited.  This week is the first time we’ve been able to see Peyton Manning on the field for the Broncos, and let me tell you, as someone who’s entering my seventh season covering the team, I couldn’t be more excited.  Read more from Mile High Sports >>>>

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Former Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox is free to return to the NFL.

After six hours of deliberations, a Douglas County jury Friday morning found Cox not guilty on two counts of sexual assault.  He had been charged with one count of sexual assault while the victim was physically helpless and one count of sexual assault while the victim was incapable of determining the nature of the conduct.

Had he been convicted, Cox faced two years to life in prison.

The accuser testified she believed she was drugged after a night of partying in September 2010 at Cox’s apartment.  She came forward after learning she was pregnant.  DNA tests later indicated Cox was the father.

Cox’s legal team disputed the validity of the DNA tests, suggesting evidence contamination.  Cox denied ever having sex with the woman.  He did not testify.

Former teammate and current Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was with Cox that night, testified for the prosecution, saying the woman was drunk and passed out when he left the apartment.  Thomas admitted kissing and touching the woman earlier in the evening.  Cornerback Cassius Vaughn, Cox’s roommate, was also at the apartment, but said he was asleep for much of the night.

Cox was released by the Broncos before the start of last season. Mike Klis of The Denver Post tweeted at least one NFL team is interested in Cox, adding the free agent “wants a fresh start.”

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Four days ago, the Denver Broncos were in San Diego.  And they were healthy.

Not so much now.

Rookie linebacker Von Miller underwent surgery Tuesday to repair torn ligaments in his thumb.  He sat out Wednesday’s practice, and according to head coach John Fox, is “day-to-day.”  Miller was hurt in the four quarter of Denver’s win at San Diego, but continued to play into overtime.

Von Miller missed Wednesday's practice after thumb surgery. (personal photo)

Miller, who has 10.5 sacks this season, was one of three starters not participating in practice.  Wide receiver Eddie Royal suffered an ankle injury returning a kickoff against the Chargers.  Fox said running back Willis McGahee, whose ankle was wrapped earlier this week, was out with an illness.

The typical recovery time for a thumb injury like Miller’s is at least a week.

More Broncos News

• Cornerback Cassius Vaughn will have surgery Friday on his fractured left fibula.  Vaughn was placed on IR Monday.  The surgery will take place in North Carolina.
• The Broncos signed wide receiver Greg Orton to the practice squad today. Denver signed the undrafted free agent from Purdue back in August, but released him before the season.  Denver also signed  CB Tony Carter to the practice squad.  Carter was signed by Denver in 2009 and most recently spent time on the Vikings practice squad.

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The Denver Broncos announced Monday afternoon cornerback and special teams standout Cassius Vaughn is done for the year.  He’s been placed on injured reserve with a broken fibula.

Kyle McCarthy had a strong preseason for Denver. (personal photo)

Vaughn suffered the injury during a first quarter kickoff return in San Diego.

To fill his roster spot – and the one left by Kyle Orton’s release last week – the Broncos signed safety Kyle McCarthy and linebacker Mike Mohamed to the active roster.

McCarthy, an undrafted safety signed by Denver in 2010, was a bright spot early in the Broncos preseason, and was among the final cuts before the season opener.  Mohamed was a sixth-round pick from California in this year’s NFL Draft.

The Broncos are seemingly content with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster: Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn.

Adam Weber remains on the practice squad.

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Broncos cornerback Cassius Vaughn has what head coach John Fox is calling a “significant” leg injury.

The Denver Post reports Vaughn broke his fibula during a 36-yard kickoff return in the first quarter of Sunday’s game at San Diego.  The Broncos have not put Vaughn on injured reserve, but with only five regular season games remaining, his return this season is in doubt.  Fox told the media Monday:

“[The injury] is significant enough and we’re still determining the right course.”

Brandon Lloyd's legacy in Denver is a 5th round draft pick in 2012. (personal photo)

The Broncos did not sign another player to the roster after last week’s release of quarterback Kyle Orton.  If Vaughn is placed on IR, the team could add two players to round out the 53-man roster.

Broncos Get 5th Round Draft Pick

I tweeted this yesterday, but here it is again for the non-Twitter crowd out there…

Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd caught his 30th pass of the season for St. Louis, giving the Broncos a 5th round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.  If Lloyd didn’t reach the 30-reception milestone, Denver would have received a 6th round pick.

The Broncos traded the Pro Bowl WR to St. Louis in October.

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INJURY NEWS – Broncos RB Willis McGahee is listed as probable for Sunday’s game in Oakland.  TE Virgil Green and CB Cassius Vaughn are out for Denver.  Meanwhile, Raiders RB Darren McFadden is out with a foot injury.

The Denver Post: The Broncos’ game plan for Sunday – run.

The Denver Post: Going in-depth with the top college quarterbacks in the country (because there are other QBs not named Andrew Luck).  DHF did something on this earlier in the week..and let me get this out there now; I’m not sold on Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.  Just sayin’.

Los Angeles Times: The pros and cons of Tim Tebow.

NewsOK.com: Broncos star Elvis Dumervil endures another season of injuries.

Forbes: Broncos owner Pat Bowlen cracks a not-so-great top ten list.

Standard-Examiner: Comparing Tim Tebow to Jimmer Fredette.

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The Denver Post: Why Cassius Vaughn is just one of many players in a defensive dilemma.

The Denver Post: Does Willis McGahee deserve to be the Broncos’ No. 1 running back?

DenverBroncos.com: Shannon Sharpe received his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during halftime of Sunday’s game.

DenverBroncos.com: Tuesday marked the debut of ‘Elway Live’ podcast.  Listen here.

DenverBroncos.com: S Rahim Moore writes about his first win as a NFL player.

The Washington Post: It’s now been one year since the death of WR Kenny McKinley.

Fort Morgan Times: Broncos Caravan is on the road again.  See where it’s going now.

ESPN: NFL Week 3 Power Rankings are out.

USA Today: Play Fantasy Football?  Here are some sleepers still available.

9 News: Ever wonder what the Broncos eat?

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When it comes to injured players returning to practice, one is better than none, right?

Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd practiced Friday morning, after skipping Wednesday and Thursday with a sore groin.  Lloyd’s official status for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati is questionable.

WR Brandon Lloyd returned to practice Friday. (personal photo)

Champ Bailey (hamstring), Elvis Dumervil (shoulder), Knowshon Moreno (hamstring), and D.J. Williams (elbow) also sat out practice, the final before Sunday’s kickoff.

Head coach John Fox told The Denver Post Thursday afternoon there are exceptions, but he prefers players participate in the final practice before playing in a game.  Fox didn’t say if any player who missed Friday’s practice qualifies as an “exception,” but all indications are those players are out Sunday.

That means Cassius Vaughn, Jason Hunter, Willis McGahee, and Wesley Woodyard will all likely start.

Other Practice Tidbits

Running back Jeremiah Johnson will be activated off the practice squad.

DT Ryan McBean missed Friday’s practice for personal reasons, but should play Sunday.

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