In today’s let’s-get-ahead-of-ourselves segment…

According to the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, the Denver Broncos are now 5-to-1 favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII – which just happens to be played this year in Peyton Manning’s hometown of New Orleans.

Denver’s odds are second highest among all NFL teams, tied with the Houston Texans, who hold the AFC’s best record of 10-1.  As for the favorites, it’s a tie between the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers at 7-2.

Now if the Broncos want to make the Super Bowl, Denver must curtail the turnovers.  As the Denver Post’s Jeff Legwold points out:

Save for an injury to Peyton Manning, there is no other factor that would derail the Broncos’ season more than turnovers.

They still are one of 16 teams that are minus in turnover margin. Only four of those teams have winning records — Denver, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

Of those four, only Denver and the Colts are trending up, with the Broncos having won six straight and the Colts having won five of their past six.

Fix the turnovers, Denver.  How about starting Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Other Headlines:

• CBS Sports: Video interview of linebacker Wesley Woodyard
• CBS Denver: What are the odds defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio sticks around in 2013?
• Denver Broncos: After completing a nine-week Rookie Success Program, the Broncos’ 13 rookies are more prepared for life in the NFL.
• Denver Broncos: Q&A with tight end Joel Dreessen.
• Rant Sports: Team chemistry is driving the team’s success.

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

Note:  Due to out-of-state travel obligations, DHF’s Denver Dailies: Broncos Roundup is taking a couple days off.

But don’t worry; there’s plenty more Broncos coverage ahead.

Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan among best products of play-now philosophy -In the first week of the NFL’s regular season, a record five rookie quarterbacks started for their respective teams.  A record five players were tossed into what just might be the most difficult position for a first-year player in any professional sport. Because the only thing in shorter supply than franchise quarterbacks in the NFL, it seems, may be patience.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Mark Kiszla: Peyton Manning tends to do his best work indoors - There’s no place like dome for Peyton Manning. Is there any NFL quarterback who works better indoors?  So here’s a humble suggestion to the Atlanta Falcons, who have made the mistake of inviting Manning to their house. You might want to seek a change of venue. Paint end zones on Peachtree Plaza. Ask if the Broncos would meet you in the parking lot at the Varsity restaurant. Heck, move the game to Mars and see how Manning does.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos rookie report: Derek Wolfe off to good start with Week 1 sack - The draft class: DT Derek Wolfe— Started the opener against the Steelers at left defensive end. He became just the sixth player in Broncos franchise history to record a sack in the team’s season opener.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ Homecoming - Monday night’s game against Atlanta will be a homecoming of sorts for linebackers Wesley Woodyard and Keith Brooking, cornerback Champ Bailey and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Brooking Readies for Former Team - On Monday night, linebacker Keith Brooking will return to the Georgia Dome, where he spent more than a decade of his NFL career playing for the Atlanta Falcons.  Brooking grew up near Atlanta as well, attending high school in a Georgia town called Senoia about 40 minutes from the stadium.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Notebook: Prepping for the No-Huddle - Denver’s defense has gotten plenty of work against a no-huddle offense in practice; Peyton Manning’s pre-snap reads create big-play potential; Tony Carter could see more time at Atlanta.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Manning looks the same, but he and Elway know better – Peyton Manning looked as though nothing had changed after sitting out last season because of a neck injury. Don’t be fooled, though, says the Broncos quarterback — plenty is different.  Read more from the Coloradoan >>>> 

Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons Embrace Big Wide Receivers - There’s a lot to be said for the big, fast wide receiver in the NFL nowadays.  Look at Demaryius Thomas who stands 6’3″ and 229 pounds.  “He is a big, strong, athletic wide receiver that creates matchup issues,” Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith said Thursday. “As a defensive coach when he has the ball in his hands, you’ve got to hold your breathe because he can break tackles, he’s got a great stiff arm. He’s got outstanding long speed as evidenced by the way he ran on the quick screen on Sunday night.”  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

Roddy White’s tweets no big deal to Broncos - Atlanta receiver Roddy White’s tweets on Wednesday about perceived weaknesses in the Broncos’ defense entering the teams’ game on Monday weren’t greeted with scorn from Denver’s defenders, whose reactions were more casual, ranging from laughter to shrugs.  ”Roddy’s a character — he’s all right,” said DT Kevin Vickerson. “You don’t pay that any attention.”  LB Wesley Woodyard, one of the Broncos’ more prolific tweeters, smiled when the subject was brought up. But he acknowledged he would never tweet something that could wind up on an opponent’s wall.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

Falcons new defensive coordinator still trying to solve Manning - As a defensive coordinator and head coach, Mike Nolan has just one victory in seven tries against quarterback Peyton Manning.  Nolan, in his first season as coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, hopes to change his luck when Manning and the Denver Broncos visit the Georgia Dome on Monday night.  Read more from Associated Press >>>>

Looking Toward the Denver Broncos - So, last Sunday was pretty fun, right? The team was firing on all cylinders. The offense looked solid–and by solid, I mean pretty much unstoppable–throughout, and although the defense had some difficulties in the first half, they actually made adjustments for the second half, and the results were impressive.  Read more from the Falcoholic >>>>

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

It’s finally here, Broncos fans.

Happy Kickoff Day!

Broncos, Steelers finally ready to get down to business of football - After all of the things that have been said and done, after all of the anticipation, with the stacked piles of expectations, the Broncos will finally open the regular season Sunday night for all of football America to see.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Jake Plummer, who now lives in Boulder, visits with Denver Broncos - In a preseason when Broncos alumni have taken full advantage of the welcome mat spread out for them at the team’s Dove Valley complex, former quarterback Jake Plummer joined the parade Friday.  Plummer, who is believed to have been to the team’s facility just one other time since the end of the 2006 season when coach Mike Shanahan benched him in favor of Jay Cutler, has relocated to Boulder full time and is set to have hip surgery in the coming days.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

The Lights are On – This offseason, the Broncos welcomed future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and a number of other experienced players that have made Denver one of the league’s most talked about teams.  For every team in the NFL, this weekend’s season-opener brings about the inevitable excitement of a fresh start and a chance to justify the optimism of the offseason. But only two teams get to open up in NBC’s nationally televised Sunday night time slot. Playing in primetime only adds to the excitement.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Opening Week Brings Tough Test - The stage is set for Sunday night when the Broncos will host the Steelers in the national spotlight of Sunday Night Football on NBC.  “I’m really anxious to see what we do,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “I’m excited, because I know what we can do. Now we’ve just got to go out there and prove it to ourselves.”  Though the two teams squared off in the AFC Wild Card Round last season, both sides have acknowledged that things are much different this time around.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos Cut Peyton Manning’s Backup One Day Before Opening Game: Fan’s Take - The Denver Broncos released backup quarterback Caleb Hanie today from their 53-man roster. While some say that this is purely a financial decision and that Hanie will be re-signed this coming Tuesday, it seems a strange thing to do a day before their opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Broncos Tickets Are Hot, & Expensive - It’s just two days away from the official start of the Denver Broncos season and fans are excited. With all the Peyton Manning mania already, CBS4 wondered how hard it will be to get tickets to the games this year and if prices are out of reach.  Read more from CBS4 >>>>

Manning easily takes over as Broncos’ leader, but can he be All-Pro again? - Champ Bailey remembers when he first saw Peyton Manning in a Denver Broncos practice uniform. It didn’t seem weird. No, that wasn’t it. It was something else.  ”Relief,” Bailey remembered, when we spoke during a training camp conversation. “One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time was on my side now.”  After Manning joined the team, players say privately, the atmosphere changed almost instantly. The general feeling seems to be that immediately after Manning began walking the hallways of the complex and situated in the Denver locker room everyone around him began stepping up their game.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>> 

Peyton Manning: What Should Fans Expect From the Denver Broncos Quarterback - It seems like yesterday that NFL fans were watching and waiting to see where Peyton Manning was going to sign. The biggest free agent in league history made the rounds before signing with the Denver Broncos. Since that day, everyone has been wondering what Manning will look like when he takes the field. Will he look rusty, will he look like the Manning of old or will he look like something in between? We are about to find out when the Broncos take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night in Denver.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Bersch: Prediction – Broncos finish season 10-6 - Someone asked me the other day how I thought the season would go for the Denver Broncos. I gave a vague response: “I think it’s gonna be a good one.”  I’m not the only one. Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago picked the Broncos to face the Packers in the Super Bowl. And the odds in Las Vegas say only the New England Patriots and Packers have a better shot to play in New Orleans in February.  Read more from the Coloradoan >>>>

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

Broncos’ Peyton Manning readies for opener vs. Steelers - It’s Friday, the final full practice before the Broncos play their season opener, and Peyton Manning was out there running plays.  It’s almost here, folks. The Broncos’ first game with Manning as their quarterback. They will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.  Watching the Broncos’ practice was the NBC Sunday night crew led by announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno finds inspiration in teammate Willis McGahee’s recovery - As Knowshon Moreno began recovering from a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, he had the perfect role model a couple of lockers away.  Perhaps no running back has come back as well from a massive knee injury as Willis McGahee has. McGahee ripped up his knee in his final college game at the University of Miami in 2002. Now, 10 years later, McGahee has produced 1,000-yard rushing seasons with three teams, including 2011 with the Broncos.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos RB Willis McGahee has been exception to the rules - For an NFL running back, age is not just a number. It’s often the bottom line. For Willis McGahee, however, it’s just noise, like some dog barking through the screen door.  ”I’ve heard all kinds of things for my whole career,” McGahee said. “People think I’m too old. Some people say I’m too slow.  ”I like for people to say I can’t do something. I always have. I use it.”  But what if history says the odds are against you?  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

The Lights are On – This offseason, the Broncos welcomed future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and a number of other experienced players that have made Denver one of the league’s most talked about teams.  For every team in the NFL, this weekend’s season-opener brings about the inevitable excitement of a fresh start and a chance to justify the optimism of the offseason. But only two teams get to open up in NBC’s nationally televised Sunday night time slot. Playing in primetime only adds to the excitement.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Q&A with Al Michaels - The Broncos kick off their 2012 campaign under the lights at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, squaring off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. On Friday, NBC’s broadcast crew of Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth visited Dove Valley to watch practice and meet with Head Coach John Fox and a number of players in preparation for Sunday’s game. Michaels took the time to chat with DenverBroncos.com about what he expects from Sunday’s game, why people will tune in and admit that he occasionally looked ahead to the Pittsburgh-Denver battle even while preparing to call the Giants-Cowboys game.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Beating the Odds - As a senior in high school, he led the state with 123 tackles. As a senior in college, he led the Big 12 with 124 stops.  He attended the NFL Scouting Combine and sat in front of the television waiting to see which NFL team he’d suit up for on Sundays.  On the surface, linebacker Steven Johnson followed the same path to the NFL as the majority of his counterparts.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos Notebook: Ex-Raven Justin Bannan said Ben Roethlisberger’s mobility ‘would drive us crazy’ - DT Justin Bannan has only spent one of his 10 previous NFL seasons with the Broncos, but as a product of the University of Colorado, his connection to Denver is deeper than to his other stops of Buffalo, Baltimore and St. Louis.  ”It feels right. It feels like this is where I belong,” Bannan said.  His most successful stop was his four seasons in Baltimore (2006-09), where he helped the Ravens to three playoff appearances, all of which were ended by teams quarterbacked by Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.  No one on the Broncos has more experience trying to corral Roethlisberger — and then being frustrated as he gets away.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

Von Miller says it’s more businesslike with the Broncos - Thursday’s episode of Pro Football Talk featured a visit from Broncos linebacker Von Miller, the 2011 NFL defensive rookie of the year.  Read more from ProFootballTalk >>>>

Nate Irving prepared for second time around - Nate Irving played in all 16 Denver Broncos games last season and continues to revamp his approach heading into Season 2 in the National Football League.  I think I have made a little bit of progress, but I still think I have a long ways to go,” the ex-Wallace-Rose Hill High School star said as the Broncos prepare for their season opener Sunday night vs. Pittsburgh (8:20 p.m., NBC).  Read more from StarNewsOnline.com >>>>

Denver Broncos WRs Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas Want Nickname “Salt & Pepper” - The Denver Broncos receiving duo of Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have been trying to get the nickname “Salt & Pepper” to stick since 2010 when they were rookie roommates. The problem has been that they have not done enough in the league to receive such a label.  That’s all about the change in 2012. This duo is now going into their third seasons in the NFL and that’s when many good receivers have breakout years.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

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

49ers-Broncos preseason game: Things Denver wants to see (and not see) - The Broncos will likely offer their last preseason look at the majority of their starters Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.  The 49ers were a fumbled punt away from the Super Bowl last season, a power-first team that finished No. 1 in run defense and No. 1 in turnover margin (plus-28). San Francisco is also one of the teams, despite coach Jim Harbaugh’s public protest over semantics, that worked out Peyton Manning this past March in hopes of signing him.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Special teams could be David Bruton’s safety net for spot with Broncos - When Jeff Rodgers arrived in Denver as the Broncos’ new special-teams coordinator on John Fox’s staff in 2011, he couldn’t help noticing David Bruton on game video.  ”It jumps off the tape immediately how fast he is,” Rodgers said. “On kickoff-return coverage, I don’t know if there has been a kickoff in the last three years where he’s not been the first guy down the field.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Former Rams coach likes what he sees from Broncos QBs coach Adam Gase - Fox NFL analyst Mike Martz, a former Rams coach, attended Friday’s practice and got a good look at quarterbacks coach Adam Gase, whom Martz helped get his start in NFL coaching. Gase was an offensive quality control assistant and quarterbacks coach when Martz was the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2006-07. They also worked together in 2008 with San Francisco.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Catching Up with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman - On Saturday, NFL on FOX’s No. 1 broadcast crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver watched practice at Dove Valley in preparation for the Broncos-49ers preseason tilt.  The game, scheduled for a 2 p.m. MDT Sunday kickoff, will be nationally televised on FOX. In advance of the game, Buck and Aikman took time to talk with DenverBroncos.com about their thoughts on Denver’s preseason, what they’ll be looking for on Sunday and how they believe the Broncos will fare in 2012.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Earning Their Spot - There are 88 players on the Broncos’ active roster. By Aug. 27, that number must be cut to 75. At the start of September, only 53 players will remain on the team.  The coaching staff has made it clear this offseason that very few players are promised a place on the team. But every single one of them is promised is a chance to earn their spot.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Notebook: Establishing Depth in the Backfield - One of the biggest stories of the Broncos’ 2011 season was the team’s league-leading rushing attack.  Starting running back Willis McGahee is coming off a career year and Denver also returns Lance Ball, the second-most productive player in the Broncos backfield last season. Behind an offensive line currently missing only one starter from last season, those backs alone would justify high expectations for the running game.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Denver Broncos Finally Have Stability at QB? Believe Brock Osweiler Is Elway 2.0 - The Denver Broncos have been looking for John Elway’s replacement at quarterback for more than a decade now. In this year’s draft, John Elway himself believes he’s finally found the guy: Brock Osweiler.  Since Elway’s retirement after the Denver Broncos’ second consecutive Super Bowl Championship, the Broncos have had 12 different starters, almost one every season.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

ESPN projects Broncos to make Super Bowl - The September issue of ESPN The Magazine is now available on newsstands and online.  An NFL Preview edition, the mag features playoff picks and predictions by ESPN contributors—and they apparently think highly of the 2012 Denver Broncos.  Read more from BroncoTalk >>>>

Denver Broncos: What To Watch For in Preseason Week Three - The Denver Broncos are welcoming the San Francisco 49ers to Sports Authority Field at Mile High this Sunday at 4pm ET, in which will be the biggest and final true test before game one when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This match-up will feature most, if not all, starters playing into the third quarter and promises to shed some light on the final spots left for grabs on the 53-man roster.  It will be interesting to watch the further development of Peyton Manning and the offense against a formidable defense that was number two in the NFL in 2011.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Should Denver Bronco Fans Be Concerned About Peyton Manning’s Performance? - The NFL is a 365 days a year league. There are always stories developing every day.  When one ends, another one begins.  Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.  Manning coming to the Mile High city brings many expectations. With high expectations can often come high disappointment. Many have criticized Manning’s performance’s thus far with a few different worries. Arm strength and interceptions being among the most vocal.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Broncos’ Peyton Manning takes Jack Del Rio’s son under his wing - Broncos QB Peyton Manning wanted to pay it forward.  In the early 1990s, Manning was an impressionable high-schooler, and his father Archie’s connections helped bring him to the New Orleans Saints’ practice field, where then-coach Jim Mora let him sit in on team meetings, attend practice, throw to their receivers and even take a few snaps against a formidable defense.  ”(That) may have been as nervous as I’ve ever been in my entire life,” Manning said. “I was in there looking across at Pat Swilling and some of these guys and I was just 17 years old, which was great experience for me going to college.”  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

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

Broncos QB Peyton Manning keeps new teammates in “training-camp mode”- Since the first week of training camp, Peyton Manning has consistently referred to “the process.”  Whenever asked about adjusting to his new receivers, learning a new offensive system, etc., the 36-year-old quarterback has been in the league long enough to understand the steps he needs to take.  ”It’s part of the transition,” Manning said about getting out of the 14-year routine he’d been in with the Indianapolis Colts. “It’s obviously been a huge adjustment, but it’s all just part of the process. I can’t necessarily specify any frustrations.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Formation of Broncos defensive line calls for tough roster decisions - With roster decisions looming, the Broncos may have to make some tough choices about some young prospects who have shown potential in the defensive line.  The Broncos have not, at least publicly, declared Jason Hunter out for the season, despite the fact he suffered a torn triceps injury. The recovery time is at least four months, so carrying Hunter on the 53-man roster because he might be able to play in December is a difficult decision to make.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos CB Drayton Florence aims for personnel job someday - As he looks back at where he has been, what he has done, Drayton Florence knows why he has survived a decade in the NFL. He believes that knowledge might power his future.  ”Me? I would describe myself as a good pro, a reliable pro, a dependable pro,” Florence said. “I do my job, work hard, and can do enough things that are necessary in my job to compete every year. You want to be the kind of player teams are looking for, the kind they want to have around.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos vs. Broncos - With training camp in the rearview mirror, the Broncos have moved on to a regular-season schedule.  Sort of.  As the first Sunday game of the year approaches, the players’ schedule is similar to what it will look like leading up to Week 1, with one notable exception.  The team isn’t particularly focused on its opponent at the moment.  ”We’re still in camp mode,” Head Coach John Fox said. “We’re still installing, so we’re not really game-planning and working against San Francisco.”  Read more from the Denver Broncos >>>>

Working Toward Ultimate Goal - A year after an AFC West championship and a win in the Wild Card Round of the AFC Playoffs, expectations were already high for the Broncos.  They only got higher with a free agency class that included four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning.  But as far as Head Coach John Fox is concerned, he’ll let all the bold predictions come from outside the building.  “At the end of the day, I’ve been of the school (of thought) of understate, overproduce,” Fox said. “We’re obviously very pleased to have Peyton, yet we’re still trying to get ready as a football team, and we’re definitely not there yet.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Elway, Peyton, Brock form unique bond- Four Denver Broncos quarterbacks and their position coach were scouting the Seattle Seahawks’ defense when Peyton Manning suddenly paused the video.  Brock Osweiler was paying attention and taking notes. The rookie just didn’t expect the storied veteran to put him on the spot.  Manning asked Osweiler to identify the “Mike,” which is the term used to describe the Seahawks player who serves as middle linebacker on the play. The decision helps the quarterback set pass protection by designating blockers to cover Seattle defenders.  Read more from FOX Sports >>>>

Why John Elway Wasn’t Lying When He Said, ‘We Don’t Have a Plan B’ - The Denver Broncos were unquestionably the talk of the NFL during the 2012 offseason.  They landed the biggest free agent prize in the game, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, and then quickly jettisoned controversial quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets for fourth- and sixth-round draft picks.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>> 

Broncos could be interested in Maurice Jones-Drew, but they won’t want to mortgage their future - There’s a logical argument for the Denver Broncos to call the Jacksonville Jaguars and inquire about disgruntled RB Maurice Jones-Drew – and it begins with Peyton Manning.  The moment the Broncos signed Manning, they went all-in on the short term. Manning signed a five-year contract, but the Broncos drafted Brock Osweiler to be waiting in the wings for when Manning retires, and the rookie from Arizona State only has a four-year deal — so realistically, the Broncos are hoping for three years from the four-time MVP.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

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Grade Peyton Manning’s second preseason performance - Peyton Manning’s home preseason debut is done.  Here’s the down and dirty numbers: 16-of-23, 177 yards, two interceptions, zero touchdowns. He was not sacked. He had at least two passes dropped, including a sure touchdown by tight end Jacob Tamme in the end zone.  Here’s what I liked.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Top NFL jersey sales – Peyton Manning No. 1; Von Miller No. 25 - Peyton Manning’s No. 18 Broncos jersey has been the top seller among NFL players since the day he signed with the team. In the latest update released by NFLShop.com., 49ers middle linebacker Patrick Willis is the top seller among defensive players and the Giants’ Victor Cruz is the top-selling receiver.  Can somebody explain why Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch has the top-selling jersey among running backs? Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson didn’t even crack the top 25.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Kickoff Luncheon Unites Fans and Players - A day before it will host the Broncos 2012 preseason home opener, Sports Authority Field at Mile High opened its doors to players, coaches and fans for the inaugural Kickoff Luncheon.  The event was attended by every player on the roster and each member of the coaching staff. Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Saccomano said the presence of every player made Friday afternoon memorable for everyone who attended.  “It’s really cool,” Saccomano said. “In the history of the team there have been different luncheons that have been done by different organizations, or pep rallys. But to have one in which all the coaches and all the players attended, they were all introduced and got to sit among the fans. And the fans of course bought tables, a lot of them by companies, and the Broncos charities got the money for that, which is a great thing. It really was a big event that seemed to go really well and hopefully it’s the beginning of another tradition.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos Position Battle: Offensive Line - Though Chris Kuper’s broken forearm changed the complexion of the Denver Broncos’ starting offensive line, it isn’t likely to have much impact on the overall construction of the group in regards to the 53-man roster.  Kuper’s injury requires a four-to-six-week recovery, so he’ll still take a spot on the 53-man roster at the deadline. Manuel Ramirez took his place as first-team right guard after Kuper was injured Tuesday, but that was nothing new, as Ramirez spent most of the offseason working there while Kuper recovered from a fractured fibula and torn ankle ligaments.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

NFL Rumors: Denver Broncos Will Replace D.J. Williams With Young LB Talent - The linebacker corps for the Denver Broncos may struggle initially from the absence of LB D.J.Williams who is serving a six-game suspension to start the season and the punishment will likely be much longer after his recent conviction of DUI. It very well could be the last game that Williams plays for the Broncos.  Williams is in his 9th year in the NFL and he has averaged 101 tackles, nearly two forced fumbles, around 2.5 sacks, and about five pass deflections per season. He will be hard to replace on this defense, but the Broncos must find a way if they want to compete at the high level that they are expecting this season.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Denver Broncos Offer Solid Options - The running back situation for the Denver Broncos is one of the tougher ones to decipher this draft season for fantasy owners, something we haven’t said much since the Mike Shanahan, RB-by-committee days of yore.  Willis McGahee is probably the starter, with fellow veteran Lance Ball currently behind him on the depth chart. Rookie Ronnie Hillman (who is banged up) and former first-round pick/so-far bust Knowshon Moreno are also vying for playing time to leech off some of that sweet Peyton Manning offensive juju.  Read more from SB Nation >>>>

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Broncos players, fans eventually find some heartache when rosters trim - Math is a tricky thing for sports writers, and especially for me.  But here’s some arithmetic that even I can figure out.  The Broncos’ roster currently includes 90 players. By Sept. 1, only 53 players will make the active roster. Eight more will make the practice squad, for a total of 61 players who will have jobs for the first week of the regular season.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ Jason Hunter likely to miss season with torn triceps - Barring a medical miracle, Jason Hunter is not likely to play in 2012.  The Broncos’ starting defensive end suffered a torn right triceps during an early training camp drill Tuesday.  ”They said it was like 95 percent torn,” Hunter said Wednesday afternoon. “They told me mine was hanging on like a piece of rope. I don’t want to count myself completely out even though I know the severity of my injury. But I’m going to let the team coach me up on this and wait until they tell me what the next step is.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Beal Looks to Build on Two-Sack Effort - The Broncos’ preseason-opening 31-3 defeat of the Bears saw breakout performances from several young defenders.  With two first-half sacks, it was rookie Derek Wolfe who had an evening many fans are likely to remember. But Wolfe wasn’t the only young defensive lineman to make his presence felt as a pass rusher and contribute to the team’s total of six sacks.  With his team leading 24-0 in the fourth quarter, defensive end Jeremy Beal found his way to Chicago quarterback Matt Blanchard for a sack on third-and-9.  Minutes later, he made it two sacks in four offensive snaps when he brought down Blanchard again, this time with the Bears facing third-and-12 from their own 10-yard line.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos Roster 2012: How Chris Kuper Injury Shakes Up the Depth Chart - The Denver Broncos and their fans received some harrowing “breaking” news on Tuesday, as it was reveled that offensive guard Chris Kuper will miss four to six weeks with a broken forearm.  Denver was the only team in the NFL that started the same five offensive linemen in every game last season, and while Kuper was not one of the strongest fixtures on that line, he is, as ESPN’s Bill Williamson writes ”an underrated player [who] is tough and stout.”  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos Positional Analysis: Defensive Line - For three or four years now the Denver Broncos have had questions on the defensive line, and those around the team would tell you those questions are still there. I’m not sure I agree completely, yes there are questions but it has the potential to be a strength on 2012. Bad news first, Jason Hunter who was having a great camp tore his triceps on Tuesday and is probably out for the season. Hunter is probably not a name that the average fan knows, but he was scheduled to be a big part of the rotation on the defensive line.  As we’ve been doing, we start with the best player and that’s defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and is completely healthy for the first time in a long time. Dumervil and linebacker,  Von Miller give the Broncos one of the best pass rushing duos in the league. Dumervil has also improved versus the run since coming into the league and is a complete football player.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Five questions from Denver Broncos camp - Optimism is high among fans in the Mile High City and even among some Broncos employees. Peyton Manning can do that to a franchise and a city.  Head coach John Fox was good enough to allow me on the practice field to get up close to drills and a scrimmage. If you have ever been to a padded Fox practice, you would appreciate all I was able to observe in the two-and-a-half hours of live football in all the situations a game could present. Manning worked the two-minute offense, the four-minute offense, the red-zone package, the no-huddle attack and a number of other important situations. It was the first camp stop in my past 12 that running backs were tackled and brought to the ground.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

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Young trio on Denver Broncos’ defense glad to get second chance - In the pages of Broncos history, they will always be John Elway’s first draft class. Those nine players, topped by star linebacker Von Miller, were the Broncos’ first selections in the annual talent grab made with the most heralded Bronco calling the football shots.  ”That’s our group,” Miller said. “We’ll always be the guys who came in together. I think people are going to see what those guys can do more and more.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ D.J. Williams gets reps while waiting for courts - To mark the final week of training camp, Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams finally got to participate.  ”We want to get him up to speed. We don’t want to totally waste his time,” coach John Fox said after practice Monday. “Eventually he’ll be back.”  Williams was a Broncos starter through his first eight seasons, but until Monday had done little in camp nine except observe and absorb.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Demaryius Thomas making red-zone impact with Broncos, Peyton Manning - Since Josh McDaniels used the 22nd pick of the 2010 draft — three picks before the team selected Tim Tebow — to reel in wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, Broncos coaches have consistently talked about the kind of impact Thomas should have in the scoring zone because of his size, strength and athletic ability.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Notebook: Preparing for Sundays - Competing against a quarterback like Peyton Manning, is in many ways, a defender’s worst nightmare.  Sticking with NFL wide receivers in coverage is no easy task, regardless of the quarterback. It becomes that much more difficult against a quarterback like Manning, cornerback Champ Bailey said.  “One thing about him is, you can cover a guy and his ball placement is so perfect,” Bailey said. “It’s frustrating, because when you’re all over a guy and he puts a ball here, you can’t do anything except break it up or watch him catch it. There aren’t a lot of turnover opportunities.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Building Complete Backs - Running backs coach Eric Studesville talks about how his position group is using camp to prepare for 2012.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

Brooking Wants To Push, Teach Broncos Youngsters - Out with the new and in with the old.  Linebacker Keith Brooking participated in his first padded practice with the Denver Broncos on Saturday, subbing for rookie Danny Trevathan (ankle) at weakside linebacker behind Wesley Woodyard.  Earlier in the week, the 36-year-old Brooking lined up at middle linebacker in place of second-year sub Mike Mohamed for non-contact work during 7-on-7 drills behind starter Joe Mays.  Read more from Associated Press >>>>

Broncos Roster Cuts: Getting to 53 – The Broncos have a good read on the roster. The only competitions that appear to exist around the starting lineup are at left defensive end, where Jason Hunter and Robert Ayers are grappling for a spot, and safety, where Quinton Carter could dislodge one of the current two first-teamers when he makes his expected return from a knee injury later this month.  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

Denver Broncos: Ranking the Receivers After Thomas and Decker - With the first preseason game of the 2012 season in the books, the competition at the wide receiver position within the Denver Broncos team is very fierce.  Everyone can agree that Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker will be the top two targets for Peyton Manning this coming season, but after that, it could be anyone.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

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