Denver Broncos Offseason Headlines:

• Broncos Mailbag: John Elway, John Fox clock in Day One of new season – Q: Hi, Mike. Just wanted to say as a grieving fan, I enjoyed your recent column: Broncos’ loss leaves a long-lasting hangover with fans. It was a therapeutic read. That being said, what’s your initial assessment of where the Broncos stand for making a championship run next season? Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>
• Broncos devising strategies for free agency in March, draft in April – Q: Aside from re-signing Ryan Clady, what will be Denver’s free-agency priorities this offseason? Who do you expect the Broncos to lose/not retain? What players and/or positions do you expect them to target? Read more from the Denver Post >>>>
• Examining the 7 Biggest 2013 Offseason Priorities for the Denver Broncos – In 2012, the Denver Broncos had a historic regular season.  In the postseason, they quickly faded from the spotlight, falling to the Baltimore Ravens 38-35 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
• Denver Broncos: The Offseason Plan – If you are a football fan, today is not your favorite day of the year. The season is over, free agency is over a month away and the draft is over two months away. Unless you are a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, today is not a fun day. However it is never too early to look ahead. Mike Shanahan once said that the Monday after the Super Bowl is one of his favorite days of the year. Why? Because, in reality, it’s the first day of the next season and everyone is 0-0 again. The new league year does not start till March but teams are busy at work all ready trying to ensure that they are the ones celebrating next year. Read more from Rant Sports >>>>
• Denver Broncos Must Sign OT Ryan Clady to Long-Term Deal – The Denver Broncos may have the most important player in the NFL, and he’s currently facing free agency unless the Broncos make a move and pay the big bucks or slap a franchise tag on OT Ryan Clady for next season. Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Other Headlines:

• Broncos TV Highlights Top Offensive Plays of 2012 – So far, Top 10 Tuesdays have brought us Peyton Manning’s Top 10 Touchdown Passes and Von Miller’s Top Ten Plays. This Tuesday, Broncos TV is taking a look at the best offensive plays of the season. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>
• Denver Broncos Are The 2014 Super Bowl Favorites – Even though the Denver Broncos didn’t make it past the divisional round of the playoffs in 2012, they are the Vegas favorites to win Super Bowl XLVIII which will be played at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

NFL Draft Headlines:

• Draft Scenarios Favor the Denver Broncos – The Denver Broncos will be good again in 2013 as long as Peyton Manning and Von Miller are healthy. Getting over the hump and winning a Super Bowl is the goal and to do that the Broncos have a little work to do. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>
• Super Bowl shows draft talent can be found anywhere – What happened in New Orleans on Sunday night, in and around the first Super Bowl power outage and a nail-biting, back-and-forth affair was another nod toward scouting. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

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Broncos’ Von Miller wants to follow LBs like Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis into Super Bowl - America loves its quarterbacks, but this Super Bowl might have a throwback flavor. It just might be one for the linebacker. It will be Ray Lewis’ final game at linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, who also sport another former NFL defensive player of the year at the position in Terrell Suggs. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Peyton Manning has big vote in Broncos offense, but not the only vote - Q: Given the fact that it’s Peyton Manning’s offense, how much of an influence does that have on the front office when it comes to free agents and the draft regarding offensive players? Does Peyton’s opinion influence most decisions? Do they ask Peyton for his opinion and judgment on the potential wide receivers and tight ends in the draft class that he likes when it comes to picking potential draftees? Last year both (Brandon) Stokley and (Jacob) Tamme joined because of their familiarity with Manning. Could the same thing happen this year with Austin Collie if Peyton wanted him brought in? Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Q&A with Mark Schlereth - DenverBroncos.com talked with former Bronco lineman Mark Schlereth during Super Bowl week in New Orleans. Schlereth played six seasons with the Broncos and earned two Super Bowl titles with the club. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

The Biggest Question Marks Surrounding Denver’s Offseason - The Denver Broncos’ 2012 season is one of mixed emotions for most Bronco fans. Denver went 13-3 in the regular season and clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. The Broncos looked dominant at times. They outscored their regular-season opponents by a total of 481-289, newly-acquired quarterback Peyton Manning looked great as he threw for over 4,600 yards and the Bronco offense averaged 398 yards and 30 points per game. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

2013 NFL Draft Team Needs: Denver Broncos – Except for perhaps the miraculous return of Adrian Peterson, the biggest storyline of the 2012 NFL season was the semi-miraculous return of Peyton Manning. Manning, who surprised some by signing with the Denver Broncos last off-season, was coming off of four major neck surgeries, and at 36, most figured his best days were in the past. Read more from NFL Soup >>>>

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Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller was voted as a starter to the Pro Bowl.

But last week, just days before the game, Miller announced he would not be playing. Miller, who’s in New Orleans as part of Super Bowl XLVII festivities, told The Denver Post Wednesday he’s dealing with a minor shoulder injury, and decided it was best to skip the all-star game in Honolulu:

“I feel OK. If this was a Sunday playoff game and we were getting ready to play, I’d be ready to go. I was just being conscious about the offseason, but I’ll be ready to go. I mean, I’m ready to go right now. I’m just trying to do what’s best.”

Miller said he first “tweaked” the left shoulder during his first game of his rookie season, but it wasn’t serious enough to require much medical attention or surgery. He played on with a brace, but decided to get another opinion on the shoulder following the Broncos’ Jan. 12 divisional-round loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Don’t fret about Von Miller’s shoulder injury; he hasn’t. (personal photo)

Miller said surgery isn’t needed and he expects to participate in the team’s offseason program in April.

Von Miller talks about the importance of nutrition and his first two NFL seasons >>>>

Other headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Free Agents the Denver Broncos Should Avoid at All Costs
• Denver Broncos: Torrey Smith on Champ Bailey
• Denver Broncos: Stokley: ‘I Still Love This Game’
• The Denver Post: Tim Tebow gone, not forgotten: What separates him from quarterback?
• The Denver Post: Broncos’ Ben Garland continues to impress with work ethic, quick feet
• ESPN: Manti Te’o a Bronco? They should hope
• Yahoo! Sports: Offseason Needs: Broncos Need a Big-time RB to Reach the Next Level
• Yahoo! Sports: 7 Reasons the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl Window Remains Wide Open

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Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco’s turning point came in Dec. 16 loss to Denver Broncos – At the time, it seemed like a face-planted, body-prone, rock-bottom moment. Instead, Joe Flacco turned his low point into a turning point. In a Dec. 16 game against the Broncos, Baltimore trailed 10-0 late in the first half, but Flacco, the Ravens’ quarterback, used a 43-yard pass play to Jacoby Jones to quickly maneuver his offense into a first-and-goal situation with about 30 seconds remaining. Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Getting best players to play their best is key to any Super Bowl run – Ozzie Newsome has been in the Ravens’ front office, as vice president of player personnel or his current job of general manager, since 1996 — the team’s first year in Baltimore after the move from Cleveland. Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Can Jets, Broncos work another big trade? – The New York Jets and Denver Broncos made headlines last offseason when they combined to make the most-hyped trade in 2012 for Tim Tebow. Could these two teams work out another blockbuster in 2013 with star cornerback Darrelle Revis? Read more from ESPN >>>>

Broncos Mock Draft: Instant Contributors Denver Can Use – When the Broncos’ 2012 season came crashing down two weeks ago, John Elway and staff started looking to the future. On January 14, the Broncos’ pick for the 2013 NFL draft was set; they would pick 28th.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

‘Tis The Season For Denver Broncos To Improve - The Denver Broncos have to get better to contend for postseason honors in 2013-2014. You know that. I know that. And the Broncos know that – from owner Pat Bowlen down to those lucky youngsters who run errands during practices. It should be simple, this self-improvement process. Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

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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.

Other Headlines:

• Denver Broncos: 2012 Season Review: First Quarter
• The Denver Post: Brian Xanders, ex-Denver Broncos GM, hired by Detroit Lions
• The Denver Post: Broncos offense under John Fox seldom features fullbacks
• Examiner: Rumor: Denver Broncos John Elway interested in trading for Darrelle Revis
• Mile High Report: 2013 Denver Broncos offseason: Champ Bailey

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Did you watch?

I did, but only a few series; I had other plans. I am glad to have seen Jeff Saturday’s final snap to Peyton Manning.

The NFL Pro Bowl could be on borrowed time. Commissioner Roger Goodell could decide in April to scrap the game altogether. He’s previously expressed his displeasure about how the game is played, or more specifically, the overall lack of effort. Was Sunday’s 62-35 victory by the NFC the final nail in the coffin? We’ll likely find out in a few months.

Pro Bowl Headlines:

Proof I watched the Pro Bowl…or at least had it on my TV long enough to take this photo. (personal photo)

• Denver Broncos: Preview of Fox Wired for Sound
• Denver Broncos: Post Pro Bowl player reaction
• Denver Broncos: 2013 Pro Bowl photos
• Denver Post: Peyton Manning-led AFC no match for NFC in Pro Bowl blowout

Other Headlines:

• Denver Post: Kiszla: It’s time to thank Josh McDaniels for Broncos’ 2010 draft
• Denver Post: John Elway wants youth to be big part of Denver Broncos’ future
• Mile High Report: Denver Broncos 2012 Review: Full Year Rookie Report

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The NFL will announce its end-of-season award winners Super Bowl weekend, but as far as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is concerned, he’s locked up league MVP.

Peterson told the Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla Saturday:

“I’m going to win it. I will get it.”

It’s a two-man race for NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year between Peterson and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Earlier in January, I made my argument for Manning over Peterson for MVP, fully knowing that seems to be the unpopular opinion.

My point is simple: Manning did more for the Broncos than Peterson did the Vikings. That’s not to take anything away from Peterson’s almost record-breaking season, a season coming off a knee injury. I won’t be upset if Peterson wins; he’s deserving, but then again, so is Manning.

And like Peterson, Manning returned to football from injury, but unlike Peterson, Manning missed the entire season before. Personally, I believe Manning’s injury was more difficult to overcome. Though impressive, Peterson is just one of many players who return to action after a knee injury. That statement isn’t meant to diminish his stellar 2012, because it was a true joy to watch, but neck injuries often have a more dire consequence than knee injuries.

Adrian Peterson is confident in his MVP chances. (courtesy Mike Morbeck)

So, in the battle of Comeback Player of the Year, my vote also goes to Manning.

Don’t hate me, Vikings fans.

When word surfaced earlier this week the New York Jets are considering trading star cornerback Darrelle Revis, the Twitter world buzzed with chatter of which team should make a play for him. Given the poor performance of the Broncos secondary in the team’s divisional-round loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Denver was a natural answer.

I asked Broncos fans on Twitter and Facebook to weigh in on the Revis debate, and the response was evenly mixed. In the end, I really doubt the Broncos will trade for Revis. For one, the Jets, should they pursue a trade, will likely demand a lot in exchange, maybe a top draft pick or two, or a team’s top player. Plus, there’s paying Revis, and he’s not cheap.

I’m of the mindset to let Revis either stay in New York or land elsewhere, preferably outside the AFC West, just to be safe.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: The 2012 Denver Broncos All-Underrated Team
• Examiner: Peyton Manning roasts fellow NFL all stars at Pro Bowl
• Rant Sports: Denver Broncos: Top Five Areas to be Addressed

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Mark Kiszla: NFL willing to open the book on the read option – Has the game of football passed by Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning? As a traditional pocket passer in a league where the read-option offense is all the rage, is Manning the last of the dinosaurs? Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Is it time to sack the Pro Bowl? No, just move it – Is the Pro Bowl worth saving? The NFL’s all-star game lacks three things that make Americans shamelessly addicted to football: big hits, ruthless competition and violence. While talking about the serious issue of concussions, Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen told me, “Nobody wants to watch a game of two-hand touch.” Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ John Elway riffs on guns, politics and the Super Bowl with Piers Morgan - Fake girlfriends, guns, President Barack Obama, the Super Bowl and Dove +Men. Broncos vice president for football operations John Elway talked about all of them with CNN’s Piers Morgan in an interview that aired Thursday. Morgan called Elway “a true legend” in introducing him. Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

John Elway talks Denver Broncos – Watch video from CBSSports.com>>>>

The Denver Broncos Should Stay Away from Darrelle Revis - Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis should not be wearing the orange and blue of the Denver Broncos next season. On Wednesday, rumors spread that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson was open to trading their star cornerback due to his contract situation. Revis will be a free agent at the end of next season and the Jets have been unable to get him signed to a new contract on several occasions the past two seasons. Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>

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Nearly two weeks later, and the comparisons rage on.

I recently tackled the question of “Which playoff loss was worse: Jacksonville or Baltimore?”

Saturday was painful because the Broncos by many accounts did enough to win, but managed to make just enough mistakes to not. Many could say that makes it worse than 1996 when the Denver Broncos were just outplayed. It’s a valid point, but I think we have to remember the broader context of 1996.

The Jacksonville game came at a time where the conversation had begun about how much longer Elway would be around. When Denver earned home field after a stellar 13-3 season a narrative emerged of finally getting that Super Bowl for Elway. The Broncos had not been in such an opportune position for five years, and with the clock ticking on Elway’s career it seemed this could very well be the team’s last best shot.

Yes, the Ravens divisional-round loss hurt, but the Jaguars loss during the 1996 playoffs was worse. Of course, we know what happened the following season for Denver. The Broncos, fueled by the postseason embarrassment of 1996, won the Super Bowl.

And then Denver won the Super Bowl again. The following year. For good measure.

But the questions remains: Can the 2013 Denver Broncos do the same?

The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla writes:

 While Denver has established the talent base of a legitimate contender, the Broncos must approach next season as if it is their last, best shot to win the NFL title.

The above is perhaps the best one-sentence summary of how the team must approach 2013. It’s a mantra that hopefully players think about daily – from now until February 2014.

The 1997 Denver Broncos laid out a blueprint for the 2013 team, but that path is no guarantee we’ll see a similar result. Bottom line: A lot of things have to go well, be it luck or good fortune, not to mention the league has changed.

Other Headlines:

• Denver Broncos: (VIDEO) Practicing for the Pro Bowl means Peyton Manning gets additional on-field time with Adam Gase and Greg Knapp to get a jump on next season.
• The Denver Post: NFL and college football intersect at Senior Bowl
• The Denver Post: Broncos offense to strive for more power; defense to seek help at MLB
• Mile High Report: 2013 NFL Free Agency: Should the Denver Broncos trade for Revis?
• Predominantly Orange: History Says Broncos’ Fans Have Much To Look Forward To

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Odds are some future Broncos are working at the Senior Bowl this week - The Casino Del Sol All-Star Game is a newly minted affair, and the East-West Shrine Game is a quality event, played for the best of causes. And the NFL Players Association has tried to jump into the college all-star game biz with its invitation-only affair. Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Should Colin Kaepernick have been a Broncos draft pick at QB? - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Marv Robbins: Q: No one has written about the Broncos trading the No. 36 pick in 2011 to San Francisco, who then selected (quarterback) Colin Kaepernick. He could have been a Bronco, your thoughts?  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Goodell Chats with Season Ticket Holders - Hours the Broncos’ Divisional Round matchup kicked off, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell held a fan forum with Broncos season ticket holders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Broncos President Joe Ellis, who told the crowd he has known Goodell for 22 years, introduced the commissioner and thanked those in attendance for all they do for the franchise. Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

New Denver Broncos QBs coach Greg Knapp to work with Peyton Manning at Pro Bowl - The relationship between Greg Knapp and Peyton Manning will be jumpstarted this week. When Mike McCoy was hired as San Diego’s new head coach, quarterbacks coach Adam Gase was promoted to offensive coordinator. Read more from Examiner >>>>

4 Things the Denver Broncos Need to Improve Upon in 2013 - The 2012 Denver Broncos had their season ended by the eventual AFC championBaltimore Ravens a couple of weeks ago in a heartbreaking double-overtime loss at Mile High. The Broncos entered the game as 10-point favorites and there was little doubt that they would move on to the AFC Championship game. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos 2013 NFL Draft Wish List - The 2013 NFL Draft will be here in the blink of an eye and the Denver Broncos are scheduled to select 28th overall in round one (if they do not trade out of that spot).  What positions should the Broncos address? Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

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