The remnants of the Denver Broncos’ golden era are everywhere.  Visit the club level at Sports Authority Field at Mile High and the giant draping banners depict the franchise’s Super Bowl heroes rather than current favorites.  Visit the condiments aisle in most Denver grocery stores and you’ll see Ed McCaffrey’s mustard shelved near Terrell Davis’ barbecue sauce.

Peyton Manning led the Colts to the second-highest winning percentage in the NFL from 2000-10. (Courtesy Chris Staley)

Somewhat painfully, these iconic champs have been out of the game for quite some time, a decade or more depending on the player.  Since the juggernaut teams of the late 90s, it’s kind of felt as though Denver’s most popular franchise has been relegated to second-tier status.  What’s interesting is the numbers tell a different story.

From 2000 to 2010, do you know where the Denver Broncos ranked in winning percentage?  Seventh.  Granted, they played fewer games than the teams ahead of them as Denver became a perpetual “bubble” playoff team, but seventh isn’t bad considering that of the six teams with better percentages, four of them were from the AFC and became conference champions in nine of the ten seasons (New England, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore).

So…in reality, even the lean years haven’t been that lean (although 2010 was pretty bad).  The Broncos managed to win 57% of their games with Brian Griese, Chris Miller, Gus Frerotte, Steve Beuerlein, Jake Plummer, Danny Kanell, Jarious Jackson, Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, and Tim Tebow all getting a turn as the team’s starting quarterback.

In that same time period (2000-2010), the Indianapolis Colts were the second-winningest team in the league, winning essentially 70% of their games, and averaging a league-high 26.3 points per game.  The Colts were bettered by the New England Patriots by seven-tenths of a percentage point.  Peyton Manning was the starting quarterback for every game during that period.

Sure, rosters change and players have aged, but the main point is the Broncos organization consistently fields winning teams.  Moreover, the Broncos have won without an elite quarterback at the helm.  Now that a quarterback who won 70% of games through the course of a decade has been inserted, a failure to finish above .500 would be statistically anomalous.

The Broncos have a tremendously difficult 2012 schedule, and the nagging fact remains that any road to the Super Bowl likely involves a toppling of the winningest organization of the last decade (New England).  However, if Peyton Manning’s neck truly is game-ready and holds up…well, Denver pantries may see a renaissance in player-pedaled condiments.

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

Former Denver Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, Valor Christian host Down syndrome football, cheer camp – Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey hosted a star-studded football and cheerleading camp for individuals with Down syndrome on Saturday at Valor Christian High School.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Peyton Manning vs. Tim Tebow: Colorado voters weigh in - The folks at Public Policy Polling included some quarterbacks questions in a recent survey of Colorado voters. The results showed that local voters prefer Tim Tebow as a person, but prefer Peyton Manning as a quarterback.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

New Horsepower Fueling Broncos - When linebacker Joe Mays walked into the weight room at the Broncos’ Dove Valley headquarters to begin his first offseason workout, he barely recognized his surroundings.  Gone were the machines, dumbbells, bench press stations, squat racks and rows of treadmills that lined the weight room last year.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Strength, Size Help Siliga Stand Out - Even though he lines up in the most crowded part of the field, first-year defensive tackle Sealver Siliga has always been hard to ignore.  Standing 6-2 and weighing more than 300 pounds, it didn’t take Siliga long to draw his teammates’ attention after joining the team’s practice squad in Week 6 of the 2011 season.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos: Report Cards for Every Positional Unit on the Roster - Heading into training camp, the 2012 Denver Broncos have high expectations.  With Peyton Manning now in the fold, the Broncos could be as good as Manning’s health allows them to be.  When Manning was in Indianapolis, the Colts made it to the postseason nine consecutive times, consistently won 12 or more games and were always a threat to win the Super Bowl.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos: Predicting Peyton Manning’s 2012 Season - Unless you are living under a rock, you are probably aware the Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos a few months back.  The move came after Manning, a longtime Indianapolis Colt, was released from the Colts after sitting out the 2011 season with a neck injury.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Ryan Clady likes Denver Broncos’ offense under Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady will go from blocking for one of the NFL’s most polarizing quarterbacks to protecting a future Hall of Famer’s blind side.  Clady is on the front line of the Broncos’ swap of the Tim Tebow run-heavy offense for Peyton Manning’s pass-oriented attack.  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

Broncos’ Elway, Sharpe featured in Madden 13 - Merely days after cover voting started, Denver’s two representatives — linebacker Von Miller and quarterback Tim Tebow — were eliminated in the cover vote for the Madden NFL 13 video game athlete.  That didn’t stop EA Sports from featuring several historical Broncos in the game.  Read more from Bronco Talk >>>>

Ranking the Top 10 Denver Broncos Post Season Games - With the acquisition of Peyton Manning, most Denver Broncos fans are already fantasizing about what the 2012 Broncos season holds. Though the Broncos have the second toughest schedule next to the Giants, most prognosticators have picked them to be the favorite to win the AFC West. That means, to understate it, that most fans expect nothing short of another playoff appearance (if not a victory and/or Super Bowl).  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

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

Today’s lesson: When Peyton Manning makes a “decision,” the Twitter world takes notice.

Below is a collection of tweets from Broncos players – past and present – on the impending arrival of Manning Mania to Denver.

Mark Schlereth

Ryan Clady 

Lance Ball

D.J. Williams

Shannon Sharpe

Byron Chamberlain

Willis McGahee

Robert Ayers

Ed McCaffrey

Von Miller

Quinton Carter

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

The Denver Post: Some injured Broncos are progressing nicely, led by WR Brandon Lloyd.

DenverBroncos.com: Cornerback Andre’ Goodman is eager to contribute to improving Denver’s defense.

ESPN: Tim Tebow will help out wherever needed.

ESPN: AFC West blogger Bill Williamson writes which Broncos player to watch out for Sunday.

CBS News: This might explain why Bengals WR Jerome Simpson, despite having a great game statistically, dropped three easy passes.

KRQE: Ex-Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey is helping the homeless in New Mexico.

NFL.com: Fantasy writers explore the Broncos running back by committee arrangement.

Yahoo! Sports: Is John Elway the greatest QB in NFL history? This writer thinks so.

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

DHF Home

The Broncos news drought continues into another day, but we’ll take what we can get…

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson looks at DeAngelo Williams’ chances of signing with Denver.

Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey has high praise of University of Northern Colorado’s campus, reports Greeley Tribune.

NFL.com checks in on the offseason workout of Madden 12 cover boy (and former Bronco) Peyton Hillis.

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

Another gorgeous Colorado weekend is behind us, but fear not; we’re a mere five days away from its return.

You know what’s here every day?  Broncos headlines, courtesy DHF:

The Denver Post profiles Julius Thomas, one of two tight ends drafted by the Broncos.  Thomas was a standout on the Portland State basketball team, who decided to play football after a seven-year layoff.

Boston Herald wraps Tim Tebow’s weekend golf tournament.

Greeley Tribune previews an upcoming event at Invesco Field.  Coaches for Charity is put on by the Fisher DeBerry Foundation.  Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey is Master of Ceremonies for Friday’s event.  For more information visit Coaches for Charity’s website.

Football News Now reports Eagles safety Quintin Mikell’s time in Philadelphia is likely over.  The upcoming free agent, whenever that happens, could land with a number of teams, including the Broncos.

You're my favorite, John Lynch.

Freshly brewed coffee…couple of scrambled eggs…plenty of pancakes drowned in syrup…and a side of Denver Broncos headlines…

Sounds like an ideal breakfast for me.

I’ll take care of the headlines and coffee.  All I need now is a loyal reader to handle the eggs and pancakes.

Mmmm…Pancakes.

Seriously, any takers on that offer?

The Denver Post: Have a question for John Lynch?  Here’s your chance.  Fans can submit questions to The Denver Post through Wednesday morning.  Lynch will tackle (get it?) a select few in an upcoming “Fan Mail.”  For the record, Lynch is my favorite Bronco.  Ever.

EdMcCaffrey.com: The popular ex-Bronco blogs about the upcoming NFL Draft on his website, and more specifically, what the Broncos may do with the second overall pick.  **You can also now sign up for McCaffrey’s youth football camp.  It’s open for kids ages 8-15 in late June.  Details are available on his website.**

Football News Now: Former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall, now with Miami, gives his stamp of approval for Chad Henne to lead the Dolphins’ offense in 2011.  Thanks, Brandon.  Good to know.

Just so you know, that “Pancakes for Brenda” plea doesn’t have an expiration date.

• Are the Broncos thinking offense with the #2 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft?  Should the Broncos be thinking offense? ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. said Friday on SportsCenter Georgia wide receiver AJ Green could be a good fit for Denver.  Kiper has Green ranked as the third best player available and the best offensive player overall.  Perhaps Kiper believes the Broncos are slightly worried now with Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas both facing several months of rehabilitation (hip surgery and torn Achilles’ tendon, respectively), but let’s face fact: Denver defense was dead last in the NFL in 2010.  More immediate need?  Absolutely.

• Colorado Senate Bill 40, which toughens rules regarding children who suffer concussions, has cleared committee and now moves on to the Senate as a whole.  The bill is named after 14-year-old Jake Snakenberg, a Grandview football player who died following a concussion.  Former Denver Broncos Ed McCaffrey and Billy Thompson were at the Capitol in support of the legislation.  Bill 40 would require medical clearance for children to return to games along with coaches to undergo concussion-related training.

• He’s just 23-years-old, but Tim Tebow is ready to tell his life story.  The quarterback’s autobiography “Through My Eyes” is set to go on sale April 19 (or May 24 as reported on publisher HarperCollins’ website).  The co-author of “Through My Eyes” is Nathan Whitaker, who previously wrote with Jim Brown and Tony Dungy.  Tebow will go on a short tour promoting the book, with stops scheduled in Denver (of course), and his home state of Florida.