It’s time to do a little renovating.

About $30 million worth. 

Sports Authority Field at Mile High will undergo $30 million in improvements this offseason.   The project includes installing a new HD video board, updating the current video boards, swapping out TVs in the concourses and public areas, and a paint job.

These changes could also help Denver’s chances of landing an upcoming Super Bowl, something the city is interested in doing.

On the injury front, it’s looking more and more like Chris Kuper (ankle) will not suit up Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.  Kuper missed Friday’s practice, and is officially listed as doubtful.  The right guard has been plagued by injuries in 2012.

Fullback Chris Gronkowski (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: The 8 Best Highlights of the Denver Broncos’ 2012 Season So Far
• Denver Broncos: Dominating Defense Fuels Win Streak
• Denver Broncos: Broncos vs. Browns: Final Preview
• Denver Post: Broncos’ Mike Adams looks forward to Sunday reunion with Browns

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The fan votes are in…

And right now seven Denver Broncos are in line to be 2013 Pro Bowl starters.  Another ten players are within striking distance.

Fan votes count for one-third of Pro Bowl votes, with coaches and players each making up a third.  Broncos players and coaches will vote Thursday.

The 2013 Pro Bowl roster will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 26 on NFL Network.

Leading the fan vote is quarterback Peyton Manning.  Cornerback Champ Bailey and outside linebacker Von Miller are the AFC’s top vote-getters at their respective positions.

Other “fan starters” include outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard, who trails his teammate.  AFC’s No. 2 defensive end is Elvis Dumervil.  Tackle Ryan Clady and guard Zane Beadles are also in second place at their positions.

Here’s the rest of the list:

3rd Place –

• ST David Bruton
• MLB Keith Brooking
• PR/KR Trindon Holliday
• C Dan Koppen

4th Place –

• P Britton Colquitt
• WR Demaryius Thomas

5th Place –

• S Mike Adams
• FB Chris Gronkowski
• FS Rahim Moore
• K Matt Prater

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With the NFL playoffs mere weeks away, we’re at the point in the season: seeding talk.

The Denver Broncos are guaranteed to be in the playoffs, but are jockeying for seeding in the AFC.  It’s unlikely, but possible the Broncos could snag the No. 1 seed; Denver cannot finish lower than the No. 4 seed, meaning at least one playoff game will be at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in January.

Of course, the only thing the Broncos can control is what they do on the field.  They can’t worry about the other teams.

Bottom line: If the Broncos keep winning, a top seed will fall their way.  But recent history suggests it really doesn’t matter.  As safety Mike Adams told the Denver Post:

“Having not ever been to the playoffs, I don’t want to be happy about getting in or how we get in. I want to win the thing.  This is my first barbecue. I don’t care where we’re at. That’s my mind-set.”

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas says he and teammates don’t discuss home field advantage:

“We don’t talk about it.  We know it’s there. We know it’s going to be tough to get there. But we’re just trying to go out there and win our next game. We’re trying to put all the work in, and at the end of the day we’ll see what spot we get.”

For the record, if the playoffs started today, the Broncos would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Is Knowshon Moreno Key to the Denver Broncos’ Playoff Run?
• Bleacher Report: Questions the Denver Broncos Must Answer in the Playoffs
• CBS Denver: Rahim Moore Has Been Backbone In Denver Broncos Secondary
• Denver Broncos: VIDEO – Pre-Baltimore Breather: Justin Bannan on the benefit of an extended break before facing Baltimore.
• Denver Broncos: Mitch Unrein has made contributions in every facet of the game in 2012.
• Rant Sports: Denver Broncos: The Only Team That Can Beat the New England Patriots

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The Denver Broncos are now in Charlotte for Sunday’s game against their coach’s former team.

We’ve heard about it all week: John Fox was a longtime Carolina Panthers coach.  Of course, nothing would be sweeter than to leave North Carolina with a win.

But there’s another headline: 1 vs. 2.  Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, the 2011 NFL Draft top overall pick, faces off against Broncos linebacker Von Miller, taken by Denver at No. 2.  Just don’t expect Miller to make a big fuss about the Sunday showdown, telling the Denver Post:

“Of course I wanted to be No. 1, but Cam Newton, he’s Superman Cam.  He fit their need way more than I fit their need. I don’t have any animosity towards the Carolina Panthers. He was No. 1 and I was No. 2, but I want to go out there and win just like they want to go out there and win.”

Newton’s numbers thus far in 2012 haven’t been as impressive as his rookie campaign, but he’s nonetheless dangerous.  In fact, the Panthers’ record is a bit deceptive, but I’ll on that later in DHF’s upcoming game preview.

Other Headlines:

• Bloomberg: Peyton Manning is the front-runner for league MVP.
• Denver Broncos: In his latest blog, wide receiver Eric Decker weighs in the team’s next game.
• ESPNW: Broncos safety Mike Adams has a giving spirit.
• Examiner: The Broncos have won three straight games, but will they lose again this regular season?
• KJCT: Former Broncos player Vance Johnson abruptly closed his Grand Junction restaurant.

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Former Broncos coaches Kubiak, Phillips enjoy Texans’ victory - Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips posed a question to the fans above the visitor’s tunnel Sunday, seconds after Houston completed its 31-25 victory:  ”Hey, who’s No. 1?” Phillips said with his right index finger pointed to the sky.   Later, the former Broncos defensive coordinator and head coach played down the impact of beating quarterback Peyton Manning and the Broncos to improve to 3-0.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos safety Mike Adams a big fan of helping children - As a child growing up in Paterson, N.J., Mike Adams said he and his peers had two choices: sports or the streets.  Adams picked sports, and now, at age 31 and in his ninth season in the NFL, is working toward a goal of establishing a community center for kids in his old neighborhood.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Rod Smith inducted into Denver Broncos Ring of Fame – With the Broncos trailing 21-11 at halftime Sunday, former wide receiver Rod Smith felt obligated to change the collective mood during his Ring of Fame induction ceremony. The club’s record holder in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns turned into a cheerleader, leading fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in a four-way “Go! Broncos!” salute.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Sounds from the Locker Room - Locker room reaction following Sunday’s 31-25 loss to the Texans.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos vs. Texans: Fox - Head Coach John Fox talks to the press after Sunday’s 31-25 loss to Houston.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos: Winners and Losers from Week 3 vs. Houston Texans - The Denver Broncos mounted a furious comeback against the Houston Texanson Sunday, but just like Week 2 against Atlanta, they fell short.  Down 31-11 entering the fourth, the Broncos got two touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in the quarter—one off a lucky bounce—but they couldn’t score in the end and fell to the Texans 31-25.  The Broncos now sit at 1-2 with a home game against their bitter rivals the Oakland Raiders next on the docket.  But instead of looking at that matchup, let’s see who were the winners and losers for the Broncos in their loss to Houston.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Harvey: Crazy finish, but it never should have been that close - This would have been an improbable comeback even for Tim Tebow.  Divine intervention seemed to be the only hope the Denver Broncos had Sunday against the Texans, a team that had been playing better through two games and three quarters of the season than any other team in the NFL.  But Tebow is with the New York Jets now. So who was going to give the Broncos a chance to win when they fell behind 31-11 after three quarters at Sports Authority Field at Mile High?  Read more from Houston Chronicle >>>>

BroncosRants: Grades for Denver Broncos vs Houston Texans – On a day when Broncos great Rod Smith was honored at halftime for being chosen to enter their Ring of Fame, the Mile High magic seemed lost. The Denver Broncos for the second week in a row came out of the starting gate sluggish in their secondary.  After Elvis Dumervil sacked Matt Schaub in the end zone for a safety and Matt Prater kicked a field goal to put the Broncos up 5-0, the Houston Texans answered with 21 straight points.  Schaub torched Tracy Porter for a 60yd and 52yd TD passes to Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, respectively, while also hooking up with Arian Foster for a 3yd toss. In preseason, the secondary was considered to be the strength of the Broncos with the additions of Porter and S Mike Adams, while there were many questions about the run defense. Through the first three weeks, though, Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio needs to find some answers as to why this secondary cannot keep up with their man.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

John Fox, Jack Del Rio to be fined - The NFL plans to fine Denver Broncos coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio approximately $20,000 apiece for the way they publicly criticized officials in last Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to a league source.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

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The headlines from the Denver Broncos’ opening victory rightfully focused on Peyton Manning post-surgery, surgical performance on offense.  The sub-headlines, at least in Denver, mentioned the defense’s tendency to let the Pittsburgh Steelers off the hook in third and long situations.  With little to complain about on offense it’s no wonder the defense gained the spotlight when the, “could’ve been better” nitpicking began.  To that I’d agree the defense has work to do, but I’d also say Sunday night showed the Denver secondary has already gotten better since we saw it last.

With Manning turning offensive football into high art, perhaps it makes the defensive performance seem all the more vulnerable.  However, let’s be reasonable.  This was a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that had a healthy Ben Roethlisberger and a variety of receiving weapons.  It’s reasonable to expect that offense would get some things going, just as it should be expected on Monday in Atlanta.  The Denver defense still managed to hold the Steelers to 19 points.  If this defense can average 19 points surrendered per game, the Denver Broncos will win a lot of games.

More notably, while the Steelers didn’t make a habit of looking for home run plays down the field, they certainly took some shots.  Impressively, the Broncos’ revamped secondary was fully up to the challenge.  Overlooked among the mesmerizing offensive efficiency and the game-ending Tracy Porter pick were two notable plays.  Free agent addition Mike Adams prevented a sure touchdown with a perfectly timed pass defense at the front of the end zone, and before his game-winning interception, Porter managed to fight off a pass to a streaking Mike Wallace along the sideline.  Had Porter mistimed the play Wallace likely only stops after reaching the end zone as Porter was isolated in single coverage.

Sure, this defense’s ability to contain passing attacks will be tested this season, and will likely need to improve.  Realistically, the Denver Broncos can likely get by with a good defense, not a great one.  Sunday night was encouraging.  Even Rahim Moore, while still somewhat of a non-factor, began showing signs of making the right reads.  If the Broncos secondary can make its debut performance a building block instead of a high point, very good things await.

Also in the Broncos’ favor…many of the quarterbacks they’ll see this season don’t have the freelance abilities of Roethlisberger.  To put it more bluntly: Phillip Rivers, Matt Cassel, and Carson Palmer aren’t exactly tearing it up when ruffled in the pocket.

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Broncos coaches looked back to 2010 to build their offensive playbook - What the Broncos offense really is, what’s really in those files that have been downloaded into the team’s iPads, won’t really be revealed too much until Sept. 9, when the Steelers line up across from Peyton Manning in the regular-season opener.  But how that playbook was built, how the Broncos put it all together, front to back, was a process. Broncos quarterbacks coach Adam Gase called it “a really interesting thing, something that was fun, as a coach, to be a part of.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos Peyton Manning, Drayton Florence willing to lead the way - Experience is earned, accumulated day by day. But experience can also be shared. And when the Broncos added a smattering of 30-somethings to their roster during the offseason there was some consideration given to those who would share their experiences.  Those veterans who arrived in Denver include: quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Brandon Stokley, linebacker Keith Brooking, cornerback Drayton Florence and safety Jim Leonhard.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Jim Leonhard, Keith Brooking no locks to make Broncos’ 53-man roster - In terms of roster mechanics, the Broncos pulled their safety net from safety Jim Leonhard on Tuesday.  They likely will have to decide whether to make a leap of faith with Leonhard and another veteran, linebacker Keith Brooking, before setting the 53-man roster next week. Leonhard’s surgically repaired knee was fit enough to pass his physical, leading the Broncos to activate the eighth-year safety and punt returner from the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Mike Adams: Orange and Blue-Collar - Safety Mike Adams has just about seen it all.  In his eight seasons in the NFL, he’s started games at both strong and free safety and has starting experience as a corner.  But one thing Adams hasn’t experienced is postseason football.  “It’s something everybody wants to experience,” Adams said of the playoffs. “That’s why we play this game. We play this game to win. We play this game to win championships and Super Bowls, and not just the players. Going to the playoffs and having that experience – then the next level is that Super Bowl, man. I want to get that feeling.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Get to Know: Dave Magazu - How important is continuity on the offensive line?  ”I think it’s a positive because the guys have worked together. They know each other. They know the terminology. It’s easy to communicate because they are like one right now. We have some other guys who can fill in if we get a little nicked up here and there. All of those guys have been together and that’s nothing but a positive, because one of the biggest things is communication and being on the same page, and I think we’re there. We communicate much better today compared to the same time last year.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Q&A with Brandon Stokley - Wide receiver Brandon Stokley joined the Broncos in April after mulling over a possible retirement from the league. Now in his second stint in orange and blue, Stokley is excited to contribute to the new-look Denver offense.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Manning could be Broncos defensive MVP - On the surface, the Denver Broncos defense in 2011 would appear to have been a below average group, allowing the ninth-most points per game (24.4) and forcing the fourth-fewest turnovers per game (1.13).  However, the problem with the defense may have stemmed from problems with the offense.   Read more from ESPN >>>>

Can Broncos Fans Picture MJD Giving The Mile High Salute? - The last thing that the Denver Broncos want at this stage of their preseason is to add a wrinkle to the one position battle that has been the toughest to decide. The starting running back this season is undoubtedly Willis McGahee, with a slew of others vying for what I believe to be two other slots. Rookie Ronnie Hillman is almost a sure bet to make the squad, with Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno battling out the remaining spot. But with trouble brewing in Jacksonville, is Maurice Jones-Drew going to be available?  And will the Broncos be serious suitors?  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Peyton Manning: Eric Decker Will Become Star QB’s Top Target - When the Denver Broncos made the decision to part ways with incumbent starter Tim Tebow in favor of signing Peyton Manning to a five-year, $96 million deal, the organization essentially decided to scrap its entire 2011 offensive game plan as well.  And fortunately for Denver, that change will almost certainly pay dividends.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

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Happy Mandatory Minicamp., Broncos fans!

Be sure to follow DHF on Twitter for minicamp updates throughout the day. I’ll have a recap here tonight.

Broncos’ Julius Thomas will find playing time tough to get in NFL in 2012 - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Dave Webb.  Q: I was thrilled when the Broncos drafted tight end Julius Thomas in 2011, but he didn’t have a good rookie season. How much playing time will he get this year?  A: Thomas’ rookie season went downhill on the first reception of his NFL career. On a 5-yard catch against Cincinnati last September, Thomas injured his right ankle. He left that game and ended up missing a total of 14 games — 12 in the regular season and both of the Broncos’ playoff games — because of the injury.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Same Number, New Name - “The Wolverine,” Adams said. “I just watched him all my career, especially when I was at the University of Delaware. I watched him play with the Eagles. (Brian) Dawkins was a great player.”  Adams has worn No. 20 his entire career because of the respect he has for two men who have worn the same number and played the position: former Jacksonville Jaguar Donovin Darius and recently retired Bronco Brian Dawkins – The Wolverine.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Woman files lawsuit against cornerback Cox, wideout Thomas - A woman who accused former Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox of sexual assault has filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages against Cox and current Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.  The woman’s lawyer, Craig Silverman, says he filed the lawsuit electronically Sunday. A jury in March acquitted Cox of all charges and Cox then signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Silverman says the lawsuit filed anonymously as “Jane Doe,” allows the woman to prosecute the allegations in court.  Read more from USA Today >>>>

Denver Broncos: Why Team Didn’t Address the Right Issues This Offseason – The Denver Broncos made the biggest splash of them all in free agency when they won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. Coming off an 8-8 season in which they won the AFC West crown, the Broncos decided that their team needed to make a switch from the Tim Tebow gimmick offense and bring in the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>> 

Denver Broncos: Why Peyton Manning Will Return to MVP Form in 2012 - After a major injury in the NFL, there are always questions regarding the level of play to which a player can return. Some are able to carry out their come back very successfully, whereas others seem to lose sight of their game altogether.  For example, Tom Brady’s performance hardly lagged upon his return from a major knee injury in 2008, while Carson Palmer has failed to reach his full potential since returning from a similar injury in 2006.   Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Mini Camp Rules for the Broncos (and the Rest of the League) - The Denver Broncos will hold their final offseason Mini Camp tomorrow. This is the mandatory veteran Mini Camp and will last 3 days just like all other Mini Camps do. All of the players should be in attendance, meaning Franchised tagged Kicker Matt Prater will either sign his tender or we will be reporting an extension. Hopefully the latter. Rookie Quarterback Brock Osweiler and Running Back Ronnie Hillman are the only unsigned players left. Hopefully all three will get their deals completed today and not miss any time.  With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) being signed last August, the regulations have changed the way teams can go about their offseason business. Here is what the CBA has to say about NFL Mini Camps.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Mile High Monday: Broncos Country Ready For 2012 Season - While flipping through the channels on Sunday morning, I came upon a replay of the 2011 Denver Broncos-Chicago Bearsgame. Naturally I watched every second. Not only did it take me back to the emotional highs and lows of the 2011 season, but it had my head spinning for the rest of the day thinking about the future.  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Draft And Offseason Analysis, Reaction, And Projections - The Denver Broncos are no strangers to stealing headlines on ESPN and NFL Network, especially lately. With that whole Tim Tebow thing last year (remember that?) ending in a blowout loss in the playoffs to the AFC Champion New England Patriots, John Elway felt as though he had seen enough to know that while he loved Tim Tebow as a person, he didn’t think he was the future of the Denver Broncos’ organization.  Read more from NFL Mocks >>>>

Playbook breaches among overrated stories - NFC West teams do not face the Denver Broncos this season, but I could not resist one of the funnier stories from the weekend.  D.J. Williams probably faces a team fine for tweeting images from the Broncos’ digital playbook. He should be embarrassed.  But to suggest Williams has put the Broncos at a strategic disadvantage would be going too far. Players switch teams every offseason. The detailed knowledge they bring with them has some value, but probably less than one might imagine. Versions of entire playbooks have shown up online without anyone seeming to care much.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

Top ten tweets about D.J. Williams sharing Broncos playbook photo - Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams’s inexplicable decision to tweet a photo from the squad’s playbook earned him slaps o’ plenty from Twitter Nation. See the ten most memorable reactions below.  Still, there’s irony in this censure — because the response was considerably larger than the ones involving his DUI trial and six-game suspension.  Read more form the Westword >>>>

Denver Broncos Caravan Tour In Estes Park This Wednesday, June 13th! - The Denver Broncos have announced the next three cities to be visited on the third annual Broncos Country Caravan. The 2012 Caravan features 9 major stops throughout Colorado during the summer. The second leg of the tour will kickoff Wednesday, June 13 in Estes Park, CO followed by visits to Greeley (6/14) and Longmont, CO (6/15). In May the Caravan visited 3 communities in southern Colorado (Trinidad, Pueblo and Cañon City) and will wrap up the 2012 Broncos Country Caravan by a western tour in July visiting 3 communities; the specific dates for the western tour are yet to be announced. The 2012 Broncos Country Caravan is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Transportation, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and U.S. Bank.  Read more from Estes Park News >>>>

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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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