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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Denver Broncos’ AFC West rivals full of hope before NFL draft - In a division in which the Broncos wore the crown in 2011 with only an 8-8 record, it’s natural for every team in the AFC West to believe it’s “right there” and think that a great draft this week will be the push to get over the top. ”I think you always realize the guaranteed trip to the playoffs is by winning your division,” said John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations. “What you do in the division is always going to be very significant.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Brian Dawkins always a welcome Bronco even in retirement - The reality of his life-changing, career-ending retirement decision sunk in for Brian Dawkins as he drove to the Broncos’ facility Tuesday morning to say goodbye.  Dawkins realized he no longer knew where to park. Should he pull in up front, where visitors park and check in at the front desk? Or could he still pull into the players’ parking lot around back and use his pass code to enter the large metal gate?  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos are willing to trade out of NFL draft’s first round - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Mike Shields in Torrington, Wy. Q: I would like to see the Broncos trade out of the first round in the draft, perhaps getting the Colts’ pick near the top of the second round. Any chance of that happening?  A: The Broncos are willing to trade out of the first round if they can strike a deal that benefits them. “Preferably, we’d like to go back,” John Elway, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, said this week.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

2012 NFL Draft Preview: Specialists - In the weeks leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft, DenverBroncos.com is taking a look at the draft prospects position-by-position. We will devote a week to each group, looking back at some of the Broncos’ previous picks at the position and showcasing some of the top prospects through top stories, blogs and Broncos TV videos.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Cakes for Cancer Pancake Breakfast - During the 2011 season, the Broncos offensive line had even more reason to put defenders on their backs.  For every pancake block the line made last year, Zane Beadles donated $250 to Brent’s Place as part of his “Cakes for Cancer” program.  This Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to noon MDT, Beadles and his teammates are holding a Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Cakes for Cancer program even further, helping kids and families of Brent’s Place.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Colts remove Peyton Manning’s banner at Indianapolis stadium - The large banner of Peyton Manning has been removed from Lucas Oil Stadium.  The move Wednesday comes a day before the Colts will take Andrew Luck, Manning’s replacement, with the No. 1 overall choice in the NFL draft.  Pete Ward, the team’s chief operating officer, says the timing had nothing to do with the draft. Instead, he says, it was because a crane was in the area and available to take it down.  Read more from Associated Press >>>>

Denver Broncos 2012 Draft: 10 Prospects Denver Should Target in the Early Rounds - The 2012 NFL draft is now just hours away. Beginning on Thursday evening, the draft has grown from a blip on your local news channel. It is now a full-blown prime time party.  Spanning three days, the NFL Draft now provides every team and fan with hope for what the future may bring.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions with Analysis - John Elway and the Denver Broncos are facing a make-or-break draft on Thursday. If Denver misses on more picks than they score on, then it will be up to the checkbook of Pat Bowlen to assemble a team via free agency in the years to come.  However, if Elway and his draft team can find big scores in 2012, then the team will be poised for an immediate run, as well as continued success in the future.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

An Easy Choice - With the 28th overall pick in the 1997, the Denver Broncos selected a 6-foot-5, 295-pound and raw defensive tackle out of Clemson named Trevor Pryce, who was questionably forgoing his senior year to enter the draft.  Not exactly a sexy pick.  Read more from Mile High Sports >>>>

Peyton Manning leads Tim Tebow in new Nike jersey sales- New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is leading New York Jets QB Tim Tebow in early sales of the newly designed NFL team jerseys from Nike that hit stores this week.  The move of the former Indianapolis Colts QB to Mile High Stadium is making Manning’s jersey the best-selling player jersey at NFLShop.com since the high-tech new jerseys became available for pre-order April 15, says league spokeswoman Joanna Hunter. Manning did not rank in the Top 10 best-selling player jerseys last season.  Read more from USA Today >>>>

Would LSU WR Rueben Randle Fit In With The Denver Broncos? - John Elway had his pre-draft press conference on Monday, and I still have no clue what the Broncos are going to do. However, it’s been a real favorite pick of mine to mock the Broncos a receiver in the first round, and one player who is rumored to be sneaking his way into the top 32 discussion is LSU’s Rueben Randle.  The former top prep-star prospect had a solid career in Baton Rouge, and in terms of his on-field ability is one of the best receivers in this entire draft. Randle is a very good route runner with sure hands, and he could contribute early in his career if he gets in with a smart quarterback.  Read more from NFL Mocks >>>>

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Kickin’ it: In the playoffs, best bet is Tim Tebow to beat Peyton Manning - Crystal baller.  Many analysts, including the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, have portrayed the Broncos as Super Bowl contenders in 2012, entirely due to the fact the Broncos “upgraded” their quarterback position from Tim Tebow to Peyton Manning. With a dropback passer in 2010, the Broncos finished 4-12. My point is: The Broncos were undoubtedly a 4-12 (or so) team in 2011 without the miracle that was Tebow. Manning is probably the greatest regular-season QB in league history.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Klis: Former Broncos Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall reunited with Chicago Bears - There was a time when the trio of Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Jeremy Bates had the NFL in their collective palms.  Three games into the 2008 season, Cutler, the Broncos’ quarterback, and Bates, the team’s offensive pass coordinator, had the Broncos averaging 38.0 points per game. The 2007 New England Patriots, who finished 16-0, set an NFL scoring record that still stands at 36.8 points per game.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks safety, balance as litigation mounts  - Listen to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and it doesn’t take long for professional football’s top executive to talk about protecting “the shield” — the league’s red, white and blue logo.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

NFL Free Agency: Who Gave out the Best and Worst Contracts in 2012? - Following an insane free agency scramble, the Denver Broncos handed out the best contract when they signed one of the greatest free agents of all time, Peyton Manning.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

2012 NFL Free Agents: Predictions for Peyton Manning’s First Season with Broncos - Peyton Manning might be on the comeback trail from a very serious injury and an entire year off, but that doesn’t mean the expectations of his first season with theDenver Broncos should be any lower.  Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and even at 75 percent, he is still better than most play-callers in the league.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Report: Denver Broncos Began Shopping Tim Tebow at NFL Combine –  One of the biggest stories from the 2012 offseason was the Denver Broncos shipping Tim Tebow to the New York Jets after bringing Peyton Manning on board to be the team’s new starting quarterback. While the move came as no surprise after the signing of Manning considering the Broncos gave the future Hall of Fame quarterback a $96 million contract, it does come as a bit of a surprise that John Elway and company attempted to trade Tebow well before Manning even became available.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Jets reportedly want leash on Tim Tebow’s ‘outside endeavors’ - If Tim Tebow’s introductory news conference raised a few eyebrows among his new teammates, imagine if the New York Jets’ backup quarterback had his own weekly radio spot.  That’s something Jets’ brass hopes to curtail, according to the New York Daily News.  The team has decided to limit Tebow’s “outside endeavors,” the newspaper reported, including a regularly scheduled radio appearance similar to starting QB Mark Sanchez’s on “The Michael Kay Show,” which aires in New York.  Read more from Sporting News >>>>

Ray McNulty: Jaguars didn’t really want Tebow - My theory as to the real reason Tim Tebow, given a choice by the Denver Broncos, decided he’d rather play in New York than in front of his hometown fans in Jacksonville?  He didn’t have a choice.  The Jaguars didn’t really want him.  They’ll never say so publicly. They can’t. They can’t risk further alienating an already-apathetic fan base that would’ve been energized by the rousing return of a home-grown football folk hero.  Read more from TC Palm >>>> 

Fantasy Football Preview: Is Knowshon Moreno Peyton’s New Weapon? -
Let me say this, it feels good to take a little break from draft analysis.  That being said, I have the distinct privilege to provide you guys with insight on Fantasy Football throughout the upcoming season.  Some of you enjoy Fantasy Football on different levels and for those who enjoy the dynasty format your league is likely starting to pick up.  Read more from  NFL Mocks >>>>

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Lighting proposal for Sports Authority Field at Mile High has neighbors seeing red - A flap over three lighted-red-letter signs proposed for the top ring of the Denver Broncos’ stadium has riled neighborhood groups, has produced an avalanche of e-mails and is leading to a showdown today in front of the city’s planning board.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Elway says Broncos to spend more than NFL salary cap in 2012 - Because of the complexity of the NFL salary cap, comparing cap figures can be like comparing apples to oranges to bananas to walnuts.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Giant lesson learned by Broncos - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Dave in Alamosa.  Q: In which phase of the game do the Broncos have to make the most improvement to be a playoff team this year?  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow Getting a Head Start in the Offseason: Fan Perspective - Tim Tebow began the 2011 NFL season on the bench for the Denver Broncos. However, the fans did just about everything they could, including paying for a billboard, to convince coach John Fox to start the famous QB.The fans got their wish when Tebow took to the field during the October 23rd game against the Miami Dolphins. This game began what would become known as a season of improbable comeback wins despite poor mechanics.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

NFL 2012: Will Broncos’ Tim Tebow Improve as a Passer in 2012? - Heading into the offseason as a Broncos fan, the major question on everybody’s mind is, “Will Tim Tebow improve enough as a passer to keep the Broncos as contenders?”.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Falling In Love With The Broncos Again - Roses are red, violets are blue, no, no, no, no. That won’t do.  The Denver Broncos need more. Not the run of the mill bouquet of roses, box of chocolates, or cheesy love poem.  The Broncos gave me more last season.  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

Denver Broncos Updated 2012 Offseason Needs - The Denver Broncos had one of the more entertaining 8-8 seasons that I have ever seen, one that included a bunch of comebacks and some quarterback named Tim Tebow. Not to mention, the Broncos sent Willis McGahee to the Pro Bowl, and drafted the defensive rookie of the year, linebacker Von Miller.  Read more from NFL Mocks >>>>

Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow: The comparison doesn’t hold up - Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow have been phenomenons who transcended their sports this fall and winter. Each helped reverse stumbling franchises; each has extraordinary leadership skills; each is a model of humility and a person of faith.  Read more from Los Angeles Times >>>>

Broncos’ need for speed on defense remains a priority - Welcome back and today’s question comes from Ted Shih: Q: You wrote that the Broncos have sought big, powerful players on defense as well as small, quick players on defense. So, where are (the Broncos) now?  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos Roster Analysis: Cornerback - ESPN Football Outsiders recently cited the Broncos’ top need this offseason as being in the secondary. The Broncos have two corners who are 30 plus years of age, and two of our top reserves ended last season on injured reserve.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Denver Broncos: Possible Quarterback Additions Through Free Agency and the Draft - The Denver Broncos have made it very clear that Tim Tebow will enter training camp next season as the team’s starting quarterback, but behind him is a jumbled mess of uncertainty.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Peyton Manning Rumors: Why Trade to Denver Broncos Wouldn’t Make Sense - Peyton Manning is most likely going to be a free agent soon once the Indianapolis Colts decide they’re not going to pay his $28 million bonus. Following his release, there will be even more speculation about where he will sign.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Recently Released CB Stanford Routt Could Be Good Fit For Division Rival Broncos - The Oakland Raiders paid cornerback Stanford Routt a ridiculous amount of money not so long ago, and that led to his being released by new general manager Reggie McKenzie on Thursday.  Read more from NFL Mocks >>>>

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It’s all quiet around Denver as the players enjoy Day 2 of a four-day weekend.  Surprisingly, we have a healthy – and varied –  collection of Denver Broncos headlines.

The Denver Post: Broncos all-time leading receiver Rod Smith talks – what else? – Tim Tebow, being an undrafted free agent, and always having a Sharpie.

The Denver Post: From the “things overlooked by Tebow-mania” department, the Broncos have issues other than quarterback.

Sports Illustrated: Some say he’ll succeed; others insist he’ll fail.  Everyone has an opinion on Tim Tebow.

NFL Mocks: Where the Broncos draft in April depends on how Tebow plays.

Turf Show Times: Are the Broncos shopping around WR Brandon Lloyd?

Yahoo! Sports: Speaking of trades, here’s a list of players who should be dealt.

Yahoo! Sports: Guess which Broncos rookie is among the league’s best first-year players?  (Okay, soooo obvious there!)

Sporting News: Ranking the league’s quarterbacks.

Miami Herald: Tim Tebow and ‘Die Hard.’  Need I say more?

CSN Washington: Fantasy Football running back troubles?  How Tebow’s new role might result in an increased on for Willis McGahee.

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The Denver Post: Why is the Titans’ LP Field such a challenge for opposing team’s offensive line?  Here’s your answer.

The Denver Post: Tim Tebow playing WR is just the latest of notable NFL pinch-hitting.

DenverBroncos.com: As you know, the team re-signed TE Dante Rosario earlier this week.  Here’s more on his return to Denver.

Football News Now: Broncos face first road test of 2011 season.

Real Aspen: A look at religion, politics, and Denver Broncos football.

NFL Mocks: Thinking ahead to 2012 NFL Draft? These folks are.

Sporting News: An interview with the never shy Shannon Sharpe.

Titans Radio: Not surprise here; the Titans want revenge against Denver.

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The Denver Post: Jeff Legwold answers a reader’s question about the coach John Fox’s running game philosophy.

The Denver Post: Tim Tebow lined up as wide receiver Sunday, but does playing him at other positions affect his development as quarterback?

DenverBroncos.com: Several members of the Broncos participated in the NFL’s Play 60 campaign.

DenverBroncos.com: Last season, the Broncos traveled to Nashville and left with a W, and hope for a repeat performance.

NFL Mocks: The Broncos should consider drafting offense in 2012.

ESPN: Miami signed an ex-Broncos defensive player.

ESPN: For fantasy football players, it’s all about value.

Tennessean: It’s a sellout in Nashville for Sunday’s game.  Plus, a Titans update.

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Football is best enjoyed with camouflage pants...and usually a jersey. (personal photo)

My apologies for the lack of fresh content Saturday.  I am the proud season-ticket holder for University of Colorado football, and attended the first home game of 2011, which turned out to be an overtime loss to California.  I didn’t go to CU, but a certain alum is very near and dear to my heart, so I go in support, though honestly, if I had my druthers, I’d spend my Saturdays in Bloomington, Indiana cheering my Hoosiers to victory.  Or at least a reputable showing.

As for the professional ranks…

At long last, it is the first Sunday of the NFL season!  Of course, the Broncos must wait another day to play, but we have 13 games today to tide us over.

Until then, you know the drill: headlines

The Denver Post reports WR Demaryius Thomas has yet another injury – broken finger.

Also from The Denver Post, John Elway is on the prowl for a franchise QB.

Von Miller is the cornerstone of the Broncos defensive rebuilding, writes ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson.

NFL Mocks previews the AFC West in 2011.

Examiner.com ranks the NFL teams as we enter the regular season.

Gear Up For Sports ranks the AFC teams.

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The Denver Post reports Brodrick Bunkley returned to Broncos practice Thursday.

Also from The Denver Post, John Elway is used to attention; now he’s trying to rebuild the Broncos.

The Broncos are dedicated to a balanced offense in 2011.  More on the team’s official site.

The team’s site also shows some love for the defense.

NBC’s Bay Area affiliate reports the Raiders are eager to start the 2011 season against the Broncos.

Baltimore Beat Down looks at the NFL’s Gronkowski brothers. Dan was released by Denver over the weekend.

NFL Mocks continues to look at players available in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Wall Street Journal tested the facial symmetry of NFL player to answer the age-old question: which team is the most handsome?  (For real).

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