Good Sunday morning to all.  Time for Broncos headlines.

The NFL and NFLPA are ironing out the final details of the CBA.  Here’s an update from The Denver Post.

The team’s official site announces the re-signing of three Broncos players.

Also from denverbroncos.com, a review of the team’s first practice in pads.

The just in: Denver has salary cap problems.  ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson has more.

Former Broncos TE Daniel Graham could have a new team, according to SB Nation Music City Miracles.

Speaking of Graham, NFL.com has details on another team interested in the tight end.

NFL Gridiron Gab ponders if Kyle Orton would make sense in Seattle.

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We’re back…or pretty darn close.

Feels great, doesn’t it?

If all goes well, it will feel even better tomorrow.

NFL.com has the very latest in the labor situation, including details of a key vote coming later today.

Here’s a great story from The Denver Post on the fabulous Rod Smith and how he’s helping out a young football player.

Also from The Denver Post, a Q & A from Mark Kiszla.

The Miami Herald writes about a Dolphins player the Broncos might have interest in.

Yahoo! Sports has more about coach John Fox’s vision for a ground-oriented offense.

USA Today names the offensive tackles to watch in 2011.

HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ is officially kaput in 2011.  NFL.com has more.

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It’s going to be a big Monday for those who are paid to play in the National Football League.  From the perspective of those who love football, it better be a Monday that ends with votes in favor of getting back to work.  Last week ended with Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend,” pessimism.  This week needs to begin with a Hank Williams, Jr., “Are you ready for some football?” croon.

Basically everyone in the Lockout Watch universe seems to think the players will finally get on board and approve both a settlement and CBA.  They should.  The ball is in their red zone.  As Denver-based public relations specialist Pete Webb told the Associated Press on Friday:

“If fans aren’t going to get their fall appetite of football, it’s not only the fans that are going to be the losers but the players’ images are going to take a hit.”

To fully appreciate the importance of Monday to NFL players, it’s necessary to flash back a few days when the NFL touted a deal.

Last Thursday’s news conference featuring a bleary-eyed Roger Goodell was either a power play, or a milestone of progress depending on your level of cynicism.  What it wasn’t was a desperate move.  There’s no way the owners coffers run dry before those of the players — even without that “lockout insurance” TV money.  No, the speedy ratification of a new CBA signifies two things.  First and foremost it shows that NFL owners prefer to make money, even if it’s not entirely on their preferred terms.  It also shows they understand the way to make money off a professional football league is to…you know…play football.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and owners were all smiles last week.

Now back to the players.  While this legal saga has more complicated layers than party dip, the basic fact that fans recognize is that the owners were the ones who locked the doors.  Now they’ve agreed to unlock them, but alas the players have now dragged their feet.  Yes, it is perfectly reasonable for the NFLPA to read all the fine print before signing a deal that will last a decade. This is a complicated deal, and there is undoubtedly a lot of fine print to read.  The problem is that if that truly is the main cause of this delay on the players’ side, no one is saying so…at least not very well.  Basic timetables, and a thoughtful voice haven’t existed.  Instead it’s been a mixture of social media infighting, and sniping from the players.

That chest-thumping rhetoric was fine in March, when we all knew this thing would likely drag on until mid-to-late July.  Now that kind of talk is just plain concerning.  For roughly the past month the news from the lockout beat has been messages of progress.  That progress appeared to reach its apex last week, but the deal didn’t get sealed, and the crowing continued.  If…IF…for some mind-boggling reason the players fail to get this deal moving on Monday, and let another week slip by without showing up at team facilities the blame falls squarely on them.

It doesn’t matter if its deserved.  That’s just the way it goes.

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Let’s begin the day’s headline roundup with the latest lockout news.  ESPN reports the NFLPA is set to vote Monday on the CBA with a Wednesday vote planned for recertification.

The Denver Post profiles a local undrafted free agent who continues to wait until he can sign with a NFL team.

Also from The Denver Post, a look at how the ongoing lockout is affecting the Broncos new coaching staff.

Examiner.com gets its video gaming on – with a look at the AFC West teams on Madden 12.

Reno’s KOLO TV has an update on Broncos rookie TE Virgil Green’s latest offseason endeavor.

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Helloooooooo weekend.

After what NFL fans endured this week, it’s much deserved.

Today’s Broncos headline roundup features multiple contributions from The Denver Post:

1. Meet the Broncos’ new director of player development
2.  Mark Kiszla writes an opinion piece about Brian Dawkins’ salary
3. Players continue grueling workouts in offseason

A furniture company makes a big donation to the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Does John Fox see Jake Delhomme in Tim Tebow.  It’s a question Gack Sports tries to answer.

It’s another round of Kyle Orton to Miami speculation, this courtesy Miami Herald.

The Columbus Dispatch joins the Orton vs. Tim Tebow discussion.

There’s a battle brewing between a former Bronco and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe.  National Football Post has more.

ESPN has this update on the NFL lockout, which stretches into another day.

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Good news: NFL owners tonight ratified a proposal to end lockout. 

Bad news: players decided not to vote.  At least tonight.

Technically, we still have a lockout.  Call this lifting intermission, if you will.

In a 31-0 vote, NFL owners approved a proposed collective bargaining agreement to end the lockout, pending player approval.  Oakland abstained, citing “profound philosophical differences of a football and an economic nature.”

(Oakland, of course.  Leave it to the Raiders.  By the way, if your franchise has “profound philosophical differences” of any kind, you vote NO.  Not not vote.)

Just an hour after that vote, player representatives from each team participated in a conference call led by NFLPA executive DeMaurice Smith.  Players opted against taking any action tonight.  NFL Network reports players aren’t responding positively to some specifics – even oversights – in the owners’ deal.

Pending player approval, the NFL is ready to open team facilities Saturday with the new league year beginning Wednesday.

Key provisions of the owners’ 10-year deal include:

• $120 salary cap in 2011
• Rookie pay scale
• $900 million – $1 billion in retiree benefits
• Unrestricted free agency status for players after fourth season; restricted free agency status for players following third season

Hall of Fame game canceled

The lone game casualty – so far – in the lockout is the Hall of Fame game between the Bears and Rams.  Commissioner Roger Goodell canceled the August 7 game, but promised the induction of the Class of 2011 will proceed as scheduled.

Head spinning from tonight’s unfolding drama? Still unsure what the heck is going on?  Can’t get enough of this nonsense? Whatever your reason, for more on the NFL lockout, visit Aerys Sports’ The Green Room.

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Close your eyes for a moment and let your mind travel back in time to a place where NFL players were voting today on a settlement.

It’s a pleasant thought, a thought of resolution, ending, finality, and most importantly, that critical step to bringing back football.

To dash your dreams – our dreams – the 12-year-old in me offers this response: PSYCH!

Associated Press reports players will not vote today on a deal to end the 126-day lockout, because an agreement between owners and players isn’t yet finalized.  However, NFL Network is reporting a conditional vote did take place today, meaning if certain unnamed issues can be resolved with owners, the players are ready for move forward with the settlement.  In other words, whatever vote that happened today is pending, and until X, Y, and Z are decided, the vote means little.

How does this holding pattern affect hopes of ratifying an agreement Thursday?  It doesn’t make that plan impossible, but if there was a way to make the eleventh hour deal even more eleventh hour (maybe eleventh-and-a-half-hour?), this would be it.

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I hope everyone got a good night’s rest, because we’re likely in for a very eventful week.

By all accounts, and I know I’ve used this line before, this is the week the NFL lockout thankfully comes to an end.

NFL owners and players will meet again either today or tomorrow, or perhaps even both days, according to NFL.com.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who’s been out of the country on vacation, will be back to mediate.

Sources say only a few issues remain unresolved.  Talks will take place in either New York or Washington, D.C.

Owners will be in Atlanta on Thursday for league meetings.  It’s expected that if a deal is reached, owners can ratify the agreement then.  As so eloquently put by Broncos tight end Dan Gronkowski:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday the NFLPA started contacting plaintiffs in Brady vs. NFL antitrust lawsuit.   Broncos rookie linebacker Von Miller is one of the 10 plaintiffs.

While NFL labor negotiations continue, chew on this…

NFL franchises – despite any suggested financial problems – remain the collective global envy of other professional sports teams.

Pat Bowlen’s Broncos are No. 15. (Courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Want proof?  Look no further than Forbes.

In a countdown of the world’s 50 most valuable sports teams, ALL 32 NFL teams made the cut.

Say what? ALL 32 MADE THE CUT.  For me, that line can be summarized in one word: staggering.

In 25 years, television revenue alone has increased 700%.  Back then, if you had $70 million lying around, you could purchase a NFL team.  Nowadays, you need a cool $1 billion to make that happen.

To find the world’s most valuable team, head across the pond.  English Premier League’s Manchester United is worth nearly $1.9 billion.  The highest placed NFL team is No. 2: the estimated $1.8 billion Dallas Cowboys.

(Side note: Can someone explain to me how the Houston Texans are ninth in this list?)

Pat Bowlen’s team is the AFC West’s most valued franchise at $1.05 billion.  That’s also good enough for 15th in Forbes ranking.  Kansas City Chiefs come in 27th ($965 million), San Diego Chargers rank 32nd ($907 million), and the Oakland Raiders are 43rd, worth a measly (relatively speaking) $758 million.

The NFL lockout hit another dubious distinction this week: 4 months and counting.

In a typical offseason, mid-July means free agency, OTAs, and counting down the days until training camp.

Peyton Manning joins Tom Brady and Drew Brees in releasing a statement urging an end to the lockout. (Courtesy Chris Staley)

This isn’t a typical offseason, thanks to the longest work stoppage in league history.  Instead, we’re left to pass the time reading about the latest lockout squabbles, rumors that a done deal is imminent, and the likelihood of preseason – maybe even regular season – cancellations.

Sense of urgency?  Haven’t we already passed that?

Earlier today, a trio of NFL gunslinging stars, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning, went on the record to say it’s time to end the lockout.

Depending on how you look at it, this is either the latest plea or merely just another PR move.

Their joint statement, released by the NFLPA and posted on NFL.com, read:

“We believe the overall proposal made by the players is fair for both sides and it is time to get this deal done.  This is the time of year we as players turn our attention to the game on the field. We hope the owners feel the same way.”

I see your statement, and I raise you one statement, courtesy the NFL:

“We share the view that now is the time to reach an agreement so we can all get back to football and a full 2011 season. We are working hard with the players’ negotiating team every day to complete an agreement as soon as possible.”

I long for the day our days aren’t consumed by statements, but I digress…

Brady, Brees, and Manning are three of the 10 plaintiffs named in an antitrust suit against the NFL. Broncos rookie Von Miller is also a plaintiff in the pending case.

ESPN reports insiders believe an agreement could be reached and ratified at next week’s leagues meetings in Atlanta.  Negotiations between the owners and players continue as Judge Arthur Boylan, who’s mediating discussions, is on vacation this week.

Brandon Lloyd’s lockout humor

This just in: Brandon Lloyd is cool. (Courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Appearing today on Denver’s CBS4, Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd updated viewers on his relaxing offseason goings-on:

“For the last four years I’ve been trying to find ways not to have to practice in the spring time. So not to have it has been great.  It’s nice to have it in mind that you’re going to go into camp fresh.”

Lloyd is joking, of course.  Like us, he’s ready to see this lockout go the way of the dinosaur.

The Pro Bowl receiver is spending his offseason working in sales for a Commerce City company that supplies metals for the aerospace industry.  Lloyd told The Denver Post last month he’s a “struggling musician” and “an organic rap dude” who writes and records songs.

For the record, ‘organic rap dude,’ is among the best lines I’ve read in months.

More praise for Miller

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson named rookie linebacker Von Miller as one of his budding stars in the division.  Williamson called Miller “smart, extremely fast, and athletically gifted” and reminiscent of former Kansas City Chiefs legend Derrick Thomas.

To see which other players Williamson names on his list, go here.

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DHF Reader Rankings return following a two-week respite.

And the timing couldn’t be better.

Last week, we were entertained with flirtations the lockout’s end was imminent, John Fox’s “idea” of which quarterback is poised to lead the Broncos in 2011, along with a notable retirement, and two passings.

So which was the week’s most popular story?  Put an end to the guessing and read on…

**For the record, my favorite two stories of the week missed the cut.  Go HERE and HERE for those.

3. I Should Learn to Expect the Unexpected

Well, that was unexpected.

Not the ruling.  The timing.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this morning the NFL lockout is legal.  The league’s latest victory may be the momentum needed for a speedy resolution.

Okay, maybe ‘speedy’ isn’t the right word; it’s Day 115 of the NFL lockout after all.

The 2-1 decision throws out an April ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who ordered the lockout lifted.  Judge Nelson sided with the players’ argument the lockout caused them “irreparable harm.”

While today’s ruling isn’t entirely surprising, its timing certainly is.  For days now, we’ve heard insiders say to not expect a ruling announced anytime soon, and we should only expect one if talks between the league and players’ union stall.  Continue reading I Should Learn to Expect the Unexpected >>>

2. NFL Notes: Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey Dies, Quarterback Kerry Collins Retires

This morning, we learned of the passing of John Mackey, former NFLPA president.  Associated Press reports the Hall of Fame tight end died at the age of 69.  He had struggled dementia following his 10-year career.

Drafted out of Syracuse, Mackey played for the Baltimore Colts from 1963-71 and San Diego Chargers in 1972.  Mackey is often regarded as the first offensive threat tight end.  His breakaway speed, size, and strength earned him five Pro Bowls.

Of his nine touchdown receptions in 1966, six were 50 yards or longer (51, 57, 64, 79, 83, and 89).  Mackey’s most defining moment is still considered among the best Super Bowl plays ever; he caught a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas in Super Bowl V to score a 75-yard touchdown – a record at the time.  Continue reading NFL Notes: Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey Dies, Quarterback Kerry Collins Retires >>>

1.     Making A Liar Out of Me

It’s still Wednesday, so call this premature, but I’m conceding.

NFL lockout: 1

My prediction the lockout would end July 6: 0

I’m hanging up my prognostication hat – at least regarding this issue – but I remain confident a deal will happen soon.  Just don’t ask me for a date; turns out I’m lousy at league-related guesswork.

NFL.com reports legal teams representing the league and players’ union are meeting for a second straight day in Manhattan, hammering out details and language of a *gasp* potential agreement.  Continue reading Making A Liar Out of Me >>> 

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