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 >>>>

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

• Tailgate Lots open at 8:00 a.m.
• All Lots open at 9:00 a.m.
• Mountain Village opens at 10:30 a.m.
• Premium Gates open 11:00 a.m.
• All Gates open at 12:00 p.m.

Kickoff Forecast: Lows 80s and partly cloudy

And for your halftime entertainment…

The Denver Broncos will celebrate Rod Smith’s induction in to the Ring of Fame. Smith will become the 23rd inductee.

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

The odds are stacked against undrafted free agents.

Making the final 53-man roster is an accomplishment, and even fewer actually contribute in game situations.  The pay is modest – at least by NFL standards – and typically, after a few seasons, the careers come to an unceremonious end. 

Rod Smith’s NFL career, however, was anything but the standard for an undrafted player.

On Sunday, Smith will become the 23rd inductee to the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame.

The Broncos signed the wide receiver in 1994.  Smith spent his entire 14-year career in Denver, retiring as the team’s all-time leader in career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), and touchdown receptions (68).  Those numbers are also NFL records for an undrafted wide receiver.  Smith ranks 15th in league history in career receptions and 16th in receiving yards.

Career Highlights

• Two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
• Three-time Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2001, and 2005)
• Only undrafted player to reach 10,000 receiving yards
• Denver’s all-time leader in yards from scrimmage
• One of six players in NFL history with 100 receptions against at least three teams (Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders).
• Division II Hall of Fame inductee (2008)
• College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

To celebrate Smith’s accomplishments as a Denver Bronco, here’s a collection of some of his best moments:

Note: There is some repetition here, but I didn’t think you’d mind.

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

Normalcy.  Finally.

My apologies for the lack of recent coverage.  After five days out-of-state, DHF is back in Denver…just as it should be.

Peyton Manning answers tough questions on heels of 1st loss as Bronco - Given his previous NFL success and respect throughout the league, Peyton Manning appeared insulted Wednesday when asked about the state of his confidence on the heels of Monday’s 27-21 loss at Atlanta.  ”It’s not deterred at all, if you’re insinuating that,” Manning said during his weekly press conference. “We’re still learning about each other. Different opponents each week, live bullets, different types of defenses. As we all continue to learn, the key is you want to win games while you continue to learn. We did that the first game, didn’t do it this week. But there is that process.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris sits out again as Texans await -The Broncos are preparing for the chance that they will once again be without nickel cornerback Chris Harris Sunday against Houston.  Harris, who sprained his ankle on Sept. 9, participated in the stretching portion of practice with his teammates Wednesday, but did conditioning work rather than participate in individual drills. Harris was inactive in Monday’s game at Atlanta, and was replaced by Tony Carter.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Rod Smith to Join Ring of Fame Sunday - At halftime of Sunday’s game vs. Houston, Rod Smith’s name will be immortalized as the 23rd member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.  The team’s leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Smith’s induction was announced by Owner Pat Bowlen in May.  “Players like Rod don’t come through your door very often, but he came through ours every day with a purpose and hunger to be great,” Bowlen said in a statement at the time. “Rod’s production and numbers — as outstanding as they were — paled in comparison to his commitment to winning and the respect he commanded from each and every one of his teammates throughout his career. Emerging from an undrafted player to one of the best to ever play his position, Rod has truly earned his place among the greatest Broncos of all time.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Next-Day Notebook: ‘Not All Negative’- A day after the Broncos fell to the Falcons, 27-21, Head Coach John Fox reflected on the game during a conference call with Denver media.  First, he announced a few roster changes that have been made.  Rookie guard/center Philip Blake has been placed on injured reserve. Center C.J. Davis has been brought up to the active roster from the practice squad, while guard Adam Grant was added to the practice squad.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Manning Moving Forward -Moments after the Broncos’ 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Head Coach John Fox stepped to the podium to address the media.  Asked about quarterback Peyton Manning’s three first-quarter interceptions, Fox pointed to a fact sometimes forgotten with the season underway — Manning and the Broncos are still getting to know one another.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Willis McGahee Continues To Prove He Still Has Heart, Skill - Willis McGahee has lived a long, storied football life.  The 30-year old running back had a dream come true when he was able to play college football in his hometown of Miami, Fla. for the University of Miami (aka “The U”), and he played very well.  In 2001, McGahee won a national championship with the Hurricanes.  Read more from CBS4 >>>>

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

Kickin’ It: Rod Smith deserves to have jersey retired, in addition to spot in Broncos Ring of Fame - Mr. Smith goes to … ? Receiver Rod Smith deserves to have his jersey retired by the Broncos. His place in the Hall of Fame is up for debate.  Rich, DenverKiz: Throughout his 12-year career in Denver, Smith and I regularly needled each other and debated everything. He often threatened not to be interviewed unless I gave him $20, then would filibuster for 20 minutes. Here’s our latest debate. Smith told me he should be in the Hall of Fame, if production and championships count for anything.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos Should Sign Ryan Clady to Long-Term Deal: Fan’s Take - The Denver Broncos are looking to sign starting left tackle Ryan Clady to a long-term contract extension. Negotiations have just begun, and I would expect Clady to ultimately get paid like a top-10 left tackle. I believe he’s worth it, and the Broncos need him to protect Peyton Manning’s blind side for the next few years (and hopefully more).  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Mailbag: Can Denver make Super Bowl? - Jon from Fort Dodge, Iowa wants to know if I think the Denver Broncos have a realistic chance to make the Super Bowl.   Read more from ESPN >>>>

Remembering the Denver Broncos/Tim Tebow Era - If there is one athlete that hasn’t been written or talked about enough, it has to be Tim Tebow. Are you with me? I know the media circus surrounding Tebow has been…extensive you could say. I find it appropriate before entering the Manning era to reflect on what a wild ride this has been for Bronco fans.  Read more from Broncos 101 >>>>

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

Former receiver Rod Smith is joining the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame - They aren’t brothers, but in many ways they learned life from the same man.  And when the newest member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, former wide receiver Rod Smith, celebrated Thursday with a series of text messages with Brian Heimerdinger, the topic was Mike Heimerdinger, Brian’s father and former Broncos assistant coach who died of cancer last year.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Kuper on Road to Recovery - Midway through the first quarter of the Broncos’ Week 17 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs last season, Chris Kuper lined up for his fifth play of the day.  The right guard knew his job — he was on the back side of a running play designed for Willis McGahee.  But during the 6-yard run, Kuper ended up on the ground.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

A Look Around The Division - Here’s a breakdown of who the other AFC West teams drafted; this segment is from the Xfinity 2012 Draft Special.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

A Look Around The Schedule - Which other high profile draft picks will the Broncos face this season? Watch this video to find out.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

Is Rod Smith HOF worthy? - When he watched his quarterback go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, Rod Smithwondered if his bust would be bronzed next to John Elway’s some day.  Now that he’s entered the Denver Broncos’ ring of fame, the rag-to-riches receiver still wonders if he will end up in the Canton, Ohio museum.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

7 Players Most Responsible for the Denver Broncos’ Success or Failure in 2012 - The Denver Broncos saw a major overhaul of their roster during the 2012 offseason.  This major overhaul was most felt in the signing of Peyton Manning. With the signing of possibly the biggest free agent in history, the Broncos jettisoned former starting quarterback Tim Tebow for a draft pick.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

The Denver Broncos Are Close to Super Bowl Contention - As summer vastly approaches, and the craziness from the draft settles, the conversations of what teams are the favorites for division, conference, and Super Bowl titles are beginning to take fold.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver is Ready to Be a Manning City - Just the other day I was at the grocery store, and as usual there were many children wearing Denver Broncos shirts.  But I noticed something eerily different about these particular shirts — the name on the back: Manning.  So it wasn’t a dream – Peyton Manning really is coming to Denver. His name englossed in that brilliant orange is enough to make a grown man cry. Don’t judge me for crying at a grocery store.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Why Peyton Manning Will Not Win a Super Bowl in Denver - While I am not generally the rain on anyone’s parade, anybody outside of Denver who really believes that Peyton Manning will take the Broncos to their first Super Bowl since 1998 is dreaming. I will forgive Broncos fans for thinking this way…honestly, you should believe that your team will make the big game every year. Manning is not the first big name quarterback to switch teams late in his career, but historically success has been lacking.  Read more from NFL Soup >>>>

Roster Bonus: Peyton Manning isn’t the Broncos only notable offseason move - The excitement to see Peyton Manning throwing passes for the start of mini-camp later this month, unless you got a sneak peek at a Denver area park or high school practice field earlier this spring, is palpable. Manning is unquestionably the Broncos top offseason story; his large presence has easily overshadowed other significant roster upgrades.  Read more from Mile High Sports >>>>

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

Ring of Famer Karl Mecklenburg is confident the Broncos are headed in the right direction, thanks to former teammate John Elway.

The guest speaker at a Montana event this week, Mecklenburg said he’s confident Elway has the business savvy and football know-how to succeed in the front office.  Per the Billings Gazette:

“John is an excellent leader. He understands the game, and he’s also had a lot of success in business.”

Mecklenburg added John Fox was an excellent hire for Denver, and knowing the coach’s “defense comes first” philosophy, Mecklenburg believes Denver will draft a defensive lineman with the second overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft.

While he didn’t endorse Tim Tebow as starting quarterback, Mecklenburg says the second-year player has “a lot of great leadership qualities” to become a star.