Still a little bitter?

Yep, same here.

Sports Authority Field was quiet Sunday, as were the nearby parking lots. No tailgating. No rowdy fans. No United In Orange fever.

The first week of the Denver Broncos offseason is officially behind us.

Paige: Take a knee? It’s still the wrong decision by Broncos (The Denver Post)

There should be a sign at the football stadium: “No Game Today.”

Because the Broncos went down not trying.

While the Ravens and the Patriots meet in New England, the Broncos sit, not play, at home Sunday.

Their guitar gently weeps.

Forever linked in infamy in Broncos lore will be the phrases “Half-A-Loaf” and “Take-A-Knee.” Continue reading >>>>

Broncos’ Rahim Moore has good company among Colorado sports “goats” (The Denver Post)

There is fame and there is fortune. And then there is failure. Epic public failure.

Broncos safety Rahim Moore discovered that in the blink of an eye. When he failed to knock down Joe Flacco’s game-tying, 70-yard bomb to Jacoby Jones in last Saturday’s AFC playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Moore became part of Colorado sports infamy, his name forever linked to one of the lowest moments in Broncos history.  Continue reading >>>>

 Other Headlines:

• The Denver Post - Mike McCoy, back in Denver, talks about leaving Broncos for Chargers
• Rant Sports - Denver Broncos QB Coach Adam Gase “Perfect” Choice For Offensive Coordinator
• Predominantly Orange - John Elway Has Midas Touch On Denver Broncos
• Mile High Report - 2013 NFL Draft: Defensive Tackle Production Ratio

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

Note: On days following the Denver Broncos game, Denver Horse Force will deliver the headlines midday to include more dissection, breakdown, and of course, the very latest analysis and Denver Broncos news from around the web.

Broncos, Peyton Manning run over Ravens for ninth straight win - The Broncos first clinched no worse than the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed Sunday by trouncing the Baltimore Ravens, 34-17, then learned a few hours later on the team bus ride from Denver International Airport to their Dove Valley headquarters that they are in the lead position for the No. 2 seed — because the New England Patriots were on their way to losing 41-34 to the San Francisco 49ers.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ defense limits Ravens’ stars in runaway victory - One of the chisel-it-in-stone items for any defensive coordinator is: Don’t let the stars beat you.  Don’t let the opponent’s best players, running their favorite plays, pile up the yards and touchdowns.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Thanks to Broncos’ Chris Harris, a very Orange Christmas - Merry Christmas.  Chris “Kringle” Harris gift-wrapped a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the Broncos in a festive holiday mood Sunday afternoon.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Moreno Paces Offense - With the Broncos ahead 31-3 entering the fourth quarter, the running backs carried the load as the game wound down.  Denver ran the ball 17 times in the final period and threw it just once.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Getting Better All the Time - Though plenty went right for the Broncos in the team’s 34-17 win at Baltimore on Sunday, each player in the locker room knows that there is still room for improvement.  “We just try to get better every week,” Head Coach John Fox said. “Right now, our guys have responded well to just improving every week.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos Get Franchise’s First Win in Baltimore - Entering the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Ravens, the Broncos had never won a game in Baltimore.  That changed on Sunday.  “(Owner and CEO) Pat Bowlen has owned the team for 29 years and has averaged 10 wins a season over that 29-year period,” Head Coach John Fox said. “But it’s the first time he’s won in this building. I was proud to see that for him.” Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos: Moving On - Here are some areas the Denver Broncos need to focus on after a 34-17 road win at Baltimore on Sunday.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

Broncos show Ravens how NFL defense is really played - With a wrecking-ball defense, the Broncos came to the NFL town Ray Lewis built and tore it down. Forty-five minutes after Denver’s 34-17 victory against Baltimore, a tractor swept the stadium turf, picking up the shards of quarterback Joe Flacco’s ego. And for every team with a coaching vacancy, write down these three words: Jack Del Rio.  Read more from Baltimore Sun >>>>

Denver Broncos extend Baltimore Ravens’ woes - Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens was supposed to feature two Super Bowl contenders angling for a playoff bye.  It ended with one team looking unstoppable and the other in a free fall that might not stop until the offseason.  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

Knowshon Moreno running wild for Denver Broncos - Denver possesses a player that runs like a wild stallion in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Knowshon Moreno.  Moreno has been a beast for the Broncos over the last four weeks, stepping up to the task of filling in for Willis McGahee following his partial MCL tear.  Read more from Examiner >>>>

Broncos vs. Ravens: Denver Makes a Statement - The Denver Broncos have won nine games in a row and should no longer be doubted as one of the elite teams in football. The Broncos beat up on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday en route to a 34-17 victory that pushed their record to 11-3.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>> 

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

Nothing, doggone it.  Absolutely nothing.

Okay, let’s back up a bit.  In his Monday column, the Denver Post’s Woody Paige gave the Denver Broncos defense a nickname, a name near and dear to my heart:

The Broncos now have the unified strength of the Horse Force defense and the Orange Stampede offense.

My initial reaction, as the creator of Denver Horse Force: That’s great!  I love it!  But after reading the comments section it seems some of you Broncos fans out there dislike the name.  To each his own, but I respectfully disagree.

The newest Denver Bronco is speaking out about his gig.  Running back Jacob Hester had been out of work since being released by the San Diego Chargers in the preseason.  He worked out with a few teams…and waited until he got his chance.  He’s ready to embrace his new home:

“Being with one team your whole career, and then all of a sudden that ends, and for 11 or 12 weeks you kind of head home, not really knowing.  You do the workouts, whatever, and hope to get in a good situation. And luckily I fell into a great one.”

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Don’t be concern about the Broncos’ narrow victory in KC.
• Denver Post: A strong running game is the Broncos’ defensive weakness.
• Denver Post: DE Robert Ayers was excused from the team to be with family after the passing of his father.

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

Note: DHF is rolling out some changes to the current Denver Dailies: Broncos Roundup format.  On days following the Denver Broncos game, the headlines will arrive midday to include more dissection, breakdown, and of course, the very latest analysis and Denver Broncos news from around the web.

Broncos’ defense didn’t sit back in win over Saints - It takes a lot for Champ Bailey to use the words “special” and “quarterback” in the same sentence.  Then again, his criteria isn’t a quality game or a quality season or several. It takes more to be “one of those special quarterbacks,” as Bailey said.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Denver Broncos marching to another AFC West title - Oh, when the Broncos, not the Saints, go marching in.  The run game was the endgame for the Broncos on Sunday night in a 34-14 shellacking.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas developing into elite deep threat - Already considered the Broncos’ big-play receiver, third-year pro Demaryius Thomas showed once again Sunday night against New Orleans that he is on the verge of joining the NFL’s elite deep threats.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Saints’ Drew Brees has rare off game, held to 213 yards passing - The anticipated quarterback shootout Sunday night turned into a snoozer, at least for the Saints. Drew Brees, who threw for 446, 370 and 377 yards in New Orleans’ previous three games, couldn’t keep up with Peyton Manning.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Notebook: Run Game Hits Stride - Sunday night’s 34-14 win over the New Orleans Saints was one of the Broncos’ best all-around performances of the season.  Denver recorded more than twice as many first downs as the visiting Saints, held a 10-plus minute advantage in time of possession and outgained New Orleans 530 to 252. One aspect that stood out in a dominant team effort was the Broncos’ running attack, which piled up 225 yards on 41 carries, good for an average of 5.5 yards per carry.   Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Chemistry On Display - Without chemistry and confidence, Denver’s last two touchdowns of the night likely fall to the ground.  Peyton Manning’s second and third touchdown passes to third-year receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, displayed the trust and timing that the teammates have been building since the offseason.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

No Comeback Needed - On Sunday night, a battle of top-10 NFL offenses was decidedly one-sided.  The Broncos carved up the New Orleans Saints defense for 530 total yards of offense en route to a convincing 34-14 win.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos finally playing at Manning’s level - Three weeks ago, the Denver Broncos weren’t playing up to Peyton Manning’s standards.  Denver’s offense and defense were nowhere close to matching the high level of play of Manning, its 36-year-old quarterback who signed with the Broncos because of their potential to win big.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

Denver Broncos Prove They Are AFC Contenders with Sunday’s Win over the Saints - With a definitive 34-14 victory that featured highlights on both offense and defense, Denver proved to the rest of the league on Sunday night it is a legitimate contender in the AFC.   Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Saints vs. Broncos: Denver dominates behind attacking defense, efficient Manning - How much does momentum mean? It was everything to the Denver Broncos and nothing to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. Both teams came into the game off the apex of their seasons, which led both to believe that scattershot starts were a thing of the past.  Read more from Sporting News >>>>

Denver Broncos Play Complimentary Football Perfectly - Since training camp started back in July, we’ve been talking about complimentary football with the Denver Broncos. It has taken seven games but the Broncos are starting to play like they were built to play. The offense led by Peyton Manning is set and they are only going to get better, but if the defense continues to play in concert with the offense then the sky is the limit.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Peyton Manning has Denver Broncos ready to take off - Peyton Manning has already proven he’s still a top quarterback in the NFL. With the personal end covered, the next step is taking the Denver Broncos back to the playoffs.  Do you doubt him?  Manning easily outplayed Drew Brees on Sunday at Sports Authority Field, leading the Broncos to a 34-14 romp over the New Orleans Saints. The Broncos sit alone atop the AFC West with a 4-3 record.  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

New Orleans Saints whipped by Denver Broncos 34-14 - Upon his arrival back from his six-game suspension, Joe Vitt made it a point to note that he was no miracle worker. If the New Orleans Saints are going to find a way to salvage this season, they may need someone to be.  Read more from NOLA.com >>>> 

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

Note: DHF is rolling out some changes to the current Denver Dailies: Broncos Roundup format.  On days following the Denver Broncos game, the headlines will arrive midday to include more dissection, breakdown, and of course, the very latest analysis and Denver Broncos news from around the web.

Broncos defense befuddles Raiders with seven defensive backs - If there is safety in numbers, the Broncos decided Sunday to pump up the number of safeties in the defensive formation to find some defensive impact.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos, Peyton Manning rout Raiders in Denver with big offensive day - Peyton Manning lifted the Broncos to a rare home victory against their most detested rival. Now, the Broncos will have to help Manning come through against his personal antagonist.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Mark Kiszla: Denver Broncos can battle Tom Brady much better now - There is a basic reason Peyton Manning is the quarterback of the Broncos and Tim Tebow is not. His name is Tom Brady.  The NFL is a team game in name only. Quarterbacks rule the league.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Notebook: Firing on All Cylinders – The Broncos click on offense, defense and special teams, the team gets the strong start it looked for in practice, and Dan Koppen fills in for center J.D. Walton.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Rivalry Rout - Through three weeks of the season, the fourth quarter had been the Broncos’ sweet spot, outscoring opponents 45-6 in the frame.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Defense Delivers - The two aspects that the Denver defense prioritized in preparing for the Oakland Raiders were stopping running back Darren McFadden and getting off the field on third down.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Joe Mays’ 1-game ban was with pay - Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays’ one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit last week on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is with pay, which surprised and disappointed NFL executives.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

BroncosRants: Injuries, Suspensions Do Not Stop Denver Broncos - As the injuries begin to mount and players continue to step up in line, the Denver Broncos have been fortunate not to see a drop-off in production on the field.  On this Sunday, it was not meant to be for the Oakland Raiders to come into the home of the Broncos and extend their win streak to five games.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Denver Broncos Proving They Are Better Than Average, Yet Still Not Great - Denver’s 37-6 pummeling of their division foes, the Oakland Raiders, on Sunday proved that they are frontrunners in the AFC West and certainly contenders in the NFL.  Yet, as proven by the previous two weeks, they are still below the elite teams in the league.   Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos: 10 Things We Learned - The Denver Broncos stomped the Oakland Raiders, 37-6, on Sunday afternoon en route to their second victory of the season.  The Broncos’ 31-point victory over the Raiders marked the second-largest margin of victory over their division rivals since they both started playing each other in 1960. Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Manning tosses three touchdowns as Broncos wallop rival Raiders - After throwing yet another touchdown on a play that worked exactly as it was drawn up, Peyton Manning ran to the end zone and head-butted the lucky receiver, running back Lance Ball.  Read more from CBSSports.com >>>> 

Oakland Raiders get pummeled by Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos - The Denver Broncos broke a four-game home losing streak to their AFC West rivals with a 37-6 victory at Sports Authority Field during which they outscored the Raiders 21-0 in the third quarter. Read more from San Jose Mercury News >>>>

Mile High Monday: Denver Broncos Dominate Raiders - The Denver Broncos finally played the complete game fans have been waiting for since Peyton Manning came aboard. From the first drive until the final gun, Denver whipped the Oakland Raiders and showed Broncos Country their true potential in a dominating 37-6 victory.  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

It’s The Little Things For The Denver Broncos - All three phases were right on point for the Denver Broncos who beat up the Oakland Raiders 37-6 in a much needed week four win.  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>> 

Broncos vs. Patriots 2012: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady battle in New England - The Denver Broncos, fresh off a 37-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders, will travel to New England to face the Patriots during Week 5. Will Peyton Manning come out on top or will Tom Brady have the last laugh?  Read more from SB Nation >>>>

Denver Broncos show they’re AFC’s biggest wild card – The Denver Broncos’ domination of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday did more than move them back to the .500 mark.  It also reaffirmed their status as the AFC’s biggest wild card as the 2012 season begins to take shape.  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

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

Denver Broncos Training Camp Primer - Key Position: Secondary: When most of the football-loving world last saw the Broncos, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had just spent an evening reinforcing the definition of “franchise quarterback” with his six-touchdown, 363-yard performance in New England’s 45-10 victory in the second round of the playoffs last season.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Kickin’ it with Kiszla: Denver Broncos can’t afford to lose defensive end Elvis Dumervil - All the money in the world can’t buy common sense for NFL players. Play-acting “Sopranos” in traffic gridlock on Miami Beach probably provided some good belly laughs for Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil and his friend right up to the part when they were face down on a hot car hood, listening to the Miranda warning.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Questions shroud beginning of Broncos’ season - Verily, the Broncos’ past season involved throughout, and revolved around, Tim Tebow, John Elway and the Biblical scripture John 3:16.  Earlier this year the Broncos engraved their eye-black with John 3:21 and 3:22. On March 21, Elway introduced Peyton Manning as the Broncos’ new quarterback, and on March 22, John traded Tim.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Q&A with Eric Studesville – Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville coached his unit to the top of the league last year as the Broncos led the NFL in rushing with 2,632 yards. They set a team record running for 164.5 yards a game and first-year Bronco Willis McGahee tied for the NFL lead with seven 100-yard rushing games and totaled 1,199 rushing yards on the year.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Reasons the Denver Broncos Should Be Favored in the AFC West - Three out of four teams in the AFC West finished last season with an 8-8 record. That doesn’t exactly scream powerhouse NFL division.  The Denver Broncos are looking to change that. As the defending champions of the division, the Broncos made some key off-season moves, setting themselves up for a repeat.  Peyton Manning alone has accounted for his share of victories in the past with the Colts. If he can perform at even half of his level of play in Indy, it could be enough to add two or three wins, thus taking the AFC West.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

How Von Miller Can Duplicate Last Year’s Breakout Season - Von Miller became one of the most effective pass-rushers in the game during his rookie season and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after recording 11.5 sacks in 2011. It was an impressive season for any player, but for a rookie, it was very impressive.  It’s worth considering if Miller’s rookie season can be replicated. It was that good.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos Trying To Relive The “Orange Crush” Days - The Denver Broncos  fans have to be excited about their team that will be taking the field come September.  It has been a long time since they could be proud and hopeful of all phases at one time, and especially the defense.  Last season, the Denver Broncos at times had a stringent, bend but don’t break defense.  At times, however, they also had a defense that would legitimately get torched for 40 points and look pitiful while allowing it to happen.  Entering 2012, Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio will hope to complete the transformation from a 3-4 system in 2010 to a 4-3 defense in 2011 and present a formidable presence to opposing teams.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

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

Broncos’ Von Miller looks to make big improvement between rookie, sophomore seasons - Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Jerry U. in Denver:  Q: Do you think Von Miller will take that big jump from his rookie year into next season?  A: Jerry, you’re absolutely right that there is an adage most of the NFL’s talent evaluators hold close to their hearts — that players with the abilities to construct productive careers see the most improvement from their rookie to their second seasons. The Broncos certainly hope that’s true for Miller, who won the league’s defensive rookie of the year honors last season and led the Broncos in sacks with 11½.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ Rahim Moore works to rebound from disappointing rookie season - There was little about Rahim Moore’s rookie year that went according to plan.  Moore, a second-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2011, was immediately named a starter in training camp for the Broncos, but he found himself benched by the team’s sixth game. He was even left off the game-day roster for one game in December, and he finished the season with only one interception and 34 total tackles.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Denver Broncos’ Ty Warren easy to welcome back - Ty Warren emerged from the Broncos’ locker room Wednesday and dominated the hallway, grinning like a cat who’d consumed a chunk of Cheshire cheese, or a defensive tackle that’d engulfed a hunk of quarterback.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Right on ‘Q’ - In the first playoff game of his career, rookie safety Quinton Carter knew he had a chance.  ”We were in a perfect call,” Carter said at the time. “We knew the tendencies and knew the area of the field they like to work.”  Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dropped back on third-and-16 and immediately felt pressure from linebacker D.J. Williams.  Carter, who said he was in the “right place at the right time,” watched and waited. Roethlisberger threw a pass under durress and Carter came away with his first career interception.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos News: Peyton Manning Ready to Prove Critics Wrong? - Just a few months ago, Peyton Manning’s reputation was at stake.  The veteran quarterback signed with the Denver Broncos after missing the entire 2012 NFL Season due to neck surgery. Some speculated that he would never be the same, while others said he would be able to play for another five years.  Read more from International Business Times >>>>

Broncos hope to have Matt Prater deal done by next week’s minicamp - Broncos kicker Matt Prater hasn’t signed his one-year, $2.6 million franchise tender, but he may sign a longer and more lucrative deal to remain in Denver soon.  Read more from Pro Football Talk >>>>

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

Woody Paige: John Elway is Broncos’ wizard in 2012 NFL Draft, but he’s in front of the curtain - The B-roncos.  The Broncos’ draft must be given a grade of B-minus — today.  Or perhaps an “E” for Erudite, Efficient, Eclectic, Esoteric and Elway for tomorrow.  EFXceptional? Probably not. Failure? Definitely not.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos put high priority on going after opposing quarterbacks - Peyton Manning alone will not get the Broncos to the Super Bowl.  The way to get to the Super Bowl is to pay attention to the team that just won the Super Bowl.  The New York Giants not once, but twice in the past five years beat the favored and pass-happy New England Patriots in the NFL’s ultimate game.  The Patriots were one of the teams that routed the Broncos in 2011. The Pats scored 41 points in one game and 45 points before showing mercy in a January playoff game.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

John Elway dropped the ball in the Denver Broncos’ NFL draft - Readers talk and columnist Mark Kiszla responds.  McDaniels still around.Looks to me like Broncos executive John Elway is getting his NFL draft advice from former Denver coach Josh McDaniels. Jim, Denver.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

2012 Draft Class Brings Excitement, Impact - As far as Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway is concerned, the 2012 NFL Draft went “as good as it could have gone.”  Entering the event with seven selections, the Broncos made three trades to position themselves to select seven players Elway believes can make an impact on the team.  “We’re excited about it,” Elway said. “We filled a lot of needs and got a lot of good football players. When we look at the list, we feel great about it. We got some big-play guys.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Finishing Strong -  Saturday brought the 2012 NFL Draft’s final and longest day, but the Denver Broncos front office never wavered.  With two fourth-round, a fifth-round and sixth-round draft picks, the team of Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, General Manager Brian Xanders, Head Coach John Fox, Director of Player Personnel Matt Russell and the rest of the staff stuck true to their draft board as the hours carried on.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Draft Review - Top Picks Analysis: After trading down twice to exit the first round, the Broncos addressed what was their most glaring area of weakness with the somewhat surprising selection of Wolfe in the early second. The 2011 co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year is extremely agile and brings good pass- rushing skills to the team’s aging interior, though he’s a bit lean and isn’t a true anchor in the running game.  Read more from Fox News >>>>

2012 Denver Broncos Draft: Fan Reaction - The Denver Broncos came into the 2012 NFL Draft with some clear needs. Many fans (including myself) wanted improvement on the interior defensive line, depth in the secondary and the offensive line, and an additional running back. John Elway did a great job in meeting fan expectations while grabbing players that all seem to fit a specific purpose on the team. Here’s a list of every player drafted for the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Denver Broncos’ Draft Grade - With the 2012 NFL Draft in the books, it’s that time to grade the Denver Broncos draft. They took care of some big-time needs right off the bat, first selecting a defensive tackle, then quarterback, and then running back, respectively.  As they stepped up to the plate, the Broncos took “a ball” on day one of the draft, trading their 25th pick away, and then trading their 31st pick for a second round pick (36th overall). The team did this because they believed that the players remaining on their draft board would still be available in the second round.  Read more from Predominantly Orange >>>>

Refreshing Approach: John Elway and the Broncos take a level-headed mentality into the draft - When Josh McDaniels took his short turn as coach and decision maker of the Denver Broncos, his strategy on draft weekend would put him in the middle of the spotlight. It’s not hard to imagine that his (lack of) eye for talent was one of the primary reasons he was fired so quickly into his head-coaching career.  Broncos fans found themselves frustrated, angry and in disbelief over the moves that McDaniels made. No one can forget the shock that rolled through Radio City Music Hall in 2009 when Roger Goodell announced Knowshon Moreno as Denver’s first pick. And everyone will remember where they were when they heard the news that the Broncos traded back into the first round in 2010 to draft some guy named Tim Tebow. To call McDaniels a “draft whiz” would be a big stretch of the imagination.  Read more from Mile High Sports >>>>

2012 NFL Draft Analysis: Breaking Down the Impact of the Denver Broncos’ Picks - The Denver Broncos started off to a slow start in the 2012 NFL draft. They traded down twice to add an early fourth round pick and early second round pick. All in all, the Broncos had seven draft choices.  Let’s take a look at who they got, how they fit, and what type of impact they will have on the Broncos.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

The Denver Broncos, The Draft and The Pro Football Hall of Fame - Well . . . the feeding frenzy of the 2012 NFL Draft is over. The Broncos have expended their draft picks and filled out the remaining open spots in the 90-man roster with a number of college players who were not chosen in the draft. How will these players fare? We do not yet know, yet that is the question we ask every year during draft time.  Every year we watch as players are selected and hope that maybe, just maybe, one or more of these players will prove to have fantastic careers and someday earn themselves a spot in the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Since we cannot yet answer the question of which of our newest Broncos, I thought it might be fun to take a stroll down memory lane and look at Broncos (and almost Broncos) who went on to Hall of Fame caliber careers.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Broncos’ Matt Russell will have big say on draft day - Matt Russell was one of the best college football players this state has seen, a running back-blasting, hair-flying tackling machine who in 1996 won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker while at the University of Colorado.  When he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1997, at age 23, Russell pictured himself having a long NFL career. Turns out, he was partially right.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Klis: Broncos must be wary of drafting defensive tackle in first round –  I am in no position to tell the Broncos who they should select with their first-round pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.  Instead, I will consult with history. History is more pragmatic, reasoned and less emotional, and speaks in nothing but the facts.  Here’s what history says the Broncos should do with their first-round pick, the No. 25 slot: Take a DEFENSIVE TACKLE already! In the past five seasons, the Broncos’ run defense has ranked 22nd (in 2011), 31st, 26th, 27th and 30th.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Manning getting in tune to be conductor, not composer - Peyton Williams Manning directing an offense in the final quarter is analogous to Arturo Toscanini conducting during the closing notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.  Peculiar gestures, attention to detail, awareness, command, presence, resonance, three G’s, hut, hut, hut, the long E-flat, the long pass, performance, perfection in movement.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Nailing Down Draft Prep - The 2012 NFL Draft is almost here, and the Broncos are prepared for every scenario that could develop during the first round and beyond.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

2012 NFL Draft: 5 Areas the Denver Broncos Must Address and Some Potential Picks - The Denver Broncos have less than four days to solidify what may be the most important draft in recent memory. A busy offseason has put the Broncos back into the ever-changing conversation of relevance again with the acquisition of Peyton Manning and the news continuing to circulate on his strides toward recovery from four neck surgeries and sitting out the entire 2011 season.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos: Top 5 Quarterback Prospects to Back Up Peyton Manning in 2012 - The Denver Broncos added two new quarterbacks to their roster for 2012, with the blockbuster signing of future first-ballot Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and former CSU product Caleb Hanie. But it appears the Broncos are not done adding talent at QB in 2012.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Team needs: Denver Broncos - The Broncos won a playoff game with a run-first quarterback, but that wasn’t the identity John Elway and John Fox wanted for their football team. Cutting ties with last year’s offensive formula, the Broncos believe their future is now following the acquisition of Peyton Manning. They head to next week’s draft trying to upgrade around him.  Read more from Pro Football Talk >>>>

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Drafttek.com Projects Broncos To Take DT Michael Brockers - Like many mock drafts before them, Drafttek.com projects the Denver Broncos to select LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers with the No. 25 overall pick in their latest mock draft. The site uses a series of pre-designated team needs and a “Big Board” that ranks prospects by value to create a series of computer-generated mock drafts in the days before the draft.  Read more from SB Nation >>>>

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Wild West once again: Star QBs stock Denver Broncos’ division - Put away those popgun arms. They had as much right in the AFC West as a hayseed at an English tea.  Maybe the AFC West is not quite all the way back to the days of the Mad Bomber, Air Coryell and the Duke. But a quick look around the division and quarterback has once again become a position of pride.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Some QB history in Denver a sore subject - A gastronome knows food; a sommelier appreciates wine. Peyton Manning is a quarterback cognoscente.  He can recite every quarterback who played against his father, Archie, in college and the NFL. Many years ago, when I told Peyton I lived in Colorado, he immediately responded that Charles Johnson had taken over at quarterback for an injured Darian Hagan in the second half of the Orange Bowl as the Buffs beat Notre Dame for the national championship.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos still have holes to fill at defensive tackle - Peyton Manning may be unreal. He may be a Hall of Famer in waiting. He may be in the discussion for greatest NFL quarterback of all time.  But Peyton Manning can’t play defensive tackle.  ”We’ve got some holes, in particular at defensive tackle,” Broncos coach John Fox said Tuesday at the AFC coaches breakfast with the media.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Wide Receiver U? - Over the past six years, two receivers from Georgia Tech have been the first players from their position chosen in the NFL draft – Calvin Johnson (No. 2 overall, 2007) and Demaryius Thomas (No. 22, 2010).  No other school has even had more than two receivers drafted in the first round during that span.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

NFL Owners Approve Rule Changes - Yesterday we wrote about the proposed rule changes for the 2012 NFL season, and today the owners voted to approve several of the competition committee’s proposals. In order to pass, the proposals required votes from at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Tim Tebow merchandise prompts Nike to sue Reebok - Nike Inc. sued Adidas AG’s Reebok International over its use of quarterback Tim Tebow’s name on New York Jets-related clothing, days before Nike is to become the official supplier of licensed National Football League apparel.  Read more from Washington Post >>>>

John Elway Guiding Denver Broncos to Greatest Comeback Ever: A Fan’s Take - When John Elway was hired by Pat Bowlen to be the Vice President of Football Operations in early January of 2011, the Denver Broncos were at a low spot. Barely 14 months later, the team is coming off an improbable playoff berth and the signing of perhaps the biggest free agent in NFL history, Peyton Manning. Critics can disagree, but I think this is John Elway’s greatest comeback ever.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Denver Broncos: Bold 2012 Season Predictions for Peyton Manning and Company - When John Elway and the Denver Broncos organization decided to sign Peyton Manning and part ways with Tim Tebow, they took a huge risk with hopes of the payoff being a Super Bowl title.  In the event that Peyton Manning does play an entire season, and to the full ability that Peyton Manning is capable of playing, the Broncos chances are quite good.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

10 Denver Broncos Peyton Manning Could Turn into Pro Bowlers - The Denver Broncos ushered in a brand new era with the signing of Peyton Manning last week.  Out with the old, in with the new.  Under the guidance of Executive Vice President John Elway, and with a return to a more traditional, Hall of Fame type player, the quarterback situation in Denver seems to have come full circle.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Denver Broncos’ Most Glaring Need After Peyton Manning Free Agency Flurry - We’ve all seen the headlines regarding the insanely active free agency period that have summed up the Denver Broncos thus far.  The signing of Peyton Manningculminated the quest of the two Johns–Elway and Fox–to find a QB that is a conventional pocket passer and a proven winner.  Much can be debated about the health of Manning and the treatment of his predecessor, Tim Tebow; but what is not debatable is the most glaring need left behind after all that money was doled out in the first few weeks of the new season.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Coach John Fox previews Broncos offense with Peyton Manning - When the Denver Broncos won the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes, it signaled an end to the Tim Tebow era. He’s since been shipped to the Jets where he’s, well, excited. The biggest question now facing the Broncos: how healthy would Manning be when the 2012 season begins in almost six months.   Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

Peyton Manning, John Fox and the Offense of Benign Neglect - If Denver’s John Fox were a woman, some folks would be wondering what, um, favors he provided in order to get another head coaching job. As it is, one assumes that he gives the greatest interview on the planet.  Read more from Huffington Post >>>>

Jake Plummer: “There will be no Jake Plummer comeback” - After being traded from the Denver Broncos to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason of 2007, Jake Plummer decided to retire from the NFL. However, on Monday Plummer returned to the Denver area and threw some passes to a handful of draft prospects. Even though the Broncos went out this offseason and brought in Peyton Manning to be the team’s starting quarterback, people began to think about a possible Plummer-Broncos reunion given the fact that Mike Shanahan is no longer in the Mile High City and that he was tossing passes like he was back playing quarterback in the NFL. However, that’s not the case. While Plummer is still in relatively good shape given his conditioning from playing handball, the Snake just doesn’t have it in him to return to football and there will be no reunion with the Broncos.  Read more from Sports Radio Interviews >>>>

More Conversation with Karl Mecklenburg - As fans, one thing we love to do is talk sports. I can sit and talk football with anyone for hours. In fact, that’s the main reason we started this site. We’re not credentialed sportswriters churning out a story for a paycheck. Not to say all sports writers are sellouts, there are some really great writers putting out excellent material everyday. But we’re just fans, who need an outlet for all this sports talk that’s building up inside of us. So it’s not everyday I get to sit and talk football with a guy who played the game at the highest level for 12 seasons, and in the Big 10 before that. While talking about Mecklenburg’s career was fascinating, talking about the current state of the Broncos, the same stuff we all like to sit around and shoot the breeze about over a round of Colorado microbrews, was just plain fun.  Read more from Pro Sports Colorado >>>>

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