July

July 30, 2008   

Broncos DE Moss not showing many signs of improvement

Sources say Broncos second-year DE Jarvis Moss had a decent start to training camp but hasn’t stood out. While coaches aren’t ready to give up on him, it’s beginning to look like his best fit is as a nickel pass rusher. At 6-6 and 245 pounds, Moss is thinly built for a defensive end, and with Elvis Dumervil, who is also undersized, serving as the team's No. 1 defensive right end, Denver can’t afford to start both of them because they would likely be pummeled by the run — a prospect the Broncos fear, having just gone through a season when they ranked 30th in run defense. Moss has been taking snaps with the second-team defense, behind starter John Engelberger, but he runs with the first unit in the nickel opposite Dumervil. Though it will be hard to find a place for Moss, the 17th overall pick in ’07, to contribute if he picks up where he left off last season — struggling to generate a pass rush — word is he’s not in danger of being cut. Moss had one sack in six games during his rookie year before he suffered a season-ending broken shin.

July 26, 2008   

With suspension looming, Marshall could use Smith as mentor

Few concrete details came out of Broncos WR Brandon Marshall’s reported visit on July 18 with commissioner Roger Goodell, but it did fuel speculation that a suspension is looming. Marshall, his lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, and WR Rod Smith, who announced his retirement on Wednesday, reportedly met with Goodell for 2½ hours to discuss Marshall’s recent run-ins with police. Sources were surprised to hear that Smith was in on the meeting, but said it’s an indication of how much his leadership will be missed now that he has decided to retire. Smith would help young receivers learn their routes, but, perhaps more importantly, he also would give them tips on how to handle themselves off the field. Marshall appears to be badly in need of some guidance, and even though Smith is no longer on the team, he could be the one to provide it. There’s a possibility that the Broncos will ask Smith to stick around in some capacity and keep a watchful eye on their talented, but troubled, receiver.

July 16, 2008   

Broncos poised to enter season with untested kicker, punter

The Broncos will be living dangerously on special teams this season with an inexperienced tandem handling the punting and kicking duties. Matt Prater, who has played in four career games and is 1-for-4 on field-goal attempts, will be the team’s kicker. The punting battle is between Sam Paulescu, who is the favorite to win the job even though he has played in just one NFL game, and undrafted rookie Brett Kern. Their lack of experience is striking, but the Broncos have resisted the urge to add a veteran who could compete for a job, and sources say they seem to have a lot of faith that Prater and Paulescu won’t become major headaches. Prater missed the last few sessions of offseason workouts with a sore groin, but he told sources that he made every field-goal kick during the live portions of practice while he was healthy. We hear the groin problem shouldn't linger into training camp.

July 11, 2008   

Rookie WR Royal could be surprise starter for Broncos

As we near training camp, word out of Denver is that Keary Colbert has a slight edge over Darrell Jackson to become the team’s No. 2 wide receiver, but rookie Eddie Royal is a dark-horse candidate for the job, according to sources. We hear Broncos coaches like what Royal showed in the squad’s minicamps and are willing to give him a shot at passing the two veterans on the depth chart. When he was drafted in the second round it largely was believed that Royal would contribute almost purely as a kick returner this season, but those views are beginning to change. Observers of the Broncos’ OTAs say Royal has been inconsistent at times, but his speed and ability to get in and out of breaks quickly have endeared him to the offensive coaching staff. Regardless, Denver is feeling upbeat about its receiving corps at this point, with a potential top five of Brandon Marshall, Colbert, Jackson, Brandon Stokley and Royal.

June

June 25, 2008   

Broncos C Nalen should be back in mix by training camp

We hear that despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this month to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, Broncos C Tom Nalen should be ready for the start of training camp July 25. Nalen, entering his 15th NFL season, suffered a torn biceps in the fifth game of last season, ending his year prematurely. The injury setbacks are beginning to pile up for Nalen, but sources say he’s as tough as they come and should be able to rebound fairly quickly. Nalen’s veteran presence on the O-line always has been a highly valued one in Denver, and his expertise and guidance should come in handy as the squad breaks in new starters at both OT positions — first-round pick Ryan Clady on the left and Chris Kuper or Ryan Harris at right tackle. Should Nalen encounter any more setbacks, however, the Broncos appear to be prepared. Casey Wiegmann, a free-agent signee who's entering his 13th year in the league, has been taking snaps at center with the first-team offense while Nalen is out. Wiegmann is a solid, durable performer who started all 16 regular-season games in each of the past six seasons for the Chiefs.

June 6, 2008   

Extension in the works for Broncos QB Ramsey

The Broncos are in talks with backup QB Patrick Ramsey’s agent, James E. Sexton, about a contract extension, the way we hear it. Ramsey is in the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million deal. Though he saw significant playing time in only one game last season — Nov. 4 against Detroit, when he went 29-for-46 with one touchdown and an interception — Denver has been impressed with his work ethic and is committed to keeping him around, according to sources. Ramsey has the talent — he was the Redskins’ first-round pick in 2002 — and he has displayed some smarts, as well. He gives head coach Mike Shanahan an important level of security behind Jay Cutler, and the Broncos don’t have any other game-tested quarterbacks on their roster. Shanahan would like to develop Darrell Hackney and Cullen Finnerty into sound backups, but that task will take some time as neither has played in a regular-season game.

May

May 30, 2008   

Starting RB job wide open after release of Henry

Updated at 1:10 p.m. EDT Monday, June 2

The competition to become the Broncos’ No. 1 running back is wide open, now that the team has released Travis Henry, who once was the favorite to win the job. The team cut Henry on Monday, saying, “We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team.” The Broncos were unhappy that Henry’s recovery from a hamstring injury wasn’t progressing. We hear the only two runners to rule out of the starting job are Andre Hall and Mike Bell, leaving Selvin Young, rookie Ryan Torain and the recently signed Michael Pittman to battle for the job. Pittman offers a tough, veteran presence, as well as the versatility to play fullback as he did with the Buccaneers in past seasons.

May 21, 2008   

Broncos RB Henry suffers slight setback as he fights to keep top spot in backfield

Broncos RB Travis Henry was unable to participate in this week’s practice after he injured his hamstring during a sprint in conditioning drills last Friday. Henry is expected to be back in action next Tuesday when passing camps resume, according to head coach Mike Shanahan. His absence may have given Selvin Young and rookie Ryan Torain a head start in the race to become Denver’s top running back, but sources say Henry is still the only ballcarrier the team trusts to be the No. 1 option. The Broncos and Henry reaffirmed their commitment to each other in the offseason when he took a pay cut after restructuring his contract. However, Shanahan’s patience will be tested if Henry, who missed four games last season with a knee injury, continues to have trouble staying healthy. Shanahan does not think Young or backup Andre Hall has the size needed to be an every-down back, but he wants some stability in the backfield, and right now Henry isn’t offering it.

May 16, 2008   

Cutler's strength magnified by play before diabetes diagnosis

Broncos QB Jay Cutler will be viewed in a different light when he takes the field in 2008. Cutler’s sophomore showing, in which he threw 20 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and had a 63.6 completion percentage, was already impressive. However, it goes from solid to stunning following the admission that he suffered a 35-pound weight loss during it as a result of undiagnosed Type I diabetes. Cutler announced he had the disease earlier this month after he was officially diagnosed. We hear teammates, coaches and fans in Denver have a new level of respect for their signal caller because of the toughness he displayed throughout the ’07 season. Sources say Cutler will have to learn how to monitor the diabetes, which will be a challenge at first, but he has the smarts to figure things out. There is no one set plan for the third-year veteran to follow. Factors such as extreme weather can have an effect on diabetes and each day will present its own new challenge. But based on his '07 gritty play under adverse conditions, Cutler has already proven that he can fight through difficult times.

May 2, 2008   

Denver takes low-key approach on Draft Day without Sundquist

NFL teams pulled off a record 34 trades on draft weekend, but the Broncos didn’t make a single swap, which surprised a source familiar with the franchise. Denver had built a reputation as being one of the more active clubs during the draft, trading up four spots to select QB Jay Cutler and dealing a second-round pick to acquire WR Javon Walker in ’06. One reason for the lack of activity this year may have been the absence of former GM Ted Sundquist, who was fired in March after 16 years with the team. Though he was billed as second fiddle to the main decision maker, head coach Mike Shanahan, we hear Sundquist was very good at working other clubs and getting potential deals finalized. The Broncos finally filled the vacancy Sundquist left in the front office, hiring Brian Xanders as assistant GM this week, according to reports. Xanders served as the Falcons’ primary contract negotiator for the past two seasons and also has experience as a personnel analyst. He, along with Jim and Jeff Goodman, will be Shanahan’s top assistants, though the head coach still has the final say on every decision.

April

April 23, 2008   

Broncos WLB Williams running out of patience with lack of consistent position

Broncos WLB D.J. Williams will complete a full circle rotation, of sorts, next season as he moves back to weak side after not having played there since 2004, his rookie season. Williams is set to start at a new position in the linebacker corps for the third time in as many seasons, having played in the middle and the strong side the past two years. Although Williams was very solid in the middle last season, as evidenced by finishing second in the league in tackles, sources say the constant shuffling has done the fifth-year player a great disservice by not allowing him to establish any comfort or consistency in one area. Williams has tried to put a positive spin on all the moves, which one source said have stalled his career, and he has publicly stated his affinity for the organization. Another shift, however, may mark the end of Williams’ patience. He finally is back at his most natural position, out of the middle where his instincts failed him, and back where he can be more of a playmaker on defense.

April 18, 2008   

Broncos crafting insurance policy in case Marshall encounters setbacks

The Broncos are loading up on second-tier receivers in the hope that one of them will emerge as their No. 2 wideout, so they can keep Brandon Stokley in his natural position, which is the slot. However, sources say the recent run on pass catchers could also be a sign of the club’s growing concern about WR Brandon Marshall as he recovers from the severe arm injury he suffered last month. Denver signed veteran WR Darrell Jackson this week, and he will compete with another offseason signee, Keary Colbert, to start opposite Marshall. The Broncos also signed former Chiefs WR Samie Parker this week, but he’s a long shot to get a starting nod. Marshall, who suffered lacerations to an artery, vein, nerve and tendons when he put his arm through a television while wrestling with his brother, is expected to miss three or four months while he rehabs. Marshall was adamant that he’d be ready for training camp, but it could be a more difficult comeback than he once thought. Now Denver has some insurance at receiver, should Marshall be out longer than anticipated.

April 4, 2008   

Cutler growing tired of Marshall’s antics

Jay Cutler

The comments this week from Broncos QB Jay Cutler regarding WR Brandon Marshall’s arm injury surprised a source who has been around Cutler since he arrived from Vanderbilt before the 2006 season. Cutler said Marshall, who suffered a serious arm injury when he put his arm through a television while wrestling with his brother on March 22, wasn’t the quarterback’s favorite person right now and seemed fed up with his WR teammate. Marshall has had a series of off-the-field issues, including a DUI arrest last October, though he entered a not-guilty plea in court. This was the first time Cutler, entering his third season, had ever called out a teammate, and it could be taken as a sign that he is set to become more of a leader in the locker room. Sources say Cutler had typically been short with the media thus far in his pro career and never showed much emotion during interviews. Cutler said he still supports Marshall, who could miss up to four months, but he clearly needed to vent some of his frustration.

March

March 26, 2008   

Broncos WR Marshall out at least three months after freak accident

Updated 4:55 p.m. ET, Friday, March 28

In a bizarre accident on March 22, Broncos WR Brandon Marshall seriously injured his right arm, suffering lacerations to an artery, vein, nerve and tendons to several muscles in his right forearm. Marshall told the media he was rough-housing with his older brother, Fred, when he tried to avoid slipping on a McDonald’s bag and put his arm through a television set. The incident, which took place at a resort in Orlando, Fla., required surgery and will keep Marshall sidelined for 3-4 months. It’s a considerable setback for Marshall, who established himself as an elite receiver last year, only his second in the league. He vowed to be prepared and healthy in time for training camp, but will miss workouts and minicamps when many of the offensive plays will be installed. Marshall, who was charged with DUI in October and had a jury trial for the incident delayed the same day the news of his arm injury became public, admitted he had some growing up to do. It remains to be seen whether the damage to his arm will have any effects that linger into next season, but Marshall said it was a good thing the injury was to his forearm and not his hand, suggesting that cutting his hand would have been more of a threat to his on-field performance.

March 19, 2008   

Broncos UFA PK Elam returns home for meeting with Falcons

A Broncos legend could be set to leave Denver, the way we hear it. Unrestricted free-agent PK Jason Elam has reportedly put on hold the contract negotiations with the Broncos, with whom he has spent the past 15 years, and will visit the Falcons today. While Denver hesitates to raise its offer by the extra $1 million in guaranteed money that Elam seeks, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, who, in his first season at the helm, has established a good record of signing free agents who come to town for a meeting, may be prepared to do whatever it takes to make the Georgia native a Falcon. Our source in Denver has said on more than one occasion that it would be shocking if the team let Elam get away, but the scheduling of Wednesday’s visit isn’t a good sign for the Broncos. The obvious replacement for Elam would be Broncos PK Matt Prater, whom one source called extremely unproven and a last resort. Prater handled kickoffs for Denver in the final two games of last season, but a veteran or rookie could be signed to compete for the job.

March 14, 2008   

Despite struggles in Carolina, WR Colbert could break into Broncos' starting lineup

It’s not yet determined where Keary Colbert will fit in the Broncos’ WR rotation, but our source in Denver said there is a good chance he'll have an opportunity to start. Colbert, signed to a three-year, $7.2 million deal on March 3, could be inserted anywhere from No. 2 to No. 4 on the depth chart. However, if injury-prone WR Brandon Stokley is able to stay healthy, Colbert, who spent the last four seasons with the Panthers, will likely be knocked down to No. 3. It came as a bit of a surprise that the Broncos were so aggressive in their pursuit of Colbert, who after earning a starting spot in Carolina following training camp last season, was replaced by WR Drew Carter in the lineup late in the year. Colbert’s production has declined since a strong rookie season — 47 receptions for 754 yards and five touchdowns — in 2004. In the three seasons since, Colbert has a combined total of 62 catches for 670 yards and two touchdowns.

March 7, 2008   

Agent: Broncos DT Thomas is innocent

Broncos DT Marcus Thomas’ agent, Richard Burnoski, told PFW his client is far more concerned about his future with Denver than he is with what might happen in the courtroom. Thomas was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance early March 1 by police in Orange Park, Fla., and faces a court date later this month, although no charges against him have been filed yet. Thomas was a passenger in Bryce Carter’s truck when officers pulled them over. Burnoski and Thomas’ attorney, Charles Truncale, have said Thomas is innocent and that Carter admitted the drugs belonged to him. Carter played high school football with Thomas. “This kid who was driving the car, he was his high school teammate, it’s not like he was some thug off the street that Marcus was running around with,” said Burnoski, who coached both men in high school. “I would have never suspected this kid would have that in his car. I don’t think (Thomas) was surrounding himself with bad people, knowingly. If Marcus had any idea, he wouldn’t have gotten in that car.” Burnoski said Thomas took a drug test in Jacksonville after the incident and “came up clean for everything.” The results were sent to the Broncos. In college at Florida, Thomas was kicked off the 2006 team after he tested positive for marijuana multiple times. “It seems like he just needs to stay in Denver, stay away from Florida, that’s what we talked about,” Burnoski said he told Thomas. “Stay in Denver, go to work everyday and bring your family out there to come visit you. It seems like when you’re down here in Florida bad things happen to you.”

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

With trade options limited, Broncos WR Walker likely to be cut

We hear the Broncos are struggling to find a team willing to make a trade offer for their disgruntled WR Javon Walker, as they attempt to deal him before March 4, when he is due a $5.4 million roster bonus. Denver has little leverage in the negotiations because potential trade partners know the team will likely cut Walker if it’s unable to swap him. It doesn’t help that he has a history of health issues with his right knee — Walker tore his right ACL in 2005 with the Packers, re-injured it last season, had surgery to repair it and played in just eight games during the 2007 campaign. Our source said Denver is seeking a second-day conditional draft pick, which won’t be as high as the second-rounder it gave up for Walker to acquire him from the Packers in 2006. Teams looking for help at wide receiver, such as the Cowboys, Bucs, Jets and Redskins, appear unwilling to meet the Broncos’ request for compensation. After Denver’s season finale, Walker said the Broncos weren’t the “best fit” for him, and he has built a reputation as a selfish player, which have fueled reports that he would be dealt or cut during the offseason.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Controversial RB Henry restructures contract with Broncos

Broncos RB Travis Henry has agreed to a restructured contract after a turbulent first season in Denver. Many expected the Broncos to offer Henry a new deal in an attempt to avoid paying the $6 million bonus he was due Feb. 29, but whether Henry would accept the terms was less clear. He did, and the decision appears to mean that Henry is committed to making it work in Denver following an up-and-down 2007 season. It's an important sign of maturity from the 29-year-old, who failed a drug test in October, though he won an appeal almost two months later. He missed four games and battled knee and rib injuries, but he finished with respectable marks of 4.1 yards per carry, 691 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Denver may be set in the backfield with a trio of Henry, Selvin Young and Andre Hall and will shift its attention to solidifying other areas in need of retooling, such as wide receiver, linebacker and safety.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Broncos FS Lynch uses Pro Bowl as test for next season

This year’s was a Pro Bowl unlike any other for Broncos FS John Lynch. In his ninth appearance at the annual all-star game, Lynch said he would observe how he fared against the league’s elite to help him make a decision on whether or not to retire. Broncos teammate and fellow Pro Bowler CB Champ Bailey told the media in Honolulu that he hopes Lynch is back next season and made his best sales pitch to the 15-year veteran. Our source in Denver said he thinks Lynch will be back, but there’s no guarantee it will be with the Broncos. The 36-year-old is due to make $3 million next season and he wants to be a starter, but depending on what Denver does in the draft and free agency, the team may not be able to promise him the role he would like.

January

Jan. 30, 2008   

With the draft's MLB pool depleted, Broncos look in other directions

With the decisions made by Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis and USC’s Rey Maualuga to stay in school, and the Broncos coming away from the Senior Bowl not all that impressed with Penn State’s Dan Connor, it appears as though the MLB talent pool is no longer deep enough for them to spend a first-round pick there. That fact, along with the feeling that USC DT Sedrick Ellis, a favorite of the coaching staff, doesn’t figure to last past the 10th pick, makes the likelihood of Denver trading up or down from the No. 12 slot grow stronger by the day. Depending on how they approach their first pick, Curtis Lofton of Oklahoma is considered solid second-round value as a true middle linebacker who would fill the Broncos’ needs there, and Kenny Phillips of Miami (Fla.), although considered a bit overrated by some PFW sources, is the top safety available and should be available early in the second round, as well, should the Broncos go with a defensive or offensive tackle in the first round.