Sunday, March 31, 2013

Will Broncos Target Olympian Lawrence Okoye?

(Youtube)
When Pro Bowl defensive end Elvis Dumervil left Denver as a free agent and joined the Ravens' defense earlier this month, it created a talent gap at DE on the Broncos' defensive line.

To help fill the void created by Dumervil's departure, the Broncos were expected to quickly sign a veteran end.  That hasn't happened yet, and it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.

The team appears ready to hand Derek Wolfe and Robert Ayers more playing time, while also giving youngsters Jeremy Beal and Malik Jackson more snaps this summer.  Drafting at least one defensive lineman in April is also part of the team's plan.

A dark horse could be 21-year-old British Olympic discus record holder Lawrence Okoye.

Okoye is being targeted by "five leading NFL teams," according to Ian Stafford of the Daily Mail (via NFL.com). After participating in Atlanta's regional combine last week, Okoye has drawn interest from several teams and plans to workout at another regional combine in Dallas on April 7.

"At the combine, I really stood out because of my size, strength and speed," Okoye told the Daily Mail. "I don't want to sound arrogant, but I was good on the day -- to the point that a lot of NFL clubs began talking to me immediately on the back of it. They all see me as a defensive end, which suits me just fine."

Defensive end?  Just what the doctor ordered for Denver.

The only problem is that Okoye has no football experience.  He has played Rugby though, which has some similarities to football.

There is no question as to whether or not Okoye has the body to play in the NFL — he is 6'6" and weighs in at 294 pounds (within one inch and one pound of Derek Wolfe's measurements).

At the NFL's scouting combine last month, prospects entering the draft competed in a 225-pound bench press test.  Okoye has benched over 450 pounds.

"I've had some meetings since, and done some private workouts with some clubs, too, and already they are talking to me about contracts," said Okoye, who will probably sign with a team as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft concludes on Saturday, April 27.

He's a long shot, but Okoye is a player to watch as training camp draws closer.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Denver's Von Miller Is On Historic Sack Pace

Lost in the hubbub of defensive end Elvis Dumervil agreeing to sign with the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend was the fact that Dumervil was just one sack away from moving into third on Denver's all-time sack list (as was pointed out by @IAOFM on Twitter).

With 63.5 sacks, Dumervil was one half sack away from passing Trevor Pryce (64) and moving closer to Karl Mecklenburg (79) and Simon Fletcher (97.5) on Denver's all-time sack list.  Now in a new city with a new number, Dumervil won't get the chance to break any franchise records in Denver.

Third-year outside linebacker Von Miller is a different story.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Broncos Meet With Draft Prospects Bell, Patton

(Bell's signature hurdle. BTN Screen)
The free agency buzz has died down and teams have started honing in on draft preparations.  For the Denver Broncos, part of that process entails meeting with prospects that have caught their eye.

On Thursday morning, JHSM was informed by Le’Veon Bell's representatives that the Michigan State running back has received interest from Denver.  That interest was confirmed this afternoon, when Scout.com's Aaron Wilson reported that Bell has scheduled a private workout with the team.

Another prospect, Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton met with the team on Tuesday morning, according to DraftInsider.net's Tony Pauline. NFL Network's Mike Mayock has Patton ranked as his fourth-best wide receiver in the draft.

Bell (6'2", 230 lbs.) is a 21 year old junior running back that rushed 382 times for 1,793 yards (4.7 average) and 12 touchdowns last season.  After scoring 33 touchdowns in three years, Bell has been dubbed the best running back in the draft by NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.

Patton (6'2", 195 lbs.) is a 22 year old senior wide receiver that caught 104 passes for 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final year at Louisiana Tech.  He is projected as a second round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.

The Broncos currently have $8,831,523 in cap room and $3,919,615 of it will go towards 2013 rookie salaries.  Bell and Patton are two candidates to land portions of that $3.9M this April.


The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Thursday, April 25.  If they to not trade out, the Broncos' first selection will be 28th overall.

Tickets Booked, Bring on Training Camp!

The plane tickets have been purchased and plans have been finalized—I will be in Dove Valley from Sunday, August 4 to Monday, August 12.  I will be covering the Denver Broncos' training camp practices on-sight and would love to meet up with any of you.


Who else is planning on going to camp this summer?  Let's get together!

Te'o Mocked to Broncos by ESPN's McShay

(NFL Network screen grab)
On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos attended Notre Dame's pro day, which was highlighted by the presence of middle linebacker Manti Te'o.  After running a 4.82 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Te'o improved his time to 4.75 at his pro day.

Ultimately, his minimal improvement in running a straight line shouldn't affect his draft stock; teams will judge his playing speed from game film.  On Thursday, ESPN draftnik Tod McShay mocked Te'o going to the Broncos (link requires an ESPN Insider subscription):
"The Broncos offer the perfect scheme fit for Te’o," wrote McShay. "He plays fast enough to get from sideline to sideline, and he could be a very good player with Denver’s defensive linemen protecting him. And with Peyton Manning leading the way, the Broncos have the leadership in place to deal with any concerns about Te’o fitting into the locker room."
Popular opinion on Te'o has been generally negative after a hoax involving Te'o and a fake girlfriend was followed up by his poor performance in Notre Dame's 42-14 loss to Alabama in the National Championship.  But the Broncos seem to remain interested.

According to the Denver Post's Mike Klis, the Broncos will draft a cornerback, running back and defensive lineman in the first three rounds this April, possibly in that order.  As usual, it's hard to tell if Klis is pulling something out of the air or if he received information from the team.

If the latter is the case, the team may have been bluffing.  But CB, RB, and DL do appear to be some of the top positions of need on the roster.  Adding MLB to the list is not out of the question.

My mock has the team drafting Alabama running back Eddie Lacy 28th overall (Denver's first round selection).  If Lacy doesn't fall that far, I see Te'o as the second-best option.

The Broncos do not have a proven MLB on the roster—Te'o could fill that role.  In his senior year, Te'o totaled 113 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks and recorded 7 interceptions.

The first round of 2013 NFL Draft will take place on Thursday, April 25 and will run through Saturday, April 27 on NFL Network and ESPN.  The Broncos own six selections (28th, 58th, 90th, 125th, 161st, 234th), with a pick in all but the sixth round.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Veteran WR Brandon Stokley Visits Titans

When New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency, veteran Brandon Stokley was unofficially ushered out of Denver.

Welker is 31 and coming off a 118-catch season; Stokley is 36 and coming off a 45-catch season.  Quarterback Peyton Manning has found an upgrade in Welker, but also loses a buddy in Stokley.


Stokley was considering retirement last summer before joining Manning in Denver.  Now a free agent, the Broncos do not appear interested in bringing back the original "Slot Machine".  

With that being the case, Stokley is pursuing other options.  On Tuesday, Stokes visited the Tennesse Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean.  

Another former Bronco, cornerback Tracy Porter, visited the New Orleans Saints earlier this week.  

On a different note, the team announced their offseason workout schedule on Wednesday (via Mile High Report).  The Broncos will begin their nine-week workout program on April 15, concluding on June 13.  

Denver's mandatory minicamp will take place from June 11-13; training camp dates are expected to be announced later this summer.  The 2013 season schedule will be announced on April 16.

Denver's Von Miller, Terrell Davis Bounced In 'Madden 25' Cover Vote

EA Sports will be rolling out their latest edition of the popular Madden NFL video game this summer, Madden 25.  Voting for the cover athlete is being held at ESPN.com/SportsNation.

In the voting, former players face off against current stars in a six-round vote-off.  Two Denver Broncos, former running back Terrell Davis and outside linebacker Von Miller, advanced to the Second Round last week.

But there will be no Madden Curse related to the Broncos this year—neither Davis or Miller advanced to the Third Round.  Former cornerback Deion Sanders was matched up against Davis, blowing past TD with 81% of the vote.  Miller lost to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, 63%-to-37%.

Madden 25 is expected to hit stores this August.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Broncos Won't Rush to Sign Dwight Freeney

When defensive end Elvis Dumervil signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the Denver Broncos began pursuing former Indianapolis Colt Dwight Freeney as a potential replacement. But with draft preparations in full swing and other defensive end options already on the roster, the Broncos' talks with Freeney have stalled.

According to NFL Network's Michelle Beisner, the Broncos made a strong push for Freeney before learning of his contract desires.  Freeney is seeking $6 million a season, which is considerably more than the team is will to pay him.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning wasted no time in recruiting Freeney, his former teammate, when the veteran rusher became a free agent earlier this month, telling him to join him in Denver. The Broncos' front office is not as excited about Freeney as Manning.


According to PFT, Dumervil will be paid $5.2 million this season in Baltimore.  Denver will not be paying Freeney, an older, less productive option, more than they were willing to give Dumervil.

Freeney is willing to wait to be paid, per Beisner, and he may have to.  The Broncos appear willing to wait until after the draft to sign a veteran rusher, and could even wait until training camp rolls around.  If Freeney and the Broncos eventually do come to terms, it will probably happen later this summer.

Beisner also reports that the team is no longer targeting former Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham, who visited Dove Valley last week.  Denver has no rush to sign another defensive end before the draft—all indications are that they are not planning to.

Broncos Attend Manti Te'o's Pro Day

The Denver Broncos are in the process of evaluating prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, attending many college pro days along the way.  On Tuesday, Texas and Notre Dame were among the schools on the Denver's schedule.
The most notable prospect participating in Notre Dame's pro day was middle linebacker Manti Te'o, who seems to have intrigued Broncos' executive John Elway.  With middle linebacker a position of need in Denver, Te'o is likely on the team's radar.

The first round of the draft will take place on Thursday, April 25.  The Broncos own six selections, with their first pick coming in at 28th overall.

Elvis Dumervil Will Wear Von Miller's No. 58 in Baltimore

(BaltimoreRavens.com)
On Sunday, free agent defensive end Elvis Dumervil signed a five-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, ending his tenure with the Denver Broncos.  In Baltimore's 3-4 defense, Dumervil will be moving to outside linebacker.

In Denver, third-year star outside linebacker Von Miller wears jersey No. 58 in honor of the late Derrick Thomas, who recorded 126.5 career sacks during his eleven-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs.  The Ravens will now have their own No. 58—Dumervil.

The Ravens official site notes that Dumervil wore No. 58 in college and No. 92 (the number Elvis wore in Denver), is worn by Baltimore's Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.

Baltimore will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. ET to introduce Dumervil.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Broncos Will Ask Robert Ayers, Derek Wolfe to Step Up After Elvis Dumervil's Departure

Two weeks ago, defensive end was nowhere near the top of Denver's offseason "position of need" list.  After star rusher Elvis Dumervil signed with the Ravens, defensive line quickly became a higher priority for the team.

There are two veteran free agents on the market—John Abraham and Dwight Freeney—who were both brought in for visits to Dove Valley last week.  But Denver is yet to sign a replacement for Dumervil, which raises the question:  Will they?

The Broncos have spoken to Freeney's agent, Tom Condon, but the Denver Post's Mike Klis says a contract is not imminent. If Freeney is seeking a contract anywhere near the $14 million he was paid in 2012 (or even a deal similar to Dumervil's), he won't find it in Denver.

Freeney is 33 and coming off a five-sack season and the Broncos have other options already on the roster.  Abraham is a more productive option (coming off a ten-sack season), but he is 34 years old.

The Broncos have no reason to rush to sign a veteran (several of the free agent rushers are expected to remain un-signed until after the draft), but the fact that the team has not shown a significant push for either Freeney or Abraham may be telling.

As was noted by 850KOA's Andy Lindahl, the Broncos will get second-year defensive end Jeremy Beal back from injured reserve this spring, and the team may be planning on targeting a defensive end in April.  The Broncos currently own six selections in the draft, with their first pick coming at 28th overall.

Beal was a seventh round selection in 2011 and was primed to upset a starter last summer before a knee injury sent him to the injured reserve list.  In his first (and final) preseason game of 2012, Beal notched two sacks.  If he returns with a fully recovered knee, he will be a dark horse to watch at training camp.

Additional defensive end options already on the roster include second-year defensive end Derek Wolfe and also Robert Ayers, who has yet to live up to the hype surrounding his selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

As a rookie in 2012, Wolfe rotated around on Denver's defensive line, lining up as a defensive end on a majority of his snaps.  Wolfe recorded six sacks in his first season, a half-sack more than Houston's J.J. Watt recorded in his first year (just in case you were wondering).

In Denver's final regular season game of 2012, Ayers was in on just 32% of the defensive snaps (compare to Wolfe's 76% and Dumervil's 80%), making few impressions throughout the season. Since 2009, Ayers had recorded just 6.5 sacks.  With Dumervil gone, Ayers may see more playing time, which could lead to more production.

Whether Denver's defensive end plans include signing a veteran, drafting a rookie (or both), Dumervil's absence should open the door for increased playing time for some of the young linemen already on the roster.  

Don't overlook any of the ends already with the team—Dumervil himself came seemingly out of nowhere to record 8.5 sacks in his rookie season.  There's nothing stopping Ayers, Wolfe, Beal, or someone else from doing the same in 2013.

Former Teammates Show Support For Dumervil

On Sunday, Denver Broncos free agent defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil signed a five-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, ending his six-year tenure with Denver.

"Can't say enough about the Broncos fans, my great teammates, equipment staff, training staff, media staff, (Owner Pat) Bowlen, Coach (John) Fox, John Elway and the city of Denver,"  Dumervil tweeted shortly after agreeing to terms with Baltimore.  

"It's been an unforgettable seven years.  I am looking forward to this next chapter of my career."

Despite his gratitude  Dumervil's departure was not received well by many fans.

"Sad to see him go, but he's a traitor. I hope his career goes all downhill from here," one fan commented on BroncoTalk's Facebook page—one of the more mild comments sent Dumervil's way via social media.

Dumervil's teammates were more understanding.

“I can say I learned a lot from (Dumervil), a true friend and teammate,"  outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard tweeted on Sunday evening.  "Wish you nothing but success, bro!"

"I don't understand the ill will toward Elvis," tweeted offensive guard Zane Beadles.  "He is a great teammate, I wish him the best!"

Fans may be upset at Dumervil, but no player should receive flak for making a move he feels is for his best interest.

"Understanding the business of football is tough," continued Beadles, who is entering his his fourth season with the team.

Just as teams release players to create more cap room and as an every day business man accepts a higher-paying gig from a competing business firm, free agent athletes have the right to chose their employer—it's a business for them too.

Dumervil's teammates understand his decision; it may take a little longer for the fans to accept it.

Prjoecting Denver Broncos 2013 Schedule

The Denver Broncos' 2013 opponents are already known, and after going 13-3 with quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012, the team is expected to receive a multitude of prime-time games in 2013.After losing in the playoffs the eventual Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens, who went on to sign away defensive end Elvis Dumervil, Denver's matchup against Baltimore looks to be the most appealing on the schedule. 

The complete 2013 NFL schedule will be announced on April 16, according to the Sports Business Journal's John Ourand.  In anticipation of the actual schedule release, here's my best mock of what Denver's 2013 schedule might look like: 

Continue reading this article on Bleacher Report.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Denver's Elvis Dumervil Signs With Ravens

After the Denver Broncos released defensive end Elvis Dumervil following the FaxGate drama, the free agent pass rusher took a two weekens before making a decision on where he would play in 2013.

Dumervil has "agreed in principle" to a multi-year contract from the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, according to the Denver Post's Mike Klis.

Broncos de facto G.M. John Elway said the team offered a contract to Dumervil last week (a contract which was worth more than Baltimore's offer), but Dumervil ultimately decided it was time for a change of scenery.

“As we have from the start of this process, we worked diligently over the last week to find a way for Elvis Dumervil to remain a Denver Bronco," Elway said in a statement on Sunday.  "Although we made multiple contract offers to Elvis after being forced to release him, we were unable to reach an agreement and are now moving forward without him."

After being drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round (126th overall) in 2006, Dumervil has recorded 63.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, leading the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009.  Paired up with star outside linebacker Von Miller in 2011, Dumervil has recorded 20.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

“Elvis was a team captain and a talented player who made a great impact during his seven seasons in Denver. I appreciate all of his effort on the field and the work he did in the community," continued Elway. “I wish Elvis all the best as he continues his NFL career.”

The five-year contract Dumervil signed with Baltimore is worth up to $35 million, with $8.5 million coming in 2013, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.  The deal will become official on Tuesday, pending Dumervil passing a physical.

Dumervil's departure makes defensive end a new position of need for the Broncos.  The top two candidates to replace Elvis are free agents Dwight Freeney and John Abraham, who both visited Dove Valley last week.
Playing across from Miller, either Abraham or Freeney should easily find success in Denver's 4-3 defense this fall.  Another candidate to earn increased playing time in Dumervil's absence is fifth-year defensive end Robert Ayers, who has recorded 5 sacks as a rotational rusher over the past two seasons.

Dumervil will return to Denver this fall; the Broncos are scheduled to host the Ravens in 2013.

Chip Kelly Praises Denver's John Fox

Kelly noted that he's going to adjust to what his players do best, not ask them to adjust to him.

"If you've got a good coaching staff, that's what you do," he said. "The best example in the NFL is (Denver Broncos head coach) John Fox.  A year ago, he had Tim Tebow and went to the playoffs.  Now, he has Peyton Manning and runs an entirely different offense, and went to the playoffs.  When you're good, you adapt to who you have."  

Continue reading this article on Bleacher Report.

Peyton Manning Celebrates 37th Birthday

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Former Bronco D.J. Williams Signs With Bears

Yet another former Denver Bronco has landed with the Chicago Bears.

Linebacker D.J. Williams was released by the Broncos several weeks ago after reoccurring DUI, DWI and PED suspensions tainted his standing with Denver's front office.  On Friday, Williams signed with Chicago.

Continue reading this article on Bleacher Report.

Lady Eagles Break School Record for Single Season Wins


Last Monday, the Pensacola Christian College Lady Eagles basketball team fell to Southeastern University 67-41 in the NCCAA South Region Playoffs, ending their season with a 14-14 record.

Although their season ended with a loss, the Lady Eagles made great strides in 2013—their fourteen wins represented the highest win total the ladies have ever earned in a single season.