Sunday, June 30, 2013

Pasquarelli: Ryan Clady's Representatives Preparing a Counter Offer

Progress is being made on the Ryan Clady front.

Earlier this month, the Denver Broncos started up contract  negotiations with franchise-tagged left tackle Ryan Clady, who is seeking a long-term contract.

Since then, Coach John Fox has hinted at progress and Clady has hinted at being eager to get a deal done.  On Sunday, the National Football Post's Len Pasquarelli (via IAOFM) reported that the two sides "aren't close to a deal," but added:
"The representatives for Clady, who is key to the protection of (quarterback Peyton) Manning, are preparing a counter to Denver’s offer."
The fact that the two sides are negotiations and bouncing around offers is a good sign. These are just the early stages of a deal getting done, but they are necessary stages.

Ideally, the two sides will come to terms before the franchise tag deadline on Monday, July 15. If a deal cannot be agreed upon before then, Clady will likely sign his one-year tag.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning, Von Miller Make NFLN's Top 10 List

This offseason, NFL Network has been counting down the Top 100 Players of 2013.  The network claims that the list is voted upon by the players, which, in a way, is true.

Not all players vote, and those that do only select their Top 20 players.  As a result, the rankings are often ludicrous.

But the network—or the players, if you believe they really compiled the list—did get it right by placing Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and outside linebacker Von Miller in the Top 10 of the rankings.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

NBC Inadvertently Confirms Change to Denver Broncos Collar Design

(@SNFonNBC)
We've been awaiting official word on the Denver Broncos' NIKE collars, which appear to have been slightly tweaked since last season.

On Wednesday, NBC perhaps inadvertently confirmed those changes, tweeting a photo of quarterback Peyton Manning sporting an all-blue collar.  This, of course, is a change from the half-blue, half-orange look that the team wore in 2012.

Manning was doing both photo and video shots with NBC, which the network will use in their new Sunday Night Football intro this fall.  NBC announced earlier today that Manning would be part of the spot.

To see more photos from Manning's shoot with NBC, check out our Facebook photo album.

The Broncos will play three games on NBC this fall, starting with a Week 1 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, September 5.  That will also mark the regular season debut of the team's new collars, which are still to be officially confirmed by the team.

Update: As Sayre Bedinger has noted, the NFL Players Association released an image of running back Montee Ball earlier this week that showed the rookie in the 2012-styled collar. But Manning and his all-blue collar will be shown on NBC every week this fall—the team probably wouldn't have sent him to a shoot in any other uniform than the one they plan on wearing on Sundays this season.

Broncos' Peyton Manning Will be Featured in SNF Intro on NBC this Fall


On Wednesday, NBC announced that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be featured in their new "I've Been Waiting All Day" Sunday Night Football intro performed by Carrie Underwood this season.

From 2007-2012, Faith Hill had been the artist performing the intro.  NBC announced in May that she will be replaced by Underwood this fall.

Here's the Week 1 intro from last season:


NBC confirmed the lyrics will remain the same, but the song will be tweaked to fit Underwood's style.  Approximately twelve NFL players will be featured in the intro.

The Broncos will play three games on NBC this fall, starting with the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, September 5.  Later in the season, Denver will face Indianapolis on October 20 and New England on Nov. 24, with both of those games being Sunday Night Football showdowns.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Kenny Chesney Concerts Leaving Field Damage Behind

(Courtesy of DenverBroncos.com)
The Denver Broncos have been hyping up their new mega scoreboard that was installed as part of the team's $30 million spent on upgrades to Sports Authority Field at Mile High this summer.

The team has every reason to brag—the new scoreboard is big, really big.  The scoreboard looks great, but how will the field look this fall?

Country singer Kenny Chesney will perform at the stadium on July 20 as part of his 'No Shoes Nation' Tour. Unfortunately, Chesney's concerts have a poor track record with past host stadiums.

Earlier this month, Heinz Field and the local area surrounding the stadium in Pittsburgh were trashed during a Chesney concert.

“It smells horrible, you can smell the beer and the urine,” Harletta Walker of Ross Township told KDKA (via PFT).  “They cleaned up the trash, but they should have run the street sweeper through here, it’s horrible.”

As Mike Florio notes, a Chesney concert did minor damage at Lambeau Field in 2011 and another concert was blamed for poor field conditions at FedEx Field late in the season.  The problem is caused because the fans attend the concerts at field level where a stage is set up, not in the stands as if attending a football game.

The Broncos will undoubtedly have the field covered and protected as best they can, but 52,000 fans will do a number on any field.  Denver did host a Chesney concert last summer, with no indications of notable field damage reported.

Two weeks after the Chesney concert, the Broncos will hold a team scrimmage at the stadium on Saturday, August 3.  The scrimmage will be free and open to the public.

Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady "Can't wait to get back to work"

The Denver Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady have been unable to come to an agreement on a new contract for the veteran left tackle who will turn 27 this season.

Clady (6'6", 315 pounds) saw his five-year, $17.5 million deal that he signed with the team as a rookie in 2008 expire after last season.  After five consecutive seasons of 16 starts in which he allowed just 5.2 sacks per season and earned three Pro Bowl selections, Clady is seeking his first big payday.

But the Broncos have been hesitant to give it to Clady, choosing instead to slap their one-year, $9.8 million franchise tag on him.  Clady has until the July 15 franchise tag deadline to either agree to a long-term deal with the Broncos or he will be locked in with a one-year deal (alternatively, he could hold out the entire season).

But the Broncos have the cap room to come to terms with Clady on a multi-year deal and John Fox has hinted that "something good" will eventually get done.  Clady seemingly echoed those words on Tuesday.

"Can't wait to get back to work," Clady posted on his Facebook page earlier today.  "Patience is (a) virtue!"

Clady's teammates will return to Dove Valley on Wednesday, July 24.  Training camp will begin the next day, on the 25th.

It remains to be seen if Clady will be there.  It sounds like both sides want to get a deal done; only the details have to be worked out now.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Denver's Von Miller Compares Derek Wolfe to Houston's J.J. Watt

On Monday, ESPN.com's Jeffri Chadiha wrote a piece on Denver Broncos star outside linebacker Von Miller being the leader of the team's defense going into training camp this summer.

Perhaps the most notable quote from the article was Miller's thoughts on second-year defensive lineman Derek Wolfe (hat tip to IAOFM.com for pointing it out).
“Elvis did a lot of good things, but people don’t know about [defensive end] Derek Wolfe,” Miller said. “He’s like [Houston Texans defensive end and reigning NFL defensive player of the year] J.J. Watt. He’s a big guy who can have a big impact at the position he plays.” 
It’s doubtful that anybody else in the NFL is going to make that comparison, but Miller’s mind is in the right place. He needs a guy like Wolfe to hear such words because he needs Wolfe to be a little bit more than the player who produced a solid six sacks last season. In fact, Miller needs all his teammates to step up their game a little more.
As Chadiha notes, it's a bit far-fetched to compare Wolfe to Watt, but it's something that MileHighReport.com's Ian Henson has been doing since April.  Both players are built similarly and Watt had 5.5 sacks as a rookie while Wolfe had 6 in his first season.

If Wolfe is half as productive for the Broncos as Watt was last season (recording 81 tackles and 20.5 sacks), Denver's defense will be in great shape.  You heard it from Von first (actually, Henson was the first to make the comparison, but we'll give Von his due).

Miller has often been compared to the great Lawrence Taylor, which may end up being a more fair comparison than Wolfe-to-Watt—as unbelievable as that may be, it is my personal opinion.

At any rate, the Broncos' pass rush (and overall front seven) are in good hands with Miller and Wolfe leading the charge heading into 2013.

Denver Broncos Announce 2013 Training Camp Schedule

(DrewLitton.com)
On Monday, the Denver Broncos announced their 2013 training camp schedule.

Players will return to the team's Dove Valley complex on July 24 and practices will begin the next day, on Thursday, July 25.  The schedule includes fifteen practices that will be free and open to the public, including a team scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, August 3.

Please note that the dates and times of the practices are subject to change, see @DenverBroncos on Twitter the day of practice for the latest updates.

View the team's full training camp schedule after the jump.

Denver Broncos 2013 Regular Season Schedule

See the Denver Broncos 2013 NFL regular season schedule below:


Buy Broncos game tickets here and see the team's training camp schedule here.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Allotting Broncos' 2013 Cap Room to Ryan Clady and Sylvester Williams

Earlier today, the Denver Post's Jeff Legwold confirmed that center Dan Koppen's one-year deal is worth the veteran minimum of $940,000.  That puts Denver's remaining 2013 cap room at around $10,506,000.

Still to be signed by the team are rookie defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady.  At first glance, signing both players and still having cap room to spare sound like a difficult task, but it can easily be accomplished.

Last year, the Broncos were negotiating a contract with Clady in the range of five years and a total value of $50 million, but negotiations stalled and the two sides were unable to strike a deal.  Since then, the market for left tackles has dramatically decreased, as has Clady's value.

In hindsight, Clady and his agent should have jumped to sign for $50 million a year ago.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

We're Awaiting Word on Possibly Tweaked NIKE Flywire NFL Collars

(NIKE)
Nothing has been officially confirmed (or denied), but NIKE appears to have tweaked the collars of several NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos.

When NIKE took over as the league's official apparel provider last year, they implemented a new Flywire collar that featured contrasting colors.  In Denver's case, the colors were orange and blue.

The collars were immediately met with criticism, commonly dubbed "ugly" and even "hideous".

Now, NIKE appears to be backtracking.  In April, UniWatch.com caught wind of subtle tweaks in NIKE's neck rolls, when advertisements released by the company showed one-colored collars.

Since the draft, NIKE has continued to release images of formerly dual-collared jerseys now in one-colored looks.  More on those images can be found here.

On Wednesday, new jerseys appeared on Shop.DenverBroncos.com without the 2012 orange-blue collar look, sporting all-blue (or all-orange) collars instead.  This seems to indicate that a return to solid collars is all but official now.

If that is indeed the case, it remains to be seen if the team will make an official announcement for the new look, or if subtle hints will continue to be released leading up to the team debuting the new collars in the preseason this August.

The Broncos would not deny (or confirm) coming changes to their collar, and NIKE has not returned email inquiries sent by MileHighReport.com.  As @JamesTIAmarcos pointed out on Twitter, this may be because the NFL/NIKE are trying to sell as much of the old merchandise (jerseys) before rolling out new designs and sending the old ones out of style, thus losing sales on those jerseys that will likely need to be marked down in order to sell.

At any rate, new collars appear to be in the works.  Stay tuned.

Denver Broncos Agree to Terms with Center Dan Koppen

On Thursday, the Denver Broncos agreed to terms with center Dan Koppen (6'2", 300 pounds), team executive John Elway announced.  Terms of the contract are unknown, but it was likely a one-year deal.

Center became a position of need for the Broncos when starting center J.D. Walton underwent surgery on his left ankle earlier this week.  Walton is expected to be placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, which will keep him out of Denver's first six games of the 2013 season.

In Walton's absence, Koppen is expected to start again as he did when Walton went down in Week 4 of last season.  Koppen started in the final 12 games of 2012, allowing just one sack during his time with the team.

As IAOFM.com noted, Koppen's (presumed) one-year deal will be worth $940,000 if he was signed at the veteran minimum, as he did last season.  By the time the regular season rolls around in September, Koppen will be 34 (for comparison, consider that long-time Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday played until he was 37).

Originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft, Koppen went on earn a Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and win a pair of Super Bowls as quarterback Tom Brady's center from 2003-2011.  With a .794 career regular-season winning percentage, Koppen returns to Denver with 132 career starts under his belt.

The Broncos will likely have a "center competition" at training camp this summer, but until Walton returns to full health, center will be Koppen's job to lose.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Expect Denver Broncos to Bring Back Veteran Center Dan Koppen

On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos confirmed the news that 26-year old offensive lineman J.D. Walton—the 6'3", 305-pounder that was expected to be the starting center in 2013—had an additional procedure on his injured left ankle earlier this week.

According to the team, Walton's latest surgery will keep him out until mid-October. Denver's final game of October comes in Week 8 (Oct. 27) when the team hosts the Washington Redskins.  The following week is Denver's bye, so Week 9 appears to be a realistic date to expect Walton's return.

Walton had previously been recovering from a 2012 early-season surgery that had kept him out of the Broncos' OTAs this offseason.  In his absence,  30-year-old Manny Ramirez—Denver's 6'3", 313-pound all-around backup offensive lineman who saw time at guard last season when Chris Kuper went down—has been playing center with the first-team offense.

Behind Ramirez is Philip Blake (27, 6'2", 311 lbs.), who is entering his second season with the team after being selected in the fourth round (108th overall) out of Baylor by the Broncos last April.  Prior to his senior season, Blake was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2011 CFL draft, but opted instead to finish his college career.

A third option for the team could be free-agent center Dan Koppen (6'2", 296 lbs.).

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning Throws at University of Tennessee

(Photo courtesy of @vol_football)
Last offseason, quarterback Peyton Manning worked out at Duke University for the Denver Broncos during his free agency tour before going on to sign a five-year deal with the team.

Earlier this offseason, Manning returned to Duke to throw with receivers Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Wes Welker.  Manning's tendency to throw at Duke can be traced to the QB's relationship with Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe, who was Peyton's offensive coordinator at Tennessee.

Not overlooking his alma mater, Manning returned to UT on Monday.

Manning was in Tennessee for his annual charity golf tournament and stopped by the school afterwards to throw and shoot a commercial for the Pat Summitt Foundation.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Denver's Von Miller Has Been Impressed by Rookie Montee Ball

On Saturday, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller participated in Gatorade's ninth annual “Beat the Heat” campaign, encouraging kids to stay hydrated.

While speaking at the Football University Denver camp, Miller spent some time with MileHighReport.com's Kyle Montgomery, talking hydration, nutrition and, of course, Broncos football.

When Montgomery asked if any rookies had stood out this offseason, Miller responded:
"Oh, yeah, Montee Ball looks good.  Montee Ball really stood out.  Sylvester Williams stood out as well.  I think all of our picks really addressed all the issues we have.  I think with the competition they bring we can definitely perform at a high level."
That's a great sign, especially considering that Willis McGahee, the team's 2012 starting running back, was just released on Thursday.  Fittingly, Ball, the man who is expected to ultimately replace McGahee, signed a four-year deal with the team the same day McGahee was released.

Miller also noted that he will be returning to Dove Valley early to begin conditioning again before training camp starts up in late July.  It's no surprise that Ball will also be there.

The Broncos have two young and talented and committed players in Miller and Ball.  The fact that Miller—a player known for his determination and high motor—has been impressed by a rookie says a lot about the Wisconsin product, Ball.

Miller's full interview can be found on MileHighReport.com.

A Dr. Seuss Take on the Tim Tebow Situation

Quarterback Tim Tebow signed with the New England Patriots earlier this month after going weeks un-signed following his release from the New York Jets.

This is all relevant, of course, because Tebow used to be a Denver Bronco.  Some seem to have forgotten it, but Tebow actually entered the NFL with Denver.

Whether fans like it or not, Tebow will always be linked to the Broncos and will remain relevant (at least to some extent) in the Broncos blogosphere until he hangs up his cleats for good.  He will still be talked about long after he is done in the NFL—for his performances and perhaps more notably, for his polarizing stances on social issues.

With all that said, there are some that have had enough.

The photo to the right was created by a Dr. Seuss page and sums up the stance taken by a majority of Broncos fans.  Tebow did some great things for the Broncos, but that was in the past.

With this, we wish Tebow the best and officially move on.  It's safe to say, this is Peyton Manning's show now, and nobody can logically argue that it shouldn't be.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Broncos' DT Kevin Vickerson Encourages Kids to Tackle Properly

On Friday, former Detroit Lions and Hall of Fame defensive back Lem Barney spoke at the Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy.

Barney is one of many former NFL players currently trying to sue the NFL over how the league had handled head injuries in the past.  It was Barney's remarks on football's future that drew big headlines.

"The game is becoming more deadly today," Barney said, via ESPN.com.  "It's a great game.  I think it's the greatest game if you like gladiators.  It's the greatest game for yesteryear's gladiators.  But I can see in the next 10 to maybe 20 years, society will alleviate football altogether."

Also at the event was Denver Broncos defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, who started 14 games last season.  Vickerson did not necessarily endorse Barney's remarks, but he did stress the importance of correct tackling.

"They're trying to make the game safer, but it's a gladiators' sport and there's only so much safety you can bring to it," Vickerson said.  "The best thing we can do is give these kids tools to learn how to tackle the right way."

Vickerson couldn't be more right.  But it has to start at the top; "kids" will emulate the players they watch on TV—simply telling kids to use proper form is not enough, but setting the example is a good start.

Across the NFL, tackling has become a lost art—especially in the secondary.  Wrapping up is unhip and ducking the head for a tackle has become the norm.

Coaches need to stress that bringing the ball carrier down with a sure-tackle is a better option than aiming for the big hit.  Additionally, lowering your head is never a safe or smart move.

If the NFL wants to set the example, they can start by having their own defenders wrap up and drive with their head up, facing the target throughout contact.  Because we all know, you can't tackle what you can't see.

Here's an example of what not to do (because it could lead to this, as well as serious injuries). Here are two examples of what to do.

Keep your heads up, kids.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Breaking Down Denver Broncos Salary Cap Situation

Before rookies Montee Ball and Kayvon Webster agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos on Thursday, the team had $12,433,631 million in available 2013 cap space, per Spotrac.com.

That's out of the allotted $123,000,000 million salary cap figures that NFL teams have to work with in 2013.

The Broncos created additional space earlier today but cutting veteran running back Willis McGahee, freeing up $4.5 million over the next two years.  Cutting McGahee will also cause a $1 million "dead money" cap hit.

When players sign contracts that include "signing bonuses," that money is guaranteed to be paid (right away).  But the NFL spreads out the payments to hit the team's salary cap each year throughout the player's contract.

Coach John Fox Hints at Progress in Ryan Clady Negotiations

(Kevin Sherrets/104.3 The Fan)
As expected, John Fox's post-practice chat with the media on Thursday was filled with inquiries on running back Willis McGahee's release.

As noted earlier, Fox stated that the team wanted to give him a chance to land somewhere else while also giving the younger running backs plenty of reps this summer.

"In fairness to him (and) the things he’s done for us—this gives him a better opportunity to hook on somewhere," Fox told the media on Thursday.  "It gives us a better opportunity to give some of these young guys more reps. It’s just a conscious decision for us to get younger."

That has all been covered, but Fox was also asked about left tackle Ryan Clady after practice, and that's what caught my attention in the quote sheets released by the team.

Broncos' Wes Welker Equates Peyton Manning's Passes to Handoffs

(Darren McKee/104.3 The Fan)
On Thursday, the Denver Broncos wrapped up their final practice of 2013 mini camp.  It was a short practice that followed the news of Willis McGahee's release and preceded Montee Ball's signing.

The players will now get a break until training camp rolls around in late July, when the team will meet back at Dove Valley.

Before hitting the road, wide receiver Wes Welker met with the media to answer a few questions.  Among the topics? Playing with quarterback Peyton Manning, of course.

"(Playing with Manning is) everything you thought. The balls are just so accurate and you come out of your break and the ball is just there," Welker said after practice on Thursday.

Welker signed a two-year a two-year $12 million contract with the Broncos in March.  In Denver, he is expected to be the team's third receiver behind Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, handling the slot duties.

"It’s almost like a long handoff sometimes.  He definitely makes it easy on you."

Manning has a way of dropping passes in right where they need to be.  That's something Thomas and Decker already know.  Welker is new to it, but you won't catch him complaining.

Rookie Draft Picks Montee Ball and Kayvon Webster Sign with Broncos

(Courtesy of DenverBroncos.com)
On the same day that the Denver Broncos released veteran running back Willis McGahee in an attempt to "go younger" at the position, the team agreed to terms with rookie running back Montee Ball.

Terms of Ball's contract are unknown at the time of his posting, but it was presumably a four-year deal.

Shortly after coming to terms with Ball, the team sent out a press release that third round draft pick Kayvon Webster had also agreed to terms with the team.  This leaves first round selection defensive tackle Sylvester Williams as the only remaining un-signed rookie on Denver's roster.
Ball (5'10", 217 pounds) is expected to compete with Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno to win the starting gig after running back this summer.  McGahee's release earlier today showed that the Broncos are confident in their young running backs.

"I’m sure it’s no secret that all of us, with one person missing, our reps are going to increase," Ball said after practice on Thursday.  "For me, I’m approaching every day like I did before when he was here and even before when he wasn’t here, during OTAs. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Webster (5'11", 198 pounds) will be competing for playing time in a very crowded secondary.  If he is going to see the field often this season, he will have to greatly impress the coaches this summer.

The Broncos wrapped up a three-day minicamp this afternoon and will return for training camp in late July.  Until then, players get a short break before returning to continue preparing for the 2013 season.

Fox: Cutting Willis McGahee Now Allows Him To Catch on Elsewhere

The Denver Broncos released veteran running back Willis McGahee earlier today, something McGahee said he could see coming.

In a way, the Broncos did McGahee a favor by cutting him now and giving him a chance to catch on somewhere else, possible before training camp.

Coach John Fox said after practice that it would have been a "hard pill (for McGahee) to swallow" if the team had kept him as a backup or cut him closer to the regular season.

With that said, McGahee may have a hard time catching on somewhere else.

The free-agent running back market includes Kevin Smith, Beanie, Cedric Benson, Michael Turner, and Peyton Hillis. That's a lot of un-signed running backs, but McGahee should eventually land on his feet.

Fox also reiterated that the move was all about getting younger at running back, adding, "It's more to do with the confidence in the guys we have here."

The three main guys they have remaining on the roster—Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman, and Montee Ball—combine to average 22.6 years of age.  McGahee is going on 32.

That's a difference of over ten years.  Going younger, indeed.

Denver Broncos Release Veteran RB Willis McGahee

The Denver Broncos on Thursday announced that veteran running back Willis McGahee has been released.

McGahee (31, 6'0", 235 pounds) is an 11-year veteran and would have been entering his third season with the Broncos. After skipping team OTAs, McGahee saw his first-team reps divvied up to second-year running back Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball.

"I knew it was going to happen," McGahee told ESPN's Josina Anderson.  "It is what it is. They are going younger."

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Denver Broncos 2013 Minicamp Attendance Report (Day 2)

Wednesday's attendance at Denver Broncos minicamp was the same as Tuesday, with one exception.

Linebacker Shaun Phillips was present after being excused on Tuesday for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar and safety Billy Thompson both were at Dove Valley today to take in practice.  Both players are recognized in the team's Ring of Fame.

Gradishar spoke with the team after practice and is one of three former Broncos—Steve Atwater and Terrell Davis being the other two—that has been snubbed by the Hall of Fame voters in recent years.
“A good indicator of the future is the past.  Those guys have been doing a lot of good stuff for us, and hopefully we can continue that on for our guys," linebacker Von Miller told DenverBroncos.com after practice.

The Broncos will conclude minicamp on Thursday and report to training camp in late July.

Film Review: Examining Six of Von Miller's 20 Sacks from 2012

(Photo courtesy of Paul Cloud Photography)
There are so many elements of outside linebacker Von Miller's game that can be praised.

He excels against the run, drops into coverage naturally, and gets after quarterbacks better than any other 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL.  And he's just getting started.

"I've got a long way to go, I am my biggest critic and I feel like I have a long way to go and lot of work to do," Miller, a third-year linebacker out of Texas A&M, said after practice on Wednesday.

Last season, Miller recorded 68 tackles (28 of them for losses), forced 6 fumbles, recorded an interception, and notched 20 sacks (his official number is 18.5—he recorded 20 if given full credit for half sacks).

ProFootballFocus.com gives full credit for half sacks and put Miller down for 20 sacks, 56 hurries, and 92 total quarterback pressures in 2012, giving him a plus-52.9 grade as a rusher. Additionally, PFF says Miller has no weaknesses as a rusher, calling his second season "astonishing".

Since joining the Broncos as the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Miller has officially recorded 30 sacks.

Today, we look at six of Miller's sacks from last season.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Denver Broncos 2013 Minicamp Attendance Report (Day 1)

(Lindsay Jones/USA Today Sports)
The Denver Broncos kicked off mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, starting early and staying into the evening.

Absent (as expected) was left tackle Ryan Clady, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and negotiating his contract with the team (he is currently unsigned and unwilling to sign his franchise tag, instead seeking a long-term deal).

Present was veteran running back Willis McGahee, who had skipped "voluntary" organized team activities (OTAs).

“I didn’t choose not to (attend OTAs). I had a reason: family reasons," McGahee said after practice on Tuesday.

The NFL's a "Real Job," Says Denver Cornerback Omar Bolden

The NFL isn't a real job, you say?  Slap yourself, says Denver Broncos cornerback Omar Bolden.
The Broncos kicked off minicamp this afternoon, apparently at eight o'clock in the morning. Practices will run through Thursday as the team installs the final tune-ups before training camp commences in late July.

Bolden (24, 5'10", 195 pounds) is a second-year defensive back that joined the team out of Arizona State as a fourth-round (101st overall) draft pick in 2012.  As a rookie, Bolden saw little playing time, recording just 13 tackles.

But Bolden is motivated to earn more playing time in 2013.  When asked in January if Bolden has the potential to become a starter, team executive John Elway responded:
"You bet,"  Elway told the Denver Post. "He's a fighter.  His comment to me was that he is going to come back for next season and take somebody's job."
If Bolden is going to secure a starting gig this summer, he's going to have to work for it.

This offseason, the Broncos signed free-agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a two-year, $10 million contract in March, drafted Kayvon Webster out of University of South Florida in the third round of April's draft and signed free-agent defensive back Quentin Jammer to a one-year, $1 million contract in May.

In addition to DRC, Webster, and Jammer, returning starters Champ Bailey and Chris Harris will be back, as will be Tony Carter.  That's a whole lot of cornerback depth—and a whole lot of competition.

The fun's just starting, Omar.

Denver's RB Montee Ball Chose No. 38 in Honor of Mike Anderson

In April, the Denver Broncos selected record-breaking Wisconsin running back Montee Ball in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NFL draft.

In Denver, Ball is expected to contribute early and often and perhaps eventually win the starting job away from incumbent veteran Willis McGahee.  But before he hit the practice field, Ball had to choose a jersey number.

Ball wore No. 28 as a Badger, but that number currently belongs to safety Quinton Carter.  So how did Ball end up with No. 38?

"I came in like the day after they drafted me and talked to the equipment guy (Chris Valenti) and he gave me a list of numbers that I could chose and it was 37 to 49," Ball told Reggie Rivers in a recent interview on CBS4 Denver.

Denver Broncos Among Matt Miller's Top 5 in NFL

Matt Miller is the NFL and NFL Draft Lead Writer at BleacherReport.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America Association.  A student of the game, Miller is noted for his scouting analysis.

On Tuesday evening, Miller took to Twitter to list his Top 5 at a variety of positions and categories in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos were among Miller's top teamsoffensive units, and 4-3 defenses while Sports Authority Field at Mile High made his top stadiums cut.  Additionally, Denver's receiving and secondary corps were recognized.

Un-signed tackle Ryan Clady was also named among Miller's top left tackles and linebacker Von Miller was listed among the top pass rushers.  In April, he wrote that Von Miller was the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the league going into 2013.

The Broncos had the No. 4 offense and No. 2 defense in the NFL last season.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Broncos, Ryan Clady Talking Contract Again

(CBS4 Denver)
On Monday afternoon, offensive tackle Ryan Clady went on the radio and said he would not be reporting to minicamp and was unsure if he would show up for training camp in late July.

Clady is refusing to sign his one-year, $9.8 million franchise tag and is recovering from shoulder surgery, so Denver has been slow to offer him a multi-year deal—precisely what Clady has been seeking.

But the July 15 deadline is approaching, which may push both sides to the negotiating table.
Rapoport notes that this is the first time the Broncos have discussed Clady's contract with him since last year.

Former Broncos and Jets QB Tim Tebow Signs with Patriots

When quarterback Tim Tebow sat on the open market for weeks and months without any interest, rumors began to swell that his NFL career had come to and end after just three seasons.

Not so fast, says Josh McDaniels.

ESPN's Ed Werder first reported the news on Twitter that Tebow will sign with the New England Patriots to be a backup quarterback.  As expected, Twitter has exploded since then.

Tebow is expected to report to minicamp with the Patriots on Tuesday.

Broncos' Ryan Clady Will Skip Minicamp

(BroncoTalk.net photo)
When the Denver Broncos begin mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady won't be there.

Clady (26, 6'6", 315 pounds) went on the Les and Tom Show on 102.3 ESPN Denver on Monday and said he will not attend camp, noting "I wouldn’t be participating anyway," due to his ailing shoulder.

Clady is recovering from shoulder surgery and is refusing to sign the one-year $9.8 million franchise tag the team placed on him earlier in the year.  Because he is not under contract, Clady will not be fined for skipping camp.

San Diego Newspaper: "Broncos own Chargers"

Several years ago, the San Diego Chargers were easily the best team in the AFC West, giving the Denver Broncos a run for their money—and then some—every season.

From 2004-through-2009, the Chargers won the AFC West five times in six years.  It was a rough time for the Broncos and their fans—San Diego owned Denver.

Such is not the case in the present day, however, as the Chargers have not won the division in four years while the Broncos own two consecutive division titles.  Times have changed in San Diego and the Broncos have greatly improved, thanks in large part to the addition of quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012.

In a Sunday piece by U-T San Diego's Kevin Acee, San Diego was dubbed Denver's "farm team" after the Broncos signed three former Chargers—Quentin Jammer, Shaun Phillips, and Louis Vasquez—earlier this offseason.
"Face it, the Broncos own the Chargers," wrote Acee
"The two straight division titles weren’t sufficient. The comeback from 24-0 wasn’t the ultimate humiliation. A Manning as their quarterback is not nauseating enough."
"Now they’re treating the Chargers like their farm team."
"The Broncos this offseason have harvested the Chargers roster, taking three players who started every game in 2012."
It's a well-written piece giving the perspective from San Diego on the former Chargers that have signed the Broncos this summer and worth a read.

After years of being humiliating by the Chargers, the Broncos are now in control.  And they own San Diego.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

JHSM Launches an App!

We're rolling out a new app—sort of.

The Jon Heath Sports Media app is not available in the Apple App Store, but you can pin our app page (http://myapp.is/JHSM) to your smartphone or tablet home screen and have JHSM easily accessible on your phone.


Check it out and let me know what you think.


Eventually, we'll try to launch a real app down the road. For now, this is exciting and the early stages of continued improvements to JHSM.


As the site continues to grow, it continues to evolve. Stay tuned for more goodies still to come.


Update: Revamped the site's look this morning and added cool RSS features.  You can now subscribe to have the blog posts sent to your inbox in email form.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Quanterus Smith Participating at Practice

(Photo courtesy of FOX31 Denver)
When the Denver Broncos closed out OTAs earlier this week, rookie pass rusher Quanterus Smith was back on the practice field.

Smith missed the final two games of his collegiate career due to an ACL tear in his left knee but went on to be drafted in the fifth round (146th overall) by the Broncos in April.

After he recorded 12.5 sacks during his senior year at Western Kentucky, Smith's ACL injury put his ability to participate in offseason activities in question.

Smith was able to participate in individual and position drills on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.  If all goes well, Smith should be able to fully participate in practice by the time training camp rolls around in late July.

"They’re doing a great job with it with the little time we’ve had. But everything feels good.  I don’t feel like I’m babysitting it too much," Smith told the 'Post.

In May, Smith signed a four-year, $2,354,452 contract with the team that included a $194,452 signing bonus, according to Spotrac.com.  If he plays out his contract, he'll be in Denver through at least the 2016 season.

At 6'5", 250 pounds, Smith (23) is expected to compete for a rotational roll on Denver's defensive line this summer.  After recording 24 sacks in college, Smith has the potential to be productive in Year One for the Broncos.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Skipping Camp Could Cost Players $60K

The Denver Broncos wrapped up organized team activities (OTAs) last week and will begin mandatory minicamp practice sessions on Tuesday as a final tune-up before training camp starts up in late July.

Two notable veterans were absent throughout OTAs—offensive tackle Ryan Clady and running back Willis McGahee.  Clady, 26, is recovering from shoulder surgery and seeking a long-term contract extension.

McGahee, 31, is working out in Miami with former college teammates as he has done this time of year throughout his career.

Because everything is technically voluntary at this point in the offseason, neither of the two players created big waves by not reporting to Dove Valley during OTAs.  But when minicamp begins on June 13, it will be a different story.

McGahee is expected to show for camp as he did last summer, in fine physical condition.  Clady, on the other hand, could potentially hold out into training camp if he does not receive a contract offer greater than the one-year $9.8 million franchise tag he has refused to sign.

While holding out may ultimately result in a larger salary, it would also put a small hole in Clady's wallet.  Last summer, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew skipped minicamp and was fined over $60,000.  Clady will presumably receive similar fines if he does not report to camp next week.

Update:  Because Clady is not under contract, he may not be subject to attendance fines.
The sooner Clady and McGahee report to camp, the sooner the offense can begin establishing a rhythm as a collective unit.  In the meantime, younger players will get a chance to prove themselves when thrust into the first-team lineup at practice.