Tuesday, August 27, 2013

VIDEO: CBS's Vic Lombardi Gives Joe Flacco Banner A Sharpie Mustache

There's been quite an outcry by Broncos fans in the Denver area this week over Baltimore Ravens signage being put up around the city by the NFL to promote the 2013 season opener. The defending Super Bowl champion Ravens will be opening the season against the Broncos in Denver next Thursday.

Both the Broncos and the NFL have explained the signs, drawing mixed responses.

As far CBS4 Denver sportscaster Vic Lombardi is concerned, the signs have no place in Broncos Country.

 
What Lombardi did could be considered mild vandalism, but it's hard to not applaud him.  (Giving Flacco a Sharpie mustache was simply brilliant.)
What's your take?  Is the hoopla over the Ravens banners overblown, or did the NFL overstep their bounds?

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Audio: Talking Von Miller's Suspension on Yahoo! and FC Sports Radio

Last week, I went on Yahoo! Sports Radio to talk about Von Miller's suspension on the Final Score with Bryan Benway.  Below is the audio from that interview:


Moments later, I went on Funnel Cake Sports Radio to talk about the same matter.  Listen to that audio after the jump:

Friday, August 23, 2013

Newport QB Justin Temple injured in scrimmage; out four weeks


The Buffaloes will be without their starting senior quarterback to start the 2013 season.

During a home scrimmage against Camp Hill on Thursday evening, Newport quarterback Justin Temple injured his left foot after being tackled by a host of Lions on a QB keeper.

“I heard something crack,” Temple said as he was assisted to the sidelines.

Temple left the scrimmage to go receive X-Rays after being looked at by the team’s trainer.  The X-Rays revealed two broken bones that will sideline the quarterback up to four weeks, PennLive.com learned on Friday morning.

Buffaloes head coach Todd Rothermel was not forthcoming when addressing the injury post-scrimmage.

“I can’t talk about that,” Rothermel said when asked about Temple’s injury on Thursday.  “It will be next guy in—we’ll have to work on our next quarterback.”

Thursday, August 22, 2013

FOX 45 Anchor Projects Raves/Texans SB, Gets Blasted on Twitter

Think before you tweet, folks.  Think before you tweet.

According to his Twitter profile, Jeff Barnd is a "FOX 45 News Anchor #Baltimore Loves current events, politics and has an aversion to twitchy bug parts when you step on them."

Barnd also appears to a fan of professional football, or at least the Ravens.  On Thursday afternoon, Barnd sent out the following tweet:


At the time of this writing, Barnd's tweet is still live, but he'll probably want to take it down soon.

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, of course, both play in the American Football Conference (AFC).  That means there's no way they would ever face off in the Super Bowl.

The NFC champion and AFC champion from each conference duke it out in the Super Bowl each year.  View some of the best Twitter response to Barnd's tweet after the jump.

Broncos Rookie QB Ryan Katz Willing to do "Whatever it Takes"

Undrafted, unappreciated and undervalued, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Ryan Katz is fighting to just make the practice squad unit in Denver. Undaunted, Katz is staying focused, stating that he is willing to do "whatever it takes."

"Honestly, I’m a competitor and I want to play—that’s the reason I’m out here," Katz said after practice earlier in the week. "I just have to stay in it, that’s what coach tells me, ‘You just gotta stay in it,’ and keep learning. Even though I’m not getting that many reps, I have to stay ready because at any moment my name could be called."

Katz (6'1", 217 pounds) joined the team out of San Diego State following April's draft. Read my complete story on the rookie quarterback at MileHighReport.com.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

VIDEO: Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks Preseason Highlights


The Denver Broncos were embarrassed by the Seattle Seahawks 40-10 over the weekend.  Denver will return to the practice field on Monday and will host the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.

On a different note, I have joined the staff at MileHighReport.com, where I will be doing most of my Broncos coverage going forward.  Go check out the site!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Denver Broncos 2013 Training Camp: Clady, DRC Return to Practice

Img_9437_medium

On Day 13 (19 including non-practice days) of training camp, the Denver Broncos hit the field with enthusiasm—specifically running back Knowshon Moreno, who came out of the locker room singing, again.

Moreno is part of a three-way running back competition between himself and youngsters Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball. None of the three RBs have been able to create much separation in the competition, but Hillman is currently listed as the team's starter.

"Ronnie did a great job," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said when asked about the running back's Week 1 preseason performance after practice on Saturday. "It was good to see him get out there and do his thing. And then Montee, same thing. I think he got outside one time. It was good to see him just stick his foot in the ground and get vertical."

Gase had only good things to say of both Hillman and Ball and also gave kudos to Moreno.

"Those two guys are doing a good job, as far as trying to execute what we want them to do. They’re good in pass (blocking), and Knowshon had a tough pickup in the formation we were in. He did a good job of stepping up and trying to take the heat off of Brock Osweiler a little bit."

As of now, there is no clear front-runner in the running back competition. But that's only one of the many story lines we've been following at camp.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Quick Hits: Denver Broncos Defeat San Francisco 49ers 10-6 in Week 1

(Screengrab courtesy of Matt Miller on Twitter)
The Denver Broncos defeated the San Francisco 49ers 10-6 in Candlestick Park on Thursday night, moving to 1-0 in preseason play.  Quarterback Peyton Manning played for one series, going 2-of-4 for 13 yards (one pass competed to Julius Thomas and another to Demaryius Thomas).

A few quick hits from tonight's game:
  • No injuries.  After the game, head coach John Fox had no injuries to report.
  • Pistol formation.  Back in May, we caught wind of the Broncos running pistol formations at Dove Valley.  On Tuesday, ESPN's Cecil Lammey asked Manning about the pistol and about the possibility of ever running it in Denver.  Manning sidestepped the question, but Denver came out in a pistol look on Thursday.

LIVE: Denver Broncos Take on San Francisco 49ers — Twitter Updates

The Denver Broncos will take on the San Francisco 49ers at 7 p.m. (MT) tonight on  KTVD Channel 5 (20).  Out of town fans can watch the game on NFL.com's Preseason Live package.

KTVD's Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and John Lynch (color commentary) will be calling the game and Rod Macke will be reporting on the sidelines at Candlestick Park.

Last season, the Broncos finished 13-3 in regular season play while the 49ers went 11-4-1.  Denver's season ended when they fell to the Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. Three weeks later, San Francisco fell to the same Ravens in the Super Bowl.

Entering the 2013 season, the Broncos and 49ers are considered among the top teams in the NFL.  Tonight's game—or at least the first half—could be a preview of this season's Super Bowl.

Follow along live after the jump with some of our favorite game day Tweeters:

With Offensive Line Ailing, Should Peyton Manning Even Play Tonight?

For the starters, preseason games are meaningless.

Sure, preseason matches allow you to fine tune things and get on the same page with your new quarterback (here's looking at you, Wes Welker), but in Week 1, the starters only play the first quarter—if that.

So with Denver's offensive line banged up, should the Broncos even risk playing quarterback Peyton Manning tonight against the San Francisco 49ers?  The last thing Denver's staff wants to see is San Francisco's Aldon Smith blindsiding their $17.5 million quarterback in a meaningless exhibition game.

It's a subject up for debate, but the fact is, Manning may have to play with this patch-work offensive line during the regular season if any of the o-linemen have reoccurring injuries.  The time is now for Manning to get on the same page with his line.

"Certainly, you think about it because you’ve got good offensive players, so if they’re injured and not in there, then it does make an impact on your team,"  Manning said after practice on Tuesday when asked if he was concerned about the injuries suffered along Denver's offensive line this summer.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Broncos QB Peyton Manning Gives Perspective on NFL Helmet Radios


You know those movies where a character goes to meet somebody and has a mic in their ear with somebody else telling them what to do and say?  That's what Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning feels like on Sunday afternoons.

"You see in the movies all the time, when somebody is wired and they’re telling them what to say on their first date and you see those awkward moments. So sometimes [offensive coordinator Adam Gase will] call a play, then I’ll be calling the play and then he’s saying something else," Manning said after practice on Tuesday when asked about having a voice in his helmet.

Manning said the biggest problems arise when he is trying to say something to his teammates in the huddle and Gase is trying to talk over him in his helmet.  But with time, the two will learn to not talk over each other.

PHOTO: Denver's Manning, Thomas, Decker and Welker Grace SI Cover


You'll probably recognize the four cover boys on this week's Sports Illustrated issue.

Broncos and NFL Confirm "Mile High Salute" Will Still Be Allowed

Yesterday, we caught wind of some outrage over new NFL celebration policies that forbade taunts including—or so it was thought—military salutes.

As it turns out, saluting will still be allowed, as long as it is not done in a taunting fashion.  This should serve as a reminder that when rumors—and reports—surface, it is always wise to double check sources.

We went straight to the original source, the NFL's rule book.  The rules clearly state that players will be penalized only if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent.

But not everyone—did anyone else?—read the actual rules before passing on the misinformation.  To help clarify the policy, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted the following this morning:
Additionally, I reached out to the team last night and they responded this morning, confirming that saluting the fans isn't directed at an opponent, and therefore, is not considering taunting.

The "Mile High Salute" isn't going anywhere.  Salute your heart out, Montee Ball.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Broncos Training Camp Day 13 Report: Offensive Line Shuffles Around

Denver's offensive line was shuffled around at practice on Thursday.
The Denver Broncos were back on the practice field on Tuesday for their final full-padded practice before traveling to San Francisco for their Week 1 preseason match up against the 49ers on Thursday.

The offensive line was shuffled around and the offense as a whole rebounded after a poor team showing on Monday.  Notes and quotes below. 

Attendance and injury report

Tight end Jacob Tamme (quad) was back on the practice field in shorts on Tuesday but did not participate.  Middle linebacker Nate Irving was also back after being excused from practice yesterday. Safety Quinton Carter (knee) was also back, but did not participate.

Offensive tackles Orlando Franklin (hip) and Ryan Clady (shoulder) were both present, while Clady was limited and Franklin participated only in walk-through sessions with the offensive line.

"He’s a pretty tough player and thankfully he ended up OK," coach John Fox said of Franklin.

Clarification: "Mile High Salute" Was Not Completely Banned By the NFL

There's been a mild outrage surrounding the NFL's modified celebrating rules that hit the news on Tuesday.  In regards to the Denver Broncos, some seemingly misinterpreted the new rules as completely banning the "Mile High Salute," which was popularized by running back Terrell Davis in the late 1990s.

The league on Monday rolled out a host of new rules that included restrictions for celebrations.  As PFT pointed out, the NFL has been stressing the fine line between celebrating and taunting, with the latter resulting in a 15-yard penalty.

See some of the banned taunts below:
To be clear, the "Mile High Salute" will not be penalized this season—unless it is done in a taunting manner.

In the NFL rule book, Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, Note 3 states the following:
Violations of (b) will be penalized if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent. These acts include but are not limited to: sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball; spinning the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing the ball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent (prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.  (Emphasis added.)
This rule clearly states that players will be penalized for committing an act against an opposing player.  When Broncos players have historically performed the salute, they have done it directed to the fans, not in a taunting manner.

This all is open to interpretation, but if I am reading the rule correctly, it sounds like the "Mile High Salute" will still be permitted this season, as long as it is not done directly at an opposing player/team.

VIDEO: Peyton and Eli Manning Sing "Football On Your Phone"


The Manning brothers—Peyton and Eli—are among the most popular athletes in America, due in part to the fact that they own three combined Super Bowl victories.  That makes them marketable, which benefits all of us in the long run.

If Manning didn't earn $10 million annually from endorsements with Buick, Reebok, Sony, Wheaties, Gatorade, Papa John's, and DirecTV—specifically DirecTV in this case—we wouldn't get gems like this:


Simply brilliant.  And hilarious.

This isn't the first time Peyton and Eli have teamed up in an ad, or the first time they've done a DirecTV spot.  The two will face off in Week 2 this season when Peyton's Broncos travel to New York to take on Eli's Giants on Sunday, September 15.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Broncos Training Camp Day 12 Report: Injuries, Offensive Struggles

Guard Louis Vasquez spent time at right tackle on Monday when Orlando Franklin went down with an injury.
After getting Sunday off, the Denver Broncos returned to Dove Valley on Monday for their twelfth day of training camp.  The team was hit again by the injury bug and the offense at times looked sloppy, as the defense came to play and a surprise receiver turned heads.

Attendance and injury report

Middle linebacker Nate Irving was not present (excused for personal reasons), tight end Joel Dreessen (knee) did not participate as cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle), wide receiver Greg Orton (ankle), and running back Jeremiah Johnson (toe) also sat out.

Tackle Ryan Clady was limited.
Left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) and safety Quinton Carter (knee) practiced on a limited basis, while right tackle Orlando Franklin (hip) and receiver Quincy McDuffie (hamstring) left the field during practice with injuries.  An MRI after practice for Franklin came back negative.

"(Franklin was) bumped and is being evaluated, so we'll keep you updated," an unworried coach John Fox said of Franklin's injury after practice.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

PHOTO: Broncos Debut New Collars on Thundervision at SAF@MH

The Miami Dolphins are taking on the Dallas Cowboys in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on NBC, and Miami's new NIKE uniforms are a hot topic on Twitter.

This brings to mind the looming changes to the Denver Broncos own uniform.  During the team's scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday evening, players welcomed fans to the stadium on Thundervision—which underwent a $30 million upgrade this summer—while sporting solid collars.

Below is a before (left) and after (right) of defensive end Robert Ayers in 2012 and last night on the team's Thundervision scoreboard.  When NIKE took over as the NFL's apparel provider last year, they implemented a fang-like collar, which many teams appear to be dropping this fall.

Ronnie Hillman's A Starter on Denver Broncos First Depth Chart of 2013

The Denver Broncos released their first depth chart of 2013 on Sunday afternoon.  In the backfield, second-year running back Ronnie Hillman is listed as the starter.

Hillman beat out rookie Montee Ball (listed as No. 2) and veteran Knowshon Moreno (listed as No. 3).  In the team's scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday evening, Hillman and Ball ran with the first-team offense.

The Broncos will travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers in their first preseason game of 2013 on Thursday ($10 tickets here) and Hillman will be running with the first-team offense.  Apart of Hillman jumping both Moreno and Ball, there are few other surprises on the first offensive depth chart.

Veteran center Ryan Lilja, who signed with the team on Wednesday, is listed as the fourth center, but that will likely change by the time Week 1 rolls around.

View the complete depth chart after the jump.

Podcast: Talking Von Miller's Suspension, Broncos 2013 Expectations

The Funnel Sports Cake Radio Show had me on to talk about Von Miller's pending suspension and expectations for the Denver Broncos entering the 2013 season on Wednesday.  You can listen to the audio below:


Agree or disagree with one of my points?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Five Quick Hits From Denver Broncos 2013 Training Camp Scrimmage

Defensive end Robert Ayers enjoys the rain and pumps up the fans.  (Casey Barrett/MileHighReport.com)
The Denver Broncos and their fans got their first taste of live-action football on Saturday during a team scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.  Below are five quick hits from the scrimmage.

Fans are crazy about the Broncos, or just crazy.

Fans began entering the stadium at 4:30 for a scrimmage that was scheduled to begin at 7:00.  Inclement weather (thunder, lightening and a whole lot of rain) delayed the scrimmage twice.  From 7:00 to the conclusion of the scrimmage (which wound up starting around 8:00), thousands of fans sat, stood, danced and chanted "Here we go, Broncos, here we go!" in the pouring rain.
The players helped entertain the fans during the downpour by running out and sliding headfirst across the wet field and giving hive-fives around the stadium on several different occasions during the delay.

Friday, August 2, 2013

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos Rookies Get Hazed With New Haircuts

Just in time for Saturday's team scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver Broncos rookies received beautiful new haircuts on Friday evening, courtesy of the team's veterans.
(Photo courtesy of cornerback Omar Bolden—@Os_Island—on Twitter)
It has become a tradition at Dove Valley for the veterans to give the rookies shiny new hairdos prior to the team's August scrimmage.  Below is rooke running back Montee Ball:

(Photo courtesy of fullback Jacob Hester—@JacobHester22—on Twitter)
Hazing is, of course, loved by the veterans and loathed by the rookies.  But refusing to having their hair trimmed results in far worse punishment, or so we hear.
On a different note, former Broncos running back Terrell Davis was at Dove Valley reporting for NFL Network on Friday.  After practice, Davis met Ball for the first time, which must have been a very cool moment.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Film Room: Cornerback Nigel Malone vs. TCU (2012 Season)

The Denver Broncos claimed rookie cornerback Nigel Malone off waivers on Thursday.  In the East-West Shrine Game in January, Malone shined, returning an interception 30 yards for a score.

Below is film of Malone from last season against Texas Christian University:


Malone's Wildcats won the game, 23-10.  Read my observations from the film after the jump.

Denver Broncos Claim Rookie Cornerback Nigel Malone Off Waivers

After learning on Wednesday that cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will miss four-to-five weeks with a high ankle sprain, the Denver Broncos turned to the waiver wire to bring in additional depth.
The team signed Nigel Malone (5'10", 180 pounds), an undrafted rookie out of Kansas State University that was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.  In his final two seasons, Malone recorded 12 interceptions as a Wildcat.

The Broncos are already deep at the cornerback position, so Malone will face an uphill battle to make the final roster.  For now, he will provide camp depth in the secondary.