Horse Tracks 4/29/09

DP - The Broncos signed former Ravens ILB Nick Greisen, along with UFA linebackers Braxton Kelley and Jeff Schweiger. To create the roster room, Denver waived wide receiver Jayson Foster and tight end Adam Bergen.
DB - Broncos TV has part of an interview with G.M. Brian Xanders, the entirety of which will air sometime next week. Xanders reveals that several teams called to trade up to #12 for the purpose of drafting Knowshon Moreno, and that Alphonso Smith was the top-rated cornerback on Denver's board. So, not only do the Broncos get their top-rated corner, but they slot him into a #37-level contract. How often does that happen?
DB - Mike Rice offers his patient, balanced look at the Broncos' draft haul. Most importantly he reminds us that we have no idea how these players will turn out!
Y! - I already linked to this Mike Silver column last week, but it now looms larger for the Broncos - Silver profiles fellow Golden Bear Rulon Davis, whom Denver signed as a UFA.
EUR - Former Broncos O-Lineman-turned artist Ernie Barnes passed away on Monday. Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.
NFL - Here's the list of the league-wide UFA-signings announced so far.
SDUT - RB Darren Sproles finally ssignedd his franchise tender with the Dolts.
KCS - Tony Gonzalez bid the Chefs' fans farewell. Sniff, sniff.
SFC - Finally, here are some names of the Raiders' UFAs. Here's another one.
NFL - RB Edgerrin James was finally granted his wish to be released by Arizona, who also cut CB Rod Hood and DE/LB Travis LaBoy.
NFL - The Jets officially released Brett Favre. Therefore, he is off the reserve/retired list and free to sign with any team.
NFL - Stillers LB Larry Foote expects to be traded or released soon. Yes, that's another 3-4 linebacker hitting the market. Folks, keep your eyes open for these guys - I have a feeling everyone who's upset about the draft may be sated by some veteran front-7 signings over the next couple months.
NFL - The Bungles got rid of punters Kyle Larson and Ryan Plackemeier after drafting Kevin Huber in the fifth round.
SI - The Saints released DT Brian Young.
NFP - The Skins claimed RB Marcus Mason off waivers from the Jets.
NFL - Steve Wyche offers a look inside the Rams' war room from the draft.
CBS - Charlie Casserly looks at each team's best bet and biggest risk from the draft. For Denver, it's Moreno and Ayers, respectively.
NFP - Wes Bunting looks at the first-round selections he liked, along with those which puzzled him.
CBS - Clark Judge says Minnesota got a big-time weapon in Percy Harvin. Apparently, the Jets and Patriots made some heavy offers to jump ahead of the Vikings and take Harvin, but were rebuffed by Minnesota.
CBS - Judge likes what Rick Smith and Kubes are doing down in Houston.
SI - Peter King responds to some emails, and offers an explanation (from Josh McDaniels) of the Broncos' trade to select Alphonso Smith.
NFP - Matt Bowen examines a few first-rounders whose new homes jumped out at him.
NFP - Bowen thinks this year's draft was more evidence that the Senior Bowl should be scrapped.
NFP - Andrew Brandt looks at productive college QBs who were snubbed in the draft, along with a couple of veteran casualties of the draft.
NFP - Robert Boland looks at how his organizational rankings rang true during the draft.
NFP - Mike Lombardi ponders a few questions which remain after the draft.
Y! - Here's Mike Silver's Tuesday column, focused on the Niners and their draft.
NFL - Bucky Brooks grades out the NFC South teams' drafts.
ESPN - Here's a fine example of national writers passing along each others' misinformation - Alex Marvez of FOX speculated that Denver could release Selvin Young and/or Ryan Torain. In response, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN figured that one of those guys could be the "bigger back who can get tough inside yards working with Steve Slaton." I'd like to know the last time someone called Young and Torain "tough" players...
NFL - And from Solomon Wilcots' chat, a perfect example of a national analyst claiming to know Denver's needs better than Josh McDaniels.
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43 comments
Comments
Morning nyc
Thanks for the early efforts. Larry Foote sounds promising. I was thinking/hoping that we will address the front 7 in the next FA period.
My Dad told me about the 4 seasons:
Pre-season
Regular-season
Post-season
Off-season
by KaptainKirk on Apr 29, 2009 5:33 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Mornin nyc, Looks like many Horse Tracks===many Thanx
Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM
by UB3 on Apr 29, 2009 6:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks NYC...awesome as usual my friend!
Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
by boydy2669 on Apr 29, 2009 7:08 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would love Larry Foote
sporting the orange and blue.
"It means nothing to throw for 4500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and you dont win" -Brandon Marshall
by Joe Medina on Apr 29, 2009 5:34 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Rulon Jones?
The Broncos signed Rulon Jones? Awesome! The Orage Crush lives!
by LR on Apr 29, 2009 5:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoops!
Freudian slip? Thanks LR, and corrected.
by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 29, 2009 6:10 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glad to help...
But Rulon Jones in his prime would be pretty sweet.
by LR on Apr 29, 2009 7:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Naw he's too small for a 3-4 ;-)
by SlowWhiteGuy on Apr 29, 2009 12:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like that Mecklenburg guy...
Never ever amount to anything :D
by AllBroncsallday on Apr 29, 2009 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morning NYC
Great set of links today!
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on Apr 29, 2009 6:41 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't know about you guys
Tony Gonzalez bid the Chefs’ fans farewell. Sniff, sniff.
But I’m trying realllllllllly hard not to cry. ^^
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on Apr 29, 2009 6:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
RIP Ernie Barnes
I was so upset to read that Ernie Barnes passed away. I had known about his career as an artist for many years and that he played football as well.
Last summer I wrote a nice letter to Mr. Barnes and included 2 copies of his only trading card. I Humbly asked if he would sign one and keep one, but I never got a return.
Ernie Barnes was an incredible talent and will be missed. He is an inspiration for many Artists and will be remembered as one of America’s best.
About playing against Joe Namath "He's the best in the Business, he can do everything, but I've never seen a Quarterback yet that can throw on his back." - Dave Costa 1969
by Denver Diehard on Apr 29, 2009 8:17 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
WOW

Sorry to say I never heard of Ernie Barnes, but one Google image search and I was BLOWN AWAY. I strongly encourage those who do not know his work to do the same. Talk about an incredible grace and talent!!
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on Apr 29, 2009 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did amazing stuff
one of his paintings became famous for being used in opening for TV’s “Good Times”.
And he was a one-time Denver Bronco!
Come on MHR, where’s the obit? :-)
by underdog on Apr 29, 2009 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks nycbroncosfan!
I guess the Xanders interview puts to rest the “Knowshon Moreno would have been there at 18” theory.
Thanks for the continued work of putting together Horse Tracks!
~Uffdah
by Disco_Stu on Apr 29, 2009 8:35 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Isn't it nice
to wait for the facts to come to light?
by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 29, 2009 8:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
take backs?
So now are certain individuals going to take back their draft concerns saying we could have gotten Moreno at 18?
I don’t see it happening but I can hope!
by Todd Jewell on Apr 29, 2009 8:40 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Never happen...
Keep in mind, these are folks who claim to know more than McDaniels and Xanders about the Broncos and their needs…
by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 29, 2009 8:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
last time we drafted a RB, that fell to us and was the best player on our draft board at that pick and all kind of people said it was crazy was Clinton Portis
by rooferwayne on Apr 29, 2009 9:18 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice call
It also happened a few years ago with Minnesota and some kid named Peterson…
by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 29, 2009 9:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
We already know that McD is a great interviewee
and I was really excited thinking about whether we would ever get to hear from Xanders….wish granted.
Remember how Sundquist did a weekly interview on FSN? I’m hoping Xanders does the same thing. I can’t get enough of the big brains in Dove Valley….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 29, 2009 10:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Ayers and the wisdom of Solomon
I noticed that Solomon Wilcox mis-stated when he said that Ayers was destroyed in the Senior Bowl. What really happened was that he destroyed the other players, both in practice and in the game. Small difference….
Hillis/Moreno in '09
by Emmett Smith on Apr 29, 2009 10:48 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The Senior Bowl
Ayers just ate Oher alive and he is supposd to be one of the elite tackles in this draft. That article was not worth the time it took to ignore it.
"Now we have them where we want them"
-Kieth Bishop - On the Denver 2 yard line, Cleveland Ohio, 1987
by AlanC on Apr 29, 2009 11:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
AC
Nor worse the stomach meds I took to counteract the symptoms from digesting it ;-)
Hillis/Moreno in '09
by Emmett Smith on Apr 29, 2009 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Selvin Young
the big back? is he serious?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
breathe
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ok I am better! Thanks for the Horse Tracks and laughs this morning!
http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif
"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"
Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!
by Jon Tollerud on Apr 29, 2009 11:20 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Rulon Davis
Great, great article. And some of what he said echoed very familiarly.
Meet the Mike Anderson of the new Broncos D!
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on Apr 29, 2009 11:25 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
"I’m excited about what I can do," Davis says. "One thing the Marine Corps has given me is mental toughness. I’ve been in situations where a lot of people would probably give up, and I just keep going and going. I don’t know my own limitations. That’s what I’ve been trained to do – adapt and overcome. I don’t understand, ‘I can’t.’ All I want is a chance. I know I’ll make the most of it."
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on Apr 29, 2009 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice to see another Jarhead join the Broncs
He also bristled when players asked if the team’s hot summer training camp was as grueling as a Marine boot camp.
It gets a little tiring when you listen to athletes, Ray Lewis, yap about going to war and being “soldiers”.
by jdkchem on Apr 29, 2009 10:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I should add
I never heard “adapt and overcome” until I saw Heartbreak Ridge.
by jdkchem on Apr 29, 2009 10:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chat with Terrell Davis!
Today! At 4:30 EST/1:30 PST
http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/231
I only know he’ll be more intelligent than S Wilcots. After that all bets are off. Ask him about the Broncos current crop of RBs!
by underdog on Apr 29, 2009 12:56 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
Cannot wait! Also, I can’t believe that Edgin Jaym is a free agent. Can’t believe he and his grillz are out of ayzona.
WE GOT MORENO!!!!
by papigrande on Apr 29, 2009 1:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I emailed a question
about Broncos RBs. Probably one of a 100 from us asking the same thing ;-) but we’ll see if TD responds.
by underdog on Apr 29, 2009 2:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Terrell Davis, Analyst, NFL Network:
Thanks Antonio. I think we are giving Josh McDaniels too much credit right now. I don’t think that Josh McDaniels is going to make Kyle Orton into this great quarterback. Orton was a decent quarterback in Chicago, but he had a tremendous defense when he was winning games there. And he struggled to beat out Rex Grossman for the better part of three years. So I think that Orton will improve, but he is no Jay Cutler.
by AllBroncsallday on Apr 29, 2009 3:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh, that TD chat
ended up basically sucking. And not just because he didn’t answer my question.
Oh well, at least he loved Knowshon.
I’ll just forget the chat ever happened, TD.
by underdog on Apr 29, 2009 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
21st in the leauge last season, 28th the year before
Hardly a ’tremendous defense. They had some issues with injury, but it was more than that
Hillis/Moreno in '09
by Emmett Smith on Apr 29, 2009 6:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Disappointing that TD doesn’t have a better understanding of the situation- I thought he was supposed to be an “Xs and Os guy”.
by AllBroncsallday on Apr 30, 2009 11:13 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, but not a stat guy
Hillis/Moreno in '09
by Emmett Smith on Apr 30, 2009 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Observations
1. Why did we sign a punter? I know that competition is always good, and he’ll probably get cut, but there’s no reason to believe that Brett Kern won’t be just as good as he was last year, is there? He’s quality.
2. Charley friggin’ Casserly. Can’t stand the guy. Here’s a guy that is lucky that Matt Millen is alive. Otherwise, he may well be remembered as the worst GM of the last 20 years. Somehow, he manages to get on TV like he’s some sort of personnel expert. Nothing he has ever said has made any sense. Now he says that Ayers is the biggest risk? Yeah, I guess. It is more likely Smith, but aren’t they all risks? What if Moreno blows his knee out in his first game? He’s gonna make more money than Ayers. Doesn’t that make him a bigger risk?
Sorry for the rant, I just can’t stand Charley Casserly. The guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
"I will make nachos and sit and watch draft guy. nacho and cola. This gon be crazy. We could even move down in draft and get like a hole nother team guy."
--Horvil Tiki
by wtnelson on Apr 29, 2009 2:01 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
But...
You gotta give him credit for the Mario Williams pick over Reggie Bush, which was roundly lambasted at that time.
by AllBroncsallday on Apr 29, 2009 3:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
To a Point
Like any GM, he made his share of decent moves, but he made far more bad ones, IMO. He may know how the business works, but that doesn’t make him an expert. Far from it in his case.
It may just be sour grapes for me, too, because I can’t stand the guy at all. I just don’t like his presence on TV, the way he seems to talk down to everyone. I have that, “I get your point, but I’m not dumb, so please don’t talk to me like I am,” feeling every time he’s on TV.
"I will make nachos and sit and watch draft guy. nacho and cola. This gon be crazy. We could even move down in draft and get like a hole nother team guy."
--Horvil Tiki
by wtnelson on Apr 29, 2009 5:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
I understand what you mean about his ego. He does seem to sport a sizable one, doesn’t he? He “resigned”, yeah suuuuuuuure he did. “You can’t fire me, I quit!” {grin}
And, some claim at this point that no, Casserly didn’t have any say on the Mario Williams pick:
Coach Dom Capers promptly was fired after the (2005) season, and G.M. Charley Casserly "resigned" after the draft. (We know that this was a sore point for Casserly at the time, but the prevailing theory in league circles was that McNair didn’t want to fire both men right after the season, in order to avoid the perception that McNair swung and missed on both hires. And though Casserly now gets praised for passing on Reggie Bush and draft Mario Williams in his last official act for the Texans, the story at the time was that Casserly had no input in the decision given his short-timer/Scotch-and-Splenda status.)
This wasn’t actually the topic of the article, but I found it interesting anyway as it relates to Houston and Kubes in particular.
by AllBroncsallday on Apr 30, 2009 11:12 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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