Horse Tracks 8/25/09 - Transactions all across the AFC West; Broncos waive WR Travis Shelton and claim DB Antwain Spann

by Douglas A. Lee on Aug 25, 2009 5:47 AM MDT in Horse Tracks Comment 16 comments

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DB - Broncos Claim Spann Off Waivers - Gray Caldwell

DB - Mile High Debut - Patrick Smyth
Fun facts about this week's matchup versus the Bears.

DB - Steps Forward - Mike Rice
Rice offers his even-keeled thoughts on the Broncos and their progress through two preseason games.

DP - Coaching breaks Nalen's silence - Terry Frei
Tom Nalen is thrilled to be coaching the O-Line at Denver South High. Obviously, he wanted to retire with zero fanfare, but hopefully there will be some sort of ceremony at the Big IF for Nalen. How fast can they put him into the Ring?

DP - Turnover margin troubling for Broncos - Lindsay Jones
It's the same story, every year. Hopefully 2009 is when it changes?

DP - Mailbag: Who's the real Kyle Orton? - Mike Klis

DB - The Marathon Hasn’t Even Begun - Jim Saccomano

CSG - Cutler's return brings an edge to Bears-Broncos preseason game - Frank Schwab
Jay Cutler is coming to town this week? Wow, who knew?!?!

DP - Broncos' starters busy with plenty of preseason work
The first teamers have logged plenty of minutes thus far. Meanwhile, Robert Ayers is still catching up in learning his assignments within the defense.

DP - Teammates' praise enough for Wright - Irv Moss
Moss profiles Broncos legend Louis Wright.

CSG - Broncos nose tackle offers life lessons to Liberty football squad - Justin Pederson
Chris Baker visited Liberty High in CO Springs.

AP - Broncos Have Troubles As They Prepare For Cutler - Arnie Stapleton

KDVR - Denver Broncos vs. Chicago Bears Preview: Jay Cutler Week - Chris Tanaka

ESPN - Broncos in tough spot with Marshall - John Clayton
Although he was impressed by the Broncos' offense on Saturday, Clayton apparently didn't think much of the defense. Oh, and he thinks the Broncos should trade BMarsh.

ESPN - Breaking down the Broncos' game - Bill Williamson
This is rich...Pork Chop says Matt Prater's FG on Saturday "could go a long way in helping him make the team." As the only PK on the team, I'd say Prater's chances were already pretty good...

AFC West News

SDUT - Rivers happy to get long-term deal done - Kevin Acee
Phil Rivers will receive $38.5 million in guarantees as part of a six-year, $92 million deal which extends his contract through 2015. Just remember, folks - guy's started three seasons and won three division titles. Oh, and he led the NFL in passing last year.

SDUT - Chargers' window of opportunity just got clearer - Tim Sullivan

SDUT - Cornerback Cletis Gordon released - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Quotes from Rivers press conference - Kevin Acee

NFL - Chargers lock up Rivers with six-year, $92 million extension

KCS - Haley says nobody has officially made the Chiefs team yet - Adam Teicher

KCS - Chiefs make trade to bolster offensive line - Kent Babb
The Chefs acquired OGs Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe from the Dolphins for an undisclosed 2010 draft choice; to make room, they released OT Brian de la Puente and LB Vince Redd.

SFC - Walker tests his knee - David White

CCT - Raiders notebook: New linebacker long ago gathered the Moss - Steve Corkran
Jokeland brought back LB Napoleon Harris after Kirk Morrison dislocated his elbow. To make room, they released recently-signed CB RIcky Manning, Jr.

NFL Results

NFL - New York Jets 23 at Baltimore Ravens 24
Mark Sanchez tosses one TD and one INT while struggling in his starting debut.

NFL News

NFL - 49ers will go with Hill as starting QB to open season

NFL - Seahawks add Edgerrin James, part ways with T.J. Duckett

NFL - Shawn Andrews says he'll be ready to play opener

NFL - Godfrey has surgery for broken hand; Beason sits out practice

NFL - Vikings' Favre expected to see more playing time vs. Texans

NFL - Bengals, Palmer cautious with ankle injury in preparation for opener

NFL - Rams DE Little hurts knee, but injury not considered serious

Y! - Unemployed Marvin Harrison generating little interest - Jason Cole

ESPN - Plaxico Burress says club security knew he had a gun the night he shot himself in the leg

NFL Opinion

NFP - NFL Notebook: time for Bucs to pick a QB - Matt Bowen
Bowen was impressed by Kyle Orton's performance on Saturday.

NFP - Diner morning news: A look at odds - Mike Lombardi
Lombardi thinks Vegas is a little too down on the Broncos

Y! - Freeman impresses as Bucs start new era - Jason Cole

NFL - Hasselbeck, Romo impress, but Browns' QB situation harder to clear up - Pat Kirwan

NFL - Health, age could prevent storybook ending for Favre - Jason La Canfora

Y! - Steven Jackson not ready for extinction - Charles Robinson

NFP - Tavern talk: almost blue list - Mike Lombardi

FOX - Mailbag: Glazer on Warner, Favre, Romo and more - Jay Glazer

PFW - Harvin adds versatility, excitement to Vikings

FOX - CAMP SIGHTS: Could Peterson catch Emmitt? - Alex Marvez
Seriously? Isn't it at least 5 years too early to even think about this?

NYT - Lab Results, Atlanta Falcons - KC Joyner

CBS - 49ers camp report: Counting on Gore to end running joke - Clark Judge

ESPN - Bengals mired in mediocrity - Elizabeth Merrill

NFP - First-rounders are cashing in - Andrew Brandt
Tell me you can look at the picture of B.J. Raji without laughing...

CBS - Hey governor, right this wrong: Please pardon Plaxico - Mike Freeman

SI - Cris Collinsworth ready for comparisons to John Madden - Richard Deitsch

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Georgia Tech - Wes Bunting

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Comments

Thanks again NYC

by BroncoSense72 on Aug 25, 2009 6:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Nyc

You are right, Raji looks like baby Gilbert Brown. But please, someone tell me why he’s carrying a football.

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."

by KaptainKirk on Aug 25, 2009 7:00 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Any injury updates on Marcus Thomas or Tony Carter?

Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.

by McGeorge on Aug 25, 2009 7:54 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a peep, no. There is not a single story on either of them in the past 24 hours, from what I can tell…

by Douglas A. Lee on Aug 25, 2009 8:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tom Nalen

That story about Tom was just fantastic. I’m so happy that one of my favourite players is finding renewed pleasure and meaning in coaching. And he’s doing it for love not money.

Awesome guy.

I may get some flak for saying this but I would put Nalen ahead of the HoF queue over Terell Davis.
He was possibly the best centre of the last decade (maybe Kevin Maewe runs him tied). But who else was there – Birk? Hartings? Nalen over them in a heartbeat everytime.

There are too many skill position players getting into the HoF as it is. Would be good to see some more offensive linemen in there.

I doubt Nalen makes it. It looks like even Dermonti Dawson will struggle. At least we can console ourselves with the knowledge that Nalen probably does not care that much himself!

Anyway that article made my day. Nice one DP.

by British Bronco on Aug 25, 2009 8:09 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt you’ll catch much heat here for that. Tom Nalen is one of the Broncos’ all-time greats, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, I’m dubious re:his HOF chances. He surely belongs, but he never got the respect he deserved DURING his career from the very people who will be responsible for judging his candidacy in a few years. Although he did make 1st-team All Pro twice and 5 Pro Bowls, those numbers are probably a lot slimmer than what he truly deserved in his 11 full seasons as a starter. Between the fact that he never talked, the Broncos O-Line’s misplaced reputation for dirty play, and that Broncos are overlooked every year by the HOF makes for a lot of obstacles, in my eyes.

by Douglas A. Lee on Aug 25, 2009 8:17 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus the outrageous bias against Linemen.

Put up some gaudy stats for long enough and if you are a WR, QB or an RB then you get to jump over more worthy players.

King was on about McNair the other day as a possible HoFamer. Grrr. He was not even close to being one of the consistent best QBs of his era.

To my mind the best players at each position in each generation should be considered. Instead the HoF have voted in way too many skill players and now the chickens have come home to roost with deserving players like Grimm, Dent, Atwater, Keuchenberg, Kennedy etc all backed up. While I’m not in favour of formal quotas, I think an informal system should be in place that tries to ensure that at least 8-9 OL, 3-4 safeties etc get into the HoF each decade i.e. roughly proportionate to the numbers actually at the position.

by British Bronco on Aug 25, 2009 9:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks NYC

Great reads, loved the Nalen article.

Wondering if Clayton has ever watched a game of football, and if he has did he understood what he saw. I think not.

by bchiper on Aug 25, 2009 8:29 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I just want to know when Clayton’s job description went from “Guy who finds out what’s going on around the league and shares what he’s hearing” to “Guy who shares his opinions/evaluations on actual games and roster construction.”

by Douglas A. Lee on Aug 25, 2009 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs