Horse Tracks - 2/26/10 - Broncos to pick 11th in NFL Draft

Good Morning!  The Bears lost again.  In a coin toss with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 10th pick in the draft, the Bears lost, meaning the Broncos will pick 11th in April's Draft.  In terms of dollars, the difference between the two picks is likely $2 million in guaranteed money, so in the end, the Broncos may be winners - at least financially.  Time to go dig out from the snowstorm that is pounding my neck of the woods!

Broncos Will Pick 11 - DenverBroncos.com
Following a coin toss Friday morning in Indianapolis, the Broncos - who hold the Bears first round pick - will have the 11th pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars won the coin toss and will pick 10th.

VIDEO - OL Mike Iupati talks to the media
One of the top offensive line prospects, Mike Iupati, talks to the media during the 2010 NFL Draft Combine.

VIDEO - 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Day 1
Top offensive line and tight end prospects talk to the media during the 2010 NFL Draft Combine.

Broncos' restricted free agents unlikely to get long-term deals - The Denver Post
With virtually no incentive to do otherwise, the Broncos are expected to join all other NFL teams and avoid negotiating multiyear contracts with any of their restricted free agents.

Broncos add more power to offseason workouts - The Denver Post
"We're going to work hard on power and those type of lifts," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Thursday. "Power and strength. The power aspect of it, we're going to work mass with some of our bigger guys. The first six games of the season, we ran the ball and stopped the run."

Bronco Dumervil recorded woman's call about "burner" after teammate's shooting - The Denver Post
Denver Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil played detective in the days following the death of teammate Darrent Williams when he tape-recorded a woman who said Willie Clark asked if her then-boyfriend had "a burner" on him just before Williams was killed.

Former Loveland star Byers handles NFL medical exams well - The Denver Post
With the most stringent medical exams he has ever experienced now behind him, former Fort Collins resident Jeff Byers hopes at least one question mark can be removed from his NFL resume.

Coin flip gives Broncos No. 11 draft pick - The Denver Post
The Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars, tied for the 10th overall spot in the NFL draft, held a coin flip contest this morning to determine their alternate selections in each round. The flip went Jacksonville's way which means the Jags have the No. 10 pick in the first round; No. 11 in the second; No. 10 in the third, and so on.

Pioli talks Patriots tree - Extra Points - Boston.com
You can count more than a quarter of the NFL having leadership that can be tied together by Bill Parcells and Belichick.

Witness calls sidewalk fight "demographic" - The Denver Post
Willie D. Clark, 26, is on trial in the death of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams early New Year's Day 2007. Williams was riding in a stretch Hummer limousine near 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard when a single bullet struck him in the neck.

Is the 2010 QB class already flawed? | National Football Post
Unlike last year, with players like Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman, the top prospects lack ideal size, have major injury concerns and, for some, come from offenses that don’t model anything we see on Sundays.

Combine notes: Day 1 | National Football Post
A look at some of the key points to come out of the NFL Combine’s first day:

NFL Combine drill breakdown | National Football Post
The National Football Post takes a look at some of the key drills at the NFL Combine and breaks down the top-10 performances in each over the past decade, plus players who are expected to shine in these events this year.

Report: Redskins negotiating with Rabach | National Football Post
The offensive line was unquestionably the biggest problem spot for the Washington Redskins last season, but as the new coaching staff and front office goes about rebuilding it, they’re trying to keep one man in place.

Wilson: Big decision looms for Browns on Derek Anderson | National Football Post
The Cleveland Browns have a big decision to make on quarterback Derek Anderson, who's being paid starter money as a backup.

Umenyiora, Big Blue talk future | National Football Post
2009 was a rough season for Osi Umenyiora. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive end started just 11 games last season as he was demoted from first-teamer to situational pass-rusher. Umenyiora finished the year with only seven sacks and 29 tackles (19 solo), arguably the worst statistical season since his 2003 rookie campaign.

Wilson: Steelers trying to sign Ryan Clark | National Football Post
Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have locked up nose guard Casey Hampton and kicker Jeff Reed with a new $21.3 million contract and a $2.814 million franchise tag, respectively, they have another free agent on their negotiating agenda.

Wilson: Okung is impressive | National Football Post
Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung has emerged as the crown prize when it comes to blockers available in this year's draft.

Wilson: Combine interviews are well-rehearsed | National Football Post
One of the realities of the NFL scouting combine is how draft prospects are well-rehearsed for their interviews with coaches, executives and scouts.

Wilson: NFL to test prospects' brain activity at scouting combine | National Football Post
The NFL is literally looking to get inside draft prospects' heads this year.

Biggs: Saints busy with qualifying offers for RFAs | National Football Post
Free agency starts at home and the New Orleans Saints drove that point home today when they announced that the club has tendered qualifying offers to 13 restricted free agents.

Vikings content on waiting for Favre’s answer - NFL.com
The Minnesota Vikings are still waiting for their answer from Brett Favre, but Jay Leno isn’t.

Talent evaluators differ on prospects sitting out - NFL.com
With Tim Tebow not participating in throwing drills at the combine, it means none of the top-rated quarterbacks will be throwing this weekend in front of a league-wide audience.

Are Saints paving path for Tomlinson? - NFL.com
The Super Bowl champion Saints could be creating a vacancy for RB LaDainian Tomlinson by apparently allowing Mike Bell to become a free agent. Bell was not one of the 13 restricted free agents they tendered on Thursday. Neither was Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, but he will be back on the team, either through a long-term deal or by placing a restricted free agent tender on him by next Thursday’s deadline.

Tebow talks about decision not to throw at combine - NFL.com
Tim Tebow is willing to do whatever it takes to show league executives that he’s NFL-ready. But that won’t include the University of Florida quarterback throwing passes at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.

Cribbs’ agent, Browns will meet in Indianapolis - NFL.com
The agents for WR/return specialist Josh Cribbs will meet with the Browns in Indianapolis beginning Thursday night in hopes of hammering out a new deal by the end of the week, a league source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer late Wednesday night.