Horse Tracks - 3/26/10 - Seahawks try to press the issue

Good Morning Broncos Country!  Pete Carroll knows how to speak.  He's a great communicator, which has helped him become a great football coach, especially on the college level.  And like every coach, what Carroll says usually has a double meaning or deeper motivation.  It happened this week when Carroll talked at the NFC Coaches Breakfast at the League Meetings.  When asked about the Seahawks' interest in Marshall, Carroll brought the issue right back into the limelight by saying talks between the Broncos and 'Hawks were preliminary.  Innocent enough, but Carroll knew what he was doing.  Carroll knows the best way to try and get the Broncos to blink is to get them sick of answering questions about Marshall.  The issue had begun to take a back seat to the rest of the off-season, including off-season workouts.  Seattle wants to keep the heat on.  What better way to do that than to say there have been talks, and that those talks are ongoing?  Now, I'm not saying Carroll is doing anything wrong, he's not, but there is motivation to what he is doing.  With 20 days or so left for the Seahawks to sign Marshall to a tender, the clock is ticking.

Consistent Approach to the Offseason
For Matt Prater, the end of 2009 was a stark contrast to the end of 2008.

Woody's Mailbag: Marshall too volatile for Broncos to keep - The Denver Post
A note before we begin this weekly ritual: Of the thousands of e-mails I receive, the hottest-button question (or a variation on the theme) is: "Why would the Broncos get rid of Brandon Marshall?"

Konz's dazzling pro day workout for Browns leaves other teams scrambling to catch up - The Denver Post
It's always a risk for a player to pass on working out at the scouting combine and wait for his pro day to show his stuff.

Seahawks, Broncos talk trade for Brandon Marshall - The Denver Post
At his first NFC coaches breakfast here today, Seattle coach Pete Carroll spoke about his team's interest in Broncos' restricted free agent receiver Brandon Marshall.

Does Mike Shanahan have Broncos o-line envy? | All Things Broncos
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan made his return to the NFL’s annual meetings this year, now as the head coach of the Washington Redskins.

Broncos' Prater doesn't care for new overtime rule - The Denver Post
In his two full seasons in the NFL, Matt Prater has had exactly one chance to attempt a sudden-death, game-winning field goal.

Broncos' draft order set - The Denver Post
The Broncos have six picks, including the No. 11 (in the first round) and No. 45 (in second round) picks. Their other selections are No. 80, No. 114, No. 184 and No. 220.

'Madden NFL 11' refines receiving - ESPN
One of the biggest frustrations I've had with "Madden" over the past couple of years is the disgusting amount of times receivers catch the ball without making any attempt to get both feet in bounds.

TexansChick: Offensive coaching changes affect on team
I really enjoyed reading LZ's thoughts on the Alex Gibbs' coaching change. Hard to say how much his departure will effect the running game, but there are some who thought that Bronco's running game was the better with Rick Dennison running things in Denver.

Janet Elway to be honored | Seen First
Janet Elway and Leland Huttner are to receive the Hannah G. Solomon Humanitarian Award at an April 18 dinner put on by the National Council of Jewiish Women, Colorado Section. The award is named for NCJW’s founder and acknowledges those who have worked to improve the lives of those in need and have motivated others to do the same.

Two teams that make sense for McNabb | National Football Post
According to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, it’s the Oakland Raiders and the Buffalo Bills. Two destinations that make sense, right? A different story and different speculation than what we saw Wednesday when reports surfaced that the St. Louis Rams were the leaders for McNabb’s services for the 2010 season.

Making points: Union must think cash, not cap | National Football Post
On Wednesday, I started to outline some ways that the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and its leader DeMaurice Smith could start to make some progress in the stagnated negotiations with the NFL toward a new agreement. Here are a couple of key points that would certainly make a difference for the players, ways to get past the rhetoric toward meaningful bargaining.

NFL credibility hurt by OT vote | National Football Post
Coming hot on the heels of the phantom Jets-Giants coin-toss flap, in which National Football Post readers had some great comments (and even Jets fans know the coin would have had "Giants" on both sides), the NFL is once again taking heat for being less than open and transparent in its vote on changing overtime rules for the playoffs while coaches were holding their golf outing at the owners meetings.

Rumors swirl about Pacman to Motown | National Football Post
As many nice things as Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz has already said about cornerback Pacman Jones, it’s going to come as a surprise to positively no one if the secondary-challenged organization takes a chance on the often troubled former first-round draft pick.

Bears working to trade Alex Brown | National Football Post
When the Chicago Bears broke out the wallet at the start of free agency and dropped big coin to sign Julius Peppers it was evident to all that Adewale Ogunleye, a starter for the last six seasons, would not be returning.

Today is pro day at The U | National Football Post
We took this brief trip down memory lane because Friday is pro day at The U. And while Miami may not be the national power that it once was, the team still went 9-4 in 2009 after going 7-6 in 2008 and 5-8 in 2007.

42nd pick or higher for McNabb | National Football Post
The latest juicy tidbit to emerge in the "Great Philly Quarterback Debate of 2010" comes to us from the Associated Press and asserts that the Eagles will only consider shipping McNabb out of town for a draft pick among the top 42.

Leon Washington's agent responds to Rex Ryan's comments | National Football Post
The agent for New York Jets running back Leon Washington, a restricted free agent who hasn't signed his tender, responded to coach Rex Ryan's criticism of Washington rehabbing his broken leg in Florida instead of the Jets' training facility.

Source: Eric Berry to visit Browns, three others | National Football Post
University of Tennessee top-ranked safety Eric Berry is scheduled to visit the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles, according to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation.

Roethlisberger accuser consents to another interview with police | National Football Post
The woman who has accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her has consented to be interviewed again by Georgia law enforcement authorities.

Ken Lucas visits the Titans | National Football Post
The Tennessee Titans could use a defensive back or two.

Catching up with league's power brokers at the owners meetings
On Tuesday afternoon, at 2:55 p.m. ET, I was sitting at the NFL Annual Meeting with a team owner who said, "I don't think Roger Goodell will even let overtime come to a vote because it will not -- pass but it should by the May meetings."

Multitude of QB-needy teams could make move with Eagles
With as much desperation as there is throughout the NFL for quarterback upgrades, it stands to reason that the one team in the league with an apparent glut of starting-caliber talent at the position would be fielding its share of trade inquiries.

Expect more player movement among league's quarterbacks
Much of the intrigue of free agency is behind us, the NFL Draft remains a month away and the league meetings are over. This might be a rare, dare I say it, respite, in the NFL offseason news cycle. If not for all of the quarterback intrigue swirling this week at The Ritz in Orlando, where the meetings were taking place, that is.

Suh, McCoy among first eight prospects confirmed to attend draft
Sources have confirmed that the following players will be among those in New York when the 75th NFL draft begins Thursday, April 22 in primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET:

Jets to be featured in HBO's 'Hard Knocks' training camp series
Get ready for Rex: Unplugged.

Giants' Umenyiora trying to avoid controversy during offseason
While Osi Umenyiora is doing his best to not upset the New York Giants, it's obvious the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end and his coaches still haven't agreed on his role for next season.

Police: Brown's blood alcohol level was .158 when arrested on DUI
A police report shows Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown had a blood alcohol level that was nearly twice the legal limit when he was arrested on a DUI charge in suburban Atlanta over the weekend.

Club manager: Bodyguard protected Ben Roethlisberger - ESPN
The manager of the club where Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is accused of having sexually assaulted a 20-year-old Georgia woman said Thursday one of the woman's friends told him a bodyguard of Roethlisberger's had denied her entrance to the area leading to the bathroom where she believed the accuser and Roethlisberger were that night.

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan not naming starting QB before training camp - ESPN
Jason Campbell has been the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback since 2006. But his role appears to be in jeopardy.

Broncos were both draft kings and duds - AFC West Blog - ESPN
The Denver Broncos are examples of both the best and worst in the NFL at drafting during the 2000s, according to a study by Football Outsiders.