Denver Broncos News - Horse Tracks - 9/16/10
by John Bena on Sep 16, 2010 5:58 AM MDT
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First down a big deal for Broncos - The Denver Post
First impressions, first editions, first in line and first-and-10: They all can be the start of something good. Or they can be the first step toward the tough lessons of experience.
Running back Maroney could be part of Broncos' long-term plans - The Denver Post
If it becomes apparent that newly acquired Laurence Maroney is working out as a running back, the Broncos would like to work out a contract extension before he becomes eligible for free agency after this season.
Teams, reporters share responsibility for professional locker room environment | All Things Broncos
As part of my regular duties as an NFL beat writer for The Denver Post, I spend three hours a week inside the Broncos locker room at Dove Valley. In that time, I conduct interviews with Broncos players. We talk about football – about the past game and the upcoming matchup. We talk about college football. We talk about their families, books, movies and TV shows. It is highly unglamorous and entirely unsexy – just a necessary function of my job, the same as hundreds of other reporters (men and women alike) who cover NFL teams across the country.
Woody's Mailbag: Week 1 didn't change opinion about Broncos or other teams - The Denver Post
Well, Week 1 is history, and so far Mike Shanahan is 1-0, Jay Cutler is 1-0, Brandon Marshall is 1-0 and Josh McDaniels and the Broncos are 0-1. (Gary Kubiak is also 1-0, but he doesn't count because he wasn't run out of Denver.) Which of those four teams (Redskins, Bears, Dolphins and Broncos) will finish with the best record?
Nuggets' Karl enjoys his day at Dove Valley - The Denver Post
For the record, Nuggets coach George Karl had no plans to ask Broncos coach Josh McDaniels for advice on how to deal with Carmelo Anthony. McDaniels, though, has a lot of experience with a superstar player and trade demands.
Analysis: A trade involving McDaniels, Patriots nothing new - The Denver Post
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has been burned before, but he has decided to touch the stove once again.
Q&A: Way too early to predict how season will unfold - The Denver Post
Q: Time to panic after Jacksonville? Or wait and see?
Some acquaintances of Shannon Sharpe's accuser doubt her story - The Denver Post
Denver-area acquaintances of Michele Bundy were alarmed but not overly surprised upon hearing the news she has taken legal action against former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe.
Ryan Harris invites fans to opening of new business | All Things Broncos
Broncos right tackle Ryan Harris might be dealing with some injury issues of his own right now — he’s recovering from a sprained ankle and did not practice Wednesday — but he’s been plenty busy off the field.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Kevin Kolb, LB Stewart Bradley fail concussion tests - ESPN
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley did not pass concussion testing Wednesday. Coach Andy Reid, however, said both players have "made progress" since Monday.
New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis responds to Randy Moss remarks - ESPN New York
Darrelle Revis, preparing for the arrival of the "Slouch," is planning to be in Randy Moss' face all day Sunday. He's already in his head.
Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams predicts no lockout - ESPN
Ricky Williams has been known to miss a season from time to time, but he expects to be playing in 2011. The Miami Dolphins' running back is also their new player representative, and he's optimistic the NFL Players Association and the league will reach a collective bargaining agreement without a labor stoppage.
San Diego Chargers expect home opener to be blacked out - ESPN
Fans accustomed to watching San Diego Chargers home games on local TV will have to find something else to do Sunday afternoon -- and perhaps several other Sundays this fall, as well.
NFL sends memo on conduct toward media - ESPN
"Women are a common part of the sports media," said the memo, which had the policy attached. "By law, women must be granted the same rights to perform their jobs as men. Please remember that women reporters are professionals and should be treated as such. "
Washington Redskins' Albert Haynesworth limited with ankle injury - ESPN
Albert Haynesworth was limited in practice Wednesday with an ankle injury, another setback for the Washington Redskins defensive lineman.
Shaun Hill starts for Detroit Lions at QB for injured Matthew Stafford - ESPN
The Detroit Lions will start Shaun Hill at quarterback in Sunday's home opener against Philadelphia as Matthew Stafford recovers from a shoulder injury.
Bob Sanders of Indianapolis Colts out indefinitely after surgery - ESPN
The 2007 NFL defensive player of the year had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn biceps tendon in his right arm, an injury that could end his season again. Team officials are not yet saying how much time Sanders could miss.
Arizona Cardinals RB Beanie Wells goes through limited workout - ESPN
Arizona's Beanie Wells went through a limited workout Wednesday and coach Ken Whisenhunt says the team will "really test" the running back's injured knee on Thursday.
Report: Hawk open to trade out of Green Bay | National Football Post
A.J. Hawk would love to play for a team willing to use the linebacker on three downs.
Browns sign Clayton, Wright to practice squad | National Football Post
The Cleveland Browns have signed running back Thomas Clayton and defensive back DeAndre Wright to the practice squad.
Shanahan huddles with Portis over remarks | National Football Post
It’s a good bet the only packages in the locker room Clinton Portis will be talking about moving forward will be the parcel kind that, you know, can be overnighted.
Source: Jaguars cut wide receiver John Matthews | National Football Post
The Jacksonville Jaguars have released wide receiver John Matthews after promoting him to the active roster recently from the practice squad, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
It is all about the quarterback for the Jets | National Football Post
You think there is pressure on Jets QB Mark Sanchez this week with the Patriots and Tom Brady coming to town? Getting off to an 0-2 start in the NFL forces you to put together an early season run in the win column — and that is tough to come by.
Randy's rant; was almost a Packer (twice) | National Football Post
The strange ranting of Randy Moss this week takes me back to the weekend of the 2007 Draft; much of it spent trying to sign Moss. It was a brief but intense negotiation that fueled some fire with Brett Favre when, for the first of two times, the Packers couldn’t agree with Moss on a contract.
Panic or Patience? | National Football Post
Coming into this opener on MNF we all knew we would watch two very good defenses, and for the entire 10-9 game that's what we got. Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata seemed to set the tone for the Ravens as they took out the frustration of hearing abut how good the Jets defense was all offseason. We also had two offenses led by young QBs with Flacco's extra season seeming to make quite a difference. He managed the offense and took advantage of the Jet CBs with nice throws to his new WR toys.
Brandon Stokley given injury settlement | National Football Post
The Denver Broncos brokered an injury settlement with veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley, removing him from injured reserve.
NFL.com news: Polian backs refs' no-TD call vs. Lions: 'Show me the ball'
Coach Jim Schwartz and his Detroit Lions believe Calvin Johnson made a game-winning touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears. Bill Polian begs to differ.
NFL.com news: Colombo, Kosier practice with 'Boys; Ware rests injured neck
Right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since being lost to knee injuries during training camp. Barring any setbacks, they'll be in the lineup for the home opener against the Chicago Bears.
NFL.com news: Backup plans: Teams with key injuries have plenty in reserve
The flurry of injuries to come out of the first regular-season weekend immediately set off cries that there is no way players could withstand an 18-game season and that some projected favorites -- the Packers, Jets, Colts, and Eagles -- are in trouble.
Lions refuse to take 'coward's way out' - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Helmets were being slammed against the locker room floor. Equipment was being kicked, dressing stalls were being whacked and colorful language was flying through the air.
Stars come together for Texans’ Foster - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The father, once a football man, believed in the power of the stars and the sky. This is still the age of Aquarius, he told the mother when their second son was about to be born. The name Arian spoke to him. He looked it up. It meant water-bearer, holder of knowledge.
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Quarterbacks
So according to Woody Paige, Mark Sanchez is a better quarterback than Donovan McNabb, Joe Flacco, Vince Young, and Kyle Orton. Does he even watch any of the games?
I like Woody's mailbags. Woody has been the best DP writer lately (which isn't saying much)
Once you starting ranking the QBs outside of the Top 6 guys (the real franchise QBs), it is a beauty pageant. Some of us like Brunettes, others like Asians, blondes, Latinas, green eyes, petites, etc. So who is beautiful and who is not?
How do you rate Carson Palmer vs Eli Manning vs Romo vs Flacco vs McNabb vs Cutler? It’s almost like you have to switch up the rankings weekly with big gains and drops – which makes it meaningless. I like to rate Orton around 15th best QB in the NFL, but I also like chocolate and not butterscotch. It’s just a feeling or sense. Woody, somewhat like me, trusts his feelings and shoots from the hip. If you have strong senses, you’ll hit more than you miss, but you’ll still miss a lot.
Orton is in his prime and playing the best ball of his career so that should be something worth noting if Woody wants to be honest.
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
Like I said...
Woody is just mad that Simms made him look bad last year.
Orton is solid and I think he was put in a bad situation last week by poor execution on a team level. It isn’t fair to assume that Kyle should have magically been able to fart out a touchdown on the last play of the game any more to assume that Peyton Manning or Tom Brady would be able to do so in the same situation.
Orton didn’t lose us the game in Jacksonville, Denver lost as a team and hopefully they learned something from their mistakes and can improve this weak against a very vulnerable Seattle team.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
by TheMastermind on Sep 16, 2010 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions
The difference is that Manning and Brady DO routinely "magically" overcome those problems
Orton is in the same boat as other middle-tier QBs in the league – they do not elevate the play of those around them, or make up for the deficiencies in other aspects of the team. They simply ride along with however the team is playing. I agree with McGeorge that you basically have the few elite QBs, and then there’s everyone else.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and then used against you.
Agreed Sanchez is not anywhere near as good atm as those guys...
McNabb, if he has a revitalized career with shanny , could end up in the hall of fame or at least in the discussion for the hall. Flacco does some amazing things under pressure, extending the play and making tough throws. Orton I have rated somewhere between 15-20. When he plays well he is definitely closer to 15, when he plays poorly closer to 20 ;)
Orton’s problem is he lacks some of the elite skills of the top 10 and, no, I am not talking about arm strength. Orton’s problem is he is only average with pocket awareness, knowing where and when to move to help his lineman, and he is also average at extending the play and making something happen in a bad situation. He puts far more pressure on the rest of his teammates to not only do their job, but to perform at a high level for the play to work than other elite quarterbacks. Having said all this, I was happy we traded for Orton and until someone better comes a long, and there are a lot of teams with worse quarterbacks, I like him as our starter.
by Keyworthpunch on Sep 16, 2010 9:50 AM MDT up reply actions
Wow… Seattle is banged up for this game. Their O-line is missing at least two starters.
If we lose this game in the trenches, it will be a very long season of losing for the Broncos.
I don’t expect that. We should be able to push Seattle around upfront. We should be able to hit their QB many times on Sunday. A good game for INTs?
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
That is no excuse for our D not to win their trench warfare battle on Sunday.
I thought we were only missing Ryan Harris?
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
Kuper didn't practice yesterday
But I don’t think he’s been necessarily declared out for Sunday.
Josh McDaniels-All he wants to do is win a MF'in game!
by RockyMountainThunder on Sep 16, 2010 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions
But theirs now features two guys who wouldn't be backups on our team.
And our OL will not be going up against their OL.
I expect our DL to dominate them this week, I expect some sacks and pressure on Hasselbeck, and with the top flight DB’s we supposedly have, I expect some big plays in the secondary.
I agree, if we don’t win the line of scrimmage in this game against their OL you can put a fork in us. That’s not a prediction, that’s just a cold hard fact.
And by the way, I DO expect our OL to play better this week, even without Harris, who last I heard was out.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
by TheMastermind on Sep 16, 2010 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions
If SF, who actually have players to get a pass rush
Couldn’t get a pass rush, I don’t think we’ll do much better.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Sep 16, 2010 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Apples and Oranges
Seattle will have different players lining up this week, and SF sacked and picked off Hasselbeck once each last week.
The Niners are not ready for Prime Time. If our defense full of high priced free agents and future hall of famers can’t at least manage THAT then it is going to be a long season.
I am on the record as expecting our front seven to step up. If not now, when?
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
by TheMastermind on Sep 16, 2010 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions
If we want to win
We’ll need more then one sack and limited pressure. Jacksonville’s line isn’t any better then Seattle’s, and we couldn’t get any pressure on Garrard. I think that the aggressive SF defense wasn’t able to do much, and while I’d say we have a better secondary, but after not being able to stop a sub par passer in Garrard, a guy who is more accurate in Hasselback might give us more trouble. If our secondary can’t stop the pass, don’t expect much blitzing.
I’m all for us beating them, and I think we will, but to assume that we will step up after a poor performance and against a team that shut down an aggressive defense. Seattle might be a bit overrated in the media, but either way, you can’t write our lose off as not stepping up and then say they won’t step up, I don’t see that as good reasoning.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Sep 16, 2010 11:03 AM MDT up reply actions
Seattle overrated? I’ve heard them called the least talented team in football. They pulled off the biggest upset in week 1 but SF looked bad. They were confused on offense (couldn’t get plays called) and after leaving lots of points on the board let Seattle get momentum and the crowd behind them.
If our team is on the right track/upswing, we should beat the Seahawks. Don’t try to rationalize that losing to Seattle is not that bad.
I expect us to win. Pass rush? No, I don’t expect that. But I do expect that we will move the ball and finish drives, stop Seattle’s run game and not have any ST breakdowns. If Seattle’s passing game wins the game for them, then so be it, but I’ll take our chances on that with our secondary.
We aren’t playing the Colts this weekend guys.
It's not a big upset if they manhandle their opponent
And I do think we will win, but we’ll win on offense, not on defense. Did I say or rationalize that we’d lose to Seattle, I’m saying this won’t be as easy as some people are making it out to be.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Sep 16, 2010 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions
Maybe most surprising then. May not mean much because the media anoited SF as the NFC west champ already and Seattle looks like they are rebuilding.
If you say the game is going to be real tough, then you are setting up to say that it wasn’t a big deal we lost (if we lose). I’m not saying you are going to do this but when fans start to discount their team’s chances this seems to be the reasoning. It lets them continue to think their team is “on the right track”. And against some teams, it is valid—if we lose to the Colts, that would not be unexpected. But I have a hard time believing Seattle is not one of our more winnable games.
Only because you overrate the 49ers like the rest of the MSM. That is another 8-8 team that benefits from playing in a horrible division. And last week, it wasn’t even a benefit.
Not saying Denver has a pass rush, but we are every bit as good an NFL team as the 49ers.
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
by McGeorge on Sep 16, 2010 11:33 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I sure didn't overrate them
They have a weak secondary and Alex Smith is hardly usable. But that being said, their linebackers are some of the best, and Frank Gore is a top 10 running back. We may be as good as the 49ers, but we aren’t as good at getting the passers, we are better in the secondary and with the pass, but they run the ball better.We’ll beat them using our offense, not our defense.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
Right – their DL who got to Alex Smith and hit him 11 times will be going against ours [who gave up 11 QB hits and may be missing another starter].
Our DL which managed 1 sack and 5 hits [4 via Ayers] will be going against their OL that gave up 1 sack and 3 hits. They also batted down 7 passes and intercepted 2.
Hopefully our ST can keep them from getting 40 yards on kickoff’s.
by Todd Jewell on Sep 16, 2010 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions
I don’t know. Batiste shouldn’t be a backup on our team or any NFL team. I’m worried about Daniels as well.
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
I don’t follow other teams closely enough to know how good their back up OL men are. So I don’t know if we have average back OL. Getting good OL play seems hard so my guess is that once you have 5 decent ones most teams put resources into other position groups.
I guess my point is are all back OL pretty much the same? If a guy was really good he’d start somewhere and there aren’t enough good ones to go around? I honestly don’t know.
I do know that Polumbus and Hamilton couldn’t make our team but they made Seattle’s so unless it was a fit issue, our back-ups should theoretically be better than theirs.
Even if our line is a mess, SDs isn’t great and OAK is terrible. KC seems ok but hard to tell (good RBs so they get good rush #s, high sack #s but Cassell holds the ball)
Throw Green Bay a 3rd round pick for AJ Hawk?
Pair him next to DJ and our Run Defense would improve immensely
Quitter's People United Member #35
Hell NO!!!!
AJ Hawk is not worth a 3rd round pick and he is not a great fit for a 3-4 Defense. He is proving not to be a good fit in GBs 3-4.
Another team’s trash is not always Denver’s treasure.
I’m okay with the Maroney trade, but McD needs to be on the lookout to add future draft picks, not trade them. The best bargain in the NFL is a midround draft pick that outperforms his draft status. We can’t keep shipping those off for more expensive vets. That is a horrible business model.
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
Only if they don't recoup that midround pick later.
Which in this case, I am certain they will.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
by TheMastermind on Sep 16, 2010 10:34 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree. Hawk is not a good fit for us. He wants to be traded to a team that will let him play all 3 downs. That means he stays on the field when the nickle package comes in. DJ is our LB who serves that role. Hawk would replace Haggan and that is not worth it.
McDaniels upgrades at positions of weakness. ILB is not our strongest position, but it isn’t weak.
The LM pick up was good because RB is a position of weakness (depth) right now and he provides us with a 3rd veteran back which was needed. McDaniels probably had a good idea he would be available after week 1 and was just bidding time until now to get him with Brown.
Ahem...
Which of those four teams (Redskins, Bears, Dolphins and Broncos) will finish with the best record?
Rhetorical question: Who cares? Move on.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
True. Only the Dolphins might have an impact on us if we are fighting for a wild card. But I think we will just go ahead and win the division.
Josh McDaniels-All he wants to do is win a MF'in game!
by RockyMountainThunder on Sep 16, 2010 8:38 AM MDT up reply actions
As Woody mentioned...
Why not mention Scheffler’s Lions, who lost, Hillis’ Browns, who stink – and part of the reason is because Peyton still can’t hang on to the ball. Why not talk about Trevor Pryce and Clinton Portis? How far do we want to set our hindsight?
Our team is our team. I see the point people like that think they’re making but it really isn’t relevant. Somewhere on almost every roster in the league is a former Bronco. Get over it, I say.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
by TheMastermind on Sep 16, 2010 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions
Ha ha, don’t forget Michael Pittman of the Florida Tuskers.
Josh McDaniels-All he wants to do is win a MF'in game!
by RockyMountainThunder on Sep 16, 2010 11:37 AM MDT up reply actions
Reading the post comments is like picking a scab
I can’t resist it and always disappointed in myself afterwards that I did it
by tulsabroncofan on Sep 16, 2010 9:56 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
Not wanting to start a war here but Field Gulls SHawk fans sure
have a one-sided view of Bronco personnel moves, if the comments here are any indication
http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/9/14/1688998/ne-trades-maroney-to-denver
Broncos got Maroney plus a 6th, gave up a 4th in what many think will be a weak draft anyway, and of course there are about 40 other personnel moves they’ve made this year that are up for debate but would paint a more complex picture than that idiocy. Anyway, I know which coaching staff and front office I’d take, and it wouldn’t be theirs.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
OT: Anyone know if the Raiders game is a sell out
Okay, don’t answer that, I already know it probably isn’t. :-)
Just wondering if the Broncos game will be on TV here in SF on Sunday. I’d be stoked if I didn’t have to watch it online in some crappy streaming site
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Woody Doody sure is hard on Orton
He has a point about Orton bot being clutch in the 4th quarter against Jacksonville. But that Brandon Lloyd 4th down non catch was just an imprudent play call. You can argue the players had to execute but Orton put the ball on the money and Lloyd caught it, it just was what it was. A more conservative play was probably called for but had it been a touchdown I am sure everyone would be talking about what a great idea it was.
As they say, the difference between genius and stupidity is the result.
Kyle definitely made a bad throw on that pick but to be fair, our OL let him down on that play and let’s face it – we should never as a team have put ourselves in that position. Denver had every opportunity to win that game and as a team, blew it. I don’t think it is fair to put that much of the blame squarely on Orton.
Woody is just mad because he picked Chris Simms as the Savior of 2009 and ended up eating his words.
Madden be trippin' on my speed.
Every time I read the Professor John Clayton’s mailbag, I want to punch him in his owl-head. That guy sucks. Unlike most MSM journalists that stir the pot from time to time for readership sake, Clayton literally has some strange vendetta against the Broncos and McDaniels. He cannot help himself from making veiled cheap shots at every opportunity he gets.
I hate him. The real kind of hate too. Not just sports hate.
Denver: 32-33 until we're not.
Whats worse is seeing him on TV. I can’t change the channel fast enough.
by Beer30Bronco on Sep 16, 2010 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions
You're not alone. Seems a lot of sports fans find him irritating
but agreed he seems particularly vindictive toward the Broncos the last 2 years, find it mystifying, as if it were personal, which is a really bad way to be a supposed journalist.
Found this on one site:
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Thanks, John.
"All the world's indeed a stage, and we are merely players."
"God I'm excited for those two to fail miserably." - SBNation writer Andrew Sharp on Josh McDaniels and Tim Tebow.
Quitter's People United Member #18
by Tempestuous Binary on Sep 16, 2010 1:30 PM MDT reply actions
