Denver Broncos News: Horse Tracks - 5/26/11

NFL sees signs fans are turned off - The Denver Post
The NFL is seeing the early signs of cracks in fan loyalty. Ten weeks into the owners' lockout of the players, Commissioner Roger Goodell noted Wednesday the negative effect the labor dispute is having on pro football.

NFL.com news: Super Bowl-winning QBs top list of game’s best signal-callers
Lists are great for debate. With that in mind, I prefer to group players in segments of five with little debate about one player being better than the next in his particular group.

NFL.com news: Ochocinco draws inspiration from owner, eyes snake wrangling
If nothing else, Chad Ochocinco has proved this offseason he's up for any challenge.

NFL.com news: Focus on fines, penalties takes away from game, Woodley says
After the NFL said it will punish teams next season if their players commit multiple flagrant hits that result in fines -- coined by some as the "Steelers rule" -- two of Pittsburgh's fiercest defenders voiced their displeasure.

NFL.com news: Payback? Ex-Redskin Portis wants chance to join rival Giants
Clinton Portis knows he has something to prove entering the 2011 season. He'd like to prove it to his former team, the Washington Redskins, twice per year.

NFL.com news: Rookie Dareus hits Bills workout: 'I've got to show support'
First-round draft pick Marcell Dareus wasn't going to pass up a chance to join his new Buffalo Bills teammates for informal workouts this week -- even if it meant arriving a few days late and spending most of Wednesday's session watching from the sideline.

NFL.com news: Rich getting richer: Champs have more emerging stars
Let's take a look at a handful of players poised to experience a breakout 2011 campaign:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Lewis' narrow-mindedness exactly what players don't need during lockout
I could not have more respect and admiration for Ravens LB Ray Lewis the football player. He's the greatest middle linebacker I have ever had the privilege of watching. Few players in NFL history have left a bigger mark on the game than this Super Bowl champion and sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Lockout limbo: Chiefs report
With NFL teams stuck in limbo thanks to the lockout, we are looking at where teams stand as they await the opening of the 2011 league year. Today, we take a look at the Chiefs.

Interview with Devin McCourty, CB New England Patriots | ProFootballFocus.com
Devin McCourty proved to be all these things in just his rookie season with the New England Patriots. Soon after the 2010 NFL draft, many suggested that selecting McCourty with the 27th overall pick was unnecessary for the Patriots with Leigh Bodden cemented as the #1 cornerback, the positive play of Darius Butler, and depth on the roster to fill the nickel and dime spots. Others called it a reach.

Josh Sitton: Complete Right Guard | ProFootballFocus.com
During the past two years, the Packers’ offensive line has gained a reputation for not being the strongest around. Their two 2009 games against the Vikings – where they allowed a total of fourteen sacks – being a common example that detractors point to. The team is apparently of the same mind, spending their last two first round draft picks on offensive linemen.

Colts make changes to coaching staff | National Football Post
Indianapolis Colts director of pro personnel Clyde Powers won't be back with the organization.

An agent’s answer to: "Why don't we have football?" | National Football Post
On Monday, May 23rd, I was a panelist on a round table discussion for a monthly gathering of San Diego Judges, District Attorneys, and lawyers. The room of about 80 legal eagles chatted, debated and talked about the state of labor in the NFL, the NBA and MLB. I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to get a parking ticket fixed. What I didn’t expect was the position the room took towards the NFL labor issues. I thought the group would love the fact that the future of the NFL is momentarily in the hands of judges and lawyers. However, I came away with a deeper concern about the players I represent and the uncertainty the future holds.

In a reduced role, is Portis an option in 2011? | National Football Post
RB Clinton Portis was one of the toughest football players I saw during my NFL career. I spent two seasons with him in Washington (one where he carried our team to the playoffs), and I will always have a lot of respect for what he brought to the stadium on Sundays.

Seven free agency questions and answers - AFC North Blog - ESPN
The lockout has reached 71 days and counting, which continues to push back NFL free agency. This also means the league is bracing itself for an unprec

Kansas City Chiefs donate supplies to tornado-ravaged communities of Reading, Kan., and Joplin, Mo. - ESPN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Clark Hunt -- billionaire, son of privilege, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs -- hoisted a heavy case of bottled water off the bed of a pickup and carried it toward a waiting pallet.

Ray Lewis of Baltimore Ravens says crime will rise if no NFL season but his colleagues do plenty of good deeds in offseason - ESPN
It isn't clear whether Lewis was talking about players, fans or both, but his comments did a huge disservice to his NFL colleagues. I can't say I've seen much evil from NFL players during the lockout, which has stretched to 70 days as of Tuesday.

Decertification was failing strategy by NFLPA - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
For all of his shouting and table pounding and proclamations that the NFL Players Association "went to the mattresses" with the NFL, here is where DeMaurice Smith has his decertified union two months into the lockout: about to argue a case it will probably not win in a labor battle his constituents will soon tire of fighting.

Top 10 sports rules named after players - Yahoo! Sports
Perhaps no sports league has more minutiae with respect to its rules than the NBA. The growing popularity of the league, combined with the close-quarter combat involving its players, seems to put nearly every play under a magnifying glass.