The NFL has finally come to an agreement with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, and the Commissioner will meet with Walsh on May 13th, the soonest Walsh was available to travel from his home in Hawaii to the League Office in New York City.

An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003.

Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner’s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast.

The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview.

Commissioner Goodell determined last September that the Patriots had violated league rules by videotaping opposing coaches' defensive signals during Patriots games throughout Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach. Coach Belichick admitted to his use of the taping practice on a regular basis as a result of what he said was his misinterpretation of the rule. Commissioner Goodell imposed substantial discipline on Coach Belichick and the club as a result of that practice. The interview with Mr. Walsh will seek to determine whether he has any new information about that videotaping practice or other possible violations of league rules.

Following the meeting with Mr. Walsh on May 13, there will be a news media briefing later that day in New York that will be attended by Commissioner Goodell (specific time and location to be provided at a later date).

As I have stated since Day 1, let's hope Walsh gives the League what they are looking for and this can be done with. If the Patriots are guilty of more infractions, they should be punished.

According to FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer, Jared Allen won't be a Kansas City Chief for much longer --

If they was any doubt about the Chiefs going into full re-building mode, this should put that to rest.  One less harasser for Cutler to worry about.

Looking to see the Broncos in 2008 but don't know the where and when of the schedule.  You will in about 20 hours.  The NFL will release it's 2008 regular season schedule tomorrow at 2PM(est) - Noon(mst).

The planned announcement, confirmed by the league in a news release Monday, will reveal dates, times and television schedules. Teams have known their opponents for months, thanks to the NFL's scheduling formula.

The league previously announced four nationally televised matchups for Week 1.

The Washington Redskins open the 2008 season when they visit the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Thursday, Sept. 4 (NBC, 7 p.m. ET). The Chicago Bears visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 7 (NBC, 8:15 p.m. ET) in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI.

ESPN's coverage begins with a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader Sept. 8. The Minnesota Vikings visit the Green Bay Packers in the first game at 7 p.m. ET. The Oakland Raiders then host the Denver Broncos in the second game at 10:15 p.m. ET.

Looks like the Broncos aren't done in Free Agency after all.  According to the Denver Post, the Broncos are close to signing a pair of wide receivers --

While both are considered question marks, it is a positive sign to see the team actively trying to address a glaring hole on the roster....

His comments on Cutler and the Broncos are closer to the end, after all the Arena League/Broncos-Browns stuff. The Crush head to Cleveland to play the Gladiators Friday, who are owned by Bernie Kosar....

The annual NFL Owner's Meetings concluded today, with the announcement that several proposed rules changes would be adopted for the 2008 season.  The rules affected are as follows --

 Among the proposals that were passed:

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines was approved. Now, officials will only have to decide whether a receiver landed in bounds or not. The intended result is more consistency.
• The "Phil Dawson field goal rule" change passed. Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be replayed.
• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. This is similar to the college rule. Previously, the winner of the coin toss could only choose to receive or kick off.
• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.
• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

Two of the bigger proposed rules changes were tabled until a later meeting, possibly May.  Those issues included the Kansas City Chiefs' proposal to prohibit hair hanging over the back of jerseys to the nameplate, as well as a proposal to change playoff seeding based on record.  In the proposed scenario, a wild card team could host a playoff game if they had a better record than a division champion(see Jacksonville/Pittsburgh this past season).  The Broncos were adamantly opposed to the idea.

In true NFL, trickle-down fashion, the Broncos announced the four opponents for the 2008 Pre-Season.  While dates have been firmly decided, we do know the when and where of each matchup --

The Broncos have finalized their preseason opponents.

The Broncos will open the preseason against the Houston Texans, in Houston, on the weekend of Aug. 9-10

The Broncos will then host the Dallas Cowboys the weekend of Aug. 15-16.  The two teams will also hold combined workouts at the Broncos Dove Valley complex leading up to the game with the Cowboys. They will have either one or two days or workouts that week.

Green Bay will come to Denver for the weekend of Aug. 23-24.

The Broncos will close out the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals, likely either Aug. 28 or Aug. 29.

A nice variety to get us ready for the season.  Now, which week will I spend in Denver at Training  Camp??  Decisions, decisions.
The regular season schedule is expected to be released by the league within two weeks.

The NFL announced it's slate of Primetime offerings to be featured Opening Weekend of the NFL Season and the Broncos, despite missing the playoffs for the 2nd straight season have made the list.  

Featured as the 2nd of the Monday Night Double-Header on September 8th, 2008, the Broncos will travel to Oakland to face the hated Raiders, with kickoff scheduled for 10:15PM est/8:15PM mst.  Nothing like getting our yearly trip to the grimy hell that is Oakland out of the way early in the season.

The rest of the schedule is below --

Thursday, September 4th -- Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

Sunday, September 7th -- Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts

Monday, September 8th(Game 1) -- Minnesota Vikings  @ Green Bay Packers

Monday September 8th(Game 2) -- Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

Thanks to rock34 for the following --

As usual Denver starts the season on the road!

This will be Denver's 4th consecutive year on the road. Here are opening day games dating back to 1991:

 1991: Home vs Bengals - win
 1992: Home vs Raiders- win
 1993: Away at Jets- win
 1994: Home vs Chargers- loss
 1995: Home -vs Bills- win
 1996: Home vs Jets- win
 1997: Home vs Chiefs- win
 1998: Home vs Patriots- win
 1999: Home vs Dolphins- loss
 2000: Away at Rams- loss
 2001: Home vs Giants- win
 2002: Home vs Rams- win
 2003: Away at Bengals- win
 2004: Home vs Chiefs- win
 2005: Away at Dolphins- loss
 2006: Away at Rams- loss
 2007: Away at Bills- win

RECORD - 12-6

 2008: Away at Raiders- ?

And More --

Denver’s all-time record in season openers stands at 30-17-1 (23-6-1 home / 7-11 road).

The Broncos are 4-1 all-time in season openers against the Raiders, posting a 4-0 record at home and an 0-1 mark on the road. The two clubs last opened the regular season against each other on Sept. 6, 1992, when the Broncos defeated the Raiders 17-13 at Mile High Stadium

Head Trainer Steve Antonopulos provided the following summary regarding the arm injury to WR Brandon Marshall --

Brandon Marshall sustained right forearm lacerations to one artery, one vein, one nerve, two tendons and three muscles.

All have been repaired, and his right forearm and elbow will be immobilized for six weeks.

Rehabilitation will begin in six weeks. Full recovery is expected to take 3-4 months.

3-4 months from today puts Marshall on track to be back right around the start of Training Camp.  It can never be easy, can it.  Needless to say, I am hoping the facilities Marshall will be rehabbing are clean.  Just ask the Cleveland Browns what a nasty case of Staph can do....

The Broncos have announced that Ted Sundquist is no longer with the team, effective immediately.  From Denver Broncos.com --

More on this after MHR Radio.....