The Denver Broncos on Tuesday announced several appointments to their Football Operations Department, including the naming of Jim Goodman as Vice President of Football Operations / Player Personnel and the hiring of Brian Xanders as Assistant General Manager.

      Goodman served as the Broncos’ Director of Player Personnel for the previous two years and has worked in the club’s personnel department for the last 10 seasons. He will oversee the day-to-day football operations of the organization and will continue to manage the Broncos’ overall scouting process. Goodman also coordinates the Broncos’ draft preparations and is involved in the evaluation and acquisition of both pro and college players.

      Xanders joins the Broncos after spending the last 14 seasons with Atlanta, where he served as the Falcons’ Director of Football Administration / Player Personnel Analyst during the 2007 season. A former linebacker at Florida State University who owns a master’s degree in business administration from the school, Xanders is responsible for long and short-term strategic planning of the Broncos’ salary cap along with assisting in overall personnel department matters.

      He will work directly with Broncos Assistant General Manager Jeff Goodman, who oversees pro personnel and handles contract negotiations along with roster management for the club.

The Denver Broncos on Monday signed seven college free agents, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

        In addition, the club waived defensive tackle Michael Bozeman, safety Steve Cargile, guard Mark Fenton, fullback Steven Jackson, linebacker William Kershaw, fullback Paul Smith and running back Marquis Weeks.

        The following seven college free agents were signed by Denver on Monday.

Anthony Alridge (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) is a running back who finished his career at the University of Houston ranked sixth in school history with 2,595 rushing yards on 363 carries for a 7.1-yard rushing average. A two-time second-team All-Conference USA choice, Alridge posted the second-highest single-season rushing total in Houston annals (1,597 yds., 6.2 avg., 14 TDs) along with 42 receptions (428 yds., 5 TDs) as a senior. His 10.1-yard rushing average (95-959) as a junior led the nation and marked the highest single-season average (min. 75 att.) in the NCAA since 1945 (Army’s Glenn Davis, 11.5 avg., 82-944). Alridge, who also returned kickoffs at Houston, totaled 4,438 career all-purpose yards that ranked fourth in Cougars history. An honorable mention all-state selection at Denton High School in Denton, Texas, Alridge was born on Nov. 24, 1983.

        Mitch Erickson (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) is an offensive lineman who started at either guard or tackle in every one of South Dakota State University’s 44 games played during his four seasons (2004-07) at the school. A three-time All-Great West Football Conference selection, Erickson received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior and was tabbed his team’s offensive Most Valuable Player. He picked up third-team All-America accolades (AP) as a junior and helped SDSU lead the conference in rushing as a sophomore. Erickson earned all-state recognition at Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, Minn.

        Garrett Hartley (5-foot-8, 204 pounds) is a kicker who was a two-time second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection at the University of Oklahoma, where he finished his career ranked third in school history in field goals made (47) and sixth in points scored (310). A second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection as a senior, Hartley connected on 13-of-15 field goal attempts (.866) in his last year with the Sooners. He was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation’s best kicker) as a junior, setting a school record with a .950 field goal percentage (19-of-20) to pick up second-team all-conference honors. He played 43 career games at Oklahoma, connecting on 47-of-58 (.810) field goal attempts and 169-of-176 (.960) extra point attempts. Rated the second-best kicker in the nation by Rivals.com at Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, Hartley was born on May 16, 1986.

        Brett Kern (6-foot-3, 201 pounds) is a punter who ranked second in the nation in gross punting average (46.1 yds., 52-2,399) and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award (nation’s top punter) as a senior at the University of Toledo. He was a third-team All-America choice during his final year at Toledo as the only player from the Mid-American Conference to receive Associated Press All-America honors. Kern, who also was tabbed the MAC’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2007, punted 189 times for 7,994 yards (42.3 avg.) with 59 punts placed inside the 20-yard line in 47 career games. A first-team all-state selection at Grand Island High School in Grand Island, N.Y., Kern was born on Feb. 17, 1986.

        Tyler Polumbus (6-foot-8, 300 pounds) is a tackle who played 48 career games (38 starts) at the University of Colorado after concluding his prep career at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colo. A 13-game starter as a senior at Colorado, Polumbus earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference accolades that year after allowing only one sack and was CU’s recipient of its Eddie Crowder Award in recognition of his leadership. He also was the only Buffalo to play every down from scrimmage (961) on his respective side of the ball in 2007. As a junior, Polumbus opened all 12 games at left offensive tackle and was one of just four CU players to start every game. A SuperPrep All-American at Cherry Creek High School, Polumbus was born on April 10, 1985.

        Lorne Sam (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) is a wide receiver who played his final two collegiate seasons at the University of Texas-El Paso after transferring from Florida State University. Sam played 42 games during his college career, totaling 64 receptions for 934 yards (14.6 avg.) with one touchdown and 77 rushes for 436 (5.7 avg.) with four scores. Sam, who saw time as a quarterback and running back at UTEP, caught 42 passes for 589 yards (14.0 avg.) with one touchdown as a 10-game starter during his senior year. A PrepStar All-American who threw 15 touchdown passes and averaged 8.6 yards per rush as a senior at Buford High School in Buford, Ga., Sam was born on Dec. 5, 1984, in Denver.

        Wesley Woodyard (6-foot-1, 227 pounds) is a linebacker who earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors during each of his final two seasons at the University of Kentucky, where he played 47 career games (42 starts). Woodyard, who concluded his college career ranked eighth in UK history with 395 tackles, led the SEC in tackles per game (10.6) and tied for 14th in the nation in total stops (139) as a senior. An academic all-conference choice, Woodyard posted 122 tackles as a junior that marked the second-highest total in the conference and ranked 14th in the nation. He was tabbed the Georgia Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Ga., and helped the school win a pair of state championships. Woodyard was born on July 21, 1986.

 

The Denver Broncos on Thursday acquired defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson in a trade from the New York Jets, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

In exchange, the Broncos sent the Jets a conditional pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Broncos also on Thursday waived center Norm Katnik.

Robertson (6-foot-1, 310 pounds) is a sixth-year player who joins the Broncos after playing his first five professional seasons with the Jets. New York selected him with the fourth overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft from the University of Kentucky. In 77 career regular-season games (75 starts), Robertson has totaled 319 tackles (188 solo), 14.5 sacks (106 yds.), four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups.  He also has totaled 18 tackles (11 solo) in three career playoff games (3 starts).



Robertson has played every game in four of his five seasons and missed only three games for his career. He saw time on 75.4 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps in 2007, 82.5 percent in 2006 and a career-high 85.8 percent in 2004.

At Kentucky, Robertson played 32 games (31 starts) for his career and received second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior.

An honorable mention USA Today All-American at Melrose High School in Memphis, Tenn., Robertson was born on Oct. 16, 1981.

Poll

Dewayne Robertson to the Broncos for a conditional pick in the 2009 draft....You Like?

• Hell Yea!!
• No way....Remember the 'Browncos'?

  187 votes | Results

The Denver Broncos on Friday signed free-agent wide receiver Darrell Jackson, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jackson (5-foot-11, 206 pounds) is a ninth-year player who joins the Broncos after playing for San Francisco (2007) and Seattle (2000-06). The Seahawks selected him in the third round (80th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft from the University of Florida.

Jackson has played 111 career regular-season games (105 starts), totaling 487 receptions for 6,942 yards (14.3 avg.) with 50 touchdowns. Jackson, whose 50 career touchdown catches rank ninth in the NFL since 2000, owns three 1,000-yard receiving seasons along with 21 100-yard receiving games (19 reg., 2 post.) as a professional.

The veteran also has appeared in seven career postseason games (6 starts), including Super Bowl XL during the 2005 season, and posted 41 catches for 503 yards (12.3 avg.) with three scores in the playoffs. He has caught at least one pass in 115 of the 118 overall games that he has played.

Acquired by San Francisco from Seattle in exchange for a 2007 fourth-round draft choice, Jackson started all 15 games played for the 49ers in his lone season with the club last year. He finished the 2007 campaign with 46 receptions for 497 yards (10.8 avg.) with three touchdowns.
Jackson, who registered a career-high 10 touchdown receptions for Seattle in 2006, tied a Super Bowl record for most receptions in the first quarter (5-50) during the Seahawks' XL contest against Pittsburgh in 2005. A year earlier, he set a Seattle record for receptions in a season, totaling a personal-best 87 grabs and 1,199 receiving yards (13.8 avg.) with seven touchdowns in 2004.

Jackson also had 1,000-yard receiving seasons with Seattle in 2003 (1,137 yds.) and 2001 (1,081 yds.). He received All-Rookie honors from Pro Football Weekly in 2000, totaling 53 catches for 713 yards (13.5 avg.) with six touchdowns for the Seahawks.

At Florida, Jackson led the Gators with 69 receptions for 1,156 yards (16.8 avg.) as an 11-game starter during his junior campaign.

A consensus All-American at Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Fla., Jackson was born on Dec. 6, 1978.  

The Broncos officially brought back one of their own by resigning SS Hamza Abdullah to a one year contract --

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed free-agent punter Danny Baugher, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Baugher (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) is a first-year player who joins the Broncos after spending time with Cincinnati (2006 and 08) and New England (2006-07). Baugher entered the NFL with Cincinnati as a college free agent on May 4, 2006, after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee in November of his senior season at the University of Arizona. The Bengals waived Baugher on July 31, 2006. He joined New England's practice squad on Oct. 10 where he spent the balance of the 2006 season. New England allocated Baugher to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa after he signed a future contract with the club on Jan. 23, 2007. The Patriots waived Baugher on Aug. 30. Baugher joined Cincinnati on Feb. 5 before he was waived on April 3.

Baugher, 24, punted 47 times for 2,040 yards (43.4 avg.), including 15 punts inside the 20-yard line, to represent the Rhein Fire on the All-NFL Europa squad in 2007.

Baugher, who was on the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award in 2005, led the nation with a 47.5 average before suffering a season-ending injury after seven games at the University of Arizona. He booted 37 punts for 1,758 yards, with 11 downed inside opponents' 20-yard line, seven fair catches and eight touchbacks. He completed his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader with 225 punts and 9,476 yards (42.1 avg.).

Baugher, who attended Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, was born on Jan. 24, 1984.

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed unrestricted free-agent wide receiver Samie Parker, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. The club also waived wide receiver Derrick Hamilton and tight end Chad Upshaw.

Parker (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) is a fifth-year player who joins the Broncos after spending his first four professional seasons with Kansas City. The Chiefs selected him in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft from the University of Oregon.

In 47 career games (31 starts), Parker has totaled 110 receptions for 1,529 yards (13.9 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Parker, who recorded consecutive 500-yard receiving seasons for the Chiefs from 2005-06, also has appeared in one career playoff game and owns five career tackles on special teams.

During the 2007 season, Parker registered 24 receptions for 298 yards (12.4 avg.) with two touchdowns in 15 games (7 starts) for the Chiefs. He caught at least one pass in all but two of his appearances that year.

The wide receiver posted career highs in starts (15), receptions (41) and receiving yards (561) with Kansas City in 2006. He added one touchdown catch that year, appearing in all 16 regular-season games as well as the club's AFC Wild Card Playoff Game at Indianapolis.

Parker registered a personal-best three receiving touchdowns for Kansas City in 2005, finishing with 36 catches for 533 yards (14.8 avg.) in 12 games (9 starts). He saw time in four games as a rookie in 2004 and made nine receptions for 137 yards (15.2 avg.), including a 48-yard score.

At Oregon, Parker set a school single-season record with 77 receptions for 1,088 yards (14.1 avg.) and seven touchdowns as a senior to earn honorable mention All-Pacific-10 Conference honors.

Parker, who attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, Calif., was born on March 25, 1981

Nothing official from the Broncos, but it appears as though the Broncos have signed former Chiefs WR Samie Parker --

Nothing heard along the Darrell Jackson front.  I will be getting Chris from Arrowhead Pride to give us his thoughts on Parker.

Another mediocre defensive lineman is shown the door.  

The Denver Broncos on Monday waived defensive tackle Antwon Burton, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Burton, a third-year player, saw time in seven career games for the Broncos after joining the club as a college free agent from Temple University on May 3, 2006.

Not big news, but another example of the Broncos releasing a player former DC was high on.

Back to the drawing board.  The Broncos' hope of replacing Jason Elam with a proven veteran to a hit today when former Dolphin and Saint kicker Olindo Mare signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a 2 year deal worth  $3.5 million.  Like the Broncos, the Seahawks also watched a Pro Bowl kicker leave town when Josh Brown replaced Jeff Wilkins in St. Louis.

While this is a bit of a disappointment, there was no way the Broncos were going to offer Mare a contract worth more than they offered Elam. The kids have to play sometime, time to see what Prater is made of....