With all the quarterback discussions here and at other popular sports cites, I decided to do some research to understand the performances of all the young quarterbacks starting for their team. For this study, all of them were drafted from 2008 to 2011.

This isn't a quarterback bashing or Tim Tebow obsession article. Instead, I wanted to know how good all of these quarterbacks had been over their careers to this point.

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Shortly after being selected by the Denver Broncos with the 2nd Overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, linebacker Von Miller talked with the media about the selection, his potential in a 4-3 defense and what he thinks of new teammate Elvis Dumervil:

On getting emotional when getting a call from the Broncos

"I talked to (General Manager Brian) Xanders. I was watching my phone, and my phone wasn't ringing. I looked over to my dad's phone, and they had called my dad. I saw a 303 (area code) number, and I knew immediately who it was. I just had flashbacks to all the hard work that I've been putting in ever since little league football, all the people who told me, ‘No,' and every time that everybody said I couldn't do it. I just had that flashback. I was just extremely anxious for my opportunity to go up to the league and prove myself."

On hearing news he would go to Denver

"I had not really been paying attention to any of that. It was always a surprise to me. You hear stuff. I got all the stuff from my agent, and he told me a lot of stuff. He told me the night before that Denver was going to pick me, but in the draft you know everybody lies. I was just extremely excited to get this opportunity."

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John Elway and Brian Xanders are set to take the podium live at noon MST (2 pm EST) for the team's annual pre-draft press conference. A day after the schedule was released, we can likely expect them to talk about a few of the matchups that the Broncos will face during the 2011 NFL season.

The meat and potatoes of this press conference, however, will be the plans for the upcoming draft. We're not expecting any major announcements such as who exactly will be selected with the second overall pick. With a little over a week before the NFL Draft, the Broncos will likely be smokescreening as much as they are telling the truth. Nevertheless, we'll be listening 

Pat Bowlen is on hand for the 4th day of NFL's forced mediation in Minneapolis today, so he will not be on hand for the press conference. 

Feel free to use this open thread to discuss the NFL Draft possibilities as they're being discussed by John Elway and Brian Xanders... and, as always, Go Broncos!

The press conference has ended, but as soon as the recording is available, we'll provide the link.

Roger Goodell just stepped off the podium from his Super Bowl press conference. During this time, he spoke on a number of topics regarding the state of the National Football League. Obviously, the big question of the day is about the labor negotiations, so we'll lead off with some highlights of Roger Goodell's Press Conference.

Labor Negotiations

"There are no deal breakers. We need to sit down and have a healthy conversation about the issues we have."

"That's our entire focus, making the game better.... We have to make the game better going forward"

"This isn't about the next 10 months. It's about the next 10 years."

Nothing new has been said in this press conference. The PR battle continues. Both sides are still talking about talking. That means nothing to me, as a fan. Granted, there are a ton of topics being discussed (the money, the 18 game schedule, player safety, etc.), but the way that the NFL and NFLPA are going about this is all wrong. Making the media a middle man and playing "he said, she said" isn't progress.

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                                                     *** Provided by the fine folks at the Denver Broncos PR Department ***

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Quotes Provided By The Denver Broncos P.R. Staff

Opening Comments

"Well, certainly (we're) disappointed in the result yesterday. There were certainly some positives offensively and defensively in the game but not enough in a close game against a good team ultimately to result in a victory. I thought our offense moved the ball most of the day - (we) had one three-and-out but third down was an issue - gave up three sacks, had some penalties there that hurt us on third down. We only had one negative run all day but we feel like we left a lot of yards on the field in the running game where we had some plays (where we) either blocked well and didn't see it exactly the way we need to see it or could have blocked it better based on the opportunity that we were presented and didn't quite get that done. And then, the one turnover early in the game stalled a pretty good drive that we had going at the time and that kind of hurt our opportunity there to score points early in the game. Defensively, we knew that they would give the ball to (RB Maurice) Jones-Drew a bunch - and they did. (We) feel like we played the running game hard, we were physical - we let too many things bounce outside for easy yardage. When they tried to go up inside - which they like to do a lot - I felt like we played it stout, didn't give up the kind of production that I'm sure they were looking for inside, but they found another way to get it. (We're) certainly disappointed in the fact that we gave up three touchdown passes - two of them right there in the fringe outside the red zone and then one on the touchdown pass to the corner there to (TE Mercedes) Lewis in the red zone. (QB David) Garrard had a good day - we didn't harass him enough, didn't get enough pressure on him and he found the guys that he wanted to throw to and made plays. Again, give them credit, they did a lot of good things in the game. They played it pretty much how they thought they would. We figured it would be a close one going into the fourth quarter because that's how they played a lot of their games last year and in the past and we didn't make enough plays there in the end to win. In the kicking game, certainly felt like we didn't play nearly as well as we wanted to or as we have played in the past. Our kickoff coverage unit didn't do a nearly good enough job of containing their return game. I know they had two big returns in the kickoff return (unit) that led to scores and then another big one (in) the punting game too. Overall, (we) didn't complement one another in the three phases as much as we needed to and in close games against good teams like that, that's ultimately what decides the outcome."

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Quotes Provided By The Denver Broncos P.R. Staff

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS
 
On whether the heat and humidity in Jacksonville will affect the team's substitution patterns
"We're going to take 45 guys and use them all - hopefully, you know, try to make sure that we're fresh - but I think we do that most of the time anyway. I think everybody is just going to be ready to play and ready to go and we're not going to go in and have some kind of abnormal substitution pattern implemented early in the game. If we have somebody who's been in there for a while and needs a (rest), then we'll put the next guy in and try to keep the guys fresh as we go through the game that way. Remember, everybody that is substituting for somebody on offense or defense is probably playing in the kicking game too, so it's not like they're sitting over there just drinking water all day. Both teams have the same problem, you know? If it's hot, it's hot, if it's humid, it's humid, if it's not, it's not, so we're just going to go in and play the game."
 
On whether Tim Tebow or Brady Quinn will be listed as the No. 2 quarterback
"Whatever is best for the team. Like I said before, I don't have any plans to activate three (quarterbacks). I think that mostly would take away from the kicking game - a player that could come and contribute in the kicking game. Just planning on probably making a decision here shortly towards the end of the week here and then playing the game."

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