Help the Broncos celebrate 50 years of Broncos football

View full size photo uploaded June 6, 2009

The 2009 NFL season marks the 50th anniversary of the Denver Broncos. To commemorate the past while embracing the future, the franchise is recognizing its community of fans who have been an integral part of Broncos Country during the first 50 seasons.

As a part of the celebration, fans have the opportunity to select their choice for the All-Time Denver Broncos Team through an online voting tool found at http://www.denverbroncos.com/50th/. Voting begins June 6 and can be completed at Fan Fair or by logging on to DenverBroncos.com any time. Voting concludes Sept. 4.

The players receiving the most fan votes will comprise the 50^th Anniversary Team. The resulting team will be honored in person during halftime at the Legacy Game - when the New England Patriots visit INVESCO Field at Mile High on Oct. 11. In addition, one lucky voter will have the opportunity to join the 50th Anniversary Team during this ceremony.

The interactive voting tool features the Broncos' history and highlights spanning the past 50 seasons through the use of video and additional multimedia. Each player is represented by their respective biography, statistics and photographs. Fans register their team choice through the online tool and become part of shaping the 50^th Anniversary Team.

The web application was developed by the Broncos' online marketing partner, Akavit - the principle digital agency behind DenverBroncos.com and BroncosCountry.com.

"We are proud of our partnership with the Denver Broncos and are delighted with how the fans have embraced our efforts on BroncosCountry.com and DenverBroncos.com," said Thomas Dahl, vice president of technical strategy at Akavit. "With the release of the 50th Anniversary Team interactive voting system, we hope to engage the fans on a whole new level and further the Broncos' position as an online leader."

My friends over at Sports Radio Interviews sent me a link to an interview Pat Bowlen did with a Chicago-area radio station.  While there is nothing earth-shattering here, I do find it somewhat interesting that Bowlen would talk about Cutler and Orton with a Chicago sports talk station.  Below is a transcript -

What are the Bears getting in Jay Cutler?

“They’re getting an extremely talented young quarterback.”

Any regrets about how the Cutler situation turned out?

“In my case, yeah. Jay and I got along. It just didn’t work out. However, I think he’s gone to a good place in Chicago. I think he’ll be a real asset to them and we’re moving on to a different direction.”

Could it have ended differently?

“You know, I don’t want to go down that road with Jay. I mean, Jay had his own agenda and you know I respect that. It just didn’t work out for him as for staying in Denver.”

Questioning Cutler’s tools?

“No, no, I think Jay was a very talented quarterback and he’s very early in his career and he has an opportunity to go on and be considered one of the better quarterbacks. So I don’t think there is any doubt in my mind that he has the physical and mental tools to do very well.”

What do you think about what you got in return in Kyle Orton?

“It’s a little early for me to start commenting on stuff like that, so we’ll see. We’re going through some OTAs and you know we’re watching guys throw footballs around. But, we’re a long way away-at least I’m a long way-from making any serious judgment calls on who is going to be good and who isn’t.”

Bowlen also talks about the probability of an 18-game season(sounds like it is going to happen) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

You can listen to the whole thing by heading over here - forward to 39 minutes.

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

2 months ago: From left to right, Denver Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno talks with fullback Peyton Hills and running back LaMont Jordan during the team's football minicamp at Broncos' headquarters in the southeast Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, May 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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The 2009 NFL season marks the 50th season of the Denver Broncos. To celebrate the past and embrace the future, the franchise is recognizing its community of fans as being a part of Broncos Country for 50 seasons.

A Legacy Game will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in the Broncos' home game vs. the New England Patriots, which kicks off at 2:15 p.m. The Broncos played their first season in 1960 with seven other teams in the American Football League: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Texans (became the Kansas City Chiefs), Boston Patriots (became the New England Patriots), Titans of New York (became the New York Jets), Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Houston Oilers (became the Tennessee Titans).

In an effort to "turn back the clock," the entire Broncos team will be wearing classic yellow and brown jerseys with brown helmets. The cheerleaders will be wearing their own version of a yellow and brown outfit. Other specific details surrounding the game are still pending, but fans will step into the past and experience elements of the Broncos first season. Yellow and brown merchandise is currently for sale at the Denver Broncos Team Store at INVESCO Field at Mile High and online at DenverBroncosProShop.com.

The Broncos also plan to recognize the elite group of season ticket holders who have held their seat accounts since 1960 throughout the Legacy Game weekend.

Fans will have the opportunity to select their All-Time Broncos team through an online vote. Fans will choose their favorite Broncos by position and the top vote-getters will make up the 50th Anniversary team. That team will be honored on the field during the Legacy Game on October 11. Additionally, one lucky fan will have the opportunity to join the 50th Anniversary team during the ceremony.

Voting for the 50th Anniversary team will begin June 6 at Broncos Fan Fair. Fans can vote by logging on to DenverBroncos.com or on computer kiosks at various team events. Voting will conclude on September 4.

For more details and to purchase 2009 season tickets, please visit DenverBroncos.com.

The Denver Broncos on Thursday hired Matt Russell as director of college scouting, it was announced.

Russell, who was a first-team All-American and Butkus Award winner (nation's best linebacker) at the University of Colorado in 1996, owns seven years of scouting experience in the NFL with Philadelphia (2006-08) and New England (2001, '03-05). He is responsible for leading the Broncos' college scouting efforts and will oversee the club's regional scouts.

Russell spent the 2008 season as the national scout for the Eagles after scouting the Western region for the club from 2006-07. Philadelphia earned playoff berths during two of Russell's three seasons on its staff, including the 2008 campaign when the Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship Game.

Hired by the Patriots as a pro scout in December 2000, Russell served in that capacity for the club during its Super Bowl XXXVI-winning season in 2001 and worked as an area scout for the team from 2003-05. New England won consecutive Super Bowls (XXXVIII in 2003 and XXXIX in '04) with Russell on staff during that time, and its 45-11 (.804) overall record from 2003-05 was the best mark in the NFL.

A four-year starter at Colorado from 1993-96, Russell finished his collegiate career ranked first in school history in unassisted tackles (282) and second in total tackles (446). He received all-conference honors during each of his final two seasons with the Buffaloes, including his senior campaign in which he was a consensus first-team All-American and received the Butkus Award after posting a career-high 137 tackles.

Selected by Detroit in the fourth round (130th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft, Russell earned All-Rookie honors before knee injuries forced him to retire in 2000. The 35-year-old spent the 2000 season as a graduate assistant coach for Colorado before beginning his scouting career.

Russell grew up in Fairview Heights, Ill., and attended Belleville East High School in Belleville, Ill. He was born on July 5, 1973, in Tokyo.

Also named 'Professional Athlete of the Year in South Carolina'

Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins was elected to the Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame and chosen as the Professional Athlete of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday.

"What a tremendous honor it is to be elected to the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and be named Pro Athlete of the Year for South Carolina," Dawkins said. "The Lord has blessed me to play this game at a high level for a long time and to represent Clemson, the school that I really appreciate giving me an opportunity, and South Carolina, the state where I had a great time during my college career."

Dawkins and seven others with Clemson ties will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 4, and will be honored at halftime of the Tigers' season opener against Middle Tennessee State University the following day. He was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection during his four-year career at Clemson from 1992-95, and his seven Pro Bowl selections are more than any former player in school history in addition to representing the fourth-highest total by a safety in NFL annals.

On Monday, May 18, Dawkins will be honored as the Professional Athlete of the Year at the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame banquet at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C. He started all 16 games and had 142 tackles for the Eagles in 2008, earning Pro Bowl honors and helping the club advance to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in his 13 years with Philadelphia.

Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins has been named the winner of the prestigious 43rd annual Byron "Whizzer" White Award, it was announced on Thursday night at the National Football League Players Association Gala at the Washington Hilton.

Dawkins received the award as the NFL player who best served his team, community and country in the spirit of Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White, who was a Supreme Court Justice, professional football player and humanitarian. The award is considered one of the most meaningful honors bestowed in the NFL on an annual basis.

"This is an absolute blessing," said Dawkins, whose wife, Connie, accepted the award on his behalf in Washington. "I want to thank everyone. It's a blessed, emotional time for me to receive this award because so many outstanding guys have come before me, and I know how big of an honor this is from the NFLPA."

Dawkins, who is in his first year with the Broncos after spending the last 13 seasons with the Eagles, established himself as one of the most philanthropic athletes in all of sports during his time in Philadelphia.

The safety served as the regional spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation while playing in Philadelphia, earning Father of the Year honors from the American Diabetes Association in 2008 for his efforts. He also works closely with the Burn Prevention Foundation, hosting an annual golf tournament to raise awareness and funds for its programs.

In addition, Dawkins teamed up with the Philadelphia Daily News to create an award given each week during the season to a local high school football player who best exemplified academics, character and sportsmanship with the winner receiving tickets to an Eagles game. On April 2, he held a luncheon for the student winners in Philadelphia, where he emphasized the importance of their accomplishments.

Dawkins was one of 12 finalists for the "Whizzer" White Award chosen by James Brown, host of CBS' The NFL Today, from a total of 32 individual team nominations. He was selected as the award's winner from a list of judges that included Robert L. Johnson (founder of BET and majority-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats) and Billy Hunter (former U.S. Attorney and current executive director of the National Basketball Players Association).

Former Broncos safety John Lynch (2006), defensive end Lyle Alzado (1977) and running back Floyd Little (1974) also have received the "Whizzer" White Award, which was first given in 1967.

NFL Owners today approved 4 rules changes and adjustments that directly affect player safety. 

The first change is in regards to onside kicks.  The NFL has been concerned about the violent collisions that take place and wanted to find a way to make onside kicks safer.  Under the new Onside Kick Rule, players on the kickoff team will be spaced accordingly. First, at least four players of the kicking team must be on each side of the kicker. Second, at least three players must be lined up outside each inbounds line, including one who must be outside the yard-line number.

The second change involves down-field blocks on "defenseless defenders", known as the Hines Ward Rule.  For our purposes, think Eddie McCaffrey in Super Bowl XXXII.  A 15-yard penalty will be enforced if a player delivers a blindside block to the head of a defender using his helmet, forearm or shoulder. The penalty will be enforced if a helmet, shoulder or forearm strikes the head or neck of the defender.

The third change involves receiver saftey and is an enhancement to the 'defensless receiver' rule that has become so prominnent in the past.  We'll call this one the Anquan Boldin Rule.  In the past, officials gave an unnecessary roughness penalty to a defender if he delivered a helmet hit to a receiver going across the middle of the field or any spot on the field in which he appeared to be defenseless. Starting this fall, the penalty will also apply if the defender hits the defenseless receiver in the head or neck with his forearm or shoulder.

Lastly, in what we will unfortunately call the Kevin Everett Rule, the 'Wedge' on kickoff returns has been disallowed.  The wedge is simply three players lined up in a blocking triangle that a returner follows as it plows up the field against kickoff coverage. After watching years of tape, the Competition Committee felt the wedge was causing too many injuries. Starting this fall, no more than two receiver team players may intentionally form a wedge to help the returner. The penalty is 15 yards and will be enforced from the spot of the wedge. It will be called if three or more players line up shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other to lead the blocking.

The NFL announced today its 2009 Kickoff Weekend primetime television schedule - including a Monday night "AFL 50th" doubleheader - and the Thanksgiving Day national TV tripleheader.

For the first time in 46 seasons and only the third time in club history, the Denver Broncos will host a Thanksgiving game when they play the New York Giants on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 6:20 p.m. MST at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The game will be televised on NFL Network.

A few notes on Denver's Thanksgiving game against the Giants:

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