Good MORNING, MHR Friends!! Mrs. Lee and I are back from Barcelona, and we had a great trip; belated thanks for all of your kind words and wishes. Frankly, I wouldn't mind eating like a Catalan for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the Broncos' whipping of the Chefs, and I certainly feel a bit out of the loop here. Thanks as always to John for filling in more than admirably. I missed you folks! Now, let's get to the news!
DB - Week 14 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV
NFL Films Presents - McDaniels high school roots
DPP - Dawkins healthy enough to practice - Mike Klis
DPP - Colts' pass-rushing defensive ends provide challenge for Broncos - Mike Klis
"In a 10-year span from 1998 to 2007, Broncos nickelback Ty Law registered 11 interceptions, including playoffs, against Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. No other defender has more picks against Manning...Harris was replaced on the roster Wednesday by tackle Herb Taylor, who spent two seasons with Kansas City before he was released in training camp...Special-teamer David Bruton was held out of practice Wednesday with a thigh injury."
DPP - Broncos' Buckhalter better than ever at age 31 - Jeff Legwold
"I am faster, no doubt, but when I first came in the league I was 231 (pounds)," Buckhalter said. "Then I hurt my knee. After my first knee surgery, I got down to 225 for the next couple years. Then I hurt my other knee twice, so I wanted to get down some more. So now I play at 218." Remember all those alarm bells when McD said Buck was the fastest Broncos back?
LTC - The Linchpin - Brian Howell
"The Broncos’ trust in Larsen as a fullback has become evident the past few weeks. He lined up at fullback on 22 of the Broncos’ 40 runs against the Giants, and he was on the field just as much Sunday."
DB - Remembering The Barrelman - Jim Saccomano
RIP, Barrel Man. Our thoughts go out to the McKernan family.
DPP - Mailbag: A 'Barrel' of fun - Woody Paige
"A lot has been lost in the move to the new stadium, and (Barrel Man's) absence is one of those missing pieces. I thought about it today and feel the Broncos should honor Tim at the Oakland game (a natural) with a moment of cheering, not silence, and honor him permanently in some way. "
DB - Week 14 - Wed: Orton - Broncos TV
DB - Week 14 - Wed: Dawkins - Broncos TV
DB - Familiarity Breeds Respect - Gray Caldwell
DB - Stepping Back Into Starting Shoes - Chris Gentilviso
INDT - Broncos’ mission is clear - Hunter Ansley
DPP - Colts' Peyton Manning more accurate than ever before going into Broncos game - Mike Klis
DPP - Q&A: How much planning resulted in the trend toward the running game? - Jeff Legwold
DPP - Analysis: Colts tough to stop in second half - Jeff Legwold
DPP - Almost all of Broncos' roads lead to Indianapolis (again) - Woody Paige
DPP - Broncos' Barrel Man deserves some Rocky Mountain Thunder - Woody Paige
DPP - Numbers: Broncos hope upset bid doesn't flag
CSG - Broncos' hopes rest on veteran secondary - Frank Schwab
CSG - Broncos notes: Coyer succeeds - Frank Schwab
CBS4 - Buckhalter: December Is Critical For Playoff Run - Matthew Buettner
CBS4 - Broncos Ryan Harris Out For Season, Taylor Signed
KDVR - Hard to think Broncos can beat Indy - Chris Tanaka
Y! - Belichick's clan replacing loyalty with ugliness - Mike Silver
"So yes, Mr. Vrabel – McDaniels was most certainly trying to show you who your daddy is. Or perhaps he was telling Pioli, "I’m Bill’s best and brightest, not you." Or maybe it had something to do with retribution for the Cassel trade, which didn’t exactly play out the way the Broncos had hoped, at least at the time."
SN - Broncos vs. Colts Preview - Mike Chappell & Lee Rasizer
Colts News
IS - Orton delivers only stat that matters - Mike Chappell
IS - Painter now No. 2 QB after Sorgi goes on IR - Phil Richards
IS - Colts' defense dominates after halftime - Phillip Wilson
IS - Other Colts step up as defenses take away Wayne - Mike Chappell
IS - Winning formula for Colts? No errors - Phil Richards
IS - Ask the Expert: Colts - Mike Chappell
NYT - Don’t Ask the Colts About Going Undefeated - Greg Bishop
AFC West News
SDUT - Phillips still has players’ hearts and minds - Chris Jenkins
SDUT - Chargers keeping in focus - Kevin Acee
SDUT - LT expects an 'emotional' game against Dallas - Kevin Acee
SDUT - McNeill's got his gigantic hands full - Tim Sullivan
FH - Gannon: Gradkowski What Raiders Need - Nancy Gay
SFC - QB Gradkowski making case that he is 'the man' - Ron Kroichick
SFC - Gradkowski is the bull in Al Davis' china shop - Ray Ratto
KCS - Chiefs' streak of sellouts appears doomed - Randy Covitz
KCS - Chiefs notes: Bills QB Fitzpatrick could have been a Chief - Adam Teicher
NFL News
NFL - Jets' Sanchez no fan of Ryan's decision to rest him, start Clemens
NFL - Lions QB Stafford will rest shoulder vs. Ravens; Culpepper to start
NFL - Patriots WR Moss, three LBs sent home for being late to meeting
NFL - Week 14 injuries: DeAngelo returns; many Vikes hurt
NFL - Now holding on Cowboys' kicks: Tony Romo?
NFL - Fat and sassy: Eagles' Reid jovial after signing three-year extension
NFL - Eagles' Westbrook practices, says he previously returned too soon
NFL - Rams place FS Atogwe on injured reserve, make other roster moves
NFL - Texans RB Slaton out for season after seeing specialist about neck
NFL Opinion
ESPN - Coming to grips with poor tackling - Jeffri Chadiha
SN - Five offenses get over the hump at midseason - Vinnie Iyer
FH - Dirty Dozen: Rookie(s) of the Year - Dave Goldberg
SI - How Tom Brady messed up; NFL helmet mandates coming? - Peter King
"I'd say Josh McDaniels will see how Orton plays down the stretch, and if McDaniels thinks he can significantly upgrade in the draft, he'd do it."
SI - Cincinnati Bengals use practice squad to their advantage - Ross Tucker
Y! - Tebow to Jags would be disastrous - Charles Robinson
FOX - The NFL's biggest bargains - Alex Marvez
Doom, BMarsh make the list
FOX - The NFL's biggest rip-offs - Alex Marvez
ESPN - Wild-card races not so wild - John Clayton
"The true value of the trade will be who ends up with the better quarterback. Orton is in the last year of his contract. Cutler has to change his game, but he has talent. You win in this league with quarterback play." Apparently, Clayton has rewritten history; not sure if you got the memo, but the Broncos traded Jay Cutler straight up for Kyle Orton awhile back.
NFL - NFC favorites are clear, but conference playoff picture is unsettled - Steve Wyche
NFL - Patriots have fallen from grace but not the AFC playoff race - Bucky Brooks
NFP - Should the ‘Skins bring back Clinton Portis in 2010? - Matt Bowen
FH - Could Clinton Portis Call It a Career? - R.J. White
NFP - Diner morning news: Should the ‘Skins keep Campbell? - Mike Lombardi
NFP - Rice misses the mark on Green Bay - Andrew Brandt
CBS - Rodgers moves into MVP neighborhood -- not that you've noticed - Mike Freeman
Rodgers is now a .500 QB and rising, with a 96.5 career QB rating. Still don't think he's great?
SI - Chris Johnson more than just speed for Titans - Lee Jenkins
NFP - Tavern talk: Quinn still needs improvement - Mike Lombardi
Picks/Previews/Stats/Power Rankings
NYT - Thursday’s Matchup: Steelers at Browns - Mike Tanier
SN - Week 14 picks: Mannings home in on tough matchups - Vinnie Iyer
FOX - Cheat Sheet: Cliffnotes for Week 14 - Peter Schrager
"The Pick: Colts 34, Broncos 20"
NYT - Week 14 N.F.L. Game Probabilities: The Unluckiest Teams - Brian Burke
NYT - Week 13 QB Ratings: Rivers and Brees Entwined - Luis DeLoureiro
SI - Saints, Colts remain at top - Don Banks
"I don't see Denver making any real noise in January, but just getting into the Super Bowl tournament after the offseason the youthful McDaniels endured is no small accomplishment."
FH - NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Best of the Rest - Josh Alper
ESPN - NFL Power Rankings Week 14
SI All-Decade Columns
SI - 2000s: The Decade in Sports - NFL: 10 signature moments
SI - Tom Brady, Patriots are tops in NFL decade; Lions at bottom - Peter King
SI - Patriots scored in decade with trades for Randy Moss, Wes Welker - Don Banks
SI - Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Ray Lewis lead NFL All-Decade team - Peter King
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