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Horse Tracks - 4/16/10 - What comes next?

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The trade is done.  Brandon Marshall is a former Bronco.  It is bittersweet, even for someone that supported the move.  The Broncos were never going to replace talent for talent in this trade so they were fighting an uphill battle from the get-go.  In the end, despite the suspension, the balls being kicked in the air, injuries(real or not), this move was about money and trust.  Brandon Marshall didn't trust the Broncos and the Broncos didn't trust Brandon Marshall.  That happens sometimes - throughout life - and with $50 million on the line it is too much to overcome.  For the Broncos it is time to look forward.  Only Tampa Bay can claim what the Broncos can next week in the Draft - 3 of the top 45 picks.  Only 4 teams can say they have 4 of the top 80 picks.  In other words, the Broncos have set themselves up to take advantage of what many say is the deepest draft in years.  Right now the Broncos traded talent for potential.  In less than a week, that potential will have a name.  They need to get it right.

Hard Work Rewarded
When Andrew Michael Craig and Paige Monique Wilson walked into the Futures Center at Thomas Jefferson High School, Daniel Graham was standing in the back of the room.

Draft Memories: Elway -- Jim Saccomano's Blog
With the draft now right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to revisit some of the greatest draft moments in Denver Broncos history.

Brandon Marshall speaks, says winning is key to his future - The Denver Post
"You would love to secure your family. But I play because I want to have my name in the books and win lot of games," Marshall told reporters in Florida.

Replacement receivers: Who's left to fill void? - The Denver Post
The Broncos traded their most productive receiver, Brandon Marshall, who had 101 catches for 1,120 yards last season. NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones analyzes who is left to fill the void currently on the Denver roster:

Paige: Lots of winners and losers in deal - The Denver Post
Beauty killed The Beast? No, it was his own deplorable behavior.

Broncos' team-first concept fuels Marshall trade - The Denver Post
All systems, minus the stars, are a go for Josh McDaniels. The Broncos have plenty of quarterbacks, but no star. They have several receivers, but no star receivers.

Broncos' draft should be must-see TV - The Denver Post
The Broncos have positioned themselves, albeit at the cost of a Pro Bowl wide receiver with three 100-catch seasons, to take full advantage of the draft's new three-day format.

Denver Broncos should wait to draft a wide receiver, ESPN analyst says | All Things Broncos
With the Broncos losing their biggest and most productive wide receiver yesterday when they traded Brandon Marshall to Miami, it would be very easy to connect the dots that Denver is setting itself up to replace Marshall by selecting a receiver very high in next week’s NFL draft.

Why Henne will play big after Marshall deal | National Football Post
Brandon Marshall is going to have a major impact in Miami next season from a production standpoint. He can beat press coverage, he can stretch the field, and in one-on-one matchups he can use his rare combination of size and speed to take advantage of defenders in the intermediate passing game.

Source: Zane Beadles has had a busy schedule | National Football Post
University of Utah offensive tackle Zane Beadles has conducted private workouts for several teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, according to a source close to the program.

Marshall says Dolphins 'did their due diligence' before trade
If the Miami Dolphins' trade for Brandon Marshall wasn't enough indication that they had faith in him, then the four-year, $47.5 million contract extension they gave him afterward certainly was.

Driving force behind Marshall trade was money - NLF.com
The reality of the situation could be slightly more narrow, as in straight cash money. The Dolphins immediately made Marshall’s pockets heavier following the trade, signing him to a four-year extension worth $47.5 million. When all is said and done, NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi believes it ultimately was a financial decision by the Broncos, based on Marshall’s history and a lack of trust in giving him a long-term contract. Their past with Marshall ended their future with him.

Broncos got what they could for Marshall, but situation forced deal
The Denver Broncos were never going to get a first-round draft pick for receiver Brandon Marshall. And they were never going to give him the kind of long-term financial package his play has warranted, due to the myriad off-field issues and broken trust between Marshall and coach Josh McDaniels.

Dolphins' trade for Marshall indicative of AFC East's pass-first trend
The New York Jets finished one step away from Super Bowl XLIV on the strength of the NFL's top-rated rushing attack and No. 1 defense.

McDaniels suggests parting was best for both sides - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels spent the evening talking about breathing a little easier—and not just because he had traded the talented but temperamental wide receiver Brandon Marshall(notes) to the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins’ $24-million risk | National Football Post
irst, Marshall is an example of what we predicted – a highly inactive restricted free agent (RFA) market in this new uncapped world of football. As we’ve repeatedly noted, the true talent in this year’s free agent market was the RFA group, with players such as Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin and others. The unrestricted free agent (UFA) group – beyond its bonus babies of the first weekend in March – was largely ignored due to age and/or ability. So too, however, was the RFA market, as teams were not going to part with valuable draft picks and prohibitive contracts to pry these players away. The draft is too deep and the money is too tight.

Appalachian State QB Edwards has skills to play multiple positions - The Denver Post
Of all the video I've looked at leading up to next week's draft, I have to say that watching Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards may have been the most entertaining.

Prepping the draftees | National Football Post
This weekend, I have a few of my new clients coming to San Diego for a weekend orientation. The purpose of the gathering is to get some face time and make sure their expectations are set correctly for next week’s draft. Additionally, we’ll cover topics such as goal setting, fiduciary basics and develop a year one plan.

Goodell, Big Ben and personal conduct | National Football Post
The NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy has been a hallmark of the tenure of Commissioner Roger Goodell, who made it a priority initiative to restore and maintain public confidence and integrity in the league’s product: its players. The policy states in broad terms that discipline may attach even without criminal charges. Pursuant to the policy, players must avoid "conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs or NFL players."

Are the Steelers serious about dealing Big Ben? | National Football Post
At this time in the offseason, we have to take trade rumors lightly sometimes because of the amount of names that are thrown around prior to the draft.

Source: Falcons host four defensive tackles, including Brian Price | National Football Post
The Atlanta Falcons are looking into the merits of possibly drafting a defensive tackle.

Source: Aaron Morgan climbing draft boards | National Football Post
Louisiana-Monroe hybrid pass rusher Aaron Morgan has been graded as a potential fifth-round to sixth-round draft pick on some NFL teams' draft boards, according to league sources.

Source: Vincent Rey has visited Giants, Jaguars and Raiders | National Football Post
Duke University linebacker Vincent Rey has visited the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders, according to a source close to the program.

Agent: Bruce Gradkowski tore left pectoral | National Football Post
Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski tore his left pectoral muscle while bench pressing 250 pounds on Wednesday at team headquarters and will undergo surgery Friday to repair the damage, his agent, Ralph Cindrich, confirmed tonight in a telephone interview.

Chargers' Jeromey Clarey signs $1.684 million tender | National Football Post
San Diego Chargers offensive tackle Jeromey Clary signed his one-year, $1.684 million restricted tender, the team announced.

Tom Cable seeking arbitration of Hanson lawsuit | National Football Post
In the wake of a civil lawsuit being filed against him by Randy Hanson, Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable wants it to be dismissed.

Source: Hall Davis has visited Patriots, Lions, 49ers and Titans | National Football Post
Louisiana-Lafayette defensive end Hall Davis has visited the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions, according to a source close to the program.

Raiders sign Kyle Boller | National Football Post
The Oakland Raiders have signed veteran free agent quarterback Kyle Boller, the team announced.

Source: Mike Iupati in heavy demand | National Football Post
According to a source close to the program, Iupati has visited the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins.

Steelers have internally discussed trading Roethlisberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't talked with other teams about dealing embattled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but they've had significant internal discussions about the matter, a source with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.

Rooney: Roethlisberger will be disciplined after next week's draft
Steelers president Art Rooney II says the team is ready to discipline Ben Roethlisberger, but the punishment will be coordinated with the NFL and won't pre-empt any league action.

Accuser says Roethlisberger's 'bodyguards' complicit in alleged rape
Ben Roethlisberger's accuser gave Milledgeville, Ga., police a detailed, written account of how the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's "bodyguards" were actively involved in him allegedly raping her, according to public documents obtained Thursday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Associated Press.

Browns have talked to Rams about No. 1 overall pick, eye Bradford
The Cleveland Browns have kicked around the possibility of taking a quarterback in next week's NFL draft.

War rooms may be under lock and key, but here's a peek inside
With a week to go before the 2010 NFL Draft, most teams have war rooms under lock and key with work under way on a few important projects leading up to the first round on Thursday (starting at 7:30 p.m. ET).

Berry looks like a superstar, but teams will pass - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
In February, when many NFL scouting departments were putting the final polish on their draft reports, an NFC coach had an eyebrow raising question for his general manager. With the franchise beginning to hammer out its draft board, a consensus was building: There was a very good chance that a safety was going to be at the No. 1 slot on the board.

Ex-NFL star says he's changed since Vegas robbery - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Former NFL player Javon Walker(notes) testified Thursday that he’s changed his ways since he was robbed of diamond jewelry and thousands of dollars, and left badly injured a block off the Las Vegas Strip almost two years ago.