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Horse Tracks - 4/21/10 - Schedule-Makers do Broncos no favors in 2010

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The opponents have been known for months.  Yesterday was all about seeing, for the first time, the ebb and flow of the 2010 season.  When it finally came out, and the excitement died down a bit, you got a true sense of how the 2010 season could go down.  The League didn't do the Broncos many favors, that's for sure.  Let's start with the Broncos request to start the season at home, on Monday Night, against Oakland.  A fair request, seeing as the Broncos had started the previous 5 seasons away from home.  The result?  The Broncos start the season on the road, again, all the way on the east coast(Jacksonville) while the Kansas City Chiefs get the primetime matchup.  The Broncos won't play a primetime game at home - that has to be the first time in a long time - though they will continue their streak of Monday Night Football appearances with a trip to San Diego on November 22.  If all that weren't enough, the Broncos will play 3-straight road games - the first time since 1997.  The December road trip includes two divisional matchups, with trips to Kansas City and Oakland sandwiching a journey to Arizona.  Perhaps the most unfortunate result of the schedule was the NFL's decision to make all Week 17 games divisional battles.  That meant the Broncos had no shot at facing the Colts - and a bunch of backups - the last week of the season.  Instead the Broncos get the Chargers, and perhaps a bunch of better backups?  Time will tell. 

Broncos to open season at Jacksonville - The Denver Post
The Broncos had put in an official request to open the season with a home Monday Night Football game against the Raiders.

2010 Schedule Released - DenverBroncos.com
The Broncos' 2010 schedule was released on Tuesday, and it features six games against five playoff teams, an appearance on Monday Night Football and a trip overseas.

VIDEO - 2010 Regular Season Breakdown - DenverBroncos.com
Broncos TV goes week by week and takes a closer look at the 2010 regular season schedule.

VIDEO - NFL Network: McDaniels Sitdown
Michael Lombardi sits down with Josh McDaniels to talk about the Broncos future and draft plans.

Chargers have set the pace in AFC West - The Denver Post
And there are many in the league who believe the San Diego Chargers have won the AFC West title for the past three years not only because of their work in season, but because they have done better than their division brethren in April as well.

Clausen could cause draft board stir - The Denver Post
When the NFL draft approaches, those in the league often talk about "scenarios," and as the three-day, seven-round selection process approaches, every team in the league has tried to put together several scenarios to try to cover how things might go.

Paige: Broncos try some empire building - The Denver Post
All things and games considered, Denver's Josh McDaniels and his Broncos, in comparison, have a good schedule this season.

2010 Broncos schedule breakdown | broncos, road, fifth - Sports - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO
Denver is the fifth team since 1990 and the first since Indianapolis from 2000-06 to play at least six straight season openers on the road.

Final look: Broncos offensive needs into the draft - Broncos : Colorado Springs Gazette
With the draft coming up fast, here's one more look at the Broncos' needs at each position, and what might happen over the three days of this year's draft. First off, the offense:

NFL draft analysis: Big board starting to solidify - The Denver Post
After months of planning, thousands of miles traveled and mountains of digital video studied, the NFL's 32 teams get their chance to fill as many of their wants and needs as they can in the three-day NFL draft beginning Thursday. NFL reporter and Denver Post draft insider Jeff Legwold analyzes each team's needs and which players best fit in the first round:

Something to chew on: Shanahan's legacy - The Denver Post
"Everybody thinks we're mad at Denver or mad at how it worked out," said Kyle Shanahan, a 1998 graduate of Cherry Creek High School, Mike's son and the Redskins' offensive coordinator. "We're not at all. I didn't like how fast and harsh it seemed, regarding the decision, but the bottom line is I think my dad is better off now and hopefully Denver is, too.

December stretch may decide Broncos' fate - The Denver Post
This year, that opening game will be Sept. 12 at Jacksonville. They haven't started a season at Invesco Field at Mile High since 2004.

Taylor signs to play with rival N.Y. Jets - The Denver Post
Booed and despised by Jets fans for years, Jason Taylor is now on their side.

Ten biggest top-ten draft busts of the past decade | National Football Post
Here are my 10 biggest top-10 busts of the past decade. To qualify for this list, a player must have been drafted in the top 10 between 2000 and 2009.

Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Dez Bryant | National Football Post
How far will the red flags surrounding Bryant cause him to fall on draft day?

Holt signing doesn't guarantee results in N.E. | National Football Post
According to reports, the Patriots will add veteran wide receiver Torry Holt to the roster today, but is this the type of move we should get overly excited about?

Show 'em the money | National Football Post
From the agents’ and players’ perspective, there are two main components to a player’s contract: the guaranteed portion, which includes signing bonuses, and the nonguaranteed portion, which in large part are the base salaries and monies earned after the first two years.

Don’t tread on Tim Tebow | National Football Post
I would take Tim Tebow in the first round….

Jets reportedly looking to trade Kellen Clemens | National Football Post
The New York Jets are trying to trade backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, according to ESPN.

Ray Lewis to announce Ravens' second-round pick | National Football Post
Baltimore Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis is set to announce the team's second-round draft pick Friday night in New York, the team announced.

Source: Cincinnati defensive back Brad Jones drawing interest | National Football Post
University of Cincinnati cornerback and safety Brad Jones has been contacted recently by seven NFL teams expressing interest in him, according to a source close to the program.

Steelers getting calls from teams about Roethlisberger | National Football Post
The Pittsburgh Steelers are being proactive when it comes to embattled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Jason Taylor: 'I think I have a lot to offer' | National Football Post
Now that he has agreed to terms with the New York Jets, former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Jason Taylor bid goodbye to the Miami Dolphins.

Chargers' Applewhite signs qualifying offer | National Football Post
San Diego Chargers exclusive rights linebacker Antwan Applewhite signed his one-year, $470,000 qualifying offer, the team announced.

49ers will earn some serious frequent flyer miles in '10 | National Football Post
One of the cool features of the NFL schedule layout over at NFL.com is that it shows how far every team in the league will travel this season.

Five must-watch games in 2010 | National Football Post
Happy holidays football fans! The 2010 NFL schedule has finally been released. For those of you who want to get knee-deep in who’s heading where in 2010, click HERE.

49ers get pass-rushing boost with LaBoy | National Football Post
The San Francisco 49ers bulked up their pass rush by signing Travis LaBoy to a one-year contract.

Pierre Woods signs one-year deal | National Football Post
New England Patriots reserve linebacker and special-teams ace Pierre Woods signed a one-year contract above the restricted free agent tender of $1.176 million that he had been assigned, a league source confirmed.

NFL Live Chat - Howard Katz - NFL Schedule Guru
Why are you so good at making the schedule? Everything looks perfect to me, what is your secret to dealing with 32 teams, venues and concerts and MLB playoffs?

Steelers reacquire QB Leftwich as Roethlisberger insurance policy
The Steelers reacquired quarterback Byron Leftwich on Tuesday by trading a seventh-round draft pick (225th overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- a sign that Pittsburgh expects starter Ben Roethlisberger to be suspended for the start of the 2010 season.

Favre's status unknown, but Vikings aren't desperate to draft a QB
The Minnesota Vikings have arrived at another NFL draft, without clarity on who their quarterback will be for the foreseeable future.

Rams GM Devaney admits No. 1 pick isn't sparking much trade talk
Two days ahead of the NFL draft, Rams general manager Billy Devaney said leaguewide interest in acquiring the team's No. 1 overall pick has been light.

Titans GM mum about possibly bringing back Haynesworth in a trade
The Tennessee Titans have talked with teams about many trades. Just don't expect anybody to say whether one discussion might involve trying to bring back defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Tebow considering NFL's draft invitation, but family will be a factor
Tim Tebow doesn't yet know where he plans to watch the NFL draft.

Jones: Teams ask about Cowboys' 27th pick, but trade up 'unlikely'
Jerry Jones is open to doing something he has never done in the NFL draft, and something the Dallas Cowboys haven't done since 1981, eight years before he bought the team.

Lions face real conundrum with draft's second overall pick
As I go through how to put together my mock draft this year, which I will reveal on NFL Network's pre-draft show on Thursday (1 p.m. ET), the puzzle I have is pinpointing what the Detroit Lions will do with the No. 2 overall pick.

NFL's final week packs plenty of excitement
The final weekend of NFL games features intra-divisional matchups across the board, a measure the league hopes will lead to more teams playing key players in the season finale because of potential playoff implications. Whether things unfold that way is too tough to call at this point because if a team has a playoff berth or a division title wrapped up, the opponent really wouldn't matter.

Vikings-Saints first of many intriguing matchups for 2010
Here are 10 intriguing matchups to circle on your calendar for the 2010 season:

Quarterback Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress in contact, but no word on status - ESPN
The latest word from Brett Favre was about lawn care.

Eric Foster of Indianapolis Colts faces allegations of sexual assault in lawsuit - ESPN
A 22-year-old hotel receptionist has filed a lawsuit against Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Eric Foster, claiming he sexually assaulted her in his room before the AFC Championship Game in January.

Road tripping, AFC West style - AFC West Blog - ESPN
Little is more fun than taking an NFL road trip. With the 2010 NFL schedule released Tuesday, here is a suggestion for fans of each team in the AFC West to go cheer on their team on the road: