Same Old Steelers
The Broncos are preparing for Pittsburgh to try to maintain their identity of running the football and playing strong defense.
Still Hard at Work
Quarterback Peyton Manning said that he's worked hard to get back to this position, but it's still too early in the week to think about what it will feel like to run on the field in Week 1.
Notebook: Leonhard Happy to be Back
Safety Jim Leonhard is excited for his return to the field Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Broncos name their captains and Derek Wolfe anticipates his NFL debut.
Readying for Revenge Factor
Broncos players expect the Steelers to have some added motivation from Denver’s 2011 AFC Wild Card overtime victory, but know that the two teams have changed significantly from last season.
Bronco Birthdays
T Ryan Clady is 26.
DE Robert Ayers is 27.
TE Richard Quinn (2009-10) is 26.
Denver Broncos Videos
Nearing Denver Debut
Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense are now five days away from playing a real game when the results will count.
Steelers Week - Wednesday: Manning
QB Peyton Manning talks about getting ready for Denver's season opener vs. Pittsburgh.
Video: Brian Billick previews Steelers-Broncos matchup in Week 1 - The Denver Post
NFL Live OT: Expectations For Peyton Manning - ESPN Video - ESPN
NFL Live OT looks at what to expect from Peyton Manning against the Steelers.
Countdown Daily AccuScore: PIT-DEN - ESPN Video - ESPN
Zubin Mehenti goes inside the numbers for the Steelers-Broncos matchup
Countdown Daily AccuScore: SD-OAK - ESPN Video - ESPN
Zubin Mehenti goes inside the numbers for the Chargers-Raiders matchup
Countdown Daily AccuScore: ATL-KC - ESPN Video - ESPN
Zubin Mehenti goes inside the numbers for the Falcons-Chiefs matchup
Frank Caliendo As John Madden - ESPN Video - ESPN
Comedian Frank Caliendo gives his best John Madden impersonation.
Denver Broncos Blogs
Undrafted cornerback Chris Harris included in Broncos' big plans - The Denver Post - Jeff Legwold
Q: What happened to Chris Harris? I thought he performed well as a rookie last year. I heard Tony Carter is the team's nickel (corner) and Omar Bolden is the dime (corner). So where does Harris fit now?
Terry Frei: Elvis Dumervil needs to stand up as leader of Broncos - The Denver Post
Elvis Dumervil was soft-spoken and polite about it. No, he said, he wasn't going to talk to me.
Those who look to fool Broncos' Peyton Manning rarely succeed - The Denver Post - Jeff Legwold
You may have to excuse the guys with first-hand knowledge, those temple-rubbing defensive coordinators who have tried to solve the riddle that is Peyton Manning.
Fox, Manning, Tomlin talk Broncos vs. Steelers in 'different' game - The Denver Post - Jeff Legwold
Revenge may indeed be a dish best served cold, but Broncos coach John Fox believes it may not be served at all Sunday night.
Manning can make history Sunday - AFC West Blog - ESPN
As if there isn’t enough to attract interest in Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos debut Sunday night, he can set a major NFL record in the game against Pittsburgh.
Broncos QB Peyton Manning clearly on the marquee in Denver - The Denver Post - Mike Klis
Peyton Manning is about to play his first game for keeps — his first real game with the Broncos. His first regular-season game since missing last year with a neck injury.
Broncos opened 2-point favorites vs. Steelers; NFL betting line moved - NICK GROKE
A crush of Peyton Manning-positive betting pushed the Broncos up the wagering line during the preseason, leaving Denver with the third-best Super Bowl odds in the NFL.
PFT Live: Can Manning keep the chains moving? | ProFootballTalk
Mike Florio talks with Sports Illustrated sports writer Peter King about the Dallas Cowboys’ fear that if they play TE Jason Witten against the Giants, he may have a set back.
Greeley schools ban No. 18 Peyton Manning jerseys (among others) - LINDSAY JONES
Now here’s an interesting story out of Northern Colorado.
Broncos' Jeremy Beal not to return under new rules for injured reserve - The Denver Post - Jeff Legwold
Q: Given the new IR (injured reserve) rules, can Jeremy Beal come off IR during this season?
Brian Dawkins hooks up with ESPN, Channel 7 as studio analyst | First-and-Orange - Mike Klis
The former Broncos safety has been hired by ESPN — the big ESPN, not all its spinoffs — as a studio analyst.
Revenge not a factor for Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin in opener vs. Broncos - LINDSAY JONES
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin could have spent the eight months stewing over the way his team’s season ended with a stunning overtime loss in Denver last January.
Steelers classifying linebacker James Harrison as "day to day" | First-and-Orange — LINDSAY JONES
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his star outside linebacker James Harrison is "day to day" heading into Sunday’s season opener at Denver.
Could Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall play Sunday vs. Broncos? - LINDSAY JONES
The Pittsburgh Steelers have listed running back Rashard Mendenhall as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Mendenhall also participated in practice on Monday.
Mendenhall sheds brace, goes through full practice | National Football Post
Steelers RB might have a chance to play in opener vs. Broncos.
Rashard Mendenhall steps closer to playing | ProFootballTalk
No one gave Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall much chance of making it back from a torn ACL in time to play in the Steelers’ season opener, but he took a big step toward doing just that on Wednesday.
Broncos rule AFC West in team value - The Denver Post
Even without playing a game, the Broncos have won the AFC West — at least when the calculations are done by Forbes magazine and not won-lost records.
Division News
Kansas City Chiefs notes - ESPN
The Kansas City Star reports that the Chiefs have named their captains.
Will Bowe continue to shine in red zone? - AFC West Blog - ESPN
Now that his training camp is a distant memory, it is time to expect Dwayne Bowe to make a major contribution to the Kansas City Chiefs’ as the season starts.
Carry split not a concern in Kansas City - AFC West Blog - ESPN
What is Romeo Crennel’s plan for Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis out of the backfield this season?
Report: Brandon Flowers looks ready to go - AFC West Blog - ESPN
The Kansas City Chiefs' defense is getting some much-needed injury relief.
Jabar Gaffney visits the Raiders | ProFootballTalk
Another team is interested in the services of free agent receiver Jabar Gaffney.
Jabar Gaffney makes sense for Raiders - AFC West Blog - ESPN
The Oakland Raiders reportedly visited with veteran receiver Jabar Gaffney on Wednesday.
Raiders sign veteran receiver Derek Hagan | ProFootballTalk
Wide receivers Denarius Moore (hamstring) and Jacoby Ford (foot) are both in danger of missing Monday night’s opener against the Chargers, so the Raiders have dipped into free agency to sign up some insurance.
ProFootballWeekly.com - A healthy English adds to Chargers' LB corps
The Chargers are deep at linebacker, and it is arguably their strongest position.
Future Foes
ProFootballWeekly.com - TE Hoomanawanui signs with Patriots
The Patriots added another tight end on Wednesday, signing ex-Ram Michael Hoomanawanui.
Report: Kellen Winslow failed Patriots physical | ProFootballTalk
Michael Hoomanawanui is the newest Patriots tight end, but he might not have been the first choice for the job.
Baltimore Ravens' Bernard Pollard has warning for A.J. Green of Cincinnati Bengals - ESPN
Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard warned Cincinnati Bengals star receiver A.J. Green on Tuesday that when he comes across the middle in the teams' season opener Monday night, he can expect to get smacked.
NFL News
League, union have different cap numbers | ProFootballTalk
At a time when the NFL and the NFLPA rarely agree on anything, it should be no surprise that their respective versions of the cap numbers are different, too.
If Mike Pereira still graded NFL refs, he’d give replacements an F | ProFootballTalk
Mike Pereira’s job used to entail supervising the NFL’s officials and grading them on the quality of their work.
Pereira Compliments Replacement Officials - NYTimes.com
The former N.F.L. director of officials Mike Pereira, who has supported his former colleagues in their labor dispute with the N.F.L., gave the replacement officials a passing grade in the Dallas-Giants game on Wednesday.
Bad games could get the "worst" of the replacements | ProFootballTalk
On Tuesday, the NFL acknowledged during a meeting with various NBC personnel that the best of the replacement officials will be used for the highest profile Week One games, starting tonight in New Jersey.
NFLRA responds to league’s effort to create "bench" of officials | ProFootballTalk
On Tuesday, NFL V.P. of football operations Ray Anderson made a compelling case for the development of a bench of officials, who would replace during the season "starting" officials whom the league believes should be removed from action.
PFT Live: Will players take advantage of replacement refs? | ProFootballTalk
Mike Florio talks with Rich Eisen from the NFL Network about how they think games will be called with the replacement referees at the helm.
Miscellaneous Stuff
Former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell dies at 87 | ProFootballTalk
Art Modell, who owned the Cleveland Browns for 35 years and then controversially moved them to Baltimore where they became the Ravens, has died at the age of 87.
Head Injuries Pose a Serious Problem for the N.F.L. - NYTimes.com - Video
William C. Rhoden discusses how one of the game’s most popular attributes is bound to lead to changes that will cause the National Football League’s downfall.
Study Finds Increased Risks for N.F.L. Players - NYTimes.com
A disproportionate number of men who played at least five seasons in the N.F.L. from 1959 to 1988 developed Alzheimer’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to a study released Wednesday.
Study finds former NFL players unusually prone to dying from degenerative brain disease - ESPN
A study of former NFL players finds they were unusually prone to dying from degenerative brain disease, the latest indication that repeated blows to the head may cause serious trouble later on.
The 5 worst things about being an NFL Sports Agent | National Football Post
Some of the tougher components of a rewarding career.
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