Horse Tracks: John Elway pulls another rabbit out of his endless hat of tricks

Happy Wednesday, Broncos Country!

Less than twenty-four hours have passed since the Denver Broncos came to a one year agreement with former Pro-Bowl guard Evan Mathis and Broncos fans still can't get over the sense of euphoria and optimism the deal brings the franchise. Christmas has once again come early to Broncos Country.

Although young players Ty Sambrailo, Max Garcia and Matt Paradis have played well so far this pre-season, the man heading the Broncos front office seemed to believe that a move was necessary to bolster the Broncos offensive line efficacy for the 2015 season. Once again, John Elway pulled another rabbit out of his endless hat of tricks and took the NFL by storm with the signing of Mathis.

According to numerous reports, Mathis turned down a deal from another team that would have paid him just as much as he was scheduled to earn ($5.5 million) prior to being cut by the Eagles earlier in the offseason because he wanted to play for a contender. In the wake of former head coach Josh McDaniels' atrocious handling of the organization on a  handful of levels, rebuilding the Broncos was going to be an arduous task. I don't think there could ever have been a better man to do the job than #7, who has brought Denver back to prestige and honor after McDaniels left the team destitute and devoid of talent.

There is no questioning that Elway has turned this franchise around in the short time he has reigned in as Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager.  The number of quality free agent signings are through the roof: Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, Jr., Brandon Marshall, Emmanuel Sanders, Louis Vasquez are just a handful of players Elway has accumulated to make Denver's roster filled with Pro-Bowl and impact players that have become the envy of the entire league.

With the signing of Mathis, the Broncos add another Pro-Bowl player into the fold and give the Broncos arguably the best offensive line guard tandem in the NFL. It isn't a long-term move by any stretch of the imagination, but significantly bolsters their ability to compete for a Lombardi Trophy this season. It also gives them a significant upgrade at a position of need and allows a young player like Garcia to sit back and learn the rigors of the NFL before being cast in the flames for baptism by fire. The team is better now and in the future by Elway's most recent act of genius, one that will propel the Broncos to the top of the AFC's list of formidable foes.

Today's Horse Tracks are dedicated to John Elway, who we are blessed to have overseeing our beloved franchise. You have heard these words before, but you will hear them again now:  "This one is for John!"

Thank you John Elway — for all that you have done in the past and continue to do for the Denver Broncos!

Horse Tracks:

Cody Latimer could have a mile high fantasy ceiling
With Julius Thomas and Wes Welker no longer in Peyton Manning's stable of pass-catchers, Adam Rank is marking Cody Latimer as one of his top sleepers to watch in 2015.

Practice Quick Hits: Matt Paradis takes the lead up front
Evan Mathis' arrival will bolster the O-line, but Paradis has seized the center role with athleticism, agility and intelligence.

Evan Mathis: "No. 1 priority was playing for contender"
Feeling queasy about having three offensive linemen with zero NFL snaps of experience stacked together, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway decided he needed to insert a veteran.

Wednesday NFL preview: The Denver Broncos mix up their running back depth chart
NFL Nation previews what to watch for Wednesday around the NFL, including the significant change on the Broncos' RB depth chart.

Denver Broncos News: Defensive Line Injuries Pile Up Before 2015 Season
The Denver Broncos have had injuries to their defensive line, but the unit has played well in the 2015 NFL preseason.

Broncos, Packers And Seahawks Seeing Highest Secondary Market Tickets As NFL Season Approaches
While the NFL preseason is a nice tool to drum up excitement and get players ready, it’s more or less just a countdown to the games that matter the most. There are plenty such games, but a specific few stand head and shoulders above the rest this year, when it [...]

Von Miller's moves, secondary's socks, a rookie's hair, more from Broncos practice
Von Miller busts a move, plus more sights and sounds from Broncos practice Tuesday.

BMW Ultimate Performance: T.J. Ward moving all over the place
Part of the Broncos' preseason work is about finding out what works, and they might have something in T.J. Ward. His use and the Broncos' third-down performance highlight this week's film review.

Denver Broncos' Emmanuel Sanders progressing, but may miss rest of preseason games
Coach Gary Kubiak said Emmanuel Sanders should be on the practice field soon, and the receiver is expected to be ready for the season opener.

Orlando Scandrick tears ACL and MCL, out for season
Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick was carted off of the practice field on Tuesday night. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports Scandrick tore his ACL and MCL, and will be out for the remainder of the season.

What we learned: Week 2 winners and losers
Week 2 of preseason action is in the books and several teams showed us things we liked and things we didn't. It's time to examine the week's winners and losers.

Ryan Mallett disagrees with Texans' choice of Hoyer
Brian Hoyer was named the Houston Texans' starting quarterback and Ryan Mallett didn't take it so well. Mallett was 'disappointed' he didn't get the job, disagreeing with Bill O'Brien's decision.

Odell Beckham to Jaguars: Make a play on ball, not me
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has a target on his back in more ways than one this season. Just ask teammate Victor Cruz.

Rank's 11: Bridgewater leads 2015 fantasy sleepers
The season is approaching, meaning it's time for Adam Rank (and the rest of our experts) to highlight their sleepers. Find out why Rank believes Teddy Bridgewater will outscore Peyton Manning here.

An NFL coach says he has never seen anything like what the Redskins did with Robert Griffin III in a preseason game
In a preseason game last week, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was repeatedly hit by Detroit Lions defenders until finally he had to leave the game with a concussion.