Clady has returned!

By Ryan Ebert | Ryan@nflen.com

     Pro Bowl LT Ryan Clady has returned to practice for the first time since he had surgery on his rotator cuff back in February!  He was not in full pads as the rest of his teammates were, but he was wearing shoulder pads.  "It was all right.  I was just adjusting" Clady said about his return.  Clady had a total of four reps in practice as he gets back into things.  He was rusty coming back as DE Derek Wolfe got past Clady and and got a hand on Manning as he was throwing the ball.

     This makes the worries of the offensive line go away for the most part:

"When you're missing a $15 million left tackle it can look different," said Broncos coach John Fox.  "But he'll be there.  I think our offensive line will be fine.  In fact, I think it's a strength."

     The three-time Pro Bowler signed a five-year $52.5 million dollar contract extension in July and will be earning $15 million in signing bonus and salary this season.  The last concern is how well he does after his surgery.  "I have full range of motion, all that stuff." Clady said.  The two-time First-Team All-Pro played through a torn labrum during the latter part of the season.  "It's just getting used to being out there."

He is to have reps now and then during this next week of practice.  Then have him play in the third preseason game against the Rams August 24.

     "That's the goal." said Clady.

Fox shrugs off Williams tweet of playbook

by Ryan Ebert

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams is not facing much criticism for his tweeting of six plays from the Broncos defensive playbook.

Head coach John Fox shrugs it off as if it was a mistake.

"Yeah, we've addressed that," the coach said. "You know, I think our players do a terrific job with the social media. You know, you're not going to get through a whole season, I think, unscathed, but the world has gotten smaller. But I think, all in all, our guys do a great job."

Fox would keep saying that this sort of thing is always going to happen...when in reality they really aren't.

"All in all, I think our guys do a great job keeping our fans informed, and you know, you're going to have a couple mishaps, and we just move on."

The six plays Williams revealed were from "Pro Near I", Z Motion to Far I", and U3 to Trips Slot".  Fax was asked if if Williams' revealing of the plays will take the defense back a bit.

"Not that much," Fox said with a laugh.

While fans may not like at all what D.J. Williams has done, and some even wanting him gone, this case shouldn't be used against him.

Stokley working as hard as ever for a spot

by Ryan Ebert

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley is thirty-five years old and has a familiar relationship with quarterback Peyton Manning, but he is still going out onto the field as if he has everything to lose.

"I feel like I'm fighting for a job every day. So I just go out there and try to prove to myself that I can still make plays, every day. That's been my mentality since I was a rookie," Stokley told Lindsey ones of The Denver Post on Sunday. "I'm enjoying it, having fun. I know I don't have another five years, 10 years left in me, so I'm enjoying this experience and this opportunity that I have."

The top three receivers are projected to be Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Andre Caldwell.  Stokley only had one catch for seven yards in the Giants first two games of the season, but he can produce if healthy and be productive out of the slot.

In February Stokley was about "ninety-five percent retired"when he was still recovering from a quadriceps injury he suffered with his short time with the Giants.  Stokley went on to workout with Manning in North Carolina (pain free), and made the decision to play one more year signing a one-year contract and reunite with Manning whom he played with from 2003 to 2006.

Stokley had 31 receptions for 354 yards in 11 games for Seattle in 2010 which was his last productive season.  This was after an injured groin got him released by Denver.

His experience with Manning gives him advantage over his teammates for a spot on the team, and head coach John Fox has liked what he has seen.

"It's the Brandon Stokley I've seen on tape. He's healthy, and he's got a good skill set to play in this league, and he's proven that a lot of different places," Fox said.

Broncos looking for more from Moore

by Ryan Ebert

Former UCLA safety Rahim Moore is in his first offseason with OTAs and practices, and this should help him keep his starting job throughout his sophomore season in Denver.  Moore lost his starting job to safety Quinton Carter after five games of poor play.  He was the highest ranked safety coming out in the 2011 NFL Draft, but with the lockout brewing at the time, it did not help him understand the defense.

"I think (last year) was one of the only years I went with no production, and that's not something I looked forward to going into my rookie season," said Moore, who had 31 tackles, a pick, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 2011.  "I wanted to play better, but I think I needed that.  It's driven me now to want to compete and to have a better season and be able to help the team win."

“I missed having OTAs last season,” Moore said. “It was like I was thrown into the fire. I was antsy, but at the same time, I was second-guessing myself sometimes. When the game did slow down for me, it seemed like it didn’t. I thought it did, but it didn’t. A lot of times, I was unsure of what I was doing. I showed some signs of ability, but as the year went on, I wore down my body. This year during the offseason, I worked on getting stronger and getting in better shape.”

Fourteen-year veteran Champ Bailey knows how valuable OTAs are and how tough it is for a rookie to miss out them.

“Coming in last year, all they had was training camp,” Bailey said of the two rookie safeties, Moore and Quinton Carter  “I couldn't imagine how it would've been for anybody else doing that, especially at safety. There's a lot to learn. Now they know what they need to do to be successful, it's just going out and getting the work in."

Moore, because of his poor play was placed behind Quinton Carter on the depth chart this year, but defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio says that safeties Mike Adams, Quinton Carter, and Rahim Moore are fighting for the two starting jobs.

Moore believes the competition will be good for the players and improve their play overall.

“We’re like brothers back there and we help each other out,” he said. “And that’s what it’s all about and that’s what’s going to make our team better. That’s what (Head) Coach (John) Fox wants us to do, to compete.”

In hopes of getting a starting job Moore will look to build on his experience from last year.

“It’s just learning from my old experience so when the opportunity comes, or when that time comes you know how to handle it,” Moore said. “Also my conditioning, my work ethic, I know that I put the work in. I was always told what you do in the offseason is going to show in season. It’s not like last year I didn’t work hard, but I was just new to everything. So this year, like I said, I’m excited and looking forward to helping this team win and being a part of the process.”

Ten-year player Drayton Florence has been mentoring the young players including Rahim Moore, and Moore says how much he has appreciated the help.

“I think God has truly blessed me with a guy like (cornerback) Drayton Florence,” Moore said. “He’s helped me out so much, in ways words can’t explain. He’s shown me some things that I’ve never known, that I thought I knew, but really, it was wrong. He’s helped me out so much. He’s been like a big brother to me."

In OTAs thus far Quinton Carter and Rahim Moore have both been working out as the first-team strong safety.  Whenever one is in the other gets some reps in at second-team free safety.  In 2011 Carter played both safety positions, and Moore only played the free safety position.

"We've been interchanging each day.  Everybody has to know every position back there," Carter said.

Head coach John Fox is positive the play from whoever gets the starting job will be much better from 2010.

“The second time around, their sophomore season, (Moore and Carter) feel way more comfortable,” Coach Fox said. “Again, you have to develop a pro body. This game is twice as long as the college game when you figure in the preseason as well as the playoffs. It takes a while. They are much further along and much more comfortable the second time around.”

Carter, Harris making place for themselves on defense

by Ryan Ebert

The Broncos have a good combination of veterans and young players in their locker room.  A pair of young defensive backs have stood out coming up big at times making a promising future for themselves.  Safety Quinton Carter and cornerback Chris Harris were former Big 12 rivals and should improve themselves and the Broncos defense this coming year.

They came into the league without an offseason, but did have help from veterans Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.  With those two leading the secondary they helped the Broncos defense only allow opposing offenses to convert under 34% of their third-down conversions.

Chris Harris, undrafted from Kansas, had a nice rookie year totaling 72 tackles with an interception against the Raiders in a 38-24 victory.  He started the first game of his career in Week 13 against Minnesota helping the Broncos get a huge 35-32 win.

Quinton Carter,drafted out of Oklahoma in the fourth round, had a good year as a replacement for Rahim Moore who disappointed many his rookie year.  He started in 10 games putting up 56 tackles and a sack.  In the playoffs Carter made his presence felt as he picked off Ben Roethlisberger that put Denver in an easy situation to score which led to a field goal by Matt Prater that extended the score to 17-6 over Pittsburgh at the time.  In the divisional playoff round Carter intercepted Brady capping off a nice season for the rookie.

The veterans in Bailey, Florence, and Porter have been mentoring the young guys, and Carter and Harris have done all they can to keep all the information in their heads.  Both players have taken their challenges on well and be part of Del Rio's defense this year.

"I think the group is pretty good," Del Rio said. "We've got a good group of vets that are doing their best to share some of the knowledge that they've gathered over the years. I think he does take some time -- most of the guys do -- but Drayton in particular, Champ, those guys have been really good about giving some insight to some of the younger players, helping them grow."

Head coach John Fox believes the offseason workout will benefit the two players greatly which can make them into consistent contributors on the defense.

"The second time around, their sophomore season, they feel way more comfortable," Fox said. "Again, you have to develop a pro body. This game is twice as long as the college game when you figure in the preseason as well as the playoffs. It takes a while. They are much further along and much more comfortable the second time around."

Manning and Decker smooth out rough patches

by Ryan Ebert

After practice Wednesday Broncos QB Peyton Manning and WR Eric Decker stayed around and went over a few things after experiencing some lapses in communication during practice.

"I think it was evident, particularly offensively, that we were coming off a 4½-day hiatus," Broncos coach John Fox said. "But that's what happens. We gave them a little break, and I think they enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend. We've just got to get back to business."

Teams struggling in OTAs should only be taken lightly since there have only been a number of practices that have gone and much more to go. Receivers are still getting familiar with their quarterbacks more exclusively. Broncos tight end Joel Dreessen is thankful for OTAs and the workouts he gets with Manning.

Brian Xanders and the Broncos have parted ways

by Ryan Ebert

John Elway has made another yet surprising move for Denver. This time he has fired GM Brian Xanders. Xanders was named the GM back in 2008 by Mike Shanahan. Xanders never did have control over the roster with Shanahan, McDaniels, or Elway. 

Broncos acquire good talent late in draft

by Ryan Ebert

The Broncos looked to have done well in the Draft bringing in players to give depth and versatility to many positions.  Denver may have also gotten a few steals in this year's Draft.

The first player taken on Saturday in the fourth round 101 overall was Arizona State's Omar Bolden.  A cornerback that stands at 5'10" and 202 lbs.  He brings good speed running a 4.5 40 and has great agility.  He also brings value as a kick returner along with his great coverage skills, he brought two kicks for touchdowns in his career at ASU.  He will most likely be replacing Eddie Royal who left in the offseason to the Chargers.  He was rated as high as the second round, but had an injury to his knee that kept him out of 2011 season which hurt his value.  Many are hoping that he can be the successor to Champ Bailey.  He will rejoin quarterback Brock Osweiler in Denver who was also from Arizona State.

At No. 108 in the fourth round in the Draft Denver selected Baylor's center Philip Blake  Blake brings versatility to the offensive line as before he played center he was a guard when his teammate J.D. Walton was playing center.  He also has a little experience at playing right tackle.  Blake was an All-American selection in 2011 and a first-team All-Big 12 choice.  In 2010 he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 choice.  Blake is 6'3" and weighs in at 311 lbs. and benched 22 times at the NFL Combine.

In the fifth round at No. 137 the Broncos picked up defensive end Malik Jackson from Tennessee.  Jackson , a transfer from USC, posted 104 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 pick, 6 deflections, and a fumble recovery in two years with the Volunteers.  He's a player that can play inside and outside on the defensive line, and adds youth to the defensive line.  He stands at 6'5", 270 lbs.  He will join former Volunteers Britton Colquitt and Peyton Manning. In 2010 Jackson earned 2010 AP All-SEC second team honoree, and in 2011 earned All-SEC First-Team by the media and All-SEC Second-Team by the coaches.

The final player drafted by Denver in the sixth round at No. 188 is linebacker Danny Trevathan from Kentucky.  In 2011 Trevathan led the Wildcats in tackles with 143 along with 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, and 5 forced fumbles in his senior season.  He is a 6'1", 232 lbs. linebacker that was an AP First-Team All-SEC player in 2011.  He will bring depth to the linebacker corps of Denver that has D.J. Williams facing a six-game suspension, and doesn't have much talent behind their starters.  Trevathan will join his former teammate Wesley Woodyard that plays the same position as Williams.

Overall, this draft class for the Broncos filled many needs.  They get a cornerback who can take the responsibility of returning kicks.  A versatile offensive lineman who plays all three inside positions well.  They get a defensive lineman who can play either defensive tackle or defensive end, and can bring pressure on the quarterback.  Then last but not least Denver has a linebacker that could play early and often with D.J. Williams facing his suspension.  John Elway, John Fox, and Brian Xanders did a nice job in their second draft together.

Broncos don't get first-round pick

by Ryan Ebert

As the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft finished, Bronco fans may be disappointed in not having selected a player in the first round.  Yet there is a positive side to this.  Denver now owns eight picks instead of seven which can be used to add more pieces to help Manning, or of course strengthen the defensive side of the ball at the many positions Denver needs to gain depth in.

First this evening Denver traded their twenty-fifth pick to New England for the Patriot's thirty-first pick and a fourth-round pick.  Later on, that thirty-first pick along with a fourth-round pick was traded away to Tampa Bay for the thirty-sixth overall pick and a fourth-round selection.  The selections the Broncos now own in the Draft are: 36, 57, 87, 101, 108, 120, 137, and 188.  Six of those selections are between the second and fourth rounds of the Draft.

The players still on Denver's board are: Jerel Worthy, Courtney Upshaw, Stephen Hill, Kendall Reyes, and Janoris Jenkins.  Former Bronco great Terrell Davis will announce the Bronco's selection on Friday.

A few things said by Bronco's Vice President of Football Operations John Elway after the Draft ended:


"Well, we didn't get any better yet, but we will tomorrow,"

"Our board looked the same, and we have the same players at No. 36 than we would have had at No. 31," Denver Broncos Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said following the first round of the draft. "We don't have a new player yet, but we like where we sit. We're excited."

Other players in the second round Denver may pick are Lamar Miller, and Robert Turbin. 

Fear not Bronco fans. John Elway, John Fox, and Brian Xanders know what they are doing.

Brian Dawkins rides off into the sunset

by Ryan Ebert

After sixteen outstanding years in the NFL, longtime Eagles and Broncos safety for three years has decided to step away from the game and retire.  He announced this on Twitter on Monday morning:

The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years. I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing In me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & Coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that i have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL. #BBTB

He prayed, meditated, and spoke to people close to him to help him make his decision and be at peace with it.

Denver to add another RB?

by Ryan Ebert

Broncos head coach John Fox wants to add another running back to the roster regardless of Moreno's status. Willis McGahee will be turning 31 in October, and Knowshon Moreno is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in Week 10 against Kansas City. It's possible Moreno will start 2012 on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list. Moreno was arrested and charged with DUI, failing to have insurance and careless driving. 

"We certainly talked to him about it," Fox said at the NFL Annual Meeting, according to The Post. "... I don't think anybody knows too many perfect people walking around, but we take it very seriously, and we're going to monitor him going forward."