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.

Broncos players visit Aurora shooting victims

By Ryan Ebert | Ryan@nflen.com

Bronco players visited with victims of the Aurora shooting at the Medical Center of Aurora on Sunday.  Left tackle Ryan Clady, right guard Chris Kuper, wide receiver Eric Decker, tight end Jacob Tamme, linebacker Joe Mays, defensive end Ben Garland, and the retired Brian Dawkins were present.  Peyton Manning also called the victims on a one-by-one basis earlier in the day.  Twelve were killed and 59 injured in the tragedy.

“It was just such a tragic event,” Mays said. “You just wish that things like that never happened, but it did and my heart goes out to all the family members and loved ones. Today, we just wanted to come here and speak to those that were in the hospital and just talk to them a little bit. We just wanted to show extra support to them.”

The players spent time with the victims listening to story after story and learning about some connections with a few of them.

They first met with Steve Barton, who was biking across the country when the event happened.  The players grouped up in the room with his family and his friend Evan Rodriguez-Torrent ,also on the biking trip with Steve.

“We just wanted to come out show support and to be able to crack a smile with these guys -- it’s good to see that they’re making progress,” Decker said. “I think they’re excited to get out of here, but it’s just good to see a smile on their face.”

The next victim they met with was Carey Rottman, who has a gunshot wound in his leg.

After a while the conversation with Rottman turned to football and right guard Chris Kuper learned of a connection the two had.  Rottman played runningback at Winona State, and his team played against Kuper's North Dakota team.

“It meant the world,” Rottman said. “Especially with some of the guys I had a connection with through college football – we knew a lot of the same people and that just brings them down to more of a real level. It’s surreal.”

The two continued talking and talked about their games and Rottman discovered a few of his friends played with Decker and Mays in North Dakota State and Minnesota.

"We’re just here to show support for the medical staff and some of the victims and just kind of do what we can to help people,” Kuper said. “Hopefully we can lift someone’s spirits after such a tragedy.”

Next up the players met up with Josh Nowlen, who is an Iraq war veteran.  Nowlen jumped on his friends to protect them.  He suffered hits to his arm and leg.

While talking with Nowlen and the family, the players found out they were talking with Patriots fans.  The two groups were not on the same page with teams, but each left with a smile on their face.

  “A lot of these victims are in great spirits and just happy and blessed to be alive,” Clady said.

The seven players also spent time with the emergency room staff, who first treated the patients.

“We’re just thrilled to have the Broncos here to visit with the patients and uplift their spirits as well as the staff that was here,” Acting President of the Medical Center of Aurora Bill Voloch said. “There’s no doubt it helps the patients in every way. As they’re trying to recover from their injuries, it’s just a wonderful thing for the players to be able to come down and visit with them.”

The players felt that coming to visit the patients before training camp was the least they could do.
“When a tragedy happens to us as people, what I quickly do is think, ‘What if that was me? What if that was my brother? Or what if that was a friend going through that?’” Dawkins said. “It’s such a surreal thing that can happen in any place. So, I wanted to get in here and visit as many people as I could as quickly as possible to just bring a smile to their faces in the midst of what they’re going through right now.”

Ben Garland, a Colorado native, extended Dawkins thoughts.
"Colorado is a tight community,” he said. “We just wanted to come together and do anything we could for these victims. It’s been a tough summer for everyone, so if we can do even a small part just to help them out, we will.”

Ryan Clady offered contract extension

By Ryan Ebert | Ryan@nflen.com

Broncos All-Pro left tackle has reportedly been offered a five-year $50 million deal.  The contract extension includes $28 million guaranteed according to an NFL source.

The talks began in May, and if Clady takes the offer he would be included in one of the five richest offensive lineman in football, based on annual salary.  This upcoming year he is to earn $3.5 million; if he accepts the offer he will earn $10 million.

Since he was drafted with the 12th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft Clady has played all 66 regular season and playoff games.  In that time he has only missed 15 regular-season snaps.  In his rookie year he earned his All-Pro status when he did not allow one sack all year long, and he went to the Pro Bowl in the 2009 and 2011 seasons.

Denver is trying hard to keep the former Boise St. Bronco and have him guard Manning's blindside.  Here's hoping Clady stay a Bronco and retires as one too.

Denver's teams and players send condolences to those affected by Aurora shooting

By Ryan Ebert | Ryan@nflen.com

No one would have thought that the flag at the White House would have been lowered to half-staff on July 20, 2012.  Unfortunately there was such an event that made this happen.

On July 20, the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" started playing at midnight in theaters across America.  In Aurora, Colorado, a former honor student and recent graduate school dropout by the name of James Holmes walked in prepared and disguised wearing black with a bullet proof helmet and vest, ballistic leggings, throat and groin protector, black tactical gloves, a gas mask, and had three weapons on him.  He cast off two smoke grenades then opened fire killing 12 and injuring 59.

Zach Golditch remarkably walked away  after stray bullet went right through him

A six-year old girl was among those who were slain.  A three month old baby was also injured.  A Colorado State recruit named Zach Golditch got injured during the event when a stray bullet went through a wall and hit him just below the ear and exited at his hairline.  It is a miracle he did not suffer any serious injuries.

His family and friends never suspected this kind of action from Holmes as he was described as "quiet and easy-going" and never had problems; he was also described as "respectful".  Holmes barely talked and did not socialize.  As one man said, "No one knew him. No one."

Denver's teams and players payed respect to those effected in the shooting on twitter and through other ways:

The Colorado Rockies made a jersey remembering the sad event.

The Broncos said this in a statement:

"Our deepest, most heartfelt condolences go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy in our community"

Many Bronco players sent their prayers as well on Twitter and Facebook:

Ben Garland:  "I was planning on attending that exact movie in that theater but changed my mind.  Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims."

Ryan Clady:  "Thoughts and prayers to the victims in the shooting in Colorado.  Sad day"

Zane Beadles:  "Deeply saddened by the Aurora shooting.  A bit of anger too.  Prayers to all those affected. #tragic"

Terrell Davis:  "My heart goes out to all of the victims of the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting last night.  Just a senseless act by a coward. #tragic"

Willis McGahee:  "My thoughts and prayers are with my Denver family - can't believe the news of this mass shooting in Aurora - this is crazy"

Former Bronco Eddie Royal:  "Sick to my stomach hearing about the senseless tragedy in Aurora, CO last night... My thoughts and prayers are with those effected.  Really puts in perspective how insignificant our daily stresses are..."

Former Bronco Tim Tebow:  "My prayers go out to all the families and friends of the victims of the terrible tragedy that took place in Aurora, CO.  Psalm 23"

The Denver Nuggets:  "Our thoughts are with all of those affected by last night's tragedy in Aurora, CO."

Holmes was taken into custody "without any significant incident" as Aurora police chief Dan Oates said.

In the link below is a video of people frantically getting away and scary phone calls.

http://widget.newsinc.com/_cfvp/playlist16x9_player.html?CID=994&WID=10812&VID=23750245&freewheel=90115&sitesection=denverpost_nws_us_sec&external_url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21118947/

Holmes told police about explosives in his home which caused the police to evacuate five nearby buildings.

If you want to learn more about the bomb in his apartment the link is below.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21118947/

My own thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends in the shooting.  May God be with them.

Ryan Clady in talks of extension

by Ryan Ebert

Good news for Bronco fans!

The Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady is now in talks of an extension. 

He is to earn $3.5 million in 2012 which is the final year of his rookie contract.

Since he was drafted in 2008 with the 12th pick out of Boise St. Clady has started every game for Denver. In 2009 he first-team All-Pro when he made his first Pro Bowl appearance. Though he still has to return to his form before his knee injury he suffered in the 2010 offseason.

The Broncos allowed 42 sacks to opponents last year, and gave up 33 of them when Tebow was QB - which was 10th worst in the league.

In 2010 when Peyton Manning last played, Manning was only sacked 16 times.