SB Nation - Baraka Atkins

Dallas Cowboys: Unknown Quantities

Tom Ryle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:24 -0000

Fans of the Dallas Cowboys are combing through the free agent lists and waiting anxiously for the combine to try to figure out who the team may sign and draft to try and fill some of the holes that became so evident in 2011.

But when I was looking for something else, I glanced at the team roster at the mothership, and I noticed that there were a lot of names I had not seen in a while there, and a couple I had never seen at all. Normally, I would just chalk this up to stockpiling some camp bodies early, but then I noticed that most of the unfamiliar names on the list seemed to line up with the more obvious needs the Cowboys have, particularly on defense. And Dallas does have a recent history of finding starters from the UDFA and small college ranks, like Tony Romo and Miles Austin, and also in picking up players that did not work out with other teams but turned into pretty good acquisitions, like Laurent Robinson.

While most of these names will undoubtedly fade back into obscurity, I do think that there is a good likelihood that one or two of them will at least be a backup on the roster next year. And maybe, just maybe, one or two of them will turn out to be more than that. But all of these are unknown quantities, to some extent, so here is a list of them. They are all players that did not see any time on the 53 man roster (as best as I can tell), but are now listed as Dallas Cowboys.

See which of these ring a bell after the jump.

Most of these names joined the roster after the end of the regular season, some from the practice squad, and some apparently signed off the street. I am not looking at any of the free agents here, just players that are on the roster until the team cuts them.

Baraka Atkins DE 6'4" 271 lb 27 YO. College: Miami (the U). Drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 draft by the Seahawks, he saw limited action for two years, accumulating 29 tackles and 2 sacks. He was cut before the 2009 season, and was signed by both the Broncos and Steelers, but was a late cut before the regular season for both teams. He was signed to a futures contract on 01/10/12.

Mario Butler CB 6'1" 188 lb 23 YO. College: Georgia Tech. An UDFA who never saw the field during the regular season, he wound up on the practice squad at the start of the year. The first question is why he did not get a chance at any time during the season with all the problems the team had in the secondary. The second question is how likely is he to be worse than what the team put out there. His name has often come up as someone who may have some upside.

Robert Callaway DT 6'5" 312 lb 23 YO College: Saginaw Valley State. You have to wonder about someone whose name is misspelled on the team website (or maybe everywhere else?), but this one is a bit intriguing. After spending a year on the Lions practice squad, he did the same at Dallas, and there were some comments made about how he had looked good this year. Given the small college background, he might be one of those late blossomers who might come out of the off season and play a part.

Kai Forbath K 5'11" 197 lb 24 YO. College: UCLA. Was injured. Possibly an insurance policy, but I find it hard to imagine he is going to beat out Dan Bailey. Once upon a time, he may have had some small trade value, but those days seem gone forever in the NFL.

Andre Holmes WR 6'5" 208 lb 23 YO. College: Hillsdale. You don't get much smaller than Hillsdale College. Holmes was originally signed by the Vikings, but picked up for the practice squad at the end of the preseason. He is part of what I call the Laurent Robinson insurance unit, kept around in case Laurent's agent wins the argument about playing where you had success versus going for the big payout.

Orie Lemon LB 6'1" 244 lb 24 YO. College: Oklahoma State. Coming out of the preseason, there were several who thought that Lemon would be a more valuable player to have on the roster than Keith Brooking. They might have been right. He is one of the players I think have the best shot at sticking with the team and eventually playing a significant role as a backup ILB and special teams player.

Raymond Radway WR 6'3" 193 lb 24 YO. College: Abilene Christian. He was, by most estimates, exactly three seconds away from making the starting day roster. Instead, a broken leg put him on IR. Now, the team is going to see if he has recovered from the injury, and then see what happens with Laurent Robinson. If Mr. Robinson stays, then the target becomes Kevin Ogletree. Without any knowledge of how the rehab is going, I still would guess he has the best shot of anyone here of earning a roster spot. Especially if he can return kicks or punts.

Brashton Satele LB 6'0" 248 lb 24 YO. College: Hawaii. Spent a year on the New York Jets practice squad. Signed a futures contract on 01/12/12. Given his history, one of the longest of the long shots.

Justin Taplin-Ross CB 6'3" 214 lb 22 YO. College: Utah. An interesting note is that he is listed on some sites as a safety. He apparently had trouble with passing the physical due to an appendectomy, from what I have been able to gather, but I have not been able to come up with a source to back that up. Supposedly well liked by the coaches.

C. J. Wilson CB 6'1" 195 lb 26 YO. College: Baylor. Another player that is a safety when you look at some sites, but carried as a cornerback on the Dallas roster. He was a seventh round draft pick by the Panthers in 2007 and hung around, getting credit for being active in 23 games before getting cut for 2011.

Those are the unknowns. Three defensive backs, two linebackers, two defensive linemen, two wide receivers and a kicker that seems the odd man out. The others all play positions that the Cowboys either definitely need or have to be concerned about pending free agency. Could one or more of these players turn out to be part of the solution for Dallas? I would say Radway is likely to stick, and Lemon and Callaway both have a pretty good shot. Butler and Taplin-Ross are maybes, but not strong. How do you see it?

Poll

Will any of these players still be on the team in September?

Steelers 2011 Training Camp Roster Primer

Michael Bean — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:47:00 -0000

As announced previously in this space, XFINITY from Comcast has generously agreed to support the best NFL community around -- us! As part of that effort, XFINITY will be sponsoring our Steeler's’ training camp coverage as well as a variety of special editorial and interactive features on our site between now and the end of the 2011 NFL season.

Note: This post was written by barnerburner. I merely posted it under my name so as to have access to the sponsorship script and branding bar. Many thanks to him for the legwork involved with putting this together. -Michael B.-

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I thought about making a nice chart, but the lack of clarity at the cornerback position made formatting it very difficult. Next time through I'll try to have one.

The numbers in parentheses indicate how many people I think should fall into each position group when we go into the season, with the general breakdown at 25 each for offense and defense plus the 3 specialists. The exact numbers for each position are definitely not set in stone though, so maybe we'll have 8 LB and 10 DB instead of 9 LB and 9 DB (it's more a rough guideline to work from than anything).

Guys on the first line of each position group are starters/back ups I see as locks (or at least pretty safe bets barring injury) to make the team, while "in the mix" are guys returning under contract and resigned in-house free agents that can't take anything for granted in camp. "Offseason signings" are the usual collection of castoffs that haven't qualified for free agency and chose to (re)sign with the Steelers at the end of the season (guys returning from our practice squad last year have a "PS" after their names).

Rookies are noted separately for convenience with their school, position clarification within the unit if I thought it necessary, and round in which they were drafted if applicable. Aside from the top three draft picks - Cameron Heyward, Marcus Gilbert, and Curtis Brown - most of the rookies should certainly be considered "in the mix" rather than locks.

Since most of us probably aren't familiar with the UDFAs, here's some light reading from Steelers.com on most of them. Though I don't know much more about them than that, it sounds to me like John Clay (RB), Terrence McCrae (WR), Weslye Saunders (TE), Anthony Gray (NT), and Mario Harvey (LB) could be guys worth keeping an eye on in particular.

Offense:

QB (3) - Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon

We're more or less set here since Dixon finally signed his RFA tender.

Rookies: Chris Dieker (Southern Illinois)

RB (4) - Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman

Mendenhall is our workhorse and Redman the cult hero, all that's missing is a utility back for gamedays.

In the mix: Mewelde Moore, Jonathan Dwyer

Offseason signings: James Johnson

Rookies: Baron Batch (7th round, Texas Tech), John Clay (Wisconsin)

Moore has been our 3rd down/utility back since he signed with us as a free agent in 2008, but he's getting up there in age (just turned 29) and it's time to consider younger talent. In terms of skill set, Baron Batch is probably best suited for replacing Moore.

But Dwyer and Clay could be an interesting camp battle: they were both successful lead backs at one point - Dwyer in '08 had 1,395 yards (7.0 avg) and 12 TDs, ACC Player of the Year; Clay in '09 had 1,517 yards (5.3 avg) and 18 TDs, Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year. They both have skill sets that seem to be better suited for being a lead back rather than a 3rd-down role, however, they both can list a lack of top end speed, lack of receiving ability, and weight problems as reasons for their draft stocks plummeting.

WR (6) - Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown

Reigning Dancing with the Stars champion Hines Ward will preside over his band of merry young 'uns - Wallace hasn't come close to maxing out his talent yet and will only further solidify himself as the primary target in this offense, while Sanders and Brown are going to be hungry to build on encouraging rookie campaigns (though recent news indicates that Sanders might be looking at starting the season on the PUP list).

In the mix: Arnaz Battle, Limas Sweed

Offseason signings: Tyler Grisham (PS), Wes Lyons

Rookies: Eric Greenwood (Idaho), Terrence McCrae (Ohio), Adam Mims (Furman), Armand Robinson (Miami (Ohio))

The most interesting question for the receivers is whether Sweed has put all of his past demons and last year's Achilles injury behind him, and will he show that he's ready to deliver on the potential that made him a former second round pick. Sweed apparently thinks so and thinks he's ready.

Battle is really just a veteran that plays special teams. Given that, let's say some young kid comes along with measurables and raw potential - like a guy who is 6'3, 193 with 4.4 speed, said to have good hands and the ability to high-point the ball, and shows the apparent toughness to go over the middle and hang on after the catch. Now that purportedly describes Terrence McCrae. If McCrae shows a willingness to earn his stripes the hard way on special teams while doing his due diligence to learn the nuances of being a receiver and route running, I just might give him a chance as a dark horse to supplant Battle and make the roster.

TE (3) - Heath Miller, David Johnson

Miller really does do it all and is eternally underrated for it. Johnson plays plenty of lead blocking H-back, but for simplicity I'm calling him a tight end.

Offseason signings: Eugene Bright (PS**), Jamie McCoy

Rookies: Vaughn Charlton (Temple), Weslye Saunders (South Carolina)

**Note: Bright has switched back and forth between TE and DE

What's missing is a real #2 TE to back up Miller - hence the Steelers having brought in Daniel Graham for a visit last week to explore options. And since Matt Spaeth signed with the Bears, there's a good chance that one of these two UDFAs will make the team. On one hand, Charlton is a former college QB that switched to TE his senior season and could be an interesting hybrid-type player. On the other hand, Saunders' story is a bit of an adventure. He had actually once intended to enter the '10 draft before deciding to return for his senior season.

At this time last year, Saunders was regarded as one of the top TE prospects. Then he got caught up in the NCAA investigation into agent-related activity and illegal benefits: Saunders is friends with Marvin Austin and was with him on a couple of trips where agents paid for Austin, and twice lied to NCAA investigators about it before coming clean; he was investigated for a trip to Miami that may have involved contact with an agent; and he was also living in a hotel with a number of other South Carolina players long-term without paying standard rates. Saunders was kicked off the Gamecocks for good in September. He probably still would've been drafted (as many former UNC players were) if he hadn't sustained a stress fracture in his foot while working out at the combine.

OL (9) - Willie Colon, Jonathan Scott - OT; Chris Kemoeatu - G; Maurkice Pouncey, Doug Legursky - C

Colon is back and practically guaranteed to start at RT in the wake of Max Starks and Flozell Adams getting released for much needed salary cap relief. For better or worse, Jonathan Scott looks to be our starting LT until someone else proves they can do it better.

At guard, Kemoeatu is on the left, the revolving door remains on the right, and our young wonder Pouncey holds everything together at center. Legursky will probably back up all of the interior positions on gameday.

In the mix: Ramon Foster, Tony Hills, Chris Scott

Offseason signings: Dorian Brooks (PS**), Kyle Jolly, Nevin McCaskill

Rookies: Marcus Gilbert (2nd round - G/T, Florida), Keith Williams (6th round - G, Nebraska), Joshua Harrison (OT, South Carolina State), Colin Miller (C, Central Michigan), Trevis Turner (OT, Abilene Christian)

**Note: Brooks was called up for the Super Bowl after Pouncey was put on IR, so technically he ended the season on the 53-man roster. But for all intents and purposes we should probably just consider him a practice squad guy from last year.

Be on the lookout for a swing-tackle type that can back up both LT and RT - someone that can do what J. Scott did for the first half of last season before Starks went on IR with a neck injury. Since Trai Essex is gone and there have been no signings this offseason for a J. Scott-type veteran, it'll probably be whichever young kid impresses the most during the preseason (though I suppose it could also be J. Scott again if the young kid impresses so much that he earns himself the starting shirt at LT). Second round pick Marcus Gilbert will probably get a shot to start at RG while Kugler teaches him how to play OT (hopefully LT, specifically) like one of the big boys.

Defense:

DL (7) - Casey Hampton - NT; Ziggy Hood, Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith - DE

Ziggy, Keisel, and Smith should make for a solid gameday rotation at the ends, and Big Snack is going to plug the middle as always.

In the mix: Steve McLendon

Offseason signings: Ra'Shon Harris (PS)

Rookies: Cameron Heyward (1st round - DE, Ohio State), Ty Boyle (DE, North Dakota), Miguel Chavis (DE, Clemson), Anthony Gray (DT, Southern Miss), Corbin Bryant (DE, Northwestern)**

**Note: Bryant was originally reported to have signed with the Bears, but he is in Latrobe right now

Don't expect first round pick Cameron Heyward to be playing much early in the season - instead he'll be spending most of his time watching and learning from the combined powers of Smith/Keisel/Ziggy, just like how they brought along Ziggy his rookie year. Instead, look for another DE to be included in the rotation to help keep elder statesmen Smith and Keisel as fresh as possible. Ideally, this role would be filled by a savvy old veteran like Nick Eason, but unfortunately that's not an option.

McLendon could get a shot to show what he's learned after a couple years - he was called up as a depth guy when Smith got injured last season. Sources have said that Chris Hoke had pretty much inked a deal and would return as Hampton's back up, but until I see an official report saying he has signed (ESPN still shows him as unsigned and he's not listed on the roster on Steelers.com), I don't think we can take it for granted.

LB (9) - James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds - OLB; James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons - ILB

Harrison and Woodley are one of the best pass rushing tandems in the league, and Worild's is sure to be back behind them as last year's second round pick and a stud special teams contributor.

Farrior's a well respected team leader and his tank isn't quite empty yet, and Timmons is a beast in the middle.

In the mix: Larry Foote, Stevenson Sylvester

Offseason signings: Chris Ellis (PS), Baraka Atkins, Mortty Ivy, Chris McCoy

Rookies: Chris Carter (5th round - OLB, Fresno State), Eric Clanton (OLB, Citadel), Mario Harvey (ILB, Marshall)

My guess is that they'll try to round out the group with one more OLB, two more ILBs, and a developmental project/stud special teamer who could be either position. We had Thaddeus Gibson (last year's 4th round pick) on the roster as a depth OLB coming out of last training camp, but lost him to the 49ers when we tried to slide him to the practice squad to make room for McLendon on the roster when Aaron Smith effectively went down for the season. This year's 5th-round pick Chris Carter might have a shot to make it if he shows the same kind of skills/potential that Gibson did in camp last year.

Meanwhile, Foote should be the primary back up at ILB and Sylvester should have the inside track for the other spot replacing Keyaron Fox.

DB (9) - Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden - CB; Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Will Allen - S

Troy and Clark are starting safeties, that's a given. Will Allen should be back as the primary back up and a special teams ace.

However, depth at cornerback is pretty murky. Ike resigning is huge because without him, McFadden would've been our only returning veteran with any real experience - and McFadden's limitation is that he's much more of a sure-tackler rather than the lockdown kind of guy that'll make QBs wary and free up other DBs to roam elsewhere on the field. Behind them, it will be very interesting to see how the mix of young guys shakes out under new secondary coach Carnell Lake.

In the mix: William Gay, Crezdon Butler, Keenan Lewis - CB; Ryan Mundy - S

Offseason signings: Donovan Warren - CB; Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith (PS) - S

Rookies: Curtis Brown (3rd round - CB, Texas), Cortez Allen (4th round - CB, Citadel), Niles Brinkley (CB, Wisconsin), Brent Greenwood (S, Iowa)

I'd be surprised if someone beats out Mundy for the last safety spot - he hasn't played a whole lot thus far, but I think he acquitted himself well with a solid outing against the Jets during the regular season when Troy was out, and that does count for a bit.

Third round pick Curtis Brown should be a safe bet to make the squad based on draft status, even if he were to seem completely lost during camp. I see Gay, Butler, Lewis, and 4th-round pick Cortez Allen as the guys to watch in what will hopefully be a good fight for the last two roster spots.

Specialists:

Kicker - Shaun Suisham

Punter - Jeremy Kapinos

Offseason signings: Swayze Waters - K

Rookies: Aaron Bates (P, Michigan State), Derek Chard (LS, Connecticut)

ESPN and other sources are confident enough to say Daniel Sepulveda has resigned with us, but like Hoke, he's not yet showing up on Steelers.com's roster.

And we actually don't have any long snappers on the roster aside from UDFA Derek Chard (haven't seen anything yet about Greg Warren possibly returning).

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Broncos Announce Several Transactions

Brian Shrout — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:49:34 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Sunday announced several transactions, including the club being assigned running back Andre Brown (N.Y. Giants) and offensive lineman Chris Clark (Minnesota) off waivers.

Denver also on Sunday waived linebacker Baraka Atkins and running back Bruce Hall while adding five players to its practice squad (see below).

Brown (6-foot-0, 224 pounds) is a second-year running back who was selected by the Giants in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft from North Carolina State University. He spent his rookie year on the Giants’ reserve/injured list before leading the club in rushing yards (21-95, 4.5 avg., 1 TD) and kickoff return yards (7-120, 17.1 avg.) in his first action as a pro during the 2010 preseason.

At N.C. State, Brown played 44 games (30 starts) and finished his career ranked ninth in school history in all-purpose yards with 3,511, including 2,539 rushing yards (523 att., 4.9 avg., 22 TDs). Named North Carolina’s Associated Press Player of the Year at Greenville Rose High School in Greenville, N.C., Brown was born on Dec. 15, 1986.

Clark (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) is a first-year offensive lineman who spent the last two seasons on the Vikings’ practice squad after entering the NFL with Tampa Bay in 2008 as a college free agent from the University of Southern Mississippi.

A first-team All-Conference USA pick as a senior at Southern Mississippi, Clark started 39 consecutive games to end his collegiate career. He was an all-district selection at McDonogh High School in New Orleans and was born on Oct. 1, 1985.

Below is a look at the five players signed to Denver’s practice squad on Sunday:

Player                                     NFL Exp.               College
LB Kevin Alexander                      R                     Clemson
WR Britt Davis                               1                     Northern Illinois
TE Riar Geer                                 R                     Colorado
S Kyle McCarthy                           R                     Notre Dame
LB Worrell Williams                       1                  California

All Ready! Your 2010 Denver Broncos 53-man Roster

Jeremy Bolander — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:45:39 -0000

Quarterback (3)	Kyle Orton	Defensive Ends (4)	Justin Bannan
	Tim Tebow		Le Kevin Smith
	Brady Quinn		Ryan McBean
			Marcus Thomas
Running back (4)	Knowshon Moreno
	Bruce Hall
	Correll Buckhalter	Defensive Tackles (2)	Ronald Fields
	Lance Ball		Jamal Williams
Fullback (1)	Spencer Larsen
		Linebackers (8)	D.J. Williams
			Baraka Atkins
Tight End (3)	Daniel Graham		Mario Haggan
	Dan Gronkowski		Joe Mays
	Richard Quinn		Jarvis Moss
			Wesley Woodyard
Wide Receivers (6)	Demaryius Thomas		Jason Hunter
	Eddie Royal		Robert Ayers
	Matthew Willis
	Jabar Gaffney	Cornerbacks (6)	Andre Goodman
	Eric Decker		Nate Jones
	Brandon Lloyd		Cassius Vaughn
			Champ Bailey
			Perrish Cox
Offensive Line (9)	J.D. Walton		Syd'Quan Thompson
	Chris Kuper
	Russ Hochstein	Safeties (4)	Darcel McBath
	Eric Olsen		Renaldo Hill
	Ryan Harris		David Bruton
	Ryan Clady		Brian Dawkins
	D'Anthony Batiste
	Stanley Daniels	Special (3)	Matt Prater
	Zane Beadles		Britton Colquitt
			Lonnie Paxton

Immediate Reaction and Notes

Keep in mind, there could still be moves! Tweaking will continue for at least another 48 hours, and as the practice squad gets filled up.
I am honestly a little surprised by Batiste, due to the preseason, but I also realize beggars can't be choosers. We still need to work on our OL depth, but I feel a lot better now than I did 3 months ago. Lets get the real games started already!
A 6-man rotation on the DL is just a tad bit troubling, but it certainly rules out relying on 4-3 very much this year, since out OLB depth would be activated primarily for STs...
10 DBs again this year. This is an example of keeping the best players regardless of position. I expect the makeup of the backfield depth to change somewhat in response to McBath getting healthy. Keep in mind that we saw more names than this last year, just spread out more to accommodate injuries. We seem to be capitalizing on Bruton and McBath's quick development, and carrying the extra CBs early.
McDaniels cut bait with a number of players, including Seth Olsen. I was never a fan of the Seth Olsen pick (sorry Sayre!) because I didn't like the "fit" (though I love OL products from Iowa as a general rule).

Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings Game Preview

Sayre Bedinger — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:00:36 -0000

The Broncos' final pre-season game of 2010 will take place at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN, where they will take on Brett Favre and the Vikings.

At least, for a brief period of time.

The final pre-season game does not feature the starting groups for a very extended period of time. One or two drives is usually the maximum for the top units on either side, and the fourth pre-season game is really just a venue for bubble players to make their final case for a roster spot.

That's why this game, and many others across the league, will have a regular season feel if you watch with the right perspective.

We all know the story of Terrell Davis. Davis was looking horrendous in training camp his rookie season, and was apparently close to being cut. When the Broncos played a pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers, a young rookie made a play on special teams that any football fan would never get tired of seeing. Davis was in kickoff coverage, and he absolutely blasted the return man.

The play put Davis back in the eye of the coaching staff, and the rest is history. Some young Broncos and Vikings are looking to make a similar type of impact tomorrow night, one that will have a lasting impression on the coaching staff.

For the Broncos, much of the attention of this final pre-season game is going to be paid to quarterback Tim Tebow, who appears to have taken over the backup quarterback job from veteran Brady Quinn.

Tebow has had a very solid pre-season, throwing for 177 yards on 13 completions with one touchdown and one interception. He has also rushed for a touchdown.

Perhaps even a bigger storyline than Tim Tebow--dare I say it--is the potential return of not only running back Knowshon Moreno, but offensive tackle Ryan Clady. Clady suffered a partially torn patellar tendon prior to the draft, and Moreno tweaked his hamstring on the first day of training camp.

The Broncos, judging by some of their pre-season performance, are in desperate need of both players. Kyle Orton has been more nimble in the pocket than expected, but I'm sure he would appreciate an All-Pro left tackle. Clady is the best offensive tackle in the game, and is probably the best player on the Broncos' roster. He had a few slip-ups with the new power scheme, but he is still a dominant pass blocker, and he and Daniel Graham are deadly in the running game on the left side.

Denver is getting healthy, but they might be wise to hold some players out for the sake of potentially aggrivating an injury.

Since not many of you probably watch a lot of Vikings football (if you do, I apologize), here are some things you might like to know about their team.

Offense

The Vikings are quarterbacked by Brett Favre, not that that should come as a shock to anybody. He will see probably limited action in this pre-season game. Tarvaris Jackson is his primary backup. Jackson was in his second year in the league the last time he faced the Broncos, and he led the Vikings to a near come-from-behind victory in Denver on the final game of the 2007 season. Thankfully for me (I have to deal with Vikings fans on a daily basis), the Broncos emerged victorious in overtime.

Jackson has a very, very strong arm, and is a decent scrambler. He has good speed, but he is a pass-first quarterback. He's not overly accurate, but he's not really wild either. He's a servicable backup, and probably one of the better ones in the NFL.

Sage Rosenfels is the Vikings' third quarterback. He is likely auditioning for another team tonight. Rosenfels is becoming a journeyman backup quarterback. He's never been great, but he's stuck around long enough because he's a smart player. I would equate his effectiveness to that of Chris Simms, though he has a bit more of "it" than Chris does.

Joe Webb is a rookie from UAB who came to the team expecting to play wide receiver. They switched him back to quarterback early in the offseason. He has fantastic speed, and is very, very raw.

Adrian Peterson will carry the load this season for the Vikings, and he is arguably the game's best. He is much more humble than Chris Johnson, so I personally like him more. He's a powerful runner with fantastic speed, and he has gotten better in pass protection. His fatal flaw is his chronic fumbleitis.

Albert Young (Iowa alum) is the primary backup for the Vikings for now. He has been horrid running the ball in the pre-season, but has been great in pass protection.

Toby Gerhart needs little explanation around here, as many of us were hoping he would be drafted by the Broncos. He has been unable to win the backup job to Adrian Peterson thus far, but his day will come. He's a power back, no bones about it.

The Viking offensive line is stacked. Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson are the best left side in football. Phil Loadholt is enormous at the right tackle position, and had a great rookie season last year. Anthony Herrera might be moving to center with Chris DeGeare moving to right guard, giving the Vikings two more massive bodies up front.

Minnesota also owns one of the best groups of receivers in the NFL. Sidney Rice is not currently healthy, but he showed last year the kind of player he is becoming. Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian will likely be the starters, and both have unbelievable speed and quickness. Harvin is the better of the two, and has battled migraines in his career. He is what Eddie Royal should be in terms of his toughness and playmaking ability out of the slot.

Javon Walker was just signed by the Vikings, but is by no means a lock to make the final roster. Greg Camarillo was traded to the Dolphins for Benny Sapp, a trade that was absolute robbery for the Vikings. When Rice comes back, a corps featuring him, Berrian, Harvin, and Camarillo is going to be very potent. They also have Greg Lewis, who made the famous catch against the 49ers last season.

By the way, they have a Pro Bowl tight end as well. Visanthe Shiancoe is a great target at the TE position. Jim Kleinsasser is a blocking tight end who has been in this league seemingly forever, and Garrett Mills is another pass catching specialist on the depth chart.

Defense

This is, bar none, the best defensive line in the NFL. Jared Allen, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, and Ray Edwards could all be Pro Bowlers this season. That's scary for the other teams in the NFC. Their defensive ends go two or three deep as well. So deep, in fact, that former USC stud Everson Griffen is currently the third string end.

Former Bronco Jimmy Kennedy has found a niche as a reserve in Minnesota, and he rotates with Letroy Guion and Fred Evans on the interior.

The back seven are less than impressive, but feature a couple of big name players. E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway are good NFL players. Greenway should come as no surprise, as he was a former Iowa superstar. Ben Leber is replaceable, but he still makes plays.

We will see a lot of Erin Henderson and Kenny Onatolu from the linebacker position.

In the secondary, rookie Chris Cook and starter Cedric Griffin are both going to be out for this game and then some, but we will likely see Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield for a brief time. Asher Allen and Lito Shepard are vying for playing time, but the Vikings might be keeping just as close an eye on our secondary reserves as they are their own, as they are a candidate to trade for depth.

Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson are both capable starters, but are nothing to write home about. We will see a lot of Husain Abdullah and Jamarca Sanford, a player many Vikings fans think can take over a starting position this season.

Ryan Longwell and Chris Kluwe are both solid special team players as the kicker and punter, Heath Farwell is a very good special teams player, and Rhys Lloyd handles the kickoffs.

For the Broncos, here are some things to watch for:

1. Run Defense Improvement

The Broncos have had the worst run defense out of all 32 teams so far this pre-season. That includes the St. Louis Rams. The Broncos have to limit the big play against the Vikings. Albert Young and Toby Gerhart have not run well in the pre-season so far. If they run buck wild tonight, red flags should be raised. Denver signed three big defensive linemen to patch up their run defense this offseason, and along with their holdovers from last year, it's reasonable to expect solid improvement in this area. I will be keeping a close eye on Ronald Fields and Chris Baker.

The big play has been a serious problem in the running game. The Broncos need to finish plays better, or they are going to be in too deep when they take on a slew of fine running backs this year.

2. Pass Rush

I really enjoyed the pressure we applied to Pittsburgh quarterbacks. The Vikings have two quarterbacks that can move, and two that can't. We should see a good mix in that area. Jarvis Moss, Jason Hunter, and Robert Ayers are all players I'll be keeping an eye on. If they could all get a sack, I would feel content heading into the regular season. That might be wishful thinking, but who knows.

Moss and Hunter are trying to hold off Baraka Atkins for playing time. Atkins has a sack this pre-season, but I've not seen much else from him. Hunter appears to be the most capable against the run, but Jarvis has the edge in the pass defense department. I am really going to enjoy watching those two battle it out for regular season playing time.

3. Run, run, run

Lance Ball has quietly had a decent pre-season. He is averaging nearly six yards a carry. If Ball can break out this game, I think he will have definitely earned a roster spot in LenDale White's absense, and the Broncos could keep both afterward if Elvis Dumervil is not progressing.

LenDale White should see some playing time tonight as well, and if he can generate some solid numbers against this Viking run defense, I will be very, very impressed. They are an extremely tough unit. White could be a key reserve for the Broncos this season as a power back.

Bruce Hall had some nice runs in the Detroit game, but I don't expect him to make the final roster. I hope he runs hard against the Vikings and earns a practice squad spot. The Broncos could turn to him in case of a barrage of injuries.

4. Wide Receiver Battle

I don't know that Brandon Stokley will play tomorrow, but the team's second leading receiver so far this pre-season is the most impressive offseason player not named Orton--Matthew Willis. He has averaged over 17 yards per reception, and has shown great ability so far this pre-season. He can also play special teams, which is really important to this coaching staff. If he doesn't make the team, I will not only be shocked, I might be a little angry. Scratch that, I will be very angry. If he doesn't deserve to make the team, no bubble player does.

Brandon Lloyd is currently the starting receiver, and he's made some plays this pre-season. He and Stokley are probably the two receivers battling it out for the final receiver spot. If Stokley doesn't play tonight, I don't see how you could keep him on the team based on the performances of Lloyd and Willis.

5. Cornerbacks

This situation has a similar feel as the receiver situation. A good player is going to be let go. Alphonso Smith has been the whipping boy, and despite the fact that some people might think he's on the bubble, I feel otherwise. He has not yet developed, and has shown some flashes of the ability the Broncos saw in him this pre-season. Syd'Quan Thompson would not clear waivers at this point, so I think that leaves Nate Jones. He is going to need a big game against the Vikings. His biggest asset is his versatility, as he can play both safety and corner. I think he is a candidate to be traded right now, and the Broncos could possibly get their sixth round pick back that they traded for Brady Quinn.

Cassius Vaughn is also a player that has been discussed, and I think he will be a special teams candidate and potentially a roster player for next season. He has blazing speed and has done well on coverage units.

I could not be more excited for this game. Perhaps it's just a hangover from the Pittsburgh game, but I don't care what anyone says--the pre-season is meaningful. The wins don't count, but they sure as heck matter. The Broncos, who are expected to be led by Tebow for a good majority of this game, will be in this game to win it.

Hopefully, someone stands out like T.D. did once upon a time. Their NFL career might depend upon it.

Potent Quotables - 8/25/10 - Ryan Clady Speaks

John Bena — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:50:20 -0000

Quotes Provided By The Fine Folks With The Denver Broncos P.R. Staff

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On OL Ryan Clady

"Obviously he's a very talented player. I think he provides some - and again, this is his first day back, so it's not like you're going to see him doing everything today. We're going to work him back in slowly but I think it starts to get back to some semblance of the group that you thought you were going to play with the whole year. Unfortunately the injury occurred but I think the players are excited, I heard some of the defensive players talking about it. Some of the guys that have never seen him play - they're excited. I think (QB) Kyle (Orton) is excited - the quarterback is obviously excited - but I think the guys who have played in that spot have done a good job too and they're going to have to continue to do a good job because Ryan isn't quite ready to go out there and play 75 plays at this point. I think we're excited about it and at the same time we're going to try to be smart and get him back to the point where we feel like he can play at his highest level and that may not be for a few more weeks."

On CB Perrish Cox's impact on the return game

"He's certainly got a lot of ability. I think the biggest question we're going to have for him is, ‘Can we trust him to field every ball and make sure that we have possession at the end of the play?' He dropped one yesterday in practice but then he does three or four really good things so I think ball possession will be No. 1 - and that's the most critical area for us. (WR) Eddie (Royal) has certainly shown the ability to do that. He's been returning some punts and some kicks in practice too. We still have some time; we're going to let both of them continue to do that. (WR) Matt Willis has also done it; (CB) Cassius Vaughn is back there doing it too. We're not going to make any decision now, but I'd say that Perrish is getting better every day and he certainly has ability to help us in both phases."

On whether it's fair to judge the run defense this early

"Yeah, it's fair to judge. I think whoever is out there has to do what we're trying do. I think we've played good run defense in camp. There's also been some things we've needed to fix - from the Detroit game the other day - we didn't do a particularly good job of containing the edge and then inside we created a few seams in there that we shouldn't have created but I think we have the right idea, I think the players know what we want to try to do. I think when they're all in there and they're all healthy and they're all trying to play together, I think we can be a good run defense. I think that, I really do. It's still something we're trying to progress in and we worked on it hard yesterday and we're going to work on it hard again today. It's something that you really can't stop working on at all."

On what makes Ryan Clady such a good offensive tackle

"Well, I think anytime a tackle comes into the league, I think there's a period of an adjustment to the style of rushers - the different speed of the game and Ryan was able to pick that up quickly. Obviously as a rookie, he did a nice job pass protecting. Last year (he) did a good job of the same thing. That's usually the area where they struggle the most, the young linemen, and I think Ryan has good footwork, he has obviously long arms, he's hard to rush through and he knows how to play the game against different styles of rushers. I think that's really been key to his success as a pass protector. I think every player is different. Certainly a lot of tackles get drafted in the first round and some are capable of playing on that left side quickly and some struggle and we're very fortunate that he's where he's at and hopefully he can return to that form shortly."

On who is competing for the linebacker spot opposite of LB Robert Ayers

"Well it's really the ‘Will,' it's not really the rush spot, I would say, because it could be on the right or the left; we flop them based on the strength of the formation. Robert's always been on the strong side this year. It's going to be (Jason) Hunter, (Jarvis) Moss, (Baraka) Atkins, (Kevin) Alexander, there's a load of them over there and really we're going to let those guys compete and see. If one of them deserves to play 65 plays then we'll let them do that but if we feel like we can get a good 30 plays out of a couple of them, then we might rotate them but they're all competing in there hard, trying to earn that spot."

On LB Baraka Atkins

"He's physical, he's got long arms. Certainly he has the body that you look for to play on the edge. He's been able to do a decent job in the run game and then he's had some production in the pass rush - whether it's been sacks, pressures or forcing the quarterback out of the pocket, he's done some different things there too. He knows both (linebacker) spots also, which is important. He can swing to the strong-side spot and the weak-side spot, which is valuable because if you go to the game, a lot of times you don't go with a backup for every spot so that's also increased his value in our mind. He's shown up a little bit in the kicking game. Again, if you're not a fulltime starter on offense or defense, you better be a pretty good player in the kicking game or else you're standing on the sideline all day and usually those guys are inactive. He's just stood out as being consistent, worked hard, he's been out there every day and I think he's really just steadily improved."

On the players' reactions to roster cuts

"I think they all understand. Maybe the first couple of times that you have to start to cut the roster down, I think there might be a little bit of, ‘Oh, it's that time of year,' kind of thought process. I thought our players practiced hard yesterday - it's not a part of the year that anybody looks forward to. Certainly we've been working with a lot of these guys for months now and they've done everything we've asked and I think our players understand that it's something that we have to do. We have to get down to 53 on the roster and they responded yesterday to the things we did yesterday well and I hope that they have that mentality going forward."

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN RYAN CLADY

On what is feels like to finally be out at practice

"It feels good. Right now, (I'm) just trying to get back to full speed and I would like to thank ‘Greek' (Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos) and the rest of the training staff for getting me where I am now, and just try to continue to improve."

On how these last few months have been for him as he has watched training camp

"Just rehabbing and just trying to stay focused on football - watching film and seeing what the other guys are doing and try not to make the same mistakes."

On when he expects to return to playing

"I don't know. I mean right now we are just taking it day-by-day and just trying to improve."

On how he feels in terms of his readiness to play

"I feel pretty good, and like I said just try to take it slowly and get back to full speed."

On if he ever worried about his injury

"No, I didn't really worry too much. I knew that with the trainers we have here I would be able to get back as soon as possible."

On how frustrating it was to just watch training camp

"Yeah, it's a little frustrating. You want to be out there with the guys and also getting better every day; so it's a step back I took but I will move forward and try to improve."

On how much pressure he feels to get back on the field

"I mean there's a little pressure. With any starter in the NFL, you've got to just try to get back as soon as possible and try to play and make the team better."

On what he has seen from the young players on the offensive line

"We've got some good talent out there. We've just got some younger guys. They're getting better every day, so it's just a new offense for them and it's the NFL; they should be ready though."

On if he has given any advice to the rookies

"I mean you just have to be patient and just go out there every day with a good mindset and try to work hard."

On if he second-guessed his decision to play basketball in the offseason

"You know, it's just something I do in the off season to try and stay in shape. I won't be doing that any more. So, we won't have this discussion again."

On if he is in better shape after rehabbing

"Yeah, yeah my upper body is pretty strong right now, so I'm feeling good about that."

QUARTERBACK KYLE ORTON

On getting OL Ryan Clady back at practice

"Every time we're getting these guys back, it's a good sign and certainly Ryan is one of our best players so as soon as we can get him back, the better."

On the importance of the offensive line practicing as a complete unit

"Well, it is important - you've got to work as a group, no question about it. It's not five individuals out there, it's a group out there playing so you've got to get the timing and all the calls that you want to make, so that's important but more importantly we want the guys healthy."

On whether getting OL Ryan Clady back changes his approach as a quarterback

"You know, you can make small little differences in the play calls to help out with your backup tackle or whatever. Usually when we have the big guy back there, he's one-on-one and everybody knows that."

On getting RBs Correll Buckhalter and LenDale White back from injury

"Well, it's big - obviously it's big to the backfield, they're big parts of what we do in the run game and in the pass game. But, you know, at any position we need all these guys getting back as soon as possible so we can get some practice time with them before it gets to be (Week 1 at) Jacksonville."

On the third preseason game vs. Pittsburgh

"Yeah, this is a good week for us, you kind of game plan a little bit more for the third game. You try to take your preparation like you would a little bit closer to a regular-season game so to get in that routine with some guys that haven't been around is important and really offensively, this is your last time to get out there and get significant playing time before Jacksonville, so you obviously want to end with a good taste in your mouth."

On OL Ryan Clady's rehab

"Yeah, he's had quite the busy offseason. He's spent a lot of time with (Head Athletic Trainer Steve) "Greek" (Antonopulos) and (Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich) Tuten and all those guys but he's worked hard to get himself back into shape and I'm sure he has a ways to go."

Horse Tracks - 8/25/10

John Bena — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:43:46 -0000

Royal's role at slot with Broncos - The Denver Post
"Things are different this year," Royal said. "I'm learning a new position, going to play a new position. I'm learning a lot of little things and some big things. But I think it should be able to all pay off during the season."

Five injured Broncos rejoin practice - The Denver Post
Five key players returned to practice Tuesday, three days after 16 players were held out of the preseason game against Detroit because of various injuries. The players who made their return were running back Correll Buckhalter, cornerback Champ Bailey, right guard Chris Kuper, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and linebacker D.J. Williams.

Preseason starter Ayodele released - The Denver Post
Ayodele became expendable when the Broncos decided to move Mario Haggan from outside linebacker to the inside "Mike" position, where Haggan spent all of the offseason and the early portion of training camp. The team has bumped Robert Ayers into the starting lineup at outside linebacker along with Jarvis Moss, who returned last week from a broken hand. Joe Mays and Wesley Woodyard, both key special-teams players, will provide depth at inside linebacker. Baraka Atkins, Jason Hunter and Jammie Kirlew will fight for jobs on the outside.

Analysis: Broncos' young offensive linemen awaiting big test against Steelers' defense - The Denver Post
If NFL preseason games are indeed learning experiences, the youthful core of the Broncos' offensive line will get a different lesson plan Sunday night during Denver's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Q&A: Look for Ryan Clady to practice soon and possibly play in the Broncos' Sept. 12 opener - The Denver Post
How close is all-pro offensive tackle Ryan Clady to playing? I became sick when I heard about his knee injury during the offseason. If he is unable to play, would the Broncos try to recoup some of his salary or signing bonus because his injury didn't happen while playing football?

Website names Tebow most eligible Christian bachelor of year - The Denver Post
Christian Partner for Life, an online guide to Christian dating sites, has named rookie Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow as its most eligible Christian bachelor of the year.

Elway has Senior Open tee times - The Denver Post
John Elway is ready to launch his senior golf career Sept. 1 in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open at Green Valley Ranch, where the former Broncos star will compete against 155 other amateur and professional golfers in the 11th edition of the tournament.

Tyler Polumbus: I was blessed to play in Denver for the Broncos | All Things Broncos
Tyler Polumbus has said several times over the past two years that playing for the Broncos was a dream situation after growing up in Denver, attending Cherry Creek High and the University of Colorado.

Denver Broncos add Jason Hunter, Worrell Williams, cut Akin Ayodele | All Things Broncos
When the defense runs out for the first defensive series against Pittsburgh on Sunday, the starting lineup of linebackers will likely look like this: outside — Robert Ayers and Jarvis Moss; inside — Mario Haggan and D.J. Williams.

Sidney Rice of Minnesota Vikings has hip surgery - ESPN
Favre and the Minnesota Vikings will play the first half of the season -- or more -- without Pro Bowl receiver Sidney Rice, who had hip surgery this week.

NFL fines Chad Ochocinco $25K for in-game tweets - ESPN
Chad Ochocinco already has been hit with his first fine of the new NFL season -- nearly three weeks before the games start to count.

Chan Gailey lectures teens for heckling Buffalo Bills players - ESPN
Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey talked to his team at the end of practice Tuesday, then wanted to address one more issue before leaving the field.

New York Jets decline to comment on Darrelle Revis signing reports - ESPN New York
This much is undisputable: As of early Tuesday night, New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis still was AWOL, his contract holdout at 24 days. When he reports to the team -- if he reports -- has become the subject of conflicting reports.

Sprained ankle rules Donovan McNabb out for Washignton Redskins-New York Jets - ESPN
A sprained ankle will keep Donovan McNabb on the sideline Friday night when the Washington Redskins play the New York Jets.

High ankle sprain sidelines Seattle Seahawks rookie LT Russell Okung - ESPN
Pete Carroll has his first dilemma with the Seahawks, and his return to the NFL hasn't even started for real yet.

Bill Cowher: Ben Roethlisberger finally showing maturity - ESPN
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher says it was hard to get through to Ben Roethlisberger after the quarterback had so much success early in his career.

St. Louis Rams plan to play QB Sam Bradford at least one half - ESPN
Sam Bradford has the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback job this week. Now he's got to produce.

Omaha's UFL team confirms interest in Maurice Clarett - ESPN
A day after a lawyer for former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett said his client wanted to try out for a professional team in Nebraska, the team's general manager confirmed it.

Can QBs survive the pressure? | National Football Post
My co-host Howard David and I had a great conversation Sunday morning with New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Sirius NFL Radio. Much of what we spoke about related to two subjects: applying pressure to the QB and trying to win it all again.

How the loss of Rice will impact the Vikings | National Football Post
Let’s talk about the impact of Sidney Rice’s injury on the Minnesota Vikings. After his reported surgery, the WR is expected to miss half of the regular season. That is 83 receptions, 1,312-yards and 8 TDs. Pro Bowl numbers in the training room. Yes, the Vikings and QB Brett Favre will still run the west coast system under Brad Childress, but when we take a step back and look at this offense without Rice — and without Percy Harvin at the moment — they are much easier to prepare for.

Upshaw's impact still lingers | National Football Post
With all that is going on away from the field in this busy preseason, it went with little notice that Friday marked the two-year anniversary of the death of Gene Upshaw, the former Raider great and longtime chief of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

Jets claim Brooks Foster, sign Keith Fitzhugh | National Football Post
Wide receiver Brooks Foster was claimed off waivers today by the New York Jets, a league source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

Trevor Pryce says he can make up for pay cut with incentives | National Football Post
Baltimore Ravens veteran defensive end Trevor Pryce accepted a $2.5 million pay cut during the offseason, and is now due a $2 million base salary.

Patriots place Kade Weston on injured reserve | National Football Post
New England Patriots rookie defensive lineman Kade Weston has been placed on injured reserve.

Texans cut James Wyche, sign Derrick Townsel | National Football Post
The Houston Texans have cut veteran free agent defensive end James Wyche and announced the previously reported signing of wide receiver Derrick Townsel.

Texans' Trindon Holliday out for the season | National Football Post
Houston Texans rookie sixth-round wide receiver and return specialist Trindon Holliday is out for the entire season due to a torn thumb ligament that will require surgery.

Browns waive-injured Kwaku Danso | National Football Post
The Cleveland Browns have waived-injured defensive lineman Kwaku Danso, the team announced today.

Bears LB Nick Roach has knee scoped | National Football Post
Nick Roach had arthroscopic surgery to clean out his left knee today and the Chicago Bears are saying the linebacker should be ready to go for the start of the season.

NFL.com news: Jets QB Sanchez pledges to protect knee by wearing brace
The New York Jets quarterback will wear a protective brace on his surgically repaired left knee "probably forever" to guard against future injuries after a scare in a preseason game last Saturday.

NFL.com news: Raiders RB McFadden returns to practice, ready to face 49ers
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden practiced for the first time in more than two weeks Tuesday and expects to make his preseason debut this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL.com news: Chargers' Mathews undergoes procedure to halt nosebleeds
Chargers rookie running back Ryan Mathews had his nose cauterized in an uncomfortable procedure he says should eliminate nosebleeds that have plagued him during his football career.

Colt McCoy is on the Browns' roster bubble - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
One of the big four college star quarterbacks drafted into the NFL in 2010 may not survive into the regular season. While Sam Bradford(notes) (Rams), Tim Tebow(notes) (Broncos) and Jimmy Clausen(notes) (Panthers) are assured of making their teams, former University of Texas standout Colt McCoy(notes) might need to prove himself in the Browns’ final two preseason games to make their roster.

Kroenke expected to be approved as Rams new owner - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
"He's a good man and, obviously, we feel comfortable with Stan," Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay, a member of the nine-man finance committee, told The Sports Xchange. "He's as good as it gets. You can't just let good people go, that's for sure, and he's a good one. He's got the kind of financial wherewithal you can't ignore. And, while he's not a guy to grab the mic [at league meetings], he knows the room and he knows the game. He respects the league and he respects the sport, and it will be good to have him."

Leinart's starting job is in jeopardy - CBSSports.com
After another subpar performance in what has been a career of subpar performances, people are questioning whether Arizona QB Matt Leinart’s starting job is in jeopardy. As Andy pointed out last night, Leinart was 4 for 6 for 28 yards against the Titans on Monday, and he led his team to a trio of three-and-out possessions.

Kurt Warner Reaffirms Retirement via Twitter as Cards Look Awful -- NFL FanHouse
While the Warner-less Arizona Cardinals were flailing away on offense during their 24-10 preseason road loss at Tennessee, the ESPN "Monday Night Football" crew couldn't help but wonder whether the former Cards star and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was watching -- or cringing -- at what Matt Leinart and the rest of the Arizona offensive unit was doing.

Raiders, Kyle Orton among NFL preseason Week 2 winners - Don Banks - SI.com
Brace yourselves, I'm about to jump on the Raiders' bandwagon even before it really gets rolling. The NFL preseason is all about trying to generate some momentum to carry into the regular season, and to this point, I see no team in the league that has more mojo building in August than the long-downtrodden Raiders. That's right, the Oakland Raiders, they of the seven-year streak of 11-plus-loss seasons.

Pre-Official Depth Chart for Broncos vs. Bengals--Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:30:33 -0000

In anticipation of the relatively meaningless advent of the upcoming Broncos vs. Bengals depth chart, I thought I would take a quick look and throw out some guesses as to the lineup we can expect, while inviting you to share your thoughts on the subject as well.

The typical caveats apply: nothing is set in stone, the situation is fluid, it's only preseason, no guarantee is expressed or implied, your mileage may vary, yada, yada, yada...

For me this is an exercise in "stock valuation," and providing a first quarter preseason snapshot of rising and falling stock across the team. I can't say that my personal depth chart is loaded with fantastic surprises that stagger the imagination, but I'm sure some of you will pick up the slack in that category.

The list is after the jump. See you on the other side.

*All positions are listed in descending order from '1st string.'

OFFENSE

QBS: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Tim Tebow

-I suppose the real argument here might be whether Tebow has moved up to #2 ahead of Quinn...I'm o fthe mind that that moment will come soon enough, but it isn't here yet.

RBs: Lance Ball, Bruce Hall, Toney Baker, LenDale White, Correll Buckhalter, Knowshon Moreno

-With Buck and Knowmo likely sitting this one out there really isn't a lot of suspense here. White hasn't practiced since he went out of practice with what seemed like muscle cramps, so really we could see a lot of action from Ball, Hall and Baker, with FBs getting a few reps as well. I've listed them in order of quality experience here, which aligns well with my personal fave of the group, Lance Ball.

FBs: Spencer Larsen

-Except for the fact that Larsen will probably see more carries this preseason than he will for the rest of his career, nothing too special going on here. I expect Branson to get reps back there as well of course, but I am listing him as a TE for this exercise.

WRs: #1: Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Alric Arnett, Demaryius Thomas

#2: Eddie Royal, Matthew Willis, Patrick Carter, Britt Davis, Eric Decker

Slot: Brandon Stokley

-I expect to catch a lot of flak for this arrangement, but allow me to explain my reasoning. First of all,I have Decker and Thomas sitting this game out, just to be safe, though Thomas might be a go. I would put Royal at starting slot and Lloyd at starting #2, but Lloyd is still nursing his hamstring, and so he may not be a full go, so I have Royal taking the lead for the #2 with Stokes taking the starting slot for now. Willis is the backup #2, but I would list him as a backup slot as well, just because his overall performance merits a solid spot on the depth chart. Everyone else is in no particular order or place, though I would list Arnett ahead of both the new guys, if only barely.

TEs: Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn, Marquez Branson, Riar Geer, Nathan Overbay

-Nothing amazing here, just a note that Overbay is the "pricier" stock, but I think Geer has been messing up less and so gets a boost on the list for being more consistent, if not flashy.

RT: Ryan Harris, Kirk Barton, Paul Duncan

-Pretty normal, I think.

RG: Chris Kuper, Eric Olsen

-Kuper is dinged, but I think he gives it a go. I think it is a toss-up with Hochstein and Olsen as far as 2nd string C and RG go, but I am listing the more conservative variation with the rookie at RG.

C: J.D. Walton, Russ Hochstein, Dustin Fry

-This is the conservative lineup, since J.D. shows no signs of giving up the job. Fry could be an early cut.

LG: Zane Beadles, Seth Olsen, Stanley Daniels

-So far I am liking the first string lineup. Nothing shocking here.

LT: D'Anthony Batiste, Tyler Polumbus, Ryan Clady

-I think Batiste has moved ahead of Polumbus.

DEFENSE

RDE: Jarvis Green, Ryan McBean, Le Kevin Smith

-I know, I know, "Jarvis is the 3rd down specialist!" Again, I tend to take a conservative stance, and the longtime vet gets the nod over the young guy. Either way, nice depth here.

NT: Jamal Williams, Ronald Fields, Chris Baker

-Just as I said in my DL breakdown, I expect that Williams will make his impact felt early, and Fields will rotate in liberally, so I would be more likely to list Williams and Fields as 1A and 1B.

LDE: Justin Bannan, Marcus Thomas, Ben Garland

-Nothing shocking here.

ROLB: Robert Ayers, Jammie Kirlew, Kevin Alexander, Jarvis Moss, Elvis Dumervil

-Interesting twist, I have Ayers getting first dibs on replacing Doom's production. Moss will be clubbing away with the second unit in a few weeks, building up more confidence.

RILB: D.J. Williams, Joe Mays, Nick Greisen

-Once again, nothing shocking. Mays is looking like a smart acquisition.

LILB: Wesley Woodyard, Akin Ayodele, Devin Bishop

-I love typing in Woodyard as a starter...

LOLB: Mario Haggan, Baraka Atkins, Darrell Reid

-Haggan's demeanor, size and physicality will be assets on the strongside. I'd rather see him stay in the middle, but this is the next best thing.

RCB: Andre Goodman, Alphonso Smith, Syd'Quan Thompson, Tony Carter

-Nothing to amazing here, I have Syd'quan ahead of Carter based on ceilings as I see them, but I'm not married to the idea.

LCB: Champ Bailey, Perrish Cox, Cassius Vaughn

-Is Cox looking good or what? My grade for him was 2nd round, and lots of people thought 1st round. I am still amazed at what a steal he was, moreso than most of the DB steals in the deep 2010 class.

NCB: Nate Jones

-Admittedly, the Broncos won't be getting this specific. I think their chart will list Jones as the #2 RCB and Phonz as the #2 LCB

SS: Renaldo Hill, David Bruton

-Mark it down and lock the catbox. This particular position won't change for the rest of the year, barring (shudder) injury.

FS: Brian Dawkins, Darcel McBath, Kyle McCarthy

-I want to cry tears of joy when I think how much better our safety depth has gotten over the last two years.

*****

Pretty conservative overall, I admit that. Who do you got?

2010 Denver Broncos Positional Previews - Outside Linebackers

ejruiz — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:30:21 -0000

There is a case to be made for several positions across the defense as the cornerstones of the 3-4 alignment. Certainly the nose tackle gets much of the credit for its ultimate success or failure, but his efforts would be in vain if not for the performance of the linebackers behind him. In particular, the outside linebackers are called upon to shoulder the lion's share of the pass rushing burden and their ability to speed up the offense or make plays behind the line of scrimmage becomes absolutely essential. The exploits of our very own Elvis Dumervil are an excellent example of the game-changing nature of the OLB. Whereas star cornerbacks are at their best when they force the QB's eyes elsewhere and the stud NT is doing his job when he merely occupies two blockers, the OLB is the variable that determines the tenor and tone of each and every play. Lucky for the Broncos, "Doom" isn't the only weapon at that position on the roster already. Follow me below the fold for a closer look at the depth at outside linebacker currently present in Denver.

Elvis Dumervil

#92 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: January 19, 1984 (Age 26)

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 248 lb

College: Louisville

Acquired: 2006 Draft, 4th Round, 126th Overall

Contract: 2010: $3,168,000, 2011: Free Agent

It's a true pleasure to write about a man who really needs no introduction. Ironically enough, Dumervil has had to make a name for himself over and over again, in level after level, throughout his impressive football career. Despite a then-school-record 78 career sacks in highschool, Elvis was overlooked by the traditional college football powers of his home state and had to make his way up to Kentucky to continue on the path that would eventually lead him to the NFL and our beloved Denver Broncos.

After largely sitting out for two years at Louisville, Dumervil finally worked his way into the Cardinals regular rotation at defensive end as a junior, and - in what would become a sign of even greater things to come - he impressed with six sacks in his final three regular season games played. As a senior, Elvis managed to match his season sack total from the previous year (eight) in just his first two games and racked up 17 in all. Following that astonishing campaign, he collected a litany of personal accolades highlighted by the Bronco Nagurski Award (presented to college football's best defensive player) and first-team All-American honors. Despite all that, his draft stock suffered due to concerns over his size, stamina and skill-set.

Punditrys protect their dubious expertise from being discredited due to their inability to accurately foresee significant future events in their fields by making claims of "perfect storms" gathering to produce the results they did not predict. In the case of Elvis Dumervil, this meant giving some portion of the credit for his "breakout" All-Pro 2009 season to the 3-4 scheme implemented in Denver by new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. They also made sure that their astonishment at his achievements came across as though they were championing a true underdog story for our benefit and even his. The simple fact of the matter, however, is that Dumervil followed up a record-setting highschool career with an historic two-year stretch in college and even flashed glimpses of his ultimate pro potential with 26 total sacks during his first four years as a Bronco. The bottom line is this: Elvis didn't become a superstar last year. He's been a superstar since he was a teenager and, in 2009, he just made sure that the world finally took notice once and for all.

Robert Ayers

#56 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: September 06, 1985 (Age 24)

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 274 lb

College: Tennessee

Acquired: 2009 Draft, 1st Round, 18th Overall

Contract: 2010: $1,712,500, 2011: $2,055,000, 2012: $2,397,500, 2013: $2,165,000, 2014: Restricted Free Agent

Ayers arrived in Denver clouded in controversy. The draft pick used to select him was a key part of the trade that sent the Broncos disgruntled quarterback, Jay Cutler, to the Chicago Bears. Moreover, Robert was a controversial prospect to begin with. His quiet rookie season in the NFL did little to silence his critics, but his cautious supporters found enough in it to allay their more moderate concerns. Indeed, head coach Josh McDaniels has seen fit to open up a path into the starting line-up for him in 2010 and the second-year player has seemingly stepped up to the challenge.

Ayers began his road to the NFL as an active, athletic linebacker in highschool. He was recruited to Tennessee to play outside linebacker, but quickly grew into a defensive end. After playing sparingly, but showing flashes, Robert finally earned a starting role as a senior following a productive season as a rotational player in his redshirt junior campaign. In his final year at Knoxville, he once again lead the Volunteers in sacks, tackles for loss and QB pressures; he even added an interception. Despite his paltry sack totals - nine in four years - he demonstrated that he was an effective pass rusher and solid all-around player.

Much has been made about Ayers' status as a one-year wonder in college, or the apparently difficult and akward transition into a 3-4 OLB at the next level, but he's already proven his versatility, athleticism and overall football ability time and again. Robert has yet to win over many fans, but I have faith in his development. He's the sort of player that might not fill up the stat sheet himself, but he'll help others do just that.

Jarvis Moss

#94 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: August 3, 1984 (Age 25)

Height: 6"7"

Weight: 257 lb

College: Florida

Aquired: 2007 Draft, 1st Round, 17th Overall

Contract: 2010: $750,000, 2011: $850,000, 2012: Free Agent

Dismissed by most as a bust after three uneventful seasons in Denver, Moss unexpectedly made the Broncos roster in 2009 under new head coach Josh McDaniels. Many among us have long theorized that Jarvis' best fit was as an outside linebacker in the 3-4, but his inability to crack the rotation last season seemed to spell the end of his days in Orange and Blue. And yet here we are, with the 2010 season on the horizon, he actually appears to be working his way into some playing time.

Moss burst onto the radars of college football programs from around the nation as one of the leaders of his highschool's improbable run to a Florida state championship. Jarvis then took his star to Gainesville, where he would play a pivotal role for the 2006 Florida Gators en route to the BCS National Championship. During the regular season, he complimented his solid and sometimes spectacular play as a starting defense end with critical plays on special teams, including two game-saving blocks in one game to preserve the season. He also stepped up to win the Defensive Player of the Game award from among the many standout performers in the 41-14 thrashing of the Ohio State Buckeyes in that year's Championship Game. His knack for big plays at big times foretold a tantalizing potential that captivated then-head-coach Mike Shanahan during his search for that much-needed pass rusher.

There can be no doubt that Moss has been a colossal disappointment up to this point in his career, but it's not too late for him to turn things around and the coaching staff in Dove Valley seems to believe in him. He's always had the tools, and he's now had plenty of time to both acquire the necessary skills to unlock that potential and get comfortable in his own skin. He's excited for the new season, the staff is behind him and I'm willing to give him one last chance to prove his worth to this franchise. As a situational pass rusher, he could be a real force in the NFL.

Darrell Reid

#95 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: June 20, 1982 (Age 28)

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 270 lb

College: Minnesota

Acquired: 2009 Unrestricted Free Agent

Contract: 2010: $1.729 million, 2011: $2.128 million, 2012: Free Agent

Throughout his playing days, Reid has flown under the radar. In college, Darrell played three different positions - linebacker, defensive tackle and defensive end - and led his team while at each of them. He went undrafted in 2005, but quickly signed a contract and caught on with the Indianapolis Colts. Though he was listed as a defensive tackle for them in their undersized Tampa-2 defensive scheme, he was once again called upon to be a jack-of-all-trades. He even played some fullback for the offense near the goal line, but where he really excelled was in special teams coverage units.

While some wondered where he would fit in the 3-4 defense in Denver, it's not difficult to see why coach McDaniels wanted Reid on the roster regardless. Darrell is exactly the sort of team-first, versatile player that the new administration seems to cherish. Though he may never contribute much to the position under which he is officially listed, he does a lot to help otherwise.

As the depth in pass rushers continues to improve, it's difficult to see slots left open at outside linebacker for players like Reid. That said, Darrell's an ideal fit for a franchise in transition looking to establish a new philosophy on the field and in the locker room. Guys like Reid have a way of hanging around the NFL for long periods of time and, while lesser fans may be perplexed by their staying power, we can all appreciate the hard work that goes into those lengthy careers. It's nice to see that special teams is not "the forgotten third" for the coaching staff of our Broncos.

Jammie Kirlew

#53 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: May 12, 1987 (Age 23)

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 259 lb

College: Indiana

Acquired: 2010 Draft, 7th Round (232nd Overall)

Contract: Four-Years, $1,840,000 Total, 2014: Free Agent

Going into the 7th round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Broncos had already amassed quite a haul after a great deal of trading and no longer had any picks left on the board. That was, of course, until they spotted a couple of diamonds in the rough slipping through towards the end of the draft. Denver quickly struck up yet another deal - this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and acquired two additional picks with which they selected cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson out of California and Jammie Kirlew of Indiana. Management clearly saw something in both of those prospects that made the loss of a 2011 5th round pick worth the opportunity to secure their services. A closer inspection of Jammie's resume and scouting report make it clear why he might well be worth that cost all on his own.

Like many standout performers in high school, Kirlew starred on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Though Jammie (pronounced "JAY-me") received plenty of praise for his play at tight end, he would eventually settle in as a defensive end at the next level. Following his successful high school career in Orlando, Florida, he went on to play college football at Indiana. There, he lived up to the term "student-athlete" by perennially being selected to the Big Ten Conference's Academic Team while also slowly rising to the top of the depth chart and excelling on the field. After playing sparingly as a redshirt freshman and showing flashes of his ultimate potential while starting all 13 games as a sophomore, he was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award (presented to the best defensive end in college football) as a junior and was the Hoosier's MVP as a senior. Moreover, his impressive performance went well beyond the stat sheet and classroom, as he was nominated for prestigious awards for sportsmanship and charitable work.

Like Robert Ayers before him, Kirlew is the sort of pass rusher that made his presence felt beyond just occasional sacks, but rather with consistent, disciplined pressure. Jammie will also be making the transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. While he lacks the physical tools of the elite players at that position, he gets the most out of what he has and that's been plenty throughout his playing days so far. He's been compared by some to Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts - in part because of his relentless motor - which is ironic because he's looking to bookend Elvis Dumervil, who in his day has been likened to Mathis' stellar teammate, Dwight Freeney. It may be a long, winding road to playing time in the NFL for Kirlew, but he certainly has the right stuff to see his way through it.

Baraka Atkins

#58 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: September 28, 1984 (Age 25)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 268 lb

College: Miami (Florida)

Acquired: 2010 Free Agent

Contract: Terms Unknown

In high school, Atkins was a standout defensive end fated for greatness at that position. His four seasons at Miami University did nothing to dispel that destiny. While moving all around the defensive line for the Hurricanes, Baraka was the quintessential stat-sheet-stuffer. His play during his first season earned him Third team freshman All-American honors, which he followed up with honorable mention All-ACC recognition as a sophomore. His junior campaign saw a dip in production as he was moved inside full-time, but he bounced right back up to honorable mention All-ACC status as a senior when he returned to his preferred position of defensive end.

After that impressive college career, Atkins was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Baraka saw very limited action over the next two seasons before being cut despite showing some of that promise from his amateur days towards the end. He was then quickly signed by the San Francisco 49ers to fill a momentary void in their roster, but he was waived just weeks later before the end of that same season.

Now a Bronco, Atkins is looking to reassert himself as the sort of game-changing pass rusher that wreaked havoc on opposing offenses when he played for Miami. In Denver, he'll certainly find the freedom to do just that, but it is up to him to earn any amount of playing time in what is beginning to appear to me as a crowded stable of capable outside linebackers. He's an impressive physical specimen with plenty of spark in his resume, so don't be surprised if he manages to make an immediate impact if he can make his way onto the field in 2010.

Kevin Alexander

#48 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: July 1, 1987 (Age 23)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 265 lb

College: Clemson

Acquired: 2010 College Free Agent

Contract: 2010: $320,000, 2011: $405,000, 2012: $490,000, 2013: Free Agent

First thing's first: I'd like to wish Kevin Alexander a very happy birthday, seeing as he turns 23-years-old today! Alexander continues a coincidental subplot in this particular positional breakdown, in that a seemingly inordinate number of the Broncos outside linebackers played their highschool football in the state of Florida. It's no secret that the Sunshine State is a hotbed for athletic talent, especially on the gridiron, so perhaps this revelation should not come as such a surprise. Like most of the other players reviewed thus far, however, Kevin had to leave his home state in order to continue his playing career.

While at Clemson, Alexander proved to be a durable team leader on a unit that was consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 defenses. Though he only broke into the Tigers starting line-up as an upperclassman, he made the most of his rotational opportunities as an underclassman as well and he really blossomed as a starter. His stats don't necessarily shine out of context, it's important to note that he was among the top performers for his team across the board.

Though some saw Alexander as riding the coattails of his more heralded highschool teammate, C.J. Spiller, Kevin was considered a solid prospect in his own right and he made the most out of his time at the college level. He's yet another four-year player who has shown the loyalty, dedication and development that the management in Denver really admires. It's difficult to imagine Kevin hanging on to a slot on the Broncos active roster as the spaces get cut down, but he could have it in him to stick around in some capacity.

Bruce Davis

#47 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: September 2, 1985 (Age 24)

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 252 lb

College: U.C.L.A.

Acquired: 2010 Waiver Claim (New England Patriots)

Contract: Terms Not Disclosed

After playing his high school football in the state of Texas, Davis returned to his place of birth to play - Los Angeles, California - at the college level. He arrived in L.A. as a tenacious defensive end and, after sitting out for a year, he played in all of the Bruins' games as a redshirt freshman. The following year, they briefly experimented with him at outside linebacker before injuries to the rest of the team forced them to move him back to his natural position. Back at DE, though undersized, he flourished. As a junior, he gained national recognition as an All Pac-10 performer and he even made a few All-American lists. He managed to replicate that success in his senior campaign, during which he was on the watch list for just about every major award for defensive players in college football. He earned a degree from UCLA and remains one of the best pass rushers in school history to this day.

Davis was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft (88th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hoping to capitalize on his impressive pass rushing skills, he was converted to outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense. Unfortunately for all involved, the transition did not go smoothly and, after being largely inactive, Bruce was waived in 2009. He was then claimed by the New England Patriots, who kept him on their practice squad until they too waived him this past May.

Some may look at Davis as a bust, but he remains the same guy who excelled at such high levels in college. Bruce really hasn't been given a chance to sink or swim yet, but he'll get an honest look now. This may be his last opportunity to make his NFL dreams come true, so he's going to have to give it his all. There's really no pressure on him in Denver, at least not that of the lofty expectations that followed him from his days at UCLA. He's likely another candidate for the practice squad with the Broncos, but if he can latch on, he has the goods to make the long journey on to a pro roster one day.

Outlook

After taking a closer look at the eight men who are in the running for the limited active roster spots available to outside linebackers, I have come to the conclusion that I know one thing and believe another. What I "know" is that the depth at this position is largely comprised of some rather open question marks. What I "believe" is that those questions will be answered in a positive manner sooner rather than later. Obviously it helps to have a stalwart like Elvis Dumervil anchoring the position, but he can't go it alone. If the Broncos can find the right player to bookend the unit opposite him, then the rest of the league is in serious trouble.

Though I was initially apprehensive about Robert Ayers, I've become cautiously optimistic on his pro prospects. He obviously has the inside track for the starting spot alongside Doom and I think he's really going to open some eyes with his performance on the field this year. Jarvis Moss, once an afterthought at best and a derisive icon of poor personnel judgement at worst, has apparently worked his way into some playing time and might well be on the verge of the breakthrough that I thought would never come. He might never develop into the star that we once hoped for, but he could turn into the game-changing situational pass rusher that we need.

Behind those three, management has added a healthy dose of youthful competitors that fill the mold that they've held up as their desired archetype: smart, tough, versatile, team-first leaders. Unspoken, but clearly present among those desired attributes as well, is play-making explosiveness. I think all three of the newcomers have what it takes to hang around and develop into contributors at some point.

Whereas just last year I was concerned about what the transition to the 3-4 scheme might mean for our pass rush, I think we're all eagerly awaiting another stellar performance from this group in the upcoming season. I hope that this preview provided you all with a fresh take on all of these guys, because this bunch is young and on top of their games. The talent is definitely there and the staff seems to think they're ready; what say you Broncos Nation?

Poll

Grade the Outside Linebacker Depth for the Denver Broncos

A

280 votes

B

726 votes

C

440 votes

D

66 votes

F

22 votes

1534 votes | Poll has closed

Horse Tracks - 6/10/10 - Broncos Playing Hardball With Elvis Dumervil?

John Bena — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:59:49 -0000

Broncos playing hardball with Dumervil - The Denver Post
According to an NFL Players Associations source, the Broncos recently sent a letter to Dumervil stating that if he didn't sign his restricted free-agent tender of $3.168 million by Monday, the team on Tuesday would exercise its right to reduce his 2010 salary to 10 percent above what he made the previous season.

Get to Know: Baraka Atkins - DenverBroncos.com
Baraka Atkins entered the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft after a standout career at the University of Miami.

Cox Third Draft Pick to Sign - DenverBroncos.com
Perrish Cox joined Jammie Kirlew and Syd'Quan Thompson Wednesday as the third of the team's nine 2010 NFL Draft selections to sign with the team.

Broncos' Arrington looks forward to full recovery - The Denver Post
His knee was sutured, his career on hold, shrouded in doubt. But the pain, the real pain, came from the silence.

Wife of Broncos' Greisen hopes to impress Oprah - The Denver Post
With Nick serving as her relentless public relations machine, Caroline Greisen has submitted a 3-minute video audition entitled "Global Motherhood."

Former Bronco Ron Dayne gets his rings back - The Denver Post
Police say six rings reported stolen from former University of Wisconsin and NFL running back Ron Dayne have been returned to him in a plastic bag.

Woody's Mailbag: Fan not fond of NFL games overseas - The Denver Post
Woody, I really want to know what you think about sending NFL games overseas, and the complete disregard for what the normal working fans can afford. Super Bowls are nothing but a rich man's party. The league has already taken that away from us common folks. Now they want to host games every year overseas. I am sick of big business. If it wasn't for the original fans, the NFL would be nothing. I have other annoyances with the league, like the monopoly DirecTV has on NFL Sunday Ticket and the ridiculous price the league imposes on the package itself, but that is another topic.

Steelers mum on DVDs of Roethlisberger sexual assault investigation - The Denver Post
The GBI released DVDs to the media showing video and audio recordings of the interviews that were conducted, along with photos from the scene and surveillance tapes.

Should the Lions make a play for Atogwe? | National Football Post
According to Steve Wyche of NFL.com, free-agent safety O.J. Atogwe is not seeking an "outrageous" number or upfront bonus money when it comes to a contract — and the Rams are still hopeful that they can find a way to bring the safety back to town.

Source: Ravens' DB tryouts continue today | National Football Post
The Baltimore Ravens auditioned three veteran free agent defensive backs Wednesday at their training complex, trying out cornerbacks Ken Lucas and Walt Harris as well as safety Ken Hamlin.

Underwood, Packers try to put incident behind them | National Football Post
Police have confirmed that one way or another, money was exchanged between Brandon Underwood and the two Milwaukee women who have accused him of sexual assault.

Bills agree to terms with Arthur Moats, Levi Brown | National Football Post
The Buffalo Bills have struck a pair of four-year rookie deals with sixth-round linebacker Arthur Moats and seventh-round quarterback Levi Brown, a league source confirmed.

Texans say they won't haggle with Andre Johnson once season starts | National Football Post
The Houston Texans are open to the idea of negotiating with star wide receiver Andre Johnson, who's unhappy with his current deal that has five remaining years.

NFL funding scholarship honoring Pat Tillman | National Football Post
The NFL is partnering with the foundation for the late Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman to create a scholarship in his name.

Raiders' Jared Veldheer: 'It's a lot of contact right now' | National Football Post
The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Associaiton determined that the Raiders violated rules governing offseason practices.

Ronnie Brown has screw removed from foot | National Football Post
Miami Dolphins veteran running back Ronnie Brown had a screw removed from his right foot last week and was instructed not to run while the hole fills in, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Chargers cut Boris Lee, Justin Jeffries | National Football Post
The San Diego Chargers have placed linebacker Boris Lee and offensive tackle Justin Jeffries on waivers, according to a league source.

Colts' Anthony Gonzalez has a setback | National Football Post
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez's history of knee problems took another twist recently.

Closer look shows why backs like Saints' Thomas struggle to cash in
In the last 10 years the running back position has been redefined. Teams have moved away from the ball carrier who stays on the field in every down and distance, getting more than 20 touches a game.

Panthers hopeful that LB Davis can return from second ACL tear
Thomas Davis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the second time in the past seven months, but the Carolina Panthers aren't giving up hope that the linebacker could return sometime this coming season, a source with knowledge of the situation told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.

Marshall And Henne Connect Through The Air For First Time | Miami Dolphins
Brandon Marshall fans can now exhale as the well-hyped wide receiver caught his first official pass in front of an audience this morning at the Miami Dolphins’ last OTA session open to the media – and he also confirmed that No. 19 will be his official number.

NFLPA: TV deal intended to benefit owners during possible lockout
The NFL Players Association filed a complaint Wednesday, claiming that the language in the league's television contracts acts as a form of lockout protection for team owners, guaranteeing them revenues even if football isn't played in 2011.

NFL.com Blogs - Bruce, a true pro, gets my Hall of Fame vote "
When I think of Isaac Bruce, I remember my first broadcast for FOX, which was in 1998 in St. Louis. Dick Vermeil’s Rams were preparing for their season-opener against the Saints, which in those days was a division game.