As my illustrious fellow Broncos fans know, religion is important to me, of course, during the average NFL season (no gosh-danged lockout this offseason for which I'm grateful), the lines between Bronco mania and Mormonism become quite blurred for me.

With that said, one scriptural thought I like is "by their fruits you shall know them" and Peyton, if healthy, and I believe he is, makes us remarkable on the football field and he will help in the community.

One of the things I'm most proud of in my life is an instructor I had at Southern Utah University, Jon M. Smith, this is him http://www.suu.edu/faculty/smith_jo/images/smith07.jpg, taught Peyton in communication, my major as well, at UT-Knoxville.

My top 3 quarterbacks of all time, based on my own lifetime, are Elway, Marino and Peyton, so to have had 2 of the 3 in orange and blue is remarkable.

With comparable pathos, I extend sincere gratitude to Tim Tebow, the man is class, and much better than Triple-chin Custer (that's for you McGeorge) could ever hope to be.

He forever holds a special place for me in Broncos annals. Nevertheless, as colleague Sayre Bedinger tweeted, the Broncos would be foolish not to upgrade Tebow if Peyton became available and naturally, he did, so we are doing what it takes to win.

Also, for the umpteenth time, I express gratitude to Mr. Bowlen, being willing to do whatever it takes within the rules (unlike the Patriots) to win and as a fan of the Broncos in the NFL and the Mavericks in the NBA, I'm lucky that Bowlen and Mark Cuban care so much about the respective fanbases to pay the price for victory.

Of course, we must draft well and continue to develop our defense, but we've got the cap room and perhaps now some free agents are desirous to take paycuts so they can play with the masterful Manning.

A shoutout to Archie and Olivia, great parents who raised 3 solid sons, two of which have made a solid impact on the NFL within our generation.

Now, let us do a solid job and give Mr. Bowlen another Lombardi to hold: THIS ONE'S For Peyton!

First of all, thanks fellow Broncos fans, for accepting me. The problem is I have not been that wise in comments I made late Friday night. I apologize for any comments I made that could be remotely construed as inflammatory by anyone and whether or not you agree with the flirtation with Peyton Manning or not, I'm still glad to chat with you.

I went out of my bounds, I am not management material with the Broncos or the own company which indulges me so I hope everyone can forgive me for my presumptuous statements. I can learn much from all of you so again, I am sorry and I hope no one hates me. GO BRONCOS

If you're interested in sharing thoughts on the Senior Bowl, here is a game thread. Remember, funny photos and insightful analysis have long been staples of Mile High Report, so have at it, see the future stars of the NFL at Mobile, Alabama. I will post a few more comments to ensure I reach the sufficient word count. Mike Mayock will be providing insightful analysis as always so if you want to take some time this Saturday afternoon, share your thoughts and take a glimpse into the future.

By small and simple means are great things brought to pass, both with our beloved Denver Broncos and in life generally.

For starters, I am not only a Broncoholic, but the favorite uncle for infant nieces and nephews to play with. When my sister hands me her daughter, Paisley, I can tell she is tired and exhausted so I take Paisley down to the mancave to watch sports.

Paisley is a special girl, as both she and Mile High Report were born on August 24, while incidentally, this is also Mike Shanahan's birthday.

While we were watching the Milwaukee Bucks-San Antonio Spurs game on my laptop, I tossed her in the air and said GO BRONCOS.

Paisley responded by repeating Bronco Bronco over and over again, as he is a prodigious and smart girl.

I then opened up an archived photo of our illustrious mascot Thunder and she cutely smiled, waved and pointed at Thunder, repeating with increased exuberance BRONCO BRONCO.

I, of course, smiled, realizing that already she has the foundations of Broncoholicism instilled within her and within a couple of years, she will be seeing the Broncos reach great heights with Tebow at the helm, just as I grew up with Elway.

Yet another generation of Bronco fandom is installed and our illustrious legacy will continue to percolate both on the field and in terms of obtaining new fans.

Now let's beat the Patriots and keep this great story going!

First of all, I apologize for the terse things I have said before concerning the Steelers. Yes, I should be a good Mormon all the time, even on a sports blog where I'm defending my Denver Broncos.

I do have Italian blood, and it burns hot, surely many Steelers fans who read these words potentially would be able to relate, but my behavior has not been becoming of someone purporting to be a Christian.

I have hated the Steelers horrendously since 2005 when they ended their season and got many favorable calls against the Seahawks, but this is neither here nor there, even if a douchey college professor from Pittsburgh gave me a hard time, while denouncing my religious beliefs from his atheistic "pulpit" at Southern Utah University.

In any case, let it be known that I'm lucky to have so many good people that do put up with me.. I just hope the Broncos get vengeance for 2005, but we shall see.

If not, if the Steelers and Patriots both lose, I'm OK with whoever the AFC champion is, I've said my piece, mock if you are desirous but GO BRONCOS

I was ignominiously disappointed with a loss to the Chiefs Sunday but I have lusted after the playoffs for five years, i.e., all of my professional life, and I readily accept and am pleased with this playoff appearance in 2011.

After a lockout, I honestly didn't know what to expect although my orange and blue Kool-Aid drunkenness led me to surmise 10 wins could be a ceiling.

This didn't happen, obviously, but I think Tim Tebow has made more progress in the interim than anyone could have reasonably expected although his early success has caused expectations to rapidly percolate.

This is not a bad thing, as in Louisville head men's basketball coach Rick Pitino's book, "Success Is a Choice," my fellow Italian (one more sexually aggressive than I am) stated pressure is not a negative, it is up to us to give it that stigma or treat it as a positive.

For Tebow's long-term progression, I am glad he is meeting some adversity, for it will make him stronger in the long run and if he CAPITALIZES (see what I did there) on the learning opportunities and continues to study and work hard, he'll wade through this and prove to be a legitimate NFL-caliber signal-caller yet.

Of course, hitting some interim routes is a good start, I concede that.

As for our present circumstances, I have overcome my initial frustration about backing into the playoffs, realizing that the experience we gain from the postseason, regardless of what happens against Pittsburgh, will be essential to our long-term progression.

I know we will legitimately contend for AFC and NFL titles in the next couple of seasons, but let's enjoy the moment while we're here and hand the Steelers a resounding defeat.

I will not bash everyone over the head concerning our needs, you know what they are, but I trust we will draft well and continue to do the best we can with what we've got.

Thanks as always and GO BRONCOS!!!

I couldn't find a game thread, so I created one please comment if you want, The Dallas Mavericks have stumbled out of the blocks with an 0-2 start but a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder should galvanize their spirits. Until I can find some other game thread, I hope this one will serve its purpose well. Thursday's game is another chance for the Mavericks to get all the pieces in place so let's do it. GO MAVERICKS!!!

If you are like me, and have been banned from Arrowhead Pride and the fans at Pats Pulpit may not like you for regrettable comments you may have made once, this is a Chiefs-Pats open thread. Game time is 6:30 MST and it is on ESPN so have fun. Anyone who makes fun of Mike Tirico's gnarly canine teeth or Coach Gruden's Chuckie face gets brownie points.  Remember the Broncos have both of these teams left on the schedule and it's exciting to see Shane Falco ERRR Tyler Palko get the start for KC!

Mike Freeman of CBS Sports.com is not the sharpest tool in the shed, he is the toolshed, anyway, he has written an article on the aforementioned Web site appertaining to Tebow's supposed suckiness. 

Of course, he says the Broncos have made the egregious mistake of starting Tebow this week against Miami.

To add another ignominious distinction to your drivel, Freeman, we don't play this week, it's our bye. Anyway, here is the link, have at it guys, make fun of him on his blog! http://mike-freeman.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6264363/32661730

I end my NFL preview series with a look at the Washington Redskins, a team who is alphabetically last in NFL categorization, but could be anything but in division standings.

As soon as the lockout ended, current Redskins starting signal-caller Rex Grossman predicted Washington would win the NFC East and while this may appear far-fetched to the football novice, at least one expert is expecting big things.

On NFL Network's "No Huddle" program Wednesday evening, panelist and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk suggested the Redskins could be the surprise team in the NFL.

While he did not cite Grossman or quality reserve John Beck as impetuses in Washington's potential success, he mentioned that Tim Hightower (a tailback I drafted in my Fantasy league) will be a one-cut back under head coach Mike Shanahan and perhaps perform the same way Terrell Davis did in Denver.

As a Broncos fan, I can say that if Hightower remotely resembles TD, Skins fans are in for a treat, but we'll see what comes of it.

Santana Moss and Chris Cooley return as solid targets for whoever will be the Skins' long-term quarterback while Ryan Torain can be a stalwart compliment to Hightower if he can somehow remain healthy, something he never seemed to be able to do in Denver.

Defensively, Brian Orakpo is a great anchor to build around and I fully expect him to wreak havoc on opposing signal-callers as he did in 2010.

The X factor for me is Graham Gano, as if he can somehow become more consistent on game-deciding kicks, Washington really can fulfill Grossman and Faulk's expectations.

I do think that Beck will prove to be the better option at quarterback overall and be assured, Skins fans, Shanny has played these types of mind games with his players before.

In Denver, the results were often propitious when Shanahan employed such tactics, so there is a precedent that exists for potential success.

In closing, I just like the numerous things Lorenzo Alexander does, I am a sucker for special teams studs so don't be surprised if he makes some game-changing plays in Washington's favor this season.

Thanks for reading and I will give Washington eight or nine wins, although if I have learned nothing else, the NFL is unpredictable and marvelous, just the way I like it.

The journey is over!

After the NFL lockout officially ended last month, the Tennessee Titans have been among the most aggressive teams in the NFL and perhaps some fortuitous events may rule in their favor, a subject which shall be explored in today's NFL preview.

Since free agency began in late July, the Titans nailed one of the biggest free agents on the market in Matt Hasselbeck, a signal-caller who I strongly believe still has a lot of good football left in him, notwithstanding what radio personalities on AM-610 KILT in Houston have said on the matter. Of course, the dreams of fantasy owners from Seattle to Sendai came true when Chris Johnson inked a rich new contract with the franchise.

The young stalwart from East Carolina has already amassed 5,606 yards from scrimmage in three seasons of work and with the rich contract he has inked, he should be the face of the franchise for years, joining the likes of Earl Campbell and Warren Moon before him. While Kenny Britt may not be available, pending on what, if any, suspension NFL commissioner Roger Goodell may mete against him, Nate Washington will have a great opportunity to step his game up and Jared Cook should only continue his emergence as a potential stud tight end.

Ever since I began eschewing I-A college football in favor of the I-AA playoffs come bowl season, I became a fan of Marc Mariani in his collegiate days and predicted he would be a standout for whoever drafted him. Well, sure enough, I proved prophetic, much to my chagrin in the Broncos-Titans game, as Mariani took one to the house against my beloved Broncos, although we were able to steal the game late.

Defensively, Cortland Finnegan continues to be one of the league's most fearsome hitters while ex-Buccaneer Barrett Ruud should help solidify a strong Titans unit. In closing, I have to admit I believe in the Texans, and if the Colts are without Peyton Manning for an extensive period of time, the AFC South will become all the more competitive.

While I would give Houston the nod to win the division at this stage, I think the Titans and Jaguars will also be strong and their bout at Jacksonville this weekend will be huge for early momentum in divisional play. Since there is no BC$, go ahead Titans, make me a believer. To quote the Saints-Packers commercial: BACK TO FOOTBALL and it feels so good!

Well, after getting done with the Oakland Raiders' preview (ugh, I feel dirty) I now move on to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team with all the high expectations in the world.

As all we devout NFL fans know by now, Michael Vick has just been awarded a rich new contract and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that he will not go JaMarcus Russell and squander this chance, especially since he gets to be a bonzo millionaire for the second time in an NFL career.

Vick, while not having his best game of the preseason against Pittsburgh in Week 2, appears to have more of a command of Andy Reid's meticulous version of the West Coast offense and puts in the film study time to prove it.

Vick, with his embarrassment of riches (LeSean McCoy really deserves to be #1 in my Fantasy draft, so I should oblige him) will not be wanting for friends to throw the ball to even if Jeremy Maclin isn't back for the Week 1 game at St. Louis.

Whenever I watch film of DeSean Jackson, I am just astounded at his speed, while Brent Celek, Jason Avant and newcomer to the fold Ronnie Brown all bring sufficiently prodigious skills which will make Philadelphia a nightmare for opposing defenses as the season progresses.

As a sidenote, Cornelius Ingram really intrigues me, but with all of this weaponry Philadelphia boasts, one must wonder if he'll even be active every week.

Defensively, Trent Cole is a monster and never seems to get the credit he deserves. His prolific pass-rushing skills will once again prove invaluable to any success Philadelphia will experience on that side of the ball.

As for the secondary, we all know Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are all extremely hard to throw on and while the Cardinals are elated with Kevin Kolb at this stage, I think all Eagles fans know Mike Kafka will be better as Vick's backup anyway.

Once again, Eagles management is playing chess while other front offices seem to be playing checkers.

With all of this said, the NFC East will be tough this season, as it always is (the Giants are better than they showed against the Jets Monday, I'm certain) but just so long as the Cowboys finish last, that's all an NFL fan with integrity can hope for!

Thanks for reading and I expect nothing but a deep playoff run for the Eagles. As always, we shall see what happens.

Today's first of many NFL previews involves the Oakland Raiders, a team that is generally bereft of my respect for I am a Broncos fan. 

With that said, I will try to be fair in analyzing this team, which I feel will go back to last place in the AFC West.

Anyway, the Raiders are fresh off of an 8-8 campaign, which is the best year they have had since 2002 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers demoralized them in the Super Bowl.

I didn't directly watch the game, as I was a Mormon missionary in El Paso, Texas at the time, but the Church members we were visiting had the game on from a distance and a smile emerged on my face as I could hear the Buccaneers were destroying them.

Anyway, not much has gone right since then in the Nation but from that time on, but 2010 showed some good signs.

The Raiders beat my punchless Broncos two times, but Denver is much stronger, so that will be a good matchup in Week 1 at Denver on September 12.

Oakland's running offense was second in NFL annals in 2010 and if Darren McFadden (1,157 yards, 7 TD's) and Michael Bush are healthy, this is a tough stumblingblock for AFC West opponents to deal with.

The Raiders, much like my Broncos, have several signal-callers who can get the job done when called upon with Jason Campbell, Trent Edwards and Kyle Boller all boasting several years of NFL experience.

At wideout, Denarius Moore has proven to be an intriguing prospect thus far in preseason and (I hate to admit it) my fellow Southern Utah Thunderbird alum Nick Miller has proven himself to be a solid punt returner when called upon.

Defensively, however, Oakland didn't have the best season in 2010 and star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has departed for Philadelphia so unless someone steps up to assist Rolando McClain, Oakland may have to win lots of shootouts.

The Raiders and Broncos could actually be the two teams to battle for the AFC West as Kansas City accomplished much of their success with smoke and mirrors in 2010 as the Ravens easily ousted them from the playoffs.

Additionally, the Chargers, who Raiders fans hate as much as I do, just aren't the elite team they were earlier in the 2000s and Philip Rivers may prove to be yet another Dan Marino (except the prolific Dolphin legend made it to ONE Super Bowl....), big stats, no bling.

Anyway, that's all I've got. I hope the Raiders don't do well, but the pragmatic thinker in me says they have a chance to be around .500 and perhaps win as many as 10 games, we'll see what happens.

With all my heart, GO BRONCOS!!!

Hello friends, I, of course, am a Broncos fan but I like the Jets more than the Patriots and Steelers so if the Broncos fall short of the playoffs again, (hopefully not), I'd like to see a team like you, the Colts or the Ravens represent the AFC.

Anyway, we know Rex Ryan's brashness is unprecedented in NFL spheres but as one bereft of guile myself, I actually find his bold proclamations refreshing.

He is what he purports to be, unlike some coach in, I don't know, Foxborough, Mass., who claims to be a genius but is really a scumbag who will do anything to win.

The Jets continue to bring in new talent annually and I am a big fan of the Plaxico Burress acquisition, especially since he prevented the Pats from tarnishing the NFL forever with Spygate.

As always, the Jets only go as far as Mark Sanchez can take them and from what I've seen in the games against the Texans and Bengals, he seems to have made sufficient progression, so good for him.

Santonio Holmes and LaDainian Tomlinson will continue to excel and it seems Dustin Keller will be an even bigger threat than he previously has been.

Defensively, Shaun Ellis has departed to New England, but my fellow Mormon Sione Pouha is still a force and Bart Scott will continue to bring it as he always has.

When you have studs like Darrelle Revis in the secondary, that just makes things easier for everybody defensively and at the end of the day, you have to like the Jets' chances to make, at the least, another deep playoff run

What happens thereafter is anybody's guess but I will not be surprised to see the Jets repping the AFC in the Super Bowl.

If so, this would be no small feat, as always, no pun intended. Thanks for reading!

Today's preview features a look at the New York Giants, a squad rocked by significant adversity only two weeks into the preseason.

While star wideout Steve Smith was snatched away by the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants also lost cornerback Terrell Thomas to a torn ACL injury, rendering him out for the season.

Additionally, Osi Umenyiora, just days after ending a contract stalemate, underwent surgery, removing him for at least the first game of the season.

With all of this said, there is still cause for G-Men fans to be confident as Eli Manning is a solid option at quarterback, no matter how often the New York tabloids may crucify him.

Throughout his career, Peyton's younger brother has won a Super Bowl championship, tossed for 156 touchdowns and 113 interceptions and completed 58 percent of his passes, so in other words, things could be worse.

Luckily for Giants fans, Dave Brown isn't walking through that door.

While the Giants failed to bring Plaxico Burress back to the fold, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are a pair of excellent wideouts with whom Manning already has a solid rapport.

At tight end, Kevin Boss defected to Oakland but Travis "Bend It Like" Beckham seems ready to fill the void and be a security blanket for Manning.

In the backfield, Brandon Jacobs is showing no signs of slowing down and had some pretty sick moves the other night against Chicago, so he should be a key component of the Giants' offense as well.

While the Giants are a bit short on cornerbacks, the defense is not devoid of talent as Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, whom I believe to be the impetus of Umenyiora's success in forcing fumbles last season, both return so I don't expect the defense to be significantly weaker.

The NFC East is an interesting division and I think that despite the adversity they have faced thus far in the abbreviated offseason, the Giants are in good shape, having a solid quarterback and a defense featuring many key pieces from last season.

I see the Giants winning about 10 games and perhaps stealing a wild card berth from the likes of the Buccaneers.

Thanks for reading, and a special shoutout to Mr. John Mara for helping to end the NFL lockout.

The Giants have always been the defenders of the NFL and conducted themselves with class since the early days of the league when Tim Mara 

founded the storied franchise so kudos to them!

Today, our NFL preview spotlight shines upon the New Orleans Saints, a squad which has adroitly retooled itself to be in legitimate Super Bowl championship conversation.

For starters, until someone else proves it to me, Sean Payton is the best head coach in the business.

He is a mastermind at creating gameplans and he has the fortuitous fortune of having Drew Brees to execute them.

After being left for dead several years ago in San Diego, Brees has tossed for no less than 4,388 yards in any given season for the Saints while throwing 129 touchdown passes against 79 interceptions.

I am currently engrossed in Drew Brees' autobiography and he is a template for overcoming adversity. For the record, I have forgiven him for his role in the labor strife which decimated our offseason because he just goes about his business like a professional.

Plus, I can look him in the eye, so that's positive!

Anyway, as a Broncos fan, I also commend the Saints and general manager Mickey Loomis for robbing the Chargers blind once again by stealing Darren Sproles from under their noses.

Saints fans will love Sproles, as he does things better than ousted Reggie Bush ever did and will prove to be a horrendous mismatch for any Saints opponents this season.

Of course, the acquisition of former Heisman winner Mark Ingram in last April's collegiate draft gives the Saints a legitimate backfield threat, something Bush never was, and incumbent Pierre Thomas should serve as a solid secondary option.

With a stable of fleet-footed wideouts returning, such as Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore, I feel sincere empathy for defenses opposing the Saints this season.

If any defensive coordinator can expose a flaw, that man instantaneously becomes the coach of the year.

Defensively, the Saints have bulked up as well, as massive defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin now rock the fleur-de-lis, making New Orleans even stronger.

Of course, there are many powerful teams in the NFC, so it will be fun to see the Saints duke it out with their NFC South rivals, the Falcons, as well as the Eagles in the playoffs, if it should come to that.

In short, New Orleans should win 10 or 11 games and perhaps as many as 13 or 14 if they can get past Atlanta in divisional play.

In closing, the Saints have the most attractive owner in the NFL because everyone knows Rita Benson runs the franchise, rather than senile Tom Benson.

Thanks for reading!

Today's NFL preview features a look at the New England Patriots, a squad which has all the pieces in place ON PAPER.

With that said, this is why I love the NFL, as unlike college football at the I-A level, we get to see playoffs and in these postseason matchups, the unexpected often happens.

Not many expected to see the 14-2 Patriots stumble in the divisional playoffs against the hated AFC East rival New York Jets last season.

Oddly enough, the Pats have not won any postseason games since the 2007 AFC Championship game after which they lost to the New York Giants in that season's Super Bowl, thus ending their unbeaten season.

From that time on, the Patriots, with classy owner Robert Kraft, have made numerous acquisitions in hopes of restoring their recently strong legacy, which has seen them win three Super Bowls this century.

Oddly enough, weird circumstances have befallen the Patriots in each instance and with tough AFC opponents such as the Jets, Colts, Steelers and Ravens, among others, looming in the wings, New England will have to play their best to exorcise their recent demons.

The Patriots' starpower is well known, as signal-caller Tom Brady and receiver Wes Welker, and others, are among the best in the league at their positions.

New England's defense features studs such as Patrick Chung, Vince Wilfork and Brandon Merriweather so talent is there, but I've watched too much football to concede anything to the Pats.

We shall see, and once again it's nice having football back!

Today's NFL preview article involves the Minnesota Vikings, a squad which is among the most intriguing in the NFL.

After giving up on America's most notorious gloryhound Brett Favre, the Vikings sought to bolster themselves at quarterback by drafting ex-Florida State standout Christian Ponder in the NFL Draft while also bringing in ex-Eagle and Redskin Donovan McNabb as soon as the lockout ended and retaining Joe Webb, a prodigious prospect who is also adept at playing wideout or tailback in certain offensive sets.

While McNabb will take the reins in the interim for Minnesota, he will have some assistance from Adrian Peterson, who in only four seasons of work has amassed 5,782 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns.

Despite losing Sidney Rice in free agency to Seattle, the Vikings still have plenty of targets for McNabb, including wideouts Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, along with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe who is looking to rebound to his 2009 form when he hauled in 11 scoring receptions.

Minnesota's defense has been ravaged of late with Ray Edwards and Ben Leber departing, but cornerback Antoine Winfield returns and will be the type of mentor Minnesota desperately needs to remain afloat amid a  torrent of transactions.

Ultimately, while the Vikings do have some solid pieces in place, they are in an extremely competitive division with defending champion Green Bay and resurgent Detroit looming in the wings.

Since the Bears are quarterbacked by Jay Cutler, I say the Vikings can leapfrog them in the division, but it is rare to see three teams from a division make the postseason.

Thus, while the Vikings should be 9-7 or even 10-6, I see them falling short of the playoffs, perhaps on something as disappointing as percentage points.

Nevertheless, under new coach Leslie Frazier, the Vikings will compete and give trouble to all opponents on their schedule.

Of course, I could be wrong about Minnesota's postseason chances and if so, I'll gladly own it.

Thanks for reading, Vikings fans, and once again, without Brett Favre, I respect you much more!

This second preview of the day deals with the Miami Dolphins, a squad which has talent at various positions but significant question marks at the most important of all.

I am actually typing this as I watch a replay of the Dolphins-Panthers game from Friday night on NFL Network and Miami looked spectacular, amassing more than 300 yards of offense against a beleaguered Carolina defense in the first half.

For the most part, Miami is a really talented squad, especially with new acquisition Reggie Bush, who came over from New Orleans once the lockout ended.

Additionally, the Dolphins have such solid weapons as receivers Davone Bess, Brandon Marshall and Brian Hartline, while tight end Anthony Fasano and kicker Dan Carpenter are key components to the Miami offense.

However, while Chad Henne did throw for nearly 200 yards in the first half against Carolina, his sporadic play has been cause for considerable concern in Miami as Dolphins fans throughout training camp lobbied for Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.

I will say that if Henne comes through and performs to expectations Dolphins fans hope he can achieve, Miami could be a darkhorse playoff favorite in the AFC.

Of course, that is a major "if."

Defensively, the Dolphins have one of the best defensive lines in football with pillars such as Paul Soliai and Kendall Langford bring both size and power to a unit which was 11th in the NFL against the run in 2010.

While loquacious linebacker Channing Crowder has left for the time being, the Dolphins do retain Karlos Dansby in the linebacking corps who had three sacks and two forced fumbles last season and brings championship experience as he played for a Super Bowl crown with Arizona.

In the secondary, Sean Smith and Vontae Davis comprise a solid pair of cornerbacks while versatile Yeremiah Bell is a great asset to Miami's secondary as well.

With all of this said, while the Dolphins do have significant talent at every position, the onus is on Henne to make things right as reserve Matt Moore is generally not battle-tested, but did have some moments while playing for Carolina the past two years.

If Henne can continue to make wise decisions, the sky is the limit for this franchise so we shall see what happens.

thanks for reading!

Today, our featured NFL team in the preview of the day is the Jacksonville Jaguars, an intriguing unit who could finish anywhere from drafting in the Top 10 in April to the AFC championship so let's begin.

For starters, while David Garrard is never esteemed as one of the NFL's elite signal-callers, much like Kyle Orton for my Broncos, he is never bad enough to get tossed out the door on his rear end.

The Jaguars brought in highly-regarded draft pick Blaine Gabbert, a Missouri product, and while he performed fairly well last week against New England, I still don't see Garrard being usurped, at least not right away.

Whether it is Garrard or Gabbert who earns the distinction to lead the Jacksonville offense, the starter will have the luxury of playing with a solid backfield in Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings.

Much to the chagrin of fantasy geeks (I'm a fantasy player and a statistician by trade but I don't fawn over stats endlessly because eventually I have to go to work and have a life), Jones-Drew's carries will likely go down as Jennings asserts himself more fully as a crucial component of the offense.

Of course, tight ends are always a signal-caller's best friend and for my money no one in the NFL is better than Marcedes Lewis, a 6'6" specimen who already has 17 touchdowns as he enters his sixth season.

While Mike Sims-Walker has departed for St. Louis, Mike Thomas is a reliable wideout who should have his breakout campaign in 2011.

Defensively, the Jags boast one of the league's best cornerbacks in Rashean Mathis while the acquisition of Paul Posluszny should only help Jacksonville be a more hard-hitting defense in the image of their coach, Jack Del Rio.

Last year, I disregarded the Jaguars and for much of the season, I looked like a fool as for the most part, they were able to fend off perennial division power Indianapolis until a late matchup when the Colts stole one from the Jags late.

This team is as good as it wants to be so nothing will surprise me concerning how they do.

I think the Jaguars will probably win eight to nine games, possibly as many as 12 but as always, they are the professionals, I am the pundit and they have their prerogative to prove me wrong if they so desire.

Thanks for reading!

Today's NFL preview brings us the Indianapolis Colts, a team which remains a solid contender notwithstanding a dearth of fanfare thus far during the abbreviated training camp/preseason period.

While other on-paper contenders such as Philadelphia and New England have brought in high-profile free agents, the Colts are anxiously awaiting the return of legendary signal-caller Peyton Manning, who in my opinion is the G.O.A.T., despite my status as a Broncos fan, from a neck injury.

At this stage of his career, Manning has better stats than Brett Favre did entering his 14th season and has a 2-1 TD/INT ratio, an impressive number for a signal-caller who throws as much as he has.

While Manning has lost his longtime mentor Tom Moore, he retains plenty of weapons including receivers Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and (hopefully) Austin Collie, who has had a significant amount of concussions the past few seasons.

Additionally, versatile tailback Joseph Addai returns as does Javarris James, a back who I think can be a solid component of Indianapolis' offense in 2011.

The Colts' defense should be bolstered with a rare big guy as ex-Bear Tommie Harris has a chance to be the best Indianapolis defensive tackle since Tony Siragusa.

Additionally, much of the core of a small, yet swift and hard-hitting, defense returns with staples such as Gary Brackett, Antoine Bethea and Jerraud Powers hoping to improve upon a relatively disappointing performance last season.

No matter how bleak Manning's prognosis may be, I know he will be under center September 11 at Houston and continue to lead this team as he always has.

I see the Colts winning 11 or 12 games this season as they always do and I admire management's approach to retain talent already in place, realizing that with Manning in charge, circumstances are always propitious.

Do not be surprised if the Colts become the first team in NFL history to host a Super Bowl.

Until then, I can hardly wait for the regular season and to watch things unfold.

Thanks for reading!

Today's preview swirls about the Houston Texans and once again, the only thing to ponder is if this is finally the year an immensely talented team makes the playoffs.

One cannot make any significant assertions after one preseason game but the Texans' aggression and excellence on defense in last Monday's preseason opener against the New York Jets has to be the springboard for some semblance of optimism in H-Town.

As a Broncos fan, I know new Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is a savant who can do nothing except coach defense but his reputation for putting solid defensive units together is well deserved.

With perpetual AFC South power Indianapolis sporting possible potential G.O.A.T. signal-caller Peyton Manning, it is obvious Houston goes nowhere unless the defense is vastly improved as last season the Texans were 29th of 32 NFL teams in points allowed, giving up 26.7 per contest.

Offense, however, is an asset for the Texans and should continue to be so in 2011 as stellar signal-caller Matt Schaub tossed for 4,370 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2010 while completing nearly 64 percent of his passes.

Next to him in the backfield is Arian Foster, who despite never being drafted is the defending leading rusher in the league as last season he ran for 1,616 yards and 16 scores while amassing 604 more receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The leading receiver in franchise history, Andre Johnson, returns to bolster a strong receiving corps which also features the likes of Jacoby Jones, Kevin Walter and Joel Dreessen. Kicker Neil Rackers, who celebrated a birthday Thursday, is coming off a campaign where he made 90 percent of his field goal attempts, so the special teams is also working in order and should continue to do so.

Thus, once again, if the defense is able to make sufficient improvement, the Texans are in position to go places and instantaneously become a darkhorse for a Super Bowl run. Again, citing my Broncos affection, I have long been a supporter of Texans head coach Gary Kubiak and I would hate to see him axed if the team fails to make the postseason so I will express some support for Houston.

Whatever happens in the NFL from one season to the next is anyone's guess but I can say I look forward to seeing the Texans perform for better or worse.

In closing, I inform Texans fans my sister is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in your fair city so if you ever meet an "Hermana Barton," please be nice and invite her in for some ginger ale and pretzels as you watch Texans games this season!

Today's NFL preview features the Green Bay Packers, a storied franchise who added their fourth Lombardi trophy last season when they vanquished the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45.

After visiting the White House to be honored by President Barack Obama, the Packers seem poised to repeat the feat in 2011.

Having a signal-caller as illustrious as Aaron Rodgers is always a good foundation for success as in only three seasons where he has played extensively, he has tossed 86 touchdowns against 31 interceptions and only seems to be getting better.

Meanwhile, while Rodgers has had concussion problems recently, Matt Flynn has proved to be an adept backup.

While the Packers had numerous injuries last year, they only seemed to get stronger when it mattered most as general manager Ted Thompson has an uncanny ability to find treasure where others only see trash.

This prescient gift has helped the Packers find diamonds in the rough such as linebacker Frank Zombo and jack-of-all-trades Spencer Havner who adroitly caught a touchdown pass off of a deflection in last weekend's exhibition at Cleveland.

With a stable of stellar receivers such as Greg Jennings, the erstwhile veteran Donald Driver and the dependable Jordy Nelson, Rodgers is not hurting for targets to throw too.

When healthy, tight end Jermichael Finley is an impossible matchup for many defenders and tailbacks Ryan Grant and James Starks add to a potent offense which amassed an impressive 5,730 yards in the championship campaign of 2010.

Additionally, defenders such as Clay Matthews III, Nick Collins (who is celebrating a birthday today) and Charles Woodson return from a defense which surrendered only 240 points, or 15 points per contest, last season, good for second in league annals.

While the Packers could potentially have trouble replacing defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, the smart bet is to not count Green Bay out as their ingenuity knows no bounds until it does.

With that said, they could face a stiff challenge from vastly-improved Detroit in the NFC North, although Chicago, with Jay Cutler at the helm, has nowhere to go but down and Minnesota, with ex-Eagle and Redskin signal-caller Donovan McNabb is an unknown at this stage who could rebound from a disappointing 2010.

I do expect the Packers to be in prime position to defend last season's Super Bowl title but if there's one thing I know about the NFL, it's that I don't know anything.

Thus, with this undiscovered adventure awaiting us, let's bring on the games and see how the Pack performs in defending its crown. 

Thanks for reading!

The Lions, who have not made the postseason since 1999 are on the verge of making the playoffs as the talent level is finally where it should be in Motown.

It is indisputable that Detroit boasts the NFL's best defensive line as Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, if he can recover from his recent injury, will be giving quarterbacks lots of headaches in the NFC North.

The Lions' resurgent defense also features playmakers in the secondary such as Louis Delmas and Amari Spievey while the offense is good enough to give this defense big leads.

If Detroit can get a full season from burgeoning star quarterback Matthew Stafford, we will see the Lions take a quantum leap.

Stafford has all the essential skills to being an elite passer and with weapons like wide receiver Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, Nate Burleson (who is currently the only NFLer to follow me on Twitter) and tight end Tony Scheffler, the skies of Ford Field could be filled with lots of long passes for big gainers.

Although tailback Mikel Leshoure is out for the season, I think the Lions adroitly made the most out of a bad situation by getting both Jerome Harrison and Mike Bell, two backs who have shown in complimentary roles they can be effective.

The major impetus for all of the Lions' success, will prove to be head coach Jim Schwartz, who has brought an attitude and swagger to Detroit that has not been seen for ages. (Wayne Fontes had a great attitude and consistently led Detroit to the playoffs but Fontes and Utah football hero Scott Mitchell are not popular names in the "D" so I digress)

Even though I am a Broncos fan, I so want the Lions to be successful.

Detroiters deserve this more than anyone as they have remained loyal fans no matter how bad things got.

What the NFL needs more than anything in this new era of labor peace is a successful team rocking Honolulu blue and silver jerseys and that's precisely what they're going to get.

Today’s preview is on my favorite NFL team, the Denver Broncos, so some bias may sweep in but I can share my opinions without capital letters or cheap shenanigans. AFTER ALL THERE IS NO NEED TO SHOUT ON THE INTERNET!

Anyway, as my favorite radio host Jim Rome has often said the past few weeks Bronco Camp is his favorite training camp this season.

Why is Romey so enraptured with Dove Creek? It is simply because the training camp battle between incumbent Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow is so intriguing to MSM types.

Of course, we media members who happen to be Broncos fans, are hoping Tebow can continue to accentuate his positive traits and work on eradicating the plagues which have stricken all scrambling passers through the years.

Yes, Denver’s favorite son John Elway, as well as Steve Young and Randall Cunningham, among others, had to harness their prodigious athletic skills to become prolific passers.

Two of these aforementioned signal-callers are Hall of Famers and in all honesty, all three of them should be.

Anyway, Orton is the Broncos’ starter until he is not, but I expect management to keep Tebow as there is no evidence suggesting he is not the quarterback of the future, regardless of what my friend and fellow Italian, Michael Lombardi, has said on NFL Network or nfl.com.

While there is much hubbub concerning the signal-caller position in Denver, the Broncos have quietly, yet adroitly procured talented players.

Last April, the Broncos had one of their best drafts in the past 10 years as safety Rahim Moore, linebacker/defensive end Von Miller and tight end Julius Thomas have all performed spectacularly in training camp and all have the potential to be difference makers in a positive sense.

2009 NFL sack champion Elvis Dumervil, who has 43 career sacks appears to be fully recovered from a debilitating injury last year and Champ Bailey return to what we in Broncos Country hope is an elite unit.

Selfless veteran Brian Dawkins (who took less money to remain a Bronco, instantaneously this makes him a Mile High legend) has already been mentoring safety Kyle McCarthy, who made numerous big hits in last week’s preseason opener at Dallas.

The biggest (no pun intended) assets the Broncos now have defensively are Ty Warren and Broderick Bunkley, defensive linemen who should successfully fill any role new head coach John Fox has for them.

Offensively, Fox is staying true to the principles he employed in Carolina with a consistent and potent rushing attack.

Holdover Knowshon Moreno has been joined by ex-Raven and Bill Willis McGahee (7,214 career combined rushing and receiving yards) while the duo is expected to keep the ball in Denver’s hands while the defense remains fresh.

Rookie free agent Jeremiah Johnson, an ex-Oregon Duck, could help Moreno and McGahee comprise a triumvirate of fearsome tailbacks for Broncos opponents to fret about if all goes well.

To me, Denver’s wideouts also remain a strength as Eddie Royal and Eric Decker, along with unit leader Brandon Lloyd should all have significant opportunities to contribute to what will be a much more balanced offense than the one employed by Josh “Dark Sith” McDaniels.

Finally, while Matt Prater is a successful kicker, his DUI disgusts me, so Steven Hauschka needs to continue in his solid performance to end 2010 (3 of 4 in limited opportunities) if called upon.

Ultimately, I do think the Broncos can be vastly improved and if they simply execute Fox’s game plans successfully on a weekly basis and win the turnover ratio, I can see my beloved team win 10 games.

Time will tell, but bring on the games!

On today's NFL preview, we look at the Dallas Cowboys, a team I am familiar with as my Denver Broncos just played them Thursday evening. 

The Cowboys bring a lot of excellence to the table and, much like the Broncos when they were coached by Wade Phillips, performed according to the caliber of their coach. In other words, Phillips, who is generally laissez-faire and lackadaisical as a head coach, rubbed off on the Cowboys, thus causing them to start horrendously and while they finished 2010 with a flurry, they were already out of postseason contention when they came around.

Continue reading this post »

Today's NFL preview will focus on the Cleveland Browns, a team with a bright future that still needs development.

The Cleveland Browns, an NFL power for much of the league's early era who rebounded in the 1980s with several strong seasons are seeking a return to the glory days and their chances could be pretty good.

To me, the key to the Browns' success is second-year signal-caller Colt McCoy, who in his rookie season of 2010, tossed for 1,576 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing a respectable 60.8 percent of his passes.

While McCoy must improve his TD/INT ratio, I think he has a great chance to do so as he plays much bigger than his diminutive status and is the closest thing the Browns have had at quarterback since Bernie Kosar, the impetus of their last significant playoff run.

McCoy will have plenty of help as tailback Peyton Hillis amassed 1,554 scrimmage yards in 2010 and has helped the Browns exponentially in numerous ways since being acquired from my Denver Broncos for Brady Quinn. (one of the rare times the Browns have bested the Broncos:)

Anyway, Joshua Cribbs returns as a jack of all trades weapon for Cleveland who should continue to be a threat anytime he can get his hands on the ball, while Mohammed Massaquoi serves as another solid wideout for the Browns.

Defensively, free agent acquisition Usama Young brings some championship experience from the New Orleans Saints while Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong and Joe Haden are other stalwarts which should assist the Browns in their quest toward capturing the AFC North title.

At first glance, it may seem the Browns have done little to challenge the Ravens and Steelers in the division, but I learned long ago to never count McCoy out, as he is a gamer who gives it all he's got, a definitive trait Clevelanders already appreciate about him.

Right now, I still see the Browns battling the Bengals for the bottom of the division, but if Hillis remains healthy and McCoy continues to progress, I will likely eat these words.

Under the guidance of president  Mike Holmgren,  and general manager Tom Heckert Jr., the Browns will be contending sooner rather than later.

To me, however, the "sooner" will occur after 2011.

In any case, thanks for reading.

Bengals fans, I respect you and think you're loyal to put up with a dummy like Mike Brown. If I'm wrong about my predictions, please feel free to criticize me. We media types are supposed to have thick skin.

Today's NFL preview of the day brings us a report on the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that at the least needs a management overhaul.

I realize, as an NFL historian, or at least an aspiring one, that Paul Brown, the great Cleveland Browns coach, was the impetus of the Bengals' existence, but his son, Mike Brown, does not possess the football acumen his father did.

Consequently, perennial Pro-Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer is not desirous to be part of this franchise, which has generally struggled mightily since nearly defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 23 in the late 80s.

The new face of the franchise, Andy Dalton, actually has some solid game, despite bearing a strong resemblance to Opie Taylor back in Mayberry.

Since Dalton's Texas Christian Horned Frogs didn't play in the right conference (yes, a college football critique, if you're going to read my columns, that's something you'll have to deal with), they were shut out of the "national championship" game and many fans never got to see what he could do.

If the Bengals are desirous to retain Cedric Benson, who has amassed 2,462 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground the past two seasons despite his legal matters, I can't really fault their logic unless he screws up again.

With Chad Ochocinco, or whatever he calls himself these days, en route to New England, there are some young Cincinnati receivers with a chance to assert themselves.

Last year, Jordan Shipley (52 rec, 600 yards, 3 TD's) and Jerome Simpson (three more receiving scores) showed they were ready for the rigors of the NFL and Cincinnati's progression will require a solid passing game.

Defensively, Rey Maualuga, while performing solidly, needs to step his game up anymore to lead a unit which could be excellent, if free agent acquisition Nate Clements can make Bengals fans forget the departed Jonathan Joseph.

I think Marvin Lewis is one of the best coaches in the league, but I also say he needs to do one of his best jobs to keep this team above water.

The Bengals do have significant talent in some areas, but to me, there are a lot of question marks.

I do think Cincinnati is a team I can only understand if I watch them this preseason (yes, that was a shoutout for my dish provider to step his game up and get me a new satellite system after my current one failed), but in all seriousness, if film study can make Aaron Rodgers a Super Bowl champion, it can work wonders for me as well.

Right now, I peg Cincinnati for perhaps six or seven wins, but the Bengals are free to surprise me as I readily admit my mistakes.

I've been doing NFL preseason predictions alphabetically and as I reached Chicago, I realized Bears fans blocked me from WCG so I will post my anti-Cutler rhetoric here. More after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

As my NFL preview series continues, today's spotlight team is the Carolina Panthers, a team in desperate need of a resuscitation in 2011.

After having a league-worst 2-14 record in 2010, the Carolina Panthers have already made major headway in free agency as soon as the lockout ended July 25.

Presumably, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was content to retain money in 2010 to prepare for the lockout, which lasted for 4.5 months, but already in numerous media outlets, he has critiqued those who say he was cheap.

In addition to resigning their own free agents, tailback DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Charles Johnson, the Panthers have acquired former Bears tight end Greg Olsen, ex-Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare and former Eagles linebacker Omar Gaither, among others.

The Panthers' tight ends have a chance to be among the elite units in the NFL as Olsen and Jeremy Shockey are both proven targets who should give opposing defenses plenty to worry about.

While Cam Newton, for better or worse, will be the draft pick most scrutinized by the MSM (I am not a journalist with big-time credentials so this ignominious moniker does not apply to me), fifth-round selection Kealoha Pilares may be the most intriguing prospect.

On defense, Charles Johnson and 2010 Pro-Bowler Jon Beason should lead the way while nose tackle Sione Fua may not have Haloti Ngata's game, but he provides plenty of girth and Polynesians just have a special proclivity for being NFL stalwarts, so he was a wise selection.

With all of this said, the NFC South is arguably the toughest division in the NFL so while the Panthers will be vastly improved, I'm not sure if they can earn a playoff berth with two games against New Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa Bay upcoming.

Still, Panthers fans have reason to rejoice because this team is headed in the right direction.

Thanks for reading!