The Denver Broncos have shown interest in free agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, according to NFL Insider Adam Caplan.  Okoye, a former first round draft pick, played in all sixteen games (starting one) with the Bears last season.

In addition to the Bengals and Bears, Amobi Okoye has received interest from the Bucs, Pats, and Broncos, according to sources. #freeagency

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 27, 2012

Interesting, Okoye is entering his sixth season in the NFL despite being only twenty-four years old.  Yes, you read that right.

Okoye was born in Nigeria and moved to Alabama when he was twelve years old and tested into the ninth-grade at his local high school. He began playing high school football when he was thirteen.  Six years later, he became the youngest player to ever be drafted into the NFL at age nineteen.

Okoye was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft (10th overall).  He started at least twelve games each of the four seasons he was with the Texans and recorded 11.0 sacks during that time.

In his career, Okoye has recorded 165 tackles, 15.0 sacks and forced two fumbles in five years.  A 6-2, 292 pound defensive lineman, Okoye played collegiate football at Louisville.

(Image courtesy of Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos have been informed there is a “strong chance” they’ll open their season on Sunday Night Football, Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports.

“Our fans should get ready for more night games,” Broncos president Joe Ellis said. “Home and road.”

So which game on the Broncos’ 2012 scheduled list of opponents fits the primetime opener bill?

Our top five candidates, rated in the standard measure of NFL appeal and awesomeness (Manning Mustaches), after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The NFL finalized the 2012 draft order on Monday, and the Denver Broncos own seven selections.  Yes, seven, not eight.

Here’s a look at the team’s seven selections:

Pick 1:  1st round — 25th overall.  (Own selection)

Pick 2:  2nd round — 57th overall.  (Own selection)

Pick 3:  3rd round — 87th overall.  (Own selection)

Pick 4:  4th round — 108th overall.  (Via Jets/Tebow trade)

Pick 5:  4th round — 120th overall.  (Own selection)

Pick 6:  5th round — 137th overall. (Via Rams/Brandon Lloyd trade)

Pick 7:  6th round — 188th overall.  (Via Jets/Tebow trade)

There has been some confusion as to how many picks Denver currently owns, but the team has confirmed they own seven picks. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Update:  4/3/12:  The team’s new uniform has been revealed!

Are you ready for the orange to return to our beloved orange and blue Denver Broncos?  In one week from today, the Broncos’ uniform will return to being orange-dominated like it was from 1965-1997.

A new era in Broncos history will begin on Tuesday, April 3rd when the NFL and Nike Inc. unveil the league’s 2012 uniforms, previously manufactured by Reebok.  Nike and the NFL have agreed on a five-year deal, making Nike the official apparel provider of the NFL through 2017.

The Broncos, who were granted permission from the league to change their primary jersey color to orange, will be involved in the launching event in New York on the 3rd.  While no drastic ramifications are expected for Denver’s uniform, we expect Nike will tweak the Broncos’ look, even if just slightly.

We don’t know how the uniform will look (other than quite similar to the team’s 2011 alternate orange-based uniforms), but Nike did release images of what the team’s Vapor Jet Gloves will look like (image here).  New Era has also unveiled the team’s 2012 Draft Cap (image here).

Those creative Photoshop Nike uniforms that have been floating around are not real, and do not necessarily reflect what the Broncos’ new uniform will look like.  Nike will however implement their signature flashy designs to each team’s uniforms — with some team’s ramifications being more drastic than others, per Nike President and CEO Mark Parker.

We’re excited about the return to orange and the possibility of some changes to Denver’s game-day apparel.  Check back next Tuesday for full details on the new Denver Broncos uniform.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, quarterback Peyton Manning, and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway (Pennsinger/Getty Images)

Peyton Manning is a Denver Bronco, but the behind-the-scenes details of how that came to be hadn’t been told. Until now.

Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King breaks down the story of how the Broncos landed the biggest free agent in NFL history in his latest excellent column. Read it from Page 1 to 6 for tales of subterfuge, but in case you’re strapped for time, here are a number of highlights (we will break down each of these in-depth throughout the next few days) —

• John Fox knows a thing or two about recruiting.
• The Redskins and Mike Shanahan were more in play than anyone — including themselves, perhaps — knew.
• Jack Del Rio and Mike McCoy told Manning they plan to stick around. Probably.
• Broncos’ PR director Patrick Smyth played a big role in wooing Manning.
• A comfortability with a confident John Elway is what ultimately sold Manning.

I’m eager to bring you my thoughts on some (perhaps each) of these anecdotes soon, but in the meantime, read and enjoy.

Peyton Manning’s Long Game [Sports Illustrated]

Today’s GM is BroncoTalk’s very own, Jon Heath.

With the fifth overall pick in the 2012 Interactive Mock Draft, the Tampa Bay Bucs select…

5. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Before the draft, Malcolm, Greg and I decided to draft the top player available on our board when we came on the clock, and we stuck to that commitment.  It was however one of the hardest decisions we have ever made.

Trent is going to come to Tampa and team up with LeGarrette Blount in our backfield to form, in our opinion, one of the best one-two punches in the NFL.  We have confidence in our offense moving forward with guys like Josh Freeman, Richardson, Blount and Vincent Jackson leading the charge. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Good morning!  My name is Tim Lynch.  Many of you may know me from the many years I spent at Mile High Report, but I am now part of the BroncoTalk crew.  I’ll try to bring some Broncos wholesomeness your way intermittently, but in the meantime I will be sporting the Daily Links here.  Don’t be surprised if there is a similarity to MHR’s Horse Tracks in the format as I played a big role in that things evolution over there.  I tried to change it up slightly, but I do things a certain way and being the creature of habit I am, I’ll continue doing it the way I am used to doing it.  Links are links anyway…Enjoy!

Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos the toast of the NFL – Denver Post
Not surprisingly, the idea of pursuing Peyton Manning was hatched in John Elway’s office.

Can Denver’s defense take next step? – ESPN
Barring a setback from the neck injury that cost him the entire 2011 season, Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos’ offense covered. That side of the ball will be fine and will be in playoff form. But what about the defense?

2012 DRAFT EXPECTATIONS BY TEAM – by Tony Villiotti
A couple of articles ago (Great (Draft) Expectations, available on the website), DRAFTMETRICS presented the “generic” expectations from a draft class. Now that the compensatory draft choices have been awarded for free agency losses, specific expectations for each NFL team can be derived. These expectations are based on historical results from the 1992 through 2005 drafts.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos were not among 15 teams to receive compensatory draft picks this year, the NFL announced at its annual owners meetings Monday. A total of 32 compensatory picks were divvied out. The Broncos still have seven draft picks in 2012.

The Oakland Raiders received by far the greatest compensation, netting the only third round pick of the bunch, as well as fourth and fifth round selections.

These picks reflect NFL teams’ free agency net changes from 2011, not 2012. A team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks, the NFL said in a statement.

Looking ahead, the Broncos may be eligible for compensatory picks in 2013. They’ve lost starters Brodrick Bunkley, Spencer Larsen, and Daniel Fells in free agency thus far, as well as receiver/returner Eddie Royal. However, the addition of players like Jacob Tamme and Tracy Porter may offset that.

NFL announces 32 compensatory draft choices to 15 teams [ProFootballTalk]

After the short weekend intermission, we will continue with the Interactive Mock Draft. No breaks from now on.

This pick is brought to you by GM Eljbow.

With the fourth pick in the 2012 Interactive Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select…

4. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Here we go, the first of two first round picks for the Cleveland Browns. I know what most of you are thinking, why not try and use the ammunition to trade into the number two spot and take RGIII?

The answer is simple, the Browns are pretty terrible and one quarterback, no matter how good, will not be the answer. The Browns are still in the middle of a 13-year rebuilding project. They have no quarterback, no good wide receivers, no premier running back, and a pretty decent left tackle wasting his career. Because of all this, it’s time to solidify one of these major offensive positions. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Peyton Manning working out in Denver on March 26, 2012 (John Leyba/Denver Post).

New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is wasting no time getting to work in Denver — even if the newest NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement complicates matters.

Manning just-so-happened to be spotted working out at a high school in Highlands Ranch today by Denver Post photographer John Leyba (curious indeed. Was the Post tipped to his workout? Could be). Leyba captured Manning’s solo workout in this slideshow on the Post’s website.

Manning threw to Broncos teammates Julius Thomas and Eric Decker, according to Lindsay Jones. Center J.D. Walton was also there.

Manning can work out with teammates until April 16, as long is it is outside Broncos facilities, the Denver Post reported over the weekend. “I’m going to have to get up to speed on the (offseason workout) rules,” Manning said. “I know we don’t have nearly as much time as we used to.”

Clearly that’s a lesson Manning has already taken to heart.

(This post was twice updated with more accurate information regarding the players present at Manning’s workout).