In this file photo, John Fox is seen with Jack Del Rio before an NFL game in 2003. Â (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)

All of the Broncos coaching staff has off this week, but Denver’s new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has already arrived at the team’s facility and has been settling in.

“I’m here to get an early start,” Del Rio said in a press conference call on Monday. “I want to dig into the film and I want to help my son get settled. I’m eager to get going.”

In 2002, Del Rio coached the Carolina Panthers‘ defense under John Fox before becoming the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach in 2003. After being fired eleven games into the 2011 season, Del Rio found himself available for the Bronco’s vacant coordinator position—reuniting him with Fox in Denver.

“I find myself rejuvenated. I’m very excited about the opportunity here, to come to Denver, this franchise and this organization. That’s why I’m here.”

Had Del Rio sat out the 2012 season, he could have collected unpaid salary from the Jaguars — $5 million dollars due in the final year of his contract.  Whatever he makes with the Broncos this season will be deducted from what the Jaguars owed him.

“I love to compete, I love being around ball. It’s not about the money,” Del Rio said.

Last season, Denver’s defense—although vastly improved since 2010—recorded nine interceptions and came away with a minus 12 turnover ratio.  That is something that Del Rio is aiming to improve in year one.

“We want to be an attacking defense, one that’s going to be able to get after quarterbacks and make their life miserable,” Del Rio continued, stressing the importance of stopping the run and forcing turnovers. “At the end of the day, help the team win.”

Del Rio Dives into Film Study [MaxDenver]

• After announcing Tim Tebow the 2012 starter, John Elway said at Senior Bowl practices that the team is “in the market for more quarterbacks.” [Denver Post]
• Legwold doesn’t see Peyton Manning in the Broncos‘ future. [Denver Post]
• RB Doug Martin stole the show during Senior Bowl practices last week. [MaxBroncos]
• RB Isaiah Pead won MVP honors for the game itself. [ESPN]
• DL Melvin Ingram made some waves during the Senior Bowl. [Denver Post]
• Can the Broncos’ new strength and conditioning coach stem the team’s annual late season slide? [Denver Post]
• Ted Sundquist wonders where the buck should stop in modern NFL franchises. [The Football Educator]
• Tom Brady landed in Indianapolis and says he’s aware he’s a target — especially for the Giants D-Line. [Boston Herald]
• Nike is beginning to unveil some of its new Broncos gear. [Predominantly Orange]

 

A funny little anecdote from the weekend’s Pro Bowl. A heckling Ravens fan tried to get at Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee by taking a shot at Tim Tebow. McGahee responded perfectly.

“That’s not nice,” he told the fan. “That’s like saying if you had a better kicker, you’d have won.”

Tim Tebow > Billy Cundiff. Video at the link.

Pro Bowl Outtake: McGahee fires back at Ravens fan [NFL.com]

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89), of the NFC, gets pulled down by Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) gives chase during the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

The Denver Broncos were well-represented at the 2012 Pro Bowl in Honolulu Sunday, both in quantity of players and quality of play.

Little about the game itself actually matters, but the fact that Brian Dawkins, who was sidelined for the last six games of the Broncos’ 2011 season (including both playoff games), was able to play made it worth the watch for hardcore Broncos fans. It’s possible that that was the 38-year-old Dawkins’ last appearance in an NFL uniform.

Meanwhile, rookie Von Miller made a strong statement in his Pro Bowl debut. The #2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft sacked #1 overall pick Cam Newton twice on Sunday while leading all defensive players with eight tackles. One can only hope Miller can mirror his performance when the plays matter against the Carolina Panthers in 2012.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil, cornerback Champ Bailey, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, and running back Willis McGahee rounded out the six Broncos representatives at the Pro Bowl, the most for the franchise since 2001.

Jack Del Rio will be taking over the Broncos defense. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

To replace former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the Denver Broncos on Friday signed Jack Del Rio, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.  Rio was most recently the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2003, after being John Fox‘s DC with the Panthers in 2002.

The Oakland Raiders officially announced their singing of Allen on Friday, leaving the Broncos without a defensive coordinator.  Rio will become Denver’s seventh defensive coordinator in seven years.

“We are thrilled to be able to add such a well-respected defensive coach to our staff,” said Broncos Head Coach John Fox on Friday evening.  “He was an integral part of our turnaround on defense during my first year with the Panthers in 2002 and his defenses with the Jaguars have ranked among the NFL’s best, and we are excited he’s a Bronco.”

The team also on Friday signed Luke Richesson as their head strength and conditioning coach.  Richesson, who was the Jaguars strength and conditioning coach the last three seasons, will replace Rich Tuten.

Sounds like two good additions to me.  What are your thoughts on the two signings?

Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.

(Perry Knotts/NFL)

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen answers questions from the media after the team's NFL football practice, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, in Englewood, Colo. The Broncos are scheduled to play the New England Patriots in an AFC divisional playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

Denver Broncos players, coaches, and staff react to the news that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who played a huge part in the Broncos’ 2011 turnaround, has left to become the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

Cornerback Champ Bailey —

“To be selfish, I want him to be here because I want that stability,” Champ Bailey said last week, when Allen was interviewing for a different head coaching opportunity. After hearing the news yesterday, Bailey simply praised his former coach.

“He knew how to get us ready,” Champ Bailey told the NFL Network. “I give him a lot of credit for the success we had this year… He’s one of the most intense coaches I’ve had.”

Linebacker Von Miller —

“They’re getting a guy that’s going to come in right away, and he’s going to get it done,” Von Miller told NFL Network. “That’s what he did for us. He came in, he laid out a plan for us, he told us, ‘This is how we’re going to do it, and this will work,’ and that’s what happened. We improved our defense an incredible amount… I think he’ll do the same thing with the Oakland Raiders.”

Linebacker Robert Ayers — Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos have a storied history with the Number Seven. They were hoping their defensive coordinator position wouldn’t continue the trend. They were wrong.

Seven defensive coordinators in seven years. The Broncos will hire their seventh defensive coordinator in as many years following the news that Dennis Allen has been offered and has accepted the position as head coach for the Oakland Raiders.

Allen is the first Denver Broncos assistant to be hired as head coach by their AFC West rivals since Mike Shanahan became Raiders coach in 1988.

For the Broncos, it means that the search has begun for Allen’s replacement. John Fox and company are in Mobile at the Senior Bowl practices (Allen too), so they may wait until they return to begin the coaching search in earnest. Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith (former defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans) and former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, who was a defensive coordinator under Fox in Carolina, are thought to be frontrunners.

Very disappointed to see Allen leave to the hated Raiders. Look at that picture, Broncos fans — that face is no longer the face of our defensive leader. That’s the face of Enemy #1.

Back in the day, a combination of Floyd Little and Tim Tebow may have taken the Broncos to several Super Bowls. (Images courtesy of Getty)

Over the next few days, ESPN will be rolling out their Any Era Team, consisting of twenty players that Pro Football Hall of Famers think could have played in any era of the National Football League.  Ranking at number nineteen on the list is Denver Broncos second-year quarterback Tim Tebow.

“It’s funny. It was debated hotly for the past few months whether or not the option-running Tebow could actually fit in this era. Yet, according to the Hall of Famers, Tebow could play in any era in NFL history partly because of his toughness and aggressive playing style,” wrote ESPN blogger Bill Williamson.

One of the players that voted for Tebow to be recognized was former Broncos running back Floyd Little, who was enshrined into the HOF two years ago.  According to Little, Tebow is the type of player that could play any position asked of him.

“He might not be the greatest quarterback, but he could play at any position you want him to play at. He’s a guy I’d like to play with if I was still playing. He’s a winner, he’s mobile, strong, and gets the job done regardless, whether he’s blocking, throwing, running or just fooling you,” said Little.

Tebow was praised highly by Little, who recorded nearly 9,000 yards from scrimmage while scoring over 50 touchdowns in 117 career games with the Broncos from 1967-to-1975.    

“He finds a way to win and people need to recognize that. A “W” is a “W” and it doesn’t matter how you get it, if you win ugly it’s still a “W.” Mechanics don’t play the game, people do.”

The Denver Broncos may be searching for a seventh defensive coordinator in seven years after all. Tweets Adam Schefter:

Raiders have identified Broncos DC Dennis Allen as the leading candidate to become their next HC. Raiders told other candidates they’re out.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2012

It is interesting, though, that the Raiders made Dennis Allen a “leading candidate” but didn’t hire him outright. Does the search continue in Oakland, or could Allen be currently mulling a job offer from the Broncos’ AFC West rivals?