Former head coach of the Denver Broncos Josh McDaniels talks with Tim Tebow #15 during a team training session at The Brit Oval on October 29, 2010 in London, England. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images Europe)

Over a year ago, Broncos fans celebrated like they were liberated from a maniacal dictator when Pat Bowlen relieved Josh McDaniels of his coaching duties with the Denver Broncos.  The dark ages had finally ended, and though everyone knew the sun would rise again albeit at a very slow pace.

Then came the 2011 season.

In a year where the Broncos were expected to win no more than five or six games, the team finished 8-8 in the regular season, won the AFC West and advanced to the divisional round before being blown out by the New England Patriots 45-10 in Foxboro.

Take a look at the wild card win over the Steelers.  The two players who made the play of the game? Quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas—Josh McDaniels’ final two first round draft picks.

Yes, THAT Josh McDaniels.

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The Denver Broncos, along with 29 other teams in the NFL not competing in Super Bowl XLVI, have entered full-scale scouting mode starting today. Before the Combine, and before free agency begin in March, and before the draft in April, there is the Senior Bowl, setting the premiere college seniors from the North and South against each other for the scouting, analysis, and nitpicking of professional scouts. Miss a block here and your draft stock may drop two rounds. Throw a pair of interceptions here and you’ll be off half the teams’ boards come April.

No pressure.

The Broncos arrived in Mobile, Alab., the site of the Senior Bowl, and are gameplanning. Tweets Executive VP of Football Operations John Elway:

Just arrived in Mobile for Senior Bowl. Mtgs with our coaches & scouts set for today. Important part of draft prep begins.

— John Elway (@johnelway) January 23, 2012

Meanwhile, Andrew Mason of MaxDenver.com is also at Mobile and has already previewed a trifecta of players from the North and South teams each. Among his South Team “Names to Watch” for the Broncos is CB Janoris Jenkins of Northern Alabama. Among his North Team Names: Washington RB Chris Polk.

The Broncos handpicked two starting defenders from the Senior Bowl last year; we’ll be following the practice reports closely all week. Who’s on your early Broncos draft wish list, or who are you watching closely?

Broncos’ veteran safety Brian Dawkins was named to the 2012 Pro Bowl on Thursday, replacing Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu for the AFC squad.  Originally named a first alternate in December, Dawkins will make the ninth Pro Bowl appearance of his career.

Dawkins will join cornerback Champ Bailey, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, linebacker Von Miller, running back Willis McGahee and left tackle Ryan Clady as the six players representing the Broncos in the NFL’s annual All-Star Game.  The sextet is the most players Denver has sent to Hawaii since 2001.  Full press release after the jump.

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Vince Wilfork #75 and Rob Ninkovich #50 of the New England Patriots sack Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

The last game of Tim Tebow‘s 2011 campaign didn’t end the way the quarterback would like. It didn’t progress very comfortably either.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Tebow suffered rib, lung, and chest injuries early in the second half that nearly sidelined Tebow for the game, which explains why Brady Quinn was seen warming up on the sideline late in the game. Tebow fought through “considerable pain” and took every snap for the Denver Broncos as he and his teammates fell 45-10 to the New England Patriots and out of the playoffs.

Tebow should be ready for the Broncos’ offseason training program, according to the report.

Source: Tim Tebow played through pain [ESPN]

• 

  Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has drawn interest from several teams since the regular season ended. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross)

  There is a good chance that Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will become the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.  [@AdamSchefter]

• Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders have asked—and were given permission—to interview both McCoy and Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for their vacant head coaching position.  [Denver Post]

• “It’s very complimentary to this organization that both Dennis Allen and Mike McCoy are being interviewed by other teams,” Broncos Head Coach John Fox said on Monday.   “It says a lot about what this organization has accomplished.”  [MaxDenver]

• Broncos strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten will not return for the 2012 season.  [SB Nation]

• Two possible candidates to replace Tuten are Jerry Simmons and Loren Landow.  [@MaxBroncos + @jonmark93]

• The Broncos have promoted Matt Russell to director of player personnel and named Brian Stark West Coast scout.  [Official Site]

There will be at least five players representing the Denver Broncos in the 2012 Pro Bowl later this month, as offensive tackle Ryan Clady will join cornerback Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller as a first alternate.

It’s official, heading to Hawaii for the pro bowl next week. S/O to everyone who voted, appreciate it. #blessed

— Ryan Clady (@RyanClady) January 17, 2012

Clady was named a first alternate back in December.  With Miami’s Jake Long unable to play in the game due to injury, Clady will replace him on the AFC’s offensive line.  It will mark the second Pro Bowl appearance of Clady’s career (2009).

Clady’s career has been showered with accolades (he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2008 and was named the NFL’s best offensive tackle in 2009), but he had a poor 2011 season, by his standards.  Clady posted a career and team-high seven holding penalties last season and allowed a career-high nine sacks.  However, Clady was a key part of Denver’s running game and helped the Broncos rush for a league-high 2,632 yards.

Congratulations to Clady! He may not have been as deserving this year as he has been in seasons’ past, but he remains one of the Broncos best offensive linemen.

Update (2:20 p.m. MT): Running back Willis McGahee has also been named to the Pro Bowl as a first alternate, replacing  Houston’s Arian Foster.  Foster can’t participate due to injury.

Quarterback Tim Tebow completed less than 50% of his passes last season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Nobody is about to deny that Broncos second year quarterback Tim Tebow has accuracy and consistency issues. With that said, his inaccuracy problems may be a bit overblown.

We all know that every few passes, Tebow will send a pass off course of his target, much to the dismay of Broncos fans.  Whether it’s overthrowing a running back out of the backfield or throwing a ball at a receiver’s feet, Tebow seems to have 5-10 extremely inaccurate passes every 20-30 attempts.

Starting in eleven games last season, Tebow only completed 46.5% of his passes, a stat which is unheard-of for professional quarterbacks.  Why the low completion percentage?  Several reasons are listed after the jump:

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Over the next few weeks, we’re going to see a lot of football.  This weekend, the NFL’s AFC and NFC championship games will be played.  One week later, the college football Senior Bowl will be played a day before the NFL’s 2012 Pro Bowl.  And of course, then comes Super Bowl XLVI.

Today, we’re going to talk about the NFL’s Annual All-Star Game, and the six players that could represent the Denver Broncos in three weeks.  Cornerback Champ Bailey, defensive end Elvis Dumervil and outside linebacker Von Miller were all named to the Pro Bowl last December.  Three other Broncos could join them in Hawaii as alternates.

• If Baltimore (and running back Ray Rice) goes to the Super Bowl, Broncos running back Willis McGahee will play in the 2012 Pro Bowl as a first alternate.

• If Miami left tackle Jake Long (torn right biceps) cannot play in the Pro Bowl due to injury, Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady will replace him as a first alternate.

• If New England (and quarterback Tom Brady) go to the Super Bowl, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton will replace him as the first alternate. If Brady goes to the Super Bowl and Steelers quarterback Ben Reothlisberger (ankle) does not play in the Pro Bowl due to injury, Dalton and Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will make their respective Pro Bowl debuts as first and second alternates.