Including preseason matches, Thursday's game will mark the third time Denver has faced Dallas over the past four seasons. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

After two weeks of going over formations, alignments, routes and coverages, Bronco players are ready to hit someone other than their teammates for a change.

They’ll get a chance to do so on Thursday when the team faces the Dallas Cowboys, kicking off the 2011 preseason for both clubs.  The game will be played at Cowboys Stadium at 6:30 pm (MT) and will be broadcast on KUSA-TV.

Denver’s coaching staff is as anxious to see the team play live for the first time this season, as are the fans.

“In camp you’re competing against each other.  I think they’re all gonna (sic) be excited to play against somebody else and see how they measure up,” said Head Coach John Fox following Tuesday’s A.M. practice session in Dove Valley.

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The Denver Broncos released their first 2011 depth chart Monday, three days before their preseason opener in Dallas.

The offense fell more or less as expected, with Tim Tebow securing the #2 spot above Brady Quinn but still below Kyle Orton.

The recent defensive line mash-up sees Brodrick Buntley and Kevin Vickerson starting at DT with the higher-paid Ty Warren and Marcus Thomas filling backup roles, while rookie Rahim Moore solidifies his solid camp with a starting nod at free safety.

It’s really exciting to see a healthy Elvis Dumervil back on the depth chart, along with the new blood on the defense. Check the full depth chart below.

Defense and special teams after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

According to The Onion, Broncos center J.D. Walton called a team meeting Monday to apologize to players and coaches for inadvertently snapping the ball to third-string quarterback Brady Quinn, promising to never make the same stupid mistake again. Original Article

It might be funny, but it’s sad to see our QB situation popping up in the funny papers.

Former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe poses with his bust during his induction into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio August 6, 2011. (Photo by Aaron Josefczk/Reuters)

Former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe was officially inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame on Saturday evening in Canton, Ohio.  Sharpe is the fourth Bronco to be enshrined, joining former teammates John Elway (QB) and Gary Zimmerman (OL) as three of the four Broncos representing the team in Canton.

The fourth former Bronco in the Hall of Fame is running back Floyd Little, who was enshrined last year.  All four players are certainly deserving.  There are several other former Broncos that are arguably equally deserving, former running back Terrell Davis and safety Steve Atwater among them.

To learn how you can help get more deserving Denver Broncos into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, visit www.GetThemInTheHall.com.  Highlights of Sharpe’s acceptance speech can be viewed below.  Congrats, Shannon!

Defensive end Robert Ayers wants fans to support the team, and not "boo" any players. (Photo by Ed Andrieski/AP)

It was third down with nine yards to go at the Broncos’ full padded scrimmage at Invesco Field @ Mile High on Saturday evening.  Starting quarterback Kyle Orton was leading the first team offense in the red zone in front of nearly 18,000 Broncomaniacs.

Orton scrambled before sliding three yards short of the first yard marker.  Then came the booing.  The offense was forced to settle for a field goal in the red zone for the second consecutive drive.  Stalling in the redzone is something Denver fans are all too used to following last season, so the frustration is understandable.

Some of Orton’s teammates don’t appreciate the booing however, defensive end Robert Ayers among them.  “[I] really wish fans [would have] stopped booing Orton,” Ayers tweeted shortly after the scrimmage had ended.  “He is our quarterback and our coach thinks he gives us the best chance of winning.  Fans, please respect that.”

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USC Trojans running back C.J. Gable. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

The Denver Broncos announced on Saturday evening that the team had waived running back Mario Fannin and claimed running back C.J. Gable off waivers from the New Orleans Saints.  Denver is second in the waiver order, and will be for the entire season.

Fannin suffered a knee sprain in practice on Thursday, after joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent last month.  Gable comes to Denver after playing college ball at USC the past four years.  A return specialist and rotational back, Gable will fight for a roster spot in training camp.

Gable will join fellow backs Knowshon Moreno, Willis McGahee, Lance Ball, LenDale White, Jeremiah Johnson, Austin Sylvester and Brandon Minor as the eight runners currently on Denver’s roster.  The Broncos will probably carry four backs during the season with the possibility of another on the practice squad.

A twenty-year old rookie, Gable measures up and weighs in at 6-0, 205 pounds.

Update (9:05 PM MT):  Fannin has cleared waivers and the team placed him on the injured reserve list.

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee, left, talks with running back Knowshon Moreno during NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

NFL players ratified the new CBA on Thursday, which officially started the new league year.

Until the new NFL year had begun, free agent signees were not allowed to practice with their respective teams.  On Thursday, ten Broncos practiced with the team for the first time this offseason.

Returning Broncos Brian Dawkins (S), Matt Prater (K), Ryan McBean (DL) and Wesley Woodyard (LB) practiced for the first time this year; all four players had their contracts altered during the offseason.

Offseason acquisitions Willis McGahee (RB),  Ty Warren (DT), Derrick Harvey (DL), Daniel Fells (TE), David Anderson (WR) and Dante Rosario (TE) also joined practiced with the 2011 squad for the first time.

Denver also waived cornerback Chevis Jackson on Thursday, leaving Denver’s roster with 90 players.  Teams are allowed to carry 90 players during training camp before cutting down to 75 and eventually the final 53-player team.  On game days during the season, 46 players will be allowed to dress.

Now that the whole team is practicing together, it’s really starting to feel like football season!  The Broncos preseason opener in Dallas is just one week away.  Denver will take on the Cowboys on Thursday, August 11th.

• Merril Hoge takes his critique of Tim Tebow to Twitter. Tebow (and LeBron James) respond in kind. [First and Orange]
• Has Kyle Orton already been anointed the starter? John Fox isn’t giving anything away yet, but the writing is on the wall. [NFL.com]
• Denver Broncos rookie tight end Julius Thomas stole the show during practice Wednesday. [Denver Post]
• Day 7 practice video highlights include nice throws from Orton and Brady Quinn. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Big-time Broncos pickup Ty Warren is expected at practice today; the Broncos are confident he’ll be ready following his hip injury. [Max Denver]
• A look at NFL Network’s Shannon Sharpe special. [Predominantly Orange]

(REUTERS photo/Rick Wilking)

Break out anything you have in orange Bronco fans. The Broncos are sporting the orange jerseys for the Monday Night Football opener against the Raiders. Denver will also dawn the orange against the Lions during Week 8.

Also, for all of you non-Colorado residents, the NFL is offering a preseason package where every single preseason game is live and on demand for $20.

It'll be an orange opener when the Broncos kickoff the season Monday, September 12th in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)

• The Denver Broncos will open up the regular season in its orange jerseys at home on Monday Night Football against the Raiders.  The team will bring out the orange again in Week 8 against Detroit.  [DenverBroncos.com]

• Side note:  I’ve been lobbying for the team to switch back to orange for awhile, it’s exciting that they’re going to wear them twice this season and will be switching permanently starting in 2012, according to reports.

• Dolphin fans weren’t too happy on Monday night when Miami quarterback Chad Henne was struggling.  In fact, the fans proceeded to boo Henne before chanting “We want Orton!” (Referring to Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.)  Miami Head Coach Tony Sparano said he it “made me sick.”  [Sun-Sentinel]

• You’ve heard it before:  “We’re going to be an aggressive, nasty defense this year.”  Andrew Mason of MaxDenver.com says this year, that actually may be true.  [MaxDenver]

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