Here we go again, another haiku for you.

This week’s topic? Hines Ward wins Dancing with the Stars.

I know… the lock out sucks.

Like always, I’ll take the first crack at it.

Steeler or dancer?
Football’s dirtiest player?
Do not break my jaw.

Think you can beat that? Try it after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Royal has done a great job of protecting the football since arriving in Denver. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal has played with five different quarterbacks through his first three years in Denver (Cutler, Ramsey, Simms, Orton and Tebow).  Despite that, Royal quickly became a fan favorite among Bronco fans after his stellar rookie season in which he caught 91 passes for 980 yards and 5 scores.

His production dropped in year two (as did his opportunities to contribute) but he did manage to return two kicks for touchdowns.  Last season, he put up respectable numbers with 59 catches going for 627 yards and 3 scores.  Denver is hoping he returns to rookie form this season (statistically speaking), and he certainly has the ability and desire to meet that goal.

While he hasn’t scored dozens of touchdowns or made the Pro Bowl (yet), Royal has been Mr. Reliable, as Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus discovered when breaking down receivers’ drop percentages from last season.  Among receivers who caught 50 or more passes last season, Royal’s 3.28% drop percentage (DP) ranked 5th in the NFL — but that didn’t satisfy Royal.

“You’d think I would be happy about it… but I’m still mad about the two I dropped,” said Royal on his facebook fan page Monday afternoon.

Further stat researching showed that Royal has had a great DP since his rookie season.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Allen seen during a game in 2010. (Image courtesy of NewOrleansSaints.com)

Following their dismal 2010 season, the Denver Broncos starting rebuilding — from top to bottom.  It began with the hiring of new Head Coach John Fox and firing of defensive coordinator Don Martindale.  Fox, known for his stellar defenses, went out and signed New Orleans’ secondary coach Dennis Allen to replace Martindale.

Allen is a well-respected coach across the league and is known as a witty guy who devours game film.  The development of Saints defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, a up and coming player, has often been credited to Allen, who’s secondary recorded 35 interceptions over the past two seasons.

Although New Orleans is just a season-removed from a Super Bowl victory, it appears Allen is not a well-known coach among Denver fans (me included).  For that reason, I got in touch with Andrew Juge of Saints Nation to discuss Allen.  After the jump, I’ve compiled a few notes and tidbits about Allen.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow warms up before an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey)

Although he has been working out on his own, Denver Broncos second year quarterback Tim Tebow has taken some heat for missing several of the team’s unofficial workouts, which were organised by veteran safety Brian Dawkins.  Tebow put an end to such murmurings when he attended a conditioning workout with some of his teammates on Tuesday.

According to Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post, Tebow showed up an hour early at the South Suburban Sports Dome to throw some passes to receiver Britt Davis and tight end Dan Gronkowski prior to taking snaps under center J.D. Walton. 

Brandon Stokley catches a tipped pass intended for Brandon Marshall and runs it up the field for a touchdown late in the fourth quartery to seal the Broncos victory of the Bengals, 12-7.

Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments and your winners from last time after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

This Jan. 7, 2011, file photo shows Denver Broncos football player Perrish Cox arriving at the Douglas County Justice Center in Castle Rock, Colo. On May 16, Cox entered a plea of not guilty. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox‘s second year in the NFL is full of uncertainty.

Not only is the ongoing lockout looming over Cox’s head, but the 2010 fifth round draft pick of the Broncos is in a lot of legal hot water. On Monday, Cox pleaded not guilty to two sexual assault charges stemming from an undisclosed incident that occurred in September of last year.

Cox’s trial was set for October 28th, reports the Denver Post. If there is an NFL season, Cox’s trial would fall on the Monday immediately following the Broncos’ Week 6 bye Sunday.

“I just want the season to start back up. It’s tough,” Cox said after the hearing. “It’s something that stays over your head. You stay positive, just control what I can control.”

These are extremely serious charges, so we won’t comment on what Cox or the Broncos should or shouldn’t do as long as the details of the case remain sealed. Innocent until proven guilty… hopefully these ongoing events won’t be too big a distraction for Cox or the Broncos.

Broncos’ Cox pleads not guilty, trial set for October [Denver Post]

Barry Cofield sacks Jay Cutler

It’s wishful thinking at best that the NFL will have a deal by the ides of June. Nonetheless, that can’t stop a man (or a woman) from pondering about the abundance of free agents that should be available for Denver to sign.

At their biggest need, defensive tackle, these below are the best players available.

Barry Cofield, DT, Giants

Barry Cofield is a no-nonsense type of guy who is frankly not very happy with this whole lack of free agency shin-dig. When asked for his opinion regarding  players who are enjoying the lockout, Cofield responded:

“It really pisses me off. My career and some other guys, it’s the definition of irreparable harm. I’m not going to get last year back. That’s a year off my career, a year of pounding on my body. And this offseason I’m not going to get back. Doing the draft before free agency, that hurts a lot of guys. It definitely hurt me.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Herm Edwards and Brett Favre (Getty Images)

Here we go again, another haiku for you. This week has two winners in two special categories.

This week’s topic? The joy that is the end of Favre Watch.

Like always, I’ll take the first crack at it.

After four years of
The indecisive Brett Favre
It is now over

Think you can beat that? Try it after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins stretches before drills in the second day of a weekend mini camp at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Saturday, June 12, 2010. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Good news out of Denver this morning, as Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that Denver Broncos veteran safety Brian Dawkins organized the first team workout.

Dawkins sent out a mass text/e-mail to his teammates a few days ago inviting players who were in the Denver area to attend conditioning workouts Tuesday and Thursday. Despite the short notice, 15 players reported to the first session Tuesday.  Quarterback Kyle Orton showed up early to throw passes to receiver Eric Decker.

Other projected starters who attended were center J.D. Walton, left guard Zane Beadles, defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, middle linebacker Joe Mays and defensive end Robert Ayers.

Not present were Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn, established workout warriors and Orton’s competition at quarterback. Von Miller and the rest of the new batch of Broncos rookies were absent, in part because Dawkins still is gathering contact information for the new guys. As word spreads, the player turnout promises to increase.

• NFL.com Senior Analyst Pat Kirwan writes that teams with new coaching staffs — including the Broncos — are being effected the most during the lockout.  [NFL.com]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Broncos players are awaiting a St. Louis courtroom ruling on whether the NFL lockout will continue before they go forward with tentative plans to gather as a group for workout sessions.  [Denver Post]

• While they haven’t had any team work outs, a lot of the players have been working out together.  Quarterback Tim Tebow and linebacker Von Miller have worked out together; running back Knowshon Moreno is going to workout with receivers Eddie Royal and Eric Decker.  Deck has also worked out with quarterback Kyle Orton, has also worked out with several of the offensive linemen. The list goes on, but you get the point.  [MaxDenver, Moreno on Twitter, Broncos Zone]

Dumervil will team up with Miller to form one of the best pass rushing tandems next season (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

• Broncos Head Coach John Fox revealed through the draft that the team is looking for faster players, more leaders and more takeaways. [Denver Post]

• Doug Farrar of Football Outsiders says the Broncos will have one of the most dynamic edge-rushing duos in the NFL in Elvis Dumervil and Miller whenever the next season.  [Football Outsiders]

• Here’s a humorous account of how ancient Mayans tried to warn us about the lockout, and why Tebow should start.  [Mile High Report]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »