Welcome to 2011, National Football League.

In a memo distributed to NFL teams including the Denver Broncos Thursday, the league year is set to officially begin Friday morning, hours after the first round of the NFL Draft is set to complete. The memo details protocols that allow players to resume on-site workouts, with rules governing contact between teams for free agency expected Monday.

In short, no player trades or free agency during the draft. Trading of picks still okay. Free agency could begin Monday.

This is all naturally pending the latest round of appeals from the NFL.

It’s just too bad they couldn’t get things sorted a few days earlier, in time for teams to use their full arsenal of potential draft-day moves (ahem Kyle Orton ahem). Full memo after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Von Miller rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. (REUTERS/Mark Dye)

Chances are that by the time you read this you will have already read this. Meaning, there isn’t much that can be said at this point that hasn’t been said in terms of the 2011 NFL Draft. In an off-season that has been especially slow, two national networks dedicating daily chunks and hour-long programming to the draft and heck even we can’t shut up about it. The one thing fans of this blog and other Denver Broncos blogs around the internet can be proud of is that this season the Broncos bloggers ran circles around the local coverage. So thank you for your loyalty and let’s dive head first into what’s ahead of us for the next three days.

It is not often that the first pick of the draft is not known this close to the draft. It has been at least since the Houston Texans drafted Mario Williams over Reggie Bush in 2006. Sure everyone and their mother has the Carolina Panthers picking Cam Newton with the first overall pick in their mock drafts, that was until Carolina’s former head coach John Fox chimed in. Then the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock chimed in, then ProFootballTalk chimed in and now all of a sudden the Panthers may very well go back to picking the guy who people had them a month and a half ago… Nick Fairley Marcell Dareus. Where is Adam Schefter in this whole mess? Who does he have? We may have to wait until just before the draft to find out. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Jason Hunter celebrates after he recovered a fumble during a game against the Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos linebacker Jason Hunter was stabbed in Detroit on Wednesday, according to several reports.

Details are still coming in, but WXYV-TV in Detroit has reported that Hunter told police his girlfriend stabbed him. The team has released a statement on the incident, which can be seen below:

“We are aware of the reports regarding Jason Hunter and are currently in the process of gathering information and reviewing the facts. Our thoughts are with Jason, and we are hopeful he makes a quick recovery. Out of respect for his privacy, we will not have additional comment on the matter at this time.” 

Meanwhile, Hunter’s agent, Robert Walker said his clients injuries are not serious and that he will be fine.  “I’ve spoken to my client Jason Hunter and it’s a very minor injury, just a few stitches. He’ll be fine. We thank you for your prayers,” said Walker over Twitter.

This less than a week after former Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall was stabbed by his wife.

Hunter was signed by Denver on August 20, 2010 and immediately told he would be switching from his natural defensive end position to linebacker. A switch he welcomed with excitement and success.  Starting 12 games in 2010, Hunter totalled 61 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, one interception and one fumble return for a touchdown.  He is expected to see time in John Fox‘s 4-3 defensive this season as a rotational outside linebacker/defensive end.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hunter and we wish him a speedy recovery.

So it begins, another futile attempt.

Round 1

1. Carolina Panthers
   Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama

It really doesn’t seem like the Panthers truly want to pick a QB this high. After some mind wrestling over the pick they may decide to play it safe and take the phenomenally talented Marcel Dareus which coincidentally addresses one of their most glaring needs.

1. Denver Broncos Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The 2011 NFL Draft will be held tomorrow and unless they trade down, the Denver Broncos will be selecting second overall. We have been counting down our top seven prospects for the Broncos to select with their first pick

Number one:  Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.  A 6-3 foot, 319 pound defensive lineman, Dareus is considered by many scouts the top defensive tackle prospect in this year’s draft.

As a junior in 2010, Dareus recorded 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks while leading Alabama’s defensive to the BCS National Championship.  Considered one of the most NFL-ready defensive tackle prospects, Dareus could go as early as first overall.

A young prospect (21), Dareus ran a 4.93 timed forty-yard dash, jumped 27 inches vertically and did 24 bench press repetitions at the NFL’s annual scouting combine earlier this year.  He is projected to be a top-five pick on Thursday. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

LSU defensive back Patrick Peterson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The 2011 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and unless they trade down, the Denver Broncos will be selecting second overall. We have been counting down our top seven prospects for the Broncos to select with their first pick.

Number two: LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.  A 6-0 foot, 219 pound defensive back, Peterson is considered one of the top prospects in this year’s draft and one of the best corners to come along in a long time.

A three-year starter at LSU, Peterson won nearly every conceivable award – including being named the 2010 SEC Defensive Player of the Year – and was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy award during his senior season.  Also a return specialist, Peterson recorded seven interceptions during his collegiate career while returning two punts for scores.

Another young prospect (20), Peterson recorded freakish numbers at the NFL’s Scouting Combine for a player of his size.  After running a 4.34 timed forty yard dash, jumping 38 inches vertically and bench pressing fifteen reps, Peterson had impressed everyone.  He is projected to be a top-ten pick and could become the first ever cornerback to be selected first overall in the history of the NFL Draft.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, right, and Saints quarterback Drew Brees meet after the Colts won 41-10. Manning and Brews are two of the biggest players in the lockout case.

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 »

Judge Susan Richard Nelson voted in favor of the players and more importantly the fans by lifting the NFL Owner’s lockout.  It was the impact felt by the multiple economic “layers” involved in pro football along with the general fan base that led to her decision.

“The public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract principles of the antitrust laws, as professional football involves many layers of tangible economic impact, ranging from broadcast revenues down to concessions sales,” she wrote. “And, of course, the public interest represented by the fans of professional football — who have a strong investment in the 2011 season — is an intangible interest that weighs against the lockout.”

On siding with the players, Nelson felt they made a strong arguement:

The plaintiffs “have made a strong showing that allowing the League to continue their ‘lockout’ is presently inflicting, and will continue to inflict, irreparable harm upon them, particularly when weighed against the lack of any real injury that would be imposed on the NFL by issuing the preliminary injunction.”

If the owners want to continue the lockout they will have to submit an appeal for the work stoppage to be put back into place.  The league has already stated that it will do so.

“We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals,”   We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes. We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal.”

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The 2011 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and unless they trade down, the Denver Broncos will be selecting second overall. We have been counting down our top seven prospects for the Broncos to select with their first pick.

Number three:  Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.  A 6-3 foot, 246 pound tenacious pass rusher, Miller is considered the top linebacker prospect in this year’s draft.

During his junior and senior seasons, Miller piled up over 100 tackles, 28 sacks and an interception.  In 2010, Miller was named the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker.

A 22-year old prospect, Miller was one of the top performers at the NFL’s annual scouting combine earlier this year.  Miller ran a 4.53 timed forty-yard dash, jumped 37 inches vertically and did 21 bench press repetitions.  He is projected to be a top-ten selection on Thursday. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairley runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The 2011 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and unless they trade down, the Denver Broncos will be selecting second overall. We have been counting down our top seven prospects for the Broncos to select with their first pick.

Number four: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.  A 6-4 foot, 291 pound disruptive force on the defensive line, Fairley is mentioned among the top prospects in this year’s draft.

The defensive MVP of the 2011 BCS National Championship game, Fairley recorded 56 tackles, 12 sacks and an interception as a Junior in 2010.  A nightmare for opposing offenses, Fairley is a powerful pass rusher and excellent against the run.

Twenty-three years old, Fairley ran a 4.87 timed forty-yard dash and a 31-inch vertical jump at the NFL’s scouting combine earlier this year (he chose not bench).  He is projected to be a top-five pick in the first round of the draft, but could drop a little farther than that. Click here to read the rest of this entry »