Before the 2012 season started, the Broncos tried to negotiate a contract extension with Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady.  The talks ultimately stalled and the team decided to put off negotiations until 2013.

Since then, Clady has started in all fifteen games and has just one false start penalty and one sack allowed, helping to keep quarterback Peyton Manning upright throughout much of Denver’s ten-game winning streak.

Next offseason, the Broncos will likely place their franchise tag on Clady, who will be entering his sixth season.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 2013 numbers for an offensive lineman will tentatively be $9.660 million.  Franchise tag numbers for each position will be finalized in March.

This season, Clady made just $3.5 million.  It will be important for Denver to keep Manning protected down the road.  Paying $9.6 million to keep a first-ballot Hall of Famer upright is completely reasonable.

Broncos: Champ Bailey and Peyton Manning each were voted to their 12th Pro Bowl, per sources. Pro Bowl teams announced at 7 ET. #NFL32

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 26, 2012

The complete Pro Bowl rosters will be announced tonight on NFL Network. Expect at least two more Broncos to be voted in.

Earlier today, the Broncos‘ 2013 opponents were announced by the team’s official website.

Among Denver’s home opponents are the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is significant considering that Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow is expected to land in Florida this offseason.

Tebow was traded out of Denver when the team brought in veteran Peyton Manning during the 2012 offseason.  The move was great for Denver, as Manning has the team at 12-3 and competing for a first round bye in the playoffs.

For Tebow, things haven’t gone so well.  The 6′-3″, 236-pound third year quarterback has only attempted eight passes and has averaged just 3.2 yards-per-carry during infrequent Wildcat snaps this season.

Returning to Denver in 2013 with a new team and possibly as a starter again, Tebow’s Returnâ„¢ would be a network’s dream come true for ratings.

Among other notable match-ups the Broncos will have in 2013 are: Peyton vs. Eli (road), Manning vs. Brady (road), and Shanahan’s return (home).

Tonight on NFL Network (5 MT), the 2013 Pro Bowl rosters will be announced on a special edition of “NFL Total Access” that will be dragged out far longer than necessary.

Nevertheless, the show, or at least the results, will be interesting to see. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning led all players with 993,045 fan votes and will be voted into his twelfth Pro Bowl this evening.

Outside linebackers Von Miller and Wesley Woodyard received the most and second-most AFC fan votes at their respective positions and are expected to be one of Denver’s first linebacking tandems to play in Hawaii since Ian Gold and Al Wilson (2001).

In all, seven Broncos—Manning, guard Zane Beadles, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, cornerback Champ Bailey, Miller, and Woodyard—are expected to be voted in by their fans, coaches, and peers, with the possibility of more.

This season’s Pro Bowl could be one of the last of its kind, as the league is looking to either change or do away with the game altogether.  The game’s lack of competitiveness will likely lead to the game being replaced with either the college Senior Bowl or some sort of Pro Bowl player’s banquet, with other options being discussed.

Regardless of what the game will be like in the future, it will be played in 2013. That won’t matter for Broncos players, however, if the team is preparing for a different game in New Orleans.

On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos returned to the practice field in preparation for this week’s game against Kansas City—in 30° weather.

The Broncos were toughing it out in the cold today, with many players wearing sweatpants. Last week, quarterback Peyton Manning wore a glove on his right throwing hand, but not necessarily because it was cold.

“I was just wearing a glove,” said Manning, who in actuality, was preparing for colder games expected to come in the playoffs in January. “I’ve been practicing in it these past few weeks.”

Meanwhile, cornerback Tracy Porter (concussion) and specialist Trindon Holliday (ankle) did not practice today, according to CBS Sports‘ Andrew Mason.   Guard Chris Kuper (ankle) was on hand, working out with the team’s trainer.

For the Chiefs, running back Jamaal Charles is sick, per USA Today‘s Lindsay Jones, and was sent home by Coach Romeo Crennel.  Outside linebacker/defensive end Tamba Hali was also ill, and did not practice for KC.

On a different note, the Broncos, who have surged to No. 1 in Power Rankings, are now also Vegas’ pick to win Super Bowl XLVII.  The Broncos are 3-to-1 favorites to win it all, according to the Denver Post.

We hope you all enjoyed Christmas yesterday and are having a good week. Here’s to an eleven game winning streak, and then some. 

On Wednesday, the NFL announced the Denver Broncos‘ 2013 opponents.  They are as follows:

HOME Kansas City Oakland San Diego Jacksonville Tennessee Philadelphia Washington Baltimore

AWAY Kansas City Oakland San Diego Houston Indianapolis Dallas N.Y. Giants New England

Not bad.  The Broncos could easily go 8-0 at home; traveling will be tougher. Dish out your thoughts on our 2013 opponents in the comments below!

When the Broncos (12-3) take on the Chiefs (2-13) this weekend, rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler may see the field—if the game is a blowout.

The Broncos have a playoff berth wrapped up but they won’t be resting any of their starters because playoff seeding is still on the line.  If the Broncos win and Houston falls to Indianapolis, Denver will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Otherwise, a Broncos win would clinch the AFC’s second seed and a first round bye for Denver.

So unless called upon late in the game to do several kneel-downs, Osweiler will be roaming the sideline again, watching starter Peyton Manning make history. If called upon, however, Osweiler will be ready.

“I’m getting pretty good at (kneeling),” Osweiler told the Denver Post on Sunday.  “The only thing is I keep getting all this minus rushing yardage.   I’ve got it down to where I’m only taking 1-yard losses.  When I first started doing it, I was taking 3-yard losses.

“But no, shoot, anytime you can get on the field, it’s exciting.  It reminds you of why you’re out there practicing every day.”

On this Christmas, the Denver #Broncos are ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s, NFL.com‘s, and SI’s Week 17 Power Rankings.

— Jon Heath (@JHeath_DEN) December 25, 2012

ESPN.com has been doing weekly power rankings since the 2002 season.  This week marks the first time the Denver Broncos have ever been ranked on top.

For those who live outside of Colorado and do not have DirecTV, we present this handy-dandy broadcast map, courtesy of the506.com:

Those of you who live in the green areas will receive the Broncos/Browns game on your local CBS station this weekend.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. (MT) and we’ll have complete coverage of the game here on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  See you at kickoff!

On Tuesday, PFT reported that Broncos rookie center Quentin Saulsberry was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.  Saulsberry marks the fourth Bronco in the past year to have been suspended for PED abuse.

On Wednesday, the Broncos announced that the team has signed rookie guard Lonnie Edwards to their practice squad, replacing the suspended Saulsberry.  Edwards (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) played college football at Texas Tech University for four years.

Guard is a position where Denver could use more depth. In the nine games starter Chris Kuper has missed this season, the Broncos are 6-3 and quarterback Peyton Manning has been sacked 21 times with Manny Ramirez filling in for Kuper. In games Kuper has started, the Broncos are 5-0 and Manning has been kept clean.