One of Lloyd's many catches in 2010. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Over at ProFootballTalk, they are giving fans a chance to vote for the best players of 2010 by position in the PFT Heroes of 2010 Awards. Currently being voted for are the receivers, and among the six nominated receivers (chosen by the PFT staff), is Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd who is coming off a career year.

After such an incredible Pro Bowl season, one would assume Lloyd would be getting some love that he so thoroughly deserves.  That is not the case however, and as of 8:43 am MST on Wednesday morning, Lloyd is 2nd to last in the voting with 696 votes votes.  When you compare the numbers, it’s baffling that Lloyd is not higher in the voting.

Find out who the other finalists are and how Lloyd stacks up against them statistically after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Late last week news hit the Minnesota Vikings were interested in acquiring Kyle Orton.  This news marks the first time anyone has publicly heard that another team was considering trading for Orton. If you look at Orton’s solely stats over the past two years then it is no surprise other teams consider him an instant starting quarterback on their roster.

Below I tallied up some of Orton’s statistical achievements over the past two seasons and compared them to a statistically similar quarterback to put it all in perspective, in this case Joe Flacco.

Over the past two seasons

Kyle Orton prepares to take a snap from J.D. Walton. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

In what appeared to be a minor blurb via TwinCities.com Charley Walters reported yesterday that the Minnesota Vikings were interested in trading for Kyle Orton.

He goes on to report that the Vikings have since backed off.

I had also heard that Orton had been talking about playing for the Vikings next season, but I had not gone anywhere to confirm it.

To me the problem with Walters’ report is that it hadn’t/hasn’t yet been possible for the Denver Broncos and Vikings to do a deal, with the current state of the Collective Bargaining Agreement as it is trading wouldn’t have been possible until last Thursday at the very earliest. Not to mention that Denver didn’t even have a coach until around January 13th

So how have the Vikings backed off?

“A little birdie says the Vikings considered trading for Denver quarterback Kyle Orton but have backed off. But it wasn’t because of any progress made by Joe Webb, who insiders say is nowhere close to being an effective starter.”

Interesting to say the least, there are several teams that could be interested in Orton’s services the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Redskins could all be possible landing spots if the Broncos were to move Orton. There is most definitely a market.

However, given all of the confidence (back-handed or not) that both John Elway and John Fox have shown in Orton it makes me feel like the only possible landing spot for the Broncos starting quarterback is in Denver. Though it wouldn’t be abnormal for the Johns to just be using “coach speak” in order to create the market and drive the price up. Transparency can only go so far.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, left, leaves CBA negotiations on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Lockout avoided — or, at least, delayed.

The NFL and NFL Player’s Association have agreed to extend Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations through next Friday March 11 at 5:00 p.m., giving the owners and players another week to reach an agreement and settle their differences.

It also means roster moves (effectively, the start of the new league year) will be delayed until Friday.

Similar to the negotiations that took place in 2006, real work seems to be getting done at the eleventh hour. Are they close? Who knows. But it was earlier reported, as they were negotiating for this extension over the past two days, that the owners and players had to at least agree to some terms before this extension could be realized. That’s enough to suggest they’re making steps in the right direction.

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 »

Kevin Vickerson and Robert Ayers narrowly miss Peyton Manning. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

In a sign that the new staff of the Denver Broncos won’t completely purge their entire 2010 defensive line; Josina Anderson has just announced (via Twitter) that Kevin Vickerson has been signed by the team to a new two-year contract.

Vickerson tied for fourth on the Broncos in sacks last season (doesn’t matter that he was tied with Brian Dawkins with a grand total of two sacks). He also finished the season with 43 total tackles which was the most of Denver’s nose tackles (Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan who were released earlier Thursday).

His signing comes just hours away from the end of the league year. When the next league year will begin, no one knows (as we’re all well aware).

Jamal Williams at 2010 Broncos training camp (BroncoTalk.net)

The Denver Broncos‘ move to a 4-3 means the team won’t need the big-name free agent defensive linemen they signed a year ago.

Hence, the Broncos released two starting defensive linemen Thursday, letting Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan go despite the remaining several years on their contracts. Each spent one season with the club.

A year ago, Williams and Bannan signed multi-million respective three-year and five-year deals that expected them to provide a stout front line for the Broncos’ fully revamped 3-4 defense. Instead, John Fox and company decided their services wouldn’t be needed as the Broncos move to a 4-3.

Williams, 34, and Bannan, 31, join Ronald Fields as predominant 3-4 defensive linemen the Broncos are allowing to hit the market. This offseason’s defensive line rebuilding will be unlike any other — less than a handful of defensive linemen are signed onto the Broncos’ roster beyond next season. And those (Elvis Dumervil, Robert Ayers) were linebackers a few months ago.

• On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos released veteran Tight End Daniel Graham and placed tenders on five other players. [Previously on BroncoTalk]

• Meanwhile over in Indianapolis, the Broncos have been impressed by Alabama’s defensive tackle Marcell Dareus at the NFL scouting combine. [Denver Post]

• Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is one of ten NFL owners that are meeting with NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA) representatives trying to salvage the 2011-2012 Season.  They met yesterday and will again today in hopes of hammering out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before the current one runs out tonight at 10 pm (MDT). [Examiner]

Tim can golf, who knew? (AP Photo/The Palm Beach Post, Allen Eyestone)

• If there is a lockout, Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow won’t rest during it.  “I don’t have any idea what’s going to happen,” said Tebow before adding, “And I don’t think many people do.”  He went on to note that if they players are locked out, they would probably still meet together and work out. [Denver Post]

• When he’s not with his teammates leading the pack in wind sprints, he might consider picking up golf.  On Wednesday, Tebow played with historic golfer Jack Nicklaus at the Honda Classic Pro-Am.  Apparently, he could wack the ball pretty far, really far. [GolfWeekly]

• Former Broncos running back Tatum Bell wants to get back in the League, and has asked the Broncos to give him a shot at it. [Broncos Zone]

• Looking back, the Broncos came out the winners in the Champ Bailey–Clinton Portis deal. [MaxDenver]

Matt Prater (Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos have extended tender offers to five of their potential restricted free agents, John Elway announced Wednesday. (Read our 2011 Broncos free agents primer).

Ryan Harris, Matt Prater, Marcus Thomas, Kevin Vickerson, and Wesley Woodyard will all be able to hit the free agent market, but with these one-year offers, the Broncos will be able to match any contract they are offered. Additionally, depending on each individual contract, the Broncos will receive draft pick compensation for losing the player.

We’ll have more information on each player’s specific tender as it becomes available, but we’d expect third or even second round tenders were offered for a few of these valuable Broncos.

Daniel Graham has a pass intended for him disrupted in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Denver Broncos have just announced via press release that Daniel Graham has been released by the team.

Graham made just under $25-million in the four years he played for Denver. He was due a $4.2-million salary in 2011 and a one million dollar roster bonus.

The team also extended Restricted Free Agency tenders to: Ryan Harris, Matt Prater, Marcus Thomas, Kevin Vickerson and Wesley Woodyard.

An RFA tender may very well mean nothing if/when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place, but for now it means that those players remain Broncos and not free agents.

Press release after the break Click here to read the rest of this entry »