So it begins. In order to not jinx the outcome of the Super Bowl (the refs have that job anyway), I’m going to breaking the draft up into parts, it will be completely finished sometime after the Super Bowl.

Round 1

1. Carolina Panthers
   Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

Nick Fairley is close to becoming a lock for the number overall pick, provided that all his skeletons stay in his closet, he doesn’t slack off at the combine, or gets injured in a freak accident. Fairley is no doubt the best DT this draft has to offer, he has had his “Suh” moments this season but he will have to continue to prove to teams that his breakout year was no fluke.

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

• Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey knows a thing or two about playing in Super Bowls.  In his latest blog post he talks about handling the media blitz on Super Bowl week. [Ed McCaffrey Blog]
  

  Ed McCaffrey went to three Super Bowls in the '90's. (Photo Josh Merwin/Getty Images

• Both VP John Elway and quarterback Tim Tebow are in Dallas for the Super Bowl this Sunday.  Elway has been in hot demand for interviews and Tebow is busy promoting Nike. [BT], [Tebow on Twitter]

• Former Broncos Tight End Nate Jackson caught up with CBS4’s Vic Lombardi on Monday to discuss Jay Cutler, Tim Tebow and a few NFL myths. [CBS4]

• With their new coaching staff completed, the Broncos are now entering the evaluation stage. [BT], [Pro Football Weekly]

• The NFL had stated teams would be able to franchise tag players, even if there’s no new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that ends March 3. The union sent a letter to agents Thursday to tell them the NFL is wrong about that. [NFL.com]

• Elway has shown a lot of maturity in dealing with Broncos quarterback situation. [Denver Post]

• Broncos rookie wide receiver Eric Decker discusses his rookie season and offseason plans in this week’s edition of ‘Helmets Off’ on the team’s official site. [Denver Broncos Official Site]

John Elway is in Dallas for this Sunday’s Super Bowl and had a chance to sit down with Sirius XM host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo about what Denver Broncos fans can expect from him as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

If you’re new to BroncoTalk, this is a weekly segment where we let you, the commenter, flex your comedy muscles by captioning the photo above. Previous winners are announced after the jump. No, there is no prize. Yes, we accept bribes. Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos starting quarterback Kyle Orton throws against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter in their NFL football game in Denver November 14, 2010. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

As the offseason has gone on, it’s become more and more assumed by fans and the media that Tim Tebow would be taking the reigns as Denver Broncos starting QB in 2011. Even Pro Bowler Brandon Lloyd seemingly bought into that theory.

Hold your horses (ahem), says V.P. John Elway: “If we had to play today, Kyle Orton is the starting QB.”

Elway’s comments came from the Super Bowl this week, and Elway made it clear that the Broncos’ starting QB situation is anything but. The Broncos have time to analyze this and make a decision either way, and intend to just that.

Personally, I’m thrilled to hear it. The Broncos are not going to rush any decision, especially one of this magnitude.

“Kyle is definitely in the equation,” Elway said. “It’s not a foregone conclusion we’re going to trade Kyle at all. We still have to evaluate that part. I think a lot of people think it’s automatic. It’s not.”

• This Super Bowl in Dallas is an icy affair. [Sports Illustrated]
• The Packers and Steelers have set themselves up for Super Bowl success through better drafting… and patience. [DPO]
• The U.S. government has seized (and shut down) two prominent game-streaming websites. [TorrentFreak]
• Madden the video games agrees with Madden the analyst: the Steelers will win SB XLV. [USA Today]
• Upon comparison, John Fox actually edges Jeff Fisher in many statistical categories. [Max Denver]
• Both the owners and players union are claiming victory after a $4 billion TV deal court ruling. [Sporting News]
• An NFL team back in Los Angeles by 2016? Prominent NFL owner Art Rooney II thinks so. [New York Times]

There is no questioning the importance of this possible season for Denver. In order for the Broncos to regain prominence they will need to do several things right, and it all starts with the draft. Unfortunately fortunate for Denver they have a plethora of options for their game plan come April.

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Second overall prospects

• Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU – Peterson is a physical freak of nature at 6’1 and 223 pounds and he has the college career to back it up. The Broncos have met with him already.
• Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn – After being a nobody for the past few years Fairley has emerged as a top 5 pick due to a dominating senior season. Fairley played at the highest level in the games that counted the most, the Alabama game and the Co-National Championship. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Cornell Green played with the Dallas Cowboys from 1962 to 1974. (Photo courtesy of ProFootballHOF.com)

The Denver Broncos announced Monday that the club’s Southwest area college football scout, Cornell Green, has been named the AFC Scout Of The Year by the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA).

Green was a defensive back with the Dallas Cowboys for several years before becoming a scout for the NFL.  For the past 32 years (25 of them with the Broncos), he has evaluated college talent successfully.

“Cornell’s track record of success as both a player and talent evaluator in the NFL is a unique combination,” Broncos General Manager Brian Xanders said. “And we’re fortunate to have him with the Denver Broncos.”

The FPA was organized for the purposes of promoting diversity and equality of job opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of National Football League teams.

Press Release after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (84) of the AFC is not able to hold on to a pass during the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/ Marco Garcia)

On Sunday, the NFL’s Pro Bowl game was played (as if anyone cares).

In the game — which could easily be mistaken for a touch-football game to first time viewers — the Denver Broncos were represented by wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and cornerback Champ Bailey.

Neither Bronco fared too well, as Bailey seemingly let NFC running back Adrian Peterson walk into the endzone on one play, and Lloyd uncharacteristically dropped several balls and gave little effort to prevent one from being intercepted.

The AFC West as a whole wasn’t represented very well, as San Diego’s and Kansas City’s quarterbacks Phillip Rivers and Matt Cassel each threw two interceptions.

In the end, the NFC defeated the AFC by a score of 55 to 41.  Cornerback Champ Bailey did finish the game with a team second-best 4 tackles and Brandon Lloyd caught one pass for a 15-yard gain and first down.

It was pretty much the norm of the Pro Bowl, no pass rush, running backs running through arm tackles and quarterbacks heaving up passes.  It was at times entertaining though, particularly the final score of the game.

• Playing in the NFL’s all star game is nothing new to Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.  However, receiver Brandon Lloyd — a first time Pro Bowler — has been humbled by the experience.  [Broncos Zone]

• Don’t be surprised if Lloyd goes off and ends up being named the Pro Bowl’s most valuable player.  [NFL.com]

• Denver Broncos tackle Ryan Harris, center J.D.Walton, wide receiver Eric Decker and guard Zane Beadles spent some time in Aspen this week, taking part in the 15th Winter X Games.  [Eric Bakke, Twitter]

• Judging by tangible measurements, Broncos new Head Coach John Fox is at least the equal of former Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher, and by some measurements has had an even better career.  [MaxDenver]

• The National Football League expects the franchise tag to be in use for clubs this year in February, just as it has been in previous seasons.  Which means Denver may be able to franchise Bailey, even if the CBA has not yet been worked out.  [PFT]

• Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer has stayed active since leaving the NFL — playing handball.  He’ll be playing in the 11th Annual Red Death Tourament in Missoula, Montana this weekend.  [BT], [NBCM]