• The Raiders got a spectacular game out of Jacoby Ford to beat the Chiefs in OT and knot up the division further.  – SF Gate
• Oakland has figured out the nuances that help them win games.  – ESPN AFC West Blog
• Denver has five games left against division rivals and the players know it.  – Denver Post
• Two 49er linebackers were fined for illegal hits on Orton last Sunday.  – CS Gazette
• Kyle’s stats don’t tell the whole story of how he is playing.  – Denver Post
• Might not want to show the front office this, but Peyton Hillis had a huge day helping the Browns beat the favored Patriots. – Denver Post
• Which brings us to the strangest looking play of the day.  The Browns ran the fumblerooski out of the Wildcat for touchdown. – NFL Fanhouse

• Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow look on from the bench during a 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

BroncoTalk is bringing you The Best of the West all week. We’re taking Broncos bloggers from all over the blogosphere and getting their opinions as Denver’s season reaches critical mass.

Here’s yesterday’s scenario and replies.

Today we talk what every Denver fan has talked about at one point this season– Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, here is the question they were presented with:

• Kyle Orton, you have to make a decision. Is it time for Tim Tebow or is this season still salvageable under Orton? Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kyle Orton is dejected in defeat after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in London. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

My countryman, my readers, my friends…

I owe you an apology.

Gone is the ‘Predicting the Future’ column, because it got so dark… I couldn’t possibly spring anyone on what I’d predicted on the future for the Broncos over the past three weeks. I should have prepared you and I am sorry, but it was tragedy.

So what do we have for you here? We have a new column we will bring you for the next seven days. The best of the best Denver Broncos bloggers will be featured here on BroncoTalk and they’re all going to play general manager.

I will present each one with a question and if they’re brave enough they will answer that question…

I asked three gentleman a question and presented them with this scenario…

• “I have just taken over the ownership of the Denver Broncos and have hired you as the new general manager during the bye week, you have absolute rule over everything, what do you do during this week and preparing for next week?” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

No Broncos to watch this weekend.  What to do?  Drop some comments on the open thread.  The early games here in Colorado are San Diego at Houston and Arizona at Minnesota.  The late game is K.C. at Oakland, one to seriously watch in our division.  Are the Chiefs for real?  Are the Raiders pretenders or will they contend for the division?  Come join us as we root for Kubiak to beat up on Norv Turner.

TV Map Showing the CBS Week 9 Early Games. Credit: the506.com (click to view full listing of games and maps)

Josh McDaniels and the Broncos have lost 14 of their last 18 after starting 6-0 in 2009. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos management, pressured to be heard from following the team’s disappointing 2-6 start, finally relented to an interview with The Denver Post during the bye week. Owner Pat Bowlen, as is his growing custom of late, let COO Joe Ellis do all the talking.

The fans aren’t happy. They know it, they hear it. They’re not happy either.

Basically, they gave a whole lot of nothing.

But that might be the point. After a handful of quotes and apologies, the only real nugget of interest may be something Ellis wouldn’t say (emphasis added).

Ellis said Bowlen is in good health, but the team’s owner since 1984 has chosen to step back from the spotlight and let Ellis speak for management. Ellis added that Bowlen is confident McDaniels can turn around the Broncos, but he stopped short of guaranteeing the coach would return next season.

You expect a vote of confidence, as meaningless as it might be. You expect the stock “Josh McDaniels is under contract through 2012.” You don’t expect a no-comment when asked about next year.

Josh McDaniels was just put on notice. Publicly.

Broncos’ COO Joe Ellis says team brass hears, understands fans’ outrage [Denver Post]

A few weeks ago, NFL Network’s Top 100 NFL Players of all Time unveiled numbers 21-30 on their list. Among those players: John Elway.

I was anxious to see what NFL Network had to say about Elway, and found it interesting they didn’t even mention his amazing running ability, as you can see in the video:

Jake has lost 20 pounds since walking away from football. (Corbis photo, via ShutdownCorner.com)

Four years ago, after four up and down seasons with the Broncos, Jake Plummer was benched and succeeded by then-rookie quarterback Jay Cutler – despite the fact that Plummer had the team sitting at 7-4. Now in hindsight, the move by then-Head Coach Mike Shanahan to bench and ultimately trade Plummer has been ridiculed as one of his worst moves ever, right up there with passing on Ed Reed in the 2002 NFL Draft.

Shanahan was as Plummer puts it, a “perfectionist” who was always looking for the next John Elway.  Being the carefree guy that is he is though, Plummer didn’t let going from a starter to being benched and traded get him down, instead he returned to the sport that was his first love.

Handball.

Yup, Plummer walked away from $5 million and the chance to start for the Buccaneers at age 32, so he could play the sport he had put on hold for twelve years while playing in the NFL. Taught by his father and brothers, Plummer still plays to this day – three to four times a day when its not summer time.

During the summer he’d would rather be doing “Outdoor stuff,” Plummer said. “Mountain biking, boating, fishing and hiking — not being indoors in an air-conditioned room playing handball.”

He’s happy away from football, yet still wishes he could come back for one more game and,

“Roll to my left and throw a ball, a sick wobbly lob pass to Larry Fitzgerald and he’d go up against eight [defensive backs] and pull it down and make me look good.”

Ya gotta love Plummer’s personality. Glad he’s getting along. To this day I wish the Broncos would have at least let him finish the 2006 season.

Ex-NFL QB Jake Plummer is playing a new sport these days [Shutdown Corner]

While the Broncos take a week off during their bye-week, we the fans are stuck with no Bronco-related news during the week, no game to watch on Sunday, and no venting (or celebrating) next Monday. So, to help get through the week, here’s three things for you to dissect during the long Bye week.

1. We are not alone

It hasn't been a very exciting NFL season. (Courtesy of Drew Litton, DrewLitton.com)

This season has been kinda strange. The NFL, rather, MFL (Mediocre Football League), has no stand out Super Bowl contenders like the Colts and Saints of 2009. And the Broncos sure aren’t the only team that’s disappointed their fans. Heck, the AFC West’s combined record is 14-17! It really could be worse. At least we’re not fans of the Cowboys, Vikings, Bengals, Panthers, or Bills. There’s eight other teams besides the Broncos that haven’t won their third game yet either. It’s just hasn’t been the Broncos year.

2. Are the Broncos under a curse?

Since starting 6-0 in 2009, the Broncos have gone 4-14. The reason for that has been discussed and debated extensively. I suggest a new theory; the Broncos got cocky after starting out 6-0 last season, and as Josh McDaniels admitted, they didn’t prepare for the Ravens like they should have. As a result, the Broncos angered the football gods, who in turn, placed a curse on the Broncos. The team went out in week 8 and got their butts kicked-in by Baltimore and finished the season poorly. Still under the curse, the Broncos were never able to get their mojo back this season. Faced with another bye week, the Broncos can release the curse–or jinx it if you will–by getting a reality check and some humility and preparing better for the Chiefs than they did for the Ravens in 2009. The bye-week-to-bye-week curse would then be removed, and the Broncos could get back on track. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Apologies for my four-day absence. I’ve been… busy. There will be pictures. Happy Hump Day.

• Randy Moss is officially up for grabs.
• So is ex-Charger Shawne Merriman.
• The Broncos are currently slotted 4th in the waiver order.
• Is the past-his-prime Merriman worth a shot in Denver?
• Klis says Moss certainly isn’t.
• Are the Broncos really that far off from contending again?
• Broncos players have the week off and will report back on Sunday.
• Denver DL coach Wayne Nunnely is responsible for a football practice staple.
• Checking in on injured LB Elvis Dumervil.
• After a hot start, Jay Cutler is struggling in Mike Martz‘s system.
• 2010 is the Year of the Kicking Game, says SI‘s Peter King.

Brandon Lloyd (L) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers' William James tackles during their game at Wembley Stadium in London October 31, 2010. - Reuters Photos

Analyzing player performances from the Denver Broncos‘ 16-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, highlighting the good and the bad.

Stud: Brandon Lloyd

Forget Brandon Marshall, we’ve got Brandon Lloyd.  Lloyd, who leads the NFL in receptions of 40 or more yards, had another big game, 7 catches for 169 yards and his fourth Touchdown of the season. See you in the Pro Bowl Brandon.  -Jon

Dud:  Kyle Orton (selected twice this week)

The game is on the line and you failed… Again. Life needs to evolve around you as a quarterback in the NFL and I just don’t know if Orton is cut out for it. I love him, he’s amazing, but screw him… Play better. – Ian Henson