Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins celebrates intercepting a pass in Week 2. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

The Denver Broncos may be getting their defensive identity back this week.

Safety Brian Dawkins practiced Tuesday, his first attendance since suffering a knee injury over two weeks ago. Cornerback Andre Goodman (quad) also returned to practice.

Absent were WR Eddie Royal, S Darcel McBath, CB Perrish Cox, LBs Robert Ayers and Wesley Woodyard, and DL Kevin Vickerson.

The Broncos will travel to London on Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, arriving Friday morning London time.

The Broncos are stretched beyond thin, especially across the secondary. Hopefully these two are able to give it a go all week, and especially Sunday.

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton (8) is sacked by Oakland Raiders linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey)

Going into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s spanking, courtesy of the Oakland Raiders, the Broncos were bitterly trailing 59-14.  With the ball sitting on the 10 yard line, Kyle Orton came trotting in with his head down, staring at his feet, along with his 10 broken and bleeding teammates.

With the game clearly out of reach, one would think that keeping your starting quarterback 100% healthy for next week’s showdown with the San Fransisco 49ers would be top priority.  So why did a sad and frustrated Kyle Orton take the field instead of Tim Tebow or Brady Quinn?  What would be the harm in letting Tebow take a few snaps and run the regular offense instead of his “swamp” package (you know…his 3 different running plays)?

After the game head coach Josh McDaniels was asked the same question: Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, who spent all of 2009 as a rotational player along the Broncos‘ defensive line, makes his return to the club.  The Broncos announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed the 6-3, 308-pounder following the release of LB Diyral Briggs Monday.

The Broncos traded their 2010 fifth round draft choice for Smith and a seventh round pick last year. They had released Smith while finalizing their 53-man roster heading into the season opener in September.

• Neither Pat Bowlen, nor his public persona Joe Ellis, will comment on the Fiasco at Invesco.
• Klis opens his mailbag with a parallel to Tennessee, who bounced back from a 59-0 loss to win five straight last year.
• Can the Broncos bounce back too?
• Is Tim Tebow in 2010 the answer?
• Why didn’t McDaniels give Tebow game time in the 4th quarter? (more on this here blog later today)
• Should the fans blame themselves for unrealistic expectations?
• Am I tired of asking rhetorical questions?
• The Broncos haven’t abandoned the zone blocking scheme, and, in fact, used it on all 18 rushing attempts against Indianapolis.
• The 49ers are 1-6, but four of their losses have come by a combined 11 points.
• The Chargers have yielded 18 turnovers in seven games — one less than all of last year.
• Tony Romo fractured his left clavicle in the Cowboys‘ Monday night loss.
• Brett Favre has a stress fracture in his ankle that could end his 291-game starting streak.

How do you follow up one of the worst losses in Franchise history?  Being outfoxed by the head coach of a 1-5 team is certainly one way to start.  Denver being selected as one of the teams to compete in the UK for an international audience creates an interesting opportunity, it also makes for a unique challenge.  Roger Goodell’s focus on bringing the NFL abroad has redefined the term “short week” making a brutal overseas trip a hurdle in of itself.  Mike Singletary applied a gameplan to his team’s travel itinerary.  Josh McDaniels?  Bronconation can’t be so sure. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos on Monday waived LB Diyral Briggs, whom they promoted from their practice squad last week. Briggs played on special teams during the Raiders game.

The Broncos are working on a short week schedule as they prepare to travel to London to face the San Francisco 49ers.  On Tuesday, usually the team’s day off, they will hold their first practice.  Expect to see the roster filled by then.

Fans attending practice at INVESCO Field at Mile High (BroncoTalk/Kyle Montgomery)

Famed veteran player Fan Loyalty, commonly used as the twelfth man on the field, was placed on Injured Reserve this morning after suffering a season-ending injury to its heart early in the first quarter against the Raiders yesterday, team sources said. According to team coach Josh McDaniels, “We did a lot of soul-searching overnight while we waited for word from Greek [Broncos trainer Steve Antonopulos] about its condition. When he told us it would take at least three months to heal, we had to end its season. We know things will be tough without Fan Loyalty on the team, but it is what it is and we will have to find a way to persevere.”

Fan Loyalty has had a rocky career the last few seasons, and NFL insiders believe that Loyalty’s career with the Denver Broncos may be in jeopardy. In 2008, Fan Loyalty suffered a broken nose in a 31-10 home loss to Oakland, but recovered quickly only to be injured again in a horrific 52-21 loss to San Diego to close out the season that resulted in the firing coach Shanahan. Privately, Fan Loyalty asked for a trade, and while the young players Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler were all granted the trades they requested, veteran Fan Loyalty remained with the team despite some grumbling.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Members of the Denver Broncos offense look on in the final minutes of the team's 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

A fascinating piece by Andrew Mason of MaxDenver.com, exploring the remarkable statistics surrounding Sunday’s game. Perhaps “fascinating” and “remarkable” aren’t the words Broncos fans prefer after a loss like this, but, like a horrific traffic accident, it’s hard to look away.

It’s a must-read. Here’s one stat:

5: Number of home losses since 2007 by at least 20 points, dating back to the 41-3 defeat to San Diego on Oct. 7 of that year. The Broncos have endured five of these losses in their last 26 home games; that’s as many as they had in their previous 263 home games, dating back to November 1975.

This, more than anything, is evidence that the Broncos have completely lost any notion of home field advantage. The problem is deeply rooted — more deeply than any pouting quarterback, punting wide receiver, or entrenched head coach allegedly content with mediocrity. What the hell has happened to the home field fortress that once was Mile High Stadium?

Raiders 59, Broncos 14: By the Numbers [MaxDenver.com]

• Fans show their displeasure, players and coach say they have every right to. – Denver Post
• McDaniels post game interview, “That’s an embarrassing performance and it starts with me.”  – 850 KOA
• One has to wonder is this the turning point for the Raiders as an organization?  – ESPN AFC West Blog
• Woody Paige goes undercover as a Raiders fan.  Entertaining read on a dark day.  – Denver Post
• Denver is not the only team wallowing in misery.  The Chargers are wondering when is it going to end? – ESPN AFC West Blog
• Mark Kiszla states that Tim Tebow is Josh McDaniel’s last salvation in Denver.  – Denver Post
• McDaniels declared that Sunday was not the situation for Tebow to come in at QB.  – Denver Post
• Orton is off record pace, Moreno the clear starter, and Cox leaves with a concussion.  Post game notes.  – Denver Post
• In case you missed this Saturday Night, here is something to laugh at.  – Hulu
• Josh McDaniels didn’t just lose the game badly, he’s losing fans as well.  – Denver Post
• The 49ers are already in London awaiting the Broncos and Alex Smith has a bum shoulder.  – AJC

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels watches the action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

There’s a perfectly-worded poll currently running on the Denver Post’s website. It asks, “Do you believe Broncos coach Josh McDaniels can keep his team from quitting on him this season?”

The choices: “No. The loss to the Raiders shows they’ve already quit,” and, “Yes. I think the Broncos will rebound and at least keep trying.”

This is the question McDaniels is undoubtedly asking himself after his players spit in the face of everything he claims to stand for Sunday in Denver.

If actions speak louder than words, the vast majority of the 45 players who dressed in Broncos blue gave their coach, and their fans, the virtual middle finger on October 24th. McDaniels lost his players in humiliating totality in Week 7. Has he lost them for the season? Click here to read the rest of this entry »