The NFLPA has set up the Kenny McKinley Trust Fund in honor of Kenny’s 1-year-old son, Keon. Contributions benefiting Keon can be sent to:

Kenny McKinley’s Trust Fund
c/o NFL Players Association
1133 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

In honor of McKinley — and because something about profiting from a spike in traffic directly related to this tragedy doesn’t sit well with us — we’ll be donating 100% of the ad revenue from BroncoTalk this week to the Trust Fund.

We announced this via Facebook and Twitter yesterday, and were surprised and humbled to receive many responses from people who wanted to donate electronically. We have decided to provide the means to do so via Paypal. We will include 100% of your money (minus whatever Paypal transfer charges are incurred) in our check to the fund. Click the Donate button here. (UPDATE: we have closed this form of donation. Thanks to all who donated and please feel free to continue to donate above).

For Kenny, but especially for Keon, who didn’t deserve a life starting with this type of tragedy. This won’t be much, but hopefully the intent, somberness, and love that’s driving the donation will be felt. Once a Bronco, always a Bronco. RIP Kenny.

Coach of the Week

Gary Kubiak – The student becomes the master. Kubiak pulled a Shanny on Mike Shanahan when he called a last minute timeout before Graham Gano’s would-have-been 56 yard field goal.

Rookie of the Week

Jahvid Best – Best rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles. That alone would be pretty impressive for a rookie. That wasn’t good enough for Mr. Best, he also racked up 9 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown. Sorry Denver fans, I wanted to give this to Thomas, but Best has scored every single Lions touchdown this season. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Andre Brown breaks a tackle against the New York Jets in preseason 2010. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday confirmed the promotion of practice squad running back Andre Brown to their active roster. Running back Lance Ball was waived, it was announced.

Brown (6-foot-0, 224 pounds) spent the first week of the regular season on Denver’s active roster before being waived and signed to its practice squad on Sept. 17.

The second-year player spent his rookie season with the New York Giants after he was selected by the club in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft from North Carolina State University.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley (AP Photo)

“We will play with him on our shoulders and in our hearts.” — Wesley Woodyard on Kenny McKinley

Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels and team captain Wesley Woodyard held an emotional press conference Tuesday following the apparent suicide of teammate Kenny McKinley. The meeting with the media followed a team meeting and grief counseling at Dove Valley.

An emotional McDaniels meets the media Tuesday (Getty)

“He was a special person,” McDaniels said of McKinley.

“I’ve had the opportunity to have two draft classes in two years,” McDaniels said, fighting back tears. “I’m not sure if any one of those kids enjoyed the phone call as much as Kenny did.”

McDaniels said the team will hold a moment of silence on Sunday and wear #11 decals on their helmets in McKinley’s honor. Kenny’s locker will remain in the locker room for the remainder of the season, per the players’ wishes.

Press conference transcript and additional quotes after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

My power rankings are fittingly named the ‘Tentative Ten’ because every week it’s subject to change, and erratically at that.

1. New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Good teams come back from behind on the road and cause turnovers in the red-zone. The Saints managed both of these things. New Orleans isn’t just trying to repeat what worked last year, this time around they’re trying to establish the run game early and not have to put the world on Drew Brees’ shoulders (not like he can’t handle it though). So far, it’s working.

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0)

I can’t tell what is more impressive, the Packers offense or defense. Some might say the defense is the most startling, but Green Bay blew out the Bills without really utilizing Greg Jennings (much to my fantasy dismay). Click here to read the rest of this entry »

After thoroughly abusing the Seahawks secondary, Rookie WR Demaryius Thomas is now up for two weekly wards. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

On Sunday, Denver’s first overall draft selection showed the world why the Broncos picked him where they did. Demaryius Thomas, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, played in his first NFL game after missing week 1 due to an injury. Leading a dominating offensive attack, Thomas caught 8 passes for just shy of 100 yards, and a Touchdown.

His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed, as the 6-3, 230 pound receiver is now a finalist for two weekly awards – the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week award and the GMC Never Say Never Moment of Week 2 award.

Fans can vote for one of the five nominated rookies on NFL.com/rookies beginning Tuesday at 9 am ET and ending on Friday at noon ET to determine the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. The Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com/rookies.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Ramp honoring Kenny McKinley's records in yards and receptions at South Carolina. (Charleston Post and Courier)

A touching tribute to Kenny McKinley on behalf of fans who knew the 23-year old far better than Broncos fans ever had the opportunity to. A must-read.

Kenny McKinley’s Greatness Captured in His Smile, Not Just Yards [NCAAFB FanHouse]

The Denver Broncos have activated RB Andre Brown from the practice squad, the National Football Post‘s Aaron Wilson reports, citing a league source. No word on whom Brown will replace on the active roster.

The Broncos’ running back carousel keeps turning, as Brown was just released from the active roster and placed on the practice squad last week in light of the Broncos’ trade for Laurence Maroney.

Two conclusions one might draw from this: the Broncos aren’t happy with Correll Buckhalter‘s 2.0-yards per carry average in relief work, and/or Maroney’s ailing thigh isn’t quite game-ready.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley (11) gets lifted off the ground by teammate Nate Swift after McKinley scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels —

“Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room. This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Kenny’s college coach at South Carolina, Steve Spurrier —

“I saw him here. He came to the Georgia game. He seemed in good spirits. He had a great smile, like he always had. I don’t understand it, if it happened the way they say. It’s hard to comprehend. Kenny was one of my favorite all-time players. He was one of them. He was a wonderful guy. It’s hard to figure out how, or why, this happened.”

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kenny McKinley is tackled during a game vesus the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Fox31’s Josina Anderson has reported the Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead, from an apparent suicide. His body was found in Arapahoe County, there is no immediate information available.

McKinley was one of the Broncos top prospects at wide receiver when he was drafted in 2009, but struggled to make the field as a pure receiver contributing mostly to special teams.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released this statement, “Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos’ family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny’s family and friends.”

“Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room. This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” Added head coach Josh McDaniels.

McKinley was placed on injured reserve during the 2009 season after suffering a knee injury; in 2010 he was placed on injured reserve this time during training camp after again suffering a knee injury.

McKinley was 23-years old, the third Broncos player to die in the last four years.

McKinley’s father told the players agent Andrew Bondarowicz that Kenny was in Atlanta yesterday and arrived in Denver late last night with his young son. No word on whether the child was with him at the time of his death.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the McKinley family, his son, to his teammates and his friends.