Joe Mays celebrates during a game against the Washington Redskins on November 29, 2009. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

J.J. Arrington’s second tenure as a Denver Bronco at least almost lasted until training camp. The move either shows the confidence the Broncos have in running backs Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Kolby Smith, Lance Ball and co.; the confidence the Broncos have in returners Eddie Royal, Perrish Cox and Kenny McKinley or an utter lack of confidence in Arrington.

Arrington was sent to the Philadelphia Eagles for third year linebacker Joe Mays. In a move that’s essentially (in Denver’s eyes at least) a special teams player for a special teams player Mays will have an immediate spot with the Broncos on kickoffs and punts that’s his to lose.

It is rare to see deals like this happen around this time, PFT’s Gregg Rosenthall mused that it most likely points to the fact that neither of the teams thought either of these players would have made their team. I think it may point more to the fact that the Broncos want to create more competition at the left inside linebacker position with only having Mario Haggan, Wesley Woodyard and new comber Akin Ayodele in camp.

In his two seasons with Philadelphia, Mays was never able to establish himself as a starter. When given the chance in 2009 when Eagles starter Stewart Bradley went down for the season in training camp Mays was only able to start one game.

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it.”

The Broncos have had old defensive linemen produce in years past. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)

One of the many questions the Broncos face entering 2010, is can the “old” defensive line play at a high level, and not wear down? Defensive linemen Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Jarvis Green are the three projected starters, and are all on the wrong side of thirty.

There’s not much evidence that an old defensive line cannot produce, or perhaps better worded, cannot prevent offenses from producing.  The opposite is actually true for the Broncos. In 2005, the Broncos’ defense had one of its best seasons in recent history. The Broncos Takeaway/Giveaway Differential was +20, which happened to be second best in the NFL in that category. The defensive can take the credit for that, after snatching 20 interceptions, 28 sacks, and 19 forced fumbles. At seasons end Denver’s intimidating defensive was ranked seventh in the league in points per game.

The Broncos 2005 starting defensive linemen were Courtney Brown, Michael Myers, Gerard Warren and Trevor Pryce, three of whom were over the age of 30 at the time. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

DenverBroncos.com's header had a glitch Wednesday night for about half a hour the header read: Houston Texans

Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments. Previous winner after the jump! Click here to read the rest of this entry »

A sign of things to come? Tim Tebow confers with Brady Quinn during Broncos minicamp at Dove Valley. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

As we speculated yesterday, Denver Broncos rookie Tim Tebow has signed with the club on this the second day of training camp for the Broncos rookies.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting via twitter that the deal is worth $33 million with $8.7 million guaranteed. Original speculation around these parts was $12 million total, which is close to the actual $11.25 million that Tebow will receive if he does not hit any of the escalators in his contract. His contract is worth $33 million if he hits all of those escalators.

If all goes well we should see Tebow on the field Friday morning for the Broncos third day of rookie training camp.

The signing of Tebow leaves only one Broncos rookie unsigned, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Given the Broncos current track record expect Thomas to be signed by either late tonight or sometime tomorrow during the day on Friday.

Fox31’s Josina Anderson tweeted that Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was adamant that the Broncos themselves break the news of Tebow signing. Thus first word coming directly from the Broncos (and then us or Mike Lombardi as the NFL Network liked to say).

With Tebow under contract, Thomas soon under contract, Eric Decker, Eddie Royal and young Kenny McKinley in the fold for the Broncos; the future may be here now. For better or worse…

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

Tim Tebow takes part in drills during Broncos minicamp at Dove Valley in June. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

You can get a lot with endorsement deals, but you can’t buy class.

This afternoon on ESPN’s NFL Live Ed Werder reported that Jimmy Sexton, Tim Tebow’s agent, has requested a premium be paid by the Denver Broncos. That being because Tebow is a quarterback, the premium would make Tebow a higher paid player than Dallas Cowboys‘ rookie Dez Bryant.

The problem here is that Bryant was drafted 24th overall, Tebow was 25th, Demaryius Thomas was 22nd… If Tebow leap frogs Bryant whose contract will Thomas eventual contract be based off of?

Tebow’s hesitation will likely expedite other teams in wrapping up their first round draft picks now. However, it will freeze Denver for the time being.

From Tebow’s perspective it makes sense, quarterbacks take more hits than wide receivers, they should get paid more. From the Broncos stand point we will have to see, if they agree, we could see Tebow earlier than some expect. If the upfront money is at a premium, Josh McDaniels could be filling pressure quickly for having a $8-12 million dollar arm riding the pine.

Werder went on to quote McDaniels message to Tebow as being, “You’re (Tebow) missing time and you can’t afford to miss it. You’re not going to get these snaps back.”

It is of note that both Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn were at practice and on the field today.

Rookie Zane Beadles runs during the first day of mini camp at Dove Valley. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Well, cross Zane Beadles off your Christmas gift list.

According to the Denver Post’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos have signed the rookie guard/tackle to a four year deal worth $2.4 million guaranteed with incentives to reach just over the $4 million dollar point.

Beadles was the Broncos second round draft pick and the 45th overall.

Only Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas remain unsigned of Josh McDaniel’s second draft class as the Broncos head coach. The Broncos rookies report to camp tomorrow…

And we’ll be there. So stay here!

TEBOW UPDATE: Despite a PFT report that says otherwise, look for Tebow to sign either today or Thursday at the latest. The deal will likely be a five-year deal, loaded with a large overall value (around $12 million), but average in guaranteed value (around $8 million).

The Broncos are moving up the rounds slowly but surely. As expected, Eric Decker signed a four year, $2.525 million deal with a $732,000 signing bonus. Not too shabby for a guy who suffered a lisfranc not too long ago.

Decker joins a crowded field of receivers all vying to make the team. However, there is little doubt that Decker will have no problem enduring the trials of training camp and all the Ed McCaffrey references. Decker knows how to endure the bumps in life.

With this signing Zane Beadles should be close behind, but that’s not what everyone is wondering about. Will the Teebs sign on time? Demaryius Thomas shortly behind him?

Demaryius Thomas is fitted for a suit at Sean John in New York City. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Since 1996 (and even before that) the Denver Broncos don’t have a rich history of their first round draft picks holding out and you’ll see that even when they do, two thirds of the time it has worked out all the same.

As a matter of fact, via a Denver litmus test following this season, it may actually be better for the team and their season if the rookie holds out.

A look at the Broncos first round draft picks since 1996 after the mouse punch. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Eric Decker (#7) drops the ball as Kevyn Scott of the Syracuse Orange defends. (Photo by Marc Squire/Getty Images)

After missing all of the Denver Broncos OTA’s third round wide receiver Eric Decker will sign in time to make camp Miss Josina Anderson of KDVR Fox31 has reported.

The deal according to Decker is a four-year deal worth (at maximum) $4.8 million dollars with a signing bonus of $732,150.

“My goals going into camp and for this upcoming season is to make a role for myself that will better this team. Mastering the system, learning from the veterans, and becoming a better student of the game are first and foremost at this time,” Decker told Anderson.

Prior to his injury his Senior season, Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel called Decker the third best receiver in the NCAA (behind Dez Bryant (now with the Dallas Cowboys) and A.J. Green (now a Junior at Georgia)).

Around the league second round draft picks are beginning to sign, expect a deal for Zane Beadles to be ironed out soon followed by Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas. The Broncos rookies are to report this Wednesday.

If you’re in Denver be sure this Saturday to check out Fox31 at 9:30 PM (MST) as the crew followed Decker to his hometown to cover his life story.

Former Bronco rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater (3) shows off his new haircut to rookie center Blake Schlueter (63) who also received a special trim. (AP Photo)

The NFL tradition of rookie hazing has become more publicized as of late, in light of Dez Bryant refusing to carry Roy Williams’ shoulder pads.

The unwritten rule is something along the lines of: “Hey rookie, carry my helmet, sing a song for your lunch, let me enhance your hair style,” or, as Stefan Fatsis recorded in his book ‘A few seconds of panic,’ the rookies can “suffer the consequences.”

When a rookie doesn’t cooperate, that’s a big no-no, or so I’ve heard. That’s why Bryant’s actions are getting so much attention – because he broke the rules. Disrespecting the vets isn’t a good way to start off an NFL career, and that’s something the Broncos’ rookies are aware of. A much better approach is to kiss up, as Tebow did during team OTA’s.

“Oh, that [rookie hazing] hasn’t started yet but it most certainly will,” said Broncos QB Kyle Orton. “The higher you get picked, the more hazing there is. Tim goes about it the right way – he offered to grab books for everybody and grab helmets for everybody and all that stuff so he goes about it the right way, he knows the deal.”

Tebow will undoubtedly have a less eventful camp than Bryant, as Bryant could find himself thrown into a cold ice tub, duct taped to the field goal posts, or worse. In the end, a rookie is still a rookie, and Tebow shouldn’t expect to be totally overlooked when it comes time for the Broncos annual rookie hazing.

I’m anxious to see what the vets may do to Tebow’s full head of hair – if they do anything at all. Former Notre Dame center Eric Olsen may be in some serious danger of his own. As Eric Decker pointed out, neither him or Demaryius Thomas have much to fear, as Tebow is the only one of the three that uses hair gel.