Chris Kuper stretches before taking part in a 2009 practice. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Most thought it would be Elvis Dumervil to be the first restricted free agent in Denver to get a new deal, but guard Chris Kuper beat him to the punch.

The Denver Broncos have just announced that Kuper and the team agreed to terms on a six-year contract that will keep the starting guard in orange and blue for a very long time.

Some speculated that Kuper did not fit in to Josh McDaniels new vision for the revamped Broncos offensive line as he came under the Mike Shanahan regime. Shanahan’s philosophy was built around the employment of smaller, quicker offensive lineman.

Kuper is listed by the Broncos at 6’4″ 303 lbs. though. So that’s plenty big for Denver.

“The fact that the Broncos are putting this much trust in me is an incredible feeling,” Kuper said. “It is a dream come true. I’d like to thank Mr. Bowlen, Coach McDaniels and Brian Xanders for getting this deal done. This is where I wanted to be because I feel like this team is headed in the right direction, and my family is excited that we can stay here and be a part of it. I really hope that at some point I can say that I finished my career as a Bronco and won a couple of Super Bowls here, too.”

The guard is entering his fifth season in the NFL, but has only remained healthy for one thus far (2008).

“We are extremely excited about the extension of Chris Kuper’s contract and the fact that he will be a Bronco for a long time,” McDaniels said. “He exemplifies the qualities that we look for in our players both on and off the field. We look forward to his continued leadership and toughness in our efforts to build a championship caliber team.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed as is club policy, but we will update when we figure them out.

UPDATE: As was reported earlier Tom Brandstater was waived by the team today, offensive tackle Maurice Williams was also released by the team. The veteran lineman Williams was just signed earlier last month by the team.

UPDATE (6/5/10 3:50 PM EST): Mike Klis of the Denver Post got a hold of the contract numbers for Kuper. Kuper will play in 2010 for his original restricted free agent contract ($2.521-million) and will be extended five-years from that for a total of $25.5-million over the course of those seasons. A grand total of $28.021 with $13.021-million guaranteed.

Klis goes on to point out that this makes Kuper the second highest paid offensive lineman in Broncos history (former left tackle Matt Lepsis remains the highest paid in Denver history).

Can anyone say Flozell Adams? Well, maybe Ryan Clady‘s just coming along better than had been expected.

Tom Brandstater passes during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

And then there were three.

Six weeks after the Denver Broncos selected quarterback Tim Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Broncos shallowed their quarterback pool Friday by releasing backup Tom Brandstater, per multiple reports.

Brandstater, a sixth round draft pick in 2009, was usurped by Tebow on the team’s depth chart and practice reps rotation last week.

The Broncos now have three quarterbacks on their roster: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, and Tebow.

UPDATE: Fullback Kyle Eckel, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, was added to the roster in Brandstater’s place. (Yes, folks, the Broncos have a fullback!).

Everyone knew a move was coming sooner or later, it was just a matter of “who” and “when.” Now that we know it’s Brandstater’s release (which was always the most likely option), perhaps the Kyle Orton trade rumors will settle down, and the Broncos can move forward with unmitigated focus with Orton as their presumed starter for 2010, and Quinn and Tebow in the wings.

Tim Tebow looks to pass the ball under the watch of Josh McDaniels. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Is it better to be too offensive or too defensive?

It’s been said that defense wins championships, I’ve been known to agree to that, but offense wins games. It wasn’t often the lack of defense that killed the Denver Broncos last season, it was usually the lack of offense.

The defense deserves most of the credit for the early season rise and hardly any of the blame for the sharp fall following. Only the San Diego Chargers managed to score more than 17 points on the Broncos prior to the bye week (23).

Immediately following that week the Baltimore Ravens put up 30, the Ravens first non-special teams touchdown coming off of a (then rookie) Knowshon Moreno fumble.

Then it got dark for Denver.

Kyle Orton’s never been known for throwing interceptions, but in the week following Baltimore facing the Pittsburgh Steelers he threw one-fourth (though it would be more, had he not given a long ball up to Randy Moss in a first-half hail mary against the New England Patriots) of his seasonal interceptions and the Broncos were routed by the Steelers 28-10.

Did you know that the Washington Redskins had the number one pass defense in the NFL in week ten when they faced the Broncos?

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Jammie Kirlew's play at Indiana earned him All-Big Ten honors. (Photo courtesy the University of Indiana / September 11, 2009)

Two days after the Denver Broncos signed Syd’Quan Thompson, they’ve signed is round mate Jammie Kirlew. Kirlew drafted as a defensive end/outside was able to be picked up by the Broncos as part of the late third day trade that sent a 2011 Denver fifth round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two 2010 seventh round picks.

The Broncos appear to be assigning Kirlew to outside linebacker (according to the press release, made available below).

Jammie was regarded as one of the best defensive ends in college football (then again, which defensive end drafted in 2010 wasn’t?), being named All Big Ten and Sports Illustrated Honorable Mention All-American. He finished 2010 sixth in the nation in tackles for a loss (sounds like a guy we draft not too many years ago).

Kirlew played defensive tackle in a 4-3 set at Indiana University, but was expected to kick out to outside linebacker at the pro level, which he now has.

Broncos press release follows, along with Kirlew’s Facebook fanpage. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Brian Westbrook shares a moment with Brian Dawkins after the Eagles victory. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Something that I neglected to cover yesterday is that Mike Shanahan stated Thursday that Brian Westbrook‘s decision was, coming soon.

Shanahan chose words carefully stating, “I’m sure he’s looking at his options. We’ll find out in the near future what happens there.”

Prior to that he did make it as if it was the Washington Redskins decision alone with, “We’re still talking to Brian. He’s under consideration.” Under consideration for what? To join the greatest Madden backfield ever?

I joked on twitter recently that Shanahan must have spent his off-year playing Madden. Only problem was that it was Madden 2006… Signing Willie Parker and Larry Johnson to join Clinton Portis on the roster, with Donovan McNabb handing off to them.

I guess it’s still jokes on me if Shanahan turns out to win the NFC East, I sincerely hope that he does. I hope that Denver faces both Washington and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowls to come, it would be beyond operatic… Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Syd'Quan Thompson in one of his seven college interceptions in 2009.

In a May that has seen a few draft picks being signed around the NFL, the Denver Broncos finally joined the rest of the league and have signed seventh round draft pick cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson.

In last April’s draft you’ll remember that the Broncos traded back into the seventh round to pick up Thompson and DE/OLB Jammie Kirlew out of Indiana. The Broncos gave up their 2011 fifth round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for two seventh round picks for the honors of picking up the two players.

At Cal, Thompson also served as a punt returner following the departure of DeSean Jackson in 2008. NFL Draft Scout projected Thompson as a first or second round prospect and he was rated amongst many sources as one of the best corners in the league prior to the 2009 season.

Press release after the click. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Cory Procter protects Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in a 2009 preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers

Former Dallas Cowboys center/guard Cory Proctor was brought into Denver today just one day after he was cut from the Cowboys.

Proctor was a undrafted free agent in 2005 originally signed by the Detroit Lions, but spent 2005-2009 with the Cowboys.

He has started 13 games in his career and participated in 32 games, not making his professional debut until 2007.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s source multiple teams are interested in Proctor.

This news surfaces just a day after the Broncos started Dustin Fry (zero career starts, participated in three games in four years in the NFL) at center during yesterday’s organized team activities.

Tim Tebow sets up to pass as Kyle Orton watches during mini camp at the Broncos facility in Englewood. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

I know I’ve covered this very recently, but it doesn’t look like a story that’s going to go away. So, do I still think the Denver Broncos won’t be trading Kyle Orton? Yes. (Yes meaning I think that Orton will still be wearing a Broncos jersey in week one, just to clarify my awkward sentence).

Although logic and recent history go against my thesis. So who is it that thinks the Broncos are going to dump their first string quarterback for the second season in a row?

I mean who is it that thinks the Broncos would trade Orton besides a certain local Denver writer who gets to skip training camp and reference it because he hangs out with the players. Conjuring up names like Paul Roach and Otis Armstrong from his ivory tower of Broncos conscientia. While we write these posts on our BlackBerry while sitting next to Bar Rafaeli and Zoe Saldana (I can name names too) from our Mom’s laundry room.

NFL Networks Michael Lombardi has joined the movement in saying Orton is on his way out.

Despite nearly everyone thinking that Orton’s on his way out I’m still not swayed. A player in his second season under Josh McDaniels‘ system certainly has the upper-hand, no? A veteran in McDaniels system is damn near a shoe-in, someone a coach would get rid of the heir apparent Jay Cutler to get (Matt Cassel), right?

Well, by that logic that would make Orton the first string and Tom Brandstater the second string, with Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow jockeying for third and fourth string… Well… That’s not happening either. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Head Coach Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, and Tim Tebow addressed the media after the kickoff of Denver Broncos‘ organized team activities Monday.

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On having Broncos OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil on the field

“It was great to see Elvis and exciting to have everybody here and learning what we changed and what we’re going to do differently. Right now we’re just happy to be here and look forward to continuing to teach.”

On Dumervil’s contract situation

“We are working with (his agent) right now and nothing imminent but we’re working together on things to try to make sure that he is a Bronco for a long time and he deserves it.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Or, at least, he will be this weekend.

Restricted free agent linebacker Elvis Dumervil is expected to return to Denver Sunday, the Denver Post reports, a day before the team begins its next round of OTA’s (organized team activities).

Whether Dumervil participates in on-field work remains to be seen, but he is expected to be at Dove Valley when practices begin Monday.

Dumervil, who has not participated in any of the team’s voluntary workouts this offseason, has been offered a $3.168 million paycheck from the Denver Broncos if he signs his tender by June 15. The league’s sack leader in 2010, Dumervil has been seeking (and, frankly, earned) a long-term deal from the Broncos that would categorize him with some of the league’s most elite defenders financially. The Post’s Lindsay Jones speculates he could be aiming for something on par with Baltimore‘s Terrell Suggs, who netted $38 million guaranteed a year ago.

Dumervil’s size and struggles in run support, however, may be preventing the Broncos from committing to him so. He’s become a bit of a one-trick pony in the NFL; still, he’s supremely talented at that trick (pressuring the quarterback).

Either way, whether it’s to sign short-term or try to hash a deal out long-term, Dumervil’s returning to Dove Valley is a delight.

Broncos’ Dumervil to return to Denver [Denver Post]