The Denver Broncos completed their 2010 coaching staff Tuesday with the addition of Brian Callahan, who will serve as a coaching assistant, the club announced.

The move rounds out another wild coaching offseason for the Broncos, highlighted by the departures of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and longtime offensive assistants Bobby Turner and Rich Dennison.

Callahan, at the young age of 25, makes Denver his first stop in the professional coaching circuit after rapidly advancing through the college coaching ranks.  A recent graduate of UCLA (master’s in education, 2008), Callahan served as a coaching assistant for the Bruins from 2006-2007 before advancing to quarterbacks coach in 2008 and offensive coordinator in 2009.

And now, the club’s entire focus can be on free agency and the draft.  Press release after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Casey Wiegmann battles to save Kyle Orton from a sack. (Reuters/Mark Leffingell).

Mike Klis of the Denver Post is reporting that the Denver Broncos have released center Casey Wiegmann and running back LaMont Jordan.

Wiegmann is one season removed from a pro bowl season in 2008 and one season removed from Mike Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. He leaves the team after just two seasons, last season prior to training camp there were whispers that he may hold out prompting outrage from Broncos nation. Though he handled the situation privately and was rewarded with a two year contract (one of which has just been dissolved).

Jordan signed with Denver prior to the draft last March and was thought to be more of a veteran insurance policy for Josh McDaniels who had worked with him the previous year with the New England Patriots. Jordan had just 25 rushes last season for 86 yards.

It’s beginning to look like the quickest way out of Denver is through the Pro Bowl with the exit of Weigmann… However, I always like to say follow the money, they were both due a bit of it in 2010 and between the two were a combined 67 years old and were due a bit more than two million dollars between them.

What does this mean for Denver in an uncapped season though? Will the Broncos be working with a self imposed cap or will they run hog wild in a not so rich free agency. It is not clear who will immediately replace Wiegmann, but I think the most likely would be Ben Hamilton (who is one of Denver’s few unrestricted free agents). Either way, look for the Broncos to begin offering contracts now as well.

Every year at the combine there is always a set of players who are on the outskirts of the first round. These players have to capitalize off of every drill, test, and interview the combine has to offer if they want to be one of the fortunate thirty-two. Below is a list of players who’ll need to show the NFL what they’re made of. For a list of the combine’s schedule click here.

10. Taylor Mays, S, USC

Taylor Mays may not be the best safety in the 2010 draft but he might be the most athletic one. People (including me) talk up Eric Berry’s physicality and speed, but Mays’ frame begs to differ. For a safety Mays is a gargantuan at 6’3 and 230 pounds, whereas Berry is a decent 5’10 and 203 pounds. Berry’s skill set sets him apart from Mays, but a fast forty by Mays could make him a proud owner of a Raiders jersey.

Where to Watch: 40 Yard Dash and Defensive Back Drills – Mays is known for his hard hits and lack of coverage skills so keep a keen eye on him during the drills, it could be the difference between second round and the top ten.

9.     Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Since Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen will not work out at the combine this is Colt McCoy’s chance for teams to like him. McCoy was knocked for toughness after being bruised and beaten out of the national championship. Ironically though, McCoy will be the only top-tier quarterback in this draft to participate in the combine. I don’t exactly understand that point of questioning McCoy’s grit. Daniel ‘Colt’ McCoy has been starting for so long that starting quarterback for Texas was Vince Young. How’s that for perspective? Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The combine is upon us, the players tangibles will be measured, their intagibles will be speculated, and their intelligence challenged, and their pee tested. That my friends is the combine. The combine is the only place where a young 300 pound man can run 40 yards as fast as he can without everyone screaming “Run tubby run!!!” So here it is, some pre-combine placement for all of you to enjoy.

Round 1

1. St. Louis Rams
   Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Marc Bulger cleaned out his locker the other day, so unless the Rams target Chad Pennington or make a groundbreaking trade, they’ll be looking for a quarterback. Sam Bradford could in fact land this spot if his has a killer combine. If the Rams really love Ndamukong Suh, they’ll have to hope a guy like Colt McCoy is available in round two.

Previous pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2. Detroit Lions
   Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

I said before the the Lions really need to take Russell Okung to help out Matt Stafford. Now that Suh is on the board they can’t afford to pass him up. The Lions defensive line is entirely too porous. In fact, I believe each member of their line lives in a pineapple under the sea.

Previous pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

3.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers
   Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The 2009 season was as bi-polar as they come. Josh McDaniels actually managed to make the 2008 season seem tame in certain aspects. Now that the season is over we can at least go back and look at some of the bright spots that made it all worthwhile.

10. Jabar Who? Thanks for making the loss look less disgusting.

Thanks to piss poor attitudes, half assing exercises, lack of communication, and disdainful press conferences, Jabar Gaffney became the number one receiver for the season finale. Despite the horrendous outcome of the game Gaffney was the sole bright spot. Jabar finished the game 14 catches for 213 yards, capitalizing on every catch, a total that took 21 for Marshall to achieve. In my opinion Gaffney’s performance out shined Marshall’s record breaking day. However, Gaffney’s career day will be eternally buried by the utter collapse of the Denver Broncos season.

9. Elvis Dumervil’s Cotillion in Cleveland

Elvis Dumervil’s emergence as a pass rushing outside linebacker is just like this iPad hype, it all happened so fast. Everyone, was questioning how Elvis would perform at his new position in the 3-4 scheme. Game one came around and Elvis faced a shutout. Game two, Elvis was the leader a massacre. Derek Anderson hated third and long, not because of the distance to cover, but for the pain Elvis would inflict. This coming out party set the tone for Elvis Dumervil’s season, third down mayhem. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Just last week rumors were flying everywhere stating that the Broncos were for sale. So owner Pat Bowlen decided to squash them, and in doing so, he came up with one of the most classic quotes of his career.

“What the hell am I going to do? Retire and play golf everyday?” Bowlen told the paper. “That would drive me nuts.”

The Broncos are in Bowlen’s hands and here to stay. Bowlen is currently 66 but he believes that he’s still go it in him to run the franchise.

“Yeah, I work out every day,” he told the Post. “I’m not in shape to do the Ironman tomorrow, but I try to keep moving.”

Bowlen had stated last year that he has had memory problems, which only caused more fear to the rumors. Mike Klis of the Denver Post however believes that Bowlen is too young to sell the team and “he’s fitter than most men 40 years younger.” Mr. General Sir, please take us down to DEFCON 5 thank you. Bowlen also stated that he was content with the franchise but he believes changes need to take place. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Craig Aukerman Denver's new defensive assistant coach. (Courtesy: Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications http://www.kentstatesports. com)

Amidst disturbing news rumors, the Denver Broncos have announced that they’ve hired Craig Aukerman to serve as their defensive assistant.

Aukerman is coaching for his 11th season in football and first with the NFL, he comes to Denver via Kent State University where he spent his time coaching the linebackers and leading them to four games where they held opponents scoreless last season.

Aukerman is the first defensive hire under the Wink Martindale regime. Martindale was named defensive coordinator of the Broncos after being promoted from linebacker coach January 28th, 2010. Aukerman is likely Martindale’s hand picked replacement.

Pound the mousy down here for the official press release.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, jokes with head trainer Steve Antonopulos during drills in training camp in August 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PFT ran a story this morning pondering whether the Denver Broncos franchise was for sale by owner Pat Bowlen.

Citing rumors that had, “snaked around last week,” conveying Bowlen was, “looking to sell the Broncos,” PFT’s Mike Florio drew a connection between Denver and a potential full-owner of the St. Louis Rams– Shahid Khan.

Here it is broken down: If Khan were to not only purchase the 60% of the Rams currently owned by Lucia Rodriguez and Chip Rosenbloom, but also purchase the 40% owned by Stan Kroenke (owner of the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets), then Kroenke could ideally flip that into a purchase of the Broncos as well.

To further solidify this hunch PFT points out that Kroenke was “reportedly interested in acquiring controlling interest in the Rams, but the league’s cross-ownership rules require teams in multiple leagues to be located in the same market.”

UPDATE: According to Bernie Miklasz of Stltoday.com the Rams will be sold to Shahid Khan.

UPDATE 2: Howard Blazer of Globe-Democrat reports that Kahn and his wife had an issue with the IRS as last as 2009. Allegedly the couple was sheltering millions of dollars from income tax. Though the couple has filed several law suits since 2009 claiming that they were misled by financial advisers. This likely will have at least minor implications in getting approval from 23 of the 32 NFL team owners who must vote on transferring ownership.

We at BroncoTalk want to point out that this is merely rumor, absolutely, but there is a decent connection there and  we would have to drop the ‘talk’ portion of our site title if we weren’t to bring it up… However as with all things in Denver is this good for the Broncos or bad for the Broncos, nation?

I can smell it… it’s that time of year again, mock drafts. Mock drafts are just as wonderful as they are horrible. One could spend hours speculating about exactly who the Jacksonville Jaguars will target with their first pick and out of no where Tim Tebow could spoil the psyche of hopeful jags fans. So here it goes another postseason attempt to predict and prejudge the finest the NCAA has to offer… please bear with me.

Round 1

1. St. Louis Rams
   Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Lace up some fresh kicks Ndamukong, Nike says they’re on the house from now on. Since the combine is about month or so away I’m reserving judgement on whether the Rams decide to go quarterback. Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford could in fact land this spot if they have a killer combine. The Rams would have to be really infatuated with one of them to pass on Suh. Steve Spagnuolo would be ecstatic to give Chris Long some help on the line. Spagnuolo also has to remember that Keith Null is only one Marc Bulger mishap from starting (Bulger’s only full starting season was 2006).

2. Detroit Lions
   Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

The Lions really need to take Russell Okung here if they want to see their $72 million investment in Matt Stafford payoff. However, the Lions had statistically the worst defense in the NFL in 2009. Enter Gerald McCoy. McCoy is an elite prospect at defensive tackle and Mike Mayock is nuts about him (I’m still waiting for Mayock’s prediction about Robert Ayers reign true).

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
   Eric Berry, S, Tennessee Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Adam Schefter reported/tweeted the other day that three teams have gave the city of brotherly love a ring. These three teams called to inquire the status of each of their three quarterbacks. Schefter’s tweet is below.

Multiple teams have called Eagles to inquire about their three QBs. The conversation, and speculation, will heat up in early March.

Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer explained further (who recevied that that info from Sal Paolantonio) that those three teams were calling about the availability of the current starter, Donovan McNabb. Those three teams would be the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and the Denver Broncos.

Adam Schefter says teams have asked the Birds about all three of their quarterbacks and three teams have called about Michael Vick. Sal Paolantonio added that three teams — Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo — have had multiple conversations with the Eagles about Donovan McNabb.

However Les Bowen continues to state that these conversations are ‘prelimary’ and that he can’t over emphasize that:

NOTHING IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO HAPPENING

So Kyle Orton has that going for him. Click here to read the rest of this entry »