Every year, USC’s Pete Carroll‘s rumored return to the NFL highlights the league’s coaching carousel. This year is no different — unless you count the truth behind the rumors.

A day after firing Jim Mora Jr. for one year of service, the Seahawks reached a five-year agreement with Carroll that will see the nine-year USC coach get paid along the lines of Mike Shanahan, ESPN reports.

Carroll coached in the NFL in the 1990’s for both the New York Jets and New England Patriots, struggling with and getting fired by both. Carroll has often mentioned lack of personnel control as one of the main contributing factors to his struggles in the Nineties; he’s rumored to have that control in Seattle.

And since the Broncos are slated to play the Seahawks in Denver at some point this year, it seems appropriate to discuss it, at least briefly, here.

Mora was a trainwreck in Seattle, and the team seemed to get worse down the stretch instead of better. By reputation alone, even considering his previous failures in the NFL, Carroll’s a more threatening coach than Mora Jr. The Seahawks are hoping the third time’s a charm for Carroll to make good on those threats.

Sources: Seattle, Carroll agree on deal [ESPN]

The first sign of a Denver Broncos migration to the newly Mike Shanahan-led Washington Redskins leaked Friday, and it involved a rebuffed reunion between Shanahan and his longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner.

The Washington Post reports that Washington requested permission to interview Turner for a position on Shanahan’s staff, but Josh McDaniels, who kept Turner as RB coach when he was hired last January, denied that request.

Now, our understanding of league rules is that the Broncos would be required to allow another team to interview a coach on their staff if the new position involved a promotion. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Our daily tour of everything happening in the Broncos blogosphere.

The boys over at South Stands Denver are prepping for the playoffs.  We at BT have adopted the Cardinals as our Team o’ the Playoffs; in their playoff picks posts, Colin likes Green Bay in the upset while Reidy likes Arizona at home.  Who do you all got this weekend?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Broncos Zone’s gallery of Elvis Dumervil‘ sack-tastic 2009 season is priceless.

MHR‘s Emmett Smith takes a detailed look at Eddie Royal‘s past, present (2009), and future.

Shannon Sharpe (SI.com)

Former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe has been named a finalist for the 2010 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the team’s official twitter reports. It is his second consecutive year as a finalist candidate.

Both Sharpe and running back Terrell Davis were semifinalists in November; the absence of Davis’ name can only mean the former Super Bowl and League MVP did not advance to the final round of voting.

As a senior candidate, Floyd Little automatically advances to this final round. The Hall of Fame class is usually announced the day before the Super Bowl.

Congratulations and good luck to both Sharpe and Little! Press release, with information on all 17 finalists, after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Broncos 30-27. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

This is Part 1 in a series of a posts examining the Jay Cutler trade after one year.  Today: Kyle Orton vs. Cutler in 2009.

When it comes to judging the “winners and losers” of the blockbuster Jay Cutler trade, after one season, statistically, Orton alone is enough to stem the tide in the Denver Broncos‘ favor.  The two first round draft picks and third round pick the Chicago Bears also sent make it a landslide.

Jay Cutler’s struggles this season for the Bears are well-known and well-documented.  He threw an NFL-high 26 interceptions in 2009 and had the worst passer rating of his career (78.6).  However, most fans, at least those in Denver, are quick to point out Cutler’s aggressive, down-field throwing style, while Orton is better known as a conservative check-down quarterback.  “Orton is successful because he is conservative and doesn’t make mistakes,” they’d say, while Cutler struggled because he didn’t have the talent around him to execute big plays.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• The Denver Broncos on Friday added three players via future contracts: punter A.J. Trapasso (whom we already knew about), center Dustin Fry and guard Matt McChesney.  Fry and McChesney weigh 326 and 333 lbs. respectively.  [Denver Post]
• Josh McDaniels‘ public statements on Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler will make it harder for the Broncos to get fair trade value.  [All Things Broncos]
• To find the answers to what went wrong, McDaniels needs to look inward.  [DPO]
• Alphonso Smith admits his rookie year was a surprising and humbling experience.  [Longmont Times Call]
• An interesting look at Mike Shanahan‘s contract, financially (be sure to read the notes from the author in the comments).  [National Football Post]
• Rich Gannon reached out to the Oakland Raiders this week.  The Raiders slapped his hand away.  [ESPN]
• Chris Chase of Shutdown Corner questions the sincerity of Gannon’s move.  [Shutdown Corner]
• Eric Mangini will remain coach of the Browns [NFL.com]

Peyton Hillis breaks for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It was a tough year for Peyton Hillis. After leading the team in rushing yards in 2008, Hillis saw his role reduced in 2009, seeing most of his playing time in special teams while getting the occasional carry as the team’s third-string tailback.

Things were so tough, in fact, that Hillis told KDVR’s Josina Anderson that he isn’t sure if the Denver Broncos are the best team for him anymore.

“I guess it would all depend on if things would change,” Hillis said. “I don’t really know what will happen at this point.”

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Shanahan has his work cut out for him (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

This is a new feature we’re rolling out, taking (what aims to be) a daily tour of the ever-growing Broncos’ blogosphere.

The Washington Redskins have a history of hiring, struggling under, and firing big-name coaches in the Dan Snyder era. The Latest Word wonders if Mike Shanahan can break the trend (and since this feature is transparently modeled after their daily “Denver Blogs” update, it’s fitting they christen its maiden voyage).

Broncos Stable looks to the Tuna for wisdom in these uncertain times.

If you’re a Broncos player who was mildly unhappy or had something to get off your chest, you likely went on Denver sports radio FM 104.3 The Fan this week. Broncos Zone has a handy collection of links for your listening pleasure.

The Denver Broncos‘ legacy from 2000-2009 will be remembered as the decade of “close, but no cigar.”

The Broncos were always in the hunt for the AFC West title but only won the division once in the Aughts, in 2005. They placed third in the division in 2001 and 2006 and placed second every other year.

So while recent developments leave one feeling a sense of trending mediocrity in the Rockies, the Broncos actually enjoyed the best record in the division in the decade. Take a look:

SBw: Super Bowl wins; SBa: Super Bowl appearances; Pb: Playoff Berth Click here to read the rest of this entry »

AP Photo

Playing catchup after a busy Wednesday in the real world — stay tuned for more throughout the day…

• How trade-able is Brandon Marshall? A fascinating look by Jeff Legwold, not just at his off-field antics, but at his on-field numbers as well. [Denver Post]
• Josh McDaniels loves Champ Bailey, and it’s easy to see why.  [Colorado Springs Gazette]
• Elvis Dumervil set a franchise record with 17 sacks in 2009 and was the Broncos‘ first league sack champion in franchise history. The NFL Alumni association recognized and awarded him with Pass Rusher of the Year. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Knowshon Moreno finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. [DB.com]
• The fine print? He netted one whole vote out of 50, along with two other rookies. [All Things Broncos]
• The Broncos signed punter A.J. Trapasso Tuesday. [ATB]
• Trapasso, of course, is best known for his scoreboard-hitting talents. [Broncos Zone]
• Will Mike Shanahan and the Redskins continue their trade-happy ways?  Will McD be a willing partner?  [DPO]
• KC adds Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator. [Kansas City Star]

Get more Broncos links every day by becoming a fan of BroncoTalk on Facebook and following BT on Twitter!