Eddie Royal breaks down the Denver Broncos as part of ESPN First Take‘s NFL team previews. This kid is a class act and is quickly becoming the face of the franchise.

Sorry Kyle, I had to, it's the picture that best represents the NB.

Welcome Bronco fans to:
Dude with a crappy beard week
AKA Seriously, if that’s all you can grow why even try week
AKA Guy with more holes in his beard than the San Diego secondary week
AKA Sorry for all the negativity but this dude replaced my dude Rocket Arm week
AKA Sorry for all the hostility but my beard is supreme (this is no joke), my beard would kill his beard in a Baltimore street fight, my beard is Omar from The Wire, his beard is Wallace
AKA Welcome to my beard is better than Ort’s neckbeard 367 days a year, and that extra day is the day I shave, and that extra extra day is the day he finally grows a beard week
Welcome. Neckbeard. Welcome.

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Plummer and Shanny

Jake Plummer remains one of the classiest, and one of my favorite, Broncos of the post-Elway era. Retiring after being benched in the 2006 season, Plummer has been a recluse, avoiding public comment and “enjoying life” playing handball and coaching with his brother on a volunteer basis.

So when Vic Lombardi and Gary Miller somehow convinced the controversial quarterback to appear on their morning radio show on ESPN 1600 Thursday (I’m guessing they held his handballs hostage), I eagerly paid attention. Plummer didn’t disappoint, discussing retirement, playfully ripping on former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, and giving his take on the current state-of-affairs in Denver football, among other things.

“I haven’t looked back as far as any regrets of being done playing football.”

Asked if he could ever return to the game (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still own his rights), Jake said that, in many ways, he feels better physically than he did when he came to Denver. “I still am very competitive. If I had to, and if somebody put it in the right position, I still could play. But I don’t have the desire to go through all of that that goes into playing football.”

Quick to clarify, Jake made sure no one misunderstood him. “I’m not saying I would, I’m saying I could. (Laughing) No, no, don’t misconstrue that. I can see the headlines: ‘He will play if it’s right.’ Oh boy.”

Count me among the fans that would love to see The Snake make one more 4th quarter comeback. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kyle Orton is thirsty (via Deadspin)

What, you didn’t think Kyle Orton was going to get away with one harmless create-a-caption during The Week Dedicated to All Things Kyle Orton, did you? These infamous photos first appeared on Deadspin a few years back, and even helped Neckbeard get inducted into the site’s Hall of Fame. Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments. Tuesday’s winner after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

At the red carpet of the ESPY Awards, Denver Broncos wide receiver told reporters that he will report for training camp. Per PFT, “Right now I’m obligated, I’m under contract…. It’s $14,000 a day if I miss,” Marshall said. “I’m not stupid. So I will be there.”

Marshall had implied he would hold out since asking to be traded in June. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract after making the Pro Bowl for the first time last season.

Marshall doesn’t have a lot of options; he knows this and knows he has to report to camp to keep his options open. Now let’s see if the Broncos react favorably to Marshall’s favorable reaction.

Kyle Orton in 2008 (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

We’re continuing Kyle Orton Week with a three-part series: Kyle Orton: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Here’s part one.

Shortly after Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears, Peter King of SI.com reported that QB Kyle Orton was the crucial piece to the trade puzzle the other potential suitors were missing.

The key to the trade was Kyle Orton…. (Head Coach Josh McDaniels), who watched every offensive snap of more than 10 Bears games with Orton playing, got more and more impressed with Orton’s arm, his decision-making and his ability to extend plays when the pocket broke down. You can think and I can think it’s crazy he didn’t like (Redskins QB Jason Campbell) — who got Washington off to a 6-2 start last year — more than he liked Orton, but it’s the unvarnished truth. McDaniels thinks he can win with Orton.

Interesting. Either McDaniels is crazy (and depending on who you ask, he is), or there really is something there. So let’s give KO the benefit of the doubt for the purposes of this article. What did McDaniels see in Orton to sway him towards the Neckbeard? Let’s look at some highlights. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Mcdaniels observes Orton in mini camp (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

They’re ba-aaaack! And here to stay; at least one per week. Today’s installment is appropriate for Kyle Orton Week. You know the drill: your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments!

If you haven’t already seen, PFT posted an article about DT Ronald Fields being a bargain player. Gregg Rosenthal titled the article “Broncos may have found a bargain in Fields.”

Fields doesn’t have a lot of starting experience, but knows defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s scheme from his days in San Francisco.

He has the requisite size for the position (6’2″, 321 pounds) and is known as a strong player who can hold the line of scrimmage.

It’s almost strange to hear a compliment coming from the defensive side of the ball. The Broncos appear to have gotten good value from their acquisition Fields, but we won’t know for sure until everyone puts on the pads. It’ll be one of the more interesting competitions at training camp.

Marshall celebrates with Royal and Hillis in 2008. (Reuters photo)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall is keeping busy while he’s away from Denver, working out with Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald in Orlando Minnesota and preparing for the 2009 season. Yahoo! Sports caught up with the disgruntled Pro Bowler and asked about his future with the Broncos.

“I ain’t worrying about that right now,” Marshall said, “and I ain’t going to talk about that.” …

When asked if he plans to report to the team’s training camp on July 30, Marshall said, “Well, I’m under contract with the Broncos.”

Is this an indication that Marshall will indeed report for camp rather than holding out while waiting for a trade or new contract? Click here to read the rest of this entry »

ProFootballTalk is reporting that the Denver Broncos and first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno have begun contract negotiations.

Historically, the Broncos (like most NFL teams) don’t get their first-round draft picks signed until the eve or day of training camp. With two first-round picks to sign before camp breaks, the new regime is getting a head-start, although beginning talks early doesn’t necessarily guarantee a contract much sooner.

Last year’s first round draft pick, Ryan Clady, signed in the early morning hours of the first day of training camp. Clady’s contract entitled the offensive tackle to $14.75 million over six seasons, including $11.4M guaranteed. Expect Moreno, also the 12th pick, to rake in a bit more than that.

To date, seventh round pick C Blake Schlueter is the only 2009 Denver Broncos draft pick to sign with the club. Expect that to change – furiously – over the next few weeks.