Denver Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey is hoping to return to the football field this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, Adam Schefter of NFL.com reports. Bailey suffered a groin injury in Week 7 against the New England Patriots that was originally expected to keep him out up to five weeks. Now he appears set to return after only missing two games and the bye week:

Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey said during pregame warmups that he intends to play in Denver’s next game at Atlanta in Week 11. Bailey was projected to miss up to five weeks with a groin injury and has missed the team’s past two games.

The location of the game will be a driving force for Bailey, who grew up in Georgia. Bailey said he really wants to play in front of his hometown fans, which he has not done since his days with the Redskins.

Our CB’s have played well in Champ’s absence, but there’s no doubt our defense is much better with #24 on the field. We’ll need all the help we can get, too – we’re on the road, across the country, and facing a surprisingly good Atlanta team. Hopefully Champ can return to his home town and be a big part of a Broncos East Coast upset.

The Denver Broncos, decimated by injuries at the running back position, have signed RB Alex Haynes, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced on Monday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Confirming rumors last week, the squad also placed rookie running back Ryan Torain on Injured Reserve, making room for Haynes on the roster.

Haynes (5-10, 230 lbs.) joins the Broncos in his fourth year in the NFL. He was an undrafted free agent out of the University of Central Florida (Brandon Marshall‘s school) who originally joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. The Carolina Panthers had him on their active roster from 2005-2007, and Haynes returned to the Ravens this offseason before being released just before the start of the season.

Haynes saw time in a career-high 10 games last season, rushing for three yards on three carries and catching three passes for 14 yards.

Little experience, but it’s not like the market is teeming with talent at this point in the season. Hopefully the combination of P.J. Pope, Haynes and Peyton Hillis can get the job done. Frankly, I have the most confidence in the fullback.

Thanks to T-Money for the tip. Broncos press release after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

I must apologize for my long term absence, I’ve made the move from the south, back to New York City and had a hell of a time getting into my apartment which was being built. Onto the words…

My address has changed, now if you wrote me a letter, you’d be writing Wall Street on the line below my name. This means a lot of things, most good, some bad (my building doesn’t allow Direct-TV, says the dish is ugly), but I did find a lovely bar in the financial district named Beckett’s. Beckett as in Samuel Beckett, I was hoping that the irony of me watching a Bronco game at a bar named after Samuel Beckett ended there…

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Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.

Top 10 Captions from Halloween:

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The Daily Links are back after a long hiatus — but we need your help to make sure they continue!  Interested in trying out?  E-mail us at broncotalk@gmail.com.

• Domonique Foxworth is excited to go against his former team.  [Denver Post]
• This Atlanta Falcons defense just forced the League’s Best QB into his worst game.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Out of the Broncos’ 44 players Thursday, 11 were rookies.  [DPO]
• Meanwhile, the 2006 Draft Class makes up the brunt of the team’s star power.  [RMN]
• Keeping them all signed and happy will be crucial in the coming year.  [RMN]
• The San Diego Chargers looked awful yesterday.  [RMN]
• NFL: Wait?  What?  That’s legal?  Really?  [Shutdown Corner]

Recommended viewing:

11am – Buffalo at New England – Any team in the AFC East could come away with this division, but it’s hard not to see these two squads making the postseason. While anything can change, at this point the Broncos look to be a division-winning fourth seed in the Conference. The loser of this game could very well be the fifth seed that comes to town.

2pm – Kansas City at San Diego – Part of me wants to keep the pressure on the Broncos. Part of me wants to see Denver respond to a division threat and still win. But I’m not stupid. I’m cheering for KC while readily preparing myself for a thorough, THOROUGH cleansing afterward (y’know, to get that taste out of my mouth).

Late game – New York Giants at Philadelphia – Just some good ol’ NFL football right here. Nothing really at stake, just a good game to watch.

Brandon Marshall was about to pull out a glove in celebration of Barack Obama‘s election following his game-winning touchdown Thursday when teammate Brandon Stokley made a heads-up play and prevented the display from occurring. Had Marshall followed through, the Broncos would have likely been penalized 15 yards, and with Cleveland special Josh Cribbs back to return, it could have been a game-costing mistake. (Anyone who says this team lacks leadership only needs to look in Stoke’s direction).

Marshall discussed it with the NFL Network crew after the game. Video below:

An MRI confirmed that Ryan Torain has a “clean” tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, which will end his season, Bill Williamson reports. He should be ready to go by training camp for next hear, but he will not see another snap in 2008.

We had high hopes for him, especially with everyone else going out, but no such luck.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal has claimed a piece of franchise history. Royal set the franchise record Thursday for season total receptions and receiving yards by a rookie. In eight games (he missed one game this season), Royal has tallied 625 receiving yards, with seven games still to play.

With four touchdowns on the year, Royal is also tied for first in the Broncos franchise record books in rookie receiving touchdowns.

His 164-yards, 27.3 avg., 1 TD performance Thursday added him in a few other record books as well. In particular, his 93-yard touchdown catch was the second longest by a rookie in franchise annals, and fourth longest among all players. He now has an NFL-leading four games with over 100 yards.

As cool as that is, his 93-yard catch might have served a more important purpose. That play might just be the catalyst the Broncos need – the proverbial spark we’ve been looking for. The Broncos have one helluva rookie in Royal, and the more he gets involved in this offense, the better.

NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports that Ryan Torain probably has a torn ACL and unless the MRI shows it to be more benign than that tomorrow, will be placed on Injured Reserve.

That would be four, count them, four running backs to go down for the count this season, leaving only Selvin Young who left the stadium on crutches and might be lucky to hobble onto the field in weeks 16 and 17 at this rate. Peyton Hillis may end becoming the feature back by virtue of there simply not being anyone else.

Maybe I’ll go try out. Think an overweight 37 year old white guy has a shot? Eh, I didn’t think so either.