ESPN is reporting that Greg Wesley has signed a one year $730,000 deal with the Raiders.  Wesley is a former Kansas City Safety who wanted out of K.C. throughout the 2007 season.  The Broncos almost traded for Wesley on two separate occasions.  The Chiefs got cold feet not wanting to send him to an AFC West Rival back in 2006, the following season they asked too high a price, he was then released back in May.  Looks like Wesley did exactly what the Chiefs brass didn’t want by signing in the AFC West, except they weren’t able to secure compensation for their loss albeit to Oakland.

The veteran safety will most likely add depth behind Raider safeties Gibril Wilson and Michael Huff.  Greg is reportedly “happy to remain in the AFC West and has looked forward to playing against the Chiefs twice this season.”

The rookie signings continue, as today the Denver Broncos came to terms with 4th round pick cornerback Jack Williams. Like all the rookie contracts to date, it’s a four year deal with extra bonuses and incentives added to the fourth year.

Only first round pick OT Ryan Clady and second round pick WR Eddie Royal remain unsigned. The Broncos are committed to getting both men under contract before the team reports for training camp Thursday.

Williams (5-foot-9, 181 pounds) totaled 20 takeaways (13 interceptions) in 44 career games during his college career. His senior season was particularly impressive, in which Williams had an individual-best 93 tackles (70 solo) and three interceptions as an 11-game starter. As a junior, Williams tied for first in the nation with five forced fumbles.

Good to see these deals continue to progress. Williams will see a lot of time on the field with special teams this year, and could even be a starter as early as next year.

• Now-retired Mile High Stadium PA announcer Alan Cass tells how the famous chant originated.  [Kansas City Star]
• Looking back at Mike Bell.  [Denver Post]
• If Kory Lichtensteiger starts 35% of snaps in his first three years, he’ll hit paydirt in year four.  [Denver Post]
• Jay Cutler (and his diabetes) makes for an intriguing quarterback situation.  [USA Today]
• KC: By 2010, Arrowhead Stadium will hardly recognize itself.  [Kansas City Star]
• SD: The Chargers are expected to trade or release Eric Parker in the next 72 hours.  [Football Oustiders]

For the latest Denver Broncos Training Camp news and notes, check out our home page,  updated multiple times daily!

The 2008 Denver Broncos report for training camp this Thursday, July 24, with practices beginning at 8:30 11:15 AM on Friday. For the 2008 rookie class, it’s an introduction to their new teammates, as well as life in the NFL. With some of the base offense and defense packages installed in mini camps, the team begins a broader and more focused exploration of the playbook. They’ll become more familiar with the speed and physicality of the NFL (along with their teammates’ pads).

In part 2 of our 5-part series, we’ll take a look at every single rookie (drafted or undrafted), see what their chances are of making the team or breaking into the starting lineup, and then speculate on what we can expect from them during the season.

• Sunday – Overview
• Monday – Rookies
• Tuesday – Special Teams
• Wednesday – Offense
• Thursday – Defense

Drafted

Ryan Clady, OT, 1st Round
Ryan Clady was the player I targeted for the Broncos before the draft, and I couldn’t be happier that we ended up getting him 12th overall. A fierce blocker with a mean streak and great footwork, Clady is expected to provide an upgrade over veteran Matt Lepsis, who retired after a difficult 2007 season. He comes with experience in a zone blocking system similar to the style the Broncos currently employ, giving him an edge on the learning curve. The starting left tackle position is his to lose, and while we can anticipate that he’ll struggle and make rookie mistakes from time to time, I still expect him to have the biggest impact of any player the Broncos added this season, rookie or otherwise.
Prediction: Clady will start at LT all year and significantly improve the offensive line

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The Denver Broncos announced the signing of fourth round pick Kory Lichtensteiger on Monday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lichtensteiger hails from Bowling Green State, where he earned All-Mid American Conference accolades during each of his four seasons. Lichtensteiger started all four seasons with the Falcons, tallying 48 total starts, tying a school record.

The Broncos have now signed six of their nine draft picks. Only first rounder Ryan Clady, second rounder Eddie Royal, and fourth rounder Jack Williams remain unsigned.

Training camp is so close I can taste it…

It appears the Denver Broncos have come to a decision on a kicker for 2008. Undrafted rookie Garrett Hartley was released by the club Monday, CBS4 Denver reports. The Broncos also released Mike Bell on Monday.

This leaves Matt Prater as the only kicker on the roster, meaning we won’t see the kicker competition in training camp and preseason many fans were looking forward to.

With the release of these two players, the Broncos now have enough space on their roster to sign their four remaining draft picks.

Hartley was my favorite to win the job; I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. They must have seen enough to know he wouldn’t be the guy. Expect rookie signings to come soon now.

Updated 4:06 PM – Mike Bell wasn’t feeling too god about his job security earlier today. We first reported that Bell told CBS4 Denver’s Gary Miller that he expected to be released when he met with Head Coach Mike Shanahan today; those fears were confirmed today. The Denver Broncos have released Mike Bell after two seasons.

Playing fullback last year after some success at tailback in 2006, Bell rarely saw the field and even fumbled the ball on one of his few carries in 2007. The re-signing of Cecil Sapp and the use of a 7th round draft choice on Peyton Hillis all but guaranteed Bell would have a difficult time making the team.

Including rookies, the Broncos now have 81 players on their roster; one more player will have to be released before they can sign all of their draft picks.

No surprise here, I didn’t think Bell had much of a chance to make the team in the long run either way. At least this gives him time to try to latch onto another team, although the crop of free agent running backs out there will make it difficult. The Texans would likely give him a look, but who knows.

Perhaps the smartest thing to ever come out of ESPN videos appears with 1:20 left in the above clip.

Ain’t it the truth? (Thanks to jcampb72)

• The Denver Broncos still have their top four draft picks to sign by Thursday.  [Denver Post]
• Denver Post‘s training camp preview, focusing on what will likely be John Lynch‘s final season.  [Denver Post]
• A lot of this season depends on how last year’s draft picks step up in their sophomore campaign.  [Gazett]
• Bob Slowik is hoping the fourth time’s the charm as defensive coordinator.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Growing up as a Bailey, and hoping Champ and Boss can lift each other’s games.  [Denver Post]
• ESPN puts the Broncos at 22 in their latest power rankings.  [ESPN]
• A nice article on the retired PA announcer, Alan Cass.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Chargers break camp today, but their first round pick remains unsigned.  [Yahoo! Sports]

The Washington Redskins have acquired defensive end Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins.  Daniel Snyder’s Redskins gave up a 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft and a 6th round pick in the 2010 draft.  It was rumored back in December that the Broncos might be interested in taking the Dolphin DE.  That didn’t really prove to be true and the front office seems content with 2007 draftees Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder at the end position along with rising star Elvis Dumervil.  Washington appears to have gotten a bit of a steal in Taylor,  a 2nd rounder and a 6th doesn’t seem like a lot considering the guy was named defensive player of the year only two seasons ago.  This leaves Giants TE Jeremy Shockey and (edit: The Saints traded two picks in the 2009 draft for Shockey on 7/21/08) Bengals WR Chad Johnson as the other big name that was floated in NFL trade talks throughout the off season.  Both remain with their respective teams.

Full story via NFL.com