All you need to do is follow this link, seriously, it’s worth the two seconds of your time.

Denver Broncos cornerback Karl Paymah was found guilty today on charges of driving under the influence and careless driving, the Denver Post reports. The charges stem from a March 2006 incident in which Paymah was found intoxicated and unconscious about 50 yards off an Arapahoe County road.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 16, with a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

The Denver Broncos declined to comment on the case.

A third round draft pick by the Broncos in 2005, Paymah is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season.

Settle down, he’s not going to jail for a year. I doubt Roger Goodell takes action for a two year old DUI, either. He might do some time, though, and his sentencing is set for early in the season. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Name: Niko Koutouvides Height, Weight: 6’2″, 238 Position: Linebacker Age, Experience: 27, 5 College: Purdue

Niko Koutouvides (Koo-tuh-VEE-deez) joined the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent in 2008. A fourth round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2004 NFL Draft, Koutouvides has played predominantly special teams thus far in his career. The Broncos brought him in to compete for a starting job at middle linebacker after last year’s Mike, D.J. Williams, moved back to the weak side.

The Good: Koutouvides has been one of the top special teams players in the NFL in his brief career. In four years with the Seahawks, Kouts tallied 60 special teams tackles, good for 7th in the NFL over that span. He’s a big-time hitter with great instincts. He’s also well disciplined and a hard worker – all the intangibles you like in a potential leader for your defense.

The Bad: Koutouvides won’t blow you away with his speed, and he’s not the athletic freak of nature the Broncos had with Williams or Al Wilson before 2007. Some scouting reports indicate he has trouble shedding blocks, which could become a real problem if our opponents can mirror 2007 – plow through our defensive line like nobody’s business, then eat up linebackers. His limited starting experience is a natural concern.

Status: Competing for starting job. Signed through 2010. The Denver Broncos coaches and staff brought Koutouvides to Denver with the intention that he become the starting middle linebacker. They paid him starter money and all but announced him as “the man.” Already, though, some first team snaps have been taken from him by Webster in the team’s mini camps. He’ll have to earn the job in training camp. Niko Koutouvides was born on March 25, 1981, in Plainville, CT.

As always, we invite you, the readers, to partake. Is Kouts a Top-32 middle linebacker in this league, or is he a stop gap solution until we draft a stud early next year?

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The Denver Broncos and 2008 draftee Peyton Hillis agreed to terms on Tuesday, making Hillis the fifth draft pick the Broncos have signed this year. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hillis, a fullback from Arkansas, was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. At Arkansas, Hillis plowed the way for two tailbacks who became first round picks: Darren McFadden by the Raiders, and Felix Jones by the Cowboys. Hillis also made marks of his own, earning school records for career receptions, reception yards, and reception touchdowns among running backs, as well as single season running back records in receptions and reception yards in 2007, leading his entire team in those categories.

The Broncos have now signed all of their draft picks in the 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds. They will continue to work on the 4 remaining rookie contracts before the players report for training camp on Thursday, July 24, 2008.

Among seventh round picks, Hillis’ opportunity is rare: he has an opportunity to compete for a starting job with incumbent FBs Cecil Sapp and Mike Bell.

I really like this kid – I’m glad we got this deal done. He has great hands, and just needs to work on his blocking to earn the starting spot. Your thoughts in the comments.

The two men accused of beating and robbing Javon Walker have been assigned new lawyers to their case.  Along with that motion, the judge has merged the cases of Afrat Abdo Fadel and Deshawn Lamont Thomas in to one hearing.  The opening day of the case has been set back to July 29th.  Neither defendant entered a plea in this court appearance.  They have been officially charged with kidnapping, assault, and conspiracy charges.  The kidnapping charge carries a sentence of life in prison with possible parole.

The prosecuting lawyer has said that Fadel represents a flight risk as he does not have a physical address and was being evicted from a motel at the time of the incident.    Deshawn Thomas has five prior felony convictions on his record.  His previous lawyer withdrew from this case and the public county defenders office cited conflicts as a reason to not defend either man.  The judge has since appointed defense attorneys Betsy Allen and Gabriel Grasso to the case for Fadel and Thomas.

You can read the history of this case so far on these previous posts:

Walker Found Unconscious on Las Vegas Street Corner

More Details on Walker’s Weekend

First Arrest Made (Fadel)

Second Arrest Made (Thomas)

ESPN has the most detailed news on this turn of events here.

• Taking a long, hard look at Denver Broncos wide receivers and tight ends.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• What to expect from rookie DT Carlton Powell.  [Thin Air]
• This list ranks Jay Cutler 13th in quarterbacks.  [Sporting News]
• Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley discusses his former team’s situation without Peyton Manning.  [Hashmarks]
• AFC West: Shocker.  Chargers fan comes to the conclusion that Philip Rivers is better than Cutler, despite basically arguing the other way the whole time.  [Bolt Hype]
• AFC West: More interesting conclusions drawn from thin air (this time from the Chiefs).  [Arrowhead Addict]

Name: Brett Kern Height, Weight: 6’3″, 205 Position: Punter Age, Experience: 22, R College: Toledo

Brett Kern is an undrafted free agent punter who joined the Denver Broncos as a rookie in 2008. A four year starter for the Rockets, Kern came on strong in his senior campaign, and will provide competition for incumbent Sam Paulescu, who punted for the Broncos in one game last season.

The Good: Kern’s senior year was very impressive, where he tallied the second highest gross punt average in the nation with 46.1 yards per punt. His efforts earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award (given to the nation’s top punter). Kern was also named the Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year. Kern placed roughly one third of his punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, a fine average. This Brett Kern highlights video of practice is worth a watch, as well.

The Bad: Before his senior year, Kern was mostly ho hum. He averaged 40.6, 39.5, and 41.7 gross yards per punt in his three seasons before 2007. Some scouting reports questioned his technique, consistency, and ability to kick off.

Status: Competing for starting job. Signed undisclosed contract April 2008. Kern has a fair shot at the starting punter job – the Broncos haven’t given the job to either he or Paulescu, and they are willing to let the best man win. Brett Kern was born on Feb. 17, 1986, in Grand Island, NY.

As always, we invite you, the readers, to partake. Does Kern’s 2007 campaign give you comfort, or are you worried he could be a one-year wonder?

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In the above video interview with ESPN’s Ed Werder, Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler discusses how diabetes has impacted his life. He goes into a bit more detail regarding the specifics involving his insulin pump and how game day will work. He also covers the new Broncos acquisitions this year, and talks a bit about Brandon Marshall‘s situation.

My only question, Jay – Who is Ryan Claddy?

The Denver Broncos will kick off training camp next Thursday July 24, 2008, but in the meantime, they’ll need to settle on contracts with five of their nine rookies.

Safety Josh Barrett, one of the team’s seventh round picks, was the first draft pick to sign with the Broncos, despite a small hiccup with the league offices days later.  Fifth and sixth rounders DT Carlton Powell, RB Ryan Torain, and LB Spencer Larsen all signed contracts last week.

This leaves seventh round pick Peyton Hillis, fourth round picks CB Jack Williams and C Kory Lichtensteiger, second round pick WR Eddie Royal, and first rounder OT Ryan Clady left unsigned.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Mike Shanahan discusses Jay Cutler entering his third season in this short interview.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• Is Shanahan on the hot seat?  Decent season preview.  [NBC Sports]
• Too soon to talk about the 2009 Broncos draft?  Nah.  [Broncos Denver Broncos]
• Detailed look at the Denver Broncos linebackers.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• MHR continues its roster breakdown, focusing on the offensive line.  [Mile High Report]
• Recapping the weekend’s golf events among Shanny, Cutler, and John Elway.  [Orange Bucksnorts]
• AFC West: A Chargers relocation, as soon as 2009, seems inevitable.  [Pro Football Weekly]
• AFC West: Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha will likely only sign his franchise tender.  [Inside the Oakland Raiders]
• NFL: Colts QB Peyton Manning could possibly miss the season opener after undergoing knee surgery Monday.  [ProFootballTalk]
• MLB: Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday‘s future is in focus over the All Star break.  [Rocky Mountain News]