Sorry for the delay, folks.  After a brief hiatus, the Player Bios continue, and will run 7 days a week to catch up before the start of the season!

Name: Garrett Hartley Height, Weight: 5’8″, 196 Position: Kicker Age, Experience: 22, R College: Oklahoma

Garrett Hartley joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie free agent kicker in April 2009. With the not-so-fond farewell of franchise kicker Jason Elam in March, the Broncos needed to address the kicker position for 2008 and beyond. Inexperienced backup Matt Prater was the only kicker on the roster, and the Broncos had a need to bring in another young leg to compete for the spot through summer camps.

The Good: Physically, Hartley is more than capable of performing at the pro level. He has tremendous leg strength, easily capable of nailing a 50-yarder, and many scouts say he has the ability to kick a 60-yard field goal with relative ease. His last two years at Oklahoma saw him make a decent 32 out of 35 field goal attempts, including 7 of 8 from 40 yards and beyond. In those two seasons, Hartley went 120 for 126 in PATs. His leg strength will also be a big asset in field position.

The Bad: He hasn’t had a lot of experience attempting field goals from beyond 40 yards, with only a single attempt (which was good) past 50 yards in the past two seasons. In 2005, Hartley made only 14 of 22 attempts, connecting on only 5 of 10 attempts past 40 yards. His decline in production from 2006 to 2007 could be due to an unconfirmed and unspecified injury he fought through that year.

Status: Competing for starting job. Matt Prater is technically the incumbent, so Hartley will have to work hard to earn the job. Garrett Hartley was born on May 16, 1986, in Southlake, Texas.

As always, we invite you, the readers, to partake. Do you trust Hartley to fill Elam’s trusty shoes, or is he too inexperienced for your tastes, with the game on the line?

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The long awaited and much deserved enshrinement of Gary Zimmerman into the Pro Football Hall of Fame will take place on August 2nd, 2008, and if you’re in the Canton, OH area you can join the festivities.

The team’s official web site reports that tickets are on sale now for $27 (stadium seating) and $55 (floor seating). Tickets can be purchased online via ProFootballHOF.com or by calling 1-800-913-9788.

Zimmerman was a crucial part to the team’s first Super Bowl victory, and one of the best linemen to ever grace a Broncos helmet. The news is also a great opportunity to remind everyone that Tradition Week will be taking place next week, where we celebrate Denver Broncos history.

Congratulations again to Gary Zimmerman, and we can’t wait to see the ceremony (sadly, on the tube) in August!

• Gary Zimmerman Belongs in the Hall of Fame [BroncoTalk]
• Gary Zimmerman Elected to Hall of Fame [BroncoTalk]

• While I think it’s ridiculous that this story is even newsworthy (it’s a traffic ticket, for crying out loud), Brandon Marshall really should know better than to pass on the freaking shoulder.  Grow a brain, Brandon.  [Denver Post]
• The Denver Broncos cheerleaders are shooting their 2009 calendar.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• Not a fan of RMN’s Bernie Linicome.  But I get the point, tongue and cheek: Brett Favre, just stay retired.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Barack Obama‘s speech at Invesco Field may disrupt a certain Colorado football tradition.  [Denver Post]
• MLB: 2007, where art thou?  Brewers 7, Rockies 3.  [Yahoo! Sports]

The Broncos locked up three of their draft picks, all of which were selected from rounds 5-6.  Ryan Torain (5th), Carlton Powell (5th), and Spencer Larsen (6th).  Each player’s deal had signing bonus incentives for guaranteed money, something that any lower round drafted player would surely be looking for in case they become a camp casualty.  The organization will look to announce the signings today after NFL approval.

Negotiations are steady with the remaining 5 picks.  They hope to have a deal locked up by the end of the week with FB Peyton Hillis.  It’s estimated that the talks between Ryan Clady, Eddie Royal, and Jack Williams will all go to the week before training camp starts.  Talks seemed to be going well with first rounder Clady as of this posting by ESPN.  It was also mentioned that Larsen has been officially moved back to the linebacker spot to backup Koutouvides and Webster.  Spencer still thought the practice at fullback was a fun experiment.

News Release Here [Denver Post]

• Really Denver Post, really?  Reporting Brandon Marshall’s traffic tickets, yeah, that doesn’t make you look like a rag.  Way to include the mugshot.  You’re making Terry Frei look like a genius more and more every day.  (credit CompleteColorado.com) [Denver Post]
• Another AFC West preview and predictions.   I doubt the Chargers are going 16-0.   [Bleacher Report]
• Klis thinks Brian Xanders will take some of the workload off of Shanahan in the front office.  [Denver Post]
• Mike Klis also has a new Broncos mailbag up: Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen? [Denver Post]
• In case you haven’t heard, Tony Gonzales saved someone’s life last week.  [Hashmarks]
• The Raiders aren’t sure what to do with LaMont Jordan.  [Hashmarks]
• James Brown, Phil Simms, and Cris Collinsworth are all confirmed for the new Inside the NFL.  [seat42f]
• The cat got let out of the bag, the Pittsburgh Steelers are for sale.  [Wall Street Journal]

Las Vegas police have arrested a second suspect in the Javon Walker case.  Deshawn L. Thomas was arrested Monday and is being held without bail.  He is facing felony kidnapping, assault, and conspiracy charges.  The first suspect, Arfat Fadel, was arrested on the same charges back on June 24th. Arafat will reportedly plead not guilty.

According to Walker’s testimony two men lured him willingly while intoxicated into a black Range Rover (allegedly owned by Arfat) while he was intoxicated where they assaulted him and stole $100,000 worth of jewelry and $3000 in cash off of the wide receiver.  They broke one of Javon’s orbital bones and left him unconscious on this street corner.

The second suspect has been identified in a grainy black and white security tape released by the police department from the Bellagio hotel and casino.  Fadel and the other man “clearly and methodically lured Walker into the vehicle as he represented (an) easy target due to his level of intoxication,” police said in a report.

More to come as futher news is released.

Greetings, folks.  I just returned from vacation in the beautiful mountains of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.  I want to say a quick thanks to Josh and the rest of the gang for keeping up with the site in my absence. They did a phenomenal job keeping up with posts and comments, and this site didn’t even miss a beat.

Waiting at my doorstep upon my return (thankfully no one here knows where I live) was a FedEx package with A Few Second of Panic, the much-anticipated book by Stefan Fatsis that covers the Broncos 2006 training camp and season.  He and his publisher were nice enough to send me a copy, and I’ll be doing a nice Q&A with the author and full book review in the days to come.

I arrived pretty late last night but still cracked open the book and got in a few chapters.  I plan on thoroughly exploring those pages when I get home (in fact, I pretty much can’t get it off my mind).

In the first few chapters and Prologue of the book, Fatsis starts out by giving us a glimpse of the feel of an NFL locker room, as he’s hazed and expected to (what else but) dance for his new teammates.  Pretty funny stuff, but the quotes from former Broncos like Jake Plummer and Al Wilson make this worth every penny for Broncos fans already. (Note: As expected, Plummer is indeed one badass mother f-er).

He also talked about finding an NFL team, and was surprised that Denver finally allowed him to join (he initially scratched Denver off his list, before asking, because he figured Mike Shanahan was the type of control freak who wouldn’t have anything of it.  Nearly 20 teams declined his invite before he reevaluated his list and talked to Owner Pat Bowlen).

I’m at the point in his story where he’s preparing to join his new team, taking lessons from a great kicking coach in the area, and learning to transform his soccer-experienced kick into a field goal drilling machine. So far it’s simply fascinating stuff and I can’t wait to get the full scoop on his life inside the Broncos locker room.

The guys over at KSK have a hilarious review (with quotes), so check it out if you’re not already sold. It’s available now, click on the link at the top of this post to order it from Amazon, and we’d love to set up a little comments chat among those who are reading, book club style.

Ryan Torain is ready to take his place among Davis, Gary, Anderson, Droughns, Bell, and Young.  Williamson has an article up on ESPN I’ve been waiting for since the Broncos drafted the Arizona State runningback.  Ryan was elated in the 5th round when his phone lit up with the 303 area code knowing it was Denver.  “Running Back heaven was calling”.  I love that phrase, I think we need to use from here on out.  Torain knows how special it is coming to the Broncos as a runningback.  No matter how far you are down on the depth chart, or where you were drafted, you will fit in the system and produce as long as you carry a work ethic.  For this reason; Travis Henry came to Denver, too bad he didn’t have the discipline to make the most of it.

Williamson compares the Broncos drafting an h-back in the 5th round to any other team drafting that position in the second.  The evidence is there to prove it.  A fact that came out in this article is that the Broncos used the 5th round pick acquired from the Raiders signing Gerard Warren last August.  How great would it be if Torain ended up taking rookie of the year over the highly touted Darren McFadden with their own draft pick?  It could happen, if either Selvin doesn’t keep that 5.2 yards per carry, and/or Pittman isn’t the power runner we’re looking for.  Torain could easily step in to fill those gaps, it’s been noted that he is picking up the scheme quickly.  The Broncos situation is a good one to have.

Ryan would’ve been drafted much higher if not for his fractured toe problems his Junior and Senior year.  The kid is a bruiser with good lane vision and downhill running style.  He has the intangibles to get on the field this season, it’s not a question of if, but when.

I leave you with a quote:

“It’s all in front of me,” Torain said. “I just have to do the right things and hard work and great things can happen for me in Denver.”

• Woody Paige details the history of Pat Bowlen, and says he is worthy of the top three owners title, bestowed by the ESPN poll.  [Denver Post]
• By the way, did anyone know that Pat owned a restaurant with Tom Selleck?  [Honolulu Star Bulletin]
• That other owner, Al Davis turned 79 this weekend.  Wonder how long that is in Mummra years?  [Hashmarks]
• Ted Sundquist is hoping to resurface in the NFL, but knows it would mean another GM losing his job.  [Hashmarks]
• Obama is moving his nomination speech to Mile High.  Apparently this is going to put a strain on the tv networks.   [Denver Post, tvnewser]
• Reggie Rivers gives a tour of the visitors locker room at our stadium.  [CBS4]
• The Crush fell 64-51 to the San Jose Saber Cats in this weekend’s AFL playoffs.  Mark Grieb’s 7 touchdown passes proved to be too much for Colorado.  [Boulder Daily Camera]

Welcome to quick hits.  This is a revamped section that BroncoTalk has decided to bring back.  This will mainly cover the odd little stories that didn’t make the headlines or the daily links.  They probably deserve more than a line, but probably not an entire article.  (You’ll see why in a minute)  First up, you get two weeks worth!

• Former Broncos first rounder Marcus Nash had his neck broken in an AFL (Arena Football) playoff game this past week.  While Marcus will probably be known as one of Denver’s biggest draft busts of all time, he had been doing exceptionally well for the Dallas Desperados where he had posted 5 consecutive 1000 yard seasons receiving.  He was also named the AFL offensive player of the year back in 2004.  Sad news indeed.  Here’s hoping Marcus makes a good recovery to lead a normal life.  Sucks when a guy can find some success after washing out only to have it end like this.

• It looks like Kyle wasn’t the only one who felt like ESPN did a horrible job covering the AFC West.  Raider’s section “Thoughts from the Darkside” over at MVN noticed that ESPN basically forgot that Oakland plays in the AFC West as well.   They seem to whine about Tom Jackason covering the Broncos, but what else is new.  At least the man is accurate.  I can’t say the same for Eric Allen.  How does this man even have a job doing analysis?  You can tell the guy doesn’t do his homework and seems to be about 25 steps behind.  Example: “Well lets see what the Broncos are doing for 2008 so I can look like I know what I’m talking about.  They don’t have Brian Griese anymore!?!  They’re gonna go 5-11 this year.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »