Drew Litton over at RMN has begun animating some of his Broncos cartoons. My hat’s off to Drew. I ‘play’ at being an animator when I get chance, so I know what a big project this can be. Flash alone is challenging to say the least. :)

Here is Drew’s first animated Bronco Cartoon.

Ian Henson is the lastest guest blogger for BroncoTalk; he’s helping us wrap up Smack Talk Week by looking at the AFC West.  You can check out his work at his Broncos Denver Broncos Blog,  Enjoy!

So Kyle did it, he effectively sat the rest of the AFC West down after attentive back slaps to their collective faces. We may have had a bad year or two, but we’re still the best. The Chargers might be good now, but in reality, we’ve been doing it for years. Don’t forget it San Diego. Phillip Rivers can lead you to the door, but he hasn’t a clue how to get you in.

Smack Talk Week on BroncoTalk continues, celebrating the inefficiencies and inferior qualities of everything non-Broncos in the AFC West. Remember it’s all in the name of good, clean fun, and you can dish it in the comments.

Of course we saved the most bitter of rivals for last. We’ve already ripped into the Chiefs this week, a mere day after leaving the Chargers black and blue. Now it’s time to switch our focus to the Bastards by the Bay, the Oakland Raiders.

Hatred between the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders is as pure and white hot as it gets in the NFL. Here are five reasons the Raiders suck, in case you’ve been sleeping under a rock for the past 40 years.

The Crypt Keeper – How old, old, old man Al Davis still manages to run a successful NFL franchise is beyond me. Wait, did I just say successful?

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Check out this article over at the Wall Street Journal about sportswriter Stefan Fatsis.  I don’t remember hearing anything about this guy back in 2006.  The Broncos let him come onto the team as a kicker during training camp that year to report what it’s like to go through the ordeal as a pro football player.  A la George Plimpton – The Paper Lion.  Fatsis played soccer growing up, got into the best shape of his life and tried to compete in training camp.  He has written a book about it titled A few Seconds of Panic.  Here is the summary from the article:

In 2006, Stefan Fatsis persuaded the Denver Broncos to allow him to join the team at its summer training camp as a placekicker, becoming the first writer to suit up for a National Football League camp since George Plimpton in 1963. In this excerpt from his new book, “A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL,” he’s called on to kick in front of the full team for the first time.

I love the story about Mike Shanahan calling him onto the field the first time to kick an actual practice winning field goal.  The guys getting time off during camp were riding on his kicks.  I’m going to have to go pick this one up, the personal stories of our players seem to be the most interesting part of this.  Watch the video to see what I’m talking about.  The stuff with Meadows and Kyle Johnson seem fairly deep.  Shows you who on that squad seemed like great guys to be around, Ferguson and Veal to name a few.

• You can read about Brandon Marshall’s hand getting cut open in a fight with his ex-girlfriend before the severed forearm incident here, here, and here. [Gazette, Daily Camera, USA Today]
• Are the Broncos putting up with Marshall’s antics because he’s on his way up in talent and not down?  Good writeup here by Linicome.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• In case you missed it, see what Rasheedah Watley’s lawyer said about Marshall’s allegations.
• Tony Scheffler says his foot is back to normal.  [Denver Post]
• The Broncos honor Gary Zimmerman by placing him on the cover of the 2008 Media Guide.  [denverbroncos.com]
• The CS Indy says the Broncos are surprisingly optimistic about 2008.  [Colorado Springs Independent]
• It’s a good thing the Broncos didn’t draft Gosder Cherilous at offensive tackle.  Remember Him? [Hashmarks]
• Mark Kiszla compares Brandon Marshall to Carmelo Anthony.  [Denver Post]
• A Bronco cheerleader is crowned Ms. Colorado [denverbroncos.com]

The Denver Post has an article up this morning containing the opinion of David McGill, one of the two attorneys representing Rasheedah Watley, Marshall’s Ex-Girlfriend.  McGill fired shots back at the defense of Brandon Marshall a day after hearing accusations of a “shakedown”.

“His story that he has been a victim is as pathetic as the story that he slipped on a McDonald’s bag and injured his arm,”

“Hopefully, he will be as eager to tell his story in a court of law, under oath, as he has been in the media.”

By now we’ve all heard the story from 50 different angles of what happened between Brandon and Rasheedah, but this is what McGill had to say on the matter:

“We find it disturbing Mr. Marshall has denied physically abusing this young lady,”

We have plenty of evidence to corroborate the history of physical abuse.”

You’ve gotta love the Darth Vader tone in that quote.  Engage force choke!  What you won’t read in this piece from the Denver Post is the past cases Ms. Watley’s attorneys have taken.  David McGill is also the lawyer for Randy Moss’ ex, Rachelle Washington and is pushing for a financial settlement for “mental and physical harm as a result of Moss’ actions”.  McGill insists that a financial settlement was always brought out first by the Moss party. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

When 1-800-THE-LOST got in touch with us about a dire case of a person missing for some 12 years, we were happy to help.  Apparently, a picture of the lost person was seen on our web site, and the folks there asked for our help to put the pieces together.

Here is the picture the organization has had on file for over a decade now:

It’s simply tragic that it took this long for a reunion. The picture, along with the description of a flamboyant poser who isn’t all there, led us to only one possibility. We can proudly say we’re sure we got the guy.

A special thanks to reader Kerry N., without whom this news would not have been possible.

• Brandon Marshall tells his side of the story.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Before his serious arm injury, Marshall’s hand was cut during the altercation that led to his March arrest.  [Denver Post]
• Nice fluff piece on Tim Crowder.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• Will Javon Walker ever recover from the Darrent Williams incident?  [ESPN]
• Our friends (in this case rivals) at the House of Georges respond to Tuesday’s Chiefs BBQ.  [House of Georges]
• Just-drafted Buffalo Jordon Dizon was arrested for a DUI less than a week before the draft.  [Denver Post]
• MLB: Royals 4, Rockies 2.  Ugh.  [Yahoo! Sports]

I’ve been preparing for news of a suspension toward Brandon Marshall coming down from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league offices for a few weeks now. Today’s news of another arrest, from March 2008, only adds to my own personal belief that the league will be suspending Marshall for at least a few games in 2008.

This is just speculation, but it’s hard not to infer that consequences will soon follow Marshall’s irresponsible actions. The NFL’s revised Player Conduct Policy clearly states that conviction of a crime is not necessary before the league takes punitive action:

Repeat violations of the personal conduct policy will be dealt with aggressively, including discipline for repeat offenders even when the conduct itself has not yet resulted in a conviction of a crime.

This rap sheet, courtesy the Denver Post, documents everything that Marshall has done up to this point to warrant such action from the league. Four of the incidents stem directly from domestic disputes between he and his girfriend, Rasheedah Watley, while a fifth stems from a violent argument that took place between Marshall and his father. The sixth incident is the DUI arrest, for which Marshall has pleaded not guilty, and whose trial has been postponed until September.

Bill Williamson of ESPN reports that Marshall will be suspended for “at least a game or two” if he is convicted of his DUI arrest.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Marshall and his bodyguard at the Tryst night club in Las Vegas on Friday, June 20, 2008.

It just never ends with this guy.  Brandon Marshall was arrested involving a previously unreported incident in March of 2008 for hitting his girlfriend in the eye and mouth.  The incident took place in Atlanta, where he and Jay Cutler and Tony Scheffler were participating in workouts.

Charges were dropped in this case, as they were in the previous incident between him and his girlfriend. It marks Marshall’s third arrest since entering the NFL in 2006, and sixth incident involving the police in some manner since his rookie year.

Two weeks after the incident, Marshall severely injured his forearm after he claims he fell through an entertainment system, severing nerves, tendons, and an artery.

I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed I am to hear this. Every year something new happens. Twice actually. My patience has completely worn thin. Who’s to say the league won’t bring the hammer down hard on this kid?