• New Bronco Michael Pittman wants to be a main contributor for the Broncos, but he needs to make sure his first carry isn’t a sign of things to come.  [NFL.com]
• Jay Cutler talks about his new teammates and some disease that shook him up or something last season.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• Dre Bly pulls hamstring, out rest of the week.  [Denver Post]
• Sauer grapes from Sauerbrun.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• MLB: Phillies sweep the Rockies with 6-1 win.  [Yahoo! Sports]

Name: Ryan Clady Height, Weight: 6’6″, 317 lbs. Position: Offensive Tackle Age, Experience: 21, R College: Boise St.

Ryan Clady was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round (12th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He is entering his rookie season and has the inside edge at starting at left tackle for the Broncos in 2008. He declared for the draft as a junior out of Boise State, and was the 2nd tackle taken in the draft (out of 8 in the first round). He played an integral part in the Boise State Broncos victory during the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, where his block sealed the final play for the Broncos’ win.

The Good: Clady is incredibly athletic, with big, long arms and swift feet. His impressive footwork during practices has earned him the teammate dubbed nickname “Sweet Feet.” Clady comes from a similar zone blocking scheme that the Denver Broncos currently employ. While any rookie entering the NFL has a learning curve they must account for, Clady’s experience in the system will give him a head start in that regard.

The Bad: His run blocking isn’t quite up to his pass protection. Clady played in the WAC, a generally weak conference, and didn’t play against top competition week in and week out. Some scouts questioned his work ethic, and his low Wonderlic score has concerned many fans.

Status: Unsigned rookie. Clady has been “given” the starting left tackle spot by Head Coach Mike Shanahan, who was sure to clarify that Clady still has to work hard to earn the job. The Broncos will focus on his contract next month before training camp begins. Ryan Clady was born in Long Beach, CA, on September 6, 1986.

Now we invite you, the readers, to partake. Was Clady the right pick or should the Broncos have gone another route?

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The Denver Broncos made it official – Michael Pittman signed a one-year deal with the team (terms not disclosed, per club policy). To make room on the roster, the Broncos released safety Marviel Underwood.

Full press release after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Selvin Young says the hardest part in him gaining 2,000 yards this season is just staying healthy.  [Denver Post]
• Darrell Jackson is ready to take over the starting receiver spot opposite Brandon Marshall.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• Notes from Day 5 of QB Camp, including an early look at the offensive line depth chart.  [DenverBroncos.com]
• The Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center opens Thursday.  [ESPN]
• The potential kicker and punter for the Broncos will be much younger than they were 12 months ago.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Todd Sauerbrun goes on trial today.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• MLB: Phillies 7, Rockies 4. [Yahoo! Sports]

Several sources, including ESPN and PFT, are reporting that the Denver Broncos have signed (or will sign) running back Michael Pittman to a one-year deal.  With Travis Henry still on the mend, the signing comes at a time when the Broncos can take a look at Pittman in mini camp and see if he can compete for a roster spot.

The Broncos backfield has become crowded, with Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Mike Bell, and 5th round pick Ryan Torain all expected to compete for a roster spot.

No word yet on whom the Broncos have released to make room on the current 80-man roster limit.

Pittman is 32 years old and brings a physical presence to the running game.  In 2007, Pittman ran for 286 yards on 68 carries (4.2 average) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Things aren’t getting any more clear when it comes to who will run the ball for the Broncos in 2008.  Our poll on the sidebar seems all the more pertinent now.  We’ll keep you posted on how this signing affects the players currently under contract.

Denver Broncos Quarterback Camp resumed today, but running back Travis Henry remained sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Denver Post reports. Henry injured his hamstring running 100-yard drills the Friday before QB Camp began.

Coach Mike Shanahan indicated last week that Henry could return as early as today.

I’m really hoping Henry can be healthy by training camp. This offense needs consistency week to week and it would be Henry’s job to lose if he can just make the practice field. In the meantime, rookie Ryan Torain and 2nd year player Selvin Young will reap the rewards of his absence.

Name: Donald Andre Bly Height, Weight: 5’10”, 188 lbs. Position: Cornerback Age, Experience: 31, 10 College: North Carolina

Dre Bly joined the Denver Broncos in 2007 in a trade with the Detroit Lions for RB Tatum Bell and OT George Foster. There was a bit of tension early on – rumor was that Bly was hoping to become a Redskin – but he signed a 5-year deal in the end that will potentially keep him in Denver through 2011. He also restructured his contract this offseason to stay in Denver.

The Good: Bly led the Broncos with 5 interceptions in 2007, and was the only player in the Broncos secondary to start all 16 games. Bly has the ability to make the spectacular interception that leaves your jaw dropped (think Pittsburgh, end zone, dislocated shoulder last year). Like Champ Bailey, he showed last year that he wasn’t afraid to get his nose dirty, tallying 59 tackles. Bailey and Bly have the 1st and 2nd most interceptions in the league respectively since they entered the NFL in 1999.

The Bad: He’s a double edged sword. Bly has the tendency to make spectacular plays, but also can make huge whiffs that leave you wanting much more. Sometimes he’ll even blow his coverage in a spectacular fashion (think Oakland week 2, Raiders only completed 8 passes, one of which was a touchdown clear over Bly’s head).

Status: Incumbent starter, signed through 2011. Bly is a solid corner who can really complement Bailey. The two struggled to reach their potential last year (much like the entire defense did) – hopefully this year the passing lanes can be truly shut down. Donald Andre Bly was born on May 22, 1977 in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Now we invite you, the readers, to partake. Does the good outweigh the bad with Bly, or are you left wanting more?

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• Jay Cutler‘s management of his Type 1 diabetes has earned him respect in and out of the locker room. [USA Today]
• The Denver Broncos aren’t interested in running back Shaun Alexander. [FanHouse]
• Despite the scam artist’s suicide, the lawsuit against the NFL and Player’s Union marches on. [FanHouse]
• MLB: Phillies score a whopping 20 points in rout of the Rockies. [Yahoo! Sports]

• For those in the United States, Happy Memorial Day, and a moment of silence for those fallen.  [History.com]
• Pat Tillman and other NFL players and coaches who died for their country.  [Hashmarks]
• On to the Broncos: Just to answer your question: YES.  [FanHouse]
• Matt Prater is feeling the heat.  [Denver Post]
• The scam artist who swindled millions from the Broncos committed suicide a week after being found guilty.  [Denver Post]
• MLB: Rockies 4, Mets 1 [Yahoo! Sports]

We’re off today for the most part with the 3-Day Weekend.  We hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day and we’ll see you back tomorrow, when the Broncos resume QB Camp.

The 2008 Denver Broncos embarked on their annual journey toward playoff success this week. Humbled after a 7-9 season last year, the team had re-tooled, if not re-vamped, both the offensive and defensive sides of the football this offseason in order to show improvement from last year.

Now that the new pieces were in place and the rookies were under the fold, the team met for the first time, some old, some new, and set out to fix the mistakes of the previous two seasons.

The voluntary workouts, dubbed “Quarterback Camp,” took place from Monday through Thursday and will continue through next week. The players will enjoy a four-day Memorial Day weekend before returning to work on Tuesday, and will finish up practice on Friday, May 30th.

Here’s a recap of some of the bigger stories from the week that was:

Henry, Scheffler Out with Injuries – Travis Henry was missing from day one and Tony Scheffler joined him the day after. The players suffered aggravated hamstring and foot injuries, respectively. Henry is expected to return to practice next week, while Scheffler will miss the rest of this camp. Scheffler’s left foot, which he fractured in May’s QB Camp last year, has been placed in a boot, and if everything goes well he should return before the team’s next camp in mid-June.

Injured Broncos Make Their Return – Offensive linemen Ben Hamilton and Tom Nalen returned to the practice field after being placed on the Injured Reserve last year, and 2007 first round draft pick Jarvis Moss made his much anticipated return. Moss said he was excited to return to the football field this time around:
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