• Plenty of camp notes on Jarvis Moss, Samie Parker, and Boss Bailey. [DenverBroncos.com]
• The linebacker overhaul… [Denver Post]
• …part of an entire defensive retooling. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Keary Colbert is ready to compete among the 12 receivers in quarterback camp – and he should be. He’s the 2nd highest paid WR on the roster. [DenverBroncos.com]
• The 2008 Denver Broncos are flying under the radar. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Well, Woody Paige thinks the Broncos will win 11 games… I think… really it’s Jeopardy, Broncos-style (help me out with #2 somebody). [Denver Post]
• Nice interview with ex-GM Ted Sundquist. [CBS4 Denver]
• Domonique Foxworth has written his final blog post. [DenverBroncos.com]
• MLB: The Rockies’ 3-game win streak ends against the Giants. [Yahoo! Sports]

DenverBroncos.com, Yahoo! Sports, and The Denver Post have some real quality photo galleries of the Quarterback Camp right now. We definitely recommend giving them a look – check out the links below. For your convenience, we’ve pulled a few of our favorite thumbnails here, but there’s around 30 images total if you check out the galleries. Enjoy!

• Broncos Mini Camp May 19 [Denver Post]
• Denver Broncos Photos [Yahoo! Sports]
• 2008 QB Camp – Day 1 [DenverBroncos.com]
• 2008 QB Camp – Day 2 [DenverBroncos.com]

We just updated the main poll on the left sidebar of the site (we do this once or twice a month during the offseason) and wanted to invite everyone to partake. Which of the four running backs will run for the most yards in 2008 – Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Andre Hall, or 5th round pick Ryan Torain?

Or, take the poll here.

Name: Joshua Robert Barrett Height – Weight: 6’2″ – 223 Position: Safety Age – Experience: 23 – R College: Arizona State

Josh Barrett was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round (220th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He hails from Arizona State, where he started in 21 games of the final two seasons of his career. Barrett will find it difficult to crack the roster in the newly-crowded safety depth chart in 2008, but has the potential to learn the system and become in impact player in 2009 and beyond. Some, including myself, speculate that Barrett’s presence could be a sign of Hamza Abdullah‘s departure in 2009, particularly when considering the Broncos tried very hard to sign Abdullah to a long term deal this offseason.

The Good: Physically he’s all there – he has the size and speed you love to see in an NFL safety. He’s particularly solid against the run, where his tackling technique is top notch and he isn’t afraid to knock a few heads off. His Football IQ is right up there and he’s a natural leader and team captain for the Sun Devils. He has huge potential if these assets can translate to the football field.

The Bad: He missed part of 2007 with injuries, but really had a poor season compared to ’06 statistically. He had 38 tackles and 1 interception in 2007, compared to 82 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2006. Some have called him a workout warrior, which may explain his free fall out of rounds 2-3 (where he was often projected) all the way to the 7th round.

Status: Unsigned draft pick. Barrett’s 7th round status doesn’t necessarily guarantee him a roster spot; he’ll have to earn it in training camp and be relegated to the practice squad if he can’t break the roster.

So, now we invite the readers. Is Barrett the future answer at safety, or just another guy with the dreaded ‘p’ word plastered all over him?

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We hope you enjoy these posts as BroncoTalk continues to develop the first fan-powered Denver Broncos roster on the web.

NFL owners have agreed unanimously to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. 2008 and 2009 should go off without a hitch, but 2010 will present the first uncapped year in the NFL in over a decade. The owners insist that, worst case scenario, 2011 would be the first year of labor stoppage.

In a statement released to the media and Player’s Union, the owners also made it clear they have no plans to let that happen. They will continue to negotiate between the players to find a balance that is more suited to their needs.

The players also have something at stake here – 2010 may seem to bring a pot of gold in the form of an uncapped year, but that’s only at face value. Dig deeper and you’ll see that the players have plenty to fear if that happens as well, including a 50% longer period before they can become a free agent, and less teams able to dip into the free agent pool. More on the subject via the terrific April Peter King article here.

No one likes to hear about labor disputes – it seems like only yesterday when Union Head Gene Upshaw was leaving some official-looking building declaring that the talks are off and we’re heading for an uncapped year – but expect this to take hold of the sports headlines for the next few years.

• Selvin Young and rookie Ryan Torain look to reap the benefits of Travis Henry‘s hamstring injury.  [Denver Post]
• Ben Hamilton is practicing again for the first time in nearly a year, and is ready to return to form.  [Denver Post]
• Niko Koutouvides says he’s ready for the challenge.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• More on Brandon Marshall‘s unexpected mini camp appearance.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Will the NFL owners opt out of the CBA today?  [Denver Post]
• MLB: Rockies win third in a row.  [Yahoo! Sports]

We’ve been keeping in touch with former DenverBroncos.com senior editor and blogger Andrew Mason since his departure in March, and are happy to report that he has landed on his feet, now writing for the Carolina Panthers official web site. He asked us to extend the following message to Denver Broncos fans, and after everything he has done for us and this site we were more than happy to oblige.

In the comments I read on message boards, my former blog, e-mail and other venues, many of you wanted to know where I would end up. I didn’t want to say much until I had something to report — which is now the case.

But please forgive me for detouring before getting to the point of this piece.

With the Broncos opening their quarterback camp on Monday morning, I found myself taking a few minutes to click around and see how the first day of OTAs was being covered. After all, it seems like only yesterday that I was blogging about Broncos offseason practices, and just a couple of hours ago that I was still writing on DenverBroncos.com.

Then I saw this picture over on the Rocky Mountain News’ Web site. I easily recognized Jay Cutler and Patrick Ramsey. The fellow in the background — that was another matter entirely.

“Eighty-four?” I blurted out in puzzlement to an otherwise empty hotel room. “Who the heck is that guy?”

(For the record, it is tight end Brett Pierce.)

I hope you’ll forgive my ignorance, because I have another team upon which I am focused — the Carolina Panthers.

As the Broncos began their quarterback camp, I went through my first day at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as the staff writer on the team’s official Web site, Panthers.com. It is an opportunity for which I am thankful to so many near and far, in Dove Valley and beyond — not the least of which are those of you who shared so many kind words in the days and weeks after the paths of myself and the Broncos diverged. My second chance with an NFL team is in part due to Broncos fans who read the site and blog and responded to it with such gusto.

Wherever I go and whatever I do, I’ll never forget what a privilege it was to write for you, Denver’s fans, for the past six seasons. Yes, this is a business, and there’s a reality to it that I understand in the way so many players and coaches have over the years. But this is also a passion, one that all of us around the sport — players, staffers, coaches, fans — share with equal fervor.

Take care, and until we meet again, “vaya con Dios.”

We’ll be sure to extend any comments left here to Mason via e-mail.

The Denver Broncos received a nice surprise as mini camp opened Monday. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall, still recovering from an arm injury in March, ran routes and participated in general workouts during practice today. Among those surprised to see #15 strolling the practice field was Head Coach Mike Shanahan:

“It’s ahead of what I thought initially. I was told he could not work out until a month before we went to training camp.”

Marshall injured his arm after roughhousing with his family in Florida. Until it heals more fully, the 3rd year player will not be catching passes, the Denver Post reports.

The Broncos are now hoping that Marshall will be able to participate in full team practices as early as June 22nd, giving him a chance to catch passes in the last mini camp in early July and training camp thereafter.

Simply great news here. One of the bigger looming questions for our season is beginning to come into focus. Marshall’s recovery will have a large effect on the explosiveness of the Denver Broncos offense this year.

(Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain News, Ken Papaleo)

Jay Cutler can still expect to see #78 protecting his blind side when he takes his first snap this season.

That’s because 2008 Denver Broncos first round choice Ryan Clady will be wearing 78, the same number that now-retired Matt Lepsis wore throughout his Broncos career.

The rookies and free agent signings were all assigned jersey numbers before mini camp – and while some of them likely won’t last (Eddie Royal is currently a #3, which isn’t possible without an exemption to league rules), for the most part this is what Broncos fans can expect to see their new favorite players wearing.

So… which jersey you getting? Let us know in the comments.

Name: Roland Bailey Height – Weight: 6’0″ – 192 Position: Cornerback Age – Experience: 29 – 10 College: Georgia

Roland “Champ” Bailey, despite all of his accolades and awards and future Hall of Fame potential, is severely underrated. Seems impossible, but it’s true. 90% of the general population watching out there don’t quite understand how good Bailey really is. And that’s a shame. He was robbed of the Defensive MVP award in 2006, with his 10 interceptions and mind boggling 98 tackles (84 solo). Of even greater note was that 4 of his interceptions that year were within 4 yards of the Broncos end zone. He’s as clutch as they come.

The Good: Bailey isn’t only a phenomenal talent and a hard worker, he’s a team captain and quiet leader in the locker room. On the field Bailey can do it all. He’s excellent in both man to man coverage and zone. He isn’t afraid to tackle the runner, something you can hardly say about most other corners.

The Bad: Someone help me out here… well, he’ll be turning 30 next month, which I’m told is some sort of magic number in the sporting world that equates to “old.” He only had 3 interceptions last year, but I said before that wasn’t his fault. I think he’ll bounce back in 2008.

Status: Incumbent Starter… Future Hall of Famer… Signed through 2010.

So, now we invite the readers. Was 2007 a sign of things to come?

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More on Champ Bailey

We hope you enjoy these posts as BroncoTalk continues to develop the first fan-powered Denver Broncos roster on the web.