UPDATE: Apparently Henry pulled a hamstring in Friday’s workouts running the 100-yard dash. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the team’s first camp these two weeks.

Travis Henry was the only missing player “of note” today as the Denver Broncos broke mini camp, according to the Rocky Mountain News. No reason was given for his absence, although Head Coach Mike Shanahan will address the media later today.

Henry has been participating in all the OTA’s and workouts up to this point, as late as last week. Odd that he missed today… is an injury or personal matter or something else to blame? We’ll find out soon.

• The 2008 Denver Broncos mini camp begins today. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Jay Cutler and Ryan Clady will likely garner the most attention. [Denver Post]
• Dewayne Robertson is ready to return to his top form in the Broncos’ 4-3 system. [Rocky Mountain News]
• A closer look at Broncos UDFA Wesley Woodyard, particularly from the Senior Bowl. [Thin Air]
• A brief look at the AFC West offseason. [Kansas City Star]
• MLB: Rockies P Jeff Francis finally won a game, their second of the weekend. [Yahoo! Sports]

Very soon there will be a new flood of information and video of our 2008 Denver Broncos… And I simply can’t wait!!!

So, as our Broncos begin their first official day back to field work, I thought I’d list off some of the things I’m interested in watching as we start seeing coverage of Denver’s OTA Days….

And let me start things off with the coaches:

SPLITTING TIME?
Rick Dennison enters his 13th season with Denver this year. He learned his trade under The Great Alex Gibbs and for 11 years has coordinated our O-line. But starting last year Dennison began assisting with the OC. This year Dennison will have much more to think about. He is our stand-in for Offensive Coordinator this year (with Mike Shanahan really calling the shots), and his work load will be even heavier. So, this begs the question will Shanahan have Dennison spending his time coaching our revamped O-line which will include rookie Ryan Clady, or will Shanahan have Dennison splitting time with both our O-line and the leg work of an OC? I look forward to seeing how hands-on Dennison is in these early camps along the line.

WHERE’S OUR QB COACH?
So, Pat McPherson does a superb job of making a good Jake Plummer look great (until, of course, his playoff meltdown). He also helps Cutler transition into the starting job. However, last year McPherson was moved over to coach TE’s. Jeremy Bates joined the Broncos last season and learned our system under Dennison. It’s hard to tell, but it appears he split time with both the O-line and the QBs (having been a QB coach for the Jets in 2005).

Now, unless someone can fill me in with better info, it doesn’t seem like we had a seasoned QB coach devoted to Cutler like McPherson was to Plummer or Kubiak was to Elway and Griese.

Am I going out on a limb to ask if this had something to do with no one catching on to Cutler’s physical condition last year?
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Name: Rodney Bailey Height – Weight: 6’3″ – 235 Position: Outside Linebacker Age – Experience: 28 – 6 College: Georgia

Rodney “Boss” Bailey joined the Denver Broncos via free agency in 2008 and is approaching his first season with the club. He is famously known as Champ Bailey‘s little brother, a name that sticks with him even in public appearances. Bailey is slated to start at strong side linebacker for the Broncos in 2008, but has concerns regarding injuries and on-field performance.

The Good: Bailey is an athletic freak of nature (it must run in the family). He has all the size, speed, and tenacity you hope for in a linebacker.

The Bad: Injuries have sidelined him several times over, and he was inconsistent when on the football field in Detroit. His rookie year was his best as a pro (16 starts and 88 tackles) – perhaps a fresh start will ignite that fire again.

Status: Starter, signed through 2012. Bailey has the edge at SAM – but two questions really surround the former Bulldog. First, can he stay healthy? Second, were his inconsistencies in Detroit an indication of his own lack of effort, or the general state of the Detroit Lions? Bailey has appeared in 58 games (starting 51), posting 258 tackles (188 solo), 7 sacks and 2 INTs. He was born on October 14, 1979.

So now we invite you, the reader. Is Bailey the answer at SAM, or do the inconsistencies and injuries cause you too much concern?

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Name: Anthony Alridge Height – Weight: 5’9″ – 175 lbs. Position: Running back Age – Experience: 24 – R College: Houston

Anthony Alridge signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2008. Lovingly nicknamed “Quick,” short for “Quick 6” by his friends and family (even his father calls him Quick), Alridge’s small size left him out of the draft and into the hearts of any fan who cheers for the underdog. He had a productive career in all facets at the University of Houston, in running the ball, catching it out of the backfield, and in kick returns.

The Good: You can’t teach spirit or want-to, and it’s obvious Alridge has that. His numbers in college (4,438 all-purpose yards) are mightily impressive, and he holds the school record with an average of 9.4 yards per play. Some reports indicate he’s already worked hard and gained around 15 lbs. Oh, and as his nickname suggests, he’s freaking fast.

The Bad: The reason he went undrafted: his size. Can he take a beating at the pro level?

Status: He’ll have to work hard (really, really hard) to make the team this year. 2nd round pick Eddie Royal has the edge in kick returns, and the Broncos are relatively stacked at wide receiver and running back (although perhaps not with big-impact players).

Turning it over to you: Are you rooting for Alridge to break the roster or practice squad, or is he just another training camp body?

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Yesterday the Denver Broncos signed former Indianapolis Colts guard Dylan Gandy to a one-year, league minimum offer. To make room on the roster, the club released guard Isaac Snell, who joined the Broncos from the Titans practice squad midseason 2007.

Gandy (6-3, 302) will compete for a valuable reserve role on the Denver Broncos offensive line with the likes of P.J. Alexander and Casey Weigmann. In three years in the NFL with the Colts, Gandy played in 42 games with 14 starts, including appearing in six playoff games (including Super Bowl XLI).

A 4th round pick in 2005, Gandy started 20 games in his 4-year career at Texas Tech and received honorable mention All Big 12 Conference honors after not allowing a sack as a senior. Gandy was born on March 8, 1982.

The Broncos saw someone on the market they felt could do better in their system than Snell.  Sounds good to me.  We’ll see if Gandy can perform in training camp and earn a reserve role – his measurables are right where the Broncos like them, so he’s potentially a good fit.

Scout.com has confirmed that the Broncos have just signed former Indianapolis Colt Guard/Center Dylan Gandy to the team.  It was a one year league minimum offer.  Gandy has been pursued by multiple teams but Denver won based off of their history of acquiring fast athletic offensive lineman and making them productive in the system.  For the measurables Gandy comes in at 6′-3″ and 302lbs.  He is said to be an excellent blocker in open space.  He started 11 games at left guard for injured Ryan Lilja during the Colts 2006 Super Bowl run.  Gandy was released in Indy after signing a one year deal when the team went for youth in the offensive line during this years draft.

It has been said that Dylan is a hard working blue collar type of guy and that he will be “worth watching” in training camp for Denver this year.  He started 3 of his 4 years at Texas Tech.

Name: Patrick James Alexander Height – Weight: 6’4″ – 297 lbs. Position: Guard Age – Experience: 29 – 6 College: Syracuse

P.J. Alexander returns to the Denver Broncos after an almost two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Alexander played mostly tackle in college (and some center) but has been playing guard at the pro level. Of the 20 games Alexander has played in his career, 4 of them were starts (all with Atlanta) and 11 other games came last year on special teams with the Broncos.

The Good: Not a lot of game tape to be seen here, folks, but Alexander is approaching his 6th year in the Pros, not an easy task in today’s NFL. His versatility and experience in the zone blocking system make him a nice asset.

The Bad: He’s been a career backup with the Broncos, but his left knee has caused him repeated troubles. In 2005 he tore his left ACL and was released the following year during training camp. In 2007 he suffered a three month injury to the same knee and was released by the Falcons.

Current Status: Potential camp fodder. Signed a contract in October of last year that lasts through 2008. With the additions of Kory Lichtensteiger through the draft and Casey Weigmann through free agency, Alexander will have to work hard to show that the five years on the bench and therapy table have paid off.

Now we turn it over to you. P.J. Alexander – worth keeping, or camp casualty?

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Wait, what? Travis Henry got placed on injured reserve on Mother’s Day? Hmm… maybe not. [National Squib]

A simply phenomenal article on Jay Cutler and his new struggle with Type I diabetes by Yahoo!’s Michael Silver. In his recent interview with Cutler, Silver discussed the disease and really paints an understandable picture for the reader.

Cutler talked about his new routine in dealing with diabetes.

“This goes everywhere with me. The first thing I do in the morning is test myself to see where I am, and it’s the last thing I do before I go to bed. This whole thing is a little scary sometimes, but it’s not like you have a choice. It’s part of your life, you know?”

He also shed some light on how his condition was overlooked in 2007.

“”I was just crushing food. I was eating six meals a day – I’d eat a meal and like 30 minutes later I’d be ready to eat again. Yet I kept losing weight, and they were telling me it was the stress. I was like, ‘I’m not that stressed.’ I mean, my jeans were falling off my body and I was all pale. I looked like hell.”

The difference in Cutler’s weight was noticeable by season’s end, yet it wasn’t until a mandatory blood test in April that the disease was caught. Now Cutler says he is feeling “10 times better” at a healthy 230 lbs., and is ready to embark on the 2008 season.

The fact that the medical staff overlooked this concerned me then, and it concerns me now. Cutler said in his press conference that he doesn’t like going to the doctor and so avoided a closer look, but the staff really should have insisted on checking this out. I’m glad he’ll be back in proper shape for the 2008 season.