The Denver Broncos 2008 Schedule has been revealed, and there are quite a few surprises. Here’s my initial take on the games.

Brutal Beginnings – The Broncos open at Oakland, come home to face the Chargers, welcome the Saints the next week, then head to Arrowhead, a virtual House of Horrors for the Broncos in every year but last. In a matter of four weeks, half of our division games will be decided. What a way to get started.

Lack of Prime Time – I honestly thought, despite the 7-9 record, that the Broncos would still be a hot ticket for prime time games. Year after year, Broncos night affairs are among the top moneymakers for the networks. I know 3 is a lot more than other teams, but we Broncos fans are used to 4-5 (remember 2006… I believe we ended with 6 for the season after NBC picked us up a few times). Only 3 this year, and one of them, oddly…

Thursday Night? BEFORE Thanksgiving – I mean, I haven’t looked at a calendar, but I’m pretty sure November 6th isn’t Thanksgiving. And it’s not after it. Yet there we are, playing prime time on a Thursday night in the middle of the season. That’s fine, I’m just curious to see what the NFL has in store, and on what network this game will be played (I have a hunch it’s the NFLN).

November to Remember – The easiest stretch is in November. Dolphins, Browns, Falcons, Raiders, Jets. I’m not saying it’s a cakewalk, but 4 of those teams are drafting in the Top 6 this year.

The Finisher – Finishing the season in San Diego has become routine in Denver. I can’t remember the last time we weren’t heading to southern California in December, this time it’s just the real season ender.

Bookend Division Games – I already noted that three division games will be decided in the first four weeks… the other three will be decided in the final six.

The 2008 NFL schedule for the Denver Broncos has been revealed.

Somehow, the Rocky Mountain News got the schedule before everybody else… the NFL will “officially” release it in about 90 minutes.

Three prime time games on the list… a small slate this year compared to years past. Of course, the opener against the Raiders on Monday Night was already common knowledge. The Broncos have another Monday Night game set for October 20 at New England, and will face the Browns on a Thursday night in early November.

Sept. 8 — at Oakland Raiders, 6:15 p.m.
Sept. 14 — San Diego Chargers at Invesco Field at Mile High, 2:15 p.m.
Sept. 21 — New Orleans Saints at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Sept. 28 — at Kansas City Chiefs, 11 a.m.
Oct. 5 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Jacksonville Jaguars at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Oct. 20 — at New England Patriots 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 — Bye.
Nov. 2 — Miami Dolphins at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 6 — at Cleveland Browns, 6:15 p.m.
Nov. 16 — at Atlanta Falcons, 11 a.m.
Nov. 23 — Oakland Raiders at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 30 — at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 14 — at Carolina Panthers, 11 a.m.
Dec. 21 — Buffalo Bills at Invesco Field, 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 28 — at San Diego Chargers, 2:15 p.m.

• The Denver Broncos are putting in every effort to collect veteran wide receivers. [Hashmarks]
• Details on Samie Parker‘s deal indicate it’s a vet minimum one-year offer. [Denver Post]
• Jay Cutler actually brushed his hair for this CBS interview. [CBS4 Denver]
• Mike Vanderjagt came and worked out at Dove Valley Monday. While the article says a deal may be coming, I’m told that this was more exploratory in case the Broncos don’t draft a kicker some time in Day 2. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Here’s a nice little offseason recap/draft preview article – no dissection needed. [Grand Junction Sentinal]
• NBA: The Nuggets clinch the playoffs. Too bad A.I. was arrested for suspicion of DUI Melo pulled a Marshall (is the #15 cursed?) [Yahoo! Sports]

The buzz of the 1983 draft surrounded no other than Denver’s John Elway.  Most Bronco fans have the details memorized.  Elway was drafted #1 overall by the Baltimore Colts, refusing to play for then Baltimore head coach Frank Kush and was traded to Denver in a blockbuster deal.  But the overshadowed great tale of the 83′ draft is that of Karl Mecklenburg.

Karl Mecklenburg’s career could prove there is no exact science to draft day preparation for the scouts and coaches.  After 12 years in the orange and blue Karl’s name is as synonymous to the Broncos as John Elway, who was drafted 309 picks earlier. – NFL Alumni, Rocky Mountain Chapter

Mecklenburg’s rise to the NFL is an unlikely one.  Even though he was an all state selection in high school, he couldn’t get a football scholarship to a Big 10 school.  He proceeded to attend Augustana College in South Dakota.  After two stand out seasons, he started to think about saving enough money to get into medical school, and the pros were his ticket.  Meck transferred to the University of Minnesota and made the squad as a walk on.  He continued his stellar college career, but garnered little interest from the pros even after ranking second in tackles for the conference. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

As draft day approaches, BroncoTalk will be giving you game tape highlights of some of the bigger (and smaller) names around the draft. Today’s installment: Cal Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson. There have been whispers about Denver possibly taking Jackson with their first round selection at #12.

The first video is a nicely summarized highlight reel. The second after the jump is Jackson showing off his kick return abilities which the Broncos would be highly interested in. Some have compared his return sense and speed to Devin Hester. The third and final clip contains a few more highlights to wrap up. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos waived third-year defensive tackle Antwon Burton, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.  Burton played seven games for the Broncos in 2007 and finished the year on the practice squad.

Is this a sign that the Dewayne Robertson trade is imminent?  Probably not.  But it is a huge indictment on Burton.  If you can’t stay on the roster as a DT on this team, you won’t make it anywhere.

The only thing left to do is sign… ESPN reports that the Denver Broncos and free agent wide receiver Samie Parker have agreed to terms on a contract.  The two sides are said to be putting “final touches” on the deal, and Parker should be signing it shortly.

The NFL Network is reporting that discussions are still underway with WR Darrell Jackson.

Well, I hope they can get DJack too.  I’m guessing the deal is smaller than the one they gave Keary Colbert.

Lost in the hubbub surrounding Samie Parker and Darrell Jackson visiting with the Broncos was the news that Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams stopped by Denver this past weekend.  The Broncos are well known to set up smokescreens before the draft; is this another such example?  Most mock drafts these days have us picking up Williams… maybe the Broncos are just doing their due diligence, or perhaps they’re seriously scouting the former teammate of our QB.

I’ve said time and time again that Clady is our guy… if he’s gone, this would very likely be the pick.  Glad to see the Broncos are at least looking at Williams while they have the chance.  Teams are allowed to conduct personal visits with draft prospects until this Friday.

Feel free to check out our Chris Williams highlights in the meantime.

The next segment in our draft memory lane is the #3 draft steal of all time, Terrell Davis. “mikebirty” guessed it in the comments. Below is a rundown of all the draft steals ranked by NFL.com/Network. Not sure how selecting a punter in the first round is considered a steal, even if he was the best punter to ever play the game.

1. Tom Brady – Sixth Round Pick 2000
2. Joe Montana – Third Round Pick 1979
3. Terrell Davis – Sixth Round Pick 1995
4. Deacon Jones – Fourteenth Round Pick 1961
5. Dan Marino – First Round Pick 1983
6. Bo Jackson – Seventh Round Pick 1987
7. Shannon Sharpe – Seventh Round Pick 1990
8. Ray Guy – First Round Pick 1983
9. Larry Wilson – Seventh Round Pick1960
10. Roger Staubach – Tenth Round Pick 1964

The full 2008 NFL and Denver Broncos schedule is to be released tomorrow morning. It’s officially my third favorite day of the offseason, behind the two day event that is the NFL Draft. UPDATE: The time has been confirmed as 11AM MT.

We’ll have the entire thing posted Tuesday morning as soon as it drops.

Burning questions:

• When are the division games?
• How many prime time games are we getting?
• Who do we end the year against?
• Which home game looks worthy of attending in September/October? (OK, that one’s a little more self-focused).

The Denver Broncos 2008 opponents are already set, so check them out there in the mean time. Stay tuned!