I was listening to a sports talk radio show at work today when the hosts started comparing the situation with the Broncos to the situation with the Chiefs. Then I heard this (semi-quoting here): “Herm Edward embraces rebuilding mode.”

I can only take it that the hosts were trying to imply that the Broncos needed to embrace this same mode as well. Allow me to disagree.

For me, “rebuilding mode” has always been a big excuse. “Well, we would have won, but we were in rebuilding mode.” How in the hell do you expect your players to give it their all, coach? Are you planning on announcing when you’re suddenly going to try to win? “Alright everybody, we can go out and try now, it’s time to be competitive!”

Mike Shanahan isn’t the same way. It’s well known you’ll never hear him mutter the ‘R-word.’ And thank God for that. Like me, Shanahan has nothing short of the Lombardi Trophy in his sights every single season. I don’t care that we went 7-9 this season; the Giants and Eli freaking Manning just went from an 8-8 team to Super Bowl champs. Why can’t the Broncos do the same?

The draft can make a big impact on any team… we’ve already filled some holes in free agency. With a home run draft anything is possible.

Have fun rebuilding, Chiefs fans. I’m not giving up on 2008 just to prepare for ’09 and beyond.

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 – we’ll be sticking with Vanderbilt for the second day running, highlighting Offensive Tackle Chris Williams.

For what I think is a much more thorough video that was edited down to the video above, check out the Rivals.com reel on Williams

Jake Plummer, please stay retired. I mean no harm, no foul in these words – if you came back to the league and decided to play football, that would be fine. I was always a fan of yours, even through the birdie, even after the 2005 AFC Championship game, even through 2006.

There’s just something about the knowledge that you’re traveling the world playing hand ball that brings a goofy grin to my face. You were able to let it all go – all of the crazy media talk around the quarterback controversy in Denver, all of the fans split among supporters and bashers. You sat the bench those last five games, still went out to hold for field goals, and acted like a teammate should. Basically, you moved on in a unique fashion that oozes of class and self-confidence, and I’ll always admire you for that.

And while your decisions are affecting the team I love to this day (if you were to suddenly lace up the Broncos would get a 4th round pick instead of a 7th… pretty significant change there), I can’t ask you to change who you are for us. I think it’s pretty freaking awesome that you can give up millions of dollars to just go out and do what makes you happy.

You’ve found something you love to do, you found someone to share it with (you ol’ dog, you), and you gave every single one of your critics the finger (again) by calling it a career.

May we all be so lucky.

The 2008 NFL Draft is a few weeks away, and the Broncos aren’t the only team excited for what the future holds. What are the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers in need of as the draft approaches?

That’s what this CBS article set out to do. It starts by stating the obvious – the Chargers are the class of the division – and then goes on to discuss the situation of each team and where they should be looking come draft day. Here’s their take on the Broncos:

The skinny: Has the star dimmed for Mike Shanahan? It certainly has in terms of his being a personnel man. He’s made some bad decisions. It’s time he drafts better. This team seems to be regressing, and adding veterans over the years as stopgap players hasn’t worked.

Primary need: They have run a wave of defensive tackles through in recent years but haven’t hit on any of them. They need to draft a power player inside.

Secondary needs: Linebacker, offensive tackle and wide receiver.

Possible targets: USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams and (Pittsburgh tackle) Jeff Otah.

Summary: They have to build this team back to where it was a few years ago. For that to be a reality, the defense has to improve. They have to bolster the run defense. Replacing Matt Lepsis at left tackle is also important and a receiver to go with Brandon Marshall would help. With Marshall suffering a severe injury to his left arm, his status is up in the air as well.

Here’s what they had to say on the rest of the West… Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• The Broncos will get the first long look at post-Favre Packers. [Denver Post]
• The Cowboys and Broncos can now figure out the exact timing of these arranged practices together. [Rocky Mountain News]

AFC West

• The Chargers signed a few free agents. [BoltTalk]

NFL

• The proposal to add to the number allowed on training camp rosters didn’t even make it to vote. Mike Klis of the DPO explains the politics that were likely behind the move with labor issues coming to a head in the near future. [Denver Post]
• Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden has finally realized what many of us have known for over a year now… Jake Plummer is retired. [Bucs Beat]

Denver Sports

• Rockies fall to the Cardinals last night, 8-3. [Denver Post]

Dennis Dillon over at the Sporting News has a good piece up about Jay’s recent press conference that we’re already tired of hearing about. I normally wouldn’t post anything other than a passing link on an overplayed story like this but it bares quality writing about our quarterback. Dillon is about the only piece of the national media (I’ve seen) that can compile a level headed take on the recent Cutler/Marshall relationship.

He goes on to say that Cutler has dispelled any leadership doubts after criticizing Marshall’s behavior. In response to Jay’s quotes “He’s not my favorite person right now,” “I mean, I support him, but it’s always something with him right now.” Dillon had this gem of a response:

“Good for Cutler. If he can be outspoken about a friend and teammate now, it bodes well for how he’ll be able to handle pressure situations on the field when he begins his second full season as Denver’s starting quarterback.”

The article goes into an interview Dillon did with Cutler while visiting Vanderbilt and wraps up with this quote summarizing Jay’s comments on why Marshall needs to change his ways:

“Maybe a rebuke from his quarterback will be the call that finally wakes up Marshall.”

Dennis Dillon’s full interview and writeup with Cutler here

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: Earl Bennett, wide receiver out of Vanderbilt and former teammate of Jay Cutler.

Second video – after the jump – shows Cutler and Bennett connecting on multiple attempts as the Commodores drive for a touchdown.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The mainstream media took Jay Cutler‘s comments on Brandon Marshall yesterday and ran with it. All anyone has to do is watch the full video themselves and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Cutler is upset that he won’t be able to practice with Marshall in Jeremy Bates‘ new system, to be certain, but he’s not so mad that he’s “ripping” into Marshall, like every newspaper or news site out there will have you believe.

Orange Bucksnorts, friend of BroncoTalk, says out loud exactly what I’ve been thinking since I watched the vid yesterday – the media is desperate for any angle, and are running with this story. He also does this in words you wouldn’t repeat to your Mommy.

Settle down, everybody. With any luck this will all blow over soon.

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN have updated their mock drafts to kick off the month, with some surprise names being selected for Denver 12th overall. Meanwhile, the NFL.com mock draft was updated to include the Broncos, and RMN writer Jeff Legwold put in the selection for the team via video.

Kiper – He has us taking USC linebacker Keith Rivers. While I don’t hate the move in itself, the fact that OT Ryan Clady was still on his board (and goes to the Panthers with the next pick) gives it a twinge of disbelief in my book.

McShay – Pittsburgh OT Jeff Otah comes off the board for the Broncos at 12. He previously had us drafting Vandy OT Chris Williams, who was still on his board for this draft. Interesting to see Otah moved ahead of Williams, especially considering the Jay Cutler connection.

Legwold – He chooses Chris Williams here.

The general consensus remains OT, which really excites me personally. I’m still pulling for Clady.

There were several items on the agenda at this week’s NFL Owners’ Meetings. Some of them passed, while others were tabled for later. Here’s a short list:

Items that passed:

• Radio communication devices will now be added to one defensive player’s helmet per team. The Broncos would likely employ WLB D.J. Williams or CB Champ Bailey in that regard, although if S John Lynch competes and keeps his starting job I could see him being the signal caller.
• The forceout rule is no more (where a wide receiver’s catch can still be counted as a completion if he was pushed out before his feet hit the turf), in attempts to keep the calls more consistent. Controversial rule to begin with… no surprise.
• Face mask penalties of the minor variety have been removed altogether… only significant contact that tugs or twists the helmet will be called, at only the 15-yard length. Love this move.

Items that went down in flames (possibly just for now):

• The playoffs will not be re-seeded so wild card teams with better records would get the home field advantage instead of division winners. Was never a fan of the idea, but wasn’t opposed to it, either.
• Wear your hair as long as you like, NFL players! Watch out for those locks, Larry Johnson.

Full story [ESPN]