The search for Jason Elam‘s replacement has already begun, and the Broncos started by looking in free agency.

Veteran kicker Olindo Mare visited with the Broncos yesterday, and he left the Mile High city with a contract offer on the table. The Rocky Mountain News reports that Mare came away impressed with the Broncos, but is doing his due diligence and exploring other options.

The report indicates that the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orlean Saints (Mare’s team in 2007) are both pursuing the unrestricted free agent.

He’s 79.7% for his career in field goal attempts, and he’s missed 5 PATs in 352 attempts. Mare dislocated his right hip in Week 14 of 2007 while tackling an opponent. He was placed on injured reserve following the injury, although it did not require surgery.

More stats and a quick scouting report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Veteran safety Nick Ferguson, who has spent the past 6 years with the Broncos, has left the team. His contract was up at the start of free agency, giving him the freedom to sign with any team. He chose the Houston Texans, where his relationship with former Broncos staff members GM Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak helped pave the way for this reunion.

Ferguson confirmed that he signed a one year deal with the Texans today.

Ferguson was benched midway through the 2007 season in favor of Hamza Abdullah. He suffered a knee injury which forced him to miss the last six weeks completely. With the new additions of Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel, it became obvious the Broncos’ plans for the safety position didn’t include Ferguson.

Ferguson, 33, was undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 1996 and joined the Broncos in 2002.

Little surprise here. We didn’t have a spot for him, and the Texans are the perfect fit for him as far as the front office is concerned. Good luck Nick.

• Video of Champ Bailey talking about Brandon Marshall, Jason Elam (good stuff), and more. [NFL.com]
• Niko Koutouvides says he’s excited to play for the Broncos and can’t wait until next year. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Video of Kout’s presser. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Photo gallery of Jay Cutler and former teammate Earl Bennett at the Vanderbilt Pro Day last weekend. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Cutler’s also doing charity work with the Harlem Globetrotters. [Mile High Report]
• With the departures of Rod Smith, Matt Lepsis, and Jason Elam, Tom Nalen is the last remnant of the Super Bowl squads. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Woody Paige tells Brandon Marshall to grow up. [Denver Post]

AFC West

• The Chargers recently re-signed 4 of their exclusive rights free agents to decent deals. [BoltTalk]
• Shawne Merriman needs a ride. His Mercedes was recently stolen then found torched (pretty lame). [San Diego Union Tribune]

NFL

• Could the NFL be moving 4 games each year to the UK? Rumor is they might add a 17th regular season game to do it. [NFLUK.com]
• Last week we profiled Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws. Here’s a nice little interview of the rising prospect. [UHND.com]

The extent of Brandon Marshall‘s injuries have been released on the team’s official site, following an apparent visit with Broncos Head Athletic Trainer Steve “Greek” Antonopulos.

Brandon Marshall sustained right forearm lacerations to one artery, one vein, one nerve, two tendons and three muscles.

All have been repaired, and his right forearm and elbow will be immobilized for six weeks.

Rehabilitation will begin in six weeks. Full recovery is expected to take 3-4 months.

Taking a quick glance at a calendar, this looks like it will sit right as training camp starts. Last year Marshall struggled with injuries at the onset of training camp; he fought through it last year (with a little push from Coach Mike Shanahan), and he may have to do it again.

This is a little too close for comfort for me. Keeping my fingers crossed.

The work on the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center has been underway for a few months, and the Broncos Community Development Blog has posted some nice updates along the way. While the opening of the center may have been postponed until May 29, 2008, you can tell that the work is progressing nicely.

The center always seemed perfectly appropriate to honor Williams’ memory – he had spoken publicly about his plans to give back to teens in the Denver community before his passing, and this establishment is a wonderful way of continuing his legacy.

Small photo gallery of the work in progress, as well as what the finished product will look like, after the jump: Click here to read the rest of this entry »

For all the news Brandon Marshall has been making surrounding his “Big Mac Attack” (now it’s a combination of family horseplay and a McDonald’s bag, BTW), we’re reminded that he’s still among the league’s elite receivers. In ESPN Scout Inc.’s recent list of the league’s 64 best receivers (it’s a free preview, so no membership needed to view), Marshall was listed 14th. Which is entirely too low, in my opinion, but ultimately justified with only one breakout season to consider.

Marshall is one of the best young receivers in the NFL. He is a big, physical receiver (6-4, 230) who places a lot of pressure on a secondary. He has the strength to separate off the line of scrimmage and the speed to attack all levels. He has strong, soft hands and is one of the best in the NFL after the catch.

Marshall and draft classmates Marques Colston and Greg Jennings are the youngest receivers listed in the top 20 (young being league experience), with Colston right behind Marshall at 15. Brandon Stokley also makes the list at 59.

A closer look at the list (including around the West) after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

I’ve trying something new after receiving a few e-mails. Let me know if this slightly-altered structure makes it easier to navigate through the day’s news.

Denver Broncos

• Tony Scheffler will get you pumped for next year in this interview. He’s taking a different approach (he’s not trying to gain weight) to his workouts, and is leaner and ready to be an elite tight end. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Jarvis Moss is working out in the tail end of his rehab, trying to earn a starting spot in the Broncos defensive line. [Denver Post/Photo Courtesy]
• Details on the Brandon Marshall fiasco. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Domonique Foxworth‘s agent says that they’re making the restricted free agent rounds. [My Fox Colorado]
• Glenn Martinez and I have something in common – we both eat 6 meals a day. The difference is only one of us is trying to gain weight. [Denver Post]

AFC West

• Chargers special teams ace (2-time Pro Bowler) Kassim Osgood isn’t happy with his role on the team. He’s asked to be traded, but GM A.J. Smith says that’s not happening. [San Diego Union Tribune]
• Chiefs coach Herm Edwards talks smack about the Rams and Bucs. [Kansas City Star]

NFL

• From the SI archives… what the NFL will look like in 2000 (in 1979). [Fan IQ]

Brandon Marshall has admitted that his previous story involving a McDonald’s bag was false.  According to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, Marshall admitted that wrestling around with his family was the real culprit.

The bigger news is that Marshall is expected to miss about 3 months after severely injuring his right arm.  He severed an artery, a vein, and five muscle tendons in the incident.  The injury required surgery over the weekend.

The injury likely won’t be a big deal – he should be healed and ready to go by training camp.  The real issue I have is whether A) this is the real story or more BS, and B) when can I stop hearing about this guy in the news?  The more he makes the wrong kind of headlines, the less secure our wide receiver position is as a whole.

We’ll keep you posted. 

The hearing for Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall stemming from DUI charges has been postponed until June 18. What’s more interesting is the thick bandage or cast around Marshall’s arm. Who knew McDonald’s could hurt you so quickly? Check out the video below…

If you haven’t heard the news yet, let’s go ahead and break it before we get into the ridiculousness of the situation. Potential Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall required an unspecified number of stitches and an arm cast after an accident in a Florida resort. The details of the accident were just recently revealed by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network – according to Marshall, he slipped on a McDonald’s food wrapper, tried to use a television set to brace his fall, and ended up plowing through the screen with his arm.

“I want to thank everybody for their concerns and let everyone know that I’m okay,” Marshall wrote in a text message Sunday morning. “It’s funny because I pride myself on YAC (yards after catch) and being one of the toughest players to take down once I have the ball in my hands.

“So for the next couple of days I’m going to take the time to build my confidence back up after allowing that McDonalds bag to take me down and send me through the entertainment center.”

McDonald’s and television have been an unsafe combination for the athletically gifted for years. It’s a known fact that nothing will get your ass on the bench as quickly as your ass on the couch eating Mickey D’s.

I just never expected TV and MD to gang up on an innocent bystander like this. Does Marshall strike you as the kind of guy that eats McDonald’s all day? Or ever? A Quarter Pounder with cheese has more fat on it than Marshall does.

I think if we’ve learned anything from this, it’s that staying away from McDonald’s burgers isn’t enough. Those wrappers are a spiteful bunch too. You’ve been warned.