• Mike Kizla at the Denver Post tells us some of the stuff that happened behind the scenes, and tells us the writing was on the wall. [Denver Post]
• Is Mike Shanahan slipping into a mad scientist role? [Thin Air]
• Some Broncos fans aren’t surprised at all. [The Beat]
• Jason Elam is back in the country, but he and the Broncos still have some work to do to iron out a contract.  [Denver Post]

“I had envisioned myself being general manager of the Denver Broncos my entire working life and really thought that would happen. So for it to end this way, I’m very disappointed.”

The shocking news that came earlier tonight was just as much a surprise to the man it involved as it was to the rest of us. Ted Sundquist had no idea he was about to be fired; according to statements made to the Rocky Mountain News, he was just getting out of a day’s worth of meetings with the team’s scouts when he was called into Head Coach Mike Shanahan‘s office and fired.

Owner Pat Bowlen and upper personnel assistants Jim Goodman and Joe Ellis did not return calls to the Rocky.

“I’m proud of what I accomplished as general manager of this football team,” Sundquist said.

Ted, you should be.

What the hell is going on in Denver? Firing the GM a month before the draft? Sure, his blog trying to justify his personnel decisions was a little odd, and yeah, he was part of a brutally bad draft in 2003, but I thought he really came on strong, especially in 2006.

I never had a problem with Sundquist as the GM. Without him, would the Broncos have Champ Bailey, Dre Bly, or even Jay Cutler? This is just a shame… this has “scapegoat” written all over it, and I just have this disgusting feeling in the pit of my stomach after finding out he was fired.

Ted Sundquist, General Manager of the Broncos since 2002, has departed as GM of the Denver Broncos, the team’s official site reports.

Head Coach Mike Shanahan said, “I am grateful to Ted for all his hard work and efforts on behalf of the Broncos for the past 16 years. Now is the time for our organization to move forward and look at new directions. We are prepared to do so, starting with our ongoing draft planning, and along with continuing preparations for our mini-camps and training camp.”

Director of Player Personnel Jim Goodman and Assistant General Manager Jeff Goodman each will have more prominent roles in football operations, while Joe Ellis, recently named as Chief Operating Officer of the Broncos, will assist on operational and administrative issues related to football.

Sundquist had the title of General Manager, but as most fans are aware, Head Coach Mike Shanahan has the final say on virtually all personnel and coaching decisions.

First question’s first: was this Sundquist’s decision or was he relieved of his duties?

I am simply floored by this move, especially this close to April’s draft. Goodman Jr.’s promotion last month definitely seems more relevant now, but even then I would have never guessed that Sundquist would be out the door.

The Houston Texans are planning to visit with Broncos C/G Chris Myers Thursday, the Houston Chronicle reports. Myers is a 3rd year restricted free agent, meaning the Broncos have the right to match any contract offer. They would have one week to match, or elect to let Myers go and receive a sixth-round draft pick as compensation.

Myers was given the low tender of $975,000 earlier in the offseason, a risky move if the reports that the Broncos are high on Myers are true. They could have elected to tender him at a higher offer (paying him more money), which would have guaranteed the Broncos a higher round draft pick as compensation.

Myers, 26, started all 16 games last season for the Broncos. He started at LG for the first five games then moved to C after Tom Nalen was placed on Injured Reserve.

I wasn’t a big Myers fan (at all) as the season began, but I felt like he found his footing (pun intended) as the year went along. I’d hate to see him go. Hopefully the friendly relationship between Texans coach Gary Kubiak and Mike Shanahan will prevent any type of poison pill clause from rearing its ugly head.

Looks like a developing story — we’ll keep you posted.

It’s all about the free agents in this go around. Some think the Broncos moves have been great, and others not so much.

• The Bleacher Report thinks that Shanahan’s off season moves make Denver a contender again.
• John Clayton puts the Broncos off season moves in his Top 10 Free-Agent Gambles. If we’re filling needs with value players, how is that exactly a gamble again? [ESPN]
• Colbert couldn’t seem happier to be putting on the Orange and Blue. This article gives you the inkling that we paid too much for our new receiver? [Scout.com]
• MHR has a nice little writeup on your Broncos History. [Mile High Report]

Am I the only one sick and tired of the brothers angle regarding Boss and Champ Bailey?

• Boss is thrilled to be playing with Champ. [Rocky Mountain News]
• For more on the “Boss is Champ’s brother” angle, see here or here or here or here or here or here or here or here (yes, we’re guilty of it, too). [Everywhere]
• Confirmation that Al Wilson visited Cleveland. [Denver Post]
• Domonique Foxworth talks about possibly being traded and how he likes the moves the Broncos have made thus far in this video interview. [CBS4 Denver]

I’m trying to put forth “some” respectable journalism here, so I had to post the following story as a follow up to this hilarious bit of news. The San Francisco Chronicle along with others have spoken to the Raiders front office about J Russell tipping the scales at 300.

“Ridiculous,” said a front-office employee, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak on the issue. “JaMarcus is nowhere near that. He’s been here. He’s been working out. He’s in great shape.

“That’s something everyone’s going to see at our first minicamp.”

The team lists his weight at 255 and, though team figures aren’t always accurate, one official insisted he’s not far off his playing weight.

“It’s always got to be something, doesn’t it?” he said.

The thing I find humorous is that no one has actually seen Russell to report on his condition. Just the Raiders brass (off the record) saying no, no, he’s nothing near 300 and a blip from Justin Fargas. (What, closer to 295?) Is he still the 270 at last years end or what? Regardless, it’s going to be a problem for them. The Mercury News thinks this is something whichever head coach they have at the time, should stay on top of. Kawakami also tells Al Davis to hurry up and fire Kiffen already because we all know he is going to do it eventually. At any rate, they still seem to love themselves some thick quarterback.

Link to the Chronicle Taking the Raiders Word for It

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that Al Wilson is set to visit with the Cleveland Browns soon.  We’ll keep you posted.

There are reports flying all around the world of the NFL that the Redskins and the Buccaneers are trying to staple down D.J. Hackett. Seattle would like to keep him, but they’re not going to give him the money he wants when they’re deep at the position with Branch, Engram, and Burleson. My question is this… Why aren’t we at least trying to see what the guy wants pay wise to join the team? Word on the street is that he wants big money to join a team, something Dan Snyder hasn’t had any problem doing in the past. The only thing is… I don’t think he is going to get it. If someone were going to grossly overpay for a wide out this off season, that ship has already sailed. Lets face it, the guy’s biggest negative is that he is oft injured. He’s also been called “soft” recently.

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Willie DeWayne Clark, pictured right, is a member of the Denver-area gang The Elite Eight, who police suspect are responsible for the murder of Darrent Williams over one year ago. Not only does this man know who killed Darrent Williams, but he’s now using that case to attempt to get his current drug charges dropped.

In documents filed last Wednesday by his attorney, Mr. Clark claims that the prosecutors for his drug case have prejudiced the grand jury against him when they presented evidence surrounding the Williams murder.

Prosecutors claim Clark is a gang member who worked with a violent group, the Elite Eight. The group is connected to up to 11 unsolved murders, including Williams’ New Years Day 2007 killing, authorities have said. …

… “Hicks was contemplating that if he wasn’t in jail, that a lot of this stuff wouldn’t have happened . . . and that he wouldn’t allow the associates or the members of his organization, the Elite 8, to go to the bars and get in trouble,” Fuller told the grand jury, according to a transcript made public Wednesday.

During the same conversation, Hicks asked his girlfriend to send someone to visit Clark so he would feel loved and not start talking to police, Tafoya-Modi said.

Clark has been held without bond since July 2007 on federal drug charges. Sources indicate he was in the Chevy Tahoe in the early morning hours of January 1, 2007, from which the shots were fired that killed Darrent Williams.

Williams was 24 years old.

Will the injustice never end? This man is honestly using DWill’s death, which he likely caused, to try and get off drug charges.  I hope he burns in hell.