• Generally when you’re building a football team, fullback and kicker are low on the priority totem pole.  That being said, they still need to be addressed some time, don’t they?  [Denver Post]
• Javon Walker‘s agent just elevated into the player rep stratosphere.  [Denver Post]
• Meanwhile, the Raiders try to defend the insanity.  [Inside the Oakland Raiders]
• BroncoTalk-approved draft prospect OT Ryan Clady had a great Pro Day after the combine.  [Idaho Statesman]
• Bears coach Lovie Smith recently had a one-on-one with the Boise State product.  [Chicago Sun Times]

For anyone still following the exploits of RB Tatum Bell, you’ll be pleased to know he’ll be taking another shot at starting in Detroit this year. ESPN is reporting that the Lions have signed Bell to a one-year deal (worth $1.6M). With Kevin Jones coming back after an ACL tear and with Detroit losing the bidding war with Seattle for Julius Jones, Bell gets a second chance to win the starting job in the motor city.

He wasn’t all that impressive last year when he started four games for the Lions. He had 182 yards on 44 carries (an average of just over 4 yard per carry). Granted, 44 carries in four games is like 11 carries a game – so how much chance to impress was there really?

No one argues that Tatum Bell has explosive speed and quickness, but he always seemed to me to play very ‘light’… and by that I mean he just seemed to get pushed backwards or flat out blown up too easily compared to backs like Mike Anderson and Travis Henry. Tatum Bell is a speed guy that works well on the corners, but that can make him one dimensional and easier to stop. In the end, if you want to start in the NFL, you have to be able to run it up the middle and get those tough short yards on obvious running plays — and for my money, I’ll take Henry (and his bud) any day over Tatum on those downs.

And, since we’re chatting about former Broncos playing in Detroit, I’ll mention that George Foster has also agreed to a one-year contract with the Lions (worth $1.1M).

• Both John Lynch and Hamza Abdullah have been lowballed this offseason, and with the new incoming safeties Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel, they’ll be competing for their starting jobs this training camp.  [Denver Post]
• With linebacker and safety shored up, the Broncos may be looking at defensive tackle next.  [Denver Post]
• Does this mean the Broncos will pursue an OT early in the draft?  [Denver Post]
• So… I take it Javon Walker likes him some penis?  [Orange Bucksnorts]

Whatever hopes we had about Jake Scott thickening up our offensive line are gone now. He has agreed to a four year deal with the Titans according to ESPN. The Colts can’t be happy about losing him to a division rival. I don’t think anybody really took the possibility of him coming to Denver too seriously for the money he was looking for.

Also out of the Miami Herald, Jason Taylor is trying to put himself on the trading block. Dolphin’s GM Bill Parcells is denying this one, but Taylor keeps saying he would like to go to a contender similar to Chris Chambers going to the Chargers last season. This is news in the Broncos world since there were rumors floating around that the Broncos would be interested. Kyle pretty much summed up everything in this post, so I won’t beat a dead horse. Herald Link

Ah Raiders, this post isn’t so much about why we hate you, but more about why we point and laugh at your sorry excuse for a franchise. If overpaying for a defensive tackle, safety, linebacker, and our busted up old receiver weren’t enough at this point… Sports Illustrated is floating the rumor that JaMarcus Russell hasn’t exactly been keeping up on his off season conditioning. There are reports coming in that he is close to weighing in at 300lbs at this point. Maybe he took his draft party with “Fat Joe” a little too seriously. (God I love Google image search) This isn’t the first time he’s had this problem either. SI also lists the free agency blunders of the Raiders thus far. Tasty Raider Ridicule

Bryant Johnson played a critical role in McCree coming to Denver, and we may all owe him a big ‘thank you’ after this season.

Johnson is the Bills highest priority free agent this off-season. Unfortunately for them, he still hasn’t made up his mind where to go. While Buffalo waits to see if they need the funds to land Johnson they have missed the boat on tight end Ben Troupe and now McCree. It’s tough to take joy in the face of other’s suffering… but, hey, this is the NFL.

So, the Bill’s loss is our gain and tonight Bronco fans can fall to sleep thanking Bryant Johnson for a very nice deal on quality safety.

Not a minute after posting news on the Orange and Blue signing Manuel, Marlon McCree shows up on the newswire. The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that McCree has decided to sign with Denver in place of his other candidate Buffalo. The terms have yet to be disclosed. He has started 30 games over the last two seasons for the San Diego Chargers. In the article they cite that McCree will directly challenge Lynch for his position. This doesn’t exactly make sense that they would put up big free agent money to land McCree (arguably the best safety available on the market) after giving a new contract to Lynch for both to battle it out in camp. I would be willing to bet Slowik has a scheme in mind to get both talents on the field at the same time even though they are both designated as Strong Free Safeties by default.

Full article with some extra news on Manuel as well

Denver bolsters it’s shallow safety pool by signing Marquand Manuel to a three year deal. One would think this would take them out of the running for McCree but a clause in his contract leads me to think otherwise. “Manuel will receive $1.5 million a year in his deal, $2 million if he starts” I have to believe that at this salary and the “starting” clause the Broncos have brought in Manuel to push Hamza Abdullah for his position, not to flat out replace him. Manuel was the 6th round choice for the Bengals in the 2002 draft. He’s been a journeyman thus far in his career, with last year in Carolina being his only starting experience in a thinned out Panther secondary. Yet the Bronco staff is optimistic and say they still like his upside.

Denver Post News Release

Just a quick post, it looks like the Raiders pocket book isn’t the only thing irritated by Javon’s huge contract. Plax is jacked up about it.

Rumors keep circulating around Detroit that Roy Williams is on the trading block despite Millen and Marinelli’s protests. Denver could still use a strong 2nd receiver even though they signed Keary Colbert early in free agency. The Denver post has a side note that the Broncos are one of the teams interested. The Eagles are said to be the number one trading partner, but maybe the Broncos could be offering up something worth the receiver. The name that keeps getting floated from Eagles coach Andy Reid is corner back Lito Sheppard. With Foxworth being trade bait of late, Denver could maybe send Detroit a package deal with a corner equaling the value of Williams. If the Broncos are serious about getting a strong one two punch at wide out, Larry Fitzgerald‘s name keeps coming up in the rumor mill. But his monster salary comes along with him. This may be an advantage for the Broncos at this time though as they still have a good amount of cap space left at this point in free agency.

Update: The Eagles have made an offer for Fitzgerald link