When the schedule first came out in April 2007, the first thing I noticed was the Monday Night game scheduled between the Broncos and Chargers. December 24th. Christmas Eve. How could the NFL let this happen?

It was only last year that NBC’s Sunday Night Football opted not to host a game on Christmas Eve night. The Sunday Night Football package is the NFL’s premiere broadcast now, boasting flex scheduling and the best prime time booth in John Madden and Al Michaels. They had the smarts and decency not to hold a football game on the evening of December 24th.

They weren’t alone. NFL games on Christmas Eve night never happen.

The last time December 24th fell on a Monday was in 2001. There was no game played that evening.

In 1990, Christmas Eve also landed on a Monday. There was no game played that evening.

In fact, according to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PRIME TIME GAME ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

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• If the Broncos are willing to give up draft picks to move up in the first round each year, why shouldn’t they be willing to give up a few wins as well?  [Rocky Mountain News]
• It turns out those Brandon Marshall rumors were true after all.  [Denver Post]
• Travis Henry started out the year strong, with three 100 yard games in the first four weeks.  But injuries slowed him down.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• The Chargers are sending eight to the Pro Bowl.  [Yahoo! Sports]
• ESPN’s Mike Sando points out that eight Pro Bowlers and nine wins isn’t a great coaching job.  [Hashmarks]

Photo Courtesy

The Denver Broncos filled the last spot on their active roster by signing first-year kicker Matt Prater (5-10, 180) from Miami’s practice squad. Prater entered the league as an undrafted rookie, first joining the Lions in 2006. He’s bounced around from the Dolphins to the Falcons and back again, and now finds himself a Denver Bronco.

Prater has played in two NFL games, going 1-4 on field goals and averaging 71.3 yards per kickoff, with three touchbacks on four kicks.

Our #1 priority this offseason should be re-signing Elam, who is scheduled to become a UFA.  Is this an attempt at gaining a little leverage, or are the coaches taking the first steps in the scouting process in preparation for life without #1, in 2008 or beyond?

Now that we can begin talking about 2008, I want to be the first to BEG the future Ring of Famer, HOF contender and all-around Bronco-for-life captian Rod Smith to stay in the Orange and Blue in 2008.

I understand that his WR days are likely over, but that doesn’t mean he can’t become a member of Denver’s coaching staff and continue the work he started this year with our young recievers. I would suggest that Rod Smith’s sideline coaching this year is a major reason our young recievers have had the surprising success this year despite their roster positions when the season started. And I, for one, would like his knowledge of the game and his unwaivering passion for all things Broncos to stay with us in 2008 and beyond.

Santa, if you’re listening, all I want for Christmas is to know that Rod Smith will be with us in 2008 whatever his role…

Nick Ferguson watches from the sidelines after his Week 13 knee injury. Photo Courtesy

It seems the Broncos are using their postseason elimination to get a jump start on the offseason. With each week, the Broncos seem to be getting younger, indicating that the player evaluation process is in full effect.

Tuesday, the Broncos placed veteran S Nick Ferguson on Injured Reserve after the former starter injured his knee at Oakland, forcing him to sit out the previous two weeks. The 8th-year pro was averaging 7 tackles per game to start the year, adding 2 fumble recoveries on special team in Chicago after he was benched in favor of Hamza Abdullah.

In addition to the club waiving Todd Sauerbrun and signing Paul Ernster, the Broncos also waived recent acquision S Marviel Underwood, who hadn’t been activated on game day after signing with the club a few weeks ago. They promoted S Roderick Rogers from the practice squad to take Underwood’s spot.

Note that these roster moves leave one spot on the 53-man list left to be filled; I would expect that to happen some time today.

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• The prospect of having both Brandon Marshall and Javon Walker on the field at once is simply too good to pass up, says the Denver Post’s Jim Armstrong.  Have to say I agree.  [Denver Post]
• As frustrating as the running back by committee philosophy is to fans (especially fantasy football players), finding that “one back to do it all” is becoming harder and harder these days.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Noisy Broncos fan gives up the horn.  [CBS4 Denver]
• Redskins S Sean Taylor was given posthumous Pro Bowl honors, starting at free safety for the NFC.  [ESPN]

Cornerback Champ Bailey was named to his 8th Pro Bowl today, and will be the lone Bronco flying overseas in February.  Last year John Lynch and Al Wilson were also named to the Pro Bowl.

Congratulations to Champ on another deserving accolade.

Bill Williamson of the Denver Post reports that the Denver Broncos have released punter Todd Sauerbrun today. The club has yet to make any formal announcement, and is expected to do so this afternoon.

The move likely comes in light of Sauerbrun’s recent off-field antics, where he allegedly assaulted a cab driver on Dec. 7, and was placed in a detox center. He faces those charges in Denver County Court on Dec. 21.

Sauerbrun is the AFC’s second-leading punter in gross yards with 46.8 yards per punt. His net yard average of 36.1, however, is good for a measly 10th in the AFC.

The Broncos have cut Sauerbrun before – 4 weeks into the 2006 season after Sauerbrun’s 4-game suspension was completed for taking the league-banned substance ephedra. The punter also has a DWI history after pleading guilty to charged in December 2004, and would likely face consequences from the league’s conduct policy this offseason.

Paul Ernster, the Broncos’ punter through the 2006 season, has been re-signed by the club to fulfill the punting duties.

Like many fans, I grew tired of Sauerbrun’s antics throughout the year. Basically “calling out” Devin Hester doesn’t exactly put a smile on my face, either. Personally, I’m glad to see him go. Let’s hope Ernster is ready to play some football these next few weeks, or we may have to address punter in some way in the offseason.

On another note, Sauerbrun told reporters that he believed owner Pat Bowlen was involved in the decision. Could this be a sign that Mike Shanahan may be losing some of his personnel responsibilities, like many fans and local writers have been calling for?

John Lynch has not decided if he will play the last of his professional football in the coming weeks. The 8-time Pro Bowl safety says he will wait until the offseason to decide if he is going to return for his 16th NFL season.

For now, though, the potential Hall of Famer is only concerned about Weeks 16 and 17.

“Right now, the future for me is San Diego,” said Lynch, referring to Monday night’s game in his hometown against the Chargers, who have locked up the AFC West. “And I’m not avoiding the answer. I don’t know myself. I promised myself I would play this year and kind of evaluate things at the end, and that’s the only thing I can tell you. That’s where I’m at. I haven’t made a decision either way.”

Source: Rocky Mountain News

Due to both injury and performance on the field, Lynch has seen less action this year, particularly on passing downs. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Lynch go after this season – he has one year left on his contract, and I can expressly remembering him saying in 2005 (when he signed a 2-year extension) that, like most deals, his “3-year” deal had been a “2-year” deal with a lot of incentive-laced money on the back end. In other words, his contract is up for all intensive purposes this season, so a decision needs to be made either way.

At this point I think Lynch is about to play his last football in the NFL, and for the Denver Broncos.