• Full practices all for Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Brandon Stokley, and Javon Walker, all of whom should be ready to play Sunday. [Mason’s Morsels]
• Henry decision to reportedly come today. Heard that one before… [Rocky Mountain News]
• Following logic, though, wouldn’t that make Henry innocent? My thoughts: No, not necessarily. You contradicted yourself, there, Klis. If Al Davis is going to cause a ruckus over a guilty back playing, the league would be inclined to suspend Henry today. [Denver Post]
• Sauerbrun is still getting grief over Sunday (and rightfully so). Yet he says he has not regrets?! [Denver Post]
• TEEEEEEEE-CROOOOOOOOOOWWW!!! [Denver Post]
• Excellent news. Three people have been detained in the Sean Taylor shooting. [Rocky Mountain News]

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reported yesterday that the NFL’s decision on Travis Henry should come down today. While initially the league’s delaying of the decision seemed like a positive for Henry’s camp, I get the feeling not making the announcement Tuesday was more out of respect to Sean Taylor and his family than anything regarding a ruling on the case.

Schefter is usually pretty spot-on (do we expect any less from a Denver alum?), we’ll keep you posted.

• Karl Paymah has been “the forgotten one” coming out of the Broncos 2005 draft class. Well, this 6-0, 200 lb. corner who ran a 4.35 40-time (!) has finally arrived. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said there was a chance rookie JaMarcus Russell would see the field at some point this Sunday against the Broncos. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Tony Scheffler doesn’t care if you call his crazy touchdown grab luck. He’ll take a score any day. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Seriously, Mike Klis of the Denver Post is the man. I’m still drinking the kool aid, and this mailbag shows he is too. [Denver Post]
• Young Cutler will provide the Broncos with many more good things to come. [Denver Post]
• Will the Jags win the AFC South? With a banged up Indy team, it’s a possibility (I loved how SI.com’s Peter King pointed out that the Colts are well rested for both Jaguar games, arguably the most important on their schedule. First a bye prior, then a Thursday game prior for the 9 day break). [MVN]

Far and away the #1 reason why we cannot overlook the Raiders, and why we have to respect this week’s opponent:

The Oakland Raiders, at 3-8, are a well-placed Broncos timeout in overtime from being 4-7.

The Broncos would be 4-7, too.

Gary Zimmerman

Three Denver Broncos have advanced in the Hall of Fame voting for the class of 2008 – linebacker Randy Gradishar, offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman, and runningback Terrell Davis. These three are among 26 names to be reviewed again in January. All three of these players have made it this far before.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post speculates that Zimmerman has the strongest chance of enshrinement this year – can’t say I disagree, although I have felt a building of steam for Terrell Davis to be included. [Denver Post article]

There were four Broncos nominated in the previous voting – only DB Louis Wright didn’t make the cut.

I posted on why each guy should be enshrined individually during Hall of Fame week; check out the links below for those posts. Time permitting, I plan on having convenient e-mail forms for Broncos fans to send to the voting committee to help persuade them to bring some Mile High justice to Canton, Ohio.

• Randy Gradishar Belongs in the Hall of Fame [BroncoTalk]
• Gary Zimmerman Belongs in the Hall of Fame [BroncoTalk]
• Terrell Davis Belongs in the Hall of Fame [BroncoTalk]

Runningbacks Travis Henry and Selvin Young returned to full practice today, coach Mike Shanahan announced.  Third string tailback Andre Hall was sidelined with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile WR Javon Walker, who played his first game since Week 3 in the loss at Chicago, was limited in practice.  Shanahan expects Walker to be doing better this week than last, although this is Walker’s second straight limited practice after going through full workouts last Wednesday and Thursday.  WR Brandon Stokley was sidelined with a knee injury as well.

Source: Mason’s Morsels

I haven’t always been this big of a “behind the scenes” Broncos fan. I knew all of the players, watched every game, etc., but I didn’t follow free agency or the draft with the same amount of fervor I do now.

I say this is a disclaimer in case this is old news, but I came across this snippet in Ted Sundquist‘s blog that caught my eye. After the obligatory Google search came across nothing, I figured I’d point it out.

Apparently linebacker Al Wilson was ready to be released by the Broncos as early as 2004, mainly for financial reasons. As both Ian Gold and Wilson were approaching contract deadlines, the Broncos were prepared to release their Pro Bowl middle linebacker and replace him with 2003 2nd round selection Terry Pierce.

With both Ian Gold and Al Wilson approaching free agency, it was felt that Wilson would be the more difficult player to resign to a contract extension. Pierce was selected with the thought of moving him inside, Gold would be resigned to remain on the outside/weakside. Gold went down that season [2003] with an ACL and the decision was then made to retain Wilson. Pierce was tried on the outside, but his more natural play had always come from the inside. He never quite caught on to the perimeter of the defense and was eventually let go.

Source: GM Ted Sundquist’s Blog

Of course, Pierce never panned out and the Broncos drafted D.J. Williams in the first round of 2004.

vs.
Oakland Raiders (3-8) vs. Denver Broncos (5-6)

Sunday, December 2, 2007 | 2:05 PM MST
McAfee Coliseum | CBS 4 | 850 AM KOA

Weather: Partly cloudy, 58° F, Mild winds (N 6mph), 10% chance rain (weather.com)

One of the most bitter rivalries in the NFL turned even more sour after the Broncos Week 2 victory against the Oakland Raiders. Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski sent a game-winning kick through the uprights in overtime only to have the kick called back because of a well-timed Mike Shanahan timeout. Janikowski’s second kick bounced off the upright. The Broncos dodged a bullet and went on to win the game in overtime.

Of course, this sets up both teams for a great rematch this Sunday.

Although the Raiders have been a struggling football team over the past few years (finishing with the league’s worst record last year), they always have a tendency to play the Broncos close. In the last two meetings the Broncos won by an average score of 3.5 points. Since 2006 the average margin of victory for the Broncos is 5.67 points.

The Raiders are coming off their first AFC West win in 17 games, a 20-17 upset over the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead. While it was previously reported that top overall draft choice JaMarcus Russell would get the start against the Broncos two weeks ago, it appears that Daunte Culpepper will be the Raiders’ starting signal caller on Sunday.

I liked posting Jay Cutler‘s stats since the bye so much last week, I’ve decided to do it again this week. From now on I’m not counting the Detroit game because of his very limited play.

Week 12 at Chicago – Cutler had another solid showing, increasing his touchdown rate with two highlight reel passes. One was the long bomb to Brandon Marshall, the other was the insane catch by TE Tony Scheffler. His percentage was down (below 55%), and he did throw a pick, but it was definitely one of his best games on the road thus far in his career. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do against the Raiders this week.

• Last week

• No decision was announced yesterday for Travis Henry, which likely means it won’t come down for at least another week. What’s more, this gives Henry’s camp hope that he might actually win his appeal. Henry said he should be healthy enough to play at Oakland this Sunday. [Denver Post]
• The Broncos are giving the Redskins their full support in the wake of the Sean Taylor shooting, having just experienced their own tragedy earlier this year. Also, Rosalind Williams (Darrent‘s mother) has offered her own personal support to the Taylor family. [Denver Post]
• Jarvis Moss is rehabbing fiercely to get back on the field for all of the offseason conditioning programs in early 2008. [Denver Post]
• RMN Mailbag, where Jeff Legwold does a good job debunking some fan myths.  Also, a handy list of the UFA’s and RFA’s for the Broncos this offseason (at the top of the list: Jason Elam, Brandon Stokley, Ebenezer Ekuban).  [Rocky Mountain News]
• The AFC is better than the NFC? Not this year. [Denver Post]
• Simeon Rice was cut by the Colts yesterday.  [NFL.com]
• Nice story on The Snake and how he’s living now, as a mountain man, hippie-style. [Rocky Mountain News]
• A microchosm of Invesco Field – neighbors press charges against passionate Denver fans who proudly blow a horn contraption after each Bronco touchdown. [CBS4 Denver]