On Monday, the Denver Broncos signed veteran linebacker Keith Brooking.  If he makes the team, Brooking is expected to be a specials team’s contributor and provide depth at linebacker.

After Brian Dawkins retired earlier in the year, an opening for motivational speaker also became available on Denver’s roster.  That’s another role Brooking could fill.

Linebacker Keith Brooking talks to his new teammates at Denver Broncos training camp hours after signing with the club Monday August 6, 2012. (courtesy DenverBroncos.com/Gray Caldwell)

The Denver Broncos have signed veteran linebacker Keith Brooking Monday, the team announced.

Brooking, a 15th-year player, was a rookie for the Atlanta Falcons in 1998 — the year they played the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Brooking is a five-time Pro Bowl selection who has seen action in 209 career regular-season games (179 starts) with Atlanta (1998-2008) and Dallas (2009-11), totaling 1,387 tackles (1,070 solo), 21 sacks (148.5 yds.), 13 interceptions (185 yds.), 64 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries, the Broncos said in a release.

At 36 years old, Brooking isn’t going to push for starting time, but at 6-2, 240 lbs., he’ll add size (very needed) and experience to this linebacker corps. We’ll see if he makes it through camp and preseason.

Denver Broncos defensive linemen at practice (BroncoTalk.net photo)

The Denver Broncos‘ first depth chart of 2012 has been released. It’s more or less as expected based on our observations from camp, but here are a few items of note.

BROCK AT #3 QB

I wrote not an hour ago that I expected the backup quarterback order to be Caleb Hanie, Brock Osweiler, then Adam Weber. I was right about Hanie, wrong about Brock and Adam. Flip them around and you’ve got the Broncos’ current QB pecking order.

All behind Peyton Manning, of course.

MORENO BURIED

Running back Knowshon Moreno is listed as the fourth running back, behind Willis McGahee, Lance Ball, and Ronnie Hillman. Moreno’s been wearing a large knee brace while he recovers from his ACL injury, and Hillman’s missed a few practices with a hamstring, so anything is still possible.

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Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler takes a snap as Peyton Manning watches during the team's summer scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, August 4, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

The Denver Broncos‘ first depth chart of the 2012 season is expected today, The Denver Post reports. You can hit refresh on your browser window right here to see if and when it’s posted (feel free to hit us up on email/Twitter if you see it up).

Very little of the depth chart is settled, but the most interesting positions to watch will be backup running backs, quarterbacks, and the entire defense (perhaps outside of cornerback, where the first four slots are more or less settled).

Also, keep in mind that this first depth chart will still be influenced by two things: politics, and the lack of preseason. For example, I’m expecting the quarterback depth chart to read Caleb Hanie, Adam Weber, then rookie Brock Osweiler, but by the end of the preseason the depth chart will be drawn strictly by whoever did the best job. Based on practices so far I’d reverse that order.

But that’s why they play the preseason.

UPDATE: The depth chart is up. Post coming…

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more Broncos updates throughout the day.

Denver Broncos News

One Step Closer | DenverBroncos.com
Saturday’s scrimmage at SAFAMH was welcomed by fans with open arms, and the speed on the field means games that matter are getting close.

Broncos Magazine: 2012 Yearbook Edition | DenverBroncos.com
The 2012 Yearbook Edition of Broncos Magazine is now available to read online in its entirety.

McGahee’s motor still running for Denver Broncos at age 30 | Denver Post
The questions Willis McGahee hears now really aren’t so different from the doubts others had about him nine years ago, when he was drafted in the first round despite a significant knee injury suffered in his final college game.

Broncos Training Camp Practice Report: Day 9 | MaxDenver.com
Sometimes, you’ve got to satisfy the customers — even when they’re not paying and the event is free. With more than 41,000 fans on hand and buzzing to watch the Broncos practice, Peyton Manning opened a seven-on-seven period early in practice by completing five straight short passes to tight ends and running backs.
Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Running back Mario Fannin will miss his second consecutive season. (BroncoTalk.net)

For the second consecutive year, running back Mario Fannin will miss the entire preseason — and regular season.  Fannin, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, tore his Achilles tendon during practice on Saturday evening, according to the Denver Post.

Fannin is expected to be placed on the injured reserve list by the team.  Fellow backs Knowshon Moreno, Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson will compete for the remaining spots on the roster not occupied by Willis McGahee and Ronnie Hillman. If the Broncos keep fullback Chris Gronkowski, they’ll likely keep just three RBs, leaving Moreno, Ball and Johnson to compete for one spot.

The Broncos will release their first depth chart of 2012 on Monday.  It will be interesting to see how the running backs stack up.

Meanwhile, safety Jim Leonhard—who signed a one-year contract with the Broncos on Saturday—has been placed on the team’s active physically unable to perform (PUP) list, per the ‘Post.  While on the list, Leonhard counts against the Broncos’ roster but cannot participate in practices or preseason games until he is cleared.  Leonhard is still rehabbing from a knee injury he suffered last December in New York.

That’s a really tough break for Fannin.  Here’s hoping his career doesn’t end before it has a chance to begin.

Click on image to enlarge. (DirecTV/AP)

If you’ve visited NFL.com in recent days, you may have noticed a DirecTV ad on the site’s sidebar which features Broncos QB Peyton Manning.  When did Manning have plastic surgery?

He didn’t, but his neck scar does not appear in the ad.  DirecTV, advertising their NFL Sunday Ticket package, either snapped a shot of a model resembling Manning or Photoshopped out his scar for a cleaner look.

The un-cropped ad features ten different NFL stars all preparing to walk out of a tunnel.  Manning is one of six quarterbacks in the image and is sporting a spray-tanned neck.

Manning received the scar(s) on his neck when he underwent multiple neck surgeries last season to remove a disc which had pinched a nerve.

“His neck will snap the first time (Pittsburgh linebacker James) Harrison hits him,” quipped one cold-hearted fan on BroncoTalk’s Facebook page.  While every player has the possibility of being injured on any given play, reports indicate that Manning’s neck is fully recovered and actually stronger than before he had surgery.   Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker sprints during the team's Summer Scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, August 4, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

No electricity? No problem.

Peyton Manning can still deliver.

The veteran signal-caller was faced with a short-circuiting dilemma during the Denver Broncos‘ stadium scrimmage Saturday. As the offense faced 3rd and 6 from the nine-yard line, technical difficulties prevented Manning from getting the play call from offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

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Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning signs autographs for fans following the team's Summer Scrimmage on Saturday, August 4, 2012. A record 41,304 people attended the Broncos practice. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

Seeing him on television is one thing. Seeing him in person, in uniform, in the football stadium, is another.

41,304 Denver Broncos fans would agree.

That record number of fans swarmed Sports Authority Field at Mile High to do just that — see Peyton Manning — during the team’s fourth annual Summer Scrimmage on Saturday.

“It’s unbelievable,” head coach John Fox told reporters after the practice. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this for this point and this type of scrimmage atmosphere. I think they (the fans) are ready for some football.”

“It was a great crowd, no question,” Manning said. “The fans were into it. Beautiful day here in Denver. The players were excited. It was a little change in the routine to get out here and into the stadium and to play in front of the crowd.”

The Broncos displayed some seven-on-seven work before undergoing team drills in the 90-minute practice. Manning took 14 snaps with the first team against the Broncos’ second-team defense, executing six running plays while going four for eight with one (near) interception and one touchdown in pass attempts. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos fans line up outside Sports Authority Field at Mile High before the team's summer scrimmage Saturday, August 4, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo/Ian Henson)

This has been a training camp full of shattered practice attendance records for the Denver Broncos. Today’s stadium scrimmage is no different.

The previous record of 20,782 attendees, set on August 7, 2010, is expected to be broken with ease as some reports suggest as many as 15,000 to 20,000 fans were already lined up outside the stadium an hour before the scrimmage began. Gates opened 40 minutes early to meet the demand.

The scrimmage begins at 3:50.

UPDATE: As of 3:30 p.m., the attendance total was over 29,700. We’ll update this post once a final attendance count is announced.

UPDATE: Final count? 41,304. 97% more than the previous record set in 2010.

PARKING LOTS FULL

The stadium parking lots are full, and the I-25 Colfax exit is jammed. If you are approaching the scrimmage from the south, take I-25 to Speer and park at the Pepsi Center. If approaching from the north, take I-25 to Auraria and park at Auraria Campus, the Broncos suggest. RTD Light Rail is also offering an increased level of operation for the event.