On Saturday evening, running back Curtis Martin was among six former NFL players enshrined into the league’s Hall of Fame class of 2012.  While Martin, who spent time in New England and New York, had a brilliant career, he never won a Super Bowl or rushed for 2,000 yards in a single season.  Terrell Davis did.

As deserving as Curtis Martin is, it’s hard to watch him being inducted and not think how @terrell_davis should one day join him. Truth.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2012

ESPN’s Adam Schefter raises a great point.  Davis deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, and one day, he should be.

Davis was the only back in NFL history who earned season MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards in addition to rushing for 2,000 yards in a single season, winning back-to-back world championships and rushing for 100 yards in seven consecutive playoff games, all of which his team won.  That’s quite a résumé.

Is it a Hall of Fame résumé?  We think so.  And Schefter agrees.

New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard (36) is tackled by Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty (37) on a punt return during second half action in Landover, Maryland, December 4, 2011. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

The Denver Broncos have signed free agent safety Jim Leonhard to a one-year deal, NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reported via Twitter.

Leonhard is a seven-year player who spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets. He underwent surgery in December to repair a tendon in his right knee. He had spent the last two days visiting with the Buffalo Bills, who reportedly made an offer.

Leonhard confirmed the signing on Twitter.

Perhaps most interestingly, Leonhard has experience as a punt returner. The Broncos are in desperate need for a punt returner with NFL experience, as well as more competition at the safety position. Leonhard fits
both bills.

A view of Sports Authority Field at Mile High from the press box a few hours before the Denver Broncos' stadium scrimmage Saturday, August 4, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net)

The Denver Broncos are holding their fourth annual stadium scrimmage practice at Sports Authority Field at Mile High today. The event kicks off at 3:50 p.m. MT (details here), but you may want to get there early. As in, now. I’ll be covering the practice from the press box, as pictured above. Follow BroncoTalk on Twitter for updates throughout practice!

Denver Broncos cornerback Omar Bolden at training camp August 2, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

The Friday before the Denver Broncos‘ Saturday scrimmage saw the team meet for its eighth training camp workout, a scorching hot affair that benefited from a merciful blanket of clouds halfway through. In a way, that weather pattern mirrored the Broncos defense: they were scorching hot at first before succumbing to Peyton Manning‘s offense later on.

Today I decided to run the training camp report a little differently. I went to Twitter and asked BroncoTalk’s 5,200 followers to pick some players I might not have covered as thoroughly yet, and I’d scout them.  Let’s break it down.

ROLL CALL

The only player truly absent was Quinton Carter, suggesting his hamstring/knee may be more serious than the other issues lingering with the Broncos. Tackle Orlando Franklin, running back Ronnie Hillman, and wide receivers Tony Grisham and Greg Orton all walked the sidelines during practice. Franklin even ran some sprints at one point — head coach John Fox said he has been cleared to practice, andthe team will use him “sparingly” tomorrow.  Justin Bannan left practice early with his lingering calf issue.

BT SCOUT: ERIC DECKER

This wasn’t a requested scouting report, but wide receiver Eric Decker was impossible to ignore. The former Gopher made his triumphant return to all facets of Broncos practice Friday, hauling in three Manning touchdowns in four red zone, one-on-one attempts. As good as Demaryius Thomas looked yesterday without Decker, today was a reminder that Decker is truly the receiver most in sync with Peyton Manning. He also runs the crispest routes and the most jarring cut of all the receivers, always getting a step on his opposing DB.

BT SCOUT: OMAR BOLDEN

The rookie cornerback is the backup nickelback, seeing most of his work covering the slot receiver on the second team in team drills. That means his most common opposing receiver was Matthew Willis, as he’s been backing up Brandon Stokley in the slot to date, but Bolden also lined up against guys like Mark Dell, Gerrell Robinson, and even, yes, Eric Decker. When Bolden faced Decker in one-on-one red one work, Decker busted a double move to the corner of the end zone, where Manning lobbed a perfect pass. Bolden’s coverage was solid, but Decker came down with the touchdown anyway.   Click here to read the rest of this entry »

As a friend recently reminded us on Twitter, in Broncos Country, Josh McDaniels‘ surname is a four-letter word. The sound “McDaniels” is fingernails on the chalkboard, a teeth-clinching, shoulder-buckling, neck-hairs-standing-on-end reminder of the worst two-year period in franchise history.

Four digits that claw at the brain with nearly the same intensity are 2-0-0-9: McDaniels’ first draft class with the Broncos. Collectively, the players of the Broncos’ 2009 draft class have been a disappointment since they entered the NFL. Consider:

• Of the ten players selected, only three remain on the team.
• Of those ten players, five were selected in the first two rounds — the spoils of the Jay Cutler trade.
• Of those five players, only two remain on the roster. And after the events at camp this week, neither are projected starters.

Running back Knowhon Moreno, the Broncos’ first pick of that draft, is on the roster bubble following another injury-riddled season. Defensive end Robert Ayers, thought to be the ’09 draft’s decent-if-not-spectacular consolation prize, has been jumped on the depth chart by Jason Hunter.

So as it stands now, by the end of this Broncos’ 2012 training camp, the ghosts of McDaniels’ 2009 draft might be exorcised from the Broncos roster completely. But no one wants that. The Broncos want these players to rise to original expectations, not fall to the wayside like the Alphonso Smiths and Richard Quinns before them.

This 2012 training camp is Knowshon Moreno’s and Robert Ayers’ last chance.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

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

Denver Broncos News

Denver Broncos 2012 Training Camp: Day 7 | BroncoTalk
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos again drew a record crowd Thursday morning, the seventh full practice of the Denver Broncos’ 2012 training camp.

Relationship Building | DenverBroncos.com
Peyton Manning connected with Demaryius Thomas several times Thursday morning, showing that a rapport is growing with the QB and the team’s skill players.

Broncos to show off Manning at Saturday practice at big stadium | Denver Post
A record number of football fans have been showing up at Dove Valley, the Broncos’ training facility, to watch Peyton Manning’s training camp debut with the Broncos.

Thomas makes impression on Broncos in Decker’s absence | CBS Sports
After signing with the Broncos in March, Peyton Manning and wide receiver Eric Decker were able to work on their timing immediately — and they did, venturing to a local high school for extra work beyond what the collective bargaining agreement permits at the team facility.
Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver’s quarterback is more popular than… every other player in the NFL.

Peyton Manning—the man who has attracted record crowds during training camp sessions at Dove Valley—has found a new home with a new team in Colorado.  As a result, his No. 18 Denver Broncos jersey has been the best selling jersey on NFLShop.com since April 1, according to Broncos PR guru Patrick Smyth.

Manning missed the 2011 season and consequently, his jersey was not among the top ten sellers last year.  Now in Denver, Manning’s jersey has been flying off the shelves (Kyle recently attempted to purchase one but the city was sold out).

Fans have good reason to be excited about Manning’s arrival:  He is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.

That is why the Broncos are expecting a record crowd at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday when Manning slings a few passes for the first time in his new home stadium when the team conducts their annual Summer Scrimmage.  Admission is free and Manning will be signing autographs after the scrimmage.  Denver’s previous record of 20,782 fans should be easily broken.

There’s just something about the guy that causes fans to adore him.  Perhaps it’s his classic Manning face or his phenomenal acting in commercials.  Or, maybe it is his four league MVP and Super MVP awards.  Whatever the case, fans can’t get enough of him.  And we thought Tebowmania was a big deal.

Champ Bailey practices tackling during Denver Broncos training camp on August 2, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos again drew a record crowd Thursday morning, the seventh full practice of the Denver Broncos’ 2012 training camp. Over 5,000 fans and media were present to witness the emergence of Demaryius Thomas and the continued near-perfection of Peyton Manning. Let’s break it down.

ROLL CALL

Absent: S Quinton Carter (hamstring and knee), WR D’Andre Goodwin (foot, since waived), and WR Greg Orton (ankle). In shorts, not participating: WR Tyler Grisham (knee), RB Ronnie Hillman (hamstring), and OT Orlando Franklin (concussion). WR Eric Decker was limited with a groin.

PEY PEY TO BAY BAY ALL DAY DAY

(Someone make a shirt out of it. I’d buy it.) Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning at training camp practice August 2, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

Peyton Manning to Eric Decker. Through the first several practices of Denver Broncos training camp, it was clear the two had a connection deeper and more natural than that of any other tandem on the field. Decker was Manning’s favorite target, and the quarterback and receiver connected for several highlight-worthy plays over the course of the first five days of training camp.

So when Decker sat out team drills during Wednesday and Thursday’s practice sessions with a strained groin, there was reason to be at least mildly concerned. Would the Broncos offense be able to perform at the same level without Manning’s favorite target? Could they survive a test of their receiver depth this early?

Enter Demaryius Thomas. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The ankle injury wide receiver D’Andre Goodwin suffered Wednesday has ended his 2012 season with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos announced they have placed the second-year player on their waived/injured list.

The #Broncos have waived/injured WR D’Andre Goodwin.

— Denver Broncos (@Denver_Broncos) August 2, 2012

Goodwin, 24, was an undrafted free agent the Broncos added in 2011 and who spent the majority of the season on the practice squad. He was activated for one game: the Broncos’ last, against New England in the Divisional Playoffs.

This means another team can claim Goodwin. If he clears waivers, the Broncos can place him on Injured Reserve or reach an injury settlement with him.