Only have a second – ESPN reports that free agent Defensive End Simeon Rice has signed a one year deal with the Broncos today (according to the television I walked by a few minutes ago). I’ll have my thoughts on it and more details later.

Simeon Rice signed for one season for $3 million with incentives that can add another $1 million. Rice said he wasn’t sure whether he would play Sunday at Buffalo, but the team expects him to be in the lineup on passing downs as soon at the home season opener Sept. 16 against Oakland.

FULL DENVER POST STORY

[UPDATE Tuesday Sep 4 10:33 AM] – To make room on the roster, the team released linebacker Wesley Mallard this morning.

Kickoff Week Power Rankings are here. You know what that means? Kickoff is here! You know what that means? BRONCOS FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!

1. Indianapolis Colts | PREVIOUS: 1

I think we’ll all find out if Bob Sanders was really THAT good soon.

2. New England Patriots | PREVIOUS: 2

Anyone else hear the pre-Saturday rumors that Randy Moss might get cut from the roster? It didn’t happen, but if things are that bad for Moss and the Pats they may not be as dominant as most expect.

3. San Diego Chargers | PREVIOUS: 4

Chargers fans had a perfect preseason – uneventful and relatively injury free (when your worst injury is to your backup running back, even if it is Michael Turner, you can thank your lucky stars).

4. Baltimore Ravens | PREVIOUS: 5

Still, no one is talking about this team. Finished with #1 defense in both yards and points last year, and with another year in the system McNair could lead them to a championship.

5. Chicago Bears | PREVIOUS: 3

Bad Rex showed up during the preseason after all.
Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos signed eight players to their practice squad today, including quarterback Darrell Hackney and center Greg Eslinger.

QUARTERBACK (1) – Darrell Hackney replaces Preston Parsons as the Broncos’ practice squad quarterback. In other words, expect a lot of scout team from this talented player in his second year out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

OFFENSIVE LINE (3) – Greg Eslinger joins the practice squad after an impressive summer campaign that earned him All-NFL Europa honors. I’ve been a fan of Eslinger’s since we drafted him last year, and look forward to seeing his improvement in years to come. Joining him are undrafted rookie center/guard Mark Fenton, who looked good in training camp, and Cliff Washburn, tackle. Washburn has spent several years floating from one team’s practice squad and training camp rosters to the next since he joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2003.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Selvin Young is now listed #2 on the Broncos depth chart. Photo Courtesy (AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI)

The Denver Broncos are famous for finding 1,000 yard rushers out of what seems to be thin air. Having not spent a single first round draft pick on a running back in the Shanahan era, the ground game of the Denver Broncos has nevertheless been the most feared in the league over the past 10 years. The offseason acquisition of Travis Henry through free agency marked a sharp contrast in principle to how the Broncos had traditionally addressed the running back position – they didn’t spend big dollars on the position, and later picks in the draft were more than enough to suffice for a year or two as another cog in the Denver Broncos Running Machine.

But even in a flux in policy like that, some things never change.

The expected depth chart for the Broncos running back position is drastically different than it was at the beginning of training camp. The coveted #2 tailback spot has seen three different owners, and the third one seemed least likely to keep after the first few practices less than a month ago. Just as an undrafted rookie from Arizona surprised many en route to a roster spot last year, another has followed in his footsteps this year. Selvin Young out of Texas looks to be the projected #2 tailback in our season opener in Buffalo a week from Sunday.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Post reports that ex-Buccaneer Simeon Rice has narrowed his choice of team between the St. Louis Rams (with whom he visited Friday) and our own Denver Broncos, with whom he will meet as early as today.

In an interview Saturday, Rice said the prospect of being a Denver Bronco excites him. “I haven’t heard a bad thing about Denver. I’ve talked to John [Lynch] and he raves about Denver and how happy he is there. I think Denver may be a great place for me. … If that team is on the verge of the playoffs, then I’ll take them to the Super Bowl. That’s what I do.”

Wow, that kind of confidence is something to get excited about. Most people are concerned that Rice doesn’t have much left in the tank – well, neither did Lynch three years ago when he made the move to Denver, and I would say that move turned out alright for us.

Our defensive line went from a veteran group to a bunch of young guns in the matter of an offseason. I hope they can bring in Rice for the infusion of experience and leadership it would provide.

Photo Courtesy

The Broncos moved to the league-mandated 53 players today, releasing 21 players along the way. Most notable are starting fullback Kyle Johnson and recently-acquired defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.

The entire list of roster cuts made today are listed below.

Other notable cuts include Greg Eslinger, Quincy Morgan, and Steve Cargile, who had a really good preseason for the Broncos. Defensive end Kenny Peterson was moved to the reserved/suspended list (remember that he was cut the day before training camp only to be re-signed the next day, so he is definitely on thin ice).

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Tomorrow, the Broncos will have to release all but 53 players, along with practice squad players, as mandated by the NFL. If I were Head Coach, this is whom I would put on the roster.

[NOTE – This post was written Thursday afternoon, before the Arizona game, so anything regarding that game is not included.]

QUARTERBACK – Jay Cutler will make the team. I know, breaking news. The improvement of Patrick Ramsey is evident from one game to the next – a good sign he’ll be a half-decent backup should the worst occur. It’s hard enough for me as a Northern Arizona student to see Ernster go – if they cut Preston Parsons, the other NAU alum on the team, I’ll really be disappointed. The move looks likely as Darrell Hackney looks to grab the coveted practice team third quarterback spot.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

I drafted Maurice Jones-Drew in the 16th round of my draft last year. He had appeared on Sirius NFL Radio probably a dozen times leading up to the 2006 NFL draft last year, and you could just hear the fire inside him. This guy wanted to be great, and had the focus and talent to make big plays a la Reggie Bush in college.

Sleepers are the most fun part of the late draft stages, as everyone has a guy they target to potentially move up the fantasy rankings by mid-season. Among the Denver Broncos, the wide receiver corps is a treasure trove of potential sleepers. The main man Javon Walker is by no means a sleeper, although he could improve from last year to warrant a 3rd Round grade in 2008.

Three receivers behind Walker on the depth chart could prove real value if the cards fall in the right places.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Here’s looking at you, Leach. Photo Courtesy

I just came across this article, where Sports Illustrated’s Peter King ranks his Top 500 players in the NFL. Yeah, I know, another list that in the end means nothing, but if you haven’t been able to tell by my almost-weekly Top 10s, I love lists. They’re fun to debate and spark a discussion like nothing else.

Champ Bailey comes in at 6th (3rd defensive player)… Vince Young comes in at a ridiculous 41… the next Bronco is Javon Walker at 80 (disappointed, but not surprised, he didn’t put Nalen or Lepsis higher, who fall at 294 and 182, respectively), and Jay Cutler falls between Young and Leinart at 91.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The last preseason game is upon us and, unfortunately, the only significance most fans attribute to this game is the fact that it represents the final pace lap before the official race to the Super Bowl begins. However, for me, this game is one of my favorite every year. With no starters playing in tonight’s game, Bronco fans will get a good look at the key backups we may be relying on if injuries hobble our 1st Teamers. Also, and most exciting for me, is the fact that we will get to see some of the unknown talent on the team. Having not seen all of training camp and the Bronco’s practices, I’m looking forward to seeing some of the surprising standouts of this year’s 2nd and 3rd Team players.

These same players face the pending final cuts, as the Broncos get down to their 53 man roster. And with this game as their last chance to impress the coaches, everyone on the field will be fighting hard!

“There are a number of players that are extremely close. We’re trying to decide at a few spots on the roster between a number of guys, and this is their last chance.”

— Mike Shanahan 8/30/07

So, without any further banter here is what I’m looking forward to versus Arizona…

Click here to read the rest of this entry »