Sam Brandon, S, has been informed his time is up. Photo Courtesy

The Denver Post reports that Sam Brandon and his agent have been informed by the Broncos that they intend to release the veteran Safety in the near future. The move comes in light of Brandon’s inability to recover from his recent knee injury, and the likelihood of Brandon to have to go under microfracture knee surgery again to continue his rehabilitation. The surgery would put him on the Injured Reserve, ending his 2007 campaign.

Brandon’s agent indicated that there is no animosity between the Broncos and Brandon, and that the team has voiced interest in resigning the veteran in 2008. It was reported that an injury settlement might be reached between the team and player – I even reported this on the Worst and 10 last night – but it now appears that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow this, and insurance will be paid instead.

Brandon is focused on returning in 2008, where he will still be facing his 2-game suspension upon his return.

What this means for the Broncos

I can already hear the secretary: “Yes, Mr. Shanahan, please hold for Greg Wesley‘s representative.” This leaves the Broncos extremely thin at safety, which could re-ignite trade talks between the Chiefs and Broncos for their veteran safety. I’m not as opposed to the idea as some Broncos fans – hell, I’m desperate for a little help at safety at this point. I don’t see Quentin Harris, Steve Cargile, or injured UDFA Roderick Rogers stepping up this year if Nick Ferguson goes down – we need another name in there to fill the void, and as much as Broncos fans don’t care for him, Wesley is a better option than any of them easily.

Good luck with the rehab, Brandon, and thanks for all of your efforts. Hope to see you in the orange and blue again in a year.

[tags]NFL, Denver Broncos, Broncos, Sam Brandon, Safety[/tags]

Head Coach Mike Shanahan graced the presence of the NFL Network Total Access studios yesterday – if you missed it, tune in this morning, there are usually replays until about 9 AM MDT. As usual, Shanahan said a lot without saying anything – including breaking down the “art of playcalling” and saying Jay Cutler is working hard.

Of course, having a top 10 every Tuesday here at BroncoTalk, one particular segment caught my eye – Shanahan had the help of some very fancy graphics to list his own top 10 moments of his career, and in case you missed it, here they are (courtesy of a little thing I call laptop and TiVo). Note that these include everything from both his head coach career and his years as an assistant, with the Broncos and other teams like the 49ers.

10. 1989 AFC Championship (Broncos 37, Browns 21)

9. 1994 NFC Championship (49ers 38, Cowboys 28)

8. 1986 AFC Championship (Broncos 23, Browns 20) – “The Drive”

7. Super Bowl XXIX (49ers 49, Chargers 26)

6. 1997 AFC Championship (Broncos 24, Steelers 21)

5. 1998 AFC Championship (Broncos 23, Jets 10)

4. 1997 AFC Divisional Playoffs (Broncos 14, Chiefs 10)

Note: Here, Rich Eisen flat out asks Shanny (in a joking tone): “Now was it T.D. [Terrell Davis] or was it the system? Now let’s be honest, c’mon!”
Shanahan’s response: “I’ll tell you, T.D.’s a great player. He’s the best I’ve ever been around. I’ll tell you, if anyone ever says it’s the system, they don’t know what type of guy he is.”
Laughing out loud, Eisen responds: “I’m just trying to stir it up! That’s all I’m trying to do!” With Marshall Faulk laughing in the background, it was a funny moment.

3. 1997 AFC Wildcard (Broncos 42, Jaguars 17)

And I’m sure you can guess what 2 and 1 are…

2. Super Bowl XXXIII (Broncos 34, Falcons 19)

1. Super Bowl XXXII (Broncos 31, Packers 24)

Great list, Coach… but can we give Shanahan something to be really proud of SINCE 1998 already?! It’s about time we cracked his list and took home another Lombardi Trophy, Broncos fans!

Great spot on the NFLN – in case you missed it, there you go.

[tags]Sports, NFL, Football, Denver Broncos, Mike Shanahan, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXXII, Super Bowl XXXIII[/tags]

This has been the longest offseason for me, ever… rather than helping pass the time by, I think posting on this blog nearly every day has dragged it on… no matter! It’s time to talk real football again, no more fluff, no more “awards” for offseason moves… just real football. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’ve already mentioned many of the questions this Training Camp in previous posts. Now I rank ’em 1-10, for your debating pleasure in my weekly sounds-like-First-and-10 segment. And for once, Jay Cutler isn’t number one…

Worst
Who Will Be Our Starting Quarterback?

After years of quarterback controversy in Denver, this is now the worst question as Training Camp approaches – because the answer is clear and a source of hope for Broncos fans. We have someone to rally around, finally, with little to no debate – Jay Cutler is our quarterback of the future, and our quarterback of the present. This question isn’t even worth asking.

…and 10

10) Will Sam Brandon and David Kircus be Broncos?

After the breaking news earlier this month that Sam Brandon and David Kircus were under heat, it now seems that neither player’s future is certain with the Broncos. I’ve made my case that Kircus shouldn’t wear orange and blue this season – but the news is that Brandon may not be wearing the colors either. Mostly due to his knee injury last year, although I’m sure his 2-game suspension doesn’t help, it looks like the Broncos are trying to reach some sort of injury settlement with the veteran backup safety for a reported $275,000. This would leave us extremely thin at safety, possibly re-igniting the talks between the Broncos and Chiefs for safety Greg Wesley. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for these newsmakers…

9) How much do our vets have left in the tank?

Tom Nalen and Rod Smith have been everything the Broncos ever wanted and more. Playing for Super Bowl teams nearly a decade ago, and now finding themselves on the verge of another title with the talent around them… can they give us one last push to the top? More specifically in Rod’s case, will he be healthy enough to ever return to his Hall of Fame form? Don’t count out John Lynch in this area, either – while by no means a career Bronco, can he give us another year of hard hits and team leadership when our defense needs more than ever since the release of Al Wilson?

8) Which rookie will break out?

I wouldn’t count on Ryan Harris winning this title… my money’s on Tim Crowder, with Marcus Thomas not too far behind, and I see Jarvis Moss as more of a situational player who will have plenty of big plays this year – but he needs a bit more development to see the field.

7) Who won’t find themselves among the 53?

A question for every team, every year… who won’t make the cut? Who will get the dreaded knock on their dorm room doors, “Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook.”? I’ve already mentioned possible cuts Sam Brandon and David Kircus. Other possible notable losses include John Engelberger, Chad Mustard, David Terrell, and Demetrin Veal. All these guys are on the cusp and need to show their worth to stay on the active 53-man roster. Who knows what other surprises are in store?

6) How will our receiving corps shake out?

Injuries are beginning to cripple our wide receivers before the season even starts – with Rod Smith apparently slowly making his return from hip surgery, and Brandon Marshall tweaking his legs during practice, we have questions at the #2 receiver spot. The third receiver spot seems to be locked down by recent addition Brandon Stokley – but he could be moving up to 2 with the recent injuries. Domenik Hixon sounds promising too, and could break out this year… there are a million factors going into our receivers, and it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

5) How will our linebackers do?

No Al Wilson could mean big trouble for the middle of our defense. D.J. Williams‘ adjustment to the middle is the main headline here, with the strongside linebacker creating a story all its own. Whoever fills in at SAM, our linebackers won’t be as prolific as they’ve been known to be. It’s a big question mark heading into this season.

4) What will the right side of the offensive line look like?

The answer seems to be Chris Kuper and Erik Pears, although I’ve heard conflicting reports on Pears filling in at right tackle and staying as Matt Lepsis‘ backup at left instead. Will it return to its dominant form?

3) Is Jay Cutler the Real Deal?

It’s becoming more and more clear that the answer is yes… therefore it can’t be the biggest question as we head into camp, but it definitely ranks among the top. As talented as everyone is in Denver, we’ll still be relying on Cutler to lead the way… and while it’s no longer worth asking “who” the quarterback will be, it’s still worthy to ask how he will do now that he’s the main man.

And remember – the Broncos have surrounded young Cutler with a ton of talent all around. While we’ll need him to do very well late in the year to make it to a Super Bowl, we’re not as reliant on him to be great to win games early. Our schedule is considerably softer this year than last, and the talent around him will only help him ease into the season as the pressure really gets going in December and of course January. In my mind it’s not as big of a concern heading into camp as the two listed below…

2) Who will start across the defensive line?

Write Ebenezer Ekuban and Gerard Warren… then you can try and figure it out. My heart tells me Sam Adams at DT and Kenard Lang at DE, at least for the first few weeks until Crowder takes over. Look for the most intense competition in all of camp along the defensive line.

1) How will we adapt to Jim Bates’ system?

This is something that isn’t talked about nearly enough, but it’s a legitimate concern this year for the Broncos. After years of Larry Coyer‘s defensive scheme, who came from the school of Cover Two/Tampa Two, we’re adjusting to Jim Bates’ version of a 4-3. Bates is known for relying on great pressure to get things going – virtually everything that happens defensively depends on the defensive line and linebackers getting to the quarterback. You can see his influence on Miami’s Jason Taylor and Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman – while both had career years last year without Bates as their coach, you can see the influence of Bates from years before that set them on that path.

How soon will it take the Broncos to adjust to this new system? Will we head out of the gates running like we did last year, holding opponents to a single touchdown through the first half dozen games? Instead of that “bend don’t break” philosophy from last year, which ultimately saw us breaking a lot, I’d rather see our more aggressive defense make more big plays, giving our new, revamped offense a chance to make big plays of their own. Bates is less afraid to play Cover One, for example, than Coyer, because he depends on pressure so much anyway that it doesn’t make too much of a difference – ultimately making our defense more flexible.

But if there’s been one weakness in our defense, historically for the Broncos, it’s been getting pressure on the quarterback. And now that’s our bread and butter. How soon will our men be able to step up. With the recent additions all across the defensive line, all of Denver is hoping the answer is “soon.”

Training Camp starts Sunday, July 29 – 15 days before our first preseason game on Monday Night Football against those damn Niners. Stay tuned for more in depth coverage, and don’t forget to check out the other great Broncos blogs out there. Mile High Report has you covered with in-depth Scouts Inc. reviews and original roster breakdowns; My Denver Obsession has its own countdown of the five biggest Training Camp questions, along with original posts regarding the greatness of Champ Bailey, among other things; Andrew Mason over at DenverBroncos.com has had his hands full with the position breakdown, and is now returning from DB.com content to find himself the Prodigal Blogger. All of these sites have something to see, so check ’em out! We’re now 5 days from Training Camp Broncos fans!

[tags]NFL, Football, Sports, Denver Broncos, Broncos, Training Camp, Jay Cutler, Erik Pears, Chris Kuper, Tim Crowder, Jarvis Moss, Marcus Thomas, Ryan Harris, Jim Bates, Sam Brandon, David Kircus, Tom Nalen, Rod Smith, John Lynch, Al Wilson[/tags]

Everyone has their list of top Training Camp questions. The Denver Post, ESPN, FOX Sports even this complete dolt over at Yahoo! Sports. Jason Cole actually thinks our biggest training camp issue is that we will be abandoning our traditional Zone Blocking Scheme:

“For the first time in more than a decade, the Broncos are getting away from their traditional cut-blocking scheme in favor of a more traditional style featuring heavier linemen. The timing is unfortunate, as new RB Travis Henry would have been perfect in the old scheme. But because second-year QB Jay Cutler isn’t suited for the movement of the old system, change was essential. It will be interesting to see how it works out.”

— Jason Cole on Yahoo! Sports

Of course this is complete absurdity and Cole should be fired for writing such unresearched garbage — I would surely get sacked if I did my job this piss poorly.

Cole’s idiotic ramblings aside, most of the Training Camp questions poised on these lists are valid areas of concern. And narrowing it down to a set number (like a top five) is fairly difficult. And prioritizing that list is even more complicated. However, I have undertaken this daring feat and am reasonably certain that I haven’t embarrassed myself too badly — well, at least not as badly as Jason Cole did. :)

Jon’s Top Five Training Camp Questions:

#5 O-line Work:

Matt Lepsis’ return is a big boost for the O-line that tended to struggle last year. However, I think for the first time in a long time, there is serious competition along the line as we rebuild the Right side. It looks like Pears and Meadow will be duking it out for the Right Tackle spot, while Chris Kuper and Montrae Holland will lead the fight at the Right Guard position.

However, my concern stems from the fact that at the same time we’re working on figuring out our new Right side for the O-line, Travis Henry is attempting to develop chemistry with the personnel upfront to maximize our ZBS. This could delay the development of that chemistry and might even mean a slower start to Henry’s ground game dominance (which I have no doubt about at all).

SUMMARY:

I would like to see a couple of guys step up early and maintain their lead along the Right side, so that Henry can begin getting used to their blocking styles and gap creation. I’d like to see Pears and Kuper excel. I’d also like to see our young rookies in Ryan Harris and Greg Eslinger develop into quality backups and/or practice squad projects.

#4 Overhaul on the D-line:

Many lists include adjusting to Bates new defensive scheme. Or D.J.’s move to the middle, but I don’t think either one is the highest Defensive concern. That honor going to our D-line. And while our new line will not be decided during Training Camp, I think we might get a highlight or two from a couple of players that could play into the coaches final decision. However, don’t expect to see anything significant until the preseason. At that point it will become obvious to both coaches and fans what rotations and combinations work the best.

SUMMARY:

We will get to see a heavy rotation during camp of all the D-linemen. I’m very interested in how our new linemen compete relative to the old pros we acquired. Look for Thomas to be the first of the rookies to see first team work. I think Bates & Johnson will give him a shot early to see what he can do.

#3 Making Special Teams Special:

Ok, I know I’ve harped on this quite a bit, but gosh darn it we stank last year in our coverage of kick off and punt coverage. We ranked 31st in the league in yards allowed on kick offs, and THAT has to change. We allowed almost 5 extra yards per return than the average kick off coverage teams last year. And when you multiply that by the 55 kick returns we faced last year, it means that we gave up 275 yards more than the average NFL team in 2006.

This year we have a new Special Teams Guru, Scott O’Brien. He has a great track record, so we’re all hoping that what we see on the field this year is much, MUCH better than 2006. Camp (and the preseason) is a place when players can make a name for themselves by excelling on Special Teams. We have several ST standouts who have made a place for themselves due to their contribution on Special Teams.

SUMMARY:

Look for most of the media to focus on the heated battle for kick off and punt returners. Those are glamorous positions with lots of attention given them. However, the coaches will be watching Special Teams practices for that one or two players that lay it all on the line (think Terrell Davis in Tokyo his rookie year). Those usually unsung warriors of Special Teams will be the ones O’Brien is trying to find to make his unit something truly special this year.

#2 Wide Open Wideout Competition:

We have several questions at play in the area of WR. Javon Walker is a clear starter. Much has been made regarding his mental state after Darrent Williams’ death, but I think Walker will turn those emotions into on-field drive and dedicate (even if not verbally) the season to D-will. After Walker the picture gets cloudy.

Every Bronco fan wants to see Brandon Marshall come into his own. We all want to see the true star he showed signs of becoming last year. And although Marshall has spent the off-season practicing and working on strength and conditioning, he still seems prone to injury. He was hampered at Team Camp and, again, was injured during Mini-Camp. He needs to stay health to make the #2 spot we all know he can fill. After Marshall, there is a slew of receivers waiting their turn.

Leading the pack (IMHO) is Brandon Stokley. He is ahead of schedule and was working on 7-on-7’s at Mini-Camp. If there are no set backs I would surprised if he doesn’t score the 3rd WR spot. Then there’s Kircus, whom I really like from last year. Domenik Hixon and Quincy Morgan, who have a good shot at the Special Teams returner position. We also have Brian Clarke, Marquay McDaniel and David Terrell.

And the widecard is Rod Smith. In my opinion, the question is not if he will return. The question is if he can return in time. Mike Shanahan will give Smith all the time he can, but I’m not sure how long that is. If Smith isn’t able to practice at Camp and then doesn’t get into any games in the preseason, Shanahan will be up against roster cut deadlines and he will be looking at this undesirable choice: Keep Rod or someone else that is needed elsewhere on the roster. That will be a terrible choice and my only hope is that Rod can make a meaningful appearance prior to those cut deadlines. That will give him some stock value and possibly give him time to fully recover before becoming a necessary casualty.

SUMMARY:

In Camp we should get a good feel for who Cutler is comfortable throwing to, and who is learning the system quickest. We won’t know who will be cut at the conclusion of camp as Shanahan always weights preseason play heavily into his final roster decisions. However, Camp should provide our first clues as the each player’s direction.

#1 Cutler’s Development:

My number one question leading into Camp still revolves around Cutler. I truly think that this team will go as far as #6 will take us and his development is critical to the success of our whole team. We’ve heard some great things from players and coaches about Cutler’s awesome work habits and desire to learn and grow this off-season. Camp is where we will get our first serious look at what he’s really picked up.

SUMMARY:

Many people have mentioned that Cutler has a great advantage working against our top notch secondary. And while I’m sure Cutler throws against Champ and Bly on occasion, the bulk of the first team offensive practices are against the second team defense. That being said, we have SO many players fighting for a spot on the D-line, that Cutler and his O-line will get plenty of pocket pressure experience. This will test both our repaired and rebuilt O-line, but also Cutler’s ability to complete reads and feel pressure in the pocket. And I would argue, we’ll also see some pretty good footwork from Cutler as he gets out and runs the ball when his protection breaks down. I think some people under estimate Cutler’s scrabbling ability. And after having the Snake behind Center, it might seem like that. But don’t think our new QB isn’t mobile. He’ll scrabble when necessary — you’ll see.

That pretty much sums up my biggest concerns or questions heading into Camp. There are some other areas that will be great to watch for during Camp and the preseason. So, I’ll work up a list of interesting positions battle and other areas/players to watch this Camp tomorrow.

I’m halfway done with my Pick ‘Ems – which means we’re that much closer to training camp. Today the NFC North is under debate, recent winner of Least Improved Division in the BOAs… But the host of the Conference Champion, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Retire (Harry Potter reference there, couldn’t help myself), the promise of 10 wins, and the worst team in the league is still interesting to say the least. Today I break down the Vikings, Bears, Packers and Lions in all their sucktitude glory. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

I can hardly wait! Four days until we start to see what shape our team is in, what players will start at what positions and who will make the final roster. It’s all the drama of a major motion picture… except it’s real. And it’s FOOTBALL time!

It seems like even the Denver Post (which has seemed in hibernation the last few weeks) has a few articles about our upcoming camp. And like several of my fellow bloggers, I’ll be rattling off my top ten questions for training camp later this week. However, today, I just wanted to throw up some links to occupy your Monday morning.

Here are a few items for your viewing pleasure:

The Denver Post Articles — One on Jay Cutler’s Year #2, Their Training Camp preview and Their Top Ten Questions for Camp

ESPN posted a cool interview with Shanahan recently. There’s not much new info in it, but this exchange was GREAT:

Bensinger: “If you don’t win the Super Bowl, can the season still be successful?”

Shanahan: “No.”

Andrew Mason over at DenverBroncos.com has been previewing position (as has TSG over at Mile High Report). For this blog I’ve posted a breakdown by positions by my fellow internet blogger Dogfish. They can be found here: QBs & RBs, WRs & TEs, D-line, O-line, Secondary.

And I can’t leave out my fellow Bronco bloggers who have really made this offseason bearable. Orange Bucksnorts, Colorado Homers, BroncoTalk, Slushy Gutter Summer and The Beat. If you haven’t had a chance to click over and check them out — you should!

Finally, if you haven’t been a long-time reader (or haven’t browsed the archives), here are a few past posts that might interest you leading into Camp:

Jay Cutler’s High School Championship

D.J. Williams High School Dominance

An Off-Season Recap (Timeline)

What we learned at QB Camp

Team Camp Overview

My List of Unknown Broncos I’d Like to See Do Well

ESPN’s video on the lost of Darrent Williams & Damien Nash

ESPN recently interviewed our coach Mike Shanahan. It’s a great interview, and you should definitely check it out. Here are some of the parts that really caught my attention:

Shanahan, on last season…

Any time you don’t make the playoffs, you are pretty disappointed. In the offseason, you do whatever you can to get back to and possibly win a Super Bowl. It’s not just about getting to the playoffs, but doing something once you get there.

On the quarterback change last year…

I do what I think is best for the team. This past year, we were averaging about 17 points per game. We weren’t going to do anything once we got to the playoffs unless we started scoring more points. When Jay [Cutler] came in, the last five games, we started scoring about 24 points per game. We made some improvement there and Jay has worked extremely hard in our offseason program to get better. Time will tell.

On what makes a leader…

There are all different types of leaders. Some guys are very quiet leaders and some are very emotional. You have to separate yourself from the rest of the class by the way you handle yourself and the way you react under pressure. Those guys usually become leaders. … [After being asked if all quarterbacks are leaders] … No. Not at all. Some are natural leaders, others have to work at it, but not all are leaders. You’d like for your quarterback to be a leader.

On Travis Henry…

Well, if he stays healthy, I’m hoping he can get 1,500 yards.

On the tragic deaths of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash…

Oh, I’ve been doing really good. It’s very tough to go through a tragic situation like we did — the death of two players. Any time you lose two quality guys that the team and I care a lot for, at the age of 24, there are no words you can come up with [to describe the situation]. The only way I look at it is that those guys are both up there in heaven with God. They just went there a little earlier than they were supposed to go. … [On his role in these situations] … I’m the head coach of the football team. Those are my players. I wanted the families to know how special the players were to our organization. I wanted to offer as much support as I possibly could because of the tragedy. Then, I wanted to be sure they are financially taken care of, or at least somewhat taken care of, for the rest of their lives. That their kids can get a college education and that they have a nice place to live. It’s the same thing that you would want from your employer if you were doing a good job for them and happened to pass away at a young age.

On what makes this upcoming season a success…

Win a Super Bowl. That’s our goal. … If I don’t believe it, then the players won’t believe it. In my third year in Denver, we didn’t have anybody pick us to be a playoff team and we won the Super Bowl. The mind-set has to be right, guys have to believe in each other, and you have to be lucky with injuries. It starts in the offseason with free agents and the draft. There are a number of teams that are talented, but I feel like we have a legitimate chance.

Asked, “If you don’t win the Super Bowl, can you still consider the season successful?”…

You can look at it and say we did some good things that we can build on, but there’s only one team that’s happy and that’s the team that wins it.

Man, talk about getting pumped! Just hearing Shanahan speak gets me going. It’s great having stability at head coach, and knowing that nothing but a third title can be considered a successful season in anyone’s mind. Without that win-it-all or lose-it-all attitude, it separates us from the rest of our division in attitude, year in and year out.

There’s a ton more of great stuff in that interview, including some tidbits on training camp, John Elway, and the Denver Broncos historically great running game.

What else are you going to do in the dredges of the offseason, but meander your way over to a Broncos site like mine and enjoy some completely objective football talk (through orange-and-blue-tinted sunglasses)? After the long, long wait… finally, FINALLY… it’s time to play some football again.

This week I’m going to start my coverage/preview of training camp… and there’s a lot to hear about in the next few weeks, with more questions than answers:

• How will our defense adapt to Jim Bates new system?
• Are we changing our offensive line scheme, or is the writer of this article just an idiot?
• Are Chris Kuper and Erik Pears up to the challenge ahead of them?
• How much do Tom Nalen, Rod Smith and John Lynch have left in the tank?
• With competition across the board, who will start at DT, DE, and SAM?
• And the biggest question of all… Is Jay Cutler the next great NFL quarterback?

My projected answers: Very well. Idiot. Yes. Plenty. Can’t wait to find out. Absolutely.

What are you excited about as Training Camp approaches?… let me know, via the poll you see on the right sidebar. Getting reader feedback through polls and comments is the next step for BroncoTalk – don’t be shy, I want this place to be another great Broncos fan community.

7 days and counting… for my readers, myself, and Broncos fans everywhere, it can’t come soon enough.

I briefly posted my feelings on the Michael Vick indictment a few days ago, when the news first broke. I was succinct at the time for two reasons: I was in a hurry to get to work (haha), and I wanted a few days to collect my thoughts. Well, consider the time taken and my thoughts gathered. Michael Vick still disgusts me, and he deserves an indefinite suspension from the NFL for his alleged actions in his dog fighting ring.

Dogfighting

First off, the real victims here are the dogs that are bred and killed for sport and money. I’m an animal lover myself – my wife and I have adopted 5 dogs and as many cats from the humane society throughout the years. For me, it’s personal. These dogs were starved to make them more aggressive. They were put in front of another starving dog and made to fight to the death. If they were too weak, they were killed:

[Page 17 of Indictment]: In or about April 2007, PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in “testing” situations at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.

There are also reports in the indictment of earlier dog executions by a .22 caliber pistol shot, and electrocution.

Now, from the Player Conduct Policy released by Roger Goodell in April:

Engaging in violent and/or criminal activity is unacceptable and constitutes conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League. …

According to the indictment, Vick is guilty of this. Violently killing dogs because they weren’t strong enough to fight definitely falls under “violent and/or criminal activity.” And while this violence wasn’t against a “person or persons,” as the policy goes on to say, it was against animals, and Roger Goodell would be walking dangerous ground politically to say that doesn’t apply to dogs.

Lying and Gambling

There’s a reason there isn’t an NFL team in Las Vegas – the National Football League wants no part in gambling. In any shape, illegal gambling is taken extremely serious because of the slippery slope that follows. And this dogfighting ring was all about gambling – tens of thousands of dollars were changing hands during these fights, and even Vick himself was placing bets on his own dogs.

Second, we all know that Vick met with Commissioner Goodell right around the time of the draft in April. It’s likely that Vick was not completely honest with the Commissioner – hell, it’s likely he lied to Goodell’s face. Now that the indictment has come out, it’s obvious that Vick was more involved than he initially let on, and for these reasons alone he deserves to be suspended from the league.

What if he’s Innocent?

Some people are giving him the benefit of the doubt, and others are calling for due process to take its course before we rush to judgement. But I’ve read through the indictment, and I’m convinced there is more to these stories than the four testimonies – there is corroborating evidence that allowed this indictment to become a reality.

But for the sake of thoroughness, let’s say that Vick is innocent. I’ll play the devil’s advocate and go along, just until I make my point. Let’s say he really was away from the Virginia house and had little knowledge of the goings on. Consider this passage from the indictment:

[Page 5]: Beginning in 2002 and continuing at least through 2005… [those indicted] continued to develop the 1915 Moonlight Road Property for the ongoing dogfighting venture, including building: a fence to shield the rear portion of the compound from public view; multiple sheds used at various times to house training equipment, injured dogs, and organized fights; a house to be occupied by the defendants and others associated with maintaining the propery; and kennels and buried car axles with chains for the pit bulls. The buried car axles allow the chains to pivot, allowing the pit bulls to avoid getting tangled in the chains.

OK… I’m done playing devil’s advocate… you really want me to believe that Vick had no knowledge of any of this?! This is a hugely expensive financial operation, with some of these “sheds” being two stories tall! And who else would have that kind of money but Michael Vick out of this group. He backed up these endeavors with all the money they needed, and it’s highly implausible that he had no knowledge of what was going on when he wrote out the third check, and the fourth, and… well, you get the idea.

The Punishment Fits the Crime

Michael Vick could go to jail for six years with up to $350,000 in fines. Some have suggested letting him go on a paid leave of absence… and I can’t believe the idea is catching on! With the indictment hanging over his head, he deserves an indefinite suspension from the league, without pay, until he is proven innocent. It is no better than what happens in others’ workplaces every day – for big businesses, it is common to see this kind of thing result in leave without pay while the employee sorts his legal issues out. Why should Michael Vick, the face of an entire freaking city, and one of the most recognizable faces in all of sports, be treated any different?

Vick has done enough off the field to justify him staying there – without pay.

 Connor Byrne over at realfootball365.com just listed off his top Defenders for 2007. He has Champ Bailey listed at #2, right behind Charger LB Shawne Merriman. While I, personally, think Champ owns the top spot without question, it really is hard to compare apples to oranges (or in this case CB’s to LB’s).

So, if it’s difficult to say Champ is the best over-all Defender playing today, what about saying he’s the best corner to EVER play the game?

Can we honestly claim that he’ is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) for his position?

Many ‘experts’ will quickly say that it is impossible to compare modern cornerbacks with their ancestors of fifty years ago. They will point out two major issues. One, that modern stats were not kept back in the olden days, therefore you can’t compare like statistics. Secondly, they will point out that SO many rules have changed between tackling and contact allowed, that no comparison can be made to modern players.

Both of these are reasonable. But this is the OFF-SEASON people… and we don’t have anything better to do (unless you want to read other article on Mike Vick?). So, now that I’ve mentioned the general foolishness of this post, lets have some historic fun!

The first comparison everyone throws out there is Deion Sanders (oh, what a surprise). I think I should quickly run over this one so we can move on to more exciting (but somewhat older) corners of yesteryear…

Deion Sanders recorded 429 tackles, 123 passes defended and 53 interceptions over his 14 year career. He also won two Super Bowl rings. He was a remarkable athlete, but his cover skills were alway better than this tackling. Luckly, we have modern stats for Deion, so we can easily compare the two.

Deion Sanders (by his 8th year) — Tackles=282, Passes Defended=83, Interceptions=34

Champ Bailey (by his 8th year)– Tackles=493, Passes Defended=138, Interceptions=39

Deion Sanders has been credited with the statement “You show me a corner that can tackle, and I’ll show you one that can’t cover.” To this I present CHAMP BAILEY! He has already passed Neon Deion’s TOTAL career tackles and passes defended numbers and is on pace to beat his total interception numbers. Deion may be the only NFL player to also play in a World Series, but when it comes to pure cornerbacks, Champ has him beat hands down. Champ is the complete package — tackling & covering.

OK, now for some contenders from past generations. I had to limit my list to ‘pure’ corners (not defensive backs which include safeties). The records for career interceptions fall to some of histories best Safeties, but we’re talking right now about CORNERBACKS. The following men have more than excelled at this position — they have redefined it in their time. Almost all of them are in the Hall of Fame and their accomplishments are staggering….

First, I must make a Raider’s disclaimer, as many of them will ask why Lester Hayes isn’t on this list. To be honest, I just don’t think he is in the same class as the other men I have listed. He is best known for getting Stickum banned in 1981. And while Sticky Finger Lester Hayes did record 13 interceptions that year, the year after its ban it dropped to 3 (and he totaled only 14 more intercepts in his last six year of his career). In fact, Champ has equaled his total number of career interceptions in his first eight years. And while Lester does have a Super Bowl ring, his numbers just aren’t comparable to these other men.

We’ll start with another man that Champ actually played with at Washington. A man that played 20 years at the corner position. That’s right, Darrell Green. From 1983 until 2002, Green amassed 54 interceptions and 8 TD’s. He spent all 20 years with the Redskins and owns Super Bowl rings from #22 & #26. However, if you compare them at year eight of Green’s career, Champ’s 39 interceptions overshadow Green’s 24. Now, just for fun, let’s project what would happen if Champ were to go another 12 seasons at his current pace — he would have nearly 100 interceptions! We can only hope Champ plays until he’s 42! :)

Next in my list would be Mike Haynes. Haynes attended nine Pro Bowls over his 14 season career. He ended his career with 46 interceptions, four TD’s and a Super Bowl ring (Raiders SB#18) — no wonder he’s in the Hall of Fame. Of course, at year eight in Hayne’s career Champ has him by 10 interceptions and several TD’s. Champ needs a ring and a couple more Pro Bowls, but things look good for Champ vs Haynes.

Denver’s closest thing to a challenger would be Hall of Famer Willie Brown. (OK, he played most of his career in Oakland.. but his first three years were with the orange & blue). Brown intercepted 54 passes and scored two touchdowns. His biggest steal, however, came in Super Bowl XI, when he returned an interception 75 yards for the clinching touchdown. Again, at year eight Champ has Brown by 7 interceptions and a few TD’s. He only needs 18 more interceptions and a ring or two to pass Brown, but that should be obtainable.

Another Hall of Famer, Richard Lane (better known as Dick “Night Train” Lane) was a true beast. He blew onto the NFL scene in 1952 with a rookie record 14 interceptions. By the time his 14 year career was done, he had racked up 68 interceptions, 1207 yards and five TDs. He was named to seven Pro Bowls, but never won a Super Bowl ring. Night Train vs Champ would be a great match up (or fantasy team tandem), but Champ plays in a different era than Lane. Lane was a ball hawk, but that was before Pass Interference become what it is today. Lane was also considered a great open field tackler at the time, but tackling from the neck and head were legal then. Even so, by Night Train’s 126th game, he had racked up 58 interceptions (19 better than Champ’s total for the same number of games).* And while Champ has tighter rules to deal with, if Champ plays another 6 years, he has a chance to match Lane’s 68 interceptions. And if Champ can added a ring or two, that would allow him to pass the old Night Train.

But without a doubt, I would have to say that Champ’s biggest challenger for G.O.A.T. Cornerback would be Pittsburgh Steeler legend and current Hall of Famer, Mel Blount. From 1970 until 1983, Blount terrorized wideouts. He was 6’2″ and 205 lbs of pure ball-hawking madness. He not only appeared in five pro bowls, but also won four Super Bowls (#9, #10, #13 & #14). In his 14 seasons he totaled 57 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries and scored a total of four TDs. Most impressively, Blount’s harassment of his receivers single-handedly forced the NFL to adopt the Pass Interference Penalty (originally nicked named the ‘Melblount’ rule). With four World Championship rings, and more interceptions than Prime Time, Blunt is the man to beat if you want this title. At the 126 game mark in Blount’s career, Champ would be trailing him by only one interception, but the real challenge that Blount creates is not statical.* Blount won FOUR rings and changed the game. Mark my words, this will be Champ’s biggest rival for the G.O.A.T. title.

* As the number of games each season was shorter (12 instead of 14), I have compared their numbers at game ~126 in their career with Champ at the same point (end of 2006). Thanks, Dean, for pointing that out!

In summary, I think Champ has the skills, talent, intelligence, drive (and is on the right team) to top all of these guys. He has already shown the world eight awesome years of dominance. If he can maintain that level of play for the next few years and play wisely into his 13-14 year in the league, there will be no other corner in the history of football that could rival him.

And I, for one, am truly excited that we have the honor of having Champ play in a Denver uniform and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in 2007 and beyond!