So, what does Denver’s young quarterback do between his OTA days at Dove Valley?  Well, recently he’s held his first annual Tee-Off For Youth Success golf tournament, aimed at raising money for his new foundation and assisting youth in the Denver area.  And this last weekend he headed home to Santa Claus, Indiana to help raise money for the local Parks and Recreation Department during their Summer Festival. 

He was joined by former Olympian Terry Brahm and fellow hometown High School football star (and current Tampa Bay Buc), Jon Goldsberry.  Goldsberry and Cutler played together at Heritage Hills, although Goldsberry was a year older.  They fondly remember their time as Heritage Hills Patriots and wanted to give something back to the community that gave them their first starting roles.

“Being born and raised in Santa Claus, we learned the hard work and discipline it takes to get through tough times.  Jay and I played together in high school and we remember what it was like the first time Ken Dilger (a former NFL standout with the Colts and Bucs) walked back into our locker room. It makes a huge difference. It’s nice to maybe be able to do the same.”

— Jon Goldsberry 6/16/07

I think this just goes to reinforce what every source near Culter has been saying all off-season.  Jay truly understands his new leadership position both on and off the field.  And he has shown that he takes his new responsibilities very seriously.  I think we have very good things to look forward to this year. 

So, go ahead and make it down now — Cutler’s name is on the ‘nice’ list.  Let’s just hope Santa Claus remembers it when Christmas rolls around.

 

Courier Press articles on Cutler in Santa Claus: STORY #1, STORY #2

YouTube video of a local interview with Jay: VIDEO INTERVIEW

DenverBroncos.com article on Cutler’s Golf Tourney: FULL STORY

Jay Cutler’s High School Championship Game: FULL STORY

How Jay’s dealing with fame and fortune: FULL STORY

One of the areas I want to see marked improvement in is our Special Teams play. Specifically, kick off coverage. Basically, we did average in our return game with our punt returning averaging 9.2 yards per attempt (that’s 1/3 of a yard better than the league average). Likewise on Kick off returns we were at the league average with 22 yards per attemp. In Punt coverage we did well last year, holding opponents to an average of less than 7 yards per punt return (that places us 5th in the NFL last year).

However, the stat that bothers me the most is our kick off coverage numbers. We ranked 31st in the league in average yards allowed on kick off returns (with the Raiders as the only other team to allow more average yards on returns). We allowed almost 5 extra yards per return than the average kick off coverage teams last year.

This is pretty serious 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.

Talk about pressure on your defense!

Opposing offenses had to traverse less ground to score, and more importantly they had better shots at pinning us deep inside our side of the field.

I bring this up, because I’ve heard several interviews with new Special Teams Coach Scott O’Brien. However, most of the questions poised to O’Brien revolve around our returners (i.e. Morgan, Clark and Hixon), rather than the unglamorous aspects of kick off coverage. It might not be where the fame and fortune is, but coverage can make or break a game and it needs to be addressed this year.

On a positive note, I really like what I’ve heard from O’Brien. He does not scheme and use wacky tactics, he does indepth study of his own players and then tries to put them into a position where they can be playmakers. That’s the kind of sensible coaching I can believe in.

Some related links for your reading pleasure:

Rocky Mountain News article on O’Brien’s in Cleveland: FULL STORY

CBS4 Story on Keith Burns in his new coaching job: FULL STORY

Getting to Know Brian Clark on DenverBroncos.com: FULL STORY

Getting to Know Quincy Morgan on DenverBroncos.com: FULL STORY

Background on Domenik Hixon at Rocky Mountain News: FULL STORY

Rocky Mountain News article on special team player Paul Smith: FULL STORY

The AFC West Watch segment of BroncoTalk begins today, where I break down the rankings of the AFC West position by position. It all builds up to when I crown my predicted AFC West champion in August in my completely impartial way.

Ranking the wide receivers and tight ends in the AFC West is a tricky task, and if I had another week I’d split the two. So, I’ll split them here then review the overall between the two combined.

The Tight Ends

The AFC West features teams with the best two tight ends in the entire league in Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Needless to say, having those multiple Pro Bowlers in the division doesn’t leave much room for the Broncos to crack the top half. If I were to rank the entire AFC’s tight ends, I would likely list them almost exactly as is for the top 3, with perhaps only the Browns and Ravens competing for the 3 spot with the Broncos. On to the rankings.

1. San Diego Chargers
Most Valuable Player: Antonio Gates. Sidekick: Brandon Manumaleuna.
The Chargers have the best tight end in the league right now – no one has been more productive in terms of yards or touchdowns at the tight end position over the last three years. Once a rising star, and now just a legitimate one, Gates even exercised his Mile High demons by finding the end zone for the first time in Denver this past season. While Gonzalez of the Chiefs has now broken Shannon Sharpe‘s record, and he just signed the biggest tight end contract in history, his best years are behind him. The nod goes to Chargers when you consider that their #2 TE, Manumaleuna, had 4 TDs last year and the Chiefs’ number two had none.

2. Kansas City Chiefs
Most Valuable Player: Tony Gonzalez. Sidekick: Jason Dunn
The Chiefs now boast the best tight end in history, at least as far as the record books are concerned (I’ll never agree because Sharpe accomplished his stats while sharing the spotlight with Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, something T-Gon never had to go through). Their #2 guy is a nobody, much like their receivers, but Gonzalez is good enough to launch them above the Broncos’ tight end by comittee approach.

3. Denver Broncos
Most Valuable Player: Daniel Graham. Sidekick: Tony Scheffler
By far the best 2 tight ends in the division, the Broncos probably have the 3rd or 4th best in the entire AFC – the West is just so stacked with all stars it’s hard to reward our talent. Graham has the potential, when used correctly, to be a star as a tight end himself, and Scheffler broke out over the second half of last year when Cutler took the reigns. Combined our tight end production should be much improved over the majority of last year.

4. Oakland Raiders
Most Valuable Player: Courtney Anderson. Sidekick: Tony Stewart
Didn’t recognize either of these names – and you shouldn’t either. The Raiders’ right ends belong near the bottom of the league, just like the entire team.

Wide Receivers

1. Denver Broncos
Most Valuable Player: Javon Walker. Sidekick: Brandon Marshall
Only one team has a wide receiver set worth much, and that’s our beloved Broncos. The Raiders’ trading away Randy Moss leaves the door open for us to take the top spot. Javon Walker was either red hot or steady last year from game to game – as he grasps more of the Broncos offense, look for him to be more consistently on fire. Add in Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley and the possibility of a healthy Rod Smith and Denver runs away with this one.

2. Oakland Raiders
Most Valuable Player: Jerry Porter. Sidekick: Mike Williams
So the Raiders traded away Randy Moss – but then they traded for recent 1st Round pick Mike Williams. Mike Williams hasn’t shown a lot as of yet, but reuniting with Head Coach Lane Kiffen, his former USC coach, could prove to be the changing factor in his career. And Jerry Porter might actually buy into this year’s program and return to his 2004-5 level.

3. Kansas City Chiefs
Most Valuable Player: Eddie Kennison. Sidekick: Samie Parker
Kennison took strides last year, and Samie Parker had a play over 20 yards about 20% of his catches – but neither of them strike fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators. They drafted Dwayne Bowe, which will probably turn out well for them, but their receiver corps still needs help.

4. San Diego Chargers
Most Valuable Player: Eric Parker. Sidekick: Vincent Jackson
Six touchdowns was all the Chargers got from their receivers last year, and they’ll have to do better. Craig Davis was a huge reach in the first with Dwayne Jarrett still on the board, as I’ve said many times, so I don’t see the Chargers doing well this year with passing the ball.

Overall

1. Denver Broncos
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. San Diego Chargers
4. Oakland Raiders

None of the teams have the firepower with offensive weaponry at the receiver position as the Broncos – far and away the best receiver in Walker and the best second tight end, the Broncos should do well in the passing game behind the big arm of Jay Cutler and all the stars fighting for the ball.

COMPLAINT & SARCASM WARNING:

The following post contains negative comments regarding the Denver Broncos. The author has the deepest respect, admiration for (and even dysfunctional obsession with) said Broncos, so these comments should be read with the understanding that (while rare) everyone must find something to complain about.

The years we won back-to-back Super Bowls were great times. We had the world’s greatest coach, the best darn QB in the land and a running back whose initials could also stand for Touch Down. I thought we had it all back then. I was wrong. Apparently, we were missing a silly clown in a horse-headed costume.

Now, I understand that nearly all professional sports teams have these ridiculous effigies running up and down their field (or court) acting like complete buffoons and (theoretically) entertaining the children. It’s just that I have an unnatural hatred of Styrofoam caricatures goofing around while I’m trying to watch my football game. I simply can not abide them.

I mean, when we miss a field goal at INVESCO field at Mile High, the last thing I want to see at the bottom of my screen is some ex-high school cheerleader dressed up in a furry-fetish costume pretending to bang his enlarged horse-head into the goal post in a lame attempt at cartoon humor.

But, by far, my biggest grievance with Denver’s orange & blue reverse-centaur is that WE ALREADY HAD A MASCOT!

The charge of Thunder across the stadium after our home team scored was truly something special. Both the beautiful white horse as well as the giant Broncos flag his rider bore were breathtaking. This tradition was unique and classy. It was a statement about our team (like the Mile High Salute). Tasteful and elegant. Real and regal.

Now, we have Miles… Oh, yes, the puns never end now. Miles the human-horse-hybrid says things like “Say Neigh to Drug” and lists his favorite toy as My Little Pony. WTF!?!

Why do we need this?

Is this a ploy to increase sales of mascot-related merchandise? Because I can’t see any respectable parent buying the hardback book “Mile’s Grand Adventure: a chronicle of Mile’s A-to-Z journey around the state of Colorado,” or a serious golfer shelling out $33 for headcovers in the shape of Mile’s head?

I know it’s useless to rail against this, but if I had just one wish it would be that Miles would be lost in a team outing and never return…. Actually, if I had just one wish I would wish for us to win the Super Bowl, and if I had two wishes I would add the part about Miles.

— END OF COMPLAINT —

Well… end of my complaint, but not the end of the story….

Although I didn’t think ANYONE actually read my blog, apparently, our mascot Miles does (or did). He wrote a post recently in his blog explaining how much charity work is done by the NFL mascots as well as other promotional appearances for young fans.

Now, I added a comment on his blog and I feel I need to post it here as well so no one misunderstands where I stand on this issue.

“I very much appreciate your response to my rant about mascots. And as a deeply obsessed Denver Broncos fan, I think I need to appology to you for one important reason.

I truly believe you (the person) love the Broncos and are just as big a fan of this team as myself. Please believe me when I say that I did not intend to offend you with my failed attempt at a humorous rant. And, while I still don’t like the idea of mascots, I most certainly don’t want to insult or damage another Denver Broncos fan.”

— Jonathan Douglas (Denver Obsession) 6/21/07

My post was supposed to be a funny way of asking why we needed an upgrade at mascot when Thunder was doing a great job. It was not intended to hurt another Broncos fan (even if that fan wears a costume). I don’t agree with the need for a mascot (outside of Thunder), but I most certainly didn’t intend to harm the Broncos organization or their awesome community outreach programs. I believe we have the best team, coaches, staff and owner in the league.

Maybe, if I get out to Denver this season, I’ll try to look up Miles and have a drink… Broncos fans should stick together.

The BroncoTalk Offseason Awards continue! Blogging bright and early today, talking divisions again, and it’s time to celebrate a group of teams that have become all the more competitive. Which division has gone from top heavy to uber-competitive in the months since the Super Bowl?

The BroncoTalk Offseason Award for Most Improved Division goes to…

The NFC West
HONORABLE MENTION:
AFC North, AFC West

I still think the Seahawks are the heavy favorites in the NFC West – I mean, if Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander can stay healthy, they’ll be in the mix for the NFC’s Super Bowl representative again. But the other three teams – the Arizona Cardinals, the St. Louis Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers – all made strides to close the gap between the Seahawks and “the other guys.”

First off, the Cardinals won the first-ever BroncoTalk Offseason Award, given for Best Coaching Decision when they hired Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm. I expect the culture in Arizona, where I happen to live, to change with the new coaching move. The Cardinals, after all, are the oldest franchise in the entire NFL (little known fact), but the culture has always been one of loser (well known fact). While this kind of culture change doesn’t happen overnight, or over a single offseason, I really hope the Cardinals will stick with these coaches because they come from a winning condition and have the potential to alter the fortunes of Cardinals players and fans for years to come.

Then the other teams, the Niners and Rams, also made a lot of great moves to improve. Patricularly the Niners, who rivaled our own Broncos and the Patriots in their spending spree. Not only did they sign Nate Clements to a mega deal (winner of worst free agent signing, but it DOES make the team better), they also picked up Michael Lewis and Darrell Jackson while cleaning up on draft day when they picked Patrick Willis and Joe Staley, both in the first round. Meanwhile, the Rams improved their Special Teams with the trade for Dante Hall, and they also had a solid draft with Amobi Okoye highlighting the bunch. Oh, and they still have one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the business in Marc Bulger.

I expect the Seahawks to take the division again, but watching the other 3 teams fight for a wild card in the wide open NFC will be exciting to watch for the pure football fans out there like me.

The BroncoTalk Offseason Awards continue! I’ve gone through the best and worst coaching moves, drafts, trades, free agent signings, and cuts as we approach the “big” BOAs over the next few weeks. This week I explore how the divisions have changed across the NFL – it almost seems to tie right into BroncoTalk’s new Pick ‘Em Monday segment, where I predict the winners of each division. It’s almost like I plan this stuff in advance!

Anyway… year after year, a division or two in the NFL gets turned completely upside down. Last year the NFC South went from the order of TB > CAR > ATL > NO – then last year, New Orleans, who had the second to worst record in the entire league, advanced to the NFC Championship game in likely the biggest Cinderella story of the year. In the process, the entire division got flipped upside down, with Tampa Bay pulling up the rear. Similar situations occured with our own AFC West, where third-ranked Chargers flip-flopped with the reigning champion Broncos, and in the AFC North.

If a division became more competitive during the offseason, I consider it improved. If the division consisted of unimpressive teams, and those teams did little to improve, then it is a candidate for today’s award of least improved division.

The BOA for Least Improved Division goes to…

The NFC North for getting worse, nearly all around
HONORABLE MENTION: The AFC South

One team in the dreadful NFC North bettered itself this offseason, and as Siruis NFL Radio’s Adam Schein would say, it’s the rebuilding-since-1957 Detroit Lions. The Vikings are a serious contender for Worst Offseason later in July, the granddaddy of insults that BroncoTalk can give a team for their offseason insufferability. The Packers had to go through more Brett Favre drama, even after he announced early he would return for another go. And the Bears lost several key players, including Terry “Tank” Johnson to suspension, and the ongoing drama involving Lance Briggs. Not to mention they did little to address their quarterback situation; but as I’ve said during last season, I think people are calling for Rex Grossman‘s head way too quickly – after all, he’s yet to start a full two seasons and already has a Super Bowl under his belt.

But the main gripe falls between the Vikings and Packers, who both had opportunities (and the need) to make a big splash in free agency but failed to do so. While the Broncos did everything they could to insulate Jay Cutler with talent, Minnesota did little to help their young, struggling quarterback in Travaris Jackson. (I find it ironic that there isn’t a real need for quarterback among most teams in the NFL – except Minnesota – and that the big fish out there, Daunte Culpepper, would rather get trampled by 6 defensive tackles than go back to wearing purple). Meanwhile, the Packers pissed off their veteran future Hall of Famer by doing little in free agency themselves.

The only light in the division – and it’s a dim one – are the Lions, who weren’t afraid to draft Calvin Johnson after picking receivers in the first round three out of the four years previous, and who weren’t afraid to deal for Tatum Bell and George Foster when needed. I expect the Lions to be more competitive than they have been since… well… 1957.

Tomorrow I’ll run down the Most Improved Division – then you can look forward to the last 3 BOA weeks, where I determine the Most and Least Improved Defense, Offense, and finally the Best and Worst Offseason overall.

Year in and year out, the AFC West is the most competitive division in football. A big reason for that is the extreme amount of talent that persists throughout the four teams within the division. The Broncos, Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs are, for the most part, full of talent and potential. I list the biggest playmakers here – in other words, skill-position players – linemen are exempt from this list, and will likely be listed later.

10) Lorenzo Neal

The best fullback in the business resides in San Diego, and their running game is all the more improved for it. Lorenzo Neal has blocked for some of the best runningbacks in recent history for several teams, and the veteran journeyman last year was the lead blocker for the running game that broke all records.

9) Nnamdi Asomugha

The only Raider on the list had his breakout year last year, intercepting 8 passes and turning heads where he had no picks in his career before that. If he can repeat that performance, someone might actually pronounce his name correctly in 2008.

8) Javon Walker

The best wide receiver in the AFC West came back from brutal injury last year in his first season as a Bronco to much success. Javon Walker is still a difference maker every time he steps out into the football field, and his drive and determination to do well can be never questioned again. Week to week, Walker didn’t have the biggest games in consecutive games, but look for that to change now that his quarterback will be strong-armed and not-a-rookie week to week.

7) John Lynch

Old and even downright decrepid, 12-million time pro bowler John Lynch still strikes fear in opposing offenses. Don’t let his age fool you – week after week, Lynch’s hits are seemingly the main event on Jacked Up!. He’s a leader on the team, too, on and off the field, and this role of his might even be expanded with the recent departure of Al Wilson. Hopefully John still gives us two more years before retiring from football.

6) Larry Johnson

Draw a line above this player – the superstars in the AFC West start here. Larry Johnson is entering his most important year in his career so far – a year after he ran for over 1,500 yards in 9 games in 2005, the retirement of Willie Roaf saw LJ’s rush per carry drop significantly on his way to the league’s record number of carries, but not even taking the rushing title with it. Now, his O-Line is Will Shields-less, so LJ will have even more to prove. This is a make or break year for Johnson as he hopes to prove he’s not simply a product of his then-outstanding offensive line.

5) Antonio Gates

For the past few years, Antonio Gates has sat atop the tight end world with the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Last year he even scored his first points in Denver, something the Broncos were proud to have been able to say he hadn’t done in all those years. Philip Rivers‘ main target, look for Gates to continue his record streak for years to come.

4) Tony Gonzalez

Having broken Shannon Sharpe‘s records last year, Tony Gonzalez is arguably (and I would be an arguer against) the greatest tight end of all time. Since he’s never had the receivers to challenge him for catches or attention on the field, I can’t say he’s the greatest – that still belongs to Sharpe, who had set that record despite working with big play receivers like Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. However, he’s still KC’s best player and their biggest chance of success whenever he touches the pigskin.

3) Shawne Merriman

The roids almost removed him from this list completely – I mean, this all represents my own opinion, and someone who’s “the victim of tainted substances” (in other words, “wow, I guess I was taking bad pills”) doesn’t belong on a Best Of list anytime soon. Putting that aside, Merriman is one of the most exciting defenders to watch in the game today. Leading the league in sacks while only playing 12 games, he is a sack machine who could be atop this list a year from now.

2) Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey just feels like the most special of specialists in the NFL – no one excels at HIS JOB more than Bailey. So why is he #2? In my fickle attempts at objectivity, I realize that Bailey doesn’t make as many big plays as the next player on this list. While an interception is definitely a big play, he isn’t a great returner like he used to be, mostly due to the protection he’s given on the field to only focus on coverage. Bailey is definitely the only shut down corner in the league, and he excels at his job like no other.

1) Ladainian Tomlinson

A record breaking 32 touchdowns catapaults this player to the top of the list, especially considering that 7 of these were against our beloved Broncos themselves. Ladainian Tomlinson had a special year in 2006, and if he can repeat that performance this year, he will have the biggest impact in the West again this year.

You may have noticed that there were no quarterbacks in this list – probably the only division that can “boast” such a phenomenon. Unproven is the reason, and when I redo this list a year from now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Rivers or Jay Cutler sitting pretty high on this list. Others who barely missed the cut include Rod Smith, Luis Castillo, Daniel Graham and Warren Sapp – any one of these “on the cusp” players could bounce back and make the list next year.

For the next several weeks as we approach the regular season, BroncoTalk has got you covered. Every weekday I’ll be updating a segment – giving you Monday-thru-Friday access to feed your Mile High fix. The two new segments are Pick ‘Em Mondays, where I choose the winner of each division as the offseason rolls along, and AFC West Watch, where I break down the rosters of all 4 teams of the AFC West and rank them 1-4.

Pick ‘Em Mondays
Each Monday at BroncoTalk (starting next week), I’ll rank a division in the NFL 1-4, on who is going to win and the three runner ups. I’ll start with the NFC East, then the AFC East, then the NFC and AFC South, then the North, and ultimately awarding the West rewards. I’ll be culminating with the AFC West right as the AFC West Watch segment comes to a close in late July.

AFC West Watch
For the next 7 Fridays, and starting this week, I’ll break down a position across the entire AFC West. I’ll start with the receivers (including Tight Ends), then the Secondaries, then the runningbacks, then the Linebackers, then the O-Lines, then the D-Lines, and finally the quarterbacks.

So, at least for the next month, you can expect a M-F entry in this format:

Monday – Pick ’em Mondays
Tuesday – Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday – BroncoTalk Offseason Awards (worst)
Thursday – BroncoTalk Offseason Awards (best)
Friday – AFC West Watch

Of course I’ll be posting anything newsworthy in between, getting ready for the 2007 Denver Broncos campaign.

Boy, am I impressed with our young Center from Minnesota!

He’s really causing a stir over in Europe as his Cologne Centurions have blasted their way to a 6-3 record (currently tied for first place with two other teams). The Centurion O-line is being led by our 2006 sixth round draft pick, 6’3″ 290lb, Greg Eslinger. So, it’s not surprising that the Centurions lead the NFL Europa teams in rushing yards per game (+145).

Eslinger has been making holes for his team’s rushers throughout his football career.

In college, he started as a true freshman, where he stood out as a leader in an O-line that opened holes for their RB’s to gain over 213 yards per game while allowing only 11 sacks that season.

The next year, Eslinger blossomed into an elite Center as his O-line dominated defenses and lead the way for two 1100 yard RB’s. Eslinger himself played almost 1000 downs, made 84 knockdowns, posted twelve touchdown-resulting blocks and did not allow a single sack while he was on the field… not bad for a sophomore.

As a Junior, Eslinger raised the bar again. In 2004, Minnesota average 6.3 yards per play, and 5.4 yards per rush with two RB’s again gaining over 1000 yards for the season. He added 103 key blocks/knockdowns and fourteen touchdown-resulting blocks to his resume. More impressive was the season sack total (9) which was the lowest school total in over 35 years.

Finally, as a Senior, Eslinger made 85 key blocks/knockdowns with sixteen touchdown-resulting blocks for an offense that averaged 494.8 yards of total offense per game. Their powerful running game averaged 273.1 yards per game. And unsatisfied by breaking a 35 year old record in 2004, he lead his offensive teammates in an effort that allowed only three sacks for the year!

For those of you keeping score at home, that puts Minnesota’s average offensive output during Eslinger’s stay at 256.8 rushing yards per game, 454.8 total offense yards per game and 0.78 sacks per game. Can you imagine what Denver could do if our sacks per game were 0.78?!?

Greg Eslinger was Denver’s allocation to NFL Europa this year and with his solid performance so far, I only see great things in his future!

Greg Eslinger’s NFL Europa Preformance:

Week 1: Started out on the right foot, by helping the team gain 157 yrds on the ground and score two rushing TDs.

Week 2: Protected the QB by only allowing one sack while the team gained 338 total yards.

Week 3: Beat the Fire by allowing only two sacks and gaining 114 yards rushing for the game.

Week 4: Despite the narrow lose to the Thunder, Eslinger helped the Centurions gain 314 total Offensive yards.

Week 5: Helped silence the Thunder in their rematch game with 188 total yards on the ground.

Week 6: Anchored the O-line for another impressive rushing gain of 127 yards.

Week 7: Blew holes in the D-line big enough to fit TWO 100 yard rushing performances! Total rushing yards = 232!!!

Week 8: The Centurions lost to the Hamburg Sea Devils 7-21, and only posting 87 yards rushing for the game — so far the only weak game in a great series.

Week 9: Thumped the Admirals, 31-13, and helped the team gain 415 yards of total offense.

Finally, some news about Al Wilson…. Unfortunately, it’s not good news.

Tom Kensler from the Denver Post caught up with Wilson at his annual Prostate Cancer Golf Tournament which is expected to raise more than $100,000 this year to support free or low-cost prostate cancer screenings. This will be Wilson’s 6th year hosting the event that he started after losing his grandfather to the disease.

The topic on everyone’s mind, however, was Al Wilson’s medical status in regard to the neck injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of the Seattle game last year. That injury caused him to fail both his physical exam in Denver and one in New York (when he visited during trade talks with the Giants).

Wilson told the Post that he is waiting on further medical tests, that might show improvement in his neck.

“I’m just trying to stay in shape and see where it goes from there. The neck feels good. But at the same time, that’s just an internal thing, how I feel. You never know until you get out there and play ball. If you’re not healthy, you shouldn’t be out there. So it’s still up in the air. I feel good. But that doesn’t mean the tests won’t show that nothing has changed. I’m just looking forward to finding out.”

— Al Wilson 6/8/07

Wilson did say that he was staying in contact with several NFL teams, but he didn’t mention which ones.

Over all, this doesn’t sound positive. In fact, I now hold very little hope of seeing Big Al back in uniform (for any team). What a sad ending to such an outstanding eight year career in Denver.

FULL STORY in the Denver Post