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Denver Broncos News

Manning’s Next Step | DenverBroncos.com
Peyton Manning throws during the team’s Monday OTA session and said he’s excited to finally compete against a defense.

Manning’s First Steps as a Bronco Are Easy | New York Times
The horseshoes on Peyton Manning’s helmet have been replaced by profiles of a horse’s head. The jersey is a different shade of blue, and the scars on his neck are a painful reminder of the last 18 months.
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Wide receiver Brandon Stokley during practice on Monday, May 21st at Dove Valley. (Image courtesy of Stuart Zaas/Denver Broncos)

On Monday, fourteen-year veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley, now 35 years old, was out on the practice field in Dove Valley doing what he’s done best for most of his career — running routes for Peyton Manning as a slot receiver.

This was confirmed by Manning himself, who played with Stokley for four years in Indianapolis.  “Stokley runs his slot option routes just a little bit different than Eric Decker does,” Manning noted on Monday.

Manning’s point was that every receiver does things a little differently and practicing with each one of them and developing a cohesive connection during the offseason is vital if the team is going to have success through the air during the season. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) talks to a receiver during minicamp at the NFL team's football training facility in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, May 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

On Monday, the Denver Broncos kicked off their first official practices of the offseason with organized team activities (OTAs).  Perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey noted the intensity of day one following the team’s morning practice session.

“This was definitely one of the most intense first days of OTAs that I’ve had in a while,” Bailey said. “It felt good. I love to see the guys running as hard as they have been.”

Related:  Denver Broncos May OTAs (Day 1) Photo Album

Naturally, all eyes were on quarterback Peyton Manning–who signed with Denver as a free agent during the offseason–as he practiced with his new teammates for the first time.  When it comes to working in the offseason, nobody does it better than Manning. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Carolina Panthers' Sione Fua, right, tries to shed the block of C.J. Davis, left, at the NFL football team's training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Name: C.J. Davis
Pos: Guard
Ht, Wt: 6’2″, 308
Age: 25
Exp: 3
College: Pittsburgh

C.J. Davis was an undrafted rookie John Fox brought to Carolina in 2009, and after signing a reserve/future contract with the Broncos following the 2011 season, Fox’s investment in Davis continues. Davis spent two seasons with the Panthers, in a manner of speaking, but successive injuries kept him from reaching his potential. He was placed on injured reserve his rookie season out of training camp (ankle), then waived/injured a year later out of training camp again (concussion). Later he was signed to the practice squad, then the active roster, and ultimately played in seven games in 2010 (reserve guard and special teams). In 2011 he was waived/injured by the Panthers again out of camp (right knee) and spent the season out of football.

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Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Denver Broncos top draft pick Derek Wolfe has agreed to terms with the team, Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports. Per Klis, the deal is for $5.2 million over four years.

Wolfe is the third of seven Broncos draft picks to sign his rookie contract with the club.

Klis also notes that Wolfe will be absent from OTA’s through early June as CBA rules dictate he cannot participate until his college class graduates (Wolfe’s soon-to-be alma mater, Cincinnati, completes its 2012 class on June 9).

Wolfe is missing a chance to practice with Peyton Freaking Manning and Champ Bailey. And I thought I had a hard time staying in school.

Craig Morton throws a pass in the 1977 AFC Championship Game (Getty Images)

Seventeen years of being a doormat to the Oakland Raiders seasonal drive to the AFC Western Divisional Title grated hard on Denver Broncos fans. Then came the most magical season in Broncos history, 1977. It tops the 1997, 1998 and even the 2011 season to this day. The best defense ever assembled in franchise history steamrolled to a 12-2 record, which included a 30-7 beatdown of the Raiders in their home stadium early in the season.

However, the demons would never be exorcised until the reborn franchise beat their hated rivals when it mattered the most – in the playoffs.  The most pivotal offensive play of the game came with the score 3-0 in in the first quarter and it set the tone for the Broncos for the rest of the game.

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Peyton Manning‘s first Denver Broncos workout in front of Denver media is taking place as we speak. Check the Twitter list below for updates from OTA’s.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler is one of five rookies that Denver still has to sign. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos are negotiating contracts with at least eight players, including five drafted rookies.  The team hopes to have all the rookies signed by the time organized team activities end early next month.

The Broncos are trying to re-work defensive tackle Ty Warren‘s contract ($4 million), extend offensive tackle Ryan Clady‘s contract ($3.5 million this season), have kicker Matt Prater sign his one-year tender ($2.5 million) and sign Derek Wolfe, Brock Osweiler, Ronnie Hillman, Philip Blake and Danny Trevathan to rookie contracts.  Denver has already signed rookies Omar Bolden and Malik Jackson to four-year contracts.

• Warren is aging fast and missed all of last season so the Broncos are asking him to take a hefty pay cut ($2 million).  If Warren does not agree to re-work his deal, Denver may cut him.

• The Broncos placed their franchise tag on Prater earlier in the year, but Prater hasn’t signed the one-year, $2.5 million deal in hopes of receiving a larger, long-term deal.  Prater’s agent says $2.5 million is “well short” of what Prater is worth.  Last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed kicker Connor Barth to a four-year, $13.2 million deal which included $4 million in guaranteed money. 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

Monday Morning Quarterback | Peter King
I walked the crosswalk of Abbey Road Saturday evening (the ZEB-ra, short “e” crossing), the one made famous by the Beatles album cover of my youth. I saw test-match cricket, which I presumed would be deadly dull but wasn’t. I spent a day at the Fenway of world cricket. All in all, a very nice weekend with my brother Ken (who has lived in England since 1983) and his family, and some cricket fun with Neil Hornsby of Pro Football Focus too.

Peyton Manning, Broncos ready to mesh on field | Denver Post
Watching John Fox and Peyton Manning lead separate NFL teams in the previous decade would suggest they have some work to do to get on the same offensive playbook page.
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New York Giants safety Deon Grant looks to throw a pass during NFL football practice Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. Â (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The Denver Broncos may pursue free agent safety Deon Grant (6-2, 215 lbs.), according to one NFL insider.  Grant, 33, started in nine games with the New York Giants last season and received a Super Bowl XLVI ring following New York’s 21-17 win over the New England Patriots.

“I’ve heard the Broncos may have interest (in Grant),” ESPN NFL Insider Cecil Lammey Tweeted on Sunday afternoon.   The Giants and Detroit Lions are also reportedly interested in Grant’s services.

Grant was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (57th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft and spent two years with the Panthers during John Fox‘s tenure in Carolina (2003-’04).  Fox is now the head coach in Denver and Grant is a free agent.   Click here to read the rest of this entry »