Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.

(AP Photo/Denver Broncos, Eric Bakke)

Previous winner after the jump.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos began organized team workouts (OTWs) at the team’s facility in Dove Valley on Monday, and a majority of the team was present.  The workouts are closed to the media so nobody but the players and coaches know exactly who was and wasn’t there today.

But we have a list of all of the confirmed players that did and did not attend. It should be noted that these workouts are “voluntary”, but are also “highly recommended.”

Confirmed attendance:

• Quarterbacks:

Peyton Manning (Press conference).
Caleb Hanie (Mentioned).
Adam Weber (Mentioned).   Click here to read the rest of this entry »

(Image courtesy of CBS Sports)

The Denver Broncos and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas have not finalized their respective plans for the 2012 season, but the two sides have been talking.  Per ESPN‘s Josina Anderson, the Broncos have offered Thomas a one-year deal.

Last month, Thomas took to Twitter to inform fans that he wanted to come back to Denver, going as far as to say “I’ll sign whenever they call me.”  Thomas’ desire to return caused some fans to break out into a celebration dance, as the 26 year-old Thomas would provide needed depth to Denver’s defensive tackle position.

Now that the team has made Thomas an offer however, he isn’t jumping to sign.  According to Anderson, Thomas would like a long term deal while the team has offered a one-year contract.  So while the two sides are open to starting up negotiations again later, they are currently in a standoff.

Thomas (6-3, 316 lbs.) recorded 43 tackles while starting in eleven games with the Broncos last season.  The sixth-year veteran has reportedly received interest from two other teams.

With Ryan McBean about to become an unrestricted free agent, Ty Warren, Kevin Vickerson, Justin Bannan, Ben Garland and Mitch Unrein are the five notable defensive tackles currently on the Broncos roster.  The team may draft one or more DT’s on draft day and are working on scheduling visits with Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and Connecticut defensive tackle Kendall Reyes.

What’s your take on the situation?  Should Thomas give in and sign a one-year deal or should the Broncos give him a longer commitment?  H/T to IAOFM for the link to Anderon’s Tweets.

Stokley played with Manning from 2003 to 2006 while with the Colts. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos on Monday signed wide receiver Brandon Stokley, according to NFL Network‘s Jason La Canfora.  Terms of the one-year deal are not known, but it is likely that Stokley signed a veteran minimum contract.

Stokley, who is about to turn 36, has made a name for himself in the NFL as a clutch slot receiver and if he makes Denver’s roster, that is likely the role that he will fill for the Broncos this season.  At the very least, Stokley will provide a familiar target for quarterback Peyton Manning in training camp and help the young receivers on Denver’s roster learn the new offense and routes that come with it.

A thirteen year veteran, Stokley (6-0, 192 lbs.), has spent time with five different teams since 1999 and has won a pair of Super Bowl rings along the way (2000 Ravens and 2007 Colts).  In March, Stokley, who lives in the Denver area, ran routes for Manning, who was visiting the Broncos.  Stokley later helped the team recruit the veteran quarterback.

Stokley spent time in Denver from 2007 to 2009, catching five touchdown passes in 2007.  In 2009, Stokley made a game-winning play that the team’s official website has dubbed “one of the most spectacular plays in club history.”

Earlier today, Manning told the media following the team’s first organized workouts of the offseason that he would support any decision by the management to “add good football players to this team,” when asked about the possibility of Stokley signing with the team.  In 2004, Stokley caught 68 passes from Manning for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Stokley is a great player to have in the locker room and is a fan favorite in Denver.  There’s lots to love about this feel-good signing.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Denver Broncos‘ headquarters in Dove Valley will be buzzing on Monday and throughout the rest of the week.  The team started by beginning organized offseason workouts and will bring in several players for visits throughout the day.

As expected, veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley will visit with the team today and if he passes a physical, he is likely to sign a one-year, veteran minimum contract.  In March, Stokley said on a radio interview with 104.3 The Fan that he would sign with the team if quarterback Peyton Manning asked him.

The team will also bring in Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins and San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley for visits in the near future.  Utah State running back Robert Turbin will visit the team today.

The Broncos will likely visit with more players on Monday, when those respective players’ names become available we will keep you informed.  Other players that will visit the Broncos include Oklahoma State offensive tackle Levy Adcock, Missouri guard Austin Wuebbels, Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and Connecticut defensive tackle Kendall Reyes.

Expect transactions to come in bunches leading up to draft day.  Stokley may soon be a Denver Bronco again.

The Denver Broncos will release defensive tackle Ryan McBean on Monday, according to a Denver Post report.  McBean’s six-game performance enhancing drugs suspension likely played a part in Denver’s decision.

The team rescinded McBean’s one-year tender after the four-year veteran did not agree to sign.  McBean (6-5, 305 lbs.), now an unrestricted free agent, recorded four sacks last season as a rotational defensive lineman.

Denver does have the option of re-signing McBean, but there’s no reason to assume they will.

The Broncos recently signed defensive tackle Justin Bannan and will have several other DT’s (including Ben Garland, Ty Warren, Kevin Vickerson and Mitch Unrein) returning this season.  The team does not appear to be as alarmed about the positions’ perceived lack-of-depth as many fans are.

With the 25th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft (assuming the team does not trade up or down the board on draft day), many analysts are predicting the team will select a defensive tackle.

Pick twenty-two is classic, pick twenty-third is fresh.

Get all of look of the whole schedule and previously selected players here.

Last three picks

20. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

21. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

22. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Today’s GM is herc_rock

With the twenty-third pick of 2012 Interactive Mock Draft, the Detroit Lions select…

23. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Win a custom commissioned sports athlete portrait – valued at $300!

Top Stories

The top story today is reading that the NFL intends to crack down on unruly fans next season, which is bad news for the Oakland Raiders – they already have a tough enough time filling half their stadium, now the other half will likely end up banned for life.  Tough luck.

Ten things I think I think with this year’s draft approaching | Peter King
After a long weekend of fact-finding (and misinformation-farming) for my Sports Illustrated mock draft, which was put to bed Sunday, here are the 10 things I feel good about 10 days before the first round of the draft.

Broncos ready to start digesting Peyton Manning’s tutorial | Denver Post
Peyton Manning will lead the Broncos into conditioning workouts and meetings today for the first time since the only four-time MVP in NFL history was signed to be their new starting quarterback.
Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Pick twenty-one is classic, pick twenty-two is fresh.

Get all of look of the whole schedule and previously selected players here.

Last three picks

19. Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama

20. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

21. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Today’s GM is Eljbow

With the twenty-second pick of 2012 Interactive Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select…

22. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

(Image courtesy of RON JOHNSON/JOURNAL STAR)

I am of the opinion that wide receivers can be had in later rounds.  Drafting a wide receiver in the first round is sort of like drafting a defensive tackle in the seventh. More than likely, you’ll strike out. For one, wide receivers have the lowest percentage of rookie starters of all positions according to Draft Metrics.

Think back on all of those first round wide receiver busts over the years; the Denver Broncos too with Marcus Nash and Ashley Lelie.  We may have hit pay dirt with Demaryius Thomas, but he hasn’t been asked to run crisp routes yet and his breakout year was mostly due to improvisation – something Peyton Manning has very little interest in.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »