Broncos Fall to 1-2 at Hands of Manning and the Colts

Once again, Peyton Manning gunned down the Broncos this time at Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday in a 27-13 win. Manning, who threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, got hot in the fourth quarter and he made a great throw to Austin Collie midway through the fourth quarter. Later in the drive, he hit Collie again on touchdown pass to give the Colts a two touchdown lead and essentially the ballgame. For the Broncos it is a disappointing loss when you look at the fact that the Broncos had 5 trips in the red zone and failed to score a single touchdown. You need to match Manning with touchdowns and the Broncos failed to do that; therefore, the Broncos now find themselves at 1-2 and on the ropes early in the 2010 season. Here are my quick hit thoughts on the Week 3 loss to Indy...........

1) Kyle Orton threw for 476 yards and played very well, but Sunday still proved why he is not an elite level quarterback and not a franchise guy. He couldn't make a big throw in the redzone and for the second time in three weeks he failed on a fourth and 3 inside the 20 with about eight minutes to go and down seven. That is the problem with the Broncos and the problem with Orton.
2) The Broncos defense really played well in this game. It won't look like it on the stat sheet and in the final score, but the Bronco defense played their best game all year. They completely shut down the run, they shut down Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, and they forced Manning off the field on third downs in the first three quarters. Obviously, Manning got the best of them in the fourth quarter, but give credit to Manning and some of the throws that he made in the fourth were just impossible to stop. Hopefully, the Broncos defense can build on this and get better each week. This was a good starting point for them, and Darcel McBath makes a difference in that secondary.
3) The Broncos need to somehow get a running game. This is really pathetic and I know that their O-Line is banged up, but they really need to get the running game going. I think it starts with more of a commitment up front.
4) The Broncos need to somehow use Tim Tebow in the short yardage and goaline plan. It is time for Josh McDaniels to get creative and help his team win. That is the job of the head coach. Use Tebow on first down and give the other defenses different looks and schemes. This needs to be done this week. It is time for Tebow!
5) The Broncos need to at least split the next two games for them to have any chance at making the playoffs. McDaniels is at a crossroads right now. He is 3-10 in his last 13 games as a Bronco head coach. The Broncos really need to get the win at Tennessee this week, and the pressure falls squarely on McDaniels. The Broncos need to somehow find a way to get a win on the road this week. Orton and offense have to produce in the red zone and the defense has to limit Chris Johnson.

Week 3 Picks Are In!

Here are my picks for Week 3....


Last week's record: 9-7
Overall record: 19-11-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Tennessee (+3) over NY GIANTS: I don't trust the G-Men right now, and I trust Chris Johnson.

Buffalo (+14) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats win 33-20 but they toy with the Bills for awhile.

BALTIMORE (-10) over Cleveland: The Ravens offense gets on track and the defense tees off on Seneca Wallace.

Pittsburgh (-2) over TAMPA BAY: I'm not fooled by Tampa's 2-0 start. Pittsburgh's defense vs. Josh Freeman. I like my odds.

Cincinnati (-3) over CAROLINA: The Bengals get rolling on the road in Jimmy Clausen's debut.

Atlanta (+4) over NEW ORLEANS: The Falcons pull a stunner out on the road.

San Francisco (-3) over KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs don't scare me and Niners get the job done on the road.

Detroit (+11) over MINNESOTA: Brett Favre looks cooked and I'm gonna stick with the Lions on the road.

HOUSTON (-2) over Dallas: The Texans are for real and they send the Cowboys to 0-3.

Washington (-3) over ST.LOUIS: The Skins get back on track and get to 2-1.

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over Philly: After all the Michael Vick hype, he drops a stinker in Jacksonville.

San Diego (-4) over SEATTLE: The Chargers will show everyone that the Seahawks are just not very good.

Oakland (+4) over ARIZONA: The Cards are screwed and Bruce Gradowski gives the Raiders the best chance to win at QB right now.

MIAMI (-2) over NY Jets: Easiest game to pick this week. Antonio Cromartie will have his hands full with Brandon Marshall all night long.

Green Bay (-3) over CHICAGO: I don't believe in the Bears or Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers shows him how to get it done.

Indy (-5) over DENVER: Peyton Manning owns the Broncos. Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman might not play and it will be a long day for the Denver defense. Final Score: Colts-34 Broncos-20.

Broncos Whip Seahawks 31-14 in Home Opener!

The Broncos evened their record at 1-1 with a 31-14 thrashing of the Seattle Seahawks at Invesco Field at Mile High. The Broncos forced three Matt Hasselback interceptions and another fumble on a punt return. Kyle Orton was 25-35 with 307 yards and 2 touchdowns. Knowshon Moreno added over 100 total yards and a touchdown, and rookie WR Demaryius Thomas had 8 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Eddie Royal also had a big day with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Here are my quick hit thoughts on the win.......

1) Orton continues to play very well, but this was a classic Orton game against a crappy defense. He always plays well against bad defenses and this week was no exception. The key is how Orton plays against a really good defense and from behind.

2) The running game continues to struggle, but hopefully G Chris Kuper and RT Ryan Harris will both be back from injuries next week. Once those two are in the lineup, then you have to think that Denver's running game will improve. Eventhough the run game struggled, I am glad that Josh McDaniels stuck with it and Moreno still amassed over 100 total yards on the day.

3) Demaryius Thomas is going to make a lot of people forget about Brandon Marshall. There is a new beast in Denver and he wears #88. Thomas looked really good, and he could very well be an impact rookie for Denver this year. All of the sudden the Broncos WR corps has some weapons: Thomas looked solid, Eddie Royal is playing well, Jabar Gaffney is solid, and Brandon Lloyd continues to make big catches.

4) I'm still worried about this defense. Seattle moved the ball down the field on the first drive, and the Broncos got bailed out by a Champ Bailey interception. The Seahawks were moving it again when Denver got bailed out by a Brian Dawkins pick inside their own 20. Both picks were a result of a bad throw by Hasselback and not because of pressure from the Broncos. They still are having trouble with the pass rush, and I'm still not impressed by Don Martindale's blitz schemes. The run defense got bailed out today because you blinked and this game was 17-0 Denver.

5) Overall, it was a good day for the Broncos. They blew out an opponent at home for the first time since Week 2 of last year. It was a good confidence boost as they head into their toughest part of the schedule (Indy, at Tenn, at Balt, Jets). There is a very good chance the Broncos will be 1-5 after the next four weeks. This week's matchup is a very tough one because they get Peyton Manning and the Colts. Manning is 7-1 (Not counting the 2004 regular season finale when Manning played 3 plays) against Denver in his career. He has buried the Broncos basically every time. It would be nice if the odds went against him just once in his career against Denver. The Broncos desperately need to somehow, someway win this game at home. It will be a tall task but you never know in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Picks!

After a pretty interesting Week 1, there are some teams that need to get a win in Week 2. I don't want to go out on a limb and say that it is a must win game, but these teams need to get a victory to get their season going. Right now, the Jets, 49ers,Bengals, and Cowboys are all in must win mode for Week 2. All three had high expectations and all three fell flat on their face in Week 1 losses. The Niners and Bengals got blown out and looked terrible, while the Jets' offense was horrendous and gave many of their critics fuel to rip the Jets Super Bowl aspirations. Dallas played a sloppy game at Washington, but the Cowboys seem like they will be able to bounce back. It will be interesting to see which of these four lose and find themselves in the dreaded 0-2 hole.
Onto the picks........

Last Week: 10-4-2
Overall Record: 10-4-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Kansas City (+2) over CLEVELAND: The Chiefs got a huge win on MNF over San Diego, and Arrowhead Stadium was rocking again. The Chiefs get off to a surprising 2-0 start with a win on the road.

GREEN BAY (-12 ) over Buffalo: We know the Bills are one of the worst teams in the league, and this is not a good spot for them. The Packers will roll in their home opener, and expect a lot of big plays by both units in this game.

Baltimore (-2) over CINCINNATI: I wasn't in love with the Ravens before the season, but their MNF victory over the Jets was impressive. Joe Flacco is beginning to silence me as a critic. The Ravens will do just enough to win this game and get revenge for being swept by the Bengals last season.

TENNESSEE (-4) over Pittsburgh: Last week's victory over Oakland was the perfect formula for the Titans: Limit Vince Young's throws to bootlegs and play action, get big plays out of Chris Johnson and let the defense tee off. I like that formula this week against Dennis Dixon and the Steelers.

Philadelphia (-6) over DETROIT: The Lions got screwed on the Calvin Johnson touchdown last week at Chicago, and if Matt Stafford didn't get hurt, they probably win that game going away. This is a tricky game because both teams go into it with their backups. If Stafford was playing, then I would pick Detroit, but I just can't trust Shaun Hill. I'll go with Mike Vick and the Eagles on the road.

DALLAS (-7) over Chicago: I don't trust Dallas yet, but I think their pass rush and defensive line can overwhelm the Bears' offense. Dallas should make enough plays at home with their offense to win this by 10.

CAROLINA (-3) over Tampa Bay: The Panthers need something out of Matt Moore. This will be a classic Panthers game: Run the ball, run the ball, and run it again. That will be enough to get by the Bucs at home.

ATLANTA (-5) over Arizona: Derek Anderson stinks and the Cards offense is going to have trouble moving the ball on the Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The Falcons didn't look good at all last week, but they will be ready to go this week. Big day for Matt Ryan and Michael Turner.

Miami (+6) over MINNESOTA: This is much hunch game of the week. Everything points to a big victory for the Vikings at home, but I just have this feeling that the Dolphins will win this game. I don't know why but something tells me Miami pulls off the upset.

OAKLAND (-3) over St. Louis: I would love to pick the Rams here, but the Raiders will win this game at home. The Raiders looked terrible last week, but they will play better this week and Jason Campbell will rebound to get them their first win.

Houston (-2) over WASHINGTON: The Texans got a huge win over Indy last week, and this game could be a letdown for them, but I don't see it happening. Washington's offense looked very ordinary, but their defense played lights out. The Texans have too much on offense for the Skins.

SAN DIEGO (-6) over Jacksonville: How sad is it that this game will be blacked out in San Diego? The Chargers have won the division four years in a row, and they still can't sell out games. San Diego rebounds after their Week 1 loss and gets the victory over Jacksonville at home.

NEW YORK JETS (+3) over New England: I'm not about to pour soil on the Jets' grave just yet and a lot of people feel that the Pats are going to roll over them on Sunday. I don't see it happening just yet. The Jets wil squeak out a low scoring game and get the W.

INDIANAPOLIS (-4) over New York Giants: The Colts were dismantled in Week 1, but they are not going to start the season 0-2. The Manning Bowl should be a fun one to watch, but Peyton beats Eli again as the Colts get to 1-1.

SAN FRANCISCO (+6) over New Orleans: The Niners are not as bad as their loss to Seattle was on Sunday. They will be ready to go against the Saints on Monday Night. I see the Niners winning a close game and getting back on track.

Seattle (+3) over DENVER: I would love to pick the Broncos to win this week, but their injuries on the offensive line continue to kill them. Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris might both be out and Ryan Clady is still going to need time to get back at his level. I just can't trust this offensive line right now. Denver's defense scares me because they have zero pass rush. It is amazing how devastating the Elvis Dumervil injury was. I see the Broncos getting off to a 10-0 lead, and then Matt Hasselback and the Seahawks will start to get it going against that Broncos defense. I see Seattle kicking a late field goal to bury the Broncos 23-20.

Broncos Fall to Jags 24-17 in Week 1 Stinker!

You wait all offseason for Week 1 of the NFL to return. You deal with Free Agency, the Combine, the Draft, OTAs, Mini Camps, Training Camp, and Preseason just to get to Week 1 of the Regular Season. Then it arrives and your team loses and it just crushes you. All that time thinking and waiting for the opener and your team comes out of the gate with a loss. Well, the 2010 Broncos dropped their season debut at Jacksonville on Sunday 24-17. The Jags took a 7-0 lead right before the half, but Kyle Orton drove Denver right down the field and connected with Jabar Gaffney for a touchdown to tie it up right before the half. Jacksonville took a 14-7 lead in the 3rd, but Knowshon Moreno tied it at 14 on a 1 yard touchdown run. The teams traded field goals, but the Jags took the lead midway through the fourth on David Garrard's third touchdown pass of the day. Down seven, Denver drove inside the 20 of Jacksonville, but the Broncos failed to convert a fourth and 3. The Broncos got the ball back with about two minutes to go but Orton got picked off near midfield as the Jags clinched the victory. It was a disappointing loss for the Broncos in a game they really had to have if they want to get off to a good start to the 2010 season. Here are my quick hits for this week's game.......

1) The offense played well but penalties and turnovers killed them just like last year. A holding call stalled a drive in the first quarter, and Correll Buckhalter fumbled as Denver was driving inside the Jags red zone in the second quarter.

2) Kyle Orton played well, but still can't make the big plays late in the game that could have decided the outcome in Denver's favor.

3) The run defense was not very good at all. The Broncos still seem very suspect in that area, and the only one that impressed me in the front seven versus the run game was DJ Williams.

4) The secondary looked slow and old. I know they really didn't have a pass rush to help them out, but the back end did not play well at all today. This is going to be a major concern all season. Just wait till we face Peyton Manning in Week 3.

5) I was not impressed with Don Martindale's debut as Defensive Coordinator. This defense looks like it has 2007 and 2008 written all over it. The Bronco defense is flat out awful.

6) No running game at all. There were a few nice runs by Moreno, but the Broncos never even seemed to try and get the run game going. They can't rely on being one dimensional, especially with Kyle Orton at QB.

7) Why insert Tim Tebow for two running plays up the gut in the first quarter? Use him in the spread formation. Try to get the defense thinking run or pass with him. What is the point of putting him in there in a double tight running formation? They could have came back to him later in the game as well.

8) Josh McDaniels is going to start to hear it in Denver. The bottom line is that since November 1st of last year, the Broncos are 2-9, and they have lost their last five games. They haven't won a regular season game since December 6, 2009. McDaniels is the head coach and he takes the blame.

9) The Broncos better beat Seattle at home next week because they have Indy, at Tennessee, at Baltimore and the Jets staring at them the next four weeks after that. That is a recipe for 0-6 or 1-5. The heat is on McDaniels, and if this thing gets out of hand, then just hand the keys to Tebow and let him learn on the job. This team isn't going anywhere, just give the fans some hope for the future.

WEEK 1 Picks are Back!

Ahh, the NFL is back this weekend and all is okay in the world again. There is nothing better than the beginning of the NFL season getting started. I love breaking out the Week 1 picks column so we go.......

2010 Record: 0-0

(Home Teams in CAPS)

Thursday Night Opener:

NEW ORLEANS (-4) over Minnesota: I love the Saints in this matchup. The opening night home game is a huge advantage for the Super Bowl champion. I see the Saints coming out on fire and rolling over the Vikings in the Superdome.

Carolina (+7) over NY GIANTS: The Panthers always play the G-Men tough as evidenced by last year's romp over the Giants in the final game for the Giants at Giants stadium. I like the Panthers formula for success: Run the ball, play defense and take a few chances downfield.

Miami (-3) over BUFFALO: The Fish are a solid team and this line is way too low. Miami wins this game by at least 10.

Atlanta (-2) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers will play well, even with Dennis Dixon playing QB, but the Falcons will pull it out late on the road.

Detroit (+7) over CHICAGO: The Lions could actually be a sleeper team this year, and the Bears are too unpredictable even at home. The Lions jump on it early, and roll to a surprise victory in Chicago.

NEW ENGLAND (-4) over Cincinnati: The Bengals look like a team that is going to take a step back this year, and everyone is sleeping on the Pats. New England comes out hot early and cruises to a 10 point win.

Cleveland (+3) over TAMPA BAY: This is the worst matchup of Week 1 by far. The Browns will eek out a close victory. I'm thinking Browns 16 Bucs 10.

Indianapolis (-2) over HOUSTON: The Texans never beat the Colts, but they get close everytime. This line is too low for Peyton Manning and the Colts, and Indy wins by a touchdown.

TENNESSEE (-6) over Oakland: I don't see Jason Campbell all of a sudden ripping it up and turning the Raider franchise around. The Titans have improved their defense, they are at home, and they have Chris Johnson. That is enough to win by seven this week.

Green Bay (-3) over PHILADELPHIA: This pick is more of not trusting the Eagles than being that high on the Packers. I think Kevin Kolb will be good, but he will struggle and lose some big games and some close games this year. I see the Packers winning, and all of the Eagle fans ready to jump off the bridge on Monday morning.

San Francisco (-3) over SEATTLE: Pete Carroll will turn the Seahawks around, but not this year. The Niners have everything set up for them to win this game and get on a roll. This line is low, and the Niners are a lock.

ST.LOUIS (+4) over Arizona: The Rams could surprise everyone in Week 1 with a surprise win at home. I don't like where the Cards are at right now, and I think Sam Bradford has a solid first game and the Rams pull the shocker.

WASHINGTON (+4) over Dallas: This is a great Sunday Night matchup. Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan start their era off on the right foot with a surprise win over their rivals. The Cowboys lose and get off to a real rocky start to 2010.

Baltimore (+3) over NY JETS: This could be the game of the week in Week 1. The Ravens look like a possible Super Bowl contender, and the Jets have a lot of hype surrounding them heading into the season. The Ravens pull off the upset in a squeaker on MNF.

KANSAS CITY (+5) over San Diego: The Chiefs open the season with a huge upset on the MNF doubleheader game. The Chiefs could be a team that hits the .500 mark this year, and I'm not sold on the Chargers still dominating the AFC West.

JACKSONVILLE (-3) over Denver: The Broncos are a mess right now with all these injuries. Knowshon Moreno is questionable to play, and if he doesn't play the Broncos are in deep trouble. I can just see how this game goes: Jacksonville gets an early 10-0 lead. Kyle Orton battles back and the game stands at 17-10 Jacksonville late in the 3rd quarter. The Broncos turn the ball over in the 4th quarter (An Orton interception which leads to a million shots of Tim Tebow on the sideline), and Maurice Jones-Drew runs the ball down the throat of the Denver defense in the fourth quarter as the Broncos front seven in dying out there in the humidity. Jones-Drew punches home a late TD to put the Broncos away.

Final Score: Jacksonville-24 Denver-10

2010 Denver Broncos Preview

For the last four years, everyone always asks me what I think the Broncos record will be for the upcoming season. Every single summer I say the same exact thing, "They are probably looking at 8-8, but if things break right maybe they can get 10 wins and sneak in as a wild card." The Broncos records every year since 2006: 9-7,7-9,8-8,8-8. So there you go, at least I can say I know how to pick my own team's record. This year seems no different to me. I still see the Broncos as a middle of the road team, and maybe they can catch a few breaks in the schedule, on the injury front and in some games to squeak out 10 wins and six seed in the AFC. To preview the Broncos I broke it down into what I like and what I don't like heading into the 2010 season. Enjoy....

WHAT I LIKE:

-I really like how Kyle Orton is playing. He seems to really be in control of this offense, and he looks comfortable and might actually be poised for a breakout season. He is the triggerman in this offense, and he can pick apart an average or below average defense. I like how he is playing and if he elevates his play, then the Broncos will have a chance week to week.

-I like the core of receivers the Broncos have assembled. Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal could both go over the 70 catch plateau in this system. Rookie WR Eric Decker just has the feel of a solid receiving threat and viable option for Orton. If fellow rookie WR Demaryius Thomas can just get healthy, the Broncos could have a real arsenal of receivers to work with.

-I really like the Broncos secondary. Champ Bailey is still Champ Bailey and people tend to forget how good Champ still is. Andre Goodman played well last year, and he is a solid compliment to Champ on the other corner. Brian Dawkins is still a beast from the safety position, and I think Dawkins will still be solid this year. Renaldo Hill is another solid player, and second year man Darcel McBath is a ball hawk and a real playmaker in the secondary. Nickelback Nate Jones is another solid defender, and rookie CB Perrish Cox has made some spectacular plays in the preseason and looks like a star in the making. The one thing that I always hear about Denver's secondary is that they are never out of position. That is key and this is a veteran unit that must really carry Denver's defense this year.

-I really like C J.D. Walton and the potential for this offensive line. The Broncos have three bonafide players on their O-Line: Ryan Harris and Ryan Clady at tackle and Chris Kuper at guard. Throw in rookie Zane Beadles and his versatility and the way that Walton has stepped up, and the Broncos could have a dominating offensive line for years to come. The unproven guys on this line (Stanley Daniels included) could really help make the O-Line one of the strengths of this team.

-I really, really like Tim Tebow. Say what you want about Tebow, but the guy made some really nice throws in the preseason. He is still very far off from competing for the starting job, but he has shown that he can be developed as a real QB in this league. Hopefully, Denver will use him in some packages this season because he can totally be a threat in short yardage, goaline, and redzone situations. Tebow brings excitement and the Broncos need that at this point.

-I like the Broncos schedule. Denver opens with Jacksonville on the road and Seattle at home. After a rough stretch that includes Indy, Tennessee, Baltimore and the Jets, the Broncos have games remaining against Oakland (twice), KC (twice), Arizona, San Francisco (In London), St. Louis, Houston at home and San Diego twice (once at home). If they start out 2-0, then they could get 8 wins from this Oakland (twice), KC (twice), St. Louis, Arizona, SF, and Houston. I think that is a realistic view for this team. Remember, the schedule is huge for a team's chances of making the playoffs.

-I like what Josh McDaniels is building. I know there have been some shaky personnel decisions by McD. The Cutler trade, the Marshall trade, and the Alphonso Smith Era have all reflected poorly on McD; however, I was impressed with him this offseason. He was aggressive in the draft, made some shrewd moves on the offensive side of the ball, and has a vision of what he wants this football team to become. I admire that and I think that he is good in-game coach and decision maker. I feel good about the franchise in McDaniels' hands and hopefully this season it can translate into a playoff berth.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

-The front seven is weak. Hopefully, Jamal Williams can give you something at the nose, but if can't perform, then Denver's run defense is screwed big time. I like the Justin Bannan pickup, but I just don't feel comfortable that the Broncos solved all of their problems from the end of last season. The linebackers have got to be some of the weakest in the AFC. I like DJ Williams, but he seems to disappear week to week. Mario Haggan is a nice role player, but is he someone you want starting as an ILB? The loss of Elvis Dumervil puts the pass rushing focus on Robert Ayers. He has shown some brilliance in the preseason, but he is still very unproven. Jarvis Moss is finally trying to break out four years after he was drafted, but I can't be sold on him, and Jason Hunter was on Detroit's horrific defense last season. How can I get excited about him in a Bronco uniform. It all adds up to a real abundance of questions about this unit this year.

-The running game is a nightmare right now. I know Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were hurt most of the preseason, but the running game is no where to be found. If the Broncos want to be successful on offense, they need to run the ball consistently. Right now it looks like they won't be able to move the ball effectively with their run game. If they can't run the ball, then Kyle Orton is in big time trouble.

-The Broncos are too banged up already entering the season. This has been the worst training camp for injuries I have ever seen as a Bronco fan. Look at the names that are all questionable and banged up for the season opener: Knowshon Moreno (Huge loss if he isn't 100%), Correll Buckhalter (He looks shot compared to last season), Demaryius Thomas (He could be such a weapon if he is healthy), Ryan Clady (It will be tough for him the first few weeks of the season), Ryan Harris (Could miss the opener with an ankle injury), Chris Kuper (We need him back at 100%), Daniel Graham (He might not play week 1), and of course the loss of Elvis Dumervil. Usually teams are limping into the postseason, but the Broncos are literally limping into the season opener. These injuries are going to really hold Denver back and all these players missed huge amounts of time this offseason and training camp. I can't see them all coming back week 1 and playing well together for the first time. Moreno is the key guy in that group and I can't see him making an impact the first few weeks after laboring with a hamstring injury all summer.

Final Thoughts: The Broncos have some bright spots and the opportunity to make things interesting in the AFC West, but the injury problems maybe a little too much for them to overcome. For the fifth season in a row, the Broncos will miss out of a playoff spot and finish with a record of 7-9.

Broncos Trim Down to Final 53

Here is the 2010 Denver Broncos Roster:

Active

#	NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	AGE	EXP.	COLLEGE
58	Atkins, Baraka	LB	6-4	268	25	3	Miami (Fla.)
56	Ayers, Robert	LB	6-3	274	24	2	Tennessee
24	Bailey, Champ	CB	6-0	192	32	12	Georgia
35	Ball, Lance	RB	5-9	220	25	1	Maryland
97	Bannan, Justin	DL	6-3	310	31	9	Colorado
67	Batiste, D'Anthony	OL	6-4	314	28	5	Louisiana-Lafayette
68	Beadles, Zane	OL	6-4	305	23	R	Utah
30	Bruton, David	S	6-2	211	23	2	Notre Dame
28	Buckhalter, Correll	RB	6-0	223	31	10	Nebraska
78	Clady, Ryan	OL	6-6	325	23	3	Boise State
4	Colquitt, Britton	P	6-3	205	28	2	Tennessee
32	Cox, Perrish	CB	6-0	195	23	R	Oklahoma State
64	Daniels, Stanley	OL	6-4	320	25	1	Washington
20	Dawkins, Brian	S	6-0	210	36	15	Clemson
87	Decker, Eric	WR	6-2	215	23	R	Minnesota
91	Fields, Ronald	DL	6-2	314	28	6	Mississippi State
10	Gaffney, Jabar	WR	6-2	200	29	9	Florida
21	Goodman, Andre	CB	5-10	184	32	9	South Carolina
89	Graham, Daniel	TE	6-3	257	31	9	Colorado
	Gronkowski, Dan	TE	6-5	255	25	2	Maryland
57	Haggan, Mario	LB	6-3	267	30	8	Mississippi State
29	Hall, Bruce	RB	5-11	205	25	1	Mississippi
74	Harris, Ryan	OL	6-5	300	25	4	Notre Dame
23	Hill, Renaldo	S	5-11	205	31	10	Michigan State
71	Hochstein, Russ	OL	6-4	305	32	10	Nebraska
52	Hunter, Jason	LB	6-4	271	27	5	Appalachian State
33	Jones, Nate	CB	5-10	185	28	7	Rutgers
73	Kuper, Chris	OL	6-4	303	27	5	North Dakota
46	Larsen, Spencer	LB/FB	6-2	243	26	3	Arizona
84	Lloyd, Brandon	WR	6-0	194	29	8	Illinois
51	Mays, Joe	LB	5-11	246	25	3	North Dakota State
31	McBath, Darcel	S	6-1	198	24	2	Texas Tech
98	McBean, Ryan	DL	6-5	297	26	3	Oklahoma State
27	Moreno, Knowshon	RB	5-11	210	23	2	Georgia
94	Moss, Jarvis	LB	6-7	257	26	4	Florida
69	Olsen, Eric	OL	6-4	305	22	R	Notre Dame
8	Orton, Kyle	QB	6-4	225	27	6	Purdue
66	Paxton, Lonie	LS	6-2	265	32	11	Sacramento State
5	Prater, Matt	K	5-10	187	26	4	Central Florida
9	Quinn, Brady	QB	6-3	235	25	4	Notre Dame
81	Quinn, Richard	TE	6-4	255	23	2	North Carolina
19	Royal, Eddie	WR	5-10	180	24	3	Virginia Tech
99	Smith, Le Kevin	DL	6-3	308	28	5	Nebraska
15	Tebow, Tim	QB	6-3	245	23	R	Florida
88	Thomas, Demaryius	WR	6-3	229	22	R	Georgia Tech
79	Thomas, Marcus	DL	6-3	316	24	4	Florida
43	Thompson, Syd'Quan	CB	5-9	187	23	R	California
41	Vaughn, Cassius	CB	5-11	195	22	R	Mississippi
50	Walton, J.D.	OL	6-3	305	23	R	Baylor
55	Williams, D.J.	LB	6-1	242	28	7	Miami (Fla.)
76	Williams, Jamal	DL	6-3	348	34	13	Oklahoma State
12	Willis, Matthew	WR	6-0	195	26	2	UCLA
59	Woodyard, Wesley	LB	6-0	222	24	3	Kentucky

Injured Reserve

#	NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	AGE	EXP.	COLLEGE
92	Dumervil, Elvis	LB	5-11	248	26	5	Louisville
11	McKinley, Kenny	WR	6-0	183	23	2	South Carolina
14	Stokley, Brandon	WR	6-0	192	34	12	Southwestern Louisiana
25	White, LenDale	RB	6-1	235	25	5	USC

Interesting Points:

1- Denver traded CB Alphonso Smith to Detroit for TE Dan Gronkowski. The move officially ended the Smith era in Denver and really proved to be a big mistake when Josh McDaniels traded away a 2010 first round pick to select him in the second round of the 2009 Draft.

2-The Broncos placed Elvis Dumervil, Lendale White and Brandon Stokely on season ending Injured Reserve. The Dumervil move was expected, but it is still a crushing blow to Denver's defense. The Stokely move was not a surprise and it looks like he will make an injury settlement with the Broncos and move on with his career somewhere else.

3-The release of TE Marquez Branson was not a surprise at all. I was never in love with Branson, and it just confirms that the Broncos should have drafted a TE in the middle rounds of this past draft. Hopefully, Gronkowski can make some plays as a receiving TE.