Robert Ayers Working Hard, Ready for Denver Broncos Training Camp

This offseason, the main-area concern for critics of the Denver Broncos has been the uncertainty of their front seven.

First-round pick Robert Ayers not only hopes to restore certainty to Denver fans, but he hopes to make a smooth transition to Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defensive scheme.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty hard defense, but you know if you’ve put in the work and the time and have studied, you’ll catch on,” Ayers said. “I think all of the [defensive] guys are setting a good example for me.  I see what they’re doing in the classroom and learning, and stuff like that…It makes all the rookies want to do the same.”

Ayers comes to the Broncos as a first-round pick in April’s draft, and in college he never really put up any big numbers.  Much of that can be attributed to the fact that he was largely a run-stuffing defensive end, but such a high pick will be expected to get to the quarterback double digit times early in his career.

And Ayers understands the pressure.

“There may be [pressure],” Ayers said. “I set my standards high for myself.  For other people to put pressure on me—it doesn’t amount to how much pressure I put on myself.  I’m my hardest critic.”

Even with the scheme and position change, Ayers feels the Broncos were the only team for him.

“I feel like this is the perfect defense for me,” Ayers said. “Out of all 32 teams—I’m not with the other teams but I don’t think there could be a better match for me.  The way I play, the things I do good, it fits perfectly with this defense, and I’m happy to be here.”

With all of his hard work, Ayers does not plan on facing any setbacks with his rookie contract.  Unlike many first-round picks, the former Tennessee defensive end plans on reporting to training camp in late July with a deal in place.

“Mr. (Pat) Bowlen and my agent (Tony Agnone), they’ll work together and I’m pretty sure they’ll have a good deal (in place),” Ayers said. “I feel confident about the fact that I’ll be here on time.”

When talking to the press, Ayers continued to impress with his maturity.  The youngster knows that this league is a business, but he also knows why he will make the money he does.

“I don’t want to lose any time,” he said. “Another thing I don’t want to do, I don’t want the team thinking I’m a money-first guy. I’m here to play football and to win. Money is secondary. It’s going to be there. It’s just the fact of getting it done.”

The rookie also stated that he is excited to get on the field with pads on, and like fellow former defensive linemen Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Elvis Dumervil and Darrell Reid, Ayers is going to have to adjust to rushing the passer whilst standing up.

“In college, I played mostly with my hand down,” he said. “The fact that I’m a little more comfortable with my hand down, I’m trying to learn how to rush standing up.”

Ayers went on to say how the Broncos’ coaching staff is allowing some of the “hybrid” linebackers to put their hand in the ground in some situations, but that he is forcing himself to stand up in those situations so he can become more acclimated to the position.

The turnaround of a horrific defense in Denver will depend largely on the production of their front seven, and Ayers figures to be a huge part of that transition.  The rookie out of Tennessee is hoping to give the Broncos something they have lacked this whole decade: a legitimate pass rush.

Denver Broncos Re-Sign C Casey Wiegmann, Cut LB Boss Bailey

Casey Wiegmann will be making his NFL record 128th NFL start as an NFL center for the Denver Broncos in 2009 after signing a two-year contract extension with the team on Wednesday.

Wiegmann, an undrafted free agent out of Iowa back in 1996, made his first career Pro Bowl in 2008 as an alternate for Kevin Mawae.  Due to his play and fairly modest contract, Wiegmann felt he deserved more money from the Broncos and openly stated that he would retire if Denver did not pay up.

Unlike wide receiver Brandon Marshall, Wiegmann impressed the new coaching staff by showing up to all but one off season activity, voluntary or mandatory, and that was an excused absence to attend a family event.

“They had patience, we had patience,” Broncos’ head coach Josh McDaniels said.  “We tried to make sure we did this the right way. We tried to do what is in the best interest of Casey and the Denver Broncos.”

I have been open about my opinion of Wiegmann, and how impressed I am with his work ethic and professional approach to wanting a more fruitful contract, and apparently so is new coach McDaniels.

“I can’t say enough about the way he went through this process,” McDaniels said. “We’re very grateful.”

After losing Jay Cutler to the Bears, and Brandon Marshall now requesting a trade, the Broncos are guaranteed to retain at least one of their three 2008 Pro Bowl performers.

 

Boss Bailey Cut

After missing all of the team’s off season workouts, linebacker Boss Bailey was released today. 

“I wasn’t really surprised by it. I understand how the business goes,” Bailey said. “It’s a business call. I appreciate everything they’ve done for me since I’ve been here. Once you’re a Bronco, you’re always a Bronco.”

Bailey is the brother of star cornerback Champ Bailey, and was one of Denver’s biggest signings prior to the 2008 season.  He played well until suffering a season ending knee injury, and the fact that half of Denver’s defensive linemen from 2008 are now playing linebacker did not bode well for Bailey’s future with the team.

The Broncos also released veteran linebacker/special teams player Louis Green.

Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall Requests Trade; Sign WR Brandon Lloyd

Denver Broncos’ wide receiver Brandon Marshall has requested a trade, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Marshall reportedly is upset with his current contract with the Broncos and says he lacks trust for the Broncos’ training staff after they apparently did not notice his hip injury as early as he would have liked.

Despite what many casual observers may think, this was brought on, completely and entirely, by the begrudged wide receiver Marshall, and not Broncos management.

Marshall has skipped every Broncos offseason activity, including the mandatory one this past weekend, and met with team owner Pat Bowlen on Saturday.

According to the Denver Post, Bowlen told Marshall to go home and think about his decision to request a trade, but early indications are that Marshall will be sticking to his “guns.”

This is arguably the dumbest move by a player I have ever seen in my life. Not only is Marshall injured, but he has yet to resolve all of his legal matters. He has not participated in one practice with the Broncos’ new system.

If Marshall wants to get paid, his best option is to report to training camp on July 30th. He is already going to be fined over $35,000 for missing the mandatory three day camp, and will be fined even more if he misses training camp.

Basically, Marshall has two options:

1. Skip Training Camp, hold out for 2009, lose over $2 million (not to mention free agent value).

2. Show up to training camp, post big numbers in 2009, earn a payday next offseason

Being traded is not an option for Marshall. 

Due to his off-field incidents, recent hip surgery, the fact that he led the NFL in dropped passes last year, and the fact that he only has one year left on his contract could diminish his trade value.

Marshall needs Denver, and quite frankly, Denver needs Marshall. He adds a whole other dimension to this team’s offense with his playmaking ability.

He has posted back-to-back 100-catch seasons, and last season made his first Pro Bowl.

Still, the thought of Marshall being traded is attractive to fans of other teams, so let’s speculate. Here are some possible landing spots for the receiver (in no particular order):

 

1. Minnesota Vikings

If the Vikings want Marshall bad enough, they could give the Broncos DT Kevin Williams for him straight up. The Vikings are in hot pursuit of QB Brett Favre, and if they could obtain Marshall, it would be all the more reason for Favre to join.

 

2. Chicago Bears

The Bears sold the farm for Jay Cutler, and they have some defensive players that could get the Broncos excited. Okay, they have one defensive player that could get the Broncos excited, and that is defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

 

3.  New York Giants

The Giants cut Plaxico Burress earlier this offseason, and although they devoted some of their draft to the WR position, Marshall could still entice them. They have a plethora of defensive linemen the Broncos would love to add.

 

4. Cleveland Browns

The Browns could send the Broncos any combination of Braylon Edwards or Shaun Rogers and some draft picks.

 

To be clear, I do not think in the very least that Marshall will be traded. He has no leverage, and if Josh McDaniels and company were to give in to Marshall, it would completely negate the statement and point they made by trading Jay Cutler earlier this offseason.

 

Another Brandon catches on

Coincidence or not, the Broncos signed wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, formerly of the Chicago Bears, to a free agent contract today.

Lloyd made some big plays for the Bears in 2008, catching 26 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns.

 

As Expected, Josh McDaniels Names Kyle Orton Broncos’ Starting QB

In the midst of arguably the most foolish holdout in Denver Broncos’ history, some breaking news came today out of the Mile High City that was actually in regards to the football field.  New quarterback Kyle Orton was officially named the starter by head coach Josh McDaniels.

“We’ve named Kyle the starter, and again we said from day one that when it was clear and apparent to us through a number of practices, meetings, and those type of things that you evaluate the quarterback on that we would make a decision and we have,” McDaniels said.  “That certainly does not mean that there won’t be competition in training camp because there will…Kyle has the job right now but we will see if he can keep it.”

It has been a rough offseason for many in Denver, but this news comes as a major relief to Orton, who thinks this offense has a bright future ahead.

“Obviously I’m really excited,” Orton said. “It’s really just the beginning for me and this offense and hopefully just continue to improve everyday—get myself and the offense where we need to be for the season.”

Even though Orton is the starter now in June, he still knows Chris Simms is hot on his heels.

“He is still fighting his butt off to take over the job, and I need to keep playing well,” Orton said.

One reason it was easy for McDaniels to trade away Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears was not just because of the draft pick compensation they received in return, but the fact that Orton is a very smart quarterback who can pick up this complex offense.

“Yeah it’s difficult,” Orton said, “It’s a new system—it’s certainly difficult for every guy but that’s our job is to learn it and execute it, and we’ve been working hard to do it.”

Now that more than two months have passed since the Cutler trade, Broncos’ fans are more at ease due to the fact Orton will be under center this season. 

Prior to going down with an ankle injury last season, Orton was playing the best ball of his life, completing 62.23 percent of his passes for 1,669 yards, and 10 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions.

And that was with a makeshift receiving group.

Now with Denver, Orton has a receiving group that features the likes of Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Tony Scheffler, Daniel Graham, Peyton Hillis, Knowshon Moreno, and Correll Buckhalter.

Some fantasy analysts are projecting Orton to have a career season in his first year with the Broncos.

 

Marshall Update

Marshall was in Dove Valley for a brief period of time yesterday to meet with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and was seen leaving with some boxes.  The significance of the boxes remains to be seen, but the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s situation grows stickier by the day.

Some are suggesting he will be traded, but the smart money says Marshall will report to training camp and play another year with the Broncos.

Marshall is reportedly unhappy about his contract, and the Broncos appear to be hesitant to renew that contract due to Marshall’s legal situation as well as his recent major hip surgery. 

The smart thing for Marshall to do is report to the Broncos’ mandatory mini-camp, as he is losing a projected $9,000 dollars per session.

Brandon Marshall Skips Broncos Mini-Camp; Time in Denver May Be Short-Lived

Today marks day one of the Broncos’ weekend mini-camp, the first mandatory session of the offseason. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall was not in attendance.

Consider this the official beginning of Marshall’s “holdout” with the Denver Broncos. The fourth-year receiver is in the final year of his rookie contract and is due to make just over $2 million this season.

Per the Denver Post, Marshall likely will be fined by the team for his actions. 

The Pro Bowl wide receiver had hip surgery earlier this offseason. It is unlikely he would have been able to practice anyway, but he was still expected to show up for rehab on his injury.

This segment is supposed to be a professional breaking news article, but allow me to voice my opinion for a moment.

Brandon Marshall has got to be one of the dumbest people on earth for not showing up to the mandatory mini-camps.

First of all, he is in the final year of his rookie contract, which is modest anyway, and now he is going to be fined. He is losing money over this. 

If there is one thing any Bronco fan, player, coach, or executive has learned since the Josh McDaniels era began, it is that if any player feels he is above the rest, he is going to be gone faster than he can blink.

Factor in the fact that Marshall is forfeiting valuable time getting to know his new teammates, the new system, and the Broncos’ new quarterbacks. Sure, he can study the playbook from afar, but it would be much more beneficial to show up to camp to get an idea of what the offense looks like live.

You also have to think as a player—would your coach, the man who ultimately decides whether or not you stay or go, honestly be more willing to talk contract extension with you if you were a man and showed up to the mandatory camp?

Marshall is going nowhere fast.

He still faces domestic dispute charges in August, and his hip injury is going to limit him to only two weeks of training camp practice this entire offseason.

Marshall, if you read this, take a page out of the book of Casey Wiegmann.

Show the team you are dedicated to the new direction by showing up for camp and putting a smile on your face. You have provided the Broncos with more headaches than they should have put up with, and you are still being given another chance. 

Keep your mouth shut, perform well this season, and then you can worry about a contract extension.  

Otherwise, I do not see you in Denver past 2009, maybe not even that. Wide receivers come and go, and you are no different. 

New Broncos Safety Brian Dawkins Hopes to Finish Career With Hardware

Future Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins did not leave the Philadelphia Eagles for the five-year contract he received from the Denver Broncos.

“I would love to have a ring,” Dawkins said. “I would love to finish it all with a ring.”

At the ripe age of 35, many feel Dawkins is on his last gasp. There has been talk of him “slowing down” or “not being what he used to be,” but there is little doubt he is still capable of running around with the best on the field.

During his 13-year tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dawkins was part of 10 playoff teams, five NFC Championship games, and one Super Bowl participant.

In that time, he has developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league and has earned the nickname “Weapon X” among others.

Since Dawkins is one of just a few Broncos players with significant playoff experience, he knows the importance of proper preparation for the grueling NFL season.

“From this time of year, it’s really honestly about dedication. Dedicating yourself to the potential of us doing what we need to do and to getting to the playoffs,” Dawkins said.

“What I mean by that dedication is your workouts need to be intense. You can’t not work out for a period of time and think, ‘I’m going to be all right.’ You can’t think, ‘I’ve got all the plays down’ and not study them. And you have to take care of your body, and what that means is getting the proper sleep and eating the right things.”

Along with Dawkins, the Broncos brought in three new safeties to help a group that was arguably the worst in the NFL in 2008. Those players include rookies Darcel McBath and David Bruton, and veteran Renaldo Hill. Dawkins says it is a big part of their development to have veteran leadership.

“It helps the team, but I feel like I’m supposed to do that,” Dawkins said, “I have been blessed to play a lot of years, and I have received wisdom from experience and from others that it wouldn’t be right for me to just keep it to myself.”

Dawkins also knows the importance of sharing wisdom off the field, because no one plays in the NFL forever.

“In the long haul, you know, this game of football won’t be here for everybody all the time—we’re all going to hang ’em up at some point—and if I can tell them something that’s going to help them off the field, to be a better individual, then I’ll definitely do that also.”

If there is anything more important than his on-field production, it is the savvy and leadership Dawkins brings to the table. But he is not just being embraced by his coaches and teammates—Dawkins has brought excitement to the city of Denver as a whole. 

In fact, not only is Dawkins’ jersey the top-selling item on the Broncos’ section of NFLShop.com, but even he noticed there was a buzz around him at the team’s recent Fan Fair.

“They were very excited to have me here,” Dawkins said. “It’s a humbling experience for me. They were very, very jacked up at the fact of what (the defense) can potentially do as a unit, and what I have been able to do for 13 years. They are expecting that this year so I’m going to do what I can for them.”

While many NFL observers are saying he is too old to compete at a high level anymore, Dawkins is a man of faith and believes that when his time has passed, he will know.

“I would love to continue to play at a high level,” Dawkins said. “I think from the onset of my career, one of the things that I have always said is that I want to be very consistent for the duration of my career. I’m talking about from the beginning to the end.

“I want to play a consistent brand of ball throughout that time, and when the Lord tells me it’s time to set it down, I’ll set it down, but that ring is the most important push for me right now.”

So how far away are the Broncos from getting that ring?

“We’ll see,” Dawkins said. “It’s a day-to-day operation with any team, but for us I know we’re young in a lot of respects as far as learning and knowing the offense and defense. It’s going to be important for every guy to learn his playbook and know that thing.”

While many Eagles fans were devastated at the loss of Dawkins, he realizes this league is a business, and says it has already sunk in that he is no longer an Eagle.

“I knew I was a Bronco when I first set foot on that practice field,” Dawkins said. “In the workout room, working out with guys, it’s still new… Once I finally truly got on the practice field, I got in the huddle and donned the helmet—I’m a Bronco.”

The Broncos defense will feature many new starters, and while many still have their doubts, Dawkins’ leadership could be a huge key to the resurrection of the Orange Crush in Denver.

Richard Quinn: Denver Broncos’ Newest Tight End Has High Hopes, Realistic Goals

When the Denver Broncos obtained the final pick of the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft from the Pittsburgh Steelers, many expected the Josh McDaniels regime to go with a defensive player.

Instead, he shocked nearly every Broncos fan by selecting little known tight end Richard Quinn out of North Carolina.

Quinn was rated behind Brandon Pettigrew as the best blocking tight end in the draft, but as we all know, blocking is not the most appealing attribute for a tight-end prospect at this level.

Still, the Broncos were in need of depth at this position. Behind veteran Daniel Graham are Tony Scheffler, Jeb Putzier, and now Richard Quinn, who will likely assume the third tight end duties.

Many Broncos fans were upset with the selection of Quinn, as a third tight end was not very high on the wish list of a fan base that saw arguably the worst defensive performance in franchise history in 2008.

Now that the draft has passed and the dust has settled, the drafting of Quinn is shaping out to be one of the more intriguing moves the Broncos have made this offseason. 

Even when he first arrived in Denver, Quinn told the press he was shocked the Broncos called his number on day one of the draft, and that he was expecting to go somewhere in the third to fifth rounds.

McDaniels made it very clear that he did not care when a player was “supposed” to be drafted and went out and got his man regardless. 

Quinn was the fifth pick on the first day for the Denver Broncos and the second offensive player selected.

While he is known mainly for his blocking skills, the former Tar Heel really impressed scouts with his pass-catching abilities during offseason workouts and could be a very valuable asset in the red zone, an area in which the Broncos struggled to convert in 2008.

“Oh yeah. I make sure I try to take advantage of every opportunity when the ball comes my way,” Quinn said.

Many seem to forget that as bad as Denver was on defense last year, their second ranked offense in terms of yardage struggled to put points on the board, finishing just 16th in the NFL in scoring offense.

With the additions of players like Jabar Gaffney, Knowshon Moreno, Blake Schlueter, LaMont Jordan, and now Quinn, the Broncos appear to have a group that can be effective in the red zone.

While the experience of the NFL was surreal at first, Quinn said he now realizes that it is time to get to work, and as a second-round pick, he needs to learn quickly.

“[The NFL] is just very, very fast. I’m just trying to keep up with the speed of the game—knowing what to do when you’re on the line—just kind of process everything and know what you have to do when you get on the ball,” Quinn said.

When he was drafted, Quinn jumped out to many as a guy who compares very favorably to current Broncos tight end Daniel Graham. It only seems fitting that Graham would be a great mentor for the youngster.

“Daniel Graham has been taking me a little bit, after a play he will pull me to the side and tell me what I should have done better on that play,” Quinn said.

“[He gives] me little hints and tips to not make the same mistakes on the next play.  Daniel Graham is a good leader, good guy. I really respect him a lot.”

Quinn also believes the depth the Broncos have at tight end has been a big help for not only him, but everyone else at his position.

“We’ve got some very talented guys out there on the field. Guys running around, making plays. It’s exciting to watch,” Quinn said.

“We’re getting better everyday…I always try to pay attention to what the veteran guys are doing at first so when it’s time for me to go up, I know exactly what to do: try to minimize all my mistakes as much as possible.”

While Quinn’s contributions may go largely unnoticed in 2009, the second-round pick will not disappoint Bronco fans. His blocking and pass-catching abilities in the red zone should bring instant impact to this team’s offense.

Best Slot Receiver Ever? Brandon Stokley Held in High Regard by Peers

If there is one player on the Denver Broncos who has been part of some big moments in NFL history, it is wide receiver Brandon Stokley.

Since being selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Stokley has had his share of the spotlight.

In his rookie season he caught three passes in the Super Bowl, including a 38-yard touchdown strike in the first quarter.

During the 2004 season, he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning that not only gave Manning the single-season passing touchdowns record, but also made the Indianapolis Colts the first team in NFL history with three wide receivers to have over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns each.

While Stokley may not see it this way, getting injured for all but four games of the 2005 and 2006 seasons was a blessing in disguise.

When he became a free agent on March 1st of 2007, he was not considered to be among the big names on the market.  He was coming off of a serious Achilles injury, and many considered his playing days to be over, especially since he was not going to be catching passes from Peyton Manning anymore.

Stokley signed a fairly modest two year contract with the Denver Broncos in the summer of 2007, but the Broncos would soon learn that he was worth far more than he was getting paid.

In the 2007 season, Stokley played in 13 games and caught 40 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns.  Undoubtedly though, the most important statistic for Stokley was the fact that he averaged 15.9 yards per reception, easily a first down and then some.

In 2008, it was much of the same from Stokley.  He played through injuries, and in 15 games caught 40 passes for 528 yards and three touchdowns.  Even though his average per reception was not as good, he still had 10.8 yards per catch.

Since his days in Indianapolis, Stokley has been known for being sure-handed on third downs, which is what new Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels remembers him for.

“He’s been a pain in the butt from afar really,” McDaniels said. “He’s been one of the best third-down receivers in the league in terms of getting open past the sticks and converting and keeping the offense on the field…He’s a good person for some of our young players to emulate.”

And the young players are definitely taking notice. 

Stokley is said to be one of the top slot receivers the game has ever known by some scouts, and second year player Eddie Royal hopes to become a Wes Welker type slot player in the Broncos’ new offense.

“He’s been great for me—great in helping me grow as a wide receiver,” Royal said. “Just watching him in the slot every day, they should teach tape just watching him, every route he runs. It’s great getting little tips from him.”

While Stokley himself said he feels a bit like he signed as a free agent with another team due to the change in system, Josh McDaniels thinks he is a good fit with what is being called “Patriots West”.

“Brandon is certainly a veteran player who has done a lot of great things in this league and fits really well into our system and what we do,” McDaniels said.

The new system McDaniels brings over from New England requires the wide receivers to be good route runners, but most importantly sure-handed on third down. 

Stokley is the poster child for that role in an offense, and he will fit in very nicely.

50 Years Later, Hillis and Larsen Represent AFL With Pride

In baseball, an elite prospect is called a “five-tool” player, due to his versatility, willingness to play other positions, and ability to do all of those things very well.

With two of their last three picks in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos were able to obtain two such players in fullbacks Peyton Hillis is and Spencer Larsen.

Hillis came from the Arkansas Razorbacks in the seventh round of last year’s draft, and was selected with the pick obtained from Tampa Bay in the Jake Plummer trade.

When the season began, Hillis was penciled in as the starting fullback, although Denver did not use their fullback in a traditional way. 

Starting three games at both running back and fullback, Hillis led the Broncos in rushing with 343 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry, and tied for the team lead with six total touchdowns(five rushing, one receiving).

While many may not see his numbers as gawdy or even that significant, Hillis was the team’s seventh string and essentially last resort running back.

In only his second start as the Broncos’ tailback in week 13, Hillis became the first player to rush for over 100 yards against the New York Jets all season long, earning Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week and FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors.

When the Broncos signed and drafted five new running backs this offseason, Hillis’ future appeared to be in some kind of doubt.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels erased that doubt addressing Hillis at the team’s offseason activities earlier in the week, by saying that the second year player has lined up as running back, fullback, tight end, and even wide receiver in the new Broncos’ offense.

“We’re gonna use every skill he has,” McDaniels said. “He’s kind of like Tony [Scheffler] and Daniel [Graham]:  Whatever they can do well, we’re going to do it as much as we can do it with them, and he does a lot of things well.”

“He can run the ball out of a single back formation, he can certainly catch the ball out of the backfield, he can block in two back sets, you [the press] saw him split out wide all over the place,” McDaniels said.

“He’s got great hands and a good feel for the passing game. He’s a very tough runner to bring down when you give him the ball,” McDaniels said, “He’ll do a lot of different things for us. Expect him to play a good role in our offense.”

With such high praise coming from a brilliant offensive minded coach, as well as the praise he received from former head coach Mike Shanahan, it is a wonder Hillis fell to the Broncos in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.

Likewise, Denver feels it has a gem of a player as well as a person in fullback Spencer Larsen.

Larsen came to the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft out of Arizona, and figured to be a special teams “ace” for this team right away.

Little did he know what was to come of his rookie season in the NFL.

For the Broncos in 2008, Larsen started games at both linebacker and fullback, as well as both kick team units, and he even became the first player in Denver Broncos history to start a game at linebacker, fullback, and kickoff team.

Larsen’s versatility does not come easy.

“Yeah, you know, just coming in and learning two [systems], I have a lot of information on my plate right now,” Larsen said. “As you can imagine, two new systems on offense and defense, I’m just trying to get a grasp on them and learn both of them.”

So what is a typical “day at the office” for a guy who plays offense, defense, and special teams?

“Well, I come here and I go to the linebackers meeting, and then I spend some time with the running backs,” Larsen said, “[Running Backs] coach [Bobby] Turner has been great, Just helping me out when they can, and they give me just as much information as they think I can handle.

Then, at home with myself I just pick up one book and get as much as I can out of it,” Larsen said. “Then I pick up another one and get as much as I can out of it, and go like that, day in and day out.”

Outside of the Broncos organization, and possibly some avid fantasy football fans, these two players are relatively unknown, which is unjustified.

When the Broncos celebrate 50 years of football this season, no players will represent the good ole’ days better than Hillis and Larsen.

Ryan McBean Blessed with Second Chance

When the Denver Broncos entered the 2009 offseason, many thought the majority of their time and money would be invested in the defensive line.

Now three months since the beginning of free agency, Denver has added eight new defensive linemen to the mix, although none are extremely high profile.

One of the signees is former Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan McBean, a fourth round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2007.

McBean joined a very crowded defensive line in Pittsburgh and has seen very little action in his two years in the league.

He hopes all of that can change now that he is with the Denver Broncos.

“I’m adding whatever the coach asks for me. Whatever he tells me to do I’m going to do it.”

Whatever he lacks in game experience, McBean definitely makes up for it in appearance.  The third year player definitely looks the part at 6’5″ and 290 pounds, ideal for a 3-4 defensive end.

McBean has been practicing with Denver’s first team defensive line for the first few organized team activities. While fans are told not to take too much stock in the current depth charts, it is definitely a huge leap for a guy who has only played in one regular season game.

“It’s (competition) the same for every guy. (We) gotta come out here and work hard regardless (of where we are on the depth chart.) I didn’t look at it too much, just like ‘OK, time to go to work.’

“(But) it’s been great. Guys getting their repetitions and taking every day for what it is.”

While he seems like the ideal fit for the Broncos as a defensive end as the team transitions to the 3-4 defense, sticking his hand in the dirt is not all McBean has to offer this defense.

When asked how his coverage skills were, McBean gave a big smile, laughed, and said, “Real good.”

McBean also said that while in Pittsburgh he mostly played as a down end, but has the capacity to cover.

His versatility does not end there. McBean has played an even “bigger” role in the Broncos’ offseason activities.

“Right now I’m playing end, and sometimes I’m playing nose (tackle) too.”

McBean also addressed the progress of the rest of the defensive unit. If the Broncos’ defense is going to improve as a whole, they must use last season as motivation. Maybe even play with a “chip on their shoulder.”

“Yeah you can tell with our guys that they want to win. They heard about the stats from last year, and we want to change that a whole lot…The guys are willing to play hard.”

Right now, the Broncos’ defensive line is a group of relative unknowns. 

Perhaps this third year player can make a name for himself in the Mile High City and help restore what fans once called the Orange Crush.

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