Breaking News: Broncos’ Marshall Cleared of Suspension, Holdout Next?

When Denver Broncos’ Pro-Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall was arrested for the seventh time in his professional career, many had written him off for half of the upcoming season.

Marshall learned Tuesday that he would not face any punishment from the National Football League.

“The NFL has confirmed that based on their own investigation, there will not be a suspension or any discipline issues as a result of Mr. Marshall’s arrest on March 1,” said Marshall’s attorney Harvey Steinberg. “I had been in touch with the NFL since right after the incident occurred, and we were under the belief that what took place would not rise to the level of any form of discipline.”

Broncos fans can now breathe a sigh of relief, as their top receiver the past two seasons and biggest playmaker on the offensive side of the ball will be in uniform for all 16 regular season games, provided he can stay healthy.

“We are humbled, enthused and excited by this decision by the commissioner’s office,” Marshall’s agent Kennard McGuire said. “We also understand that Brandon has to continue to grow, be accountable and responsible. We have no doubt he’ll do all the above and more.”

The young wide receiver is no stranger to second chances. 

Marshall was arrested not too long after being drafted by the Broncos, and before the 2006 season even started, he was out for half the season with an injury.

In 2007, Marshall broke onto the NFL scene, emerging as one of the league’s premiere players, showing great ability to gain extra yardage after the catch.

In 2008, Marshall was suspended for the Broncos’ season opener in Oakland, but he could have missed much more. He appealed a three game-suspension, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saw something in him that he liked, so he only suspended Marshall for one game and two games pay.

Through a nagging hip injury, Marshall had his best season as a professional in 2008, catching 104 passes en route to his first ever trip to the Pro Bowl.

Entering his fourth year in the league, the young receiver hopes to earn a big paycheck and a long extension with the Broncos. It has even been rumored throughout the league that Marshall is holding out for the extension.

Marshall’s agent refutes the accusation that his client is going to skip out on team activities because of money reasons, and Bronco fans should have reason to believe this is true.

Earlier this offseason, Marshall had surgery on his hip and has been unable to participate in any practice due to his rehab.

It would seem like the perfect time for him to hold out, as he is physically inept anyway. 

Marshall is due $2.2 million in 2009, and the Broncos may be skeptical of signing him to a long-term deal due to his legal history. Still, he is a great receiver, and the team should do what it can to keep him wearing the Broncos’ shade of orange.

Clearly, Marshall is on board with the McDaniels’ regime, even though the new head coach traded away one of Marshall’s very good friends in Jay Cutler. 

Some believe that a fully healthy Marshall can rival the likes of Larry Fitzgerald among the league’s elite. If he cleans up his act, this young receiver will lead the Broncos to far greater things than imaginable.

Denver Broncos Linebacker Wesley Woodyard “Bulking Up” For New Role

As the Denver Broncos make the transition to the 3-4 defensive scheme, undersized linebackers are no longer in the picture.

In 2008, the Denver Broncos were fortunate enough to snag undrafted linebacker Wesley Woodyard after the NFL Draft.  Woodyard went undrafted due to the fact that he was undersized at 218 pounds, and NFL scouts did not know whether he would be a safety or a linebacker at the next level.

When D.J. Williams went down in 2008 with an injury, Woodyard filled in very nicely.

The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky started six games for the Broncos, recording 55 tackles in all including a 13 tackle performance against the New York Jets.

Now that the Broncos will be utilizing four linebackers, Woodyard figures to have a chance at more playing time, but not as a hybrid linebacker/safety, so he has added weight.

“I played last year at 218 pounds and right now I am 230,” Woodyard said. “I worked on my lower body in the offseason to pick up some weight, so I will be ready for everything because I added a few more pounds.”

Last year for the Broncos, Woodyard played a little bit of a rover or strong safety role at times, and while he would like to play safety again, he has not been working with the defensive backs thus far.

“Of course, I would love to play safety right now, but we’ve strictly talked about working at linebacker.”

It is typical for each linebacker in a 3-4 scheme to be near or over 250 pounds, and Woodyard is still checking in at 230.  His quickness makes him an attractive rush linebacker, but his coverage skills could give him an edge in the middle.

“That’s (my position) still to be determined. We still have the whole camp to go through,” Woodyard said about the position search. “The coaches are working on me at several positions so who knows what is going to happen.”

Right now, Denver’s first-team linebackers are Elvis Dumervil, Darrell Reid, Andra Davis, and the aforementioned D.J. Williams, so Woodyard is concentrating on finding his role in the Broncos’ new defense.

“We are just going through some different schemes on the defense,” Woodyard said. “Right now, where I’m going to be out on the field is still up in the air. Right now it’s just contributing on special teams like I did last year and basically having fun.”

Woodyard is an exciting prospect for the Broncos.  He brings a great intensity to the defensive side of the ball, and Denver coaches will have a tough time keeping him off the field.

Quotes courtesy of the Daily Camera

Matt Cassel a Denver Bronco in 2010? Why the QB’s Stay in KC Could Be Short

If you follow the trail very closely, the Jay Cutler fiasco in Denver was not the fault of Josh McDaniels.

It was also not the fault of Cutler.

It was not even the fault of Matt Cassel.

If Denver fans want to blame anyone for what went down this offseason, they should look no further than Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, the man who blew out Tom Brady’s left knee in the 2008 season opener.

If Pollard had not nailed Brady, Cassel would probably never have played, and McDaniels likely would not have even thought about trading Cutler away for him.

Regardless, that is all in the past, and what happened has happened—end of story.

But after all that work and no reward, could McDaniels still end up with his man?

Kyle Orton has a chance to be great in Denver with a full arsenal of weapons and the brick wall that is Denver’s offensive line, but McDaniels may not be able to pass up the opportunity to have his homegrown product on hand.

Cassel has yet to restructure his contract with the Chiefs, and to be quite honest, there are no signs of improvement. 

If Cassel plays well in 2009, Kansas City will have no other option but to franchise tag him next offseason, where his one-year franchise tender will be valued at more than $17 million.

With an uncapped year likely, the Chiefs may not even see this as a problem.

Still, it seems as though the feeling of Cassel reuniting with his mentor McDaniels in Denver is a mutual one. 

This is definitely a move to watch for in 2010. Both Orton and Cassel are set to hit the free agent market, and Denver may be in a bind as to which one to pursue.

On one hand, you have Orton, who has a golden opportunity placed in front of him. He could have a career season and force Denver to give him a hefty extension.

However, if Orton flops, there is no doubt the Broncos will pursue Cassel. Denver fans seem to be bent out of shape about the fact that they traded away their own first-round pick in next year’s draft because they had a chance to get a quarterback.

Well, Denver fans, you may get your wish. The Broncos just might give up the final piece in the Jay Cutler trade for the man they initially had their hearts set on. 

If that situation presented itself, irony would not even come close to being the word that would do it justice.

It appears as though Matt Cassel’s stay in Kansas City will be only for a short while, and he may have his heart set on the Mile-High City.

J.J. Arrington Release Comes As No Surprise, But Is Denver Wooing Ellis?

The extremely crowded Denver Broncos’ backfield was thinned out a bit when the team released running back J.J. Arrington.

The release of Arrington really comes as no surprise as it seemed both he and second year back Ryan Torain were on the proverbial chopping block because of injuries.

Unfortunately for Arrington, his microfracture surgery will cost him the entire 2009 season, and even worse his signing bonus with the Denver Broncos. 

Arrington was signed along with Correll Buckhalter in the early stages of free agency, but complications with his contract delayed the official move for a couple of weeks.

When the Broncos signed Arrington, they also signed Buckhalter, Darius Walker, Kestahn Moore, and drafted Knowshon Moreno, so his role on the team was virtually unknown.  He was expected to be a kick return man and third down back by many.

With a roster spot now freed up by Arrington, could the Broncos look to a rush linebacker to help their young, relatively inexperienced group?

As it stands right now, the starting hybrid linebackers for the Broncos would be Darrell Reid and Elvis Dumervil, with Robert Ayers and Jarvis Moss on the second team.

Could Denver be looking for help in the form of former Dallas Cowboy Greg Ellis?

Ellis has been on the trading block for about a week now, and if the Broncos hold out long enough they may be able to get him for a late round draft pick.

If the price is right, the Broncos need to make the move.

Ellis is a 33-year-old veteran of the game who has great experience in the 3-4 defense, and the Broncos could certainly use him.

If not, free agent defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday is also still available, and the Broncos could bring him in for a look at defensive end.

Broncos Passing Camp Update: Chris Simms Takes First-Team Reps at QB

The Denver Broncos concluded their three-day passing camp today, and the media arrived to a bit of a surprise.

Quarterback Chris Simms, not the heavily favored Kyle Orton, was taking reps with the Broncos’ first offensive unit. 

Still, fans and observers are being told this is no guarantee whatsoever that Simms will be the starting quarterback in Game One, and that both he and Orton are just learning the ropes.

“Both of them will take reps with the ones, and we’re going to keep doing that until it becomes clear and apparent, and it’s not yet. They’re both doing some good things, and they’re both making some mistakes.”

Simms was not the only first-team surprise at the passing camp. 

While it is not usually the best indication of who the starters will be this early in the off-season, Denver featured many new faces on the defensive side of the ball.

On the defensive line, those running with the first team were Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields, and Kenny Peterson.

At rush linebacker were Darrell Reid and Elvis Dumervil, and in the middle were D.J. Williams and Andra Davis. 

There were not many surprises in the defensive backfield, but only one familiar face in Champ Bailey. Aside from him, the starters were Andre’ Goodman, Renaldo Hill, and Brian Dawkins.

Despite all the fresh faces, the Broncos appeared to be very cohesive during the practice session. In a hypothetical drill in which the clock had only one second remaining, Simms hit Daniel Graham for a touchdown. Still, Dumervil tried to plead his case to head coach Josh McDaniels that he sacked Simms prior to the pass.

The touchdown stood.

On special teams, kicker Matt Prater hit eight field goals on eight attempts.

At the end of practice, the Broncos had a little bit of fun with punt returns. 

Nose tackle Chris Baker fielded a punt that saved the defense from extra meetings, and fellow undrafted rookie Nate Swift, a wide receiver, caught a punt while already holding onto three balls he had previously fielded.

This is the time of year for NFL fans to be optimistic, and the Denver Broncos appear to be giving their fans reason to be giddy.

Practice info courtesy of the Denver Broncos’ official website.

 

Denver Broncos Fans Should Expect Big Season From Healthy Marshall

Over the past three seasons, there has not been a player more tough to figure out on the Denver Broncos than wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall’s off-field incidents have given him a very negative reputation around the league, and quite honestly have prevented many NFL observers from giving him the title of “elite receiver.”

While his off-field incidents distract from this, the Pro Bowl receiver is not a bad person in the least. 

Marshall volunteers his time on a regular basis to charities around Denver, and he is always willing to sign autographs or take pictures with Bronco fans.

Since he is such a nice guy to his fans, it is hard for one to imagine Marshall as anything less outside of the Broncos. 

Many of his cases with the law have been dropped, and last season he even had his three-game suspension reduced to one by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell through an appeal.

Earlier this off-season, Marshall was again arrested, but the charges were dropped in a mere matter of hours.  Still, he faces a possible suspension by the league, one that could be up to eight games.

Since Goodell did not issue punishment prior to the draft for the Broncos to make roster moves to fill his absence, one is compelled to believe that a suspension dealt to Marshall, if any at all, will be very short.

What does this have to do with the 2009 season?

Marshall suffered a hip injury early in the 2008 season, and played his entire Pro Bowl year with this particular ailment.

He has since had surgery and is rehabbing, hoping to come back for training camp. 

Over the past two seasons, Marshall has compiled 206 receptions, which is second best only to New England’s Wes Welker.  Many Broncos fans are giddy about the prospect of what damage a healthy Marshall can do at this level.

With Kyle Orton at the helm, the Broncos’ offense will be more centered around short passes, which is Marshall’s forte.  He is known as a possession receiver who can gain extra yardage after the catch, and he does it very well.

As long as he stays healthy throughout the season, a revived Marshall should continue his dominance on the field, and should put together his third consecutive 100 reception season.

Ten Reasons The Denver Broncos Should Sign Michael Vick

It has been two seasons since the National Football League and its fans have seen the greatest athlete to play the game since Bo Jackson.

Two seasons is much too long of a drought.

While he is still under contract with the Atlanta Falcons, many are already speculating as to which teams make logical sense for the beleaguered quarterback. Teams like Pittsburgh, New England, and Miami have been mentioned as possible destinations due to their elite level of management and history of dealing with personalities like Vick.

One franchise that has yet to be mentioned in the competition for Vick’s services is the Denver Broncos, who in case you have not heard, traded their Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears over a month ago.

Throughout the off-season I have been a huge supporter of Denver quarterback Kyle Orton. I firmly believe that Orton can run Denver’s offense sucessfully with all of the great weapons around him.

There is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured however, and Denver’s backup plans are nothing to write home about.

Chris Simms has not started a game since rupturing his spleen, and rookie Tom Brandstater will not be ready to start for two or three years.

Does Michael Vick make sense for the Broncos? Can rookie head coach Josh McDaniels handle him? Here are some reasons why Vick in Denver does make sense, and why it would not make sense.

1.  Kyle Orton

As I stated before I have been, and will continue to be, a supporter of Kyle Orton. He has  experience in the spread offense in college where he became one of the nation’s top passers, and could really benefit from the excellent receivers, running backs, and offensive line that Denver has to offer.

Still, there is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured. There is no guarantee that he will make a smooth transition to Denver, and the Broncos do not have a very stable option otherwise.

Chris Simms has not played in a regular season game for a long time, and Tom Brandstater is a big project at this position. Signing Vick as a backup would be an excellent option for the Broncos.

2.  Marketing

Prior to his dog-fighting incident there was not a more marketable player in the NFL.  Michael Vick would sell jerseys, tickets, and merchandise for Denver. In this dire economy, no team can pass that opportunity up.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning Vick’s past. What he did was downright putrid, but the man has paid his debt to society and the NFL. 

Even if the Broncos do not end up signing Vick, whatever team does go after him is going to sell out every single game next season. Vick is like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant in the sense that no matter where he ends up people always want to watch him play.  He is captivating on the field, and can make the impossible seem possible.

3.  Athleticism

Does anything even need to be said? Michael Vick is the second best athlete to have ever played professional football. He has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen, and he is also one of the fastest players I have ever seen.

Granted, he is probably a little rusty from his time in prison, but what do you think he has been doing since he got there? I would be willing to wager he has done nothing but work out and become a physical marvel.

4.  Risk/Reward

After two seasons out of the league and his background of off-field issues, how expensive is Michael Vick really going to be? Any team that signs him is going to get a great football player for a very, very reasonable price. 

5.  Versatility

Thanks to his excellent running ability, Vick could provide the Broncos with much more than a strong-armed quarterback. Even though he has had trouble fumbling the football (55 in his career), he could help Denver in kick returns, wide receiver, and maybe even running back.

6.  Tony Dungy

One of the most well respected and well known coaches in the National Football League thinks Vick has a chance to make a comeback in the league. If there is any opinion that an NFL fan or coach should hold in high regard, it is that of Dungy.

7.  Josh McDaniels

While Vick is probably a better fit for the “wildcat” offense, Josh McDaniels has a great track record of developing quarterbacks. Vick would benefit greatly from his tutelage.

8.  No Bull Allowed

McDaniels is running a really tight ship in Denver. If at any point he decided that Vick was a distraction or affecting the team in a negative way, his butt would be out of Denver faster than Maurice Clarett.

9.  Changed Man

Say what you want, but the time he has spent in jail has to have changed Vick for the better. I do not claim to know this man as a person, and given the circumstances, none of us really have any reason to believe he has changed his ways. 

I feel that being in jail for a year and a half, losing nearly $20 million, losing every endorsement, and being away from the game you love has to be a humbling experience.

Vick is now 28 years old, and likely has matured. Think Randy Moss.

10.  Vick has something to prove

Michael Vick knows he owes his life to the NFL. If the Denver Broncos are willing to give him a shot, I have no doubts he will give that team his everything, and do anything to help them win football games.

Can Mike Nolan and D.J. Williams Restore the Orange Crush in Denver?

When thinking of the most consistent defensive units over the last four or five years, teams that come to mind are the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and the Shawne Merriman-led San Diego Chargers. 

What do all of these teams have in common?

If you have not guessed by now, it is that all of these teams use a 3-4 defensive scheme, which is clearly one of the most effective ways to run a defense in today’s NFL.

When the Denver Broncos hired Josh McDaniels, he immediately sought after defensive guru and 3-4 specialist Mike Nolan to run his defense.

This is important because “back in the day”, when Denver’s defense was considered dominant, the Orange Crush was known for its impenetrable 3-4 scheme.

Can the Broncos make a smooth transformation to this particular style of defense?

While one could argue that the cardinal rule for starting a 3-4 defense is to have a stud nose tackle to clog two or three blockers in the middle, I would contend that the most important factor in building this type of defense is the middle linebacker.

For that, the Broncos have one of the best in the business in D.J. Williams, who could be the biggest benefactor of the new transition.

As fellow Broncos writer Punkus pointed out in his article, Williams has already done quite a bit of moving around in his career thus far, playing all three linebacker positions in Denver’s 4-3 scheme and now middle linebacker in the 3-4. 

Williams, like the Ray Lewis of old, Patrick Willis, or Tedy Bruschi, is a player Denver can build its young defense around for years to come.

As for the present?

With their second first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Robert Ayers, a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker out of Tennessee. 

While Ayers never had one really standout season at Tennessee statistically, scouts say he is playing the best ball of his football career, and could continue to escalate into his professional career. He is a very good run-stuffer, which is something the Broncos desperately need.

As for the other outside linebacker spot, the Broncos hope that fourth year player Elvis Dumervil can have a James Harrison-type of impact as a pass rusher.

Dumervil has led the Broncos in sacks each of the past three seasons, and could flourish as a rush linebacker at the next level. 

One of the main things coach McDaniels has carried over from his days in New England is placing great value on high character and leadership from his players. 

To fill a leadership role at linebacker in Denver, he brought in longtime Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Andra Davis.

Over the last seven years, Davis has averaged 103 tackles per season, and was a team captain for Cleveland. He gives the Broncos a much needed vocal leader that they have not had since Al Wilson left the team.

In addition to bolstering their group of linebackers, the Broncos spent a lot of time and money revamping a secondary that needed a major face lift.

All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey will return fully healthy this season, and the Broncos added breakout veteran Andre’ Goodman to start alongside him.

Goodman led the resurgent Miami Dolphins last season with five interceptions.

In addition to Goodman, the Broncos spent a first round pick in 2010 on Wake Forest All-American Alphonso Smith, one of the most dominant collegiate cornerbacks over the last four seasons.

Think the price was too steep? The Broncos gave Seattle their first round pick in next year’s draft in exchange for the 37th overall pick in 2009, and many Denver fans were irate with the decision. 

However, it was very necessary given Denver’s inability to create turnovers in 2008, which is something Alphonso Smith did very often in his time at Wake Forest.

At the safety position, Denver significantly upgraded its awful 2008 group by signing future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins and veteran Renaldo Hill.

Neither player is quite in the form they once were, but they are solid veterans with great leadership qualities. Most importantly, both are very good tacklers.

For passing situations, the Broncos drafted safeties Darcel McBath (second round) and David Bruton (fourth round). 

McBath had seven interceptions in 2008, and was named All Big 12 first team.  Bruton was known for his special teams play at Notre Dame, but has great speed and ideal size, and could compete for playing time. 

He will compete with second year player Josh Barrett, who has a very similar skill set and compares favorably in size and speed.

As far as the big men up front, the Broncos do not have anybody who is going to make opposing offensive linemen cringe, but they do have a young group of guys who want to come in and compete.

Third year player Marcus Thomas will be the anchor of this line, which will feature two new starters for 2009. 

The likely candidates to start alongside Thomas up front are Kenny Peterson and undrafted rookie Chris Baker out of Hampton.

It seems as though the days of classic defenses in this league are over due to the salary cap and disloyalty to respective teams.

However, due to their humble, competitive nature, this group of Broncos defenders could come out in 2009 with “chips” on their shoulders.

Maybe, just maybe, the new defensive scheme in Denver can bring back the old shade of orange.

 

There’s No “Jay” in T.E.A.M: Denver’s New-Look Offense will Flourish

When Josh McDaniels took the reins of the Denver Broncos, it became an expectation and not just a possibility that the second ranked offense in the NFL would vault itself to an elite level.

Coming from the Patriots, McDaniels has a reputation as one of the brilliant young offensive minds in the league.  In 2007, he orchestrated arguably the best offense in the history of the game.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots averaged nearly 37 points per game, 411.2 yards per game, and they were second in the NFL in time of possession per contest at 33:29. 

While many are taken aback by the trade of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, McDaniels’ past indicates that Denver has no reason to worry with Kyle Orton under center.

Denver’s new head coach has coordinated the best season of arguably the top quarterback of all time in Tom Brady, and coached Matt Cassel, who had not started a game since his days in high school, to a Pro Bowl caliber season and an 11-5 record. 

So what has Denver fans worried?

Is the prototypical “Patriot” quarterback not one who is extremely unathletic with the “it” factor, and a winning mentality?

McDaniels’ new offense will include a mix of the zone blocking Denver fans know and love, as well as some of that Patriot flavor that has created one of the most dominant dynasties this decade.

If Kyle Orton does not succeed in Denver, it will not be for a lack of playmakers around him. 

Orton is inheriting an offensive line that only allowed 11.5 sacks in 620 pass attempts in 2008, best in the NFL.  In the New England style of offense, which is extremely pass heavy, Orton is going to need the help of the big men up front. 

Coached by Rick Dennison, a former Broncos linebacker, the Broncos’ offensive line has had a reputation over the last eight years of being one of the league’s best, and under his tutelage, that tradition figures to continue on.

Aside from Cutler, the only other big change to Denver’s offense was at the running back position.

For the last decade and a half, the Denver Broncos have dominated the NFL in rushing, and under the tutelage of running backs coach Bobby Turner, they have led the NFL in rushing over that time span with 30,993 yards on the ground.

After a year in which the Broncos finished the season ranked a disappointing but respectable 12th in rushing, Josh McDaniels has brought in a good mix of veterans and youngsters to carry on the great running back tradition in Denver.

Since Turner was retained from Mike Shanahan’s staff, McDaniels figures to implement some of the “one cut and go” style of running into his pass-first scheme, which could prove to be deadly for opponents.

After seven running backs went on Denver’s injured reserve in 2008, McDaniels made it a priority this off-season to overhaul that particular position. 

In free agency, he brought in veterans Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, and Darius Walker.  Then, with their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Denver selected Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

Add in the fact that Denver already had two promising 2008 draft picks in Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis at the running back position, and the Broncos automatically feature one of the most versatile and deep groups of running backs in the National Football League.

In addition to fitting the one-cut-and-go style, each of the backs McDaniels has added is extremely effective in catching the ball out of the backfield, which is essential to the Patriots’ offense.

When one of these runners is not on the field, Kyle Orton will have a great array of weapons to throw the ball to.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall leads a group of wide receivers that could rival any pass catching core in the league. 

New wide receivers coach Adam Gase has the privilege of coaching a group that, in addition to Marshall, features rookie sensation Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, rookie Kenny McKinley, and Chad Jackson.

Gase’s background as an offensive assistant is West-Coast oriented, being a pupil of the great offensive mind Mike Martz in Detroit and San Francisco.  In 2008, Gase’s receiving group in San Francisco dropped only 21 passes all season, good for sixth in the NFL.

Along with a strong core of wide receivers, the Broncos feature a very potent trio of tight ends. 

Led by former Chargers and Falcons tight ends coach Clancy Barone, the Broncos figure to have one of the more consistent and well-rounded groups of tight ends in the league.

Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, and rookie Richard Quinn all will have major roles in the offense this year. 

While Graham and Quinn specialize in blocking, neither are slouches in the receiving game.  Scheffler is widely regarded as one of the top receiving tight ends in the game, but struggles to stay healthy.

Barone has developed the likes of Antonio Gates and Alge Crumpler at this position, so Denver’s group appears to be in good hands.

Combining the knowledge of each of these coaches could be very beneficial for the Broncos.  It seems that each player on the offense was hand picked to fit the specialty of each and every position coach.

Only time will tell, but maybe the loss of Jay Cutler was not such a bad thing for the Broncos.

Meet Eddie Royal: The Consummate Professional

It is a shame that the National Football league is known better for its “bad boys” than its “good guys.” Oftentimes, the rare player who goes about his business like a professional and backs it up on the gridiron with toughness, heart, and determination goes unnoticed.

For Denver Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal, being the consummate professional is what he was raised to do. Royal is the youngest of seven children who were all raised by Pearl Royal, a single mother.

While it was tough for Pearl to raise these seven children all by herself, she never lost track of what was important in life. Her family consistently attended church, and she made every effort possible to avoid conflict. Still, it was noticeable that she was struggling to keep the family properly nourished.

Eddie states that he is “still amazed at how she provided dinner for us every single night.” 

Royal was always soft-spoken and rarely ever got into trouble. However, he struggled to earn good grades in high school.

According to an article written in the Rocky Mountain News, Royal was motivated to do well the final two years of high school due to the similar experience of his brother Chris, whose grades prevented him from a football career at Marshall University.

He soon found out that if he would just put a little more time into his studies, he could earn a scholarship to college to play football.

“I saw struggle and lived it, and I didn’t want to go through that. I didn’t want my family to go through that,” Royal said. “It kind of molded me into a hard worker.”

Lee Rasizer, formerly of the Rocky Mountain News, sums up Royal very well:

“Royal has a tendency to treat opponents the way he has chased his goals—sidestepping or taking them head-on, but ultimately getting to where he wanted to be.”

While the speedy receiver has always been considered undersized, he more than makes up for it with his heart and determination, as cliché as it may sound.

As if going through a rough childhood wasn’t humbling enough, Royal has also experienced other venues of turmoil. 

He attended high school with former Virginia Tech schoolmates who were killed in the tragic shooting in April of 2007, and his sister Christina is serving in Iraq.

He used all of that as determination on the football field, setting numerous ACC and Virginia Tech records as a wide receiver and return specialist. His play for the Hokies earned him a trip to the Under Armour Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where he “wowed” scouts with his great hands and route-running skills.

Royal then continued his strong offseason with an eye-opening performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he led all wide receivers with 24 bench press reps at 225 pounds apiece.

His offseason was so impressive that former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan chose him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Initially, Royal was projected to be primarily a return specialist and maybe a fourth receiver for the Broncos.

Quickly, he erased those expectations and created some of his own.

Royal was so impressive in the offseason camps and workouts that he was promoted all the way to the No. 2 wide receiver spot, behind Brandon Marshall. 

There was not a pass this kid could not handle.

He continued his impressive showing all the way through training camp and the preseason, and Broncos fans were eager to see how he would fill in for the suspended Brandon Marshall on Monday Night Football on opening weekend.

Not only did he fill in, he also made then-Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall look silly.

Royal had nine receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 41-14 victory, capping off the most impressive rookie wide receiver debut in Broncos history.

Still, the rookie receiver was not satisfied. 

He called his mother directly after the game, not wanting praise or helium for an ego balloon; he wanted to know what he did wrong.

“It’s hard to do everything the right way,” Royal said. “That’s what drives me.”

Royal went on to have arguably the most impressive rookie season for any Denver Broncos wide receiver in team history. He finished the year with 91 receptions for 946 yards, and he also led the team in punt return yards and kick return yards.

Also, he was the only player on the team to record a pass attempt, rush attempt, reception, kick return, and punt return. 

In his second year in the NFL, Royal can only hope to improve on what was a fantastic first season. It is unfortunate that his contributions to the league have gone largely unnoticed due to the fact that Royal did not change his last name to “Diecinueve” or throw popcorn in his face when he scored a touchdown.

If I were a betting man, I would say Royal would not have it any other way.

 

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