Denver Broncos Rookie TE Richard Quinn Arrested

Just days after fellow AFC West player Shawne Merriman was arrested for domestic violence, Denver Broncos rookie tight end Richard Quinn found himself behind bars on the same accusations.

Per the report from the Denver Post, Quinn says he was trying to restrain the woman from hitting him in the face, resulting in him “shaking her to the ground.

The woman engaged in the dispute maintains that Quinn took her cell phone away to prevent her from calling the cops, and Quinn refutes that the only reason he took her cell phone away was so she would not use it as a weapon to hit him in the face with.

Quinn’s agent/ attorney feels his client did everything he was supposed to.

“I’m very proud the way Richard handled this delicate situation by defusing what otherwise could have been a potentially dangerous situation.

”When all the facts come out, people will find out Richard’s done nothing wrong. Richard’s No. 1 concern right now is the welfare of his daughter and to avoid any negative light brought to the Denver Broncos, Richard and his family.”

This is really the last thing the Broncos need right now, and quite frankly, it is absurd.

Quinn was regarded as a player of very high character coming out of North Carolina, and many felt the Broncos “reached” for him in the draft. 

The consensus was that Quinn was to be as high as a high third round pick, and the Broncos did not chance that happening, making a move into the second round to snag the blocking tight end.

It is not my place to pass judgement, but situations like this always leave me confused. 

How do NFL players find themselves in these predicaments?  How do athletes in general seem to make it commonplace for incidents like this to occur?

I read a very convincing article in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine from an anonymous athlete who suggested that he/she was surprised these types of things do not happen to pro athletes more than they do because of all the temptation, publicity, and attention they get.

I am sure Quinn’s lady friend knows/knew he was a professional athlete, and has egged him on to the point where he cannot even stand it, but violence is not the way to go about it.

Again, I do not know any or all of the details of what actually happened, but Bronco fans can only hope this is just a small speed bump. 

Not that the negative publicity could become any more prevalent for the Broncos…

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Sign DL Vonnie Holliday, Final Roster Cuts No Surprise

The Denver Post is reporting that the Broncos have agreed to a contract with free agent defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday amidst their massive roster cuts.

Holliday is a 33-year-old veteran who at 6’5″ 288 pounds is a solid defensive lineman who started for the Dolphins last year.

In the wake of recently acquired DE Le Kevin Smith’s knee injury, Holliday’s signing became somewhat of a priority.

Holliday visited the Broncos back in March as well, but left town without signing a deal.

The Broncos have been busy making roster moves today, much like the rest of the league, and here is a list of players who did not make the final cut:

• DL Matthias Askew
• OL Kory Lichtensteiger
• QB Ingle Martin
• CB Rashod Moulton
• OT Clint Oldenburg
• DL Carlton Powell
• LB Lee Robinson
• WR Nate Swift
• RB Marcus Thomas
• WR Matt Willis
• CB Joshua Bell
• CB Tony Carter
• DE Everette Pedescleaux
• G Mitch Erickson
• DE/OLB Tim Crowder
• DE Nic Clemons
• RB Darius Walker
• OL Matt McChesney

There are a couple of surprising names on that list, especially for Broncos fans.

Tim Crowder was a second round pick in 2007, and after a solid rookie campaign, there were high hopes for him. 

Darius Walker was a guy that I thought had an excellent camp and preseason, and who proved worthy of a roster spot above veteran LaMont Jordan.

Kory Lichtensteiger was a fourth round pick last season, but the drafting of Seth Olsen and trading for Russ Hochstein made him expendable.

Fans were also really high on Nate Swift, and he is a strong candidate for the practice squad.

The real story of today, oddly enough, is that Jarvis Moss made the final cut.  Many thought he was on the bubble, and he was, but the Broncos saw enough in him this offseason to give him one more shot.  This will be the last go for Moss.  He needs to make an impact in 2009 or he will most certainly be let go by the 2010 season.

Keep an eye on any Patriots who are released today, or possibly quarterback Kevin O’Connell to be on the Broncos’ radar.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos 19, Cardinals 0: Denver Wins First Game of McDaniels Era

Denver, CO–The Denver Broncos (1-3) avoided their first winless preseason since 1960 when they shut out the Arizona Cardinals (0-4) at Invesco Field at Mile High 19-0.

 

Game Recap

The Broncos started with the ball and scored the games first points after a drive that included a beautiful throw, catch, and run involving Tom Brandstater and Chad Jackson that went for 43 yards.

After the catch, Correll Buckhalter had two rushes for 21 yards, putting the Broncos in a goal-to-go situation.

Denver was unable to punch the ball in the end zone, and settled for Matt Prater field goal to put them up 3-0.

The Cardinals’ first drive looked promising at times, including a 36 yard strike from quarterback Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald, but two penalties forced them into obvious passing situations, and the Broncos were able to capitalize and force a punt.

Each team forced the other into a three-and-out on their next possessions.

After a Ben Graham punt put the Broncos on their own 23 yard line, Tom Brandstater appeared to say “We’ve got ’em right where we want ’em,” and he orchestrated an impressive drive.

Denver marched 77 yards down the field thanks to a couple of outstanding hook-ups between Brandstater and veteran Brandon Lloyd, and the drive was capped off by a one yard Darius Walker touchdown run.

The following Cardinals drive resulted in the Broncos’ first turnover of the preseason:  An interception of Kurt Warner by reserve hybrid linebacker/defensive end Darrell Reid.

Reid’s interception resulted in a 37 yard Matt Prater field goal, putting the Broncos ahead 13-0.

Another three-and-out by the Cardinals resulted in yet another Broncos drive that ended in a Matt Prater field goal, putting Denver ahead 16-0.

Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was picked off on the following drive by rookie safety David Bruton, and the Broncos were in good position to take a 19-0 lead at the half, but decided to go for a fourth-and-four and were unable to convert.

The following Cardinals drive ended in another turnover, a fumble forced by Denver defensive lineman Nic Clemons that was recovered by Bruton.

The fumble gave the Broncos great field position, but Brandstater tried to force a pass to Chad Jackson near the sideline and he was picked off.

The Cardinals started the second half with the ball, but gave it up fairly quickly.  Tyler Palko threw a pass that almost seemed to be intended for Broncos safety Vernon Fox, and the Broncos were in business once again.

A fairly bland Bronco drive resulted in Matt Prater’s fourth field goal of the game, putting the Broncos ahead for good 19-0.

The rest of the game was filled with three-and-out’s, and the defensive battle ended with the home team on top. 

Broncos 19, Cardinals 0

 

Random Game Thoughts

• Josh McDaniels and the Broncos earned their first win of 2009, and it could not come soon enough.
• The Broncos made up for three games without forcing a turnover, forcing four total on Thursday night.
• Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd combined for 10 receptions and 106 yards, and they continue to impress as reserve wide receivers.
• LaMont Jordan’s one run tonight was not impressive.  He may be passed by Darius Walker for the fourth and final running back spot.
• The reserve offensive linemen were impressive for the first time this preseason.
• The Broncos have arguably the best depth in the NFL in the secondary.  David Bruton, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and Jack Williams are all great prospects for the future.
• The Broncos’ defense has been extremely consistent throughout the preseason.  Their run defense only allowed one first down via the ground game, and only 68 yards rushing overall.
• Kurt Warner and the first team offense were absolutely shut down on Thursday night.
• It is going to be tough for the Broncos to keep less than seven wide receivers.

Top Performers

1. David Bruton would get my game ball tonight, and quite honestly, he has been superb all preseason long.  The Broncos drafted the Notre Dame safety in the fourth round to be primarily a gunner on special teams, and throughout the preseason he has been excellent at doing just that.  Thursday night, he picked off a pass and recovered a fumble while recording three tackles.
2. If the Broncos choose to keep 10 defensive backs, I think it is pretty clear that undrafted rookie DJ Johnson has earned the final spot.  He has been making plays throughout the preseason, and tonight led the team with five tackles.
3. Jarvis Moss had his best game I have ever seen.  The third year player was all over the place, and he looked like a former first round pick playing with a bunch of rookies and scrubs.  Moss had a sack, a forced fumble, and three total tackles, one for a loss.  He just made it harder for this team to potentially cut him.
4. Robert Ayers and Tim Crowder each had a sack tonight.  This was big for both of them.  Crowder is fighting for his job, and Ayers has not been very impressive this preseason.
5. Darius Walker has earned a roster spot, in my opinion.  He led the team in rushing this preseason and has had two touchdowns in the last two games.  He runs hard, is quick, and is a good receiver.  LaMont Jordan’s “dud”-like preseason has been less than inspiring.  Walker rushed for 68 yards on 21 carries tonight.
6. Give the game ball to kicker Matt Prater.  Prater was four-for-four in field goal attempts, and the Cardinals only returned two of his six kickoffs.  A phenomenal performance to say the least.
7. Kenny McKinley had a preseason high seven receptions, and he continues to impress.  He leads the Broncos this preseason with 16 receptions and 213 yards.
8. Brandon Lloyd made another highlight-reel catch on Thursday night.  His chemistry with the quarterbacks is going to make it extremely difficult for the Broncos to keep any less than seven wide receivers on their active roster, as crazy as it sounds.

Like I just said, the Broncos are going to have a tough time keeping less than seven wide receivers.  Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Kenny McKinley, Chad Jackson, and Brandon Lloyd should all make the team, based on this preseason and training camp.

With the injured thumb of Jabar Gaffney, I think the Broncos will undoubtedly keep at least six wide receivers.  They also have been no strangers to four and five wide receiver sets, so it would not be surprised if they kept the extra guys around for depth.

The problem is going to be figuring out who to get rid of.  Do they keep six defensive linemen?  Which hybrid linebackers do not make the cut?  Will they keep 10 defensive backs?

Do not get too attached to any one player Broncos fans because come Saturday, 22 will be cut.  The good problem for the Broncos is that they are going to have a tough time deciding which ones.

Broncos-Cardinals: Things to Watch For in Denver’s Pre-Season Finale

The Josh McDaniels era continues on Thursday night as the Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals.

Unfortunately for McDaniels, he is still seeking that elusive first victory as an NFL head coach, and despite the fact that week four of the preseason is considered to be the most unimportant football game of the year, this particular matchup is very critical for the Broncos.

The new regime in Denver has not gotten off to the most promising start, and sitting on an 0-3 record this preseason, the starting offense has only scored 17 points in three contests.

With injuries to Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater will be making his first career NFL start, but it remains to be seen if he will be joined by any other first team players.

The Broncos are holding out hope that first round pick Knowshon Moreno will get some playing time tonight although it has been reported that Correll Buckhalter will begin the season as the team’s staring running back.

Here are some things to watch for in tonight’s game:

• Can Brandstater lead the Broncos to victory?  This is a huge game for Tom Brandstater.  He needs this experience in case he is called upon when the Broncos travel to Cincinnati on opening day.  The rookie out of Fresno State was less than impressive in his first appearance against Seattle, but settled in somewhat last week against the Bears, leading the offense to two touchdown drives.  This will be the final test for Brandstater, who likely will start the season on the practice squad, especially if the Broncos make a play for quarterback Kevin O’Connell who is a long-shot to make the Lions’ final roster.
• The Broncos’ wide receiver situation should shape up tonight.  With Brandon Marshall’s situation in question and Jabar Gaffney having broken his thumb, it will be interesting to see which wide receivers are kept on the 53 man roster.  Players on the bubble are veterans Brandon Lloyd and Chad Jackson, and rookie Kenny McKinley.  Jackson has been working with the first unit, but Lloyd and McKinley have been the ones making noise this preseason.  The Broncos easily go seven deep at the receiver position when fully healthy, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will keep seven on the final roster.  It will definitely be hard to lose any one of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, or Kenny McKinley.
• Backup offensive linemen will be seriously tested.  They have been, for the most part this preseason, awful.  Russ Hochstein was acquired for depth, and it is likely the team will make quite a few cuts up front after tonight. 
• The young defensive backs will have their time to shine tonight.  The Broncos are going to be facing Brian St. Pierre for most of the night tonight as Matt Leinart is out with an injury, and the likes of Josh Barrett, David Bruton, Alphonso Smith, Jack Williams, and Darcel McBath will have a chance to prove their worth on this team as backup defensive backs.
• There is a chance we could have our second sighting of Knowshon Moreno.  His production in 2009 is huge.  The Broncos passed on a lot of defensive talent to acquire Moreno in the draft, and he needs to have a big year in this offense.  Likewise, it is going to be important for Robert Ayers to step up in this game.  He has not had an impressive preseason thus far.

New York Jets to Pursue Trade For Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall?

And the rumor clock keeps on ticking.

Three days ago, I suggested Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall should be traded to the 49ers for Michael Crabtree and Alex Smith.

Not possible.

Yesterday, I speculated based on a Scout.com rumor that the Broncos could engage in a three team trade that would send Marshall to the Cardinals, Anquan Boldin to the Chiefs, and Matt Leinart to the Broncos.

Not happening.

This morning, I will speculate on yet another Marshall trade rumor, one that seems to have at least a little bit of life to it.

According to Pro Football Talk through Bob Glauber of Newsday, the New York Jets are contemplating a trade that would send wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Big Apple.

There is no doubt the Jets are in dire need of a premiere wide receiver, but a similar report from the Denver Post thinks this is all just hooplah. 

Per the report from Jeff Legwold’s Denver Broncos blog, the Jets are unwilling to part with a first round pick, and Legwold thinks the Broncos should stand firm in their asking price of a first and fourth round draft choice.

My question to the Jets would be this, “Why would you even pick up the phone if you are not willing to part with what the Broncos want?”

The Broncos are in no place where they have to trade Brandon Marshall. Has he been a nuisance? Sure, but the Broncos technically can hold on to his rights for the next three years. And if another team wants him, they are going to have to pay top dollar.

So, if the Jets want Marshall bad enough, they will shell out a first and fourth round draft pick, or there likely will be no deal, and the Broncos will move on and try and win football games with their disgruntled receiver.

It is as simple as that.

If Deion Branch Gets Cut, Reunion With McDaniels in Denver Possible

Reports from the Tacoma News Tribune indicate that wide receiver Deion Branch, a big trade acquisition of the Seattle Seahawks a couple of years ago, could be “on the bubble.”

The Seahawks’ starting wide receivers would be Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh if the season started today, with Branch lining up as the third receiver.

Here is the official report:

“So far, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Deon Butler are likely in, with Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu and Jordan Kent fighting for the last couple of spots.

Or perhaps Branch could be on his way out.

The veteran will make $5 million this season to be Seattle’s third receiver and the Seahawks have a lot of depth at the position. So they may live with five receivers and let Branch go to keep a player at a different position.”

So would the Seahawks cut Branch?

Based on the report, Seattle is content with Deon Butler moving forward as the team’s third receiver.  He is a much cheaper option than Branch, and shedding his large contract would be lovely cap relief heading into the season.

If the Seahawks cut Branch, it would not be a shock to see him wind up in Denver under his former offensive coordinator and now Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels.

With a recent injury to Jabar Gaffney and reports the team is quietly shopping Brandon Marshall, there is suddenly an opening for a starting wide receiver spot.

That could intrigue Branch, especially if he could return to an offense he has some familiarity with.

Branch would allow veteran Brandon Stokley to remain in the slot, and when Gaffney returns from his thumb injury, the Broncos could have one of the deepest receiving groups in the league, even if they do trade Marshall.

This is all purely speculation, and there is no guarantee the Seahawks will rid of Branch. 

Even if they do not, and the Broncos maintain their current group, they still have arguably the most talented, deep unit in the NFL.

A mentally stable Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Stokley, Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Chad Jackson, and impressive rookie Kenny McKinley give the Broncos a very deep group of players to get the ball to.

Broncos Looking To Deal Marshall? 49ers, Crabtree Make Sense

A source tells NBC and ProFootballTalk’s lead blogger Mike Florio that the Denver Broncos are shopping begrudged wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

While this would come as a huge surprise to many fans due to the fact that Marshall’s injury history, legal history, and recent antics during practice have undoubtedly lowered his value, it is not out of the question for the Broncos to trade Marshall because he has been such a distraction.

Even cornerback Champ Bailey, a team captain, thinks there is only a “50-50” chance Marshall returns to the Broncos in 2009.

I have stated personally that I do not think Marshall is going to be traded in 2009, but that’s just because I think the Broncos should hold out for optimum value.

Obviously, the trust level has been absolutely shattered between the Broncos and Marshall, and the team has to get rid of him, whether it be this season or next.

Earlier this offseason, a Raiders writer named Ramone Brown suggested landing spots for Marshall, and one of those spots was San Francisco in exchange for rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Then I called it a joke, but now it seems like a solid option for the Broncos, and on multiple levels.

If the 49ers are willing to take on Marshall’s baggage and the unquestioned contract renewal he demands, trading away the also unhappy Crabtree could save a lot of time, and possibly money, for the time being.

Here is my proposed trade:

49ers get:

• WR Brandon Marshall

Broncos get:

• WR Michael Crabtree
• QB Alex Smith

The reason I include Smith is because the Broncos suddenly have a need for reserve quarterbacks as both Chris Simms and Kyle Orton have gone down with injuries.

I do not think the Broncos will trade away Marshall unless they are given the equivalent of a first and fourth round pick, and the Crabtree/Smith combo definitely fits that value gauge as of now.

This is purely speculation, but it is clear that the Broncos are not in Brandon Marshall’s future, and Brandon Marshall is not in the Broncos’ future plans.

So, is it so out of this world to think this could happen?

Broncos-Bears: Cutler, Chicago Win in QB’s Return to Denver

The Denver Broncos (0-3) remain winless in the Josh McDaniels regime as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears (2-1) came to town and won a game of “small ball.”

Broncos fans could not wait to torture their former quarterback with booing, T-shirts, signs, and basically everything in between, and the outcome was as expected.

Not only could Cutler not hear the play calls in his helmet, but the NBC cameras shook.  Invesco Field at Mile High rocked with pure hatred, all directed towards one player.

 

Random Game Thoughts

And at first, it seemed to fluster Cutler. 

Prior to a 12-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off by a touchdown pass to Matt Forte, Cutler was largely ineffective.

He finished the game 15-of-21 for 144 yards and a touchdown, and as I mentioned, led an impressive 98-yard drive to conclude the second half.

The Broncos’ starting offense was okay, but nothing to write home about.

Kyle Orton led the Broncos down the field early in the game, and a penalty-marred drive ended with a 31-yard Matt Prater field goal.

Orton finished his day completing 12-of-16 passes for 96 yards before leaving with a finger injury. 

He left the field with what appeared to be a cut on his right index finger, and head coach Josh McDaniels told NBC correspondents that Orton’s finger was not broken.

This writer’s guess is that Orton’s injury is going to require stitches, and he could be held out until the season opener against Cincinnati at the very least.

The injury bug decided to bite a couple more Broncos on Sunday night as well.

Right guard Chris Kuper, the only guard in the NFL to play all 16 games and not allow a single sack, went down with a foot injury, and he put no pressure on it as he left the field.

It did not look very promising.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal appeared to get a stinger on his hand early in the contest, but he returned to action.

Also, prior to the game, the team learned that wide receiver Jabar Gaffney had a broken thumb, and that he is expected to miss several weeks.

Watching Josh McDaniels’ post-game press conference as I type, he appears to be extremely ticked off.

He seems to be favoring the word “sloppy.”

And boy were the Broncos sloppy tonight in certain areas.

The offensive line, for the first time in a very long time, was extremely out of sync.

Uncharacteristically, Ryan Clady had three penalties of his own, while Casey Wiegmann was also flagged for holding.  It also seemed like every time the Broncos fielded a kick or punt, they were called for holding.

The Broncos finished the game with 10 penalties.

Sloppy play by the Broncos’ offensive line resulted in many first-and-long and second-and-long situations, and that really put Orton and company in tough situations.

 

Game Recap

After the game started off tied at three points apiece, punter Brett Kern made a huge mistake in punting to return specialist Devin Hester.

Did he forget to watch film from the Broncos’ 2007 matchup with the Bears?

Hester made Kern and the Broncos pay, taking the punt all the way inside the Denver five yard line (It should be noted that safety David Bruton was held all the way down the field).

After Hester’s great return, Matt Forte was able to punch the ball in from one yard out to increase the Chicago lead to 10-3.

Denver’s offense continued to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, and a defensive stop by the Bears resulted in an excellent punt by rookie Britton Colquitt that was downed at the Chicago two-yard line.

Jay Cutler orchestrated a 12-play, 98-yard drive to essentially end the half, which was capped off by a short touchdown pass to Forte, increasing the Chicago lead to 17-3.

The Broncos were able to move the ball pretty well in the second half with rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater under center, capping off two impressive nine-play drives with rushing touchdowns by Peyton Hillis and Darius Walker.

Denver cut the lead with the Hillis touchdown in half, but Chicago answered back with a rushing touchdown of their own by veteran back Adrian Peterson.

Chicago led 24-10 before Walker’s rushing touchdown, and again Denver was able to cut the lead in half, 24-17.

The Bears were able to drive the ball into scoring range and waste most of the game clock when Robbie Gould hit a field goal to put the game on ice and a final score of 27-17.

 

The Good

• Tom Brandstater really bounced back from his poor performance in Seattle, and aside from an overthrow of Eddie Royal that resulted in an interception and a botched delivery to Darius Walker that resulted in a fumble recovery by the Bears, Brandstater looked much more comfortable.  He finished the game 8-of-12 for 110 yards and one interception, including a 54-yard bomb to fellow rookie Kenny McKinley.
• Eddie Royal continues to excite Bronco fans with his electric play.  He is sure-handed, knows how to gain yardage after the catch, and looks like a seasoned veteran.  He is going to be a star in this league, and a favorite target of quarterback Kyle Orton.
• Peyton Hillis is a beast.  Add another position, kick returner, to his repertoire.  I wore his No. 22 jersey with pride tonight, and he did not disappoint, running for 24 yards on seven carries including a touchdown, and catching two passes for 21 yards.  He also had 64 yards on only two kick returns. 
• Elvis Dumervil made future Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace look like a lost rookie.  Pace escaped what would have been a safety when he clearly held Dumervil in the end zone, and he just overall had a rough night trying to block the fourth year defensive end.  Thanks to NBC, I was alerted that only Mario Williams has more sacks (30.5) than Dumervil (26) from the 2006 draft class.  He struggled a bit in pass coverage, but his pass rushing skills are of the elite level, make no mistake.  Jay Cutler’s jersey was dirty because of this man.
• Brian Dawkins‘ debut was well worth the wait.  He was all over the field making plays…with a club on his hand.  If this game is any indication as to what the Broncos can expect from Dawkins in 2009, they have an absolute steal of the free agent class.
• Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd all but cemented their names in the Broncos’ final roster.  Absolutely excellent games by both players.  McKinley continues to lead the Broncos in receiving, hauling in four passes for 75 yards, and Lloyd had a great catch that looked to me like a touchdown, and it is not the first time he has made a big play this pre-season.
• The defensive front seven continued to put pressure on the quarterback.  Cutler did not have an easy go of it early in this game, and while the defense did not have any sacks, it appeared as though the pass rush was effective.
• Correll Buckhalter and Darius Walker combined for 75 yards rushing on only 19 carries.  Walker, in my opinion, has earned the third running back position over LaMont Jordan this preseason.  Walker runs hard every play, and Buckhalter does the same.  Very inspiring running by these two tonight. 
• Britton Colquitt is making a strong case to beat out Brett Kern for the punter job in Denver.  He had two punts tonight that landed inside the two yard line. 

The Bad

• The offensive line played its worst game in a long time.  Ten penalties is not acceptable, period.  They are sure to get an earful at practice this week from offensive line coach Rick Dennison.
• The Broncos had trouble getting off the field on third downs.  The defense needs to be able to force punts on a more consistent basis, especially if the offense remains unhealthy and/or inconsistent.

 

Bailey comments on Marshall situation

All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey was asked by NBC’s Andrea Kremer if Brandon Marshall would be a Bronco this season, and he responded by saying roughly that there was a “fifty/fifty” chance.

What control Bailey has over the situation, I do not know, but a very interesting comment to say the least.

It would appear from the comments of Bailey and some of the other players on the team throughout the week that Marshall has a lot of trust to gain back in the locker room.

It seems that Marshall’s recent antics have lost a lot of respect from teammates, and in the NFL, that is not easy to do.

 

Quarterback situation

Now that Orton’s status is in limbo, and the fact that Chris Simms is already injured, the Broncos are once again in need of a quarterback. 

Obviously, Tom Brandstater is not ready to lead an NFL offense into the light.  He is young, and the Broncos have hopes that he can be “their guy” maybe someday, but not in 2009.

Ingle Martin does not know the offense yet, so what options does that leave Denver with?

As I speculated on my Facebook fan page, the New England Patriots just waived quarterback Kevin O’Connell, a player Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was very high on when the Patriots drafted him, and if the Broncos have the opportunity to nab him through the waiver wire, they will.

O’Connell has ties to Kansas City’s Scott Pioli, who also was a big part of the drafting of O’Connell, and the Chiefs have an opening for a backup quarterback position with the injury to Matt Cassel.

If Kansas City does not lay claim to the second-year quarterback, you can expect O’Connell to end up with Denver.

There is very little doubt in my mind.

O’Connell’s arrival would likely mean Ingle Martin’s release, and Tom Brandstater would end up on the practice squad.

There was absolutely a ton to talk about in regards to this third pre-season game, and although the Broncos remain winless, it appears as though there is more good than bad going on in Denver for 2009.

If this team can get healthy, they could be a tough out for any team in the NFL this season.

Has Brandon Marshall Lost the Respect of His Denver Bronco Elders?

Following his recent practice field hissy fit, Denver Broncos wide receiver may have gone far beyond anything any fan ever thought possible.

In addition to losing the respect of virtually every respectable NFL fan, coach, or executive, he may just have lost the respect of his role models and elders on the Denver Broncos team.

When asked if he was surprised at Marshall’s recent suspension, veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley responded by saying: “Not really, not with his attitude and how he was acting.”

Stokley added: “Something had to be done. They made the decision. We’re moving on, and hopefully in a few weeks, when he’s back, he’ll be ready to contribute.”

Hopefully.

2008 offensive co-captain and tight end Daniel Graham also weighed in on the Marshall situation.

“We’ve had a few conversations and Brandon, he’s running his own ship,” Graham said. He’s doing what he feels is best for him. Now I’m just making sure, as a leader on this team, that we stay focused.”

A very interesting choice of words by Graham, to say the very least, especially the implication that Marshall is “running his own ship.”

This entire off-season has been a self-imposed disaster for the Pro Bowl wide receiver. 

Even Colorado Hall of Fame wide receiver and Bronco great Rod Smith, a former player who has devoted a great deal of time and effort mentoring Marshall, distanced himself from the wide receiver when he made a cameo at the Broncos camp earlier this summer.

One thing though, is for sure.

If Stokley and Graham’s comments are to be taken as a general consensus of the feelings of the entire team, then this whole fiasco has proved that the players are on McDaniels’ ship, not Marshall’s or any of their own.

McDaniels said on Friday that he does not know how long Marshall will be on his ‘ship’ at all.

“I’m not sure necessarily if I think it will or I think it won’t [work out],” McDaniels said. “I’m just hopeful that it will, because obviously he’s a talented football player that we’d love to have pulling in the same direction as the other 79 guys that go out there and work their tail off.”

And if he is not?

If Marshall is unwilling to pull in the same direction as the 79 other guys, where do the Broncos go from there?

While suspending him for the regular season would go a long way if the Broncos were committed long term, it does not seem to make much sense anymore for a guy who they may want to trade at the end of this season.

Which is why it makes perfect sense to suspend him for the final two games of the pre-season.

This gives Marshall time to study his playbook and vie for a fresh start when he returns to the team on Sept. 6.  Also, it allows him time to go and face the temptations of doing something else stupid or getting in trouble with the law.

While two weeks may not seem like a long time, for Brandon Marshall, it could seem like a lifetime.

For when Marshall returns to the Broncos, he had better show this team that he is serious about the “fresh start” he has said he wants, and he certainly needs to keep his nose out of trouble.

Denver Broncos Should Suspend WR Brandon Marshall

How many Denver Broncos fans have gone to bat for Brandon Marshall over the last three years?

He has been arrested a dozen times since arriving in Denver in 2006. 

He has never played a full season due to injuries and/or suspensions.

And in the wake of his recent trade demands, he has done the unthinkable.  Marshall has proven once and for all that he is an even bigger crybaby than former Broncos’ quarterback Jay Cutler.

In my humble opinion, this video clip will be used, among others, by the Broncos’ organization against Marshall in an eventual attempt to suspend him for the first four games of the 2009 season.

If your computer is not picking up the video stream, the clip basically consists of the following:

1. The video begins with Marshall sitting on a couple of practice pads.  Helmet off, looking bored as ever.
2. The team then begins doing the “karaoke” drill during calisthenics, and Marshall puts his hands in his pants and walks to the other side of the field.
3. With the ball in his hands, Marshall punts the ball across the field instead of handing it to the ball boy.
4. During route running drills, when the ball is thrown his way, Marshall bats it down instead of catching it.

I first learned of this story from Pro Football Talk, and lead blogger Mike Florio and I have come to the same conclusion:  Brandon Marshall  s officially an idiot.

That was the title of the post, and it did not disappoint.

Marshall is acting like an idiot.  If you had not lost all respect for him prior to seeing this video, I would be shocked if you had any after viewing it.

This makes the fact that Marshall was not at practice today a lot more clear, as we all are aware he is no longer injured.

As it stands, Marshall is going to make roughly $2.2 million in 2009.  If and when the Broncos choose to suspend him for four games, he will lose a fourth of that salary or $517,000.

Also, if Marshall wants to be traded, he is going about it the wrong way.  Not only is he going to turn away the respectable organizations with his work ethic and attitude, but he is lowering his value, meaning the Broncos will absolutely not trade him.

In fact, it is probably more likely at this point that they will cut him, which we all know is not going to happen either.

Or would they?

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