Broncos 2012 preseason schudule

A new look and now a new season, it’s only 125 days away.

The Denver Broncos released their preseason schedule to the public this week. It’s exhibition football, but there is a buzz in the Mile High City following a surprisingly success season last year where they made it all the way to the Divisional Round of the AFC fashion, in the most dramatic way possible.

Here’s how the Broncos will gear up for the 2012-2013 season:

Preseason Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (8/9-8/13)

Preseason Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8/16-8/20)

Preseason Week 3: vs. San Francisco (8/26)

Preseason Week 4: @ Arizona Cardinals (8/29-8/30)

The first action Broncos’ fans will get to see of their new quarterback Peyton Manning will be, most likely, on the television. Denver will travel to the Windy City for the preseason opener. He will be facing former Denver play-caller Jay Cutler, who was also recently joined by former Bronco wide receiver Brandon Marshall in Chicago.

Manning’s much-anticipated homecoming is just that, it’ll be as energizing and rabid a fan base can get for a preseason game. The Broncos will take on Seattle, but the opponent, like many exhibition games, won’t be of note. The snaps he will take under center in an orange Bronco uniform will draw fans by the thousands. (Recommendation: Get your tickets now.)

In the third preseason game, the one where starters will get the most minutes before sitting out and resting awaiting for the season, Denver will have a test. There is turmoil in San Francisco, the 49ers were also a part of the wooing of Manning so quarterback Alex Smith was notably disgruntled, but it was a team that made it all the way to the NFC Championship game a year ago.  

The Broncos will get a little bit of everything in the preseason. They’ll see former Broncos, castaways of Denver, a welcoming of a legend and a test that will sure to get the juices flowing. With a preseason like this, the Broncos are seemingly getting ready much bigger things.

NFL debuts new Nike uniforms

The NFL locker rooms won’t look all that differently this coming season despite the new logo hanging from their jerseys sleeves.

All 32 teams, including fan gear will wear the ‘Swoosh’ as Nike received approval to be the leagues sole apparel dealer. The arrangement stipulated an “exclusive five year contract”. The leagues previous sponsor was Reebok, who is also owned by Adidas.

The terms of the deal were not disclose, but according to the Citigroup Inc. Reebok made $350-million dollars a year from their NFL contract.

The Oregon based sports-giants maintained a lot of the semblance of mainly all the teams, especially those whose histories and images are ingrained in their communities culture. There are little alterations, yet the overall theme didn’t stray to far from the past.

The new uniforms did  have a new-age feel, and there is only likely to be more of that coming in the future.

“We plan on changing the NFL jersey dramatically just like we’ve done with the college programs, using new thinking and the greatest technology available. The NFL program hasn’t had the same type of advancement in recent years,” said Nike Brand President Charlie Denson (via CNBC)

Nike continues to push the boundary on athletic innovation and creative fashion improvements.

NFL.com webstory

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8280d110/article/nfl-nike-roll-out-new-uniforms-for-all-32-teams?module=HP11_around-the-league

Tebow sends an "excited" tweet

He’s been mistreated by delusional fans. He’s been underappreciated by NFL executives. And Tim Tebow never feigns to give in to the negative.

The new Jets quarterback, not starting and not a back up because there has yet to be a practice or OTA or even a team dinner, tweeted this out a today:
 

“I’ve already said it 44 times so here goes number 45: I’m really excited to be a Jet! Haha! All joking aside it’s truly an honor…”

Whether people said it egregiously or just as a fact, that was one main point of the press conference of Tebow becoming a Jet. He is probably “really excited” to be on a team and around a fan base that is so passionate. Tebow just wants to play football.

Tebow creates drama and headlines where ever he goes. He never fails to be resolute in his actions and words, which also happen to be pretty impeccable.

Madden 2013; Who's next?

Madden NFL 2013 is in the fans hands. And they get to choose their new victim.

It’s the one bracket you probably don’t want to win.

The number one seeds, both quarterbacks, didn’t lead their team to a Super Bowl win. There is a possibility that one player will get the boot and still land on top, punter Sebastian Janikowski. And MegaTron got mega-snubbed as a number-6 seed, or 13^th best overall player.

The Madden curse has received much notoriety over the years, but its convention isn’t typical.

One day you’re the face of the most popular video game in the country. The next, you face plant.

An injury, a down year could hoodwink a player, but either, or both, is inevitable. It’s an honor of the highest degree, and yet it places you in the line of fire. Not only are All-Pro linebackers coming after you, but headset wearing, “Lucky Game Chair” sitting, nacho cheese Dorito covered controllers that are in the hands of 13-year-olds and 34-year-olds alike are in pursuit.

#MyMaddenCoverVote

So the player that is “selected”, we wish them luck, because no cover-model has ever been scrutinized more.  

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2013cover

Backup QBs; 2nd to no one

Backup quarterbacks are a hot commodity. They’re the Italian mixed meatloaf at the linoleum coliseum that is the middle school cafeteria.

Matt Cassell was compensated $62.7 million for his superior clipboard holding skills. Kevin Kolb is getting $63 million, $30 million in guaranteed money. He’s worth more than the Liberty bell, which coincidently has been struck more times than Kolb himself in the vicious game of football.

When a backup falls asleep in a meeting the quarterback coach gentle covers them with a blanket as if not to wake them. Veterans don’t haze backups; they would feel bad for taping these little guys to the goalposts.

So what is the allure of the decoy-play caller? The clipboard concierge? The human-softballing juggs machine? The bench barista? The headset hunk? The stout scout?

They are in constant queue, but are never tall enough to ride the roller coaster.

Everyone loves them. If the team is winning they might as well apply to become the centerpiece in the lost art of male-cheerleading, but if the team is losing then they are Joe Namath with more charisma, a more studious Peyton Manning, throwing a better ball than Tom Brady and like Jay Cutler, only with better hair.

They aren’t the fish you caught; they are the fish you tell your friends you caught.

Second string quarterbacks are necessary, and they are vital to a team’s success. But lets not let them steal the big piece of cake at the metaphorical birthday party; they should be able to blow out the candles first.

BRONCOS 11 MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR 2011

1.       Is Von Miller the right choice?

This may be the furthest thing from the minds of most of in Broncos Country. Von Miller was an unstoppable force for Texas A&M in 2009, but that doesn’t guarantee it will translate to the next level. He’s the prototypical outside linebacker; he has size and most importantly speed off the corner. And a more crucial query than if he can play, is he can play alongside Elvis.

2.       Will Elvis Dumervil be his usual self?

Losing Elvis on the first day of training camp sent the Broncos in a downward spiral that never stopped in 2010. Luckily, that can’t happen again. (Training camp is delayed by the lockout.)

3.       Defensive tackle still a problem spot?

Jamal Williams was supposed to fill the hole in the middle of the defense last year. The only thing he did do was fill the #76 jersey to the brim. Now Williams is no longer in Denver and the staple of the 3-4 defense is up for grabs.

4.       Could John Fox solve the problem?

He came from the only team in the NFL that was worse. He has more issues to fix than Ron Artest’s psychiatrist. But his pedigree is great and he could be just the right guy to turn the franchise back into what it once was.

5.       Can John Elway be a good executive?

We all know Elway cannot throw any touchdowns for the Owners box, but his influence on the team could go either way. He could play puppetmaster, and get away with it, or he could smile and make the occasional move and get the team back on track.

6.       Will Demaryius Thomas rebound?

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea doesn’t know the pressure that Thomas felt getting drafted before ‘The Chosen One’. He was injured a year ago and Denver never really saw his true potential.

7.       Who’s [THE QUARTERBACK] going to throw it to?

Brandon Lloyd snuck up on everyone even though he was leading the league in receiving for much of the year. Don’t expect this to be the case in 2011. And with the departure of Daniel Graham there will need to be more than one player that step ups in the passing game.

8.       Who is going to carry the ball at RB?

Once upon a time the Broncos running backs were as ripe and plentiful as a southern Georgia peach farm.  Now Knowshon Moreno is #1 on the depth charts, but it feels the confidence that Denver fans have in him are as tall as a bonsai bush.

9.       Ryan Clady back is his usual self?

Along with many other Broncos, Clady battled off some nagging injuries last year. He is more than capable of being an All-Pro tackle, but he is now a senior leader on a young Broncos front-five. And a possible change of position could be in store depending on the quarterback leading the team.

10.    Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton?

The ever-present question for a team; Play for the ‘Now’ or the ‘Future’? Kyle Orton was having, statistically, an above par season before his injury. But people are not going to be happy to see #15 in a visor while playing Sudoku on a clipboard. Will cooler heads prevail or is the pressure to play Tebow too much?

11.    Are the fans excited?

Expect Riots

The NBA and NFL are in sports jail. 

The neighborhood sports bars are putting up particle board to cover the windows. Coors Light is running ‘Sports are for Pansys” commercials. Nike is entering the board game industry. And David Stern and Roger Goodell were seen writing a dramatic romantic comedy screen play at Starbucks.

Expect riots.

People live for sports. They don’t play fantasy football to stimulate their brains. They don’t crop their best friend out of their wedding photos just because he wouldn’t trade Lamar Odom for JJ Redick and beer at next weekend’s BBQ. They don’t go to the YMCA and ride the elliptical to look cool. They don’t buy the same pare of Adidas sneakers to go with their tube socks. They don’t watch football on Sundays or basketball in March to get together with their pals. They most definitely don’t yell at their spouses to ‘Keep it down!’ during the most crucial of moments because they love the game more than them. 

Expect riots!!!

They do it because one day they may get THAT call from Jerry Jones or Jerry Bus asking them to be the interim general manager, backup point guard or assistant to the head coach. And IF, nay, WHEN, they get that call, they better be ready to go. 

EXPECT RIOTS!!!!!!

Denver Broncos Linebackers As Good As They Get

Just a few years ago the Denver Linebackers were about as intimidating as a 3 month old marshmallow. But now they have the pieces to do some damage from the core of the defense.

As Broncos fans, both older and more youthful, were spoiled when it came to big hits. The Orange Crush had the likes of Randy Gradishar. Steve Atwater, Bill Romanowski and John Mobley occupied the Super Bowl era. And now Elvis Dumervil leads a core of the nastiest linebackers in franchise history.

Dumervil led the NFL in sacks 2 years ago (last year he missed the entire season due to an injury) and may not be the best linebacker on the squad. DJ Williams, Joe Mays, Robert Ayers and a few rookies will be looking to be the new and hard-nosed face of John Fox’s 3-4 defense.

Denver was the worst in the NFL in most major defensive categories. They were last in yards per game; they were last in points per game and last in total defense. Their defense had as many holes as a To-be continued episode of Lost. And Coach Fox pinpointed these issues in the Draft.

The Broncos selected 3 linebackers (Von Miller, 1^st Round, Nate Irving, 3^rd Round, Mike Mohamed, 6^th Round) all with real potential to make an impact as a rookie. All 3 newcomers accent the change in philosophy on defense, and all have the potential to be long-time pieces for the team.

This may be the hey-day of Bronco linebackers; linebackers that don’t want you to cheer for them. They want to hear the “Ohhh’s” and “Ahhh’s” from laying hay-makers.

'Luck' be the Lady

Architectural designer or #1 overall pick?

Sounds like a tough decision… I guess it actually was, because Stanford QB Andrew Luck has made the decision to return to college for his redshirt-Junior year (I've been corrected, good research sir) and get his degree.

Although it seems like the right decision in a world where athletes tend to make the wrong decisions, I definitely see it differently… IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Hear me out, okay!

Everyone is gawking over Andrew Luck like you’re pig roast in Arkansas. Your stock is literally as high as it’s ever going to be while at Stanford. You declare yourself eligible for the draft and go as the #1 pick to the Carolina Panthers, sign a contract somewhere in the thin Bel-Air range of $55 million, and probably play as a rookie in ahead of Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen.

Instead you stay in Palo Alto, go to the tutors for a 4^th year and graduate. Learn an entirely new system under a new coach. Go to the NFL, maybe, if there isn’t a lockout already happening or you got hurt like Sam Bradford did. Then your future is up in the air.

PROS>CONS. Isn’t that what we learn in college, especially at a prestigious university like Stanford, is how to make the right/logical/rational/smart/I’m just using the thesaurus now/wise/coherent/keen decisions in life??

[This makes absolutely no sense to me. Jim Harbaugh is undoubtedly leaving, so you put the extra work of learning a new system and new leadership. You just broke every single record in the Stanford record book, including team records. (This is the first year ever Stanford has won 11 games) So you put the bar ridiculously high for your expectations. And finally you go back to get your degree. When will that come in handy? After college, when you are looking for employment? I don’t think you’ll have to worry about retiring to a stress free life with that $55 million in the bank, possibly.

I don’t want to say it, but maybe he knows something we don’t. Something he isn’t telling us….]

Thanks to Peter, for making these crazy ideas come out of me.