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Archive for 2009

Do-Your-Job Mentality

December 31st, 2009 - 3:53pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

In Head Coach Josh McDaniels’ first season at the helm of the Broncos, he has instilled a simple, yet focused motto upon his team: “Do your job.”

In every phase of the game, McDaniels asks players to handle their specific assignments to the best of their ability — and let their teammates take care of their respective roles, too.

Come this Sunday, the Broncos plan on bringing that same “do-your-job” attitude to their Week 17 matchup with AFC West rival Kansas City. There are 10 different scenarios that could play out on Sunday that would propel the Broncos into the playoffs. But the team fully realizes it needs to take care of business against its opponent at INVESCO Field at Mile High, the Chiefs, instead of worrying about how the six other teams fighting for an AFC Wild Card berth are performing on Sunday.

“I just hope we’re focused on (our) game,” McDaniels said. “I know there are a lot of other factors that are at play, and there are so many different scenarios that if you’re sitting there trying to calculate all those you might miss the first quarter. I think we should just focus on the Chiefs, get ready to play and go out there and coach and play as hard as we can on Sunday, and then whatever happens, whatever they tell us to do on Monday morning, that’s what we’re going to do. We’ll see how it all unfolds.”

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It Is What It Is

December 31st, 2009 - 1:06am by mike_riceOther posts by

As I reflect on the 2009 Denver Broncos, I find myself both a little empty and strangely satisfied at the same time. I’m not sure exactly how it got to that point. But it is what it is.

If someone had told me four months ago that the Broncos would be 8-7 with a chance to make the playoffs heading into the final regular season game, I would have gladly taken that. While I certainly wasn’t in the group of people that thought the Broncos would win four or five games, I figured they would be in the seven to nine win range and wasn’t sure they would be a playoff team.

But after a 6-0 start, a return to the playoffs seemed to be merely weeks away. The great beginning raised expectations and made eight or nine wins seem but a formality. An AFC West title, a first-round bye, a magical run and palm trees in Miami began to creep their way from imagination to possibilities.

Now, however, a 2-7 stretch has long since tarnished the luster of the Broncos’ terrific start and the cold reality of this NFL December is that the Broncos could very well be playing their last game of the season Sunday against the Chiefs.

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Colquitt Coming Back to Denver

December 30th, 2009 - 10:38am by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

After completing training camp with the Broncos, rookie punter Britton Colquitt is returning to the club for the stretch run.

Denver announced the signing of Colquitt to its active roster on Wednesday from Miami’s practice squad. Colquitt entered the league with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 27, but was waived on Sept. 1, just before final roster cutdowns.

The rookie was out of football until Dec. 22, when the Dolphins came calling. Colquitt spent the holidays in the Florida sun, but admitted that it was difficult to remember that they were coming.

“I almost forgot about Christmas when I was down there because it is 80 degrees and there are no Christmas trees,” Colquitt said. “It is just palm trees with lights on them but being a Jimmy Buffett fan I kind of liked that — it was kind of cool.”

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Five Pro Bowlers Marks Good News

December 30th, 2009 - 9:29am by jim_saccomanoOther posts by

Football is a team game, more than any other, but it is still played by individuals, and this week’s announcement of the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl team had plenty of good news for the Denver Broncos and their fans.

Most seasons, teams have situations in which a player who was deemed worthy by the locals and their fans is omitted from a selection, and that pretty much did not happen this year for the Bronco players most deserving, at least by a statistical measure.

Champ Bailey has been named to his ninth Pro Bowl in 11 seasons, which ties Hall of Famer Mike Haynes for the most in NFL history at the cornerback position. Bailey has been named to the Pro Bowl five times as a Bronco and seems like a lock for the Team of the Decade for the 2000’s, a likely preamble to a Hall of Fame selection for Champ.

Tackle Ryan Clady was named to his first Pro Bowl team and is just the 11th tackle in NFL history to earn a Pro Bowl selection in his first two pro seasons. That takes in a tremendous number of players over the years and is a comment as to the talent and potential which Clady has.

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Tickets Available for Regular-Season Finale

December 30th, 2009 - 9:01am by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

If you’re looking for a view closer than your television of the Week 17 battle between the Broncos and Chiefs, your chance has arrived.

The Broncos announced on Wednesday that tickets are still available for Sunday’s regular-season finale at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. MST.

The tickets are being sold at all Ticketmaster outlets, via Ticketmaster Charge By Phone, through online sales at www.ticketmaster.com and at the INVESCO Field at Mile High box office.

Fans may purchase tickets with a credit card via Ticketmaster Charge By Phone by calling 1-800-745-3000. Fans desiring to use the Internet to purchase tickets may do so at www.ticketmaster.com.

Taylor Added to Active Roster

December 29th, 2009 - 4:20pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

With Russ Hochstein placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury against Philadelphia, tackle Herb Taylor has been added to the team’s 53-man active roster to provide the Broncos with depth on the offensive line.

Taylor was originally signed on Dec. 9 after Ryan Harris was placed on IR with a toe injury. He was waived by the club on Dec. 19 after Tony Carter was signed to the active roster.

Taylor was inactive for Week 14 against the Colts.

Hochstein and Kenny McKinley, who also suffered a knee injury against the Eagles, were officially placed on IR by the club on Tuesday. For more information, click here.

– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com

Dawkins Receives Ed Block Courage Award

December 29th, 2009 - 10:37am by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

Brian Dawkins has been named the Broncos recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, it was announced on Tuesday at a press conference at the Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore.

One member of each of the NFL’s 32 teams was selected by his teammates to receive the award, on the basis of exemplifying a commitment to sportsmanship and courage. The award was first given to a player from each team during the 1984 season.

This is the first such award that Dawkins has earned over his 14-year career. All 32 Ed Block Courage Award recipients from around the NFL will be honored at a banquet in Baltimore in early March.

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Monday Blues in Denver via Philly

December 28th, 2009 - 8:05pm by mark_cooperOther posts by

It’s funny how Mondays in this town after a defeat are BLUE. Everyone I talked to was a little down and troubled by the Philly defeat and the loss of control of our own destiny. Monday morning Blues.

The future’s bright, it’s just not now. As much as I love these guys, it’s just not the team that can get us to the Super Bowl…yet. We have flashes of absolute brilliance and I like Kyle Orton, the way he handles the offense.

I like a lot about this team and the coaching staff and I like the direction we’re going. Super Bowls don’t just happen, promise. I really like what I see and with this year under our belt and maybe a playoff shot with some help…you never know. We are a lot closer than most may think or give credit.

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Injuries Prompt Late-Season Shifts

December 28th, 2009 - 5:28pm by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

A pair of knee injuries will force the Broncos to shift some spots for their Week 17 battle with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels announced at his Monday press conference that Russ Hochstein and Kenny McKinley were both being placed on injured reserve today. He added that Hochstein needs surgery, while McKinley is still being evaluated.

Hochstein has started 10 games this season, including the last eight at left guard. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said that loss will challenge another player to fill the void, but within the same constructs of what the team has accomplished with Hochstein.

“He has done a nice job since he’s stepped in and started playing,” McCoy said. “The next guy’s going to have to step in and do a good job. We’ve got to continue doing what we’ve been doing with him in there.”

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Postseason Scenarios

December 28th, 2009 - 9:15am by Chris GentilvisoOther posts by

Entering Week 17, the Broncos are in the thick of the postseason conversation. Here are the official scenarios that were released by the NFL on Monday morning.

Baltimore, the New York Jets, Denver, Pittsburgh and Houston can make the playoffs if they tie this week, with various other things happening. Jacksonville and Miami cannot make the playoffs with a tie.

Here’s how Denver clinches a playoff spot:
- DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie
- DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie
- DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + HOU win
- DEN win + BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie
- DEN win + BAL loss or tie + HOU win
- PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss
- PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss
- PIT loss + BAL loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss
- PIT loss + HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss
- MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss or tie