On a beautiful day in South Florida, the AFC squad took the field first on the opening day of practice for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
It was a day that was just as much about getting acquainted with new teammates as running drills, and the loose session included plenty of laughs. Some of the loudest came from Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, who not surprisingly spent much of the morning trying to get a rise out of the crowd of high schoolers who watched the practice at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
At times it almost looked like a regular Broncos practice, as five Denver players took the field — Champ Bailey, Ryan Clady, Brian Dawkins, Elvis Dumervil and Brandon Marshall. It was a typical affair, as Bailey matched up against Marshall plenty of times, and Clady found himself blocking Dumervil on a number of occasions.
Some of the odder sights of the day came on special teams. First, Marshall dropped back to field a few punts — nothing too out of the ordinary — except the kicks were coming from Ochocinco. Later, Marshall took a few turns at long snapper, sending the ball back to Baltimore running back Ray Rice, who punted a couple deep balls. Some of the blockers on the punt team included Dumervil, Dawkins and Titans quarterback Vince Young.
If any Broncos fans were in attendance, things might have seemed a little backwards. Clady took his snaps as the starting right tackle, as Cleveland’s Joe Thomas lined up at left tackle. The reasoning? Most likely the fact that Thomas has been elected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league — he gets to exercise a bit of seniority.
So while the practice was about joking around with some of the AFC’s best, Bailey said he knows the group will get down to business as Sunday approaches.
“You want to come out here, have some fun and take advatange of the opportunity to play with some of these elite guys, guys you watch throughout the league,” Bailey said. “It’s a good thing to build camaraderie and build relationships, but at the same time we want to win.”
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Here are more photos from the opening practice session:
For more photos of Wednesday’s action, check out the photo gallery.
Tags: Brandon Marshall, Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil, Pro Bowl, Ryan Clady
Looks to be a good move as the defensive players will welcome Martindale as their new leader.
Good luck catching up rbf1, it has been very busy here at times since you’ve been here, same old, some interesting stuff mixed in with the daily rehash, I still enjoy it though and now that our coaching staff seems complete other than LB coach, I am really looking forward to March 5th, first day of FA.
cody, now that’s the way to look at the glass as half full, LOL, but that would seem more of a stretch than my version.
rbf1, Yeah I saw Lindsay Jones reporting that… I guess they allow girls in dressing rooms now, LOL.
As always, good to see you providing support to the rest of the Bronco bloggers on here baylinor. I try to stay optimistic about offseason changes, though I don’t agree with some, but what can I do.. I’m just an old loyal fan.
I’m curious about the draft and it will be interesting to see what area we focus on primarily with that first pick.
cody, I have a feeling that McD wouldn’t take too well to a coach looking out at options on his own with other teams, unless some team asked to interview him, and I haven’t seen anything to that effect, I believe you might be stretching here a bit to make yourself feel more comfortable with the promotion. Can’t blame you. I’m trying to do the same, so far it’s not working real well, LOL.
1st off, congrats to Wink! now, who’s gonna coach our LB’s? So let me pose this, if it was difficult for McD to lure coaches over- how difficult will it be to lure Free Agents over?
Maybe its a good thing the CBA hasnt been resolved. It makes the FA pool very small. Most teams will be forced to make their changes in the draft (or trades).
lol- Tell what they won Wink!!!!! GO BRONCOS 2K10
rbf1, IMO it all depends what we can address in FA, hence I really need to go through that before I can address our real needs in the draft. But yes, it’s all a very exciting time of year coming up.
This is what we need to address and the list is too long to address it in just the draft, hence we will have to be heavily involved in FA also is my opinion (re-post):
A LARGE NT to occupy the middle.
Two BIG DL to stop the run.
A sizable Center and
two BIG Guards to operate the power blocking scheme successfully.
Two STOUT power RB’s.
One DE/OLB to compliment the pass rush opposite of DOOM.
One ILB to stop the run.
One receiving TE with sure hands.
One TALL WR’s.
One full size CB (not a half pint like Phonzy).
That’s right FA will be up first and that will determine what direction we go.
A few mock drafts have us taking Rolando McClain. Others have us taking WR Dez Bryant who at 6’2”, 220lbs looks good.
Baylin
Dont think we need two Power/stout RB, 1 will suffice. NT yes…But i dont see peterson going anywhere, Maybe a center. Doom is a one man wrecking crew in my book. Id rather have LBs that can cover. WE have none, exceppt DJ but thats cuz DJ does everything. Dunno about TE ( we got Richard Quin with a second pick for something) it might have been blocking but we can turn him into a reciever. Tall WR….lets home Marshall stays. CB, yes because Law was a one year deal and we lost Jack williams. TOny Carter could get better tho.
(I say all this of course to limit how overwhelming your list looks of things we need help with…more is always better)
Also Kaeding is out…why is Carpenter in…shoulda been prater…inFG he was 3rd behind akers and kaeding…and in KO he was a beast…My opinion…with some facts lol
I talk about peterson in reference to the other DL men you want. Dont think he will go anywhere…Played ball with McD hoodie in high school or w/e
That’s one thing that still irks me – giving away a first rd pick for half pint Phonzy. I thought Smith would have been a higher impact player considering what we gave up for him. Last years picks didn’t quite live up to their billing. We’ll see this year.
I would definitely go with McClain over Dez, my step son goes to Okl. State so I follow that team quite a bit and I’m afraid we might have a new primma donna in the making in Dez hence I seriously doubt McD would even consider it.
TRB, I like my list and as you know, LOL, I’m sticking to it, appreciate your comments though as always.
rbf1, agreed, McD did poorly with the draft, but he did great in FA.
I like McClain as well, and im with you rbf1, never shoulda traded 1st rounder for a second rounder. And u think because of that he would play more since he was essentially a first round pick…but then ty law was gotten and he was shafted so he made no impact (not that he was before) plus he got injured. Still hold out hope that he lives up to a 1st round pick….
Baylin,
8/10 WRs are prima donas. 7/10 NFL players are prima donas….sadly, we live in the prima dona age….
Correction, 9 out of 10 WR’s are prima donnas, 3 out 10 for the rest of the positions, IMO, sorry for your Marshall, he is in the 9, LOL. Couldn’t resist.
What about getting Wilfork from the pats? He would be a nice upgrade for the nose. He is a beast in the middle.
Yeah, we have been mentioning that for weeks now, and if Wilfork doesn’t work out, we can go after Franklin, Pickett or Hampton.
I place the prima donna era on Irvin, TO and Deion. Then the film Any Given Sunday came out and now it seems like its everywhere! OL, DL, QB’s, even Head Coaches! Ok maybe not the O-linemen, lol. Thats why its 7/10
yup thats why i said 7/10 and 9/10 for WR might be right…but i also had to factor in the ones that suck and are one the bench so i said 8/10 lol.
As far as Prater for Pro Bowl…I WONT LET UP…lol heres a article that supports what I said, even goes beyond my accolades. and it came out Jan 17 before the kaeding injury.
http://www.milehighreport.com/2010/1/17/1248854/matt-prater-is-no-kathy-ireland
Maybe i shoulda read up more before posting…did everyone know that Martindale is DC now?
just went back to read in teh blogs…yup definitely missed it lol…This could all be avoided if we heard first from our own parent site…instead of having to troll the internet to hear words about our team first from some other site….im just saying….
Yeah maybe you shoulda, LOL.
Good point, they are not really up to speed here, are they, that’s probably because everything has to be reviewed and approved by higher authorities of the Broncos.
yea, my bad…the only post i could remember was yours from earlier today that said that “another day gone and no martindale hire” so when peopel were talking about martidale, thought it was hypothetical cuz i did read. Must have missed the one that said its official…lol
It looks like hampton is staying still. Wilfork could work.
The problem is….. 34 teams that have great NT’s, aren’t willing to give them up.
Thats why it’s so hard to find great ones available. And it seems like NT’s almost always bust in the draft.
It’s harder than finding a franchise QB.
That would make sense Baylin…all the other third party sites can print w/e…and if its inaccuarate dont care or retract it or w/e. Broncos have to be 100 percent everytime but if its happening within house that shouldnt be a problem…i dunno lol. As soon as it happens pass it down to Denverbroncos.com web team and they type it up. No worries with accuracy cuz its straight from the organizaitons mouth lol
One guy that is pretty good is Shaun Rodgers.
Mr. Rodgers is huge and he doesn’t like Cleveland.
(Who does? Their biggest export is crippling depression)
I don’t think anything goes directly to the website without being reviewed and authorized, it’s the Broncos responsibility to assure they don’t blow it somewhere, no matter what it is, and the politically correct thing, it’s big business, we are just to fast for them, LOL.
Yeah, but Cleveland would have to let him go, he is not a FA.
Plus the Cleveland thing would remind me too much of the been there done that, MULTIPLE TIMES, like the entire D line it seemed.
What does everyone think of Martindale as our DC???
broncosfreak30, if you go back on the blog, you’ll get a few answers, it’s already old news here, LOL.
Bmarsh for Rogers and Cribbs.
and give them a 3rd round pick
That’d be a good one florio’s_mom.
I’m in.
Part of me thinks if Bowlen could afford a #1 pick, and we don’t find a NT in FA, send Marshall and our 10/11th pick to St. Louis and draft Suh.
That’s a bit steep.
I rather we trade Marshall to Seattle for their 14 (the phonzy trade pick)and a third and give our # 10 and our second round pick to the Rams for Suh. So we still end up with a #14 and another third. Monopoly anyone? LOL.
NT are HUGE gambles in the draft. Ecspecially #1 overall.
I say sign Marshall. If McD has to trade him, my vote is the 3way. Wilfork to Denver, Marshall to Tampa and Draft picks to New England!!!
Sounds like Bailey and Dawkins are happy with Martindale as DC. Least that the way the DP made it sound.
sndvl: A 3way…kind of kinky don’t you think…ohhh you mean a 3way trade oh I gotcha. LOL!!!! Sorry part of my mind still lives in the gutter.
Im with u sndvl…sign marshall…if he goes…really dont care what he goes for…it is what it is. a mistake…
To answer your question broncos freak cuz i never spoke on it. I think Martindale as DC is a good thing. Has been with us for many system and most recently Nolans. That was the best in recent years. He is gonna carry on the 3-4 and great philosophies and lets not forget, the Doom a LB was one of our brightest spot in defense….I hope he can handle the Defense as a whole now…DL and DB…alot of responsibility but im sure he is up to the challenge…Like McD said once…a play doesnt always beat a play…a play that is supposed to beat a play may not work because of the individuals executing the play….so all we gotta do is give Martindale talent to work with and im sure he will do well….
florio, I agree but I was just trying to think of a better way to get Suh than what brian was saying. I think taking a NT with #10 or 11 money would be fine with me, but with a #1 does make it a much bigger gamble money wise.
I think another great addition to our d line would be richard seymore.If we could get him and Wilfork we would just need another linemen.
OH MY GOSH.
Did any body just see Michael Irvin make out with his high school coach? Very disturbing.