The countdown has begun — we’re just about four hours away from the start of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers are essentially on the clock, which means Denver’s pick is a little more than four hours and 10 minutes away.
We’ll update this blog as we can throughout the day, though with the Broncos picking so early, there might not be quite as many updates early on in the draft. Essentially we hope this becomes a gathering place to discuss today’s happenings, so feel free to leave as many comments as you’d like below.
We also have a draft page set up for all of our content throughout the weekend, and here’s a predraft coverage page with everything we provided leading up to the event.
5:55 p.m. MDT: Five minutes until the Panthers are on the clock…we’ll have something on the front of the site as soon as we can after the Broncos pick, which will be somewhere between 6:10 and 6:20 p.m. We’ll try to be more active in the blog as the first round rolls on. In the meantime you can watch the team’s draft war room live. Keep in mind there’s no audio — we can’t give away all our secrets — but you can get a look at John Elway, John Fox, Brian Xanders and the personnel staff at work.
6:01 p.m. MDT: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is fielding a call on his cell phone, and the Carolina Panthers will soon be on the clock. We’ll see if that means the BCS Championship Game winner will be wearing Carolina Blue next year. Now Newton is shaking hands, and it looks like he’ll be the number one pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
6:06 p.m. MDT: Roger Goodell is stepping up to the podium, and he has opened the draft to the Carolina Panthers. Now Goodell is making it official. He has announced Newton as the number one overall selection, which means the Broncos are now on the clock.
6:13 p.m. MDT: Von Miller is fielding a phone call and appears to be getting emotional. He could be the newest Denver Bronco. The executives in the Broncos’ draft war room are high-fiving and celebrating. General Manager Brian Xanders is shaking hands with Owner/CEO Pat Bowlen, and Miller is wiping away tears. Goodell has just announced that the Broncos have selected Von Miller with the second pick of the NFL Draft.
6:27 p.m. MDT: John Elway just spoke to the team’s official draft party downtown at Jackson’s.
“Von is the first step of bringing back the old Orange Crush defense that you’re all used to seeing,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and hopefully we can do as well with the rest of the picks as we’ve done with our first one.”
You can read more about Miller here. Check out some of the newest Bronco’s highlights here.
6:34 p.m. MDT: Just to catch you up on the last few picks, after the Broncos took Miller, Buffalo went with Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Darius, Cincinnati went with Georgia receiver A.J. Green, Arizona took LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson and Cleveland has just traded with Atlanta, and the Falcons have selected Alabama receiver Julio Jones at No. 6 overall. Just to recap — every single player taken in the draft so far, with the exception of Miller, played their college ball in the SEC.
7:07 p.m. MDT: John Fox has just released a statement on selecting Miller: “We are thrilled to add Von Miller to the Denver Broncos. He’s a big playmaker and a leader who is explosive on the defensive side of the ball. It’s crucial in this league to be able to rush the passer, and Von adds that dimension to our defense. He’s also able to drop back into pass coverage. There’s no doubt that his versatility is going to make us a better football team.
“He’s great on and off the field, and I couldn’t be happier with our first pick in the draft.”
8:53 p.m. MDT: Head Coach John Fox is going to speak at the podium at the conclusion of the first round, and Broncos TV will stream it live. I think we’re shutting down the blog for today — tomorrow should be far more active from the Broncos’ standpoint, with three picks on day two. Be sure to check out the draft page for all of DenverBroncos.com’s coverage.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2011 NFL Draft
So they don’t make anyway near the money in the draft as they do from ticket sales and merchandise. Boycot that and make them feel the effect of fan backlash. Boycotting the draft would have bearly caused a ripple.
So what you’re trying to say is you don’t like beef jerkey????
Because Jay Cutler SUCKS!!!!
And why then are you trying to get all us Bronco fans to “boycot this pantomime?”
What’s the big deal with wanting to know who our favorite teams draft?
glax i like how u come on here to start drama. especialy since hardly anyone is on line. its time for u to call it quits.
Sounds like the league has things sorted and looks like the league year will start next week.
The draft seemed to go well I don’t think there was much disarray, did anyone else see that in the coverage?
aussie the year could start as soon as tommorow. but still no official word. hopefully tommorow. then we could trad orton for another pick. and that will make a great draft.
glax your lame. get over it and get out. Good night real Broncos fans. see u tommorow.
You did call him Jay Cutler, that was uncalled for.
I get what you mean, they should be working on a CBA focusing on getting that sorted instead of a draft. Problem is they are scheduled for talks on May 16 and there are a number of things in courts at the moment which is holding up proceedings. So it will take time and a lot of it. What better why then to fill in time with a draft.
Goodnight socal…
Not at all glax….just think is funny how you come on here and start speaking all your riddles that no one can understand, about how crapy the NFL is when infact your actually on a NFL website.
So would you pass on an oppertunity to make millions of dollars playing a game you love and have played nearly your entire life???
So you think we are blowing up Miller and making him a premadon and not an athlete? Just trying to understand your perspective?
You say that you don’t like being called a prophet? But then say things like ‘I am the Alpha & the Omega.’ So which one is it?
Seems to me everytime I hear an athlete give a thank you speech they always always say “and thank you to the fans” or “We have the greatest fans”…….
Nope sometimes Tone is hard to pick up in written words, that is why you throw a haha or lol on the end.
Haha funny, why do Australians then have better health care, better economy and a better dollar than Americans if we are such hillbillies haha.
We are the cooler partying version of Europe.
What about Champ?
Or Dawkins?
And he thanked the Fans didn’t he????…….YES…….
So there you go, Athletes do very well understand that their money comes from the fans, that is why they always include “the fans” in ALL of their thank you speech’s
So thank YOU for proving my point for me…
Then China will be pissed about that, looks like we have aligned ourselfs more with the asian countries. And who would kill the fun loving Australians?
And when you going to find Bin laden, that is one dude haha.
Haha I am having fun with this sillness, glaxsnax. But I do agree a guy like Elway doesn’t come around often.
Yes I don’t want you to destory my trailer haha.
Well, this has been real, but I got a 6 A.M. flight to catch so goodnight all.
Laters Marsh
Or somewhere in between. Enjoy the draft, but boo goodell everytime he takes the stage haha.
Well this has been fun, but I am out, laters
Oh yeah, he has done a number of back flips, anyway I am out.
well,i had to take it all in before I posted..
there goes my chances in the competition Bay..(yeah I pick PP).lol.
best of luck to whoever got Miller right..
The Viking fans and the Texan fans are probably kicking themselves about now..aha
I just saw Miller’s sportsscience and it was pretty insane..(top speed like Fitzgerald?hits like Demarcus Ware?)
Definitley going DT w/ the 36th pick…
Glax you need help…IDK if your a Broncos fan but I will assume none of us come in shades as ugly as you…aside from that this blog is about the Broncos (Not your disgusting rashes) Obviously you don’t wanna make friends and this probably stems from a psychological problem you should address. I’m sorry you feel that you have to compete with friendly bloggers ONLINE to stroke your massive ego, but honestly we can all do without you (BIG SUPRISE). So I ask you (in all seriousness) please stop making a fool out of yourself and talk football…this is a hobby not a competition.
P.S. don’t talk about my man Social like that….it’s a sign of weakness.
How many def tackles will there be in free agency or trade prospects now. After all the depth from this years draft? I told y’all not to waste our 1st pick on d-line. Ty John Ty. Now I hope we do not grab 1 at all. We have other spots to fix first in my opinion. One of the easiest spots to fill after the draft with good depth. WILL be the d-line. We need to draft our d-line next year. I wanted P Peterson but very happy to see Von miller. If Rudolph, pae or Austin is left. Rudolph is the better choice but that’s just me. Unless we are guranteed to get Rudolph with or other 2nd round pick.
I would even gamble that pae or Austin slip through to our 2nd 2nd round pick. With all the picks of that position already taken. But new England sitting pretty in this next round. So it’s highly unlikely but either pae or Austin might slip that far or bowers even. But why waste that pick on bowers if he blows his knee out in his 1st season
Haha, okay…
Just because I said I am happy we passed on Dareus when he was available at #2 shouldn’t be a problem!! I was very stoked with who we got! Everyone can check my posts and I have said that anyone but Dareus would just be spectacular by me!!
Louisana, I understand what you’re talking about in your post. I am very thrilled we got Miller and am even more thrilled because it shows that our staff DOESN’T listen to the so called “draft analysts” They went in and drafted one of the top 2 best players available. I have said for a long time that I do not think Dareus fits in that category, that is my opinion, sorry if you do not like it.
I think Miller is going to be huge for us and is going to be a main guy who brings back that D to Denver!! I watched the senior bowl over and over again and he played in a 4-3 and did amazing. They switched him from each LB spot and at DE and he was dominant in EVERY position. Our pick couldn’t have been any better in my opinion!!
And I swear Royalty…
You keep saying you have nothing against me but you keep calling me out. It’s got to stop.
Just like Louisiana said that everyone has heard the whole “hype” of Dareus, way more than Peterson, this whole time. Also, even us Peterson guys were saying that we would probably draft Dareus because of the analysts saying that. John Fox is a huge production guy and he will get loads of production out of Miller. It’s funny how people get really mad afterwards because we do not pick Dareus. We didn’t pick Peterson and you don’t see me getting mad on here!!
It’s time for everybody to live up to what they said and support whoever is in a Broncos uniform!! It’s Miller time Baby!! That will never get old.
And TRB…
Yea man. We both predicted Paea and Austin being in the 2nd round but people thought we were stupid for thinking that and then it actually happens.
I wouldn’t mind at all to see us draft 2 DT in the 2nd round!!
Paea
Austin/Nevis
Jarrett
amen to that Yovi, glax you need some sleep.
Aussie,,have a good one mate..
I am sorry that I am just now addressing these posts that I posted above. I wasn’t at the computer at all and went and watched Fast Five after the draft which was by far the best movie I’ve ever watched!
My only comment that I said above about the whole thing is how most of everyone said that it was “Such a sure thing” that we would get Dareus. I mean over and over again. I was for getting Peterson or Miller because those were the two top players at the best player available. I already made my case about Miller so I had NO CLUE why Royalty came out and said I was basically only about Peterson.
Also, like I said above, and not that I care or anything, but Paea and Austin are BOTH in the 2nd round and a few people said how at least one of them wouldn’t be and for those who thought they would be, like myself and TRB, thought that we were stupid with our opinions and got talked down to several times. It’s just a huge relief that somethings that I said about in this draft are a reality.
I do not want to make enemies with anyone on here as I love talking to everyone on here, it’s just that I believe EVERYONE should respect each others opinions from now on no matter what you believe in or think it’s stupid or not.
Would love to see everyone be treated with respect on these blogs and that includes everyone!
Vibe…
I honestly believe we will take at least 1 DL in the second round. I would love to see us take 2 in the 2nd and 3rd round. DL is our weakest position right there and needs to be addressed.
There is Marvin Austin, who was thought to go #1 DT if he would’ve played last year and not gotten suspended who is a HUGE talent!
Also, there is Paea who is a completely amazing DT who shuts down the run almost everytime. He was the strongest DT in this draft with 49 bench reps and he is built great!
If we could, I would love to get both of them with our 2nd round picks. Thing is, realistically I do not believe one of them would be available with our 2nd 2nd round pick and even if they are, who do we take first out of the two??
Haha, I know just about everyone says Paea but with Austin being regarded as possibly the best DT in this years draft a year ago, that sounds extremely tempting!
Well Paea and Austin are still on the board,as bad as we need a DT,can we pass on Bowers if he falls to us???
I guess my #36 pick is out the window,I know we ain’t drafting Moore Safety now,we need a DT badly,so I guess it’s Paea or Austin!
Also my #46 pick is out the window,Jones,no way we take 2 LBs in the first 4 picks!
I guess I’ll root for Paea at #36 and Moore at #46!!!!
Sorry guys I wasn’t able to get in on any of the draft blogging,the storms Wednesday night,made my PC go bonkers,just now got it to run halfway smooth.
Overall I have to say,I hope Miller,projected to play in a 3-4 can excell in a 4-3,I think the guy is a REAL football player with a motor that never stops,I think we got a Helluva player that can help our Defense immensly I just hope we address DT next,we still got a shot of making this a great draft!!!
BTW…I think Cincy takes Dalton at #33.
so we still got Paea,Austin,Bowers,and Moore on the board,and 3 teams pick before us,worse case scenerio,Paea,Austin,and Bowers go 1,2,3 in the second round,but very unlikely to happen,cause 1 team will take Dalton,so that leaves us with who’s left,hopefully Paea,but Austin would be fine also,and Bowers would be great too,but if we don’t address DT NOW,we will regret it!!!!!!!!
Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot.
BFE
Like most of we fellow bloggers, I was surprised at the Miller time pick, but if you think about it, it’s a very logical pick. DL is crammed full of excellent prospects. LB has Miller and then the rest. Broncos need help at DT and LB. They filled the LB need in the first round. There will be several good DTs available in ther second round for the Broncios to scoop up. At least one, with luck, two.
45YEARBRONCOFANSTILLONSTRIKE
I’ll treat you with respect freak30:
Go to bed.
And strand, we have 6 bloggers who picked Von Miller, and none of them did it until the last couple days when the tide started to change. I should of listened to Klis as I mentioned in an earlier post, he has the inside track into Dove Valley and I ignored that for some dumb arse reason I still don’t understand…
And I think this post makes Dareus fans a little closer to reality than the PP ones were, with all due respect of course:
BroncoRoyaltyEst.1979 says:
April 28, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Per Fox’s answers Peterson was never even in the equation, It was either Miller or Dareus but like he said he see’s Miller as more of an every down player.
Amen.
And glaxsnax, I feel your pain man about the state of the NFL and all, it’s nothing like what I grew up to love, not the league, not the players, not the game, but unfortunately for pro football fans it’s the best we’ve got.
But getting lamer by the minute, the stupid rule changes, the prima donnas taking over, the everything for a buck from upstairs, the good old days of playing football in the mud just for the pleasure of beating up on eachother are long gone.
Thought for the day:
Respect is something that is earned, not something you can demand.
BTW, one thing we got for sure with Von Miller is a tear jerker, never saw so much crying from a grown man in one sitting, LOL.
freak30 You swear what? Look at my second entry it did have Miller at the top and i’m happy to have Von we addressed the front seven which is more of what us Dareus guys were concerned with, starting in the front and working our way out… You got to admit you were light years off with Patrick Peterson. Lol Darues went right after Von, that says something on its own.
I’m not mad at the fact that we got Miller, I admittedly said I was disappointed that I didn’t win the contest but thats as far as that goes. I mean look at my 4:37 post I was torn on which one to go with I decided to stick to my guns and stay Darues but I also had an inclination that Miller was the Triumvirates pick.
Just to point out…look at how you type when you’re not trying to be a pest. I don’t see all those exclamation marks now. Everyone has chalked it up to you being excited and I accepted that, but now, to me thats bull, you’re so transparent to me. I know when you trying to stir the pot, if not, why am I not the only one who says something when you act like that… hmmm something to think about???
-Royalty
Cool article by Kiszla, no offense to Tebow (I actually like the guy):
Move over, Tim Tebow.
By selecting Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, the Broncos took a sledgehammer to the extreme arrogance that characterized the much-lamented Josh McDaniels era.
Miller, selected second in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, supplants Tebow as the No. 1 reason to believe in the future of this franchise.
The pick is another sign that John Elway is a football executive who believes more in substance than glitz.
A downtrodden team finally has more to sell Broncomaniacs than the uncertain promise of the No. 15 jersey worn by an unproven T-shirt salesman.
On draft night, McDaniels swaggered in the Broncos’ war room, certain he was smarter than everybody else in the league. Maybe he was absolutely correct in that assessment. But in his hubris, McDaniels wasted too much time and too many valuable picks in an attempt to shock the NFL world.
In his first draft at the helm, Elway played it like a veteran quarterback, taking what the big board gave him rather than reaching to prove the worthiness of his Mensa candidacy.
Pure, blind speed is back in vogue on the Denver defense. It beats the heck out of the pure, blind luck that McDaniels relied upon way much when he drafted for the Broncos.
As a young NFL executive, Elway might yet have a lot to learn about building a championship team.
But, as an old quarterback, Elway knows what hurts.
Miller is a sledgehammer.
“Transparent” is the key word here, us experienced folks can read right through people like him, been butting head with him for many, many moons, but being a pestulant pest is his make up and so be it, as long as he doesn’t keep telling me how I need to act I don’t give a rat’s arse.