Even with sunny skies on a warm Arizona afternoon, the roof is closed at University of Phoenix Stadium with the Broncos preparing to play the Cardinals in a Week 14 showdown. Today will mark Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville’s head coaching debut.
Both teams enter the contest at 3-9, hoping for a momentum boost down the stretch. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. MST.
11:59 a.m. MST: The Broncos have recently released a statement on Perrish Cox’s availability today. The cornerback will play but not start against the Cardinals. The full statement is available here.
12:19 p.m. MST: The receivers are taking their turn doing pregame warmups right now. Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney are tossing passes to each other, while nearby Eddie Royal completes his normal pregame routine with Wide Receivers Coach Adam Gase. Tim Tebow has just taken the field to begin his warmup regimen.
12:34 p.m. MST: Broncos Secondary Coach Ed Donatell just greeted Cardinals kicker Jay Feely for a handshake and a few words near midfield. Donatell and Feely were together with the Falcons in 2004.
12:43 p.m. MST: Cardinals quarterbacks John Skelton and Richard Bartel are tossing passes to several wide receivers and defensive backs, including Larry Fitzgerald. Skelton will be the starter today, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt said this week. Bartel was signed this week after a stint in the UFL. Starter Derek Anderson did not practice this week with a head injury.
12:44 p.m. MST: Most of the Broncos have retreated to the locker room as the Cardinals continue their passing warmups on one end and Feely — the only player out in uniform — boots field goals at the other end. The lone Denver players left on the field are Robert Ayers and Royal, who is chatting with Fitzgerald.
12:52 p.m. MST: Britton Colquitt gets the honor as the first Bronco out of the tunnel in full uniform. The team is in their traditional road whites. He’ll likely be joined by newly signed Steven Hauschka and longsnapper Lonnie Paxton soon.
12:56 p.m. MST: The Broncos have released their inactives for today’s game. The list includes Matt Prater, Brian Dawkins, Laurence Maroney, Darcel McBath, Spencer Larsen, Eric Olsen and Demaryius Thomas. Brady Quinn is the third quarterback. McBath (ankle, quadricep) had practiced on a limited basis this week and was questionable coming in, but he will not play today.
1:02 p.m. MST: The Cardinals have released their list of inactives. The list includes quarterback Derek Anderson, wide receiver Max Komar, cornerback A.J. Jefferson, strong safety Hamza Abdullah, cornerback Marshay Green, linebacker Gerald Hayes, center Ben Claxton and defensive tackle Gabe Watson.
1:11 p.m. MST: Hauschka is going through his warmup, getting ready for his first game as a Bronco. Under the watchful eye of Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer, he’s trying field goals from all over the field.
1:17 p.m. MST: The first wave of Broncos returners has taken the field in uniform. Perrish Cox, Eric Decker, Cassius Vaughn and Lance Ball are fielding kickoffs from Hauschka, while Eddie Royal takes punts from Colquitt.
1:24 p.m. MST: The quarterbacks have taken the field as well with the other skill position players not far behind. There’s a decent amount of orange and blue in the crowd, bringing a good cheer upon the players’ arrival.
1:30 p.m. MST: Below are some pregame photos courtesy of Gray Caldwell:
1:33 p.m. MST: Both squads have taken the field and are going through stretching right now.
1:48 p.m. MST: The Broncos are headed back to their locker room. We’re about 25 minutes away from kickoff here at University of Phoenix Stadium.
2:05 p.m. MST: Both teams are back on the field and University of Phoenix Stadium is slowly but surely filling up as game time closes in. After the national anthem, we’ll have the coin toss and the opening kickoff. Continue to follow the game along with DenverBroncos.com in the first half blog.
Tags: 2010, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, pregame blog, Week 14
TEBOW TODAY!
I think we will RUN all over the cards in this one. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
START TEBOW PLEASE!!
People keep sayin tht tebows done now tht Mcdaniels is gone.. and the next coach will probably get rid of him. My question is… Is the next question dumb enough to come here and pull the same stunt as mcdaniels did and ship away our qb of the future and by far the biggest fan favorite SINCE elway. I really doubt that. I have faith tht tebows the starter midseason next year! GO BRONCS
*coach (not question)
honestly, since tebow didnt start this year and hasnt really played…I NEED him to start and play all next season. Sink or swim baby…lets see what we’ve got.
McBath out, dawkins out…. this should be a fun game at safety….
Moreno is in for a career day
I said it before, Paige or any other analyst. Tebow won’t start the last four. Which is not all that jaw dropping. I do hope however that Coach Studesville understands that he needs to put Tebow on the field, if and when the game is out of hand.
On another note, it cracks me up how Paige was going off on how Coach Studesville is auditioning for the job next year and that he is in consideration. It makes since and even Paige is too scared to say it. Coach Studesville is black and they have to interview and consider at least one minority. So why not the interim coach fill that requirement. Also as far as we know, he may be a serious contender. Paige went off on how poorly his RB’s have faired these last two season. It is like LT in San Diego, they said he was not capable of running 25+ rushes per game. Yet he averaged only 18 carries a game in his last season in SD. I see a paralell between the two. If you don’t run, the RB’s wont get the yards… I saw that as an RB coach since 2001, he has coached an average RB at best to 1k seasons in 2001,2002,2004,2005,2006,2007… That is pretty impressive considering the teams he was coaching with.
I don’t think Mr.B will allow anybody to get rid of Tebow,I think he wants him as our franchise QB.
Ayers looks like he’s ready!look for a BIG game outta him,I think he will dominate in this game,he’s back and primed for a breakout game,I will say he gets 2 sacks today!
Too bad McBath can’t go,I hope Sid sees playing time,I would like to see Sid and Vaughn get to return some kicks!
Let’s hope there is a next season. Or rather a season next year. Maybe if we all will it to happen…
steve,I hope we keep Stud on as RB coach,I think he is a good one and if we go back to zoneblocking,he will be a lot better,but he don’t have a snowballs chance in Hell of getting the HC job.IMO.
The next HC won’t have the power that McD had,so I wouldn’t worry about anyone coming in here and running players off like McD did,it won’t happen again.
I like how ayers is always looking in the interception or watching the ball in and all that. I wish he would actually intercept something lol
Broncos Born & Raised: I’m using my best jedi mind trick to force football to happen next year. lol
BFE: You are absolutely correct about the next coach not having that kind of power. Problem is it may take some time to undo the damage.
Raiders gonna lose.
Beast, I’d love to think that you’re right but Bowlen has never been one to micromanage players on our roster. But I think Tebow will stay. If the fans opinion means anything to our next coach – which it should because apparently he carries weight with the organization brass – then getting rid of Teobw without giving him a chance would be the last thing on his agenda.