During Super Bowl XLVI, many of you may have seen the NFL’s commercial on the evolution of player safety throughout the history of the game.
For those that didn’t, the league put together an extremely informative — and cool — site detailing the many safety innovations from 1869, when the first game of American football was played, up to 2012. You can check it out at evolution.nfl.com.
There’s the hardened leather helmet’s appearance in the 1920s, foam pads in the 1930s, the introduction of the single-bar facemask in 1955, the new “unsportsmanlike conduct” rule in 1979 to player safety research going on today.
A couple photos of Broncos make the site, including Rick Upchurch, who is called the “Player of the Moment” in the 1970s.
Just use the timeline at the bottom of the page to look through the years, and be sure to click “watch the spot” at the very bottom to watch the league’s Super Bowl commercial.
It’s definitely worth a look.
Tags: Evolution, NFL Safety
If we go with a halfback in free agency I really like Mike Goodson from the Panthers. He is a Fox drafted half back with the homerun speed we are missing in the backfield. The guy is a receiver in a HB’s body. He has the potential to be better than DeAngelo Williams. Since Carolina re-signed Williams last year and they still have Johnathan Stewart under contract I doubt they will re-sign Goodson. Good for us hopefully. If we get a good FA HB like that we could really help ourselves out in the draft.
Interesting to hear, I know nothing about him. The RB`s in FA I like are Mike Tolbert, Marshon Lynch, and Matt kalil. And all are 26 years old and under.
I like both Goodson and Tolbert, I think either one would be an excellent signing… I would also add Michael Bush to that list
I think Goodson is like 24 or 25. 6’0 215lbs. He’s a RFA but like I said, I doubt Carolina wants to pay what he is worth.
Marshawn Lynch will most likely be too expensive for a RB IMO.. Too bad McD went for Moroney, when we could have gotten Lynch for not that much more…..
We have a good speed rush on the outside but no power rush up the middle..If we had taller lineman theres no way Brady does wat he did to us in the playoffs…all his passes were 3 step drops n over our dlines heads….
Draft
1. Dontari Poe DT
2. Lamar Miller/Chris Polk RB
3. Alameda Ta’amu DT
4. Jarius whright WR
5. Chris Rainey RB/WR/RS
5. Chad Diehl FB
7. Garth Gerhart C
Sign
Dan Connor MLB
Rasheed Mathis CB
Reggie Nelson FS/SS
Jeremy Mincey DE
Resign
Mario Haggan OLB
Wesley Woodyard OLB
Matt Prater K
Broderick Bunkley DT
Eddie Royal WR
Joe Mays MLB
I think Lynch likes it in Seattle. It would be tough to get him, lots of dough to get him here as you said.
I looked up the FA RB`s and didn`t see Goodson. So he`s a RFA then, OK.
Cheddar – you sure Goodson is a FA? I don’t see him on this list:
http://www.footballsfuture.com/2012/fa/rb.html
Send Lynch a Case of Skittles and he’ll come!!!
Marshawn is a monster but would require a monster contract. It wouldn’t be fair to McGahee to be replaced or supplanted by Marshawn Lynch two times on two different teams either. When Lynch was drafted by Buffalo, the Bills had Willis McGahee fresh off a 1200 yard season. I love me some McGahee and he is fresh off a 1200 yard season here in Denver.
To me, their skill sets are too much alike when considering Tebow has pretty much the same running skills also. We have the need for speed to be able to compliment our power backs. If we don’t get a running back with elite speed then we should be looking for a balanced back with receiving skills.
Tsunami, I am not absolutely certain if he is available or not. I was researching running backs a few months ago and he stood out to me because I remember watching him play for the Panthers a couple seasons ago when they had some injuries at halfback. Haven’t heard much about him since because of Deangelo Williams and J. Stewart. I got to thinking that if Fox wants to bring in a FA RB he might look to his past. I was looking at the Panthers RB core and it looked to me that he was in the last year of his rookie deal this past season. He is only 24 so he is probably still a RFA. I am not 100% sure though.
Risky – I think Ta’amu is Samoan, which I like.. Them boys are are big, thick and tough as nails!
It sounds like Goodson has another year left on his rookie contract, but I love the idea.. Best case scenario is that he doesn’t get that many reps behind Williams and Stewart, and we sign him next offseason.. He’s got great upside, is familiar with Fox, and shouldn’t cost too much unless he breaks out this year, which would be unlikely being 3rd on the depth chart
Risky, I agree with your resigning assesment. The only one maybe not would be Mario Haggan. Mainly because Mario might be able to start for a team in need of an OLB and he would probably be designated special teams again here as a Bronco. We drafted Mike Mohammad in the sixth round last year and signed him to the active roster from the practice squad. He is the same height only a little lighter than Haggan and Mohommad could be a special teams stud and eventually get some reps as a spell at any LB spot. I really want to see Haggan do well and I think he would be a perfect fit somewhere like Chicago. The Bears have Urlacher and Briggs but no one to speak of on the other outside. If the Bears don’t draft OLB early then I think Mario should have his agent make a few calls. If there is not a perfect fit anywhere for him, we would love to bring him back. He is instictive and has good size. He is just not as consistant as I would like to see.
by far the best FA pickup would be brandon carr CB, that way we can draft a MLB OR DT with our first pick
All this RB talk got me thinking.. We all know Fox loves to run the ball, but take a look at his recent draft success of Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and Mike Goodson… I don’t see any Knowshon Moreno’s in that list… After holding off on drafting a RB last year, I would be shocked if Fox doesn’t draft one this year, and judging by his past picks, that’s OK with me!
Good point OT. I want a Darren Sproles type. We have power runners. I want a midget with a center of gravity 12 inches from the ground, able to become a gopher and dig tunnels under 300 lb lineman.
is any one concerned with our Oline core when kup went down the next man up was horrible.And I also think we need to have a equall draft this year.
I have said all along that my feelings were this past season was that our O line as well as D line reserves were lacking, and we needed help in the depth department.
DT,CB,RB,WR, and oline depth is needed badly in draft FA.. only problem is unless denver changes its ways i see no big time free agents coming this year which leaves draft mostly to improve
randy
you are missing S ,DE, TE
I just watched the butt kicking that we did to the Raiders in week 9. Hey BFE sorry I missed you last night. I am counting the days till combine, and then the draft. I know free agency comes first but still I am excited for it all. We do need some bigger guys up front. I look at the raiders front men and they are big guys. I mean they waddle when they walk cuz their legs are so big lol.
***OFFICIAL BRONCO BLOG PETITION***
Objective: BRING ON THE BEEF!!!
Signed:
Bronco_Turtle
seweatherman1
strandoftds
OrangeTsunami
88odoms
Tide Bronco
DenverOrange
Daddybronc
Orange you glad
Shaztah
denver0723
sndvl
royalbroncofan1
WGBronco
BRONCOSorBUST15
Camharland
tnalen66
mainBroncos60
DenverCB
killerkod
So._Cali._Dude
brian_schneider
broncosbomber66
BroncoRenegade
Codybleedsorangeandblue
MillerTime2
Londonbronco30
Armadillo_orton
Timmah
(COPY PASTE AND ADD YOUR NAME IF YOU ALSO WANT TO SEE SOME BEEF!!!)
BEEF…. IT MAKES A WINNER!!!
The evolution of the NFL into a passing league has diminished the value of Richardson’s position, and teams are more inclined to bypass a potential feature back in the first round in hopes of finding Pro Bowl-caliber backs in the later rounds. A quick look at the top five rushers from last season validates this point, with Maurice Jones-Drew (second-round pick), Ray Rice (second), Michael Turner (fifth), LeSean McCoy (second) and Arian Foster (undrafted) setting the pace, despite entering the league as lesser-known commodities.
That’s why the valuation of Richardson doesn’t match his talents. With an exceptional combination of speed, quickness and power, Richardson is a feature runner capable of grinding between the tackles or producing big plays on the perimeter. He routinely strings together three- and four-yard gains before breaking off explosive runs as defenders wear down in the game’s late stages. He finished the season with nine 100-yard games, with most of his production coming in the SEC. Given the conference’s esteemed reputation in NFL circles, scouts view Richardson’s output as a strong indicator of his pro potential.
Denver Broncos (25th overall pick) If the Broncos plan to continue the zone-read experiment with Tim Tebow at the helm, the team needs to upgrade the talent at the running back position. Although Willis McGahee , Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno helped anchor the NFL’s top rushing attack, none are viewed as elite talents in the class of Richardson. The Crimson Tide star displays an exceptional combination of speed, quickness and power, and his skill set would flourish in the Broncos’ run-heavy offense.
From NFL.com
Certainly he won’t be available at 25. Will he?
I would be happy if Richarson did make his way to Denver, but if I were working in the FO it would be such a horribly tough decision… I’m definitely in the Camp of Drafting D early, and getting a Runner in Rd2, but this team needs so much to get back to Championship Lvl I’d be happy with a Game Changer wherever he lines up…
The more I study the tapes the more I’m hoping LB Hightower from ALA is available… If he is, I don’t know that I could pass on him. At 260 pounds he is quick to the hole, and can take on a blocker… We need some of that as bad as our DT play has been…
and for the Record… a 260 lb MLB counts as BEEF!!!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7564969/pittsburgh-steelers-plan-keep-hines-ward-report-says
Am I the only one that thinks Hines Ward plays dirty? I think he is a cheap shot artist…
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7563152/brought-himself
Also a guy that I was never a fan of… He had a lot of talent, too bad he never channeled it into being the best…
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/42085/could-rg3-top-cam-newtons-numbers
It makes me feel good really that there are so many varied oppinions about current and prospective players… Nobody is right all the time, and that is half the fun! I don’t think that RGIII will make it through a full season if he is asked to start as a Rookie despite his tremendous talents…
Quiet day on the blog…
Its too bad that Rod Smith had the hip injury. I would of been great to see him get 1000 receptions which would of been a lock for HOF.
No games……..sigh.
Yesterday at work was a 1st for me. Since I’m not a professional athlete, I’ll never know what it’s like to go 100% in completions, or bat a thousand or perfect from the FT line, or in saves at the net (gotta have the hockey reference)…. But yesterday I did get to experience something as rare. As a professional paramedic, we have a highly specialized skill set. Including IV catheterization. And yesterday I went 7 of 7 on the first stick. A rare occurrence in my field like the sports feats mentioned above….a great satisfaction (cause unfortunately in our line of work we don’t get performance incentives)…
Broncos Country Strong 2012!
Football Sunday… no Football…
PUM PUM PUM
BRING US SOME BEEEEEEEF!!!!
Josh Norman from Coastal Carolina is now officially joining my draft Board…
I think he should be considered for choice C in the Second round or Choice A in the 3rd Round…
Just take a look at him… I think he would be a great addition!
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7559458/cte-concussion-crisis-economic-look-end-football
As a football fan this made me want to cry… because it’s true and very soon we will be cheering for the NFFL (National Flag Football League)…
When and where does the calculated risk of long term injury in exchange for status and wealth take precedent over legislative dictate that says what a person is free or not free to partake in?
Since I’m here alone today, I guess I’m just going to talk out loud to myself for awhile… here goes…
The government will tell you what to do so long as you let them… We are still free in a sense, but people are too quick to pass off responsibility and take a strange comfort in having people tell them what to do and think so they don’t have to try (work physically) or think for themselves…
If you take away my football I will have nothing better to do than to speak out and up against what I believe to be true wrongs in the subjegation of mankind in any form… Football is my passifier, the place where my rage is expressed in controlled violent acts followed by smiles and chest bumps… Football is my Chess board with real living pieces that perform the most elegant ballet over and over… 11 Men working in perfect unison for up to 10 seconds at a time to accomplish a common goal…
I Love FOOTBALL because it represents to me so many aspects of our lives in the most perfect of ways… Football without the Violence is like Hockey without the fighting, and not really worth the price of a ticket…
Please o Please do not take away my Freedom or my Football for I will not go quietly…
LONG LIVE THE NFL!!!! and BRING US SOME BEEF!!!
Hey Turtle,
Im with you on Hightower..his name literally means it…wud is he 6’4 260 or something?(if not we could wait for my boy Manti Te’o next year) we need huge -TALL linemen also.. we saw how those Giant Dlinemen kept padding down Brady passes.
http://youtu.be/IIJQ1dkyyus
some interesting stock to look for. Most of them I already know about including Janzen Jackson (played opposite Eric Berry before dismisal) and a 3rd round 6’6 TE.
Later days TRB
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-12/denver-broncos-offseason-plan-tebows-development-not-the-only-priority?eadid=EL/SICOM&sct=nfl_t2_a9
This is a nice article…
sndvl,
Congrats!! That is a feat not aquired by many. Not at least in my day of doing that. I never had 7 in a day go good for me, at least not on the first stick.
Good morning Bronco’s Country. Hope everyone is well. I guess the blog will be slow until free agency and draft. I got all of my furniture ordered this past weekend. It is finally starting to come together. March 7 is not going to come quick enough. LOL.
Morning shaz!
I’ve been battling a wicked cold all weekend long and I still feel like crap……….but thanks for asking! hahaha
Yeah, the blog has turned into nothing but speculation and wishes………..lol
SPECUGATE 2012!!! hahaha
I can’t wait to see what moves our team makes this off-season and how they’ll field a better team in 2012.
Draft
1.Hightower MLB
2.Fleener TE
3.Ta’Amu DT (i agree with risky here)
4.Guy Jr. Safety
FA
Marshawn Lynch – dudes a beast i think denver should dish out the cash
Landry – best safety to hit FA in my opinion if not landry then Reggie Nelson this is very likely since him and jdr have ties and cheaper
Mario Williams – if the texans dont resign him denver should make a move Williams, Dumervil and Miller would be a nightmare for any QB if not williams maybe a Vet like Robert Mathis from Indy
Resign: Royal, Bunkley, Prater, and Mays
When running the ball was in vogue the quality backs went very high in the draft. Now that most of the teams in the league are focused on passing the ball, top quality backs can be had later in the draft or even signed as rookie free agents. Having a good scheme also comes into play. Look how good some of the backs in Shanahans days performed in the system only to not be near as productive when traded to other teams. I think we have a good scheme here based on production and can draft a back or sign another rookie free agent. I think Fannin makes the team and would like to see 4 rb’s on the roster instead of 3 or maybe a fullback that can run the ball some would work just as well. They take a pounding and if you want to be a power running team you need a stable to do that. Big money for a back with any miles on him is like flushing the money down the toilet. I think we got lucky with Willis , he got a lot of rest before we singed him. The only real request I’d have on RB’s is to stay away from guys who have any history of fumbling. Nothing changes momentium more than a turnover.Go Broncos!
Not sure who said it but getting Brandon Carr would be a great idea. Any time you can take a good player from a rival and fill a position you need help at is a win win. But I think KC keeps him
Thats interesting, didn’t know Mays was a FA. I wouldn’t be surprised if we parted ways as well. He is great depth but not a starter. Much like haggan who im a fan of.
I hate McBean so much and yet he was the only DT with sacks. Devon Still would be a dream but chances of him falling to 25 would be amazing. Same goes for Brockers but ive seen mocks where they fall that low.
Until combine u cannot really gauge. And even after then people will throw u off.
I just hope they find a way to get Doug Martin. He is my fave player in draft great talent at great value. Hopefully our 2nd round pick
TRB