SB Nation Cleveland: All Posts by Sayre Bedinger

2013 NFL Free Agency: Broncos Have Leverage With Chris Kuper

2013-01-26T00:35:04Z

It's not often teams talk about letting go of a Pro Bowl guard only 30 years old with three years left on his contract, but that seems to be the case with Denver Broncos offensive lineman Chris Kuper.

Drafted in the fifth round out of North Dakota State, Kuper has proven himself to be one of the top guards in the NFL. The problem is, the last couple of years, he hasn't been able to stay healthy and the Broncos are on the hook for $6 million in 2013, $5 million in 2014, and $5.5 million in 2015.

Kuper certainly doesn't have to re-structure his contract if he doesn't want to, and why would he? He is one of the longest tenured Broncos, a Pro Bowler when he's healthy, and one of the team leaders in the locker room. The Broncos would obviously prefer to keep him, but they'd also prefer that he were on the field on a more consistent basis.

With Manny Ramirez trading in the baseball bat for a pair of shoulder pads (I'm sure he's never heard any baseball jokes before), the Broncos had a decent backup in Kuper's place this past season, but they probably want some more certainty at the position for the years to come as they try to keep their $100 million investment protected, as well as their 2012 second round pick and QB of the future (Brock Osweiler).

The stars seem to have aligned pretty perfectly for the Broncos, who will have an opportunity to re-negotiate with Kuper this offseason if he's open to such discussions. The team drafted a 26-year old rookie last year in offensive lineman Philip Blake, who came out of college with experience at both center and right tackle. If you're asking me, a team should not use a fourth round pick (relatively high) on an offensive lineman who is 26 years of age without him having at least the potential to be a starter for you.

Here is what The Draft Xchange (NFL Draft Scout) had to say about Blake coming out last year:

Draft Scout Snapshot: A closer look at the Broncos' picks: Round 4/108 -- Philip Blake, C/G, 6-2, 312, Baylor...Blake started at right tackle in 2009 and center in 2010-11, replacing J.D. Walton, a Denver draft pick in 2010. But he projects to guard as a pro and will likely back up at all three interior spots as a rookie. - The Sports Xchange

They also had Blake rated as the number three overall center in the draft, and a potential late second round pick. The Broncos wound up getting him with their fourth round pick, which now appears to be good value. Blake obviously spent his rookie season on injured reserve, and likely would have gotten a chance to start in Kuper's place had he not been injured. If he had played in 2012, we may not even having a discussion about whether Kuper would be on the team in 2013--it may already be a foregone conclusion that he was out of here.

Hypotheticals aside, the Broncos seem to have already drafted Kuper's replacement. I'm not so sure they weren't drafting Blake to be Zane Beadles' replacement, but I thought Beadles played well in 2012 (well enough to earn 1st alternate in the Pro Bowl).

Another form of leverage the Broncos have is the 2013 NFL Draft. This year's crop of players features two guard prospects who figure to be immediate Pro Bowl caliber players. Alabama's Chance Warmack is being touted as a potential top five talent as a guard, and it's expected he will be gone within the first 15 selections.

North Carolina's Johnathan Cooper is considered 1a to Warmack's 1, and is considered to be a sure-fire first round pick. The Broncos can go to Kuper's agent and let them know their intentions to use an early round selection on an offensive guard if Kuper is unwilling to re-negotiate his contract.

Another potential first round pick is All-American Barrett Jones, who was a starter at pretty much every position on Alabama's vaunted offensive line. His versatility will be viewed as extremely valuable, especially since he excelled in each area in college and doesn't appear to be a jack of all trades, master of none.

Wisconsin's Travis Frederick is an early-entrant who is absolutely massive at 6'4" 338 pounds, and he has been a stud in college both at center and guard. He could be an immediate starter at either position in the NFL.

Kentucky's Larry Warford is an underrated prospect who is expected to go in the late second or third round and should be an immediate starter at guard in the NFL as well. He was an All-American in 2012 and an All-SEC selection.

The other leverage the Broncos have comes in the form of 2013 NFL Free Agent guards. Buffalo Bills guard Andy Levitre and San Diego Chargers guard Louis Vasquez are both 27 or younger and headline a decent class of available players which also includes Kevin Boothe, Ramon Foster, and Donald Thomas, all of whom are the same age or younger than Kuper.

A good free agent class allows the Broncos to potentially pursue other younger, healthier options if Kuper won't re-negotiate.

The going rate for elite guards these days (Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Carl Nicks, Davin Joseph, Marshal Yanda, Logan Mankins) is right on par with what Kuper is making this year, so maybe his pay is fair. That could be an argument in his favor. Some of those guys listed are making as much, more, or less than Kuper.

Kuper's situation will be interesting to monitor as the offseason progresses, and it could impact the team's decisions in the rest of free agency/trades in a big way, potentially providing the Broncos with salary cap ammunition to acquire Darrelle Revis.

Broncos Could Bring in Big Name Defenders in 2013

2013-01-25T16:00:05Z

Many pundits expect the Denver Broncos front office to take a conservative approach to this up-coming offseason, and maybe rightfully so.

The Broncos have just south of $20 million in cap space, and as has been explained numerous times on this site, offensive tackle Ryan Clady is due a Pro Bowl pay day. Clady finished out his rookie contract without really any hint of a holdout or any whining whatsoever, and he deserves to be paid like one of the top left tackles in the NFL.

No matter what happens this offseason, I definitely believe that Ryan Clady will be back in orange and blue. If the Broncos have to franchise tag him, or if they are able to re-sign him, I think he is back either way.

John Elway also has some really tough decisions to make. Inside linebacker Joe Mays made enough of an impression on the Denver brass that they may still have bruises on their faces from handing him a knee-jerk contract worth about $12 million over three seasons. Mays finished the season on injured reserve and was one of the worst players on Denver's defense when he went down. Four million dollars per season is far too high for a guy who strictly contributes in positive ways on special teams.

Mays is a good player to have in the locker room, and is a hard hitter and solid against the run at times, but he constantly looks lost in coverage and struggles in space. The Broncos either have to convince Mays to come back at a greatly reduced price and provide depth, or they will be forced to part ways this offseason.

Denver is also likely to take a very serious look at the contract situation of D.J. Williams. Has the first round pick in 2004 played his last down as a member of the Broncos? Among other off-field distractions, such as DUIs and taking photos of himself smoking Hookah--whatever that stuff is--Williams is owed $6 million dollars in the final year of his contract. Williams is one of the longest tenured Broncos and has led the team in tackles on occasion, but he visibly wasn't the same player when he came back from injury. In fact, the Broncos kept him in a pretty limited role thanks to the emergence of Wesley Woodyard, and the fact that Keith Brooking was simply the better option most downs.

Maybe the toughest situation yet is that of guard Chris Kuper, who is 30 years old, injury prone, and set to receive $4.5 million in 2013. Kuper was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate this past season, and for good reason. He is probably one of the best guards in the league when he's healthy, but that seems to be sparingly lately. The Broncos shouldn't overpay for a guy who isn't healthy on a consistent basis, but they also shouldn't cut a guy who is only 30 and a Pro Bowl player. This is a situation where Denver may look to add some playing time incentives to Kuper's contract in a re-structure, and make him earn the $4.5 million instead of guaranteeing it.

Safety Mike Adams is also set to make just under $2 million in 2013, and the Broncos need to see if that figure is worth the money either. Adams was solid last season but clearly had trouble playing the deep ball at times. That is going to be an area where teams look to exploit the Broncos early next season to see if they've improved. I think Denver could upgrade over Adams in the offseason, be it through the draft or free agency, but they may choose to see him through for one more season at his current going rate.

What To Expect

It's clear that the Broncos are going to make re-signing Ryan Clady a top priority. Joe Thomas, who is widely regarded as the best left tackle in the NFL, signed a massive contract with the Browns that totals $92 million over eight years with $44 million guaranteed. He will make an average of $10.5 million over the next two seasons, and then about 8.5 million on average from 2015-2018.

I don't know that I expect Clady to quite earn himself a $44 million pay day, but I think he could wind up making himself between $35-40 million in guarantees if he signs a lengthy deal like Thomas did. Let's just assume for the sake of assuming that Clady is on the books for about $8 million in 2013 after signing a new deal, and that might be guessing a tad high.

With roughly $18 million currently in cap space, that would leave the Broncos with about $10 million to continue to re-sign players and add to the roster. That's where I think cutting D.J. Williams and Joe Mays comes into play. It's just not financially responsible to keep them around next season at their current prices.

Getting those two players off the books would give the Broncos an additional $10 million in cap space, bumping them up to $20 million (hypothetically) and giving them even more than they started with before bringing Clady back on a long term deal.

The Broncos can't afford to be irresponsible with that $20 million due to the fact that Eric Decker is entering a contract year, and he needs to be taken care of, but they do have some room to play around a bit.

I don't know that Chris Kuper will be willing to re-negotiate his contract. From the Broncos perspective it's a no-brainer. Unfortunately, it's also a no-brainer for Kuper to decline because he is injury prone. Because of that fact, why would he be willing to take less money than he's guaranteed? Plus, the Broncos don't have a lot of leverage in terms of depth at the position on the roster.

Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are set to make a combined $4.2 million in 2013, which seems pretty reasonable for a running back tandem. Both have injury problems, but what running back in the NFL doesnt?

I don't see those guys getting cut, but that's certainly within the realm of possibility.

Caleb Hanie is on the books for $1.25 million. Chalk that up as both a mistake and $1.25 million saved going into free agency. The Broncos will not be keeping him around and if they do, we have some problems.

Andre Caldwell is due $900,000 in 2013, and he wasn't even able to sniff the field in 2012. He is as good as gone.

By cutting Some dead weight, the Broncos can manage to get their funds to around $20-25 million, or more if they choose to part ways with Chris Kuper (unwise, in my opinion).

If they get to that number, there are some really intriguing possibilities, maybe even some probabilities.

An Intriguing Possibility

Not everyone is going to agree with me, and that's okay. However, I believe in the power of leadership and the power of experience. I was a huge proponent of bringing in Peyton Manning last year, though I had my doubts and my obvious love for Tim Tebow.

As much as people thought Manning was too banged up, too old, and not what he used to be, John Elway saw what many of us wanted to believe, and that was that Manning could still be a star in this league.

One team is going through similar transition to that of the Colts from a year ago, though their team is not nearly as bad. The Chicago Bears finished 10-6 and still managed to miss out on the playoffs in 2012. Head coach Lovie Smith was fired, and their division is suddenly probably the best in the NFL.

Inside linebacker Brian Urlacher is not the player he once was, has suffered some bad injuries, and likely is done fooling around with his career. Urlacher has been a Bear for life, and likely will go to Canton as a Chicago Bear. That doesn't mean he has to play his final seasons in Chicago.

Urlacher is a free agent in 2013, and would give the Broncos some heart and soul in the middle of their defense. Keith Brooking was able to come out of basically nowhere in 2012 and be one of Denver's best linebackers, and I see no reason why a healthy Urlacher can't be that and then some.

One of the all-time greats at linebacker in NFL history, Urlacher is coming off of one of the worst seasons in his career but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since he has been battling injuries and playing through some pretty nasty ones.

I don't know that Urlacher can come in and be a Pro Bowl defender again, but I think he can be a solid starter which is something the Broncos desperately need. Plus, Urlacher could help bridge the gap for a new inside linebacker the Broncos bring in via the draft, as well as continue the development of second year player Steven Johnson.

Urlacher is obviously a big name, and let me be clear and repeat myself--he is not the player he once was--but I think he could be a really nice addition for the Broncos at a reduced price to start for a year or two at the inside linebacker position.

An Intriguing Probability...?

The Broncos have a big recruiting piece in Peyton Manning, and that could come in handy as they potentially pursue some pass rush depth this offseason. 33-year old defensive end Dwight Freeney is Manning's former teammate in Indianapolis, and has likely played his last down as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Freeney was mis-cast in Indy's new 3-4 defensive look, and while he's a great player, we know that sometimes that transition just doesn't work out for guys. Freeney is at his best rushing the passer in a four man front, and imagine him--even at an older age--on a line with Elvis Dumervil, sharing the pass rush opportunities with Von Miller and Derek Wolfe.

This is not the Freeney who has been a constant double-digit sack guy, but I think in Denver's defense with the players around him, he could be a guy who would get double-digit sacks once again and help open up some lanes for Von Miller and company.

The Broncos were arguably the best pass rushing team in the NFL in 2012, but were stymied in the AFC Divisional round against Baltimore, coming up with almost no pass rush on Joe Flacco, who personally knit Ray Lewis a retirement sweater in that game.

Okay, all joking aside, this is a financially responsible move I'd love to see the Broncos make. They wouldn't have to break the bank to get him, he has ties to the team, and he fills a need. Denver needs to strongly consider moving Derek Wolfe to defensive tackle full-time, and if not, they need a more reliable edge rusher. The Broncos have basically conceded to that strong-side defensive end spot occupying a blocker as opposed to getting around the edge, which is typically okay because that's where Von Miller is.

I still think this would be a really good move.

One More?

To add even more old bones to the Denver defense, how about free agent safety Ed Reed? The Broncos were once able to lure Brian Dawkins out of Philadelphia, a place where he became legendary and there was seemingly no way he'd ever get out of there.

Somehow, with Kyle Orton as the starting QB and Josh McDaniels as the head coach, the Broncos' front office was able to lure Dawkins out of Philly, and he gave the Broncos a couple of really solid seasons.

Ed Reed is getting old, but he's still incredibly effective at the safety position. He was able to witness first-hand our woes at the position, so maybe he'd be willing to join the retirement home I'm hypothetically putting together in the Mile High City.

Brian Urlacher, Dwight Freeney, and Ed Reed--a dream team in 2005, not bad in 2013.

Bust a Move

It recently became public knowledge that Darrelle Revis is going to be shopped this offseason. If that's the case, the Broncos need to look into it. I wouldn't break the bank for Revis, who's had some bad injury problems and is entering the final year of his contract. He's going to want big money, but he's 27 years of age and a shut down cornerback in the NFL.

If Revis is willing to accept a reasonable deal, and the Broncos were willing to sign some really, really cheap alternatives at other positions, they could pretty easily afford to trade for/re-sign Revis and still keep Clady while saving funds for 2014 free agent Eric Decker.

Anyway, those are just some bigger names that would be on my list for the Broncos to pick up. You know you aren't getting anything spectacular individually, but collectively, I think these guys could have a huge impact on Denver's defense for a year or two and keep this team in the thick of things for a Super Bowl title.

Denver Broncos Postseason Roster Analysis: Where to Go From Here?

2013-01-14T17:00:08Z

If you're as shocked as I am, it's probably by sheer disappointment and depression that you clicked on this article. Like many of you, I thought this was clearly the Broncos' year. The stars had aligned, the team won 11 straight games after a heart-breaking near-comeback against the New England Patriots, and we Broncos fans seemed to forget what it felt like to lose.

This loss is going to take some serious healing, at least for me and I'm sure many of you. In a game marred by turnovers, penalties, poor officiating, and an overall lack of safety help, I am in need of a pick-me-up.

Unfortunately, there won't be much if any activity from the Denver Broncos for another couple of months when free agency kicks off. The Broncos obviously cashed in a lot of their cap space this past year when they made the move of the decade, potentially the best free agent acquisition of all-time in the NFL when they reeled in Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

While Manning is taking a healthy chunk of change, the Broncos have to have enough room on their books to re-sign some key players, and first priority this offseason is bringing back left tackle Ryan Clady, who temporarily ended contract talks early in the season.

The Broncos will be picking 28th in the coming NFL Draft, and they will have all but one of their picks which is going to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Broderick Bunkley, who spent just one year in orange and blue. The terms of that pick have not been disclosed to my knowledge, but I can't imagine it's for any higher than a fifth round selection.

Let's take a look at the roster and see where the Broncos stand going forward and making moves this offseason:

Quarterback

The Broncos are set at the quarterback position for the present (Manning) and future (Brock Osweiler, 2nd round, 2012). I am excited to see what improvements the youngster has made in the coming pre-season, but I hope he doesn't have to come on to the field any more than he did in 2012.

Denver could save a roster spot and just carry two quarterbacks (Caleb Hanie did nothing all year) but if they insist on keeping a third, I think you have to get an upgrade over Hanie. Not that it really matters.

Spots locked down: 2

Free Agents: None

Running Back

This is a murky situation for the Broncos, who have a bunch of names and a bunch of uncertainty. Willis McGahee is a Pro Bowl player when he's healthy, but he's on the wrong side of 30 and spent a lot of time trying to get back on the field rather than helping the Broncos out.

Injuries happen.

Knowshon Moreno was benched for an oddly long amount of time, especially given the Broncos' choice to go with Lance Ball for a stretch there, as well as Ronnie Hillman's rookie mistakes. Moreno is the Broncos' best receiver out of the backfield in my opinion and showed at the end of this year that he is more than worthy of a roster spot next year. Some may disagree there.

Obviously, Ronnie Hillman will be back. He is a change of pace and I'm excited to see what he can become when he gets more comfortable in his own skin as a runner. Holding the ball with two hands is okay when you're playing not to lose, and I'm not going to say I want Hillman to be reckless with the ball, but he is not going to be what we drafted him to be trying to hold the ball with two hands every time he touches it.

I think Lance Ball and Jacob Hester can probably be upgraded, but Ball's been on the team for a while. I don't think anyone of this group is guaranteed a roster spot next year besides Hillman.

I don't see any reason for Chris Gronkowski to be on the roster next year either. He was barely used at all.

Coming back from injury: Mario Fannin

Spots locked down: 1 (Hillman)

Free Agents: Lance Ball (RFA), Chris Gronkowski (RFA)

Wide Receiver

This position offers the Broncos a bright future at the top end, and not much for depth. Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, AKA "Black and Decker" are two of the best wideouts in the league. They proved they can both be possession receivers, big play threats, and also clutch. They are going to be huge going forward.

Behind those guys, it gets a little choppy. I think Trindon Holliday has cemented a roster spot as a kick/punt returner. He is an absolute stud despite his potential to muff some balls or fumble on occasion. He was a huge pickup for the Broncos on special teams and maybe they can try to work him into the offensive gameplan going forward.

Brandon Stokley didn't show his age this year, and is still in great shape to play going forward. He said he wants to play next year, and if the Broncos are willing to have him back, he should solidify a roster spot immediately.

Matthew Willis is a solid special teams player, but his inability to contribute offensively is astounding given his speed and the fact that Peyton Manning is the quarterback.

Andre Caldwell had high expectations from me, and not only did he not meet them, he didn't even see the field. There must be something to that story but that was a bust of a signing.

The Broncos have also been developing 6'3" Greg Orton on the practice squad, a former star Arena league player, and they just signed Gerrell Robinson to a future deal. Those guys will compete in camp but expect the team to add at least two new receivers capable of earning some playing time or developing into starting caliber players.

Spots locked down: 3 (Thomas, Decker, Holliday)

Free Agents: Matt Willis (UFA), Brandon Stokley (UFA)

Tight End

Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme were as good of pickups as we could have asked for. Tamme was the third most targeted player on the team with 85 targets and he finished third in receiving with two scores. Joel Dreessen continued to pile on TDs to his career total with five more in 2012, just one less than he had with Houston last season. He has had 15 TD catches in the last three seasons, and is a very valuable piece of the passing game.

Virgil Green was able to step up and make some plays this season, but in the passing game, they were few and far in between. He showed some great strides as a blocker though, and he gives the Broncos a very solid three-man rotation at the tight end position for now.

Julius Thomas, who looked great at his rookie camp two years ago, was non-existent this year--literally. Mitch Unrein had a touchdown catch, and Thomas didn't even see the field unless I missed something. Perhaps the Broncos are working him in slowly, but I worry he's not developing. Still, there is no reason for concern at the tight end position. The Broncos are loaded here for at least a couple of years.

Spots locked down: 3 (Tamme, Dreessen, Thomas)

Free Agents: None

Offensive Tackle

The Broncos MUST re-sign Ryan Clady this offseason. Obviously he saw a dip in his production with Tim Tebow as QB, since he had to hold his blocks longer, but with Manning, he was nearly unbeatable again at left tackle as he was with Jay Cutler. He is among the best in the NFL at his position, if not the best overall.

Orlando Franklin is a pretty average to above average tackle, but he held his own this year and to be honest, I didn't notice many glaring mistakes. As far as I'm concerned, Franklin is entrenched as our starting right tackle for the next long while.

Chris Clark is the team's lone backup at tackle, which is a bit concerning to me, though he has been able to stick around for quite some time.

Stashed Away: The Broncos picked up a rookie named Paul Cornick out of North Dakota State this year, who stands at 6'6" 310 pounds. He was an FCS All-American at NDSU before being cut from the New York Jets practice squad. We'll see what he can do.

Spots locked down: 2 (Clady, Franklin)

Free Agents: Ryan Clady (UFA), Chris Clark (RFA)

Offensive Guard

This is a position of controversy among some fans. There is a large contingent that believes the Broncos must upgrade the interior offensive line immediately and with a high draft choice or two, and there are some who believe we're set. I tend to lean more on the side of we're set at the guard position, though we could certainly continue to look to upgrade.

Chris Kuper has been injury prone the last two years with some freak injuries. He needs to get right this offseason and continue living up to his contract--on the field. When he is healthy, I think Kuper is one of the best in the game. That is a tough call to use a high draft pick to replace a high-priced player who is more than effective when he's able to go.

Zane Beadles was an improved player in 2012, though there are still a lot of people who believe the jury is out. I think Beadles is a very good run blocker and an improving pass blocker. Is he the future at the position? The Broncos have to make that call but there's no doubt in my mind he'll be back next season.

Manny Ramirez was okay when he needed to come in, but certainly not a guy you'd want to start 16 games for ya, or maybe even four.

Coming back from injury: The Broncos drafted Philip Blake in the fourth round last year. He's going to be 27 next season. If they didn't draft him to be a starter or at least be capable of starting, it was a wasted selection. He needs to be part of the rotation next season in my opinion.

Stashed away: Lonnie Edwards, a tough guy out of Texas Tech, has spent some time on the Broncos' practice squad. He'll be brought to camp to compete.

Spots locked down: 3 (Kuper, Beadles, Blake)

Free Agents: None

Center

Dan Koppen seemed like an upgrade over what we'd known from J.D. Walton, but I still have faith that the former third round pick can be a good center in the NFL. He's young, smart, and tough. Peyton Manning needs to get a lot of work in with him this offseason, and those two need to become best buds.

If the Broncos can save a roster spot and bring Koppen back to at least compete, I'd be really grateful.

Philip Blake can also play some center, and maybe that's where his future is with the Broncos.

The team also has Quinton Saulsberry stashed away and serving a suspension right now. He was a decent prospect coming out, so we'll see if he can develop.

Spots locked down: 1 (Walton)

Free Agents: Dan Koppen (UFA)

Defensive End

Elvis Dumervil is a Pro Bowl player who is still elite at his position. He finished this last season with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles.

I thought Robert Ayers had a really solid season as a reserve, but the Broncos need to look into whether or not he has a future with the team. He's certainly not an elite player by any means, but he's a good backup who can get pressure on the inside at times. Not exactly what you'd hope for from a former first round pick, but that's irrelevant at this point.

Derek Wolfe started every game this year, and I think he's in line to be a productive Bronco for quite some time. He looks like a steal where the Broncos got him as one of the best interior pass rushers in his class and a guy who can play multiple positions.

Malik Jackson can play defensive end or tackle, and while he didn't see a ton of action this year, I think he could be part of the rotation going forward for sure.

Coming back from injury: Jeremy Beal and Jason Hunter both spent the season on injured reserve, and can make an impact I think. Hunter is getting older but was in line to be a starter before his injury. We'll see what the future holds for Beal.

The Broncos also have Ben Garland stashed away on the practice squad, and he's been developing for a while. We'll see if his effort finally pays off this year.

Spots locked down: 2 (Wolfe, Dumervil)

Free Agents: Jason Hunter (UFA)

Defensive Tackle

Justin Bannan and Kevin Vickerson played great this year against the run, and helped free up our top ranked pass rush to make plays in the backfield. I really liked the production we got from both of those guys, but how much longer can we count on it? Bannan can probably be effective for another year or two, and Vickerson can be as well but he has injury history. I'd love for those guys to come back strong again next year, but I'm not sure.

Mitch Unrein has probably locked in a defensive tackle slot for next year. He was able to do it all this year as a part of our rotation, kind of an unsung hero on our team. He didn't stand out in any statistical category, but the third year player out of Wyoming was certainly one of our most productive backup defensive linemen.

Sealver Siliga was a pretty consistently inactive this year, so the jury is still out on him. The coaching staff seems to like him and have confidence in him, though. I think he will have an edge going into training camp next year.

Coming back from injury: Ty Warren. I think Warren's days in the NFL are close to over. The poor guy just cannot stay healthy. He was able to notch one tackle this season before he went down with another season-ending injury. Warren's one tackle this year is his lone tackle since the 2009 season.

Shocker alert: All but one of the aforementioned players is a free agent in 2013. Kevin Vickerson and Justin Bannan are both UFAs, and Unrein is an exclusive rights free agent (meaning he's back in Denver, pretty much).

Spots locked down: 1 (Unrein)

Free Agents: Justin Bannan (UFA), Kevin Vickerson (UFA), Mitch Unrein (ERFA), Ty Warren (UFA)

Linebackers

Von Miller could be a future Hall of Famer blossoming before our eyes. He's not even scratched the surface of how dominant he can be in this league, if you ask me. He's incredible.

Wesley Woodyard is a revelation, and a hidden gem on this team. I think those two are going to be the leaders of this defense for years to come.

D.J. Williams could be a cap casualty. He played in just a handful of games this year, and unless he re-structures his deal (I don't see that happening) I think D.J. and his $6 million pay day coming in 2013 could be headed elsewhere.

Joe Mays signed a three-year, $12 million deal this past offseason, and that was a huge mistake that the Broncos need to rectify immediately. Mays is a liability defensively, and I hate to say it because I love his intensity.

Nate Irving has a couple more years to prove himself on this team, but I don't think he's guaranteed a roster spot next year. He is a former third round pick, so the front office has to be willing to see that pick play out.

Steven Johnson was a great pickup as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas, and could have an increased role next year.

The team picked up Keith Brooking, who wound up playing a huge role in our defense. Brooking finished the year with 54 tackles and will be a free agent in 2013. He's definitely getting up there in age, and while he may still be able to play, you have to wonder if he's ready to let the game go.

Danny Trevathan may have been the steal of our draft class in the sixth round out of Kentucky, playing big roles on special teams and getting in on the defensive rotation. He finished the season with 33 tackles and will be back next year.

Spots locked down: 4 (Miller, Woodyard, Irving, Trevathan)

Free Agents: Keith Brooking (UFA)

Cornerbacks

Champ Bailey will be back in 2013, even after getting beat like he stole something against Torrey Smith in the sad season finale. Chris Harris has been an incredible steal as an undrafted free agent, and will be a key piece to our defense moving forward.

Tony Carter is a free agent, but he started a majority of games and I'd love to see him come back. He made some big plays this past year, but sadly many will remember him for what he did on that last play against Baltimore at the end of regulation. Urgh...

Tracy Porter is a free agent, and with all his injury and/or health problems, I don't see the team bringing him back unless it's at a discounted price. Could've used him (anything) against the Ravens...

Omar Bolden was injured in the playoff game against Baltimore. He is still growing into his role but was a fourth round pick, so he should have a role on the team next year as well.

Spots locked down: 3 (Bailey, Harris, Bolden)

Free Agents: Tony Carter (UFA), Tracy Porter (UFA)

Safeties

We'd prefer not to talk about this group after the way the season ended.

Mike Adams is due $1.75 million in 2013, which isn't a ton of money but may be more than the Broncos are willing to cough up for his services, even though he was second on the team with 80 tackles. I don't think he's a lock for the roster.

Rahim Moore--bless his heart--had a breakout season that was capped off by one of the most insanely inexplicable plays in the history of football. You can't blame him solely for the loss, but that play was incredibly bad. Still, Moore will be a starter next year, and I think he's a good one. He had 72 tackles, a pick, a sack, and a fumble recovery. He also had a few tackles for loss and showed good ability to close on receivers and crash down to the line of scrimmage.

Jim Leonhard and David Bruton made some significant contributions this year both defensively and on special teams. Bruton is such a gifted special teams player it's a wonder he's been so incapable of making an impact in the defensive rotation. He should be brought back because of his prowess on special teams.

Leonhard seemed to have a knack for picking off Philip Rivers, but that's about it. He was our best fair-catcher...? That was a move made to shore up depth, and he did just that for a year. I don't think he'll be back next year.

Back from injury: Quinton Carter. I fully expect Carter to be a starter by the time next season starts, but he's going to have to prove he can come back from injury. Overall, this is a position where the Broncos need to shore up depth and look for potential future starters.

Spots locked down: 2 (Moore, Carter)

Free Agents: Jim Leonhard (UFA), David Bruton (UFA)

Specialists

I feel like the Broncos are set here for the next decade plus.

Spots locked down: 3 (Matt Prater, Britton Colquitt, Aaron Brewer)

Free Agents: Britton Colquitt (RFA)

Free Agents in 2013

Lance Ball, RB (RFA)

Chris Gronkowski, FB (RFA)

Matt Willis, WR (UFA)

Brandon Stokley, WR (UFA)

Ryan Clady, OT (UFA)

Chris Clark, OT (RFA)

Dan Koppen, C (UFA)

Jason Hunter, DE (UFA)

Justin Bannan, DT (UFA)

Kevin Vickerson, DT (UFA)

Ty Warren, DT (UFA)

Mitch Unrein, DT (ERFA)

Keith Brooking, MLB (UFA)

Tony Carter, CB (UFA)

Tracy Porter, CB (UFA)

David Bruton, S (UFA)

Jim Leonhard, S (UFA)

Britton Colquitt, P (RFA)

Biggest Team Needs: DT, S, MLB, RB, slot WR

For further reference, here is a link to a depth chart that highlights all of our free agents and every player's contract situation.

Ohio State vs. Purdue Prediction: Buckeyes Will Get Revenge on Boilermakers

2012-10-19T02:26:59Z

Ohio State is looking to avenge its overtime loss last year to Purdue, and the Boilermakers hope to not be just another stepping stone in Ohio State's pretty dominant overall season.

Ohio State's running game is overall probably the best in the Big Ten. With Braxton Miller at the quarterback position, the Buckeyes can run all over teams and Urban Meyer's offense only further amplifies that. His ability to run sets up big plays in the pass game for Devin Smith and the tight ends.

This is a really unfortunate season for the Buckeyes, when you consider. This is probably the best, most relaxed year they have had in quite some time, and there will be absolutely nothing to show for it at the end of the year, not even a mediocre bowl appearance. There is a great chance Ohio State will go into their late-season showdown with Michigan as an undefeated team, and in all honesty, that will be their bowl game.

Ohio State has a bit of a problem giving up big plays, but I think they will be able to hold Purdue in check and force some turnovers. The biggest issue here facing the Boilermakers is that they struggle with tackling, especially in the open field. That is going to be a huge advantage for Miller and the OSU running game.

I think the Buckeyes win this one big, and continue on their journey for a top five ranking. It's possible they could finish the season in the AP top two or three without even competing for a bowl. Their fate this season is reminiscent of USC last year, when the Trojans got extremely hot and were not able to compete in postseason play.

The future is bright for Ohio State, but unfortunately for them the cards are all falling into place in a year where they can't make it to a bowl game.

Browns WR Josh Gordon Shaking Off Rust After Year Out of Football

2012-10-15T17:55:25Z

Many were shocked when the Cleveland Browns used such a high draft choice on wide receiver Josh Gordon in this year's supplemental draft, but he's proving the doubters were wrong, and the believers were right.

Browns GM Tom Heckert made a really bold move, giving up one of his team's premiere draft choices for a guy who was kicked off of his college team just two years ago, and then spending an entire year out of football all together.

So what does Gordon bring to the table? Well, if you saw the game yesterday, you know that the 6'3" 225 pound rookie is a big kid, but he's also extremely fast for his size and is a matchup nightmare if he's put in the right place offensively. Working the outside, he's still a little raw. When he is working the slot, he's almost uncoverable for linebackers and safeties.

In the last two games, Gordon has caught just five passes, but three of them have gone for huge touchdowns. His 71 yard touchdown reception in Sunday's win against the Bengals was the follow up performance to a game against the Giants where he had touchdown receptions of 62 and 20 yards in a loss.

Maybe even most impressively, Gordon was able to make this happen without Travis Benjamin or Mohammed Massaquoi on the field for the Browns, giving the opposing defense less options to focus in on. It's hard to tell if he can continue this type of success, but the good things for the Browns is that the major part of their offense that has been successful for them this year is the big play, and Gordon is a huge part of those plans.

Even after a year out of football, it looks like Josh Gordon is slowly starting to 'get it' and he could be a huge pickup for the Browns for the present as well as the future.

Broncos vs. Patriots Reactionalysis: Denver's Loss Traced Back to One Critical Play

2012-10-08T02:10:37Z

The Denver Broncos set out on a nearly impossible task on Sunday--winning on the road against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Through nearly the entire first three quarters, the beloved Mile High boys looked like a group of girl scouts, getting trounced by Brady's crew 31-7. Then, something clicked. The Broncos got it rolling offensively and closed the gap to 31-14 after an Eric Decker touchdown catch on a beautiful back shoulder (ankle?) throw from Peyton Manning.

The Broncos were then able to get the ball back in good scoring range after Tom Brady was sacked when the Patriots decided to go for in in no-man's land on fourth and five. That drive was set up by a dropped fourth down pass by Willis McGahee, whose catch could have brought the Broncos within striking distance. Brady was sacked and stripped by Von Miller, and the Broncos were once again in business.

Manning capped another drive off with a touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley, putting Denver down by only 10 points. This all of a sudden looked like a game, until the Broncos flubbed an 'onside' kick and gave the Patriots great field position. Then, something miraculous happened. There were shades of 2011 when Stevan Ridley got a little over-aggressive with a carry and was stripped on a run with over three minutes remaining. It was the God-send the Broncos needed to get back in the game, and Manning had the team in touchdown range in no time.

When the Broncos got in the red zone, Willis McGahee again made a critical error, fumbling on a run that would have set the Broncos even closer to bringing the game to just a field goal difference.

McGahee's fumble effectively ended the Broncos' miraculous attempt at a comeback, but that wasn't the play that derailed Denver's hopes on Sunday.

The Broncos' woes can be traced back to one play, a play early in the third quarter. The defense had just come up with a huge three-and-out on Tom Brady and the Patriots after facing a 10 point deficit at halftime. The offense got the ball back, and got to around midfield before being faced with a 3rd-and-4 situation. The play call here is easy--put the ball in your superstar's hands.

Apparently, that was not so easy for the Denver coaching staff.

The play called was a lazy draw to Lance Ball, who barely got back to the line of scrimmage, and the Broncos were forced to punt. The Patriots promptly drove the ball straight down the field for a touchdown, and then strip-sacked Peyton Manning on the next Broncos possession, promptly giving them a 31-7 and ultimately insurmountable lead.

Brighter Days Ahead?

The Broncos have me slightly worried, I'm not going to lie. They got a quality win against the Steelers in that week one primetime matchup, but they have now been beaten by arguably the NFL's top three overall teams. After watching the Patriots today and last week, it's a wonder to me that they are not 5-0. Their offense is unstoppable, seemingly, and while their defense isn't great by any means, they were able to force three very timely turnovers on Sunday.

Denver has had a really bad habit of this season of starting slow, which isn't anything new to any of us, and that has to change. The Broncos looked like they were going to get out to a quick 7-0 lead before Demaryius Thomas lost his third fumble in as many games.

Even against the Raiders, the Broncos were up just 10-6 at the half before completely dominating the second half. I suppose if we get out of the first half of a game with a lead, we should pretty much consider it lights out for the opposing team.

MVPeyton

In order for Manning to win the MVP, the Broncos need to start winning games, flat out. However, Manning is putting up huge numbers and he's looking as sharp as ever. Still, Manning teams never really lost this many games, from what I can remember. Obviously, the chemistry is not fully there for the entire team, and that needs to get together sooner rather than later.

Manning has three straight games of 330 yards or more, and in those last three games, he's thrown eight touchdown passes. He's really starting to get into a groove, not making any mistakes as far as interceptions since the Broncos were beaten on Monday night football against the Falcons.

Targets Taking Shape

As slow as the offense has been to start out games, you have to be pleased with what you've seen from Denver's weaponry this year. The tight ends we acquired in the offseason have been spectacular additions, Brandon Stokley not only made the team but he's been huge for us, and the wide receivers that were expected to rise up have risen in a big way.

Specifically, Demaryius Thomas is an unstoppable force, if you discount his fumblitis. He had nine receptions for 188 yards, and his stock arrow is pointing sky-high. He could be a top five or ten receiver in the league before the year is out.

Joe...Mays...

...Where to begin? Mays' performance on Sunday is one he will just want to burn the tape of and start from the drawing board. I'm not saying he's the reason we lost, but there's a reason Wes Welker was wide open over the middle on almost every play, and it's not all Chris Harris' fault. Mays was pretty much looking around on every play, trying to figure out how to cope with New England's offense. It was a dreadful performance in all by the Denver D, but Mays stood out.

Not good.

Give Willis a Break

Our Pro Bowl running back had a stellar week against Oakland, and came out against New England and had a key drop on fourth and one, then fumbled when the Broncos could have punched one in and been down by just three points with over three minutes remaining (with two timeouts).

Still, I think we need to ease up on Willis. He's a huge part of this team, and while he needs to cure the fumbling problem, we need him to step up big this season. Obviously, this can't happen much more, but we can't put the loss on Willis' shoulders.

3rd and 17

Twice the Patriots converted with this down and distance, or very similar to it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe those were both on touchdown drives as well.

That disgusts me.

Beat. The. Chargers.

If we go into the bye at 2-4, we're going to be sorry about it. San Diego's hanging tough against New Orleans as this is being typed, but we need to go into our bye week with a 3-3 tie atop the AFC West along with San Diego. A 2-4 record with our remaining schedule is going to be a huge difference, even if it's just one game. Monday night's game against San Diego is a must-win game, even on the road, and Peyton Manning has to know it.

It's a long season in the NFL, but those seasons can be cut short the longer you wait to put it together. The Broncos need to be aggressive against the Chargers and force them to make mistakes. Kyle Orton won in San Diego, so Manning better be able to.

Ohio State's Braxton Miller Rising Up Heisman Trophy Watch Lists

2012-09-19T12:52:57Z

With a 3-0 start to the season, not only are Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes looking like the class of the Big 10, it’s looking like they have a Heisman Trophy candidate on their hands.

Even after Miller’s quick start in the team’s first couple of games, I don’t know that anyone expected he would garner Heisman attention. Now, Miller ranks as high as third on some Heisman watch lists, and comes in at fourth on ESPN’s latest rankings behind only Geno Smith (WVU), DeAnthony Thomas (Oregon), and Johnathan Franklin (UCLA).

Miller has seven passing touchdowns to go along with five rushing touchdowns, and not only has he markedly improved as a passer this year compared to last, but he is also fifth in the nation in rushing yards with 377 through three games.

The sophomore signal caller has been a fantastic fit for Urban Meyer’s offense, and he’s making the players around him better. He’s clearly the focal point of the offense, but he’s getting some other guys national attention as well.

The Buckeyes are 16th in the AP top 25 poll, and with one more “warm up” game against UAB, they face a tough slate of games starting with Michigan State and Nebraska. If Miller can continue on this pace, he will definitely be in the thick of the Heisman race at the end of the season.

Cleveland Browns Week One Fantasy Football Review

2012-09-12T13:04:39Z

Well, unless you had the Cleveland Browns’ defense by some stroke of pure luck and nothing else in week one, your fantasy football team probably wasn’t a great benefactor of any Browns players.

Cleveland’s defense is currently one of the top available in most fantasy football leagues after forcing Michael Vick to throw four interceptions, one that was taken for a touchdown by D’Qwell Jackson. The numbers don’t figure to be on the rise for the Cleveland defense, which now is going to have to do without star cornerback Joe Haden for a few weeks as he serves a suspension for his failure to notify the NFL that he has an adderal prescreption.

Against the Eagles, you had to figure the Browns’ top individual offensive player was Trent Richardson, even though he’d have a lot of rust to shake off. Well, Richardson struggled to get into the flow of anything, and other than the sweet run where he absolutely mauled through an Eagles defender, Richardson managed only 39 yards on 19 total carries.

The Browns will continue to center the offense around Richardson, especially if Brandon Weeden continues to struggle the way he has, dating all the way back to the pre-season. Weeden had a quarterback rating of around five, and didn’t produce any touchdowns. I think until he proves otherwise, Weeden is a player you want to steer clear from in the fantasy realm.

Because of that fact, until a Browns receiver clearly emerges among this group of guys, I probably would stay away from them as well. Mohammed Massaquoi was targeted a lot against the Eagles, but had just three catches for 41 yards. Josh Gordon continues to show he is capable of making big plays with two catches for 32 yards, and Greg Little didn’t even get on the board with a catch.

Overall, you’d have to give Cleveland’s week one fantasy football output a D-, saved only by the performance of their defense which appears to have been an unlikely repeat performance.