2010 BRONCOS DRAFT CHOICES
Round 1, Pick 22 (22) (from N.E.) - WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
Round 1, Pick 25 (25) (from Balt.) - QB Tim Tebow, Florida
Round 2, Pick 13 (45) - OL Zane Beadles, Utah
Round 3, Pick 17 (80) - C J.D. Walton, Baylor
Round 3, Pick 23 (87) (from Phil.) - WR Eric Decker, Minnesota
Round 5, Pick 6 (137) (from Cle. through Phil.) - CB Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State
Round 6, Pick 14 (183) - OL Eric Olsen, Notre Dame
Round 7, Pick 18 (225) (from Pit. through TB) - CB Syd'Quan Thompson, Cal
Round 7, Pick 25 (232) (from Bal. through TB) - LB Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
2010 PRESEASON SCHEDULE (Home games in caps)
DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME/RES. TV/REC.
Sun. Aug.15 at Cincinnati Paul Brown Stadium 7:00 PM EDT KCNC-TV (CBS4)
Sat. Aug.21 VS. DETROIT INVESCO Field at Mile High 7:00 PM MDT KCNC-TV (CBS4)
Sun. Aug.29 VS. PITTSBURGH INVESCO Field at Mile High 6:00 PM MDT FOX
Thu. Sep. 2 at Minnesota Mall of America Field (Metrodome) 7:00 PM CDT KCNC-TV (CBS4)
2010 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE (Home games in caps)
WEEK DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME/RESULT TV/REC
1 Sun Sep.12 at Jacksonville Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 1:00 PM EDT CBS
2 Sun Sep.19 VS. SEATTLE INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 PM MDT FOX
3 Sun Sep.26 VS. INDIANAPOLIS INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 PM MDT CBS
4 Sun Oct. 3 at Tennessee LP Field 12:00 PM CDT CBS
5 Sun Oct.10 at Baltimore M&T Bank Stadium 1:00 PM EDT CBS
6 Sun Oct.17 VS. NEW YORK INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 PM MDT CBS
7 Sun Oct.24 VS. OAKLAND INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 PM MDT CBS
8 Sun Oct.31 at San Francisco Wembley Stadium (London) 5:00 PM GMT CBS
9 BYE WEEK
10 Sun Nov.14 VS. KANSAS CITY INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 PM MST CBS
11 Mon Nov.22 at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium 5:30 PM PST ESPN
12 Sun Nov.28 VS. ST. LOUIS INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 PM MST FOX
13 Sun Dec. 5 at Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium 12:00 PM CST CBS
14 Sun Dec.12 at Arizona University of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM MST CBS
15 Sun Dec.19 at Oakland Oakland Coliseum 1:15 PM PST CBS
16 Sun Dec.26 VS. HOUSTON INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 PM MST CBS
17 Sun Jan. 2 VS. SAN DIEGO INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 PM MST CBS
ALL EYES ON TEBOW, WHO CALLS HIS FIRST BRONCOS MINICAMP GREAT
Associated Press
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Tim Tebow is accustomed to living under the media microscope. Now, his every move on the football field is being scrutinized by the Denver Broncos.
A team videographer was at Tebow's feet Friday when the quarterback took snaps and threw passes as the three-day minicamp for rookies got under way.
"Oh, it's great because we can go back and watch it," the ever-excitable Tebow said following the 90-minute workout on a chilly morning. "We can look at every play, every throw, go back and see what I did good, what I did bad, what I have to work on and what I need to change."
Arguably the most intriguing pro prospect since Michael Vick, Tebow has plenty of work ahead of him.
Some scouts believe it could take two years for Tebow to make the transition from combination college quarterback to prototypical pocket passer -- if he ever does. Others argue his success in college, his passion for football and his work ethic will make the transition smoother and shorter.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, who made waves when he traded three draft picks to the Baltimore Ravens to take Tebow with the 25th selection in last week's NFL draft, said it's unrealistic to put a timetable on the quarterback's transition.
McDaniels has dismissed the notion of moving Tebow to H-back to start his pro career. And with Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and maybe even Tom Brandstater ahead of Tebow on the depth chart, many expect the former University of Florida star's contributions as a rookie will come in Wildcat formations.
Although Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time BCS national champion whom some call the greatest college player ever, he is an NFL enigma because of his not-ready-for-primetime throwing mechanics and footwork and the spread offense he ran out of the shotgun with the Gators.
So, Tebow donned a No. 15 Broncos jersey Friday and hit the field at Dove Valley for the first time to begin his NFL education.
With the offense in white on the south end of the field and the defense in blue at the north end, all eyes were on Tebow in the middle.
During the 25-minute period in which more than 50 reporters, photographers and cameramen were allowed to observe, Tebow ran agility drills, then threw several passes under the watchful eyes of McDaniels and his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who is Denver's new quarterbacks coach.
Both had plenty of advice for Tebow.
"It was just everything from the plays to footwork to getting my body in position to throw and just different things like that," Tebow said. "All football, all the time, and I love it. It's great."
Deploying his new and improved throwing motion that removes the looping windup he had at Florida, the southpaw's throws were tight and compact.
Tebow's mechanics and throwing motion were dissected ad nauseam in the weeks leading up to the draft, and he insisted he embraced the critiques and criticism. He began correcting his sidearm throwing motion weeks ago. Now, he must adjust to taking snaps under center and dropping back while dodging the pass rush after operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college.
Tebow wouldn't pinpoint a priority.
"Just improving, getting better on everything, I mean the footwork, the drops, the cadences, identifying the right (reads), going through the protections, everything like that has been what I've been working on," Tebow said. "I can't just narrow it down. I got too many things I'm working on right now."
That's why Tebow didn't really take a moment to soak it all in when he hit the field for the first time with six other draft choices, 19 college free agents and two wide receivers trying out with the Broncos.
"Not at that time. I thought, 'I got a lot to go do and I got to go improve,'" Tebow said. "So, it's not time to daydream right now."
Tebow said he wasn't overwhelmed by the daunting challenges ahead.
"Oh, I'm just excited. It's not really pressure," he said. "I just go out here and play football. I'm loving doing it. I'm learning a great offense from great coaches, just trying to soak it all in every chance I get, and I'm having a great time with it."
Although he's in terrific shape, Tebow found out firsthand what it's like to train at altitude.
"I had been working really hard so I felt like I was in decent shape," Tebow said. "But I can definitely feel a difference. ... You just can't get as much air."
Tebow also called the chilly weather "a great change of pace."
The Broncos drafted two wide receivers -- Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech in the first round and Eric Decker out of Minnesota in the third -- but both were on the sideline Friday because they're still recuperating from foot operations.
Two undrafted wide receivers, Dicky Lyons of Kentucky and Rockeed McCarter from James Madison, were in for tryouts and caught passes from Tebow.
TEBOW'S NO. 15 BRONCOS JERSEY LEADS NFL SHOP SALES FOR APRIL
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Rookie quarterback Tim Tebow already leads the NFL in one category: jersey sales.
Tebow's No. 15 Denver Broncos jersey was by far the most popular on NFLShop.com for April. His celebrity clearly trumps the debate over whether he'll ever make it as an NFL quarterback after winning the Heisman Trophy and two BCS national championships at Florida.
Tebow is, at best, third on the Broncos' depth chart at quarterback. But the 25th pick of the first round in last month's draft still had the best-selling rookie jersey since the NFL started keeping track in 2006. Thirty percent of the orders came from Florida.
The Broncos were tops in the league in merchandise sales on NFLShop.com in April after ranking 10th for the year ending March 31 -- and without any other Denver player's jersey in the top 25.
The draft's top pick, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, was at No. 9, behind not just Tebow but the second selection, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The new Detroit Lion, who ranked eighth, is the only lineman in the top 25.
The No. 2 seller in April is the jersey of an old quarterback on a new team: Donovan McNabb of the Washington Redskins. McNabb's Eagles jersey wasn't even in the top 25 for last year, trailing even teammate Michael Vick.
The trade to Washington has sparked not just interest in McNabb but in his replacement in Philadelphia, Kevin Kolb. Ready to make his debut as a full-time starter, Kolb was No. 12 in the April rankings.
Just as eye-catching is the drop in jersey sales for a quarterback who has been in the news for very different reasons: Ben Roethlisberger. The Pittsburgh Steelers star, a longtime mainstay among the league's most popular jerseys, ranked 11th for the year.
Roethlisberger is nowhere to be seen in the top 25 for April, a month when he was suspended without pay for six games for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger in a case involving a 20-year-old college student who accused the quarterback of sexually assaulting her in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub.
LaDainian Tomlinson's move from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Jets boosted sales of his jerseys. He ranked 16th last year, but he shot up to sixth for April.
The rest of the top 10 for April includes many of the usual suspects: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
RAVENS LB LEWIS SHOCKED BY HELP GIVEN TO TEBOW
By Mike Florio
We've previously pointed out that Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow could spark contempt and resentment in an NFL locker room. Recent comments from Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis hone in on one of the specific potential sources for the hard feelings players may have for Tebow.
That Tebow is somehow better or more worthy than the rest of them.
Asked by ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd whether Lewis was shocked by the media attention on the Tebow story prior to the draft, Lewis said (via NFL.com), "The thing I was more shocked by is you see all the people who were willing to help him. I don't know many people who were willing to help other athletes like that. Jon Gruden loved him to death. You see all these people who took out their personal time to really work with him and make this big issue, big issue, big issue. I don't know why he was any different than anyone else. Every young child has that dream, that same dream that Tebow had. So I don't know why he was bigger . . . than any of the other guys.
"He went to a big program, and, yes, he might be a favorable person, but nobody else in the league, definitely not veteran players, see themselves differently than any other player."
Though Lewis stopped short of saying that this will make Tebow a target of opposing defenders (the Broncos play at Baltimore on October 10), Tebow's bigger concern should be ironing out any hard feelings that may arise in his own locker room, where others may not be thrilled by the budding love affair between Tebow and the fan base and/or Tebow and the head coach, who proclaimed this week that Tebow has the "it" factor.
Again, it all comes down to how Tebow handles himself. And though others might see Tebow "differently than any other player," we don't believe Tebow carries himself in a way that suggests that he sees himself differently. And we think that if Tebow handles himself the way he always has, he'll win his teammates over and, in time, his foes.
UNDERSTANDING JOSH MCDANIELS: THERE IS A METHOD TO HIS MADNESS
Bleacher Report
By Kevin Roberts
It's interesting how the NFL works, isn't it?
The Denver Broncos fire long-time NFL coach Mike Shanahan, and in enters this punk-spawn from the Bill Belichick tree, with a chip on his shoulder and a head the size of Mount Everest.
Josh McDaniels wasted no time shaking things up in Denver, immediately trying to "upgrade" over Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler by attempting to trade for a one-year wonder in Matt Cassel.
His attempt failed, he had a falling out with Cutler, and the Broncos waved bye-bye to their golden boy.
Then came the brush with star diva receiver Brandon Marshall. We heard about the injuries, treatment from both sides, and contract issues.
Then Marshall played up to his potential (per usual), helped the Broncos to a 6-0 start, and everything was forgotten. Of course, only until Denver began a disturbing slide, stumbled into Week 17 at 8-7, and did so without a benched Brandon Marshall.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. The now heavily criticized McDaniels finally pulls the trigger on a trade, sending Marshall to Miami for two second-round picks, and then follows that by getting rid of his offense's last problem child (all of Denver hopes), while getting a fifth-round pick in return.
There's a pattern here, folks. McDaniels enters, Cutler leaves. Then Marshall. Then Scheffler. And on a much lighter note, so too did Peyton Hillis.
The question now is, were these guys really the problem, or was McDaniels just letting his ego getting in the way? Well, it is professional football, so there's no disputing his ego has to play into what went on to some degree, but if you look closely, there is a developing pattern.
And this pattern is weaving a design that will soon form into a winning foundation.
Josh McDaniels isn't producing some cookie-cutter Bill Belichick feast. He's dining with his own dish, his chosen utensils, and he's selectively picking his dinner guests.
He showed this when he brought in the aging, but still wily veteran safety, Brian Dawkins. He showed it even more by giving some lesser-known defenders a chance to prove themselves.
And then he took that next big step: the risk of having your entire fanbase disown you.
He traded away his elite, cocky starting quarterback. He ridded of a young, superstar wide receiver, and he tossed away another young, playmaking tight end.
But then McDaniels made a move that very few of us saw coming. He traded up, and drafted Florida's Tim Tebow .
And, while it's true we won't know what becomes of this for quite some time, it was still all kinds of magical.
Let's think about this for a moment.
All of McDaniels' moves and decisions got us to this point. It's like he knew from the start. And it's almost sad, and rather embarrassing, that we're just now starting to see it come to fruition.
McDaniels unloaded the guys with the big contracts, the guys who balled over their small contracts, and anyone who wasn't content enough with their role on the Denver Broncos.
And it led to the consummate team player. It brought McDaniels and the Broncos to Tebow, a guy with the world's largest chip on his shoulder, a guy who (there is no doubt in my mind) will work harder than anyone else in the league and a guy who will become a good starting quarterback.
Tebow doesn't have to be the starter in year one, because Tebow knows what a team is. He'll run the tough yards, play a little H-back and tight end, and he'll help Denver put together some Wildcat packages. After all, whatever the team needs, that comes first.
McDaniels is turning out to be a big, sappy softy. He's not an egomaniac. Of course, that clearly all depends on your perception of what he's doing and what your own interpretation of what an egomaniac is.
But he's a guy who believes in the system. He believes a philosophy is bigger than talent. He knows that the team is more important than any one individual player.
And by trading up to draft Tebow with the 25th selection in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft , he showed (through sacrificing elite assets) that a player like Tebow, one who represented exactly what his entire team needs and should strive to be, was more important than paying a big name receiver, dealing with a pouty star quarterback, or catering to the desires of a pompous tight end.
Josh McDaniels is doing it his way, and damn me if I'm wrong, but I finally am buying into it.
