Wish Louis Vasquez a Happy Birthday!

RT to wish Louis Vasquez a happy birthday! pic.twitter.com/rxHPUiBo5L
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 11, 2014

From, +BRONCOS CR3W, wishing you nothing but the best Mr. Vasquez of the +Denver Broncos!

Broncos use a well-fittted (salary) cap, Elway Treats Free Agency like Dating

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When John Elway said "everything in my power," he meant everything.

Everything as in Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen’s checkbook and incessant desire to win. Everything as in Elway’s legacy as a Hall of Fame player. Everything as in a presumptive Hall of Famer currently at quarterback, and everything as in one of the most favorable salary-cap positions among the 2013 playoff teams.

Yes, the Broncos, still bruised in many ways from a 35-point Super Bowl loss last month, have rampaged through the opening hours of free agency with some specific goals in mind. They wanted to get nasty, wanted to have the elusive Plan "B" for when their next-level offense doesn’t have the kind of day it’s used to.

And the result has been a 24-hour defensive binge that now includes defensive end DeMarcus Ware (three years, $30 million, $20 million guaranteed); cornerback Aqib Talib (six years, $57 million, $26 million guaranteed); and safety T.J. Ward (four years, $23 million, $14 million guaranteed).

John Fox Greets DeMarcus Ware | DeMarcus Ware Greets Broncos Country

"That’s why me, Talib and Ware were brought in, three physical players. ... It’s going to help this defense, it’s going to help this team," Ward said in his first appearance at the Broncos' complex.

But Elway made Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning a promise as he recruited him in the days that followed his release from the +Indianapolis Colts in 2012. When Manning arrived at the Broncos’ complex for a visit, he was still stunned the Colts had actually released him, still reeling with all of the uncertainty in front of him.

Aqib Talib said that signing with the Broncos 

gives him the best shot at reaching the top of the NFL.

Daniel Shirey/USA TODAY Sports

"I wasn’t sure what the future was going to look like. There wasn’t a map for me to follow," Manning had said.

But at that time, Elway’s pitch was a promise that Elway, as Bowlen’s chief football decision-maker, would "do everything in my power" to make sure Manning retired from the +NFL as Elway did, with Super Bowl titles in those final seasons.

The Broncos made history on the way to last season’s 13-3 finish, set scoring records and raced into Super Bowl XLVIII using the fastest of fast lanes. Then the +Seattle Seahawks pushed Denver down, and the Broncos simply never got up in one of the worst title-game losses of the Super Bowl era.

Manning didn’t play well, the receivers didn’t play well, the linemen didn’t block well and a defense that was the biggest question mark heading into the Super Bowl actually answered the bell until the game got out of hand.

But Elway has since talked of creating "the mindset" to win a championship, has talked of being more physical on both sides of the ball and has talked about if they saw the opportunity to sign any player the team believed could be better than the ones they had, the Broncos would do it.mindset" to win a championship, has talked of being more physical on both sides of the ball and has talked about if they saw the opportunity to sign any player the team believed could be better than the ones they had, the Broncos would do it.

T.J. Ward meets the Denver media

They also had managed their salary cap well enough to have $28.7 million or so of cap space last Thursday morning. They then released cornerback Champ Bailey that day and guard Chris Kuper retired Monday. With those two events the +Denver Broncos gained roughly another $14 million in cap space, and with that cap space and the bulk of a roster good enough to have finished 13-3 in back-to-back seasons, the Broncos went to work.


Certainly, Manning is still the centerpiece of all this -- so much so that when Talib was asked Wednesday why he chose Denver, he quickly pointed to the 37-year-old quarterback.

Photo Courtesy: +Denver Broncos (AP)

"We just kind of looked at the best package," Talib said. "I do have a family, I have kids, I have a wife that I got to take care of, and it was Peyton Manning, you know? It was just the total package. Denver was the best place."

Elway has been a no-nonsense, grassroots executive right from the start. He grinds the video on draft prospects, he goes to the Senior Bowl, he has made the pro day rounds and he makes decisions based on the long term "because my job is to be two steps ahead."

But after three trips through the opening of free agency, he has to be considered one of the league’s best closers as well, and closers get the coffee and former Pro Bowl selections, it seems -- Manning, Louis Vasquez, +Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Talib, Ward and now Ware.

So it seems the Broncos really didn’t just go all-in this year. They’ve just kind of had that mindset all along.

-------------------------

"I view free agency like dating, if you didn't want me to scoop them up then you should have treated them better," he was reported to have said today.

The AFC champs, who got blown out in Super Bowl XLVIII, have already added T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware to their roster.

So yeah, it's pretty much Super Bowl (victory) or bust for John Elway and Co.

The legendary QB, who is now Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Broncos, has apparently found a great way to sum up his take on free agency:

Elway, "I view free agency like dating, if you didn't want me to scoop them up then you have treated them better" #BroncosNation — Eric Weidner (@ESPNWeidner) March 12, 2014

H/T to +FOX Sports 

Broncos' Salary Cap Tight, but Still has Good Outlook

Broncos' cap snug, but still looks good

The NFL’s scouting combine gets underway Wednesday in Indianapolis and all of the Denver Broncos’ football decision-makers will be there.

The draft continues to be the long-term foundation of what John Elway wants to get done with the depth chart. And while the Broncos did land the greatest prize of free agency, in Peyton Manning, and paid him accordingly with a $96 million deal, Elway has largely been conservative in free agency overall because he wants the heart of the team's roster to be homegrown.

The Broncos have favored, outside of a few contracts, including Manning and guard Louis Vasquez, one- or two-year deals. Many of those, after the initial hysteria passed, were with little or no signing bonus. Look how the team has handled the last two free-agency seasons following Manning's signing.

 

Peyton Manning and Broncos Offensive Teammates
Photo Courtesy: Denver Broncos (AP)

In 2012, the Broncos signed safety Jim Leonhard, defensive tackle Justin Bannan, linebacker Keith Brooking, center Dan Koppen and wide receiver Brandon Stokley to one-year deals. Of those players only Leonhard got a signing bonus ($65,000). And Brooking, Bannan and Koppen were starters while Leonhard and Stokley were key backups.

This past year, Terrance Knighton got a two-year deal and Wes Welker got a two-year deal. Stewart Bradley and Shaun Phillips signed one-year contracts while Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie signed what is a two-year deal on paper, but turned into a one-year deal five days after the Super Bowl.

Denver figures to take a similar approach this time around. The Broncos won’t know what 2014’s salary cap will be for a bit yet, but they do know they are in pretty good shape for a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance. Many in the league expect the ’14 cap to be at, or near, $126.3 million per team.

When free agency opens in March, the Broncos will have to be under the salary cap with their top 51 contracts. At the moment, those top 51 salary-cap figures for players under contract amounts to $117.8 million. By a rule put in with the current collective bargaining agreement, the Broncos can also roll over any available cap space from this past season into 2014.

That figure is $6.573 million. So, including the rollover, the Broncos actually have just over $11 million worth of cap space to work with.

That puts them in a good spot, compared to many, as noted in this from ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

And that’s before the Broncos do, or don’t, talk to Champ Bailey about his $10 million cap figure for ’14 -- the second highest on the team -- or Chris Kuper’s $5.915 million cap figure, seventh highest on the team.

The Broncos have also done a quality job limiting the dead money on the cap – cap charges for players no longer on the roster – with Elway and Mike Sullivan overseeing the team’s contracts. The biggest dead-money charge for ’14 at the moment comes from Rodgers-Cromartie. Again, even though it’s consistently been reported as a one-year deal, Rodgers-Cromartie actually signed a two-year deal last March and the second year voided five days after the Broncos' loss to the Seahawks. However, with that contract data circulated among the teams across the league shows a $2.1 million dead-money charge -- the pro-rated portion of his original $4.2 million signing bonus.

Beyond that, the oldest dead-money charge will be $500,000 for Willis McGahee, who was released last June.

All in all, the Broncos head to Indy without any concerns they’ll have to do any major adjustments to participate in free agency. They will eventually need $6 million or $7 million in cap room to deal with their draft class, but they get some time there since the draft isn't until May 8.

Manning Unanimous All-Pro, Makes 7th Team (AP)

UDATED JAN 3, 2014 2:08 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP)
Peyton Manning has responded to a lost season the way he reacted to all of his great seasons.

By having more great seasons.

Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. It was his seventh time as a first-teamer, tying Hall of Famer Otto Graham for the most by a quarterback.

The Denver star set NFL records this season with 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 yards through the air.

Peyton Manning (18), QB of the +Denver Broncos 

He was chosen on all 50 ballots from media members who regularly cover the NFL. Manning also was an All-Pro for Indianapolis in 2003, '04, '05, '08 and '09 and last season made it as a Bronco. He's been on the All-Pro team in both seasons since missing 2011 after several neck surgeries. 

"I think it's well documented that this is the second chapter of my career, and didn't know what to expect off that injury and new team, new players and new physical state after an injury," said Manning, a four-time league MVP who never missed a pro start before 2011. "So I had no idea what to expect, and I've put a lot of time and a lot of hard work in to it. But I've received a lot of help along the way from coaches and trainers and strength coaches and teammates. So I'm very grateful."

Manning still has a ways to go to set the record for most All-Pro appearances at any position. Among the players ahead of him is Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice with 10.

New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham and Indianapolis outside linebacker Robert Mathis each drew 49 votes. Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy and Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman had 48.

Minnesota kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson was the only rookie on the squad.

Eighteen NFC players and nine from the AFC made the team. Carolina and Philadelphia each had three: linebacker Luke Kuechly, center Ryan Kalil and fullback Mike Tolbert for the Panthers; NFL rushing leader McCoy, guard Evan Mathis and tackle Jason Peters for the coach Chip Kelly's Eagles.

"Just when Chip came here, we knew we were going to run the ball," McCoy said. "The linemen, they've all been healthy this whole year. They've been blocking so well for me and without those guys, it's not possible."

Only two members of the top teams in each conference made the All-Pro team. Joining Manning from the Broncos (13-3) was guard Louis Vasquez. Joining Sherman from the Seahawks (13-3) was safety Earl Thomas.

"It is very special, especially in a special season," Sherman said. "If you're having a special season and your team has four wins or five wins, I'm sure it doesn't feel as good. But when your team is winning, your defense is No. 1 in every category and you're just contributing, you're not even trying to do anything special individually, you're just contributing to the entire group. It really feels special. And with the chance to do what we have a chance to do this year, it would be fantastic."

Unlike Sherman, many of the players chosen did not enjoy huge team success this season: 12 of the 27 failed to make the playoffs.

Rounding out the offense were receivers Calvin Johnson of Detroit and Josh Gordon of Cleveland; running back Jamaal Charles of Kansas City; and tackle Joe Thomas of Cleveland.

Other All-Pros on defense were ends J.J. Watt of Houston and Robert Quinn of St. Louis; tackles Gerald McCoy of Tampa Bay and Ndamukong Suh of Detroit; outside linebacker Lavonte David of Tampa Bay; inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman of San Francisco; cornerback Patrick Peterson of Arizona; and safety Eric Berry of Kansas City.

The special teamers were Patterson, kicker Justin Tucker of Baltimore and punter Johnny Hekker of St. Louis.

One of 15 first-time All-Pros, Kuechly was last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

"It's an individual award, but it's a representation of the team," he said. "You got to always remember that you have four guys in front of you. You got the other linebackers, the coaches and the DBs behind you that make everything possible."

Overall, 16 clubs were represented on the All-Pro team: Denver, Kansas City, Cleveland, Baltimore, Houston and Indianapolis in the AFC; Philadelphia, Carolina, Seattle, Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Arizona, Minnesota and San Francisco in the NFC.

Polish Off Some Silver!

Appropriately, Peyton Manning and the Broncos took a 31 - 0 lead with a 6 yard TD Pass to Baybay (Demaryius)Thomas with 13 seconds left (in the first half). It only took 29:47 of game time for Peyton Manning and the +Denver Broncos to put up 31 points, toss 4 touchdown passes and have 266 yards passing. Second straight week with zero turnovers and getting one or more on defense! The last play of the half for the Broncos offense was a Peyton Manning to Baybay Thomas 6 yard TD connection that set a +NFL record by a team. Single season scoring record and the first team ever to put up 600 points or more in a regular season. Adding to the records this potent offense has put up this season. That would be the last act for them in the regular season as Brock Osweiler, and many back up players started the second half. Would've have been interesting to see how much Manning may have added to the record totals they had accomplished already, but ensuring health on a roster that has suffered some big losses due to injury, reps for the youth, and back ups on the roster, it is not worth a record to any of them if they do not come out of this rested, as healthy, and as focused as possible. Peyton broke the single season passing yards record, quite appropriately, on the same play that was his last of the regular season. The 6 yard TD pass to Baybay, also was the one that did the topping of Drew Brees passing yards record set in 2011. Peyton surpassed it by 1 yard.at 4,477 passing yards with his last throw of this regular season.

WE ONLY NEEDED A HALF IN "O-TOWN"

Make Mile High Rumble
Mile High Magic

** Original Photo Rights before graphic; Courtesy of: Getty Images

Ramirez Fends off Doubters; D-Lineman Alike

By ARNIE STAPLETON— Dec. 25, 2013 6:56 PM EST | Associated Press

In this Oct. 6, 2013, photo, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18),
center Manny Ramirez (66) and guard Zane Beadles (68)
get ready for a play during an NFL football game against the
Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. The man in the middle of Denver's offensive line,
the one that's allowed the fewest sacks in the league, is the center who had never started
a game at the position before this season. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Manny Ramirez has arguably the toughest job in pro football. As Peyton Manning's center, he literally works under the most demanding quarterback in the NFL.

Not only that, but before this season, the seventh-year journeyman from +Texas Tech University hadn't played a full year at center since his junior year at Willowridge High School in Houston — way back in 2000.

With Ramirez as its anchor, the Broncos' offensive line has allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL (17), giving Manning time to throw his record 51 TD passes and plowing the way for Knowshon Moreno to top 1,000 yards rushing for the first time.

The Broncos (12-3) are 28 points shy of becoming the first 600-point team in history and a win at +Oakland Raiders (4-11) on Sunday will secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

"Manny's been awesome," Manning said after a Christmas afternoon practice in pads. "That is no easy task to go from guard to center, especially in a sophisticated, fast-moving, always-changing offense. I think it would be one thing if you knew what play was going to be called and you had 40 seconds to process it. But we call one play and change it to the next with five seconds on the play clock and when we change a play, Manny has to make his own calls and he has just gotten better each week."

He's got the brawn and backbone to match the brains, too, Manning said.

"I know he has played through a lot of injuries. It speaks to his toughness," Manning said. "He is one of the strongest guys on our team, so it's very impressive. I'm not sure people (appreciate it). I think people in this building understand with the sophistication of our offense just how difficult his job is and he's just been outstanding."

Ramirez is an unlikely fulcrum for this historic offense, spending all season casting aside doubters and defensive linemen alike.

"This summer, I'm hearing all kind of grief about Manny can't do this, Manny can't do that," offensive line coach Dave Magazu said. "Well, I think Manny's proven all those people wrong."

Coach John Fox laughs now that nobody seemed to believe him when he kept saying in the offseason that Ramirez was his starting center and that he wasn't just keeping the position warm for J.D. Walton or Dan Koppen or Ryan Lilja or Steve Vallos or even Chris Kuper.

Ramirez, whose claim to fame before this season was bench-pressing a school-record 550 pounds in college, didn't listen to the skeptics, but he couldn't help but hear them, either.

"Truthfully, and unfortunately, that's been my entire life," Ramirez said. "You know, even when I was playing in middle school and high school, I've always had doubters, and that's fine. That's always been motivation for me."

He's been proving people wrong since he first starting playing football.

"Growing up, where I'm from, people aren't shy to tell you to your face, 'You're not going to make it. You're a Mexican, for one thing. There's not many Mexicans that play in the league anyways. You're not smart enough. If you go to college, you're going to have to go to a juco first and then go to college if you get an opportunity,'" Ramirez said. "I don't know, it's just some dumb stuff people were always saying, trying to put me down for whatever reason it might be. But you've just got to put all that to the side."

Ramirez started 11 games at right guard for Denver last year, but free agency was barely 20 minutes old when he got a call from his old college teammate, Louis Vasquez, informing him he'd just signed a four-year, $23.5 million deal with the Broncos to play right guard.

"I was shocked, but at the same time I was excited because Louie and I got a bond that's like brothers, so I was happy for him," Ramirez said. "And then my mindset was I've just got to fight for a job."

The Broncos had a plan in mind for Ramirez.

When Manning began the second chapter of his career in Denver following the series of neck surgeries that affected his famed right arm, he rebuilt his throwing motion from the ground up.

No longer does he rely as much on his arm strength so much as he does on proper mechanics, using more of his hips and torso to direct his passes and generate speed. So, it's imperative that he has room to step into his throws.

That means, the Broncos needed more height and beef in the middle of their line, and they got it with Vasquez (6-foot-5, 335 pounds) and Zane Beadles (6-4, 305) at guard and Ramirez (6-3, 320) at center.

"That's helped us become a little more powerful on the run and a little stouter on the pass," Fox said. "So, those are areas you try to get better at physically. And then mentally is the thing that Manny's done a great job with.

"He's got a quarterback behind him that's a pretty demanding guy and changes and does things on the fly, so you've got to be a sharp guy and you've got to earn his trust and he has and done an excellent job."

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton