NFL FanHouse

Former Broncos First-Round Pick Marcus Nash Suffers Broken Neck in Arena Football

Michael David Smith — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:23:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, NFL Draft, Denver, Arena Football

Marcus Nash was the Denver Broncos' first-round draft pick out of Tennessee in 1998, and while Nash was productive in college, the Broncos quickly learned that his college quarterback, Peyton Manning, could make any receiver look good. Nash was a bust in the NFL.

But he has caught on in Arena Football, where 2008 was his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season.

Unfortunately, it will also apparently be his last. The Dallas Morning News reports that Nash, playing for the Dallas Desperados, underwent surgery this week to repair a broken neck suffered in last week's playoff loss to New York. According to the paper, Desperados coach Will McClay said the injury could end Nash's career.
Nash finished his NFL career with four catches. He was Arena Football's offensive player of the year in 2004.

Via PFT.

Former Broncos First-Round Pick Marcus Nash Suffers Broken Neck in Arena Football originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall the Subject of 3 Domestic Violence Calls in 3 Months

Michael David Smith — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:37:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

Everyone who follows the NFL knows that Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall can't stay out of trouble. But a Denver Post investigation reveals that Marshall's problems go beyond just his two arrests last year and his one this year.

For starters, police were called to domestic disputes between Marshall and his girlfriend three times in three months in 2007. In all three cases, the woman said Marshall punched her. Police made no arrests in any of the incidents.

His girlfriend's friend also told police that Marshall hit her car with his while the girlfriend was a passenger, then threw a rock at the car. Marshall wasn't arrested in that incident, either.

Marshall has also been charged with crimes including retail theft to assault on an officer, and his own father once told police Marshall shot a gun during an argument they had in a parking lot.

Looking at the totality of Marshall's rap sheet, it's reminiscent of Adam "Pacman" Jones: No individual incident was serious enough to put him behind bars, but the cumulative effect is likely enough for a lengthy suspension from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Via PFT.

Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall the Subject of 3 Domestic Violence Calls in 3 Months originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lawyer Calls Brandon Marshall's Shakedown Story a Lie

Josh Alper — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

Yesterday we brought you some of the conflicting stories concerning Brandon Marshall's March arrest for domestic violence. Marshall's denials ranged from the abject to the vague but overriding the whole thing was his assertion that he was the victim of a shakedown attempt and not a serial batterer of women.

Now, the attorney for Marshall's former girlfriend has fired back at the Bronco receiver.

"His story that he has been a victim is as pathetic as the story that he slipped on a McDonald's bag and injured his arm," David McGill, one of the two attorneys representing Rasheedah Watley, said Thursday night. "Hopefully, he will be as eager to tell his story in a court of law, under oath, as he has been in the media."

McGill also contradicted any notion that there was no physical abuse by saying that there was physical evidence to prove that part of his case. Marshall maintains that the only physical interaction was when Watley's sisters attacked him, causing a cut on his hand noted by police on the night in question.

In the Rocky Mountain News, Bernie Lincicome argues that it might be time for the Broncos to prepare a way out for Marshall.

Nothing he has done on the field or off the field would indicate he is more trouble than he is worth. Yet.

I think on the field trumps off the field in the NFL, which is why, short of a case of Pacman fever, Marshall will be with the Broncos this season.

Lawyer Calls Brandon Marshall's Shakedown Story a Lie originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Marshall: I'm a Victim of a Shakedown

Josh Alper — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

We're still waiting for any fallout from the revelation that Brandon Marshall was arrested for the third time in 12 months in March but Marshall is going on the offensive against his accuser. He claims that Rasheedah Watley was trying to extort money and a car from him in exchange for keeping their affairs out of a courtroom. Her attorney emailed Harvey Steinberg, attorney for Marshall, and Steinberg provided details of the email to the Rocky Mountain News.

More than a year later, in an e-mail to Steinberg, O'Marra maintained that Marshall had offered to put Watley up in a furnished apartment for a year, get her a car comparable to her former BMW 645 and put $30,000 in her checking account, and that a settlement of $150,000 would be accepted. Five days later, that figure had shrunk to $100,000.

That was more than a year after a previous domestic violence charge against Marshall. When he refused to comply, Steinberg claims that the most recent charges, which he calls "unfounded," came to light. He also said the March incident was a figment of the imagination.

It's hard to believe that assertion. The Denver Post reports that when police were summoned to Marshall's home on March 4th, they found the receiver bleeding from a cut on his hand. Watley claims that Marshall found a text message from another man on her phone and beat her as a result.

Marshall's own recounting of the events place him and Watley in an argument on the date in question.

"Basically, what it was is I had just gotten into town and the relationship was basically over. I told her it was time to end it now, and she didn't like that. We've been dating off and on since the eighth grade, and she said, 'I'm going to ruin you.' The only thing I did was try to get out of the house."

Steinberg, who repped Travis Henry in his successful appeal against the league, must be hoping that a fuller story plays in Marshall's favor. Given past actions from Roger Goodell, however, it's hard to see this playing out without a suspension for Marshall.

Brandon Marshall: I'm a Victim of a Shakedown originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Marshall Was Arrested in March

Josh Alper — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

Yesterday Brandon Marshall got himself dragged into an unsavory situation thanks to shoddy journalism. Today he's there because of his own actions. The Denver Post, via PFT, reports this morning that the Bronco receiver was arrested for misdemeanor battery in Atlanta on March 6th after a complaint from his girlfriend.

Rasheedah Watley, 24, filed an affidavit in Fulton County Magistrate Court on March 5 claiming that a day earlier Marshall hit her in the mouth and left eye, leaving her with, according to the criminal warrant, "visible marks above the eye and a laceration on her top and bottom lip.

It was the third arrest in less than a year for Marshall, the second for domestic violence and he's had a couple of other instances where charges weren't filed. No formal charges have been filed yet in this case, either. The arrest came 16 days before Marshall badly injured his arm in the McDonald's bag slip/wrestling match with his brother.

Marshall could face discipline from the league under the Personal Conduct Policy. The trifecta in one year would not work in his favor, and could face more of an issue if the arrests were concealed. Pacman Jones got in more trouble by hiding his run-ins with the law from the NFL. A spokesman for the NFL said they are looking into the arrest right now but didn't indicate when the league was made aware of it.

Also worth watching is how Mike Shanahan balances Marshall's continued employment with the releases of other bad actors like Travis Henry and Todd Sauerbrun. The Broncos have been making a big deal about improving the "character" of the locker room and Marshall would appear to fall short of the standard they set for themselves. Neither Henry or Sauerbrun were as important to the team as Marshall, however, which tends to be the deciding factor of how much discipline the team metes out.

Brandon Marshall Was Arrested in March originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Brandon Marshall Goes to a Club in Las Vegas, How Does It Involve Javon Walker?

Josh Alper — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Raiders, AFC West, Denver, Oakland

There's definitely a lot we still don't know about what led up to Javon Walker getting beaten up in Las Vegas early last week. His story about a random group of thugs accosting him seems fishy, to say the least, in light of his champagne spraying in the Body English nightclub earlier in the evening. Not knowing exactly what happened, however, doesn't mean we can just assume a course of events.

Norm Clarke, an eyepatch-wearing columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is doing just that however in part of a column titled Latest Walker Twists.

And just when the story couldn't get any weirder -- on second thought, the hunch here is that it's going to get much wilder -- Walker's former Denver Broncos teammate Brandon Marshall showed up Friday at Tryst.

Clarke then mentions Marshall's role in the fracas that preceded Darrent Williams's murder in Denver last year. What Clarke doesn't deem worthy of mention is that there's no evidence placing Marshall with Walker at Body English nor any apparent connection between Marshall visiting a different club in the same city and what went down with Walker.

I fail to see how this makes the Walker story any weirder. Thousands of people went to clubs in Vegas on Friday night, are all of them somehow culpable in whatever befell Walker?

If Brandon Marshall Goes to a Club in Las Vegas, How Does It Involve Javon Walker? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Suspends Mike Anderson for 1 Year

Michael David Smith — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Ravens, Denver, Baltimore

Mike Anderson was the best story in football in 2000, a 27-year-old rookie and Marine Corps veteran who came out of nowhere to rush for 1,487 yards and win the league's rookie of the year award with the Denver Broncos.

Anderson spent five more seasons with the Broncos and then the last two with the Baltimore Ravens, but he never matched that level of success, and he's not currently under contract to any NFL team. And now no team could play him in 2008, even if they wanted to.

Howard Balzer of Sports XChange is reporting (via PFT) that Anderson has been suspended for one year, apparently for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. He was previously suspended four games in 2003 for a violation of the substance-abuse policy.

Realistically, this suspension means his career is over no one is going to sign a 35-year-old running back coming off a yearlong suspension. It's a disappointing end for a career that had such a great beginning.

NFL Suspends Mike Anderson for 1 Year originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Marshall After Hurting His Right Arm: 'I'm Still Wiping My Butt With My Left Hand'

Michael David Smith — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:11:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Denver, The Word

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall is recovering from a bizarre injury in which he slipped and fell in his home and put his arm through his TV screen. Marshall severed an artery and a vein, damaged a nerve in his right forearm, cut tendons to five muscles and needed surgery to patch everything up.

Marshall now says he's almost fully healed, but in providing that reassurance, he provided way too much information:

"I can do everything with my right hand that I was doing before the accident but I'm still wiping my butt with my left hand," Marshall said. "It's not as strong. My right hand is not as strong."

I really have no idea why Marshall, who lied to the team about how the injury happened in the first place, now feels the need to tell the whole truth about exactly where he is in his recovery. A simple "I can do almost everything with my right hand" would have been fine.

Brandon Marshall After Hurting His Right Arm: 'I'm Still Wiping My Butt With My Left Hand' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another Bronco Dreaming Big: Brandon Marshall Predicts 100 Catch Season

Josh Alper — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver

Selvin Young's proclamation that he was going to run for 2,000 yards this season was met with much skepticism. He's never been a full-time tailback, doesn't appear to have the build of an every-down guy and, well, just doesn't seem like the type of guy who can get it done.

He's not alone among Denver players with a lot of confidence in themselves. Brandon Marshall says he's totally fine after severing the artery (and several other important doodads) in his right forearm during some offseason tomfoolery with his brother and that he's poised to post some big numbers.

"I'm still going to catch 100 balls this year," Marshall said following the conclusion of the Broncos' offseason minicamps Thursday.

If you had to bet on one or the other reaching their goal, it would have to be Marshall. For one thing, he caught 102 passes last season so he's not trying to reach a new height. For another, he's easily the best receiver on the team and won't have too much competition when it comes to catching Jay Cutler's eye. Young will have to split time with Michael Pittman and others in the backfield.

Marshall has been pretty limited in practices this offseason. He should be ready to go full speed come training camp which is a necessity if the Broncos hope to return to the playoffs this season.

Another Bronco Dreaming Big: Brandon Marshall Predicts 100 Catch Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Traded a 2008 7th-Round Pick for $3.5 Million in 2009 Salary Cap Space

Michael David Smith — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:42:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, NFL Draft, Denver, Tampa Bay

The ongoing saga of Jake Plummer's retirement has finally come to an end, as Plummer, who retired after the Denver Broncos traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2008 seventh-round draft pick more than a year ago, has agreed to pay the Bucs $3.5 million.

It's a complex, often misunderstood, part of NFL contracts -- when players get signing bonuses, they only get to keep the money if they fulfill the terms of the contract. Plummer chose to walk away from his contract early by retiring, which meant he couldn't keep his entire signing bonus. When the Buccaneers traded for Plummer, they traded for the rights to get that bonus money -- even though the Bucs didn't pay it to him.

Now the Buccaneers get that money, but it's important to remember that this is about more than a millionaire writing a $3.5 million check to a billionaire. That $3.5 million will actually be credited to the Buccaneers' salary cap for the 2009 season.

So look at it this way: If the Bucs sign a free agent next year to a contract that pays him $3.5 million in base salary, that player is really who they acquired with that 2008 seventh-round draft pick. And since the kind of player who makes $3.5 million a year is almost always a better player than a seventh-round rookie, you'd have to say the Bucs made a good move when they traded for Plummer, even though he never played a down for them.

Buccaneers Traded a 2008 7th-Round Pick for $3.5 Million in 2009 Salary Cap Space originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Nalen Has Knee Surgery

Josh Alper — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, NFL Injuries, Denver

When Matt Lepsis retired after last season and with Rod Smith an unofficial assistant coach, Tom Nalen is left as the only active Bronco veteran who was part of the Super Bowl winning teams of the late 90's. How much longer he'll be able to carry that torch has to be a concern for the team with the news that he had left knee surgery.

Nalen went under the knife yesterday to repair torn cartilage and will miss the rest of the offseason program. He's expected to be ready for training camp in July but recent history suggests that the Broncos would be wise to have a backup option at the ready. He missed all but five games last season with a biceps injury and 37-year-old offensive linemen have a nasty habit of breaking down physically.

They signed Casey Wiegmann from Kansas City over the offseason. He started every game for the Chiefs since 2002 so should be able to step in and handle matters if Nalen isn't ready to answer the bell. Chris Myers, who stepped in for Nalen last season, was dealt to the Texans.

Tom Nalen Has Knee Surgery originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Shanahan Talks About Character

Josh Alper — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver

In quick succession the Denver Broncos cut their ties with Todd Sauerbrun, Javon Walker and Travis Henry, giving rise to a lot of talk about how the Broncos were putting a premium on "high character" players. Left out of that discussion is the fact that Walker and Henry were hurt and underwhelming when healthy but Mike Shanahan is carrying that banner nonetheless.

"It's funny," he said. "When you win, everybody talks about what good character you have. When you lose, everybody talks about the poor character on your football team. There's a fine line there."

No, there isn't a fine line. When you win, people don't give two bits about the character of the players. When you lose, though, it's easy to use that as a crutch instead of looking into who might actually be responsible.

Take Shanahan. When the Broncos were winning Super Bowls they were circumventing the salary cap, people talked about it but no one in Denver cared about it because the team was winning. Cheating isn't a sign of high character but winning makes it better. Just ask the Patriot fans who will defend Bill Belichick to their last breath or the Cowboy fans who rooted for teams led by Michael Irvin and Nate Newton.

Character counts, without a doubt. The fine line isn't between good and bad ones, though, it's between winning and losing. If Henry, Walker or Sauerbrun were going to make a big difference on that front, they'd still be in town.

Mike Shanahan Talks About Character originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reasons For Travis Henry's Release Coming to the Surface

Josh Alper — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:35:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver

When Mike Shanahan announced Travis Henry's release yesterday, his statement mentioned a lack of commitment from the running back. It didn't delve into specifics, though a variety of sources are offering some insight as to the reasons why keeping Henry was impossible.

The hamstring injury that kept him from practicing is top on the list. While it meant he couldn't participate in drills, it didn't mean that he was excused from showing up to practice. Bill Williamson of Hashmarks (and late of the Denver Post) reports that Henry stopped showing up for the team's OTA's which raised the ire of Shanahan and others. His fellow running backs weren't immune to feeling abandoned, either.

"That's on him," Broncos running back Andre Hall said. "He brought it on himself. I know he's supposed to be out here. Lots of guys are out here hurt."

If true, that's not a great deal of commitment, especially after the team backed Henry right down the line after his positive drug test a year ago. Shanahan was his biggest supporter, he even got fined for questioning the league's testing policies, but another rumor holds that Henry turned against the coach as well.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk is reporting that the two men had an altercation, verbal not physical, recently which may have helped seal the decision to sign Michael Pittman and send Henry packing. While Shanahan deserves credit for realizing Henry's ability to help the team was gone, he now has another free agency failure on his sketchy resume as a personnel evaluator.

Reasons For Travis Henry's Release Coming to the Surface originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broncos Release Travis Henry

Josh Alper — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver

The Broncos opened a minicamp this morning with a bombshell announcement. They've released running back Travis Henry ending a brief and stormy relationship after just over a year together.

Mike Shanahan made the announcement via a written statement. The decision appears to be more personal than business.

"We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team. Although Travis has the ability to be one of the top running backs in the NFL, we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of our organization and its goal of winning a Super Bowl."

Shanahan wasn't clear about where Henry was lacking. He was embroiled in an alleged positive drug test last year but the coach backed him up in his successful fight to get it overturned. He's been battling a hamstring injury this offseason but there was no previous sign that he was slow to return. Contract-wise, Henry actually seemed to show all the commitment you could ask.

Henry signed a five-year, $22.5 million deal before last season but recently restructured the deal to keep his spot on the team. He gave back about $11 million and was due just over a million this season which meant, financially, the Broncos had little to lose by keeping him around.

Denver signed Michael Pittman last week and has Selvin Young and his 2,000 yard dreams to hold down the tailback spot. There were rumors of interest in Shaun Alexander but no word yet if they'll be revisited.

Broncos Release Travis Henry originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka to Call Broncos-Raiders MNF Game on ESPN

Michael David Smith — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Raiders, NFL Media Watch, Denver, Oakland, ESPN

ESPN has announced this year's second-string Monday Night Football team, and it's the same as last year's second-string Monday Night Football team: Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Mike Ditka.

The NFL season's kickoff weekend features two Monday night games. The first, Vikings-Packers at 7 p.m. Eastern, will be called by the usual ESPN crew of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser. The second game, Broncos-Raiders at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, gets the Greenberg-Golic-Ditka trio.

I thought the three Mikes were fine last year (aside from the one unfortunate moment caught on camera), although I wish Greenberg and Golic wouldn't be quite so reverential toward Ditka: They act like he's a god, not a colleague. If the three of them can just talk football without reminding us every five minutes that Ditka is a Hall of Famer, they'll be fine.

Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka to Call Broncos-Raiders MNF Game on ESPN originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Todd Sauerbrun Thinks He Got A Raw Deal From The Broncos

Josh Alper — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

Former Bronco punter Todd Sauerbrun pled guilty to disturbing the peace today in a Denver court to finish the criminal proceedings against him for an incident with a cab driver in December. He was sentenced to one-year probation and 24 hours of community service.

Sauerbrun's mind wasn't on courtroom, though. It was on the team he says did him wrong when they cut him in the wake of the arrest.

"The Broncos didn't give me a fair shot. I don't think they did me right. I do feel ill about it. And their new motto about character guys? The guys I've seen them pick up, you're going to tell me those are good character people? I think not."

He's probably referring to Michael Pittman, who in 2003 was accused of using his Hummer to ram a car driven by his wife off the road. It's a fair point but Sauerbrun's record of bad acts began long before that December night so he can hardly play the innocent card. When you read what else Sauerbrun did today, though, you'll see faulty reasoning is something of a hobby for him.

Sauerbrun claims innocence and says he only took the guilty plea to get the affair behind him. In his next breath, he says he's planning to sue the cab driver for defamation. That doesn't so much put the case behind you as it assures it will remain right on top of you.

Todd Sauerbrun Thinks He Got A Raw Deal From The Broncos originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Selvin Young Dreams Big, Sets Goal of 2,000 Rushing Yards

Josh Alper — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, Denver

When Michael Pittman signed with the Broncos yesterday, I was a bit surprised. Travis Henry has been slowed by a hamstring injury during offseason workouts but I expected him and Selvin Young to do a good job as the Bronco tailbacks this season. Pittman's a good back but, if all went according to plan, he'd have a hard time getting on the field. You'd think some team would have more opportunities for him.

Today I'm really bumfuzzled about what Pittman was thinking. There's all the above and then there's the fact that Young is planning to run for 2,000 yards this season.

"The key to that to me is staying healthy. Everything else, I believe in wholeheartedly. It's not like I said something to try to get a laugh or to smile or to get people to pay attention to me. It's something I believe is in me."

Staying healthy isn't the only key. He'll need to beat out Henry and Pittman for the starting job, for one thing. He'll need to run the ball 250-odd more times than he did last season. He'll have to add that workload without sacrificing any of the 5.2 yards he gained per rush. And on top of it all, he'll need a rookie tackle and two guys who missed all or most of 2007 to have All-Pro seasons blocking for him.

Long odds but the good news is even 1,000 yards from Young would be a boon to their offense.

Selvin Young Dreams Big, Sets Goal of 2,000 Rushing Yards originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports Say That Michael Pittman Will Sign With the Broncos

Josh Alper — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, NFL Rumors, Denver

When the Broncos passed on signing Shaun Alexander recently, it appeared that they were content to go into battle this season with the running backs they had in house. Not the worst idea. Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Andre Hall and rookie Ryan Torain give them multiple looks to play with out of the backfield. Appearances can be deceiving, however.

Over at Pro Football Talk, MDS is reporting, via a league source, that the team is going to sign veteran tailback Michael Pittman to a one-year contract. Pittman's role in Tampa diminished greatly after the team drafted Cadillac Williams in 2005 and he slipped behind Earnest Graham and Michael Bennett last season. He still played a role in the passing game but when the team signed Warrick Dunn this offseason, the writing was more than on the wall that it was time for him to move along.

He should fill that pass-catching role for the Broncos this season and provide some depth should Henry struggle with injuries as he did last season. He'll have to battle to do anything more than that, however, and, if Young makes good on the promise he showed last season, may end up doing less or looking for another place of employment before too long.

Reports Say That Michael Pittman Will Sign With the Broncos originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 15:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lawsuit Against NFL and NFLPA Going Forward Despite Con Artist's Suicide

Josh Alper — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Denver, NFL Police Blotter

Hedge fund manager/scam artist Kirk Wright's suicide in an Atlanta jail this weekend ended his life but it won't end the lawsuit his illegal actions generated. Six NFL players who lost millions because of Wright sued the NFL and NFLPA for endorsing Wright as a financial planner.

That suit was brought by Steve Atwater, Ray Crockett, Al Smith, Blaine Bishop, Carlos Emmons and Clyde Simmons and it will go forward even without Wright's input in any court proceedings. An attorney for the players says they weren't planning on calling Wright as a witness anyway but the union countersued the players and it's unclear if Wright would have been part of their case. The countersuit claims that the union doesn't endorse any financial advisers and that the players didn't exhaust internal remedies before filing suit.

It seems to me that the union should be doing some kind of work to ensure that players are being prudent about their money. It would be up to the players to avail themselves of that service, of course, but part of the union's mission should be providing players with a full menu of services to ensure the fruits of their labor. There will always be dishonesty and there will always be players who invest their money in the wrong way but the union should be trying to help their members any way they can.

Lawsuit Against NFL and NFLPA Going Forward Despite Con Artist's Suicide originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 09:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hedge Fund Scam Artist Who Bilked Broncos Players Hangs Himself in Jail

Michael David Smith — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:38:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Denver

Kirk Wright, a former Atlanta hedge-fund manager who was convicted last week of operating an investment scheme that defrauded his clients, including players on the Denver Broncos, hanged himself in his jail cell Saturday.

In all, Wright stole about $150 million from thousands of clients, including former Broncos players Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, Ray Crockett, Blaine Bishop, Al Smith and Rod Smith. After Wright got their money, those three sued the NFL and the NFL Players' Association, saying union representatives encouraged them to invest in Wright's scheme.

Atwater (pictured) lost $2.8 million of his own money and recruited the other Broncos players to invest a total of about $15 million with Wright.

Wright, who used the money to buy cars, jewelry and real estate, was awaiting sentencing in a jail in Union City, Georgia, where jail officials say they found him dead of a suicide.

Hedge Fund Scam Artist Who Bilked Broncos Players Hangs Himself in Jail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 May 2008 10:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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