Rockies and Helton agree to extension through 2013
By John Livingston | March 11, 2010
While there were times where fans thought it might not happen, Colorado Rockies General Manager Dan O’Dowd made sure that today it became official: Todd Helton will be a lifetime Rockie. 
Here are the details, provided by MLB.com reporter Doug Miller:
The extension will be worth $9.9 million in all, with salaries of $4.9 million in 2012 and $5 million in 2013. Also, Helton agreed to defer over $13 million of his existing contract over a 10-year period beginning in 2014. This could allow the Rockies to re-sign starter Jorge De La Rosa, who will become eligible for free agency after this season, and to pick up 2011 club options on outfielder Brad Hawpe ($10 million) or starter Jeff Francis ($7 million).
Next year, Helton, 36, will be in the last of a nine-year, $141.5 million contract extension that he signed before the 2003 season. That deal included a $23 million club option for 2012 with a $4.6 million buyout and would have paid him $19.1 million in 2011. Now, after deferring the money, he’ll make $10.7 million next season.
“This is where I want to be,” Helton said. “I know from talking to a lot of other players, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I know what we have here, and I know that we are really good.”
Helton, Colorado’s first-round selection in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee, has racked up a career .328 batting average to go with 325 home-runs and 1,202 RBI’s in 1,812 games since his debut in August 1997.
He has also been a standout in the infield at first base, collecting gold gloves in 2001, 2002 and 2004. He arguably deserves many more gold gloves but has seen his consideration for the award decrease as his offensive numbers have slowly declined throughout his career. Guys like Albert Pujols seem to bring home the award every year now, and one has to think it is largely due to his bat and not his glove.
Last season, Helton hit .325 with 15 HRs and 86 RBIs. He also became the 50th player in Major League history to reach the 500 career doubles mark and the 255th player in history to reach 2,000 hits.
When the franchise wasn’t a winning club many people believed that Helton would eventually be traded away to a winning team. However, when the Rockies reached the World Series in 2007, a winning culture was instilled in Colorado and they Rockies young players have responded to Helton’s leadership.
“He is our leader,” outfielder Brad Hawpe said. “He just wants to win. And he’s very talented. … In order to get the opportunity [to play for only one team in a long career], it takes not only talent but a special person.”
Former Rockies third baseman and current special assistant to O’Dowd, Vinny Castilla, also said that Helton means “everything,” to the organization.
“He should be the first guy to have his number retired for the organization,” Castilla said. “He’s a great player, a great role model for all the young kids here, and a great guy.”
Helton and O’Dowd both recognize that 2013 isn’t necessarily the end date for Helton in baseball or as a Rockie, but they both acknowledge that this extension just about locks up Helton as a career Rockies.
“I just know that we all felt collectively, from ownership on down, that this was the right thing to do for this player,” O’Dowd said. “And we absolutely think he can be a very productive player for three more years, maybe even beyond that.
“We could have another extension in three years. Who knows?”
Said Helton: “The biggest thing is finishing my career as a Rockie,” Helton said. “I know what we have here. It’s a good thing. I’m excited about it. And it’s going to give the team freedom to keep the team intact. That’s a great thing.”
“[At the end of this deal] I’ll be an old man, in baseball terms,” Helton said. “But if I’m out there and not playing well, it’ll be time to hang it up.”
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Denver Broncos release LB Andra Davis
By Jeremy Glasoe | March 11, 2010
In the most shocking news of the offseason, the Denver Broncos released ILB Andra Davis on Thursday.
Davis, 31, had 90 tackles while starting in 13 games for the Broncos at inside linebacker in 2009. Good numbers and while this is surprising news, the veteran linebacker did wear down towards the end of the season.
The Broncos haven’t made any moves for a linebacker in free-agency, so the question I am left with, who will be the new starting strongside inside linebacker for the Denver Broncos. The options on the current team roster are… Nick Greisen, Spencer Larsen, and Wesley Woodyard.
I am a big fan of Larsen and Woodyard, however I am not sure either one of them is the answer for the position and Greisen spent all of last season on injured reserve. Could the Broncos have their eyes on a LB in the upcoming draft? Another option would be to bring Davis back in a lesser deal. Guess we will have to stay tuned as the Broncos world turns.
*In other Not so shocking news, the Broncos also released defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker.
UFC on VERSUS 1 weigh-in information and details
By John Livingston | March 11, 2010
The UFC finalized the UFC on VERSUS 1: Vera vs. Jones fight card this past week and now Colorado fight fans can start making their plans for what will be a great weekend of events in Broomfield, Colo. 
UFC on VERSUS 1 features a great night of fights featuring a light-heavyweight bout between Brandon “The Truth” Vera and Jon “Bones” Jones. Another light heavyweight fight between James Irvin and Alessio Sakara was also recently promoted to the main (televised) portion of the card to complete the 11 fight lineup.
Weigh-ins are scheduled to take place Saturday March 20 at the 1STBANK Center, the same site of the March 21 fights. The doors will open at 3:00 pm MDT and fighters will hit the scales at 4:00 MDT. The event is free and open to the public.
The weigh-ins are usually a great event with other fighters around the area available for autograph sessions.
Denver’s own Nate Marquardt will also host the UFC Fight Club Q&A. This is a fan driven interview session that the UFC hosts for every event and it is a great chance for UFC Fight Club members to meet some of the best fighters in the organization.
The Q&A is also on March 20 and check-in for the fight club members is at 1:30 MDT. The session with Marquardt will run from 2-3 p.m. MDT.
Here is the list of the final fight card with all bouts official.
MAIN CARD
* Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera
* Junior Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
* Paul Buentello vs. Cheick Kongo
* James Irvin vs. Alessio Sakara
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Shannon Gugerty vs. Clay Guida
* Eliot Marshall vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
* John Howard vs. Daniel Roberts
* Chase Gormley vs. Brendan Schaub
* Julio Paulino vs. Mike Pierce
* Jason Brilz vs. Eric Schafer
* Darren Elkins vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig
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Broncos’ Peterson first to get dropped after D-Line signings
By John Livingston | March 10, 2010
After a strong first week of free agency and signing three new potential starting defensive lineman, Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels was going to be forced to make some choices about who to keep, and the first decision speaks volumes about the direction the coach is trying to take the team in his second season.
Today, the Broncos parted ways with 31-year-old defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, who will undoubtedly be joined by other teammates in the defensive trenches from a season ago. Peterson signed a three-year deal a season ago with Denver and started all 16 games for the organization. However, he was largely ineffective with 40 tackles and just one sack.
This past week, the Broncos have added Jarvis Green, Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams–all three are expected to start on the Broncos line, giving the defensive front a complete makeover.
That means many players from last year had to go and Peterson was the first. This was perhaps surprising at first due to the relationship Peterson had with McDaniels as the two were teammates at McKinley High School. The two visibly bonded last year at summer training camp at Dove Valley and fans will remember their embrace after McDaniels fist pumping celebration after the team defeated the New England Patriots last season.
Perhaps it was their strong relationship that led to Peterson being cut now, as opposed to half-way through camp this summer. Now, Peterson has a full opportunity to try and land a new team, if there are any suitors.
This stands out to me as a move that shows McDaniels is willing to do anything to win and he means business. Personal ties and friendships cant stand in the way of the business that the NFL is and if you want to win, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get better, even if it means saying goodbye to a friend.
Expect many more Denver defensive lineman to be fighting for their Broncos lives when training camp rolls around and, already, a few names stand out as future cuts.
First, Marcus Thomas and Jarvis Moss both seem to be likely players to be on the outside looking in. The Broncos have made it clear that they want big defensive lineman that can play the nose tackle position, something Thomas simply has not fit. Moss spent much of last season as a healthy scratch and watched most games from the sidelines. He has never developed into the player fans had expected the former first round pick to be.
BRONCOS BONUS AND ONE MORE CUT:
Broncos waived offensive lineman Mitch Erickson. Erickson, who was on the Broncos practice squad the past two seasons, was a pickup by Mike Shanahan in 2008 and, like many Shanahan holdovers, does not fit the new power-blocking scheme Josh McDaniels is switching to. It is expected he may land back with Shanahan in Washington.
Denver also reportedly gave wide receiver Brandon Lloyd a $500,000 signing bonus to go with his new two-year contract. This likely signals that the Broncos plan on using Lloyd more in the offense next season, especially if the team is missing a certain big name receiver.
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Broncos reach deal with K Matt Prater
By John Livingston | March 10, 2010
The Denver Broncos manged to squeeze a new deal for kicker Matt Prater in on Tuesday after a busy 24 hours of defensive line signings.
Prater, who was an exclusive rights free agent, had a stellar season last year hitting on 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts (30-35). This was a great improvement from the season before when he was just 25-35, 73.5 percent.
He also hit on all 32 extra point attempts and was great for the Broncos on kickoffs, recording 28 touchbacks on 78 kickoffs in 2009.
He has done a solid job of replacing the void Jason Elam left behind in 2007 and if he continues to improve there is reason to believe he will be kicking for the Broncos for a long time to come.