Denver Broncos, Zane Beadles agree to contract
By John Livingston | July 27, 2010
The Denver Broncos signed yet another 2010 NFL Draft pick on Tuesday.
This time it was second-round selection Zane Beadles. Beadles, a 6-foot, 4-inch left guard, signed a 4-year, $4.2 million contract with $2.7 million guaranteed. He is expected to battle Russ Hochstein for a starting job at guard on the offensive line. 
Although he played left tackle for the Utah Utes, Beadles will likely see most of his playing time at guard, although he could serve as a worthy backup for Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris as they both try to comeback from injuries.
Practices for rookies begin on Wednesday and Beadles can use all the time he can in practice to compete for the starting job. Hochstein, 33, is recovering from a torn ACL and should be ready for the first week of the regular season, but Beadles can do a lot during preseason and training camp to prove he is ready for the job. He just might win it out.
The Broncos have now signed all of their offensive line draft picks: Beadles, J.D. Walton and Eric Olsen. First round draft picks Demaryius Thomas and Tim Tebow remain as the last of the unsigned draft picks.
Tebow is in talks with the Broncos and a deal is expected to be done before the weekend; in time for training camp which opens Aug. 1. The deal is rumored to be worth $12 million over 5-years–$8 million guaranteed.
Knowing the character of Tebow though, he may be on the field with the rest of the rookies on Wednesday, even if he doesn’t sign until Friday.
UPDATED: Troy Tulowitzki returns, Huston Street goes down
By John Livingston | July 27, 2010
UPDATE: Jim Tracy, Rockies manager, had this to say about Huston Street’s injury after Tuesday night’s 4-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Obviously it is a freak accident and unfortunate. They took him to the hospital; did a CT Scan and all of the necessary things…it’s quite a contusion and he is obviously day-to-day. (There is) No significant injury so we dodged a bullet but he got hit really hard.”
Just as one returns, another player goes down for the Colorado Rockies.
Troy Tulowitzki returned to the Rockies lineup on Tuesday night as the club opened a pivotal three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, during pregame batting practice, Ian Stewart drilled a line drive that hit closer Huston Street in the pelvic region, causing him to crumble to the ground in pain. John Leyba/ The Denver Post
While trying to get to his feet, Street fainted due to the pain. Paramedics rushed to his aid and he was taken off the field in a stretcher to nearby Rose Medical Center.
No update has been given as to Street’s condition. Rockies trainer, Keith Dugger, told the Denver Post’s Jim Armstrong that he thought Street’s body went into shock and that he experienced ringing in his ears — a common sign of shock — stomach pain and pain in his right leg.
When an update is available I will try to get it up as quickly as possible.
On a brighter note, Tulo’s return could be just in time for the Rockies, who are slumping after going 2-9 on the last road trip including being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies.
His leadership will be welcomed back to the dugout. The Rockies need him to spark a run in August to get back in Wild Card contention.
Many had expectations for the Rockies and Tulowitzki to lead Major League Baseball this year. Tulowitzki won’t be up for any individual awards now this year, after missing 33 games, but the Rockies still have a shot at the Wild Card. It is just going to take another magical Rockies run into October.
Let’s see if Jim Tracy and Tulo can inspire the club.
“obviously it is a freak accident, unfortunate, update: took him to hop, CT scan, necessary things, quite a contusion and is obivously day-to-day, no significant injury so we dodged a bullet but he got hit really hard…
Denver Broncos rookie WR Eric Decker to ink deal Tuesday
By John Livingston | July 26, 2010
The Denver Broncos are taking care of signing the remaining 2010 NFL Draft picks still without a contract this week before training camp opens Aug. 1.
Add to the list of those whom have signed, third-round wide receiver Eric Decker. Decker and the Broncos have reportedly agreed to a 4-year contract worth up to $4.8 million, including a $732,150 signing bonus. Now only first round selections Demaryius Thomas and Tim Tebow as well as second round pick Zane Beadles, remain unsigned. 
Decker is a great athlete that could have turned professional in baseball or football. Luckily, for the Broncos, he chose football.
Jeremy Glasoe, the publisher of Colorado Sports Desk, and I were eager and hopeful to see the Broncos draft Decker in the third round of the draft and were ecstatic when the Broncos selected him; just like when J.D. Walton was also drafted in the third round. He is incredibly smart and athletic and will bring not only depth, but solid talent to the Broncos receiving corps.
He reminds many Broncos fans of Ed McCaffrey. he will even wear McCaffrey’s #87 jersey with the blessing of McCaffrey himself, who sent an autographed #87 to Decker after he was drafted.
Decker missed all of mini camps and OTA’s while recovering from a Lisfranc fracture in his foot but is expected to be fully healthy for the start of the regular season.
He is a strong possession receiver and when paired with Thomas over the next few years the two should develop into fantastic receivers that counter each other perfectly. Thomas will have the role of stretching the field while Decker should terrorize opposing defenses in the middle of the field.
Add that to the explosiveness Eddie Royal brings to the slot receiver position and the Broncos potentially have three scary receivers. Jabar Gaffney is also poised for a big season with the absence of Brandon Marshall and should provide the rookie receivers guidance and leadership as they adapt to the NFL.
Denver Broncos sign second 2010 Draft center, Eric Olsen
By John Livingston | July 25, 2010
The Denver Broncos needed a center in the draft; they got two.
The Broncos signed third-round pick J.D. Walton, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 305 pound center from Baylor, to a 2.58 million with a $798,500 signing bonus for four-years back in June. Now they have agreed to a four=year $1.896 million contract with sixth-round selection Eric Olsen. 
Olsen, a third-team All-American in 2009 with Notre Dame, is a 6-foot, 5-inch center who can also play guard. He will add depth to the Broncos line with Walton expected to start, rookie Zane Beadles and Chris Kuper likely to see starting time at guard and anchors Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris holding down the tackle spots.
Olsen’s size will help bolster the Broncos line and add much needed depth to the line, which is continually transitioning into a power-running scheme behind coach Josh McDaniels. Running back Knowshon Moreno should relish running behind what will be the most massive offensive line in recent Broncos history.
Speaking of Harris, his injured toe is expected to be fully healed for training camp, which opens August 1. Harris was active during mini-camps in June and, having not suffered any setbacks, he is right on track and fully healthy again. This is good news for the Broncos, who missed his presence in 2009-10 when he injured and then re-aggravated the toe. Tyler Polumbus filled in for Harris and the line suffered.
Denver Broncos, Elvis Dumervil agree to deal for next 6 years
By John Livingston | July 25, 2010
Sometimes doing the right thing pays off.
That was certainly the case for Denver Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil, who agreed to a 6-year, $61.5 million deal–including $43.156 million guaranteed–with the team earlier this week. Photo Credit: MaxDenver.com
“Hey world Elvis is officially in the building..Feeling really good. I love the Broncos Org, coaching staff, and especially the FANS,” Dumervil said on July 22 via twitter after he had worked out the deal.
Instead of holding out during OTA’s earlier this summer, Dumervil signed an injury waiver to attend practices with the team in a pivotal time as the defense is adjusting to new defensive coordinator and former linebackers coach Don “Wink” Martindale. His good character and outstanding defensive play in 2009-10 got him almost the exact same contract that Baltimore Ravens All-Pro linebacker Terrell Suggs received last off-season.
“At the end of the day I knew my value. There was no need to go out and handle things the way other guys have,” Dumervil said in a conference call with Denver-area reporters on July 23.
Dumervil had to learn a completely new defense and position last season and still led the league with 17 sacks, a Broncos single-season record. The 5-foot, 11-inch former defensive end has defied the odds his entire football career and now he will look to dominate the league once again and make his second Pro-Bowl in 2011.
Dumervil is also a great representative of the Broncos and should develop into a marketable player for the franchise. Of Haitian decent, he was active when the devastating earthquake ravaged the island country earlier in 2010.
He has also remained healthy throughout his 4-year career, likely making it easier for the Broncos to hand his the guaranteed money.
Head coach Josh McDaniels has said all off season that Dumervil deserved a new contract and was exactly the kind of guy he wants to build his team around. McDaniels proved by trading Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall that he will do whatever in takes to build a cohesive team that cares more about winning than individual accolades and profit.
Now, McDaniels should reward Dumervil with captain status along with Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins on defense. The men are true examples of what this Broncos team is building to be and their leadership will help the Broncos defense hit new highs in the 2010-11 season.