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Denver Broncos

With the addition of Wes Welker, the Broncos now have three receivers who caught a combined 291 passes last season. So how will Peyton Manning distribute passes next season? "What we try to develop around here is the idea that everyone wants to touch it, everybody wants the ball," Broncos coach John Fox said via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. "But what our guys understand is this game is about matchups. And you put it on the defense who gets the ball each game."

Negotiations with Charles Woodson have hit a snag, and the free-agent safety is visiting the Oakland Raiders Tuesday, reports Klis. Manning, Rahim Moore and Champ Bailey expressed support for adding Woodson.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are going to be much more blitz-happy under new defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, writes the Kansas City Star's Adam Teicher in his notes from organized team activities (OTAs).

Undrafted free agent Rico Richardson has been impressed with what he's seen so far at Chiefs OTAs. "These guys are the real deal, there's no fake advertising," Richardson said via Michael Kerekes of the Natchez Democrat.

Oakland Raiders

Woodson, expected to visit the Raiders on Tuesday, sounds open to finishing his career where he started it. “It would be a really big thing to go back to Oakland being that I played there really most of my career,” Woodson said via Matt Pargoff of MaizeandBlueNews.com. “I played there eight years and Green Bay seven. So I spent most of my career in Oakland and I still have a lot of friends there. I still know people in the organization. It would be a homecoming of sorts if it were to happen, so we’ll see.”

Monte Poole of the Bay Area News Group has seven reasons Woodson and the Raiders should reunite.

Every eligible player was present during the first day of OTAs, reports Steve Corkran of the Bay Area News Group.

San Diego Chargers

Rookie Keenan Allen heard about it from Chargers fans after he tweeted out a photo of himself wearing a Raiders cap, writes Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego. "It won't happen again," the receiver said.

Newly signed Dwight Freeney will not participate this week in OTAs, reports U-T San Diego's Michael Gehlken. Freeney hasn't arrived in San Diego due to what the team has called a “prior commitment.”

Manti Te'o is off limits to the media and will continue to be until minicamp in mid-June, the AP reports.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos insist they have moved on from last season's playoff loss to Baltimore and remain behind safety Rahim Moore, who was beat for a 70-yard touchdown in the final minute of regulation. "I think he's over it; I think we're all over it, you know," Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio told the Associated Press. "I think we all look back and see things that we could have done better. We also look back with a great deal of pride in what we accomplished. We played some very good defense and he was central to that. So, we want to feel good about what went well. We want to feel the sting of what went bad. And we want to get ready to be better this year."

Mike Klis of the Denver Post asks questions the Broncos need to answer as they begin OTAs.

Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs wide receivers coach David Culley is already making a positive impression on his players. "Coach Culley, he’s been with some guys that have done great things in the NFL," Chiefs WR Jon Baldwin said. "So, for him to be able to be with those guys, who have been doing it for a long time and have proven that, it lets him be able to rub some of the stuff that he taught those guys and seen those guys develop into and bring it to us. It’s a great thing to have him as a receiver coach."

Oakland Raiders

Raider Nation would really like to see veteran cornerback Charles Woodson back in an Oakland uniform.

San Diego Chargers

Former Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer fully expects to be playing somewhere in 2013.

Matt Calkins of U-T San Diego: "It is completely understandable that Chargers coach Mike McCoy would want to shield his celebrity of a linebacker from prying media members, and if the request came from Manti Te’o, one can empathize with that as well. But this story isn’t like a headache or a bruise that will go away if you just leave it alone. It’s more like an anxiety disorder -- the only way to kill it is with exposure."

NFL.com reports the Denver Broncos have offered safety Charles Woodson a contract, but will likely need to up the offer. Next week, Woodson is planning to visit Oakland, where he spent the first eight years of his career.

I would be surprised if the Raiders engage in a bidding war. They have not done so this offseason as they have begun to rebuild their roster.

They are giving players short, inexpensive deals. Trying to win a bidding war for a 36-year-old player doesn’t seem like it would fit the plan of G.M. Reggie McKenzie. But if Oakland thinks Woodson can help on the field and in the locker room, perhaps McKenzie will change course. Denver is still considered by many league observers as a favorite to land the future hall of famer.

The Charles Woodson AFC West race may be extending into next week.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that Woodson’s agent said the Oakland Raiders have invited Woodson to visit on Tuesday. He ended a visit to Denver on Wednesday. Agent Carl Poston had previously said the Raiders made an initial offer.

The Giants and Panthers have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the 36-year-old safety. He was cut by Green Bay this offseason.

The Broncos are said to still be interested. Some observers see Denver as the favorite because it could give him a chance to play a lot, a decent salary and a chance to stay with a contender.

Woodson played his first eight years in Oakland. He has a relationship with Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie dating back to their Green Bay days. The Raiders have not been paying free agents much and they have been looking for youth. But they could be interested in having Woodson’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Dwight Freeney, the other big-name defensive player linked to the AFC West, ended his visit with the Chargers on Thursday.

Mid-week mail call:

Rick Johnson from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., wants to know why quarterback Ricky Stanzi may be on the outs in Kansas City.

Bill Williamson: He was a low-round pick of the previous regime. He hasn’t shown much in two years in the program and the new regime is looking for its own young quarterback to develop. The Chiefs signed the intriguing Tyler Bray out of Tennessee as an undrafted free agent. I expect Andy Reid and his staff to try to develop Bray. If Stanzi impresses, he has a chance, but I think Bray has the edge to stick around over Stanzi.

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Rick Cole from Kansas City wants to know how long I think Peyton Manning will play in Denver.

BW: I think we should start with two more years and see how it goes. Manning is 37. He has four more years remaining on his contract.I expect him to play at a high level for another two years. I bet the situation is re-evaluated after the 2014 season. If Manning is still playing at a high level and he feels good, I could see him returning in 2015.

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Ibetonart from Oakland wants to know if the Raiders could ever trade Terrelle Pryor to Philadelphia.

BW: Well, I think that wouldn’t happen until 2014. Pryor seems to fit Chip Kelly’s offense and Kelly did try to recruit him to Oregon several years ago. But Kelly is loaded at quarterback. I would think if Kelly doesn’t have his answer at the position next year and Pryor is not in Oakland’s plans, perhaps the idea could be broached.

An AFC West battle for Charles Woodson is brewing.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported on Tuesday that the future hall of famer is flying to Denver for a visit this week. Later, Anderson reported the Raiders sent Woodson an initial offer. Woodson spent his first eight years in the NFL in Oakland. He knows Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie from their Green Bay days.

The strong safety was cut by Green Bay in March and has received little interest. But it is heating up. Anderson reports Carolina is also involved.

If it comes down to Denver and Oakland, it will be interesting to see what happens. I think the playing time in both places would be about similar. Finances could be an issue, but I don’t see either team offering him too much. Oakland has been very cost-conscious, has been mostly giving out one-year deals, and most of those have been to younger players. I don’t see Oakland breaking the bank to get Woodson.

An advantage Denver might have is it is expected to be a Super Bowl contender, while Oakland isn’t. Oakland could have an advantage because of Woodson's familiarity with McKenzie and the franchise.

If Denver decides it wants to sign Woodson, it could try to finalize a deal during his visit to keep him from considering other offers.

In other AFC West notes:

The Chiefs cut 2012 fifth-round pick, safety DeQuan Menzie. He didn’t play last season. It’s not surprising. Late-round picks from a previous regime usually aren’t safe when the new regime comes in. The Chiefs concentrated on adding to the secondary this offseason.

This ESPN video looks at a possible free-agent fit for the division.

The Jets don’t believe Josh Cribbs is recovered from a knee injury. He has visited with four teams in the past week, including Oakland. It will be interesting to see of the Raiders feel the same way.

Earlier Tuesday, we examined whether Charles Woodson would fit in the AFC West. We might be talking about the subject more.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that the Denver Broncos will visit with the safety this week.

The interest makes sense. The Broncos could use help at safety, and Woodson would provide strong leadership. The future hall of famer is 36. Denver coach John Fox has long valued veterans. I wouldn’t be shocked if an accord is reached between Denver and Woodson.

Meanwhile, a Denver source said the Broncos are not interested in former Chicago middle linebacker Brian Urlacher at this time. There was a report out of Chicago on Tuesday that said the Broncos were talking to Urlacher.

In other AFC West notes:

The Cardinals are visiting with left tackle Max Starks. He visited with the Chargers last week and is considered the best left tackle on the market. The Chargers badly need a left tackle.

The Chiefs are visiting with defensive lineman Ryan McBean. He is a rotational player.

As expected, left tackle Branden Albert is working with the Chiefs for the first time this offseason. Th sides are trying to get a long-term deal done.

The Eagles will honor former quarterback Donovan McNabb on Sept. 19 when they host the Chiefs and former Eagles’ coach Andy Reid. Reid drafted McNabb in his first year in Philadelphia.

John Elway the quarterback won two Super Bowl rings with Alex Gibbs directing his offensive line. Now, Elway the executive hopes Gibbs can help the Denver Broncos win another ring.

The Broncos have brought Gibbs out of retirement to serve as a consultant for their offensive line. He will work with offensive line coach Dave Magazu. The two have worked together in the past.

The team is bringing in Gibbs, 72, primarily to work with the younger linemen, those players who often don’t get a lot of repetitions. Gibbs will be in charge of helping them with technique.

Gibbs is known as an authority on the zone-blocking scheme. He was the Broncos’ offensive line coach from 1995 to 2003, when the team excelled using the scheme. Denver now uses more of a power-blocking scheme with some zone-blocking influences. That will not change.

For the second time in his short tenure as the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio last month saw the team take a defensive lineman with its first draft pick, stealing North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams at No. 28. (Williams was expected to be a top-20 pick.)

Last year, Denver traded down and took defensive lineman Derek Wolfe out of Cincinnati. The versatile Wolfe was a mainstay as a rookie, and he looks to have a promising career ahead of him.

Del Rio knows these two players are major building blocks for his defense. And while they are different types of players, Del Rio expects both to have huge roles.

“Both of these young men, you’ve watched them come in the building -- they both have approached it very similarly,” Del Rio said. “Come in kind of determined, serious, mature in their approach. I think you’re going to see Sylvester be able to come in and impact us in a similar way [as Wolfe did last year], but he has a little bit more in front of him. Terrance Knighton can play and [Kevin Vickerson] can play. So he has to come in and earn and fight for his time, much like Derek did last year with [Robert Ayers] and Jason Hunter. You never know how it’s going to play out, but when you come in with that mentality and that approach, that gives you a chance. That is what I like about the way he’s started here, that he’s come in here very determined, very serious, very mature, very much about his business. That is good for all of us.”

We found something Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is not very good at.

ESPN’s Playbook offers this amusing video of the Broncos’ star trying to sign Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues” with country star Luke Bryan during Manning's recent Children's Hospital gala in Indianapolis. The event earned more than $1 million for the hospital.

Enjoy … Bryan’s voice.

Robert Ayers is getting a chance to start again in Denver. He is not taking the chance for granted.

The former first-round draft pick didn’t start at all last season after starting 23 games in the two previous seasons combined. With Elvis Dumervil gone in free agency, Ayers will get the chance to play in Denver’s base defense. He said he learned from last year’s experience.

“It definitely made me mature a lot,” Ayers told reporters in Denver. “Of course it wasn’t an ideal situation I would’ve wanted to be in, to where I’m not starting, I’m not playing like I wanted to. But I learned a lot. I was able to sit back and watch the game unfold. When I was able to go in, I was able to see tendencies from other people that they were already doing. If I see Elvis is doing a certain thing, I know when I come in, maybe the offensive tackle didn’t deal with that well. So I have a head start on what I can do when I get ready to go in.

"I was able to have some success when I went in. I learned a lot from Von [Miller], too. That was my thing -- regardless of that it’s not a situation that I wanted to be in, I want to win this ring. That’s what I was trying to do. So I knew when I got the opportunity, I was going to try to play [lights] out. That really was my focus last year.”

Ayers said he was focused on becoming a starter again as soon as Dumervil left for Baltimore this spring. Ayers, who has been solid as a run defender, knows he has had an average career after being the No. 18 overall pick in 2009. He knows this year is big for him. He is a free agent after the season.

“I’m not satisfied with any of it,” Ayers said of his career thus far. “There’s a lot that I feel like I should’ve done. Whether it be because of my maturity level or opportunity or whatever, point blank, period, I didn’t do the things I wanted to do coming into this league. This year is an opportunity for me to try to get back on track to where I want to be. That’s what I’m focusing on. This is a big year for me and a big year for this team. I’m looking forward to doing big things. That’s all I’m really focusing on is this year, and the past four years are a lot of motivation.”

Peyton Manning has become known as quite the prankster during his time in Denver.

He has become famous for changing the language preference on teammates’ cell phones. He duped receiver Eric Decker into thinking he was being charged for a workout session at Duke this spring. In fact, right tackle Orlando Franklin estimates the quarterback has pulled a fast one on every member of the offense.

Tuesday night, it was Franklin’s turn as Manning’s victim. Apparently, Manning directed Decker to shove a cream pie in Franklin’s face while he was being interviewed at the Colorado Rockies-New York Yankees game. Manning rented a bus and brought 30 teammates to watch the game from the owners’ suite.

It was Franklin’s first baseball game and he was treated like a player who had just hit a walk-off home run.

“Peyton and Decker, they got me real well last night,” Franklin told reporters in Denver on Wednesday. “I’m definitely looking forward to revenge at this point. I wasn’t really paying attention to it. That was stupid on my behalf, but like I said I’m looking forward to getting those guys back. I think a lot of guys are going to jump at that opportunity. So we’ve just got to plan something out real well for him and get him when it counts.”

Count tight end Joel Dreessen among those who want to get Manning back. His cell phone fell prey to Manning last season. Dreessen thought he had Manning once, but he panicked and admitted it to the quarterback.

“I tried to get him back. He was charging his iPad at my locker so I set a dog barking alarm to go off at like 2:00 in the morning,” Dreesen said. “[I thought] for sure -- he’s a study maniac -- he’s going to take his iPad home but he leaves it at my locker overnight. I got home that night and I was like, ‘Man, he’s got twin babies and I don’t want to wake his wife up.’ So I totally chickened out and I texted him that night, ‘Hey, I set your iPad to go off at 2:00 in the morning. Turn it off.’ He’s like, ‘Actually, I didn’t bring it home.’ So he shoves it in my stomach the next day: ‘Hey, take this alarm off of there.’ So I turned it off. I chickened out though. I regret that; I should have left it on.”

So, it seems Manning is still undefeated in the Denver locker room.

Many fans were surprised when the Denver Broncos took Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball over Alabama running back Eddie Lacy in the second round of the NFL draft.

So, it was no shock that the question was broached when Denver decision-makers John Elway and Matt Russell held a conference call with some fans Tuesday.

“We liked both these backs, we had them very similar on the board," the Denver Post reported that Russell said during the call. "The issue with Eddie Lacy was we were worried about a toe injury that he had, which is probably what caused him to slip. And we really felt great about Montee Ball. We feel we have a career back in Montee Ball."

Elway told fans that Ball reminded him of the running back Elway won two Super Bowls with as a player -- Terrell Davis. Interestingly, Ball said at the NFL combine that the player he modeled his game after was, indeed, Davis.

In other AFC West notes:

The Chargers have “parted ways’ with one of the undrafted free agents they had agreed upon a deal with.

NFL.com took a look at Oakland’s draft.

Here is a look at the mandatory minicamp schedule for all NFL teams. All four AFC West teams will hold the camps in June.

 

The Denver Broncos are adding an interesting name in the front office.

The NFL Network is reporting the Broncos are adding former Philadelphia and Cleveland executive Tom Heckert to the front office, the team did not renew the contract of personnel man Keith Kidd. Heckert will likely fill Kidd's role.

Heckert will not have a position of major power in Denver with John Elway leading the football operations and Matt Russell also playing a key role.

But Heckert does give the Broncos value because of his experience as a decision maker. He was a longtime successful personnel man in Philadelphia and he spent the past three years as the general manager in Cleveland.

Now that the NFL draft has wrapped, the rosters are essentially set for each AFC West team heading into the 2013 season. Sure, each team will make some tweaks, but the heavy lifting has been done.

Let’s take a look at the offseason and where each AFC West team stands:

Denver Broncos

What was good about the offseason? Denver went 13-3 in 2012 and followed up by adding several terrific pieces in free agency and the draft. There aren’t a ton of glaring holes on this team. The Broncos are strong in all phases of the game. And they upgraded in some big ways. Of course, the big prize was slot-receiving star Wes Welker in free agency. He makes Denver’s passing offense even more dangerous. But Denver also upgraded the roster by adding cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, guard Louis Vasquez and pass-rusher Shaun Phillips in free agency and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and running back Montee Ball via the draft.

What was bad about the offseason? The lone blemish on Denver’s offseason was the bizarre departure of pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil was set to return before the infamous fax-machine gaffe paved the way for him to go to Baltimore. Denver signed Phillips and drafted Quanterus Smith in the fifth round. Phillips will probably be a situational player and Robert Ayers will probably start in Dumervil’s old spot. Smith was leading the nation in sacks last season for Western Kentucky when he tore an anterior cruciate ligament. He is expected to be ready for training camp. The Broncos will miss Dumervil, but they think they got enough help for Von Miller.

How should they feel moving forward? The Broncos should believe they are ready to make a Super Bowl run. Is Denver flawless? Certainly not, but no NFL team is these days. Denver did enough in the offseason to be considered one of the better teams in the league.

Kansas City Chiefs

What was good about the offseason? A horrible 2-14 mark in 2012 seems like a long time ago. The Chiefs upgraded with the hiring of Andy Reid as coach and John Dorsey as general manager. Then they added quarterback Alex Smith -- the best quarterback available in the offseason, including the draft -- and several other pieces on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs' roster was already solid and it got better; what the Chiefs lacked was coaching and quarterback play. Meanwhile, the signing of cornerbacks Dunta Robinson and Sean Smith could, in combination with holdover Brandon Flowers, give Kansas City the best cornerback group in the NFL.

What was bad about the offseason? The situation with left tackle Branden Albert should be resolved by now. He will probably stay with the team and No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher will play right tackle. The Chiefs tried to trade Albert, who was given and has signed the franchise tag, but a deal fell through with the Dolphins. A swap could still happen but more likely, Albert will return. The team is interested in signing him to a long-term deal and keeping both him and Fisher, but questions remain. In a clean offseason, this has been the one sticky situation.

How should they feel moving forward? The Chiefs should feel great. There are few holes on this team. How many squads coming off a 2-14 season can say that? I’m not sure the Chiefs are playoff contenders. It depends on how Smith fits with the offense and how quickly the defense comes together. But this team should be much improved. Reid’s program is on the right track.

Oakland Raiders

What was good about the offseason? The Raiders had a good draft. General manager Reggie McKenzie worked the process well, turning seven picks into 10. Because this outfit is being totally rebuilt, I would not be shocked if all 10 draft picks made the 53-man roster. Oakland's first-round pick, cornerback D.J. Hayden, and its third-round pick, linebacker Sio Moore, have a chance to start right away and make an impact. Adding Hayden to free-agent signees Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins is a big upgrade at the cornerback spot. The linebacking crew has a chance to be better too.

What was bad about the offseason? Salary-cap problems made it very difficult for Oakland. It had to cut several players, including defensive back Michael Huff and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey; it traded quarterback Carson Palmer; and it saw solid free agents like Philip Wheeler, Brandon Myers, Shane Lechler and Desmond Bryant go elsewhere. The Raiders did the best they could under the circumstances, but a lot of talent left the team.

How should they feel moving forward? The Raiders should feel like a work in progress. The NFL has become a quick-turnaround league. That is not, however, likely to happen in Oakland this year -- the Raiders are probably a three-year project. McKenzie tore it down and is starting to build it up. The Raiders have made their salary-cap situation right for the future and have some promising players. But if the Raiders made a playoff push this year, it would be a major surprise.

San Diego Chargers

What was good about the offseason? The Chargers had a great draft -- arguably the best in the league. They drafted right tackle D.J. Fluker in the first round, inside linebacker Manti Te'o in the second round and receiver Keenan Allen in the third. All three were considered first-round talents and should start this fall. The franchise is headed in a new direction, and these players will have paved the way. The Chargers also added some nice pieces in free agency in the form of cornerback Derek Cox, running back Danny Woodhead and guard Chad Rinehart.

What was bad about the offseason? Yes, the Chargers did have some success in free agency, but because of salary-cap worries, they didn’t do too much. The Chargers need an infusion of talent, and free agency didn’t solve all the problems. The offensive line in particular is still a work in progress. They badly need a left tackle with few options available. That's a problem.

How should they feel moving forward? The solid draft gives the Chargers some good vibes heading into the summer. But this is not a complete roster. The offensive line is not great, and there are some concerns in the secondary. Yes, the Chargers are improving. But as with Oakland, the promise may be more long term than immediate.