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Catching up on some Denver-related headlines:

In a radio interview, former Denver star tight end Shannon Sharpe said he isn’t going to let the fact that he didn’t make the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second straight year get him down.

“I’m not going to let the final validation, which would be the Hall of Fame, try to convince me otherwise that I wasn’t a good football player,” Sharpe said. He also said he doesn’t believe the Hall of fame voting committee values tight ends.

I have a problem with that notion. It’s a necessary position on the field and Sharpe was one of the best tight ends ever to play. He shouldn’t be penalized for it.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post is reporting former Denver star linebacker Bill Romanowski will interview for the strength and conditioning coaching job with the Redskins. It would reunite Romanowski with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Romanowski tried to get a similar job in Denver last year but the team was not interested. Romanowski is an admitted former steroid user.

My official reaction on what would be a big NFC East story: Are you kidding me?

Last year was a wild offseason in the AFC West. It could be just as dramatic in the division this year.

I was watching ESPN’s "NFL Live" earlier Tuesday and senior writer John Clayton was running down what he believes will be among the biggest stories in the NFL this offseason. Yes, the AFC West played had some major roles in Clayton’s segment.

Clayton addressed six potential storylines. The AFC West could play a role in as many as five of them. Let’s recap Clayton’s story lines that could/will affect the AFC West:

Richard Seymour: This is Clayton’s No.5 story of the offseason. Seymour is an unrestricted free agent. Oakland may have to give him the franchise tag to keep him. If a long-term deal (Seymour said preliminary talks have begun) can’t be finalized, the Raiders will likely have to give Seymour the franchise tag. Oakland gave up a first-round pick in 2011 to get Seymour. It doesn’t have a choice but to keep him.

Brandon Marshall: This is Clayton’s No. 4 story of the offseason. Marshall will probably be a restricted free agent. Denver will probably trade him.

Julius Peppers: This is Clayton’s No. 3 story. The Carolina pass-rusher will likely hit the open market. Denver and Kansas City -- and perhaps San Diego -- could make a run at him.

Donovan McNabb: This is Clayton’s No. 2 story. ESPN has reported Denver has had multiple talks with Philadelphia about McNabb. That would be a blockbuster.

LaDainian Tomlinson: Clayton also touched on Tomlinson’s situation. San Diego is expected to cut him soon. Clayton said Denver may be one of two (along with Houston) landing spots for Tomlinson. It would kill San Diego fans to see Tomlinson end his career in Denver.

We look forward to monitoring these stories in what is shaping up to be a busy offseason in the division.

Here’s another reason why the Oakland Raiders need to re-sign Bruce Gradkowski and, at least, give him a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job: He really wants to turn around the team’s fortunes.

Gradkowski is a fierce competitor and he has a great hunger to be successful. We all saw that when he replaced a bumbling JaMarcus Russell late in the season. Gradkowski, an NFL journeyman, gave Oakland instant life before he was hurt in December and lost for the rest of the season.

Gradkowski was clutch as he beat Pittsburgh in the final seconds. Although he is not graced with superior athletic ability, Gradkowski is a gamer whose teammates responded to him. The Oakland offense had an incredible amount of energy and vigor with Gradkowski compared to its lack of spunk under the guidance of Russell.

Gradkowski will likely be a restricted free agent. But he is not interested in playing the field anymore.

He knows he has a good thing going in Oakland. He knows it’s his best chance for NFL success. Here is some of what he had to say in an interview with the Toledo Blade over the weekend: "I plan to be back with the Raiders. I think everything will work out, and I'm looking forward to it. We did a lot of good things this year and I'm looking forward to next season."

I fully expect Oakland to keep Gradkowski. The team also needs to give him a chance to compete in training camp.

It looks more and more like Russell will be kept and given one more chance to show he can be productive. The Raiders hope Russell comes back to the offseason program in better shape and with better fundamentals.

We all know Gradkowski will report raring to go. Russell may be more talented, but Gradkowski has shown he’s a better fit in Oakland and he wants it more. This weekend’s comments just reaffirms that Gradkowski needs to be in the mix in Oakland.

Our question this week is for Denver fans: Do you want Donovan McNabb?

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio has reported that the Broncos are one of three teams to have multiple conversations with the Eagles about acquiring McNabb.

Do you like that idea? Do you think McNabb, 33, could help Denver? Do you think the Broncos even need to replace Kyle Orton? What do you want Denver to do at quarterback?

Hit my mailbag with your thoughts. I will post some of your responses later in the week.

Kansas City cut linebackers Weston Dacus and Justin Rogers on Monday.

Dacus was on the injured reserve all of the 2009 season after playing in eight games as a rookie free agent in 2008. Rogers played in one game in 2009.

Denver signed running back Bruce Hall on Monday. He spent most of the past two seasons on Buffalo’s practice squad and was with new Denver running backs coach Eric Studesville. Hall also played for two seasons at Mississippi.

Oakland announced the hiring of former Kansas City defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. He will work with the secondary. ESPN’s John Clayton reported Pendergast's hiring in Oakland on Saturday.

Are the Denver Broncos going to make earth-shattering news at the quarterback position for the second straight year?

It seems as if they are considering it.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reports that Denver is one of three teams that have had multiple conversations with the Eagles about the availability of quarterback Donovan McNabb. The other two teams are Buffalo and Cleveland.

Very interesting.

Denver coach Josh McDaniels showed last year he is not afraid to make blockbuster moves and he is open to anything. McDaniels shipped 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to Chicago last season after he tried to get Matt Cassel from New England.

Denver received quarterback Kyle Orton as part of the Cutler trade with Chicago. Orton was decent last year. He is likely going to be a free agent. This weekend, Denver owner Pat Bowlen said he would like to keep Orton.

However, it seems the Broncos are at least exploring the idea of adding McNabb. There will be plenty developments in the next several weeks before the trading and free agency season begins. But the fact that McDaniels is thinking about bringing in an elite quarterback doesn’t surprise me.

Still, I’m not sure if McNabb is the perfect fit for Denver. He is 33 and has been banged up. While he is a better player than Orton, would McNabb be the difference-maker in Denver? I don’t think Denver is just a quarterback away from being a legitimate title contender. The Broncos have other issues.

If McNabb came cheaply, maybe Denver should consider it. But he is not worth up giving up a bevy of draft picks at this point of his career. This team has to continue to build. Adding a fading star may not be the smartest move. But, it seems, it is an idea that is being mulled as McDaniels continues to look for the right quarterback in Denver.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is providing more evidence that Oakland coach Tom Cable will return to the team.

Schefter reports that Oakland assistant coaches are telling players that the staff will return. Schefter reported last month that Cable will be back and Cable went on a Sacramento radio station saying he expects to return.

Plus, Oakland has hired three new assistant coaches. Still, the Raiders have yet to confirm Cable will be back for his second full season with the team.

Yet, the evidence continues to pile up.

Last week, our sound-off question was whether San Diego fans were happy for former Chargers quarterback Drew Brees getting a chance to win a Super Bowl. Most of the responses were in favor of the idea.

However, Monday, the tune has changed somewhat. In the hours after Brees led New Orleans to its first Super Bowl win (which is one more than San Diego has) in which he was named the MVP, my mailbag was flooded by San Diego fans.

They are frustrated that Brees was allowed to leave San Diego after the 2005 season as a free agent. I know it can be difficult to see a former player go on and have success, but this a different situation.

While Brees has gone on to have the ultimate success after playing in San Diego, it’s not like the Chargers are in bad shape at the position.

Philip Rivers is the face of the franchise. He is an elite quarterback. At 28, he is getting better. He will keep San Diego competitive for the next several years.

San Diego fans have to know that. Don’t let the Brees victory make you get down on the team’s quarterback situation. San Diego will be fine.

So, go back to your pre-game vow and be happy for Brees.

Raiders fans will get a chance to talk to famous Raiders fan Ice Cube on Monday.

The rapper/actor/film maker will participate in an ESPN chat Monday at 4 p.m. ET. The chat is part of ESPN’s Black History Month celebration.

Ice Cube directed an ESPN 30 for 30 film on the Los Angles Raiders and the team’s affect on the city. The film, “Straight Outta L.A.," is set to air May 4.

The chat is a great opportunity for Raiders fans to discuss the film with Ice Cube. Still, this opportunity isn’t relegated just to Oakland fans. Ice Cube is a huge NFL fan in general and will be open to talk about several topics.

Congratulations to Kansas City guard Brian Waters.

He won the NFL Man of the Year award.

This is a big deal, folks.

The award goes to a player who both excels on the field and in the community. It is a coveted award and it is the most prestigious service award given to a player. Waters is the fifth Kansas City player to win the award. No team has had as many winners.

The friendly, kind Waters is well deserving of the award. Here is a look at his extensive charitable work.

Congrats again, Mr. Waters.

It appears the Brandon Marshall situation this offseason will be handled above board by both parties.

Days after the Pro Bowl receiver blamed his 2009 issues on himself and indicated he was open to returning to the team, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said he believes the talented but troubled Marshall is maturing and that he’d like Marshall to stay.

So, Marshall is saying the right things and so is the owner. This is all setting up for a nice, clean split.

We all know Marshall is likely heading to a divorce from Denver. Too much has happened in the past for this relationship to continue.

The fact that everyone is playing nice will allow both sides to accommodate a trade. It also a message to other teams that Marshall is not a lost cause.

Whatever works. Getting along during a split is better than the alternative.

The AFC West had four chances to be represented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Only Floyd Little made it.

Let’s look at the other three people who didn’t get voted in:

Oakland receiver Tim Brown

What happened: He didn’t make it to the final 10.

Why: There is a glut of receivers. With Jerry Rice (who spent four years in Oakland and who retired while with Denver) a shoo-in, Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed suffered.

Will he get in? Sure, but it may take some time. Carter has been waiting three years and he and Reed will likely get in before Brown.

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San Diego coach Don Coryell

What happened: He didn’t make it to the final 10.

Why: This was a very stacked class. Ultimately, getting a coach in who never went to the Super Bowl was too difficult of a task.

Will he get in? Maybe someday, but it may be difficult.

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Denver tight end Shannon Sharpe

What happened: He made it to the list of 10, but didn’t make the final cut.

Why: Like Brown, Sharpe suffered because of the logjam of receivers. Many voters considered him a receiver even though he was a tight end.

Will he get in? He has to, doesn’t he? I’ve been surprised that Sharpe didn’t make it in both years of his eligibility.

Before John Elway became the unofficial governor of Colorado, there was Floyd Little.

He was the face of the Denver Broncos long before Elway developed his rocket arm. Now Little joins his Denver successor in Canton, Ohio.

In what was likely his final chance to be immortalized, the former Broncos running back was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a senior committee nominee after a 30-year wait. Had he not been elected Saturday, there was no guarantee Little would ever be considered for enshrinement again. He joins Elway and tackle Gary Zimmerman as Denver players in the Hall of Fame.

While the team’s excitement was tempered by the failed candidacy of tight end Shannon Sharpe, the franchise was still ecstatic about Little’s induction.

Getting Little into the Hall of Fame was a mission for the franchise. Little thanked several members of the organization Saturday for their continual pursuit to get him enshrined.

“Floyd has made immeasurable contributions to this franchise and the NFL, and he deservedly will take his place among the greatest to play this game in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Denver owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement released by the team.

The bow-legged Little carried the franchise on his back. By far the best player on some bad teams, Little, who played from 1967-75, never made it to the playoffs.

He ranked seventh in the NFL in all-time rushing with 6,323 yards when he retired and trailed only O.J. Simpson in rushing yards in that period. Little was a star for a franchise that didn’t truly find its way until several years after he retired and was the first face of the Broncos.

Saturday, he was finally rewarded for it.

I just received a call from ESPN’s John Clayton to inform me that Oakland has hired former Kansas City defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast to coach the defensive backs.

Pendergast was replaced by Romeo Crennel as the Chiefs defensive coordinator last month. Initially, Kansas City coach Todd Haley said he was interested in keeping Pendergast on the staff. But last week, the team and Pendergast parted ways.

Oakland has not announced the Pendergast hire. On the team’s Web site, Lionel Washington is listed as the defensive backs coach.

Pendergast is a quality coach and he will add good experience on the Raiders’ staff. He is innovator and he is known for his work with defensive backs. He is the third coach added to the Oakland staff, joining new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and defensive line coach Mike Waufle.

The team has not said whether head coach Tom Cable will be back or not, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he will return.

This is a nice addition for Oakland as Pendergast moves West in the AFC West.

Catching up on a Friday night:

• In a radio interview, San Diego tight end Antonio Gates agrees with LaDainian Tomlinson that the Chargers have too many young players who have their own agendas. It’s an interesting theory as San Diego tries to find reasons to come to grips with its early exit from the playoffs.

• Also in a radio interview, San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman reiterates that he wants to stay in San Diego. He will likely be a restricted free agent and he could be lost in the shuffle of a busy offseason for the Chargers.

• Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli tells the Kansas City Star about his offseason philosophy. Pioli said the Chiefs will not sign big-name players just for the sake of doing it. He said the team must be smart. It’s difficult to argue with being smart, but the truth is, Kansas City needs an influx of talent, whether are carry “big” names or not.