AFC West: Andy Dalton
Receiver: Manning 'leading everything'
April, 19, 2012
Apr 19
7:00
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
If anyone has any questions of whether Peyton Manning has yet to take control of the Denver Broncos’ offense, rest easy.
Check out the words of new Denver receiver Andre Caldwell, in comments distributed by the team Thursday: “He’s literally leading everything. He’s setting us up, putting us in the right positions. He’s not running the drills — definitely he and [Eric] Decker go hand-in-hand with that — but he’s pretty much the leader in everything else.”
Caldwell is loving what he has seen from Manning, who missed all of last season with a neck injury. However, Caldwell has echoed the sentiment of so many other people who have worked out with Manning or watched him work out recently: The man’s on point.
“He looks great,” Caldwell said. “He looks ready to go. I’d go to war with him any day right now, so he looks fine and healthy to me.”
Caldwell signed with Denver as a free agent from Cincinnati. He noted the difference between starting the season with a veteran like Manning as opposed to rookie Andy Dalton last season with the Bengals.
“It’s a big difference,” Caldwell said. “The quarterback had to get adjusted to us [last year], but instead, Peyton is leading us. He’s showing us all the drills we need to do. He’s ahead of everybody, and he’s just our leader. Being with a rookie last year, our leader was on the O-line. This year it’s the quarterback. He’s leading everything that he does.”
Check out the words of new Denver receiver Andre Caldwell, in comments distributed by the team Thursday: “He’s literally leading everything. He’s setting us up, putting us in the right positions. He’s not running the drills — definitely he and [Eric] Decker go hand-in-hand with that — but he’s pretty much the leader in everything else.”
Caldwell is loving what he has seen from Manning, who missed all of last season with a neck injury. However, Caldwell has echoed the sentiment of so many other people who have worked out with Manning or watched him work out recently: The man’s on point.
“He looks great,” Caldwell said. “He looks ready to go. I’d go to war with him any day right now, so he looks fine and healthy to me.”
Caldwell signed with Denver as a free agent from Cincinnati. He noted the difference between starting the season with a veteran like Manning as opposed to rookie Andy Dalton last season with the Bengals.
“It’s a big difference,” Caldwell said. “The quarterback had to get adjusted to us [last year], but instead, Peyton is leading us. He’s showing us all the drills we need to do. He’s ahead of everybody, and he’s just our leader. Being with a rookie last year, our leader was on the O-line. This year it’s the quarterback. He’s leading everything that he does.”
Weekend mail call:
Dan from Virginia Beach, Va. wants to know if Oakland guard Stefen Wisniewski will get any love for offensive rookie of the year.
Bill Williamson: No chance. It will be Carolina quarterback Cam Newton or Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. That, though, doesn’t mean Wisniewski hasn’t had a good year. He’s been terrific and he had the look of a 10-12 year stalwart on Oakland’s line. He is smart beyond his years and he looks incredibly comfortable on the field. He was a great pick at No. 48.
Patrick from Phoenix wants to know if Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is in danger of losing his job because the Broncos gave up 81 points in the past two games.
BW: No chance at all. It would be a fallacy to pin Denver’s two-game losing streak on the defense. Against New England, the Denver offense fumbled three times in its territory in one quarter. The Denver defense held the Patriots to two field goals and a touchdown after the offensive miscues. At Buffalo, Denver allowed two interception returns for scores and a punt return for a score. The defense gave up one touchdown and four field goals. The defense is not the problem and Allen has a bright future.
James from La. wants to know if the Chargers will go after a high-dollar coach.
BW: The big-money coaches who will be available are Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden. Each coach has been connected to the San Diego job. They would be very pricey and I’m not sure San Diego ownership wants to go that route. But if the Chargers think they are a coach away from getting their Super Bowl and new stadium dreams answered, it could be worth it.
Dan from Virginia Beach, Va. wants to know if Oakland guard Stefen Wisniewski will get any love for offensive rookie of the year.
Bill Williamson: No chance. It will be Carolina quarterback Cam Newton or Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. That, though, doesn’t mean Wisniewski hasn’t had a good year. He’s been terrific and he had the look of a 10-12 year stalwart on Oakland’s line. He is smart beyond his years and he looks incredibly comfortable on the field. He was a great pick at No. 48.
Patrick from Phoenix wants to know if Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is in danger of losing his job because the Broncos gave up 81 points in the past two games.
BW: No chance at all. It would be a fallacy to pin Denver’s two-game losing streak on the defense. Against New England, the Denver offense fumbled three times in its territory in one quarter. The Denver defense held the Patriots to two field goals and a touchdown after the offensive miscues. At Buffalo, Denver allowed two interception returns for scores and a punt return for a score. The defense gave up one touchdown and four field goals. The defense is not the problem and Allen has a bright future.
James from La. wants to know if the Chargers will go after a high-dollar coach.
BW: The big-money coaches who will be available are Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden. Each coach has been connected to the San Diego job. They would be very pricey and I’m not sure San Diego ownership wants to go that route. But if the Chargers think they are a coach away from getting their Super Bowl and new stadium dreams answered, it could be worth it.
Here are a few more thoughts I have on Tuesday’s Pro Bowl selections:
I’ve heard a lot in the past several hours since the AFC Pro Bowl team was announced that Philip Rivers was an undeserving selection on the team and Tim Tebow may have been snubbed.
I have a difficult time believing either theory.
Rivers is one of three quarterbacks to have made the AFC team -- joining New England’s Tom Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.
Yes, Rivers had a down season for him, but he also did accomplish some nice things. He has thrown for 4,314 yards, which is the second most in the conference behind Brady. Rivers did thr0w 19 interceptions, but he threw just two interceptions in the final five games.
It may have not been Rivers’ best season, but his selection to the Pro Bowl roster is not farfetched.
Tebow is the No. 2 alternate behind Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton. There is a solid chance he could make it to Hawaii because quarterbacks often bow out.
I think Tebow should be thrilled with his slotting. He simply didn’t play even and do enough to be among the top three quarterbacks in the division. He took over as the starter in the sixth game, and at 7-3 as the Broncos’ starter, has them on the cusp of the division title. He hasn’t been Pro Bowl-good, though.
Meanwhile, Brian Waters has made the Chiefs looked bad. Waters was cut this summer because the Chiefs thought he was over the hill.
After being a late addition to New England, Water has played brilliantly and he earned his spot as a Pro Bowl starter at the age of 34. Waters is a class act and he is a leader. He was a locker-room favorite in Kansas City and he is a favorite in New England as well.
I’ve heard a lot in the past several hours since the AFC Pro Bowl team was announced that Philip Rivers was an undeserving selection on the team and Tim Tebow may have been snubbed.
I have a difficult time believing either theory.
Rivers is one of three quarterbacks to have made the AFC team -- joining New England’s Tom Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.
Yes, Rivers had a down season for him, but he also did accomplish some nice things. He has thrown for 4,314 yards, which is the second most in the conference behind Brady. Rivers did thr0w 19 interceptions, but he threw just two interceptions in the final five games.
It may have not been Rivers’ best season, but his selection to the Pro Bowl roster is not farfetched.
Tebow is the No. 2 alternate behind Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton. There is a solid chance he could make it to Hawaii because quarterbacks often bow out.
I think Tebow should be thrilled with his slotting. He simply didn’t play even and do enough to be among the top three quarterbacks in the division. He took over as the starter in the sixth game, and at 7-3 as the Broncos’ starter, has them on the cusp of the division title. He hasn’t been Pro Bowl-good, though.
Meanwhile, Brian Waters has made the Chiefs looked bad. Waters was cut this summer because the Chiefs thought he was over the hill.
After being a late addition to New England, Water has played brilliantly and he earned his spot as a Pro Bowl starter at the age of 34. Waters is a class act and he is a leader. He was a locker-room favorite in Kansas City and he is a favorite in New England as well.
Carson Palmer is displaying a big arm
November, 30, 2011
11/30/11
8:00
AM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Anyone who was concerned about the arm strength of Carson Palmer shouldn’t worry.
Since he became the Raiders’ starter in Week 9, Palmer has been one of the more successful deep passers in the NFL. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Palmer has completed nine throws of 21-plus yards. Only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton (who replaced Palmer), with 10 each, have completed more passes on such throws during that span.
Meanwhile, one of Palmer’s favorite deep targets in Oakland, rookie Denarius Moore, is one of six receivers in the NFL this season who have not dropped a pass, according to Stats & Info.
The fifth-round pick has been targeted 53 times and has 24 catches without a drop. Expect Palmer to try to find Moore as much as possible Sunday at Miami as the 7-4 Raiders try to improve to 5-1 on the road. Oakland hasn’t had a winning record on the road since 2002, the last time it made the playoffs.
Since he became the Raiders’ starter in Week 9, Palmer has been one of the more successful deep passers in the NFL. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Palmer has completed nine throws of 21-plus yards. Only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton (who replaced Palmer), with 10 each, have completed more passes on such throws during that span.
Meanwhile, one of Palmer’s favorite deep targets in Oakland, rookie Denarius Moore, is one of six receivers in the NFL this season who have not dropped a pass, according to Stats & Info.
The fifth-round pick has been targeted 53 times and has 24 catches without a drop. Expect Palmer to try to find Moore as much as possible Sunday at Miami as the 7-4 Raiders try to improve to 5-1 on the road. Oakland hasn’t had a winning record on the road since 2002, the last time it made the playoffs.
Time for Elway to think post-Tebow
October, 30, 2011
10/30/11
11:02
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
AP Photo/Jack DempseyDespite Tim Tebow's popularity with fans, Denver must start considering alternatives at quarterback.It is clear the Denver Broncos' quarterback of the future is not on the current roster. It must be Elway's primary job to start making plans to fix the problem in Denver. The first step is to realize Tebow probably is not going to be the answer.
Whether it’s figuring out a way to land Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck via a trade (Denver looks like it is on its way to a top-five pick, but it might have difficultly stinking enough to get the No. 1 pick), zoning in on USC’s Matt Barkley or Oklahoma’s Landry Jones, or even considering pursuing injured Raiders veteran Jason Campbell as a short-term answer in free agency, Elway must start his post-Tebow game plan.
I hate to jump to early conclusions, but it is safe to say Tebow currently is far from being a competent NFL quarterback and that the Broncos have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL.
It was all there to see in blue and orange for the home folks Sunday during the Broncos’ 45-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. Tebow was terribly ineffective all game, and the Broncos were overmatched. The patented Tim Tebow spark? Nowhere to be found. Denver was lethargic on both sides of the ball all game.
There was no wild comeback for Tebow after a mostly bad performance like last week's against the inept Dolphins. Instead of playing poorly for 55 minutes before turning on the jets, Tebow was consistently bad for an entire game Sunday.
There was no playmaking. All we saw were badly overthrown passes, late decision-making and wild scrambles that netted little. Need statistical proof? Tebow was 18-of-39 passing for 172 yards. The Broncos had seven straight three-and-out drives, and Tebow had an interception and a fumble that were brought back for Detroit touchdowns.
“We are embarrassed,” Denver tight end Daniel Fells said.
Added the always-earnest Tebow: “I’m just going to get up early [Monday] and go to work and try to get better tomorrow and consistently improve and be the best person and quarterback for this organization and continue to improve.”
Broncos coach John Fox was asked after the game who his quarterback will be next week in Oakland. He said he needs to look at the film. Clearly, some of the shine on Tebow has been lost.
I don’t necessarily think Tebow should be pulled now. Is Brady Quinn really the answer? We know Kyle Orton isn’t. Tebow deserves more time, but there is no way the 2-5 Broncos can sit through nine more of these types of games with no offensive rhythm. Fox will lose his veteran players if he continues to start Tebow and if Tebow can’t quickly become a capable player.
“It’s only been two games,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “But we only got 16 games.”
The problem with Tebow is he isn’t showing any signs of improvement as a traditional quarterback, and that’s what the Denver brass wants to see. There is something technically wrong with every snap he takes. The Broncos want Tebow to show them he can be an effective pocket passer in the NFL. Rookie quarterbacks such as Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder already have shown they have the makings of being quality NFL passers. Tebow, the No. 25 pick of the 2010 draft (a pick made by the previous Denver regime), is light years behind those players.
I know the Broncos aren't interested in just rolling out the ball every week, and letting Tebow wing it and try to make something happen.
They worked during the week on his delivery; they altered their game plan to spread out the offense and speed up the tempo to help Tebow. But strides were not made. In Tebow’s past three starts (including Week 17 last season), the Broncos are 0-14 on third-down conversions in the first half of games.
Tebow looks a lot more like a quarterback who is close to losing his job than a quarterback who is ascending.
In the end, I believe, working for Elway will shorten Tebow’s window of opportunity. Elway -- in his first year as the Broncos’ top football decision-maker -- was a Hall of Fame player. Watching that amateurish display on his home field had to worry him. He won’t let this go on forever.
One veteran Broncos player I spoke with Sunday said he understands why Denver’s brass turned to Tebow and why he must be given a chance. But he also wondered when Elway and Fox will lose patience. And there is a feeling in Denver that once fans -- who clamored for Tebow to be made the starter -- see that he is so far from being an NFL-ready quarterback, perhaps the Broncos will be able to move on.
Remember, the Broncos didn’t turn to Tebow because they suddenly felt he was ready to be a star. They turned to him because they were ready to give him a chance. Performances such as Sunday’s must show Elway & Co. that now is the time to start thinking about the future at quarterback in Denver -- and it’s difficult to believe Tebow will be part of it in 2012.
Here are some areas the Denver Broncos need to focus on after a 24-22 home victory against Cincinnati on Sunday:
Recap: That’s the beauty of the NFL. Fortunes and attitudes change weekly. Last week, the Denver Broncos were down after playing sloppy in John Fox’s Denver debut, a Monday night loss to visiting Oakland. Now, the Broncos are in a three-way tie for first place at 1-1 with Oakland and San Diego after the win over Cincinnati. Considering all the injuries Denver had, it has to feel good about this win. The Broncos hung in and played tough down the stretch. Confidence will build from this win.
Biggest area to fix: Last week, the run defense betrayed Fox’s team. That wasn’t much of an issue Sunday as the Bengals averaged 3.6 yards per carry. That’s a good sign. But the rookie quarterback Andy Dalton shredded Denver for 332 passing yards. Yes, Denver was without star cornerback Champ Bailey and pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil. That made a difference. But Dalton had more success that he should have had.
Biggest area to build on: Denver ran the ball just 13 times for 39 yards against Oakland. Without starter Knowshon Moreno, Denver ran the ball well against the Bengals. Willis McGahee had 101 yards on 28 carries. In all, Denver ran for 131 yards. It averaged just 3.6 yards a carry, but it was an improvement. This is sign Fox wants to run the ball as much as possible. Denver won this game doing what Fox wanted to do.
What to watch for: Denver has a winnable game Sunday at Tennessee. The Titans are 1-1. If the Broncos can continue to run the ball and not get gutted on the ground defensively, they have a chance.
Recap: That’s the beauty of the NFL. Fortunes and attitudes change weekly. Last week, the Denver Broncos were down after playing sloppy in John Fox’s Denver debut, a Monday night loss to visiting Oakland. Now, the Broncos are in a three-way tie for first place at 1-1 with Oakland and San Diego after the win over Cincinnati. Considering all the injuries Denver had, it has to feel good about this win. The Broncos hung in and played tough down the stretch. Confidence will build from this win.
Biggest area to fix: Last week, the run defense betrayed Fox’s team. That wasn’t much of an issue Sunday as the Bengals averaged 3.6 yards per carry. That’s a good sign. But the rookie quarterback Andy Dalton shredded Denver for 332 passing yards. Yes, Denver was without star cornerback Champ Bailey and pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil. That made a difference. But Dalton had more success that he should have had.
Biggest area to build on: Denver ran the ball just 13 times for 39 yards against Oakland. Without starter Knowshon Moreno, Denver ran the ball well against the Bengals. Willis McGahee had 101 yards on 28 carries. In all, Denver ran for 131 yards. It averaged just 3.6 yards a carry, but it was an improvement. This is sign Fox wants to run the ball as much as possible. Denver won this game doing what Fox wanted to do.
What to watch for: Denver has a winnable game Sunday at Tennessee. The Titans are 1-1. If the Broncos can continue to run the ball and not get gutted on the ground defensively, they have a chance.
Gradkowski won't start in AFC West return
September, 15, 2011
9/15/11
7:00
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
It doesn’t appear that Bruce Gradkowski will have an AFC West homecoming Sunday.
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said Thursday that he expects rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to start at Denver on Sunday. Dalton left the opener against Cleveland with a wrist injury. Gradkowski spelled him and led the Bengals to a comeback win.
We’ve seen Gradkowski do that before. Gradkowski became a fan favorite in Oakland the past two seasons. Time and again, Gradkowski gave Oakland a boost as a backup. However, he had trouble bottling the same magic when he was a starter.
A favorite of former head coach Tom Cable, the Raiders choose not to pursue bringing back Gradkowski as a free agent this year. Still, he will have a place in Raiders’ history because of the spunk and fire he showed. In the AFC West, we all know if Dalton suffers a setback, Gradkowski will be ready to attack Denver with his spirited play.
In other AFC West developments Thursday:
In an Insider piece, here is hope for the Chiefs after their 34-point home loss to Buffalo in Week 1.
ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported that the appeal of the five-game suspension of Oakland rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor lasted 80 minutes Thursday. Schefter reported that the league is not expected to rule on the appeal any time soon. Pryor is already in the second week of the five-week suspension.
It has been reported that the Raiders are appealing that Sebastian Janikowski’s field goal at Denver was actually 64 yards and not the 63 yards with which he has been credited. That is important. Of course, because Janikowski now shares the record for the longest field goal in NFL history. However, I have checked with some folks who would know if the Raiders are making that push and they said it is not a big issue for the team and that the film shows that it was, indeed, from 63 yards.
Kansas City first-round pick Jon Baldwin didn’t practice Thursday again. He hasn’t practiced in four weeks since he hurt his thumb in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones. There is little chance he’ll play Sunday at Detroit.
ESPN Stats and Information looks at how New England’s Devin McCourty could affect San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers on Sunday.
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said Thursday that he expects rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to start at Denver on Sunday. Dalton left the opener against Cleveland with a wrist injury. Gradkowski spelled him and led the Bengals to a comeback win.
We’ve seen Gradkowski do that before. Gradkowski became a fan favorite in Oakland the past two seasons. Time and again, Gradkowski gave Oakland a boost as a backup. However, he had trouble bottling the same magic when he was a starter.
A favorite of former head coach Tom Cable, the Raiders choose not to pursue bringing back Gradkowski as a free agent this year. Still, he will have a place in Raiders’ history because of the spunk and fire he showed. In the AFC West, we all know if Dalton suffers a setback, Gradkowski will be ready to attack Denver with his spirited play.
In other AFC West developments Thursday:
In an Insider piece, here is hope for the Chiefs after their 34-point home loss to Buffalo in Week 1.
ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported that the appeal of the five-game suspension of Oakland rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor lasted 80 minutes Thursday. Schefter reported that the league is not expected to rule on the appeal any time soon. Pryor is already in the second week of the five-week suspension.
It has been reported that the Raiders are appealing that Sebastian Janikowski’s field goal at Denver was actually 64 yards and not the 63 yards with which he has been credited. That is important. Of course, because Janikowski now shares the record for the longest field goal in NFL history. However, I have checked with some folks who would know if the Raiders are making that push and they said it is not a big issue for the team and that the film shows that it was, indeed, from 63 yards.
Kansas City first-round pick Jon Baldwin didn’t practice Thursday again. He hasn’t practiced in four weeks since he hurt his thumb in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones. There is little chance he’ll play Sunday at Detroit.
ESPN Stats and Information looks at how New England’s Devin McCourty could affect San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers on Sunday.
Here are some of the top players available in the second round:
Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, Texas cornerback Aaron Williams, Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea, UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, Georgia defensive end Justin Houston, Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson, UCLA safety Rahim Moore, Arizona pass-rusher Brooks Reed, North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin and quarterbacks Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.
Denver has the No. 36 and No. 46 picks. Denver coach John Fox said he could see Denver having options to moving up or down from No. 36. Among the players Denver could look at are Paea, Austin and Moore if they keep the No 36 pick.
Bowers is a wild-card. He was considered a potential pick for Denver at No. 2 before he suffered a potentially debilitating knee injury. Bowers, who led the NCAA with 15.5 sacks last season, is talented, but he is a health risk. After taking the pass-rushing Von Miller in the first round, Denver could look elsewhere at No. 36 if Bowers is there. But it could be a worthwhile risk, because of his ability.
Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, Texas cornerback Aaron Williams, Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea, UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, Georgia defensive end Justin Houston, Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson, UCLA safety Rahim Moore, Arizona pass-rusher Brooks Reed, North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin and quarterbacks Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.
Denver has the No. 36 and No. 46 picks. Denver coach John Fox said he could see Denver having options to moving up or down from No. 36. Among the players Denver could look at are Paea, Austin and Moore if they keep the No 36 pick.
Bowers is a wild-card. He was considered a potential pick for Denver at No. 2 before he suffered a potentially debilitating knee injury. Bowers, who led the NCAA with 15.5 sacks last season, is talented, but he is a health risk. After taking the pass-rushing Von Miller in the first round, Denver could look elsewhere at No. 36 if Bowers is there. But it could be a worthwhile risk, because of his ability.
If the Oakland Raiders or Denver Broncos want one of the top-rated quarterbacks, they may want to move quickly.
Auburn’s Cam Newton (No. 1, Carolina), Washington’s Jake Locker (No. 8, Tennessee), Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert (No. 10, Jacksonville) and Florida State’s Christian Ponder (No. 12, Minnesota) all went in the first round.
Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett, TCU’s Andy Dalton and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick should all go in the second round. The Raiders and Broncos (although I don’t expect it), could take one of these players. The Broncos have visited with all three. Denver has the No. 36 and No. 46 picks in the second round. Oakland has the No. 48 pick.
Buffalo (No. 34), Cincinnati (No. 35), Arizona (No. 38), Washington (No. 41) and San Francisco (No. 45) could all take a quarterback.
Here’s a name to consider in the third-through-fifth rounds: Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi. Denver and Kansas City are among the teams that like him.
Auburn’s Cam Newton (No. 1, Carolina), Washington’s Jake Locker (No. 8, Tennessee), Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert (No. 10, Jacksonville) and Florida State’s Christian Ponder (No. 12, Minnesota) all went in the first round.
Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett, TCU’s Andy Dalton and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick should all go in the second round. The Raiders and Broncos (although I don’t expect it), could take one of these players. The Broncos have visited with all three. Denver has the No. 36 and No. 46 picks in the second round. Oakland has the No. 48 pick.
Buffalo (No. 34), Cincinnati (No. 35), Arizona (No. 38), Washington (No. 41) and San Francisco (No. 45) could all take a quarterback.
Here’s a name to consider in the third-through-fifth rounds: Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi. Denver and Kansas City are among the teams that like him.
There is likely no player in the AFC West who is being affected by the extensive lockout more than Denver quarterback Kyle Orton.
That’s why this week has to be so frustrating for everyone involved. If the labor dispute had been resolved, Orton likely would have been traded by now or be traded during the draft, which will be held Thursday through Saturday. Denver was reportedly seeking a second-round pick for Orton. Publicly, Denver’s brass has said it hadn’t decided whether to trade Orton and that he and second-year quarterback Tim Tebow are both in the picture. But in league circles, it was expected that Orton would be dealt.
However, because of the lockout, Orton cannot be traded and he remains in limbo.
This could mean Orton will stay in Denver in 2011. If the lockout extends into training camp or beyond, Denver may feel more comfortable with Orton than Tebow because of his experience and Tebow’s lack of extensive time working with the first-team offense.
Also, it will be more difficult finding a trade partner after the lockout. There could be seven quarterbacks taken in the first two rounds of the draft. That would take away a lot of jobs. If a team takes a player such as Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick or TCU’s Andy Dalton in the second round, it probably wouldn’t invest in Orton.
Once the lockout ends, other veterans such as Philadelphia’s Kevin Kolb and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer could be on the market as well, so there will be competition in a decreased market. The fact that the draft will come and go with Orton unavailable could ultimately result in him staying in Denver.
That’s why this week has to be so frustrating for everyone involved. If the labor dispute had been resolved, Orton likely would have been traded by now or be traded during the draft, which will be held Thursday through Saturday. Denver was reportedly seeking a second-round pick for Orton. Publicly, Denver’s brass has said it hadn’t decided whether to trade Orton and that he and second-year quarterback Tim Tebow are both in the picture. But in league circles, it was expected that Orton would be dealt.
However, because of the lockout, Orton cannot be traded and he remains in limbo.
This could mean Orton will stay in Denver in 2011. If the lockout extends into training camp or beyond, Denver may feel more comfortable with Orton than Tebow because of his experience and Tebow’s lack of extensive time working with the first-team offense.
Also, it will be more difficult finding a trade partner after the lockout. There could be seven quarterbacks taken in the first two rounds of the draft. That would take away a lot of jobs. If a team takes a player such as Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick or TCU’s Andy Dalton in the second round, it probably wouldn’t invest in Orton.
Once the lockout ends, other veterans such as Philadelphia’s Kevin Kolb and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer could be on the market as well, so there will be competition in a decreased market. The fact that the draft will come and go with Orton unavailable could ultimately result in him staying in Denver.
Rookie QB poll results: No clear winner
April, 19, 2011
4/19/11
2:45
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
I want to thank everyone who participated in our SportsNation poll on rookie quarterbacks and the AFC West.
We had a terrific response and an extremely tight race.
We wanted to know which quarterback prospect you’d most like to see be drafted by an AFC West team. All four teams in the division could draft a quarterback. We focused on prospects who could be taken in the second or third round. The choices were TCU’s Andy Dalton, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Florida State’s Christian Ponder.
Kaepernick, Locker and Mallett were all neck-and-neck with Dalton and Ponder each getting their share of the votes. This exercise shows just how close these prospects are in skill level and long-term projections. Thanks again for participating.
We had a terrific response and an extremely tight race.
We wanted to know which quarterback prospect you’d most like to see be drafted by an AFC West team. All four teams in the division could draft a quarterback. We focused on prospects who could be taken in the second or third round. The choices were TCU’s Andy Dalton, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Florida State’s Christian Ponder.
Kaepernick, Locker and Mallett were all neck-and-neck with Dalton and Ponder each getting their share of the votes. This exercise shows just how close these prospects are in skill level and long-term projections. Thanks again for participating.
Poll: What QB do you want for AFC West?
April, 18, 2011
4/18/11
3:00
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
With the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders all working out quarterbacks prior to the draft, there is a strong possibility a quarterback could be drafted into the AFC West.
San Diego could also draft a quarterback at some point as insurance if No. 2 quarterback Billy Volek leaves during free agency.
Please pick a quarterback prospect that you would most like to see end up in the division. Your choices are TCU’s Andy Dalton, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Florida State’s Christian Ponder.
All of those prospects could be gone by the end of the second round. We didn’t include the two top quarterback prospects – Auburn’s Cam Newton and Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert – because we don’t see an AFC West team making the commitment it would take to land either player.
Fill up the comment section below with the reason why you’re voting the way you did.
San Diego could also draft a quarterback at some point as insurance if No. 2 quarterback Billy Volek leaves during free agency.
Please pick a quarterback prospect that you would most like to see end up in the division. Your choices are TCU’s Andy Dalton, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Florida State’s Christian Ponder.
All of those prospects could be gone by the end of the second round. We didn’t include the two top quarterback prospects – Auburn’s Cam Newton and Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert – because we don’t see an AFC West team making the commitment it would take to land either player.
Fill up the comment section below with the reason why you’re voting the way you did.
How Tebow stacks up against 2011 class
April, 8, 2011
4/08/11
12:00
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Getty ImagesMany scouts are saying they'd take Cam Newton, left, or Blaine Gabbert, right, over Tim Tebow.Last year, the Denver Broncos shocked the NFL by taking Tebow with the No. 25 overall pick. Now, it is the Broncos who are considering Tebow’s future.
The Broncos are working out or visiting with several of the top quarterback prospects in the draft. Legendary Denver quarterback and new Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway has said Denver’s interest in quarterbacks is not a smokescreen to confuse other teams. Yet Elway also said the team’s interest in quarterbacks doesn’t mean the team is not sold on Tebow. Elway insists the Broncos simply don’t want to bypass a franchise quarterback if he’s available.
Earlier this week, ESPN’s John Clayton said he thinks Elway might take a quarterback in the second round and admit that the Tebow pick -- which was made by former Denver coach Josh McDaniels -- was a mistake. With Tebow’s future perhaps unclear again, we polled several draft experts and experienced NFL scouts about what they think Denver should do and how Tebow stacks up against the better quarterback prospects of 2011.
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AP Photo/Barry GutierrezJohn Elway and the Broncos may be looking for Tim Tebow's replacement already.
AP Photo/Barry GutierrezJohn Elway and the Broncos may be looking for Tim Tebow's replacement already.ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper still has a difficult time grading Tebow because he doesn’t think he can be a pro-style quarterback. Kiper thinks Tebow would likely be a fourth-round pick in 2011. Former NFL scout Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. thinks Tebow is the answer in Denver because he projects better to the NFL than Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who could be the No. 1 overall pick by Carolina. Horton said it would be “ridiculous” and Denver would be “absolutely crazy” to draft Newton or Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert at No. 2 and ignore its massive defensive needs after drafting a quarterback in the first round last year.
The other quarterbacks who could be taken in the first three rounds are Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett, TCU’s Andy Dalton, Florida State’s Christian Ponder, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi. Kiper and Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson and Steve Muench think most of them are better NFL quarterback prospects than Tebow.
“Tim Tebow is interesting because so many people have different opinions about him,” Muench said. “That’s what Denver is probably trying to figure out right now. In a lot of ways, I’d say there are a lot better options than Tebow, but then, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tim Tebow succeeds because of what kind of person and leader he is. … It’s not easy.”
Muench said Scouts Inc. had Tebow rated as a late second-round or an early third-round prospect last year. He was the fourth-rated quarterback on Scouts Inc.’s list behind Sam Bradford (who went to St. Louis at No. 1), Jimmy Clausen (No. 47, Carolina) and Colt McCoy (No. 85, Cleveland). Muench said this year’s quarterback class is much better than the 2010 class. Thus, he thinks Tebow would be a fourth-round prospect, and a similar prospect to Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor. Some teams think Taylor is best-suited for another position. Last year, Kiper looked at Tebow as an H-back prospect (and perhaps some teams did, as well). Kiper’s thoughts haven’t changed.
“I don’t think many teams would look at him in the second or third rounds,” Kiper said. “He’s not up there with Newton and Gabbert, then he’d be behind second-level guys like Andy Dalton. Ponder is moving like crazy. … I think Tebow would certainly be the fourth or fifth, sixth or seventh quarterback on teams' boards.”
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Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesSome scouts thought Tim Tebow would be better served as an H-back in the NFL.
Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesSome scouts thought Tim Tebow would be better served as an H-back in the NFL.“There are football questions about Tebow, but there’s also football questions about Newton,” Horton said. “There are no intangible questions about Tebow. But there are intangibles questions about Newton."
Horton thinks Denver should either let veteran quarterback Kyle Orton start the season and replace him with Tebow when the season goes south or go with Tebow to start the season. Horton reasons that quarterbacks emerge as top draft prospects every year and there will be plenty of options next year if Tebow fails, perhaps even Stanford gem Andrew Luck.
“If it doesn’t work with Tebow, well, then you move on, but you have to see what he can do,” Horton said. “Tebow was drafted as a developmental guy. Don’t run out of patience with him before he gets a chance to develop.”
Williamson said he never thought it was a good idea for Denver to draft Tebow and he would support Elway’s decision to pull the plug now. He thinks there are several second-round type prospects who would be better options than Tebow in Denver.
“I would certainly rather have Gabbert, Newton and Ponder over Tebow, in that order. And there could be an argument made for the others,” Williamson said. “I would take Mallett for sure over [Tebow]. Tebow and Locker are similar -- big, strong guys with suspect accuracy/passing skills, but Locker is further along coming out of school than Tebow.”
However, former Carolina and St. Louis draft executive Tony Softli said he had Tebow ranked as a low second-round pick last year when Softli was with the Rams. He said he wouldn’t draft a quarterback this year. He believes in Tebow. Softli raved about Tebow’s leadership ability, his history as a winner and his intelligence. Softli said Tebow, Matt Ryan, Bradford and Josh Freeman were the brightest quarterback prospects he’s seen in the past 10 years when it came to working on the grease board and breaking down the game.
“I understand why Denver is looking at quarterbacks -- they’re doing their homework and that’s smart -- but I think Tebow is going to be the guy,” Softli said. “I think the Broncos should forget about his throwing motion and just let him be who he is. His intangibles are off the charts. When it’s Tebow time, he’ll show he’s the answer.”
It’s clear. The Tebow debate is not over.
Here is a sampling of our AFC West chat, which was held Thursday. Thanks to everyone who participated:
Gabe, Houston: How far could the Broncos drop and still get an elite defensive player? (Dareus, Peterson...maybe Fairley & Bowers)
Bill Williamson: Dareus will be gone early. Peterson and Fairley may be had in 5-7 range and Bowers could drop out of the top 10 because of health concerns.
D, Portland, OR: Dalton to Oakland. What do you think? As an added bonus, if they do pick him I can dust off my Chuckie Doll from the Gruden days.
BW: He's smart, polished and he's a winner. But he doesn't have the big arm Al Davis covets. But I think he'd be worth considering.
Mike, KC, M0.: Do you think kc will address a pass rusher first and who might it be also do you see them adressing the qb and what pick might they use?
BW: I think pass rusher is where KC will look first. They could start looking at QB in 3-4 rounds. Stanzi in the fourth?
Sergio, Tijuana, Mexico: With the new Kickoff rule in place, has Darren Sproles market value gone down enough for him to be viable option to return to the chargers, if he leaves how do you expect the chargers to deal with his role?
BW: Chargers coach Norv Turner has said he thinks the new rules hurt good returners, so I think it does lessen the Chargers' need to give Sproles big money. They are looking at Troy's Jernigan. who could fill that role.
Gabe, Houston: How far could the Broncos drop and still get an elite defensive player? (Dareus, Peterson...maybe Fairley & Bowers)
Bill Williamson: Dareus will be gone early. Peterson and Fairley may be had in 5-7 range and Bowers could drop out of the top 10 because of health concerns.
D, Portland, OR: Dalton to Oakland. What do you think? As an added bonus, if they do pick him I can dust off my Chuckie Doll from the Gruden days.
BW: He's smart, polished and he's a winner. But he doesn't have the big arm Al Davis covets. But I think he'd be worth considering.
Mike, KC, M0.: Do you think kc will address a pass rusher first and who might it be also do you see them adressing the qb and what pick might they use?
BW: I think pass rusher is where KC will look first. They could start looking at QB in 3-4 rounds. Stanzi in the fourth?
Sergio, Tijuana, Mexico: With the new Kickoff rule in place, has Darren Sproles market value gone down enough for him to be viable option to return to the chargers, if he leaves how do you expect the chargers to deal with his role?
BW: Chargers coach Norv Turner has said he thinks the new rules hurt good returners, so I think it does lessen the Chargers' need to give Sproles big money. They are looking at Troy's Jernigan. who could fill that role.
We have a new feature here and we will occasionally use SportsNation polls on our blog.
We’re going to kick off our foray into this project by asking whether you think the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs or Oakland Raiders need to draft a quarterback? Or perhaps you think none of the teams need to draft a quarterback.
A quick review to help you formulate your vote:
Denver: The Broncos are looking at several quarterbacks. They have Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, but the team has indicated if it identifies a franchise player it may take him.
Kansas City: The Chiefs have Matt Cassel, but they are looking for an upgrade from backup Brodie Croyle and they may want to groom a young quarterback. They have looked at Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.
Oakland: The Raiders have Jason Campbell signed through this year. Oakland could look for a quarterback to develop. The Raiders are working out Kaepernick and perhaps other quarterbacks.
Thanks. I hope you enjoy this feature.
We’re going to kick off our foray into this project by asking whether you think the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs or Oakland Raiders need to draft a quarterback? Or perhaps you think none of the teams need to draft a quarterback.
A quick review to help you formulate your vote:
Denver: The Broncos are looking at several quarterbacks. They have Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, but the team has indicated if it identifies a franchise player it may take him.
Kansas City: The Chiefs have Matt Cassel, but they are looking for an upgrade from backup Brodie Croyle and they may want to groom a young quarterback. They have looked at Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.
Oakland: The Raiders have Jason Campbell signed through this year. Oakland could look for a quarterback to develop. The Raiders are working out Kaepernick and perhaps other quarterbacks.
Thanks. I hope you enjoy this feature.




