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The Denver Broncos dipped into the agent pool as they have hired longtime NFL player agent Mike Sullivan to run their salary cap as director of football administration.

Denver hired Sullivan to direct the club’s negotiating and structuring of all player contracts. Sullivan was a high-profile NFL agent for more than 25 years.

He replaces longtime Denver salary-cap man Mike Bluem, whose contract was not renewed by the team. The move to replace Bluem is considered curious in some NFL circles since he is widely regarded as one of the better capologists in the league.

In other AFC West news:

Former Chargers’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie has reportedly pointed the finger at San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips in a 2009 incident.

Are the Washington Redskins going to pursue Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton in free agency? The Chiefs have interest in bring him back, perhaps to compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job.

Former Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell has given an interview to Sports Illustrated (via the Oakland Tribune). Russell has given a few interviews since being cut by Oakland in May, 2010, but not many. Russell seems defiant and he is far from taking all the blame for the Raiders’ struggles while he was there. He saved his harshest words for former Oakland coach Tom Cable.

What does it all mean? Not much. Russell just doesn't matter much anymore in the NFL scope.

Russell -- who disclosed he has a sleeping disorder -- is a former Raider and I expect he’ll remain a former NFL player. No team has been interested in even working out Russell in nearly a year. The NFL has moved on from perhaps the biggest draft bust of all time. The Raiders used the No. 1 overall pick on Russell in 2007.

In other AFC West news Tuesday:

The Oakland Tribune reports the Raiders cut kicker Dave Rayner. He was signed to kick against Kansas City. That means the Raiders are expecting Sebastian Janikowski to be able to kick Nov. 6 when Oakland hosts Denver. He has a hamstring injury. If Janikowski doesn’t improve, the Raiders could also re-sign Rayner before the game.

At the end of a chippy week between the two teams, former Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie got the last word, saying the Chargers can’t finish. That certainly was the case Sunday when Cromartie’s Jets’ outscored the Chargers 17-0 in the second half to win, 27-21.

Another look at the Broncos’ comeback in Miami. Meanwhile, members of the Dolphins’ defense admitted theu were in the wrong scheme when Denver quarterback Tim Tebow tied the game in the final seconds of regulation on a two-point conversion with a run.

Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil is dealing with an ankle injury and is uncertain to play Sunday against Detroit. Dumervil has been hampered by injuries since the summer of 2010.

An ESPN Insider playoff predictor doesn’t expect much from the AFC West the rest of the season. For the record, I think this prediction is off the mark. I think the division winner will have a winning record for certain.

What it means: The San Diego Chargers have been living dangerously. They opened the season 4-1, but none of their four wins was impressive. Folks around the league were wondering when it would catch up to them. Ironically, in the first half Sunday, the Chargers did look good. They led 21-10. Then, it all fell apart as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie’s Jets outscored the Chargers 17-0 in the second half to drop San Diego to 4-2.

Tomorrow’s talker: The Chargers’ passing game lagged Sunday. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chargers couldn’t get much going vertically. Star receiver Vincent Jackson was targeted just four times. He had just one catch for 15 yards. In the first five games, the Chargers completed six passes of 30-plus yards. They didn’t have any Sunday. Quarterback Philip Rivers had his worst game of the season. He was 16-of-32 for 179 yards. He was intercepted twice and he has now thrown nine interceptions this season. He had nine interceptions in the entire 2009 season.

Mathews contained: The Chargers’ problems on offense weren’t just in the air. Second-year running back Ryan Mathews had just 39 yards rushing on 13 carries. He had been very strong this season, but the Jets’ defense shut him down.

What’s next: The Chargers play at Kansas City on Oct. 31 on "Monday Night Football."

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 7:

Chargers could go after Cromartie: Much has been made of the Chargers facing former star running back LaDainian Tomlinson for the first time since his 2010 release. Sunday’s game at the New York Jets represents another reunion for San Diego. It traded cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the Jets for a couple of draft picks in 2010. Many in the Chargers’ organization felt Cromartie was overrated and he didn’t always play with toughness. Expect San Diego to challenge him often Sunday.

Tebow has hand in Luck sweepstakes: If Tim Tebow wants to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback in 2012, he might want to win his first start of 2011. The Broncos are 1-4 and the Dolphins are 0-5. If the Broncos win at Miami, their chances of ending up with the No. 1 pick and the right to unite John Elway and Andrew Luck -- Stanford star quarterbacks past and present -- would lessen considerably. Thus, Tebow can seriously help his future cause with a win.

Watch for the Chiefs to be prepared to face Kelly: Don’t be surprised if a few Kansas City Chiefs have something to say to Oakland defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. Prior to Oakland’s Week 2 loss at Buffalo, Kelly’s message to the Bills was “we ain't the Chiefs.” It was in response to the Bills’ 41-7 win at Kansas City in Week 1. I’m sure his words were documented in Kansas City’s locker room.

A McClain family reunion: For the first time, the McClain family will be NFL adversaries. Kansas City veteran fullback Le'Ron McClain and Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain are cousins. When McClain signed with the Chiefs as a free agent this summer, the two became twice-a-year divisional foes.

Rivers has an unusual problem: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown seven interceptions in five games, which is unlike him. What is particularly unusual for Rivers is he is seeing short tosses get picked off. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rivers has thrown five interceptions this season on passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. It is tied for most in the NFL with Carolina rookie Cam Newton. In the past two seasons combined, Rivers threw three interceptions on such throws. Let’s see if his issues continue against the Jets.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has announced LaDainian Tomlinson will start against the Chargers on Sunday.

It will be his first start of the season. Shonn Greene is expected to get most of the carries for the Jets. Tomlinson’s start is likely out of respect to his time in San Diego where he become a legendary player. The Chargers cut Tomlinson in 2010 and he signed with the Jets shortly thereafter.

In other AFC West nuggets Thursday afternoon:

Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain is among the players not practicing in Oakland Thursday. It is his second straight day he has missed with a foot injury. If McClain doesn’t practice Friday, he could miss Sunday’s game against visiting Kansas City,

Tim Keown offers tremendous insight into TebowMania in ESPN’s Hot Read. Check it out.

Here is a video debate on Ryan’s comments that he would have won rings with the Chargers had he, and not Norv Turner, been hired in 2007.

Antonio Cromartie said he wasn’t happy in San Diego and it was time to go when the team traded him to the Jets in 2010. I know for a fact the feeling is mutual.

An Insider piece looks at the Raiders’ playoff chances.

In a radio interview, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers discusses the addition of the newest quarterback in the AFC West.

The Chargers have already announced the Nov. 6 game against Green Bay will not be blacked out and the team expects one of the biggest home crowds in team history. Recently, the Chargers haven't been announcing the lifting of blackouts until days before games. The team’s last home game, against Miami in Week 4, was blacked out.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 4:

Ochocinco could have been a Raider: Chad Ochocinco is headed to Oakland with many people wondering if he will ever help the New England Patriots. He has barely contributed to a high-powered offense and he had a crucial drop in the Patriots’ loss at Buffalo last week. Ochocinco could have been a Raider. The Raiders asked permission to talk to Ochocinco in an attempt to acquire him from Cincinnati shortly before he was traded to the Patriots this summer. Oakland coach Hue Jackson coached Ochocinco in Cincinnati and the two remain close. Oakland considered Ochocinco as a veteran presence on a young receiving crew. It was probably a good thing Ochocinco went elsewhere. The Raiders are young at receiver, but they have a load of talent. With Ochocinco’s career likely on the downslide, his presence could have gotten in the way of the development of the group.

Never give up, Chiefs: The game in Kansas City on Sunday between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chiefs is a game between two 0-3 teams. It may not create a lot of interest, but it may be worth tuning into after halftime. Craziness could happen. The Chief showed their only fight of the young season in the second half at San Diego last week. After not converting a first down in the first half (it was the first time that has happened in the NFL since the 2009 season according to ESPN Stats & Information), the Chiefs scored 17 second-half points in a 20-17 loss. The Chiefs scored a total of 10 points in the first 10 quarters of the season. To further give the Chiefs confidence, the Vikings have been horrid in the second half this season. The Vikings have blown double-digit halftime leads in all three games.

It’s him again, San Diego: The San Diego Chargers will have to deal with Brandon Marshall again. This time, he’ll play the Chargers as a Dolphin. He tore up San Diego as a Denver Bronco before the receiver was traded to the Dolphins last year. In 2008, he torched former San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie for 18 catches and 166 yards. In total, Marshall, who has 17 catches this season, has 45 catches in six starts against San Diego.

Broncos have never been a big cheese in Wisconsin: The Denver Broncos head to the Dairy State to play the world champion Green Bay Packers with the hopes of returning in a good mood. The Broncos are 0-4-1 against the Packers in Wisconsin, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Denver has also never won at Miami or Baltimore. Besides Aaron Rodgers and company, the Broncos have history going against them Sunday.

Expect an offensive explosion in Oakland: Last team with the ball wins in Oakland on Sunday? Could be. The Patriots lead the NFL with 1,621 yards in three games. It is the most yards any team has compiled through three games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Yet, the Patriots’ defense is giving up yards at almost as large of a pace. New England has allowed an NFL-high 1,406 yards this season. It’s the fifth most yards allowed by a team at this point of the season since the 1970 merger. The Raiders have scored 69 points in the past two games. This one could be fun.

The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting the Chargers are putting rookie linebacker Jonas Mouton on the injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He’s been out for a few weeks. Mouton was expected to play on special teams this season. Now, he will be essentially a rookie again next year. The Chargers re-signed safety Paul Oliver to take Mouton’s place on the 53-man roster.

In other AFC West news Thursday evening:

• Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel knows he must improve his game as the 0-2 Chiefs prepare to travel to San Diego on Sunday. Cassel, like nearly all of his teammates, has not been good this season. If he wants to salvage the season, he must find a way to produce immediately.
• Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie talked about being wooed by the Raiders during free agency. Sure, the Raiders are desperate for better cornerback play. But I maintain Cromartie wasn’t the answer in Oakland for big money. He makes some plays. But the former Charger also gets burnt often. He’s not worth giving a huge contract to.
• Raiders coach Hue Jackson talked about not getting permission to talk to Jets assistant Dennis Thurman about the Raiders defensive coordinator job earlier this year.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed receiver Jeremy Horne to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. He replaces injured running back Jamaal Charles on the roster. Offensive lineman Lucas Patterson was brought back to the practice squad to replace Horne.

New York Times author Michael Holley sheds some light on the front-office dynamic in Kansas City in this radio interview.

The Contra Costa Times has details of the alleged confrontation between Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski and a woman last year. Janikowski is facing misdemeanor charges.

The San Diego Chargers spent training camp trying to cut down on turnovers early in the season. Through two games, San Diego has committed six turnovers and have just one take-away. The Chargers had four turnovers in a loss at New England on Sunday.

The NFL has not made a decision on Oakland's appeal of rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor's five-game suspension. This is the third week of the suspension. Pryor can’t practice or play until he returns Oct. 10 under the current guidelines of the suspension.

There is a strong AFC West presence in ESPN.com’s Rookie Watch this week. Its looks like we have a good crop this year, folks.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers fell in NFC West blogger Mike Sando’s MVP Watch this week, while Oakland’s Darren McFadden fell out of the top 10.

Former Charger Antonio Cromartie thinks he is a better playmaker than former Raider Nnamdi Asomugha. Thoughts?

Antonio Cromartie will not be an Oakland Raider.

ESPNNewYork.com is reporting Cromartie has agreed to terms to remain with the New York Jets. The Raiders were reportedly making a strong push to sign the former Charger and make him their No. 1 cornerback, replacing Nnamdi Asomugha, who signed with the Eagles.

While the Raiders could use an upgrade at the position, I don’t think it hurts them that badly that they didn’t snag Cromartie. Sure, he’d be an upgrade, but he would have been costly and I don’t think he is worth big money. He reportedly agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal.

Cromartie is good, but not great and he makes a lot of mistakes. I think the Raiders will be better off getting a cheaper veteran or hoping Chris Johnson and their other young players develop.

Signing Cromartie would have made it more difficult to re-sign tight end Zach Miller, which is a huge priority. Seeing Cromartie remain in New York isn’t the worst thing in the world for the Raiders.

With the NFL league year well under way, let’s look at what's still floating out in the AFC West air:

Quarterback for sale: The Broncos would like to trade quarterback Kyle Orton, but after a deal fell apart with Miami, they currently don’t have any takers. If a starting quarterback gets hurt or falters badly in the preseason, perhaps the market for Orton will revive. For now, he is running the No. 1 offense and second-year player Tim Tebow leads the second team.

Free agents: Three of our pre-free agency 10 top AFC West free agents are still available.

2. Zach Miller, tight end, Oakland: The market has been surprisingly dry. I get the feeling Miller will re-sign with the Raiders soon.

4. Malcom Floyd, receiver, San Diego: I think Floyd thought he’d get a better deal. The market is not great. Perhaps he comes back to San Diego.

8. Stephen Cooper, linebacker, San Diego: A veteran may have to wait for awhile for a deal.

Who could come: The Raiders have been connected to Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. I’m not sure if Oakland will make a big splash. I think all four teams in the division will make some additions, but I’m not sure how high on the Richter scale the deals will be.

Rookies: We have just two unsigned draft picks in the division: San Diego defensive lineman Corey Liuget and Kansas City third-round pick Justin Houston. I don’t see any major long-term issues at this point.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Jets are closing in on a deal to retain cornerback Antonio Cromartie. He had been connected to the Raiders as a replacement for Nnamdi Asomugha. I don’t think it’s the end of the world that the Raiders aren’t getting him. Cromartie is a tad overrated and may not be worth the cost.

With the Jets bringing in Plaxico Burress, they should be out of the Malcom Floyd chase. The receiver market may be shrinking. San Diego has been expected to bring back Floyd, but it the market totally dries up, you never know.

Oakland coach Hue Jackson raved about second-year linebacker Rolando McClain.

Second-year San Diego running back Ryan Mathews has struggled with his conditioning early in camp. It’s no big deal. But for a player who had a somewhat rocky season, Mathews needs to be in shape by now. It’s definitely something to watch during camp.

Denver’s Elvis Dumervil is excited about John Fox’s history with defensive ends.

An inside look at the Eagles’ successful pursuit of Asomugha.

UPDATE: As expected, Denver restructured the contract of safety Brian Dawkins and finalized the deal for running back Willis McGahee. Both were procedural moves.

Its Stanford Routt's time to show those glossy numbers from last season were no fluke.

Routt is about to be tested.

Unless the Raiders snare a veteran like Antonio Cromartie or Nate Clements, Routt is expected to the Raiders’ No. 1 cornerback now that Nnamdi Asomugha has flown off to the Eagles.

The Raiders clearly anticipated that. They gave him a three-year, $30 million deal to keep him from entering free agency. That’s starter money, folks.

One of the reasons why the Raiders paid to keep Routt was his outstanding statistics. His “burn rate’ was one of the lowest in the NFL in 2010. Now, that he will be a full-time starter and now that he’ll likely play against the opponent’s best receivers all the time, Routt must step up.

He is not alone. The Raider’s young cornerbacks and veteran Chris Johnson will need to elevate their game if the Raiders don’t add a starter.

Youngsters Walter McFadden, Jeremy Ware and draft picks Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke will all be expected to contribute in Asomugha’s absence.

NFL.com is reporting that the Oakland Raiders are considering pursuing cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

I heard speculation this summer that Oakland could consider Cromartie if Nnamdi Asomugha left. Interestingly, Asomugha and Cromartie could simply be trading places. The Chargers traded Cromartie to the Jets last season. The Jets are one of the teams most ardently pursuing Asomugha. If that switch happens it would be very interesting to compare the two players’ contracts. I know Cromartie is looking for a competitive contract.

There is no comparison in the two players. Asomugha is much better. But Cromartie is a solid player and would be the No. 1 cornerback in Oakland. The Raiders already paid Stanford Routt No.1 money earlier this offseason. Cromartie is very athletic and a ball hawk who makes some plays.

But he also lacks instincts and he gets burned often. He would not be a shut-down player like Asomugha. I also know the Chargers often were frustrated with his behavior off the field.

The Raiders have also been connected to San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson and Baltimore tackle Jared Gaither. Thus, it seems Oakland is interested in playing the veteran market. Meanwhile, the Zach Miller market has been very quiet. The tight end is a top Oakland target.

The San Diego Union Tribune doesn’t expect Vincent Jackson’s role in finalizing the new collective bargaining agreement will be an issue. I have the same feeling. The Boston Globe is reporting that Jackson is among the players softening their stance. In the end, there is no way an entire player work force will be held up just because of a few players. The backlash would be brutal.

In other AFC West nuggets Tuesday evening:

Former Charger and current Jets free-agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie mentioned the Raiders as one of the teams that could be looking for a No.1 cornerback in free agency. The Raiders could lose cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency. Oakland re-signed cornerback Stanford Routt for three years and gave him No. 1 cornerback money. Combine that fact with other free-agency needs and salary-cap limitations, Oakland may have a difficult time making a play for Cromartie.

• Denver linebacker Von Miller is the sixth-rated rookie on the Madden 12 game. Miller was the No. 2 overall pick in April.

• Eric Weddle indicated that he wants to remain in San Diego and Houston fullback Vonta Leach lists the Chargers as a possible landing spot for him. I think the odds of Weddle staying in San Diego are higher than Leach ending up there.

• Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com has a look at free agents NFL teams should avoid. There is an AFC West feel to his post. Check it out.

• Missouri Western is planning for the Chiefs to arrive for training camp next week.

I am not surprised the player I voted No. 1 in our cornerback Power Rankings did not finish on top. Actually, I’m surprised I had company in voting Oakland Raiders free-agent Nnamdi Asomugha No. 1 on the list and that he was actually within man-to-man coverage distance of winner Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets.

Nationally, in my opinion, Asomugha doesn't get nearly the attention and credit that Revis does. Yet, Asomugha received some love in our rankings.

John Clayton and Paul Kuharsky also voted Asomugha ahead of Revis. It was not enough to elevate Asomugha to the top of the cornerback food chain. Revis finished with 77 voting points and Asomugha finished with 75 points. Former Raider and current Green Bay Packers star Charles Woodson finished a distant third with 58 points.

Revis and Asomugha had a monopoly on all the first and second-place votes. That’s the way it should be. They are the two best corners in the game and they’d be our two starting cornerbacks in any dream game.

However, I gave Asomugha the edge because I think he has a longer résumé and he has had a bigger impact on the game. Asomugha has been in the league since 2003 and Revis has been in the league since 2007. Both men are in their prime.

I’ve seen passes completed against Revis in a limited view of his work. I’ve watched Asomugha play live for years. I can count on one hand the balls that have been completed against him. I’m sure plenty of teams will agree on Asomugha’s worth when he will be showered with lucrative free-agents offers once the lockout ends.

The AFC West influence didn’t end with Asomugha. Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey finished fifth with 53 points. He was one vote behind the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. I had Bailey ranked fourth. He may be 32, but he is still playing at a high level. That’s why Denver just gave him a lucrative new deal to keep him off of the free-agent market.

In a bit of a surprise, Oakland’s Stanford Routt finished two points out of the top 10. I did not vote for Routt. I actually voted San Diego’s Quentin Jammer 10th. I think Jammer is an underrated player, so I’m not surprised I was alone in recognizing him. Routt received two votes, including a sixth-place vote by Clayton.

I like Routt and I’m interested to see what he does, in 2011 after signing a fat, new contract. Especially if Asomugha leaves and Routt is the No. 1 cornerback in Oakland. I think Routt was awarded in this ranking for his strong “burn rate" numbers. I’ll be prepared to put Routt in the top 10 next year if he performs well in 2011.

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers received three voting points. Like Routt, I could see myself considering Flowers next year. Former Oakland player DeAngelo Hall finished ninth and former Charger Antonio Cromartie received five points. I didn’t consider either because I think they are both overrated. Neither Oakland nor San Diego misses those two players.

Overall, this exercise shows that is a strong time for cornerback play in the AFC West.