ESPN NFL

One of the more intriguing players available in next month’s draft is Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict.

A year ago, Burfict was considered a top-10 pick. However, after a rocky 2011 season, some character concerns and a poor offseason in 2012, Burfict’s draft stock has tumbled. I know of one team that has him as a third-round pick. There are some who think he could slide to the third day of the draft.

Despite his issues, Burfict -- who is going to perform for scouts at another pro day Friday -- has some terrific game film. Some folks in the know think he may be a good fit in Denver and Kansas City. The versatile Burfict is being looked at as a middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense and as a weakside inside linebacker in a 3-4. Let’s see how if Burfict fits with all the AFC West teams:

Denver: The issue here is the Broncos have second-year middle linebacker Nate Irving, who they believe in. The Broncos, who run a 4-3 defense, just re-signed Joe Mays as well. I think Burfict could benefit from the strong coaching in Denver and a veteran locker room, but I don’t know if there is room for him.

Kansas City: This is an interesting fit. The Chiefs could use an inside linebacker for their 3-4 system. Burfict would benefit from playing for Romeo Crennel. The Chiefs gambled and scored with outside linebacker Justin Houston in the third round last year. They could do the same thing here. I’d say they would be the favorites in the division to draft Burfict.

Oakland: Some people don’t think this is a fit, but I could see the Raiders looking at Burfict in the right circumstance. The Raiders have not yet committed to what defensive scheme they will run, but they will, at least, be flexible. Having a versatile linebacker like Burfict could be beneficial. The Raiders will look for a true strongside linebacker with their first pick at No. 95. But I could see Burfict on Oakland’s radar.

San Diego: The Chargers, who run a 3-4 defense, are probably the least likely to grab Burfict. They have a surplus of young talent at inside linebacker and have other needs. Right now, it doesn’t seem like a perfect fit.

The Denver Broncos are starting to move in free agency as their wait for Peyton Manning extends. NFL Network is reporting that Denver is going to visit with Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain.

Coming from a 3-4 defense in Baltimore, he would likely play middle linebacker in Denver’s 4-3 set, solidifying the linebacker corps. Denver signed Cleveland safety Mike Adams on Thursday and is reportedly interesting in Atlanta pass-rusher John Abraham. Getting McClain and Abraham would significantly raise the talent level on an improving defense.

In other AFC West news:

San Diego running back Mike Tolbert left his visit with the Chiefs. He is still talking to Kansas City and may take other trips. The Chargers are still interested in re-signing him. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Chargers want a fast answer from Tolbert; if not, they could move on to Kansas City running back Jackie Battle. I heard Battle’s name connected to San Diego in the afternoon. Battle is a decent backup; Tolbert is a tremendous backup.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that Peyton Manning’s long-awaited decision is not imminent. So let’s all continue to hurry up and wait.

The Denver Post is reporting that middle linebacker Joe Mays, whom McClain would replace, is visiting the Saints and the Colts. Denver doesn’t have much interest in re-signing Mays.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Houston guard Mike Brisiel will next visit the Redskins if he can’t come to an accord in Oakland. He has ties to the Raiders coaching staff, which will help.

Yes, the Chargers have added receivers Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal this week, but San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers doesn’t want anyone to forget about second-year player Vincent Brown.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- For a franchise that was accused of turning stale a few years ago, the Denver Broncos have become pros at taking fresh approaches.

For the second time in three training camps, Denver has a new head coach. John Fox takes over after the disastrous 23-month Josh McDaniels regime. From 1995 to 2008, the Broncos were the picture of coaching constancy. It was the Mike Shanahan show. Everyone knew it.

But the Broncos have been in flux and have gone from one of the better-run organizations in the NFL to a team that is grasping for an identity. Denver hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2005 season. It hasn’t had a winning record since 2006.

In comes Fox, who is experiencing a rebirth himself after spending the past nine seasons in Carolina. Fox’s biggest task in Denver is to restore normalcy after the rocky McDaniels era and rebuild a winner.

“There has been instability here, good, bad or indifferent, that’s just the way it has been,” said Fox, whose team will be on its sixth defensive coordinator (former New Orleans secondary coach Dennis Allen) in six seasons.

“We have to build our program here. But I think it can be done. There are good pieces here.”

Many Denver players have raved about Fox. They appreciate his professionalism, his structure and his attention to detail. They believe there is a plan in place, and they trust Fox’s experience. The players also seem to appreciate the fact that Fox is simply in Denver to coach. The front office is run by legendary Denver quarterback John Elway and general manager Brian Xanders. Both Shanahan and McDaniels made personnel decisions.

“I get a great feel for Coach Fox,” star cornerback Champ Bailey said. “He’s one of the better coaches I’ve been around ... I like it that he is focused on coaching us on the field. That’s where he wants to be.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Fix the defense. While the Tim Tebow-Kyle Orton competition has garnered much attention, the real key issue in Denver’s camp has been the defense. This unit was ranked No. 32 in the NFL last season and was generally awful in every major statistical category. Fox and his defensive staff have taken a hands-on approach to improve this group, which is a mix of veterans and youngsters.

If the reconstructed defensive front plays well and rookie linebacker Von Miller makes an instant impact, this group has a chance to improve quickly. It seems to be working early. Denver’s defense has been capable in camp and it looked solid against Dallas in the preseason opener Thursday. Injuries to defensive tackles Ty Warren (who signed to a two-year, $8 million deal) and Marcus Thomas create more uncertainty at a key spot for Denver. It needs to get help there by Kevin Vickerson, Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Jarmon and Derrick Harvey in the rest of the preseason. Warren could be out for a long period and Thomas will miss the rest of the preseason.

2. Clarity at quarterback: The Broncos’ camp has been about getting the first-team ready to go with Orton. There is no question Orton is the starter now. If the team struggles, Tebow could enter the picture, but players love playing with Orton and the team thinks he currently gives them the best chance to win now.

Of course, the lack of clarity was team-induced. It spent the immediate days after the lockout trying to trade Orton to Miami. After that fell through, Orton took control of the offense quickly and has given Denver no choice but to make him the starter, TebowMania be dammed.

3. Establish a ground game: Although Fox is a defensive-minded coach, he has a strict philosophy on offense. He believes in stuffing the ball down an opponent’s throat and killing the clock. Denver struggled to run the ball under McDaniels, and Fox said adding a veteran tailback was paramount.

The Broncos jumped on Willis McGahee when he was cut by the Ravens. Expect McGahee and third-year player Knowshon Moreno to combine for plenty of carries. They have worked well in camp, and they combined for 40 yards on six carries in the preseason opener at Dallas. This camp has been spent getting these two involved in the offense as much as possible.

ELVIS IS BACK IN THE BUILDING

The Broncos are raving about the play of Elvis Dumervil. After leading the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009 and getting a contract worthy of that performance, Dumervil tore a pectoral muscle in early August last year and missed the entire 2010 season.

There was concern that his rust and a move back to the 4-3 under Fox could hamper the smallish Dumervil. He flourished in McDaniels’ 3-4 system after being a solid player in Shanahan’s 4-3 defense. Dumervil beefed up to more than 260 pounds, and he‘s been impressive under Fox.

The Broncos expect Dumervil and Miller to become one of the better pass-rush tandems in the league.

RELYING ON THE ROOKIES

One of the most exciting aspects of this camp for Denver has been the play of its rookies. The Broncos thought they drafted well in April, and after three weeks, they are thrilled with what they see.

“I think we had an excellent draft,” Fox said.

Added Dumervil: “This is the best group of rookies I’ve seen here in awhile.”

Leading the way is Miller, who was the No. 2 overall draft pick. The Texas A&M product has been as advertised. Teammates rave about his speed, explosiveness and his ability to make plays. They expect instant success.

Second-round pick Rahim Moore is vying for a starting spot with Kyle McCarthy at safety and has shown he is ready for NFL play. Right tackle Orlando Franklin, middle linebacker Nate Irving, tight end Julius Thomas and safety Quentin Carter are all expected to be major contributors. This is exactly what this 4-12 team needed -- a solid group of youngsters to build around after a couple of shaky years of drafting by McDaniels.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Safety Brian Dawkins may be turning 38 this year, but the Broncos are still getting a lot out of him. He works well with Fox’s staff, and his leadership has been uncanny during camp.
• Defensive end Robert Ayers has been getting chances to break out in camp, but he has been slow to show progress. He was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
• Receiver Brandon Lloyd has been slowed by swelling in his knee. Still, the team expects him to contribute. Lloyd had a breakout season in 2010 -- 77 catches for 1,448 yards.
• The second-round draft class of 2009 has been a bust. Tight end Richard Quinn is hurt and could be the odd man out. Safety Darcel McBath has yet to develop, and cornerback Alphonso Smith (who Denver traded its 20101 first-round pick for) was shipped out to Detroit last year. This was supposed to be the nucleus of future success, and Denver hasn’t seen results.
• The Broncos’ passing game struggled in red-zone and third-down situations. That has been a point of emphasis during this camp.
• Veterans Joe Mays and Mario Haggan are competing to hold off Irving at middle linebacker.
• Franklin has struggled in pass projection. Still, the team is committed to him.
• Denver is excited about second-year receiver Eric Decker. Expect Decker to get a chance to contribute a lot.
• The Broncos like what they have in new tight end Daniel Fells. He is solid as a receiver and as a blocker. He should help in both phases of the game.
• Right cornerback Andre' Goodman has been steady, and the team is confident he can play well in 2011.
• Second-year center J.D. Walton continues to improve, and he has shown strong leadership for a young player.

Jacksonville Jaguars’ pass-rusher Aaron Kampman believes Denver’s Ryan Clady is the best left tackle in the NFL. Clady finished third in our left tackle Power Rankings that ran earlier Tuesday.

• Oakland pass-rusher Trevor Scott talks about the challenges of returning from a torn ACL during the lockout. Scott can’t wait to get back on the field. He has high expectations playing for new Oakland head coach Hue Jackson. I’m talking high expectations.

• Quarterback Brady Quinn has joined some of his teammates in Denver lockout sessions. He had been working out in Florida. Quinn, the No. 3 quarterback last season, said he hopes to be the starter in Denver this season. I don’t like his chances.

• NFL.com looks at the chances of five teams, including the Chargers and the Raiders, ending up in Los Angeles.

• The Denver Post looks at whether or not Tim Tebow’s extensive weightlifting regimen will affect his quarterback play.

• Joe Mays is working hard to try to beat third-round pick Nate Irving for the Broncos’ starting middle linebacker. It sure seems like Irving is going to be given an easy chance to win the job as the Broncos reconstruct their defense.

Midday AFC West notes on a busy Wednesday:

With Josh McDaniels out in Denver, the future of Tim Tebow in Denver has been put in question. There is a push for the Jaguars to acquire their hometown hero. Here’s a thought: If the Jaguars wanted him, they could have drafted him.

It would be way too premature to speculate that Tebow is done in Denver’s eyes. McDaniels was his biggest fan, but new coaches inherit old players all the time. Tebow still has a chance to play in Denver and I don't see him going anywhere soon.

Denver star cornerback Champ Bailey has made it clear he is not interested in more change that is coming to Denver. Bailey will keep a watchful eye on the changes after the season. Bailey is set to be a free agent, and the changes will play a major role in whether he wants to stay in Denver or move on. A great era may be entering its final stages.

Former Kansas City Chiefs star guard Will Shields was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation's 2010 Man of the Year. The award is given to some who excelled on and off the field. Shields, a 12-time Pro Bowl player, is involved with several charities. Former Denver quarterback John Elway won the award last year.

Oakland receiver Jacoby Ford is No. 9 on ESPN.com’s rookie watch.

ESPN.com’s MVP Watch has three AFC West players on it for the second straight week.

Get used to this: ESPN.com’s rumor page has a list of potential coaches in Denver. This list will be a fluid situation for the next month.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter looks at the Chargers’ difficult road to the playoffs.

In addition to signing quarterback Tyler Palko to the 53-man roster, the Chiefs put cornerback Jackie Bates on injured reserve. They also signed linebacker Micah Johnson to the practice squad.

The Broncos signed linebacker Lee Robinson from their practice squad and signed tight end Daniel Coats. They replaced linebacker Joe Mays and tight end Dan Gronkowski, who were put on injured reserve.

Catching up on some AFC West tidbits amid the news of Denver firing coach Josh McDaniels.

Kansas City coach Todd Haley indicated there could be some form of punishment handed out to right tackle Barry Richardson after his sideline meltdown Sunday in which he shoved an assistant and was screaming wildly after being taken out after committing a costly penalty.

Oakland rookie middle linebacker Rolando McClain will not be fined for a hit on San Diego running back Darren Sproles.

Once again, key San Diego offensive weapons will likely be questionable heading into a pivotal game against the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Broncos are putting linebacker Joe Mays and tight end Dan Gronkowski on the injured reserve.

The Denver Broncos are reportedly planning to put Pro Bowl linebacker Elvis Dumervil on the injured reserve.

This is not a surprise. The only surprise is that it took so long. Dumervil has been expected to miss the entire season since he tore his pectoral muscle early in training camp. The Broncos were holding out hope Dumervil could possibly return very late in the season. But because of several injuries, Denver cannot afford to keep Dumervil on the 53-man roster on the small chance he’d play in 2010.

This move is more paper work than anything. Denver, internally, came to grips weeks ago that the season likely would be played without Dumervil.

Denver cut seven players and put running back LenDale White on the injured reserve Friday. Among the cuts were second year defensive tackle Chris Baker and seventh-round pick Jammie Kirlew. He could be a candidate for the practice squad. The team had high hopes for Baker, an undrafted free agent last year, but he didn’t do much this summer.

Kansas City cut seven players. Among the cuts was backup guard Ikechuku Ndukwe.

Pittsburgh has allowed veteran center Justin Hartwig to pursue a trade. Oakland and Denver are two teams that could potentially look at centers.

With White out and Denver’s running back crew banged up, perhaps it will consider bringing back J.J. Arrington. He was cut by the Eagles on Friday. Denver traded him for linebacker Joe Mays early in camp. Mays has been terrific in Denver. Before signing White, Denver was also considering Ladell Betts, who was cut by New Orleans.

The Denver Broncos made a curious cut Tuesday by releasing linebacker Akin Ayodele.

Ayodele started the Broncos’ first two preseason games at inside linebacker and had eight tackles in those games, including six Saturday night against Detroit. Ayodele was signed to compete for a starting job during the draft weekend when Denver didn’t draft an inside linebacker early.

There has been no explanation why Ayodele was cut. Unless there was an off-field issue the team had with Ayodele, the Broncos probably cut him early to give him a chance to catch on elsewhere because they knew he wouldn’t make the final roster. Still, it's unusual for a player to start two games and then be whacked.

The Broncos have been high on Joe Mays since he was acquired in a trade for J.J. Arrington right before camp started and third-year player Wesley Woodyard has long been considered a potential standout by the team. It will be interesting to see what Denver does at the spot. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos keep their eyes open for a 3-4 inside linebacker on the waiver wire in the next couple of weeks.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 23

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After he watched one key player after another limp to the training room this summer, Josh McDaniels came to a conclusion: The Denver Broncos are going to find a way to get better as a result.

Call it medical motivation.

“Sometimes, when everybody around you thinks the sky is falling because of injuries, it could rally a team,” the second-year Denver coach said. “That’s what we are doing. We are going to be motivated to show we can withstand what has happened to us. We’re not sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves.”

McDaniels swears Denver is having a productive training camp despite being the most injured team in the NFL. The biggest hit was the loss of star linebacker Elvis Dumervil. He is likely out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Other players who have been lost during camp include running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter, receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, safety Brian Dawkins and linebackers D.J. Williams and Jarvis Moss. Don’t forget that left tackle Ryan Clady is out until sometime in September after hurting his knee in the offseason.

Still, McDaniels said it’s not a time of despair, because everyone but Dumervil is expected back in the near future.

“It hurts to lose Elvis, but maybe the other injuries are good that they happened now,” McDaniels said. “We are not worrying about who is not here. We trust our depth and we’re dealing with it.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How will the Tebow factor affect the team? There is not a rookie in the NFL who is getting the attention that Tim Tebow is receiving. From special Nike shoes to a hideous training-camp haircut to operating in short yardage situations, the Tebow Watch is in full force.

The question is how his work in camp will affect the team on the field. The former Florida star quarterback has operated in short-yardage situations and he will likely be used in the Wildcat formation and in the red zone. That likely means Denver will keep quarterbacks Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and Tebow on the 45-man roster on game days. In June, McDaniels said he was leaning away from that.

But it is clear that Tebow is being groomed to be active as a rookie. Unless Tebow completely leapfrogs Quinn in training camp and in the preseason, Denver could be using three quarterbacks on game days, which will take away from another position.

2. Can this team forget the final 10 games of 2009? Denver was the most perplexing team in the NFL in 2009. It shocked the league by starting 6-0. However, it suddenly fell apart and lost eight of its final 10 games.

Which team will we see in 2010? McDaniels, of course, won’t guarantee anything, but he believes Denver is heading in the right direction because of a strong training camp.

He said the team is making big strides this year because his program is established after 14 years under Mike Shanahan. McDaniels pointed out how much smoother and productive Denver was in its team scrimmage last weekend compared to last year’s scrimmage.

“It’s night and day,” McDaniels said. “Everybody knows the system now and that has helped camp.”

3. Can the running backs stay healthy? Moreno (hamstring) and Buckhalter (back) are supposed to be ready this month. But seeing the top two running backs go down on the first full day of camp had to be scary for Denver. The team has big plans for Moreno and Buckhalter.

Denver brought in veteran LenDale White to help in camp and perhaps as a short-yardage runner once he serves a four-game NFL suspension. The team is discussing signing former Oakland tailback Justin Fargas, perhaps as soon as Wednesday.

This is still the Moreno and Buckhalter show, but the Broncos have been forced to look at other options. Expect Moreno and Buckhalter to be handled very gingerly for the rest of camp and in the preseason in an attempt to ensure their health for the start of the regular season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The Broncos are excited about their receivers.

Brandon Lloyd and Matthew Willis have been outstanding. Eddie Royal is playing well in camp and the team hopes he can bounce back from a poor first season under McDaniels. After catching 91 passes as a rookie, Royal had just 37 catches last season.

Add rookies Thomas and Decker and Denver could have a decent receiving crew. That looked shaky after the team sent talented but troubled Brandon Marshall to Miami in April.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

How can it be anything other than the injury to Dumervil? He is arguably Denver’s best player and he just signed a huge, new contract. Denver was looking for him to have a dominant season. Dumervil led the NFL with 17 sacks last season.

Denver will have to find a pass rush elsewhere. A top candidate is 2009 first-round pick Robert Ayers. He struggled as a rookie. But he has been good in camp. Ayers will get every chance to turn it on and help make this bad situation workable.

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  Jeff Fishbein/Icon SMIKyle Orton passed for 3,802 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for the Broncos last season.
  Orton has quietly been a star in camp. He had a strong offseason and is, by far, the most accurate of three quarterbacks. While the future is Tebow’s in Denver, Orton is going to do everything he can to make 2010 special before he hits the free-agency market in 2011.
• Quinn, the current No. 2 quarterback in Denver, has been inaccurate often. The Broncos still like Quinn, who was acquired from Cleveland in March. However, with Orton being the immediate starter and Tebow being the future starter, he has his work cut out for him to find a spot in Denver.
• Keep an eye out for fifth-round pick Perrish Cox. He’s been outstanding in camp. “Every day, I look up and Perrish is making another big play,” Royal said. Cox is second at left cornerback behind star Champ Bailey. Cox will likely be the nickel cornerback. He is also dynamic as a return man.
• While Cox is ascending, second-year cornerback Alphonso Smith is still not progressing. Smith was the No. 37 overall pick in 2009. Denver gave up its first-round pick for Smith in 2010 (which was No. 14). He floundered as a rookie and he is not showing much improvement in camp as Cox is stealing the show.
• Richard Quinn, a second-round pick in 2009, is blocking very well in camp. He still must improve as a receiver, but Denver should feel comfortable with him in double tight-end sets with starter Daniel Graham.
• So far, defensive end Ryan McBean is holding off free-agent pickup Jarvis Green. However, the team likes Green and he is very versatile.
• Denver likes what it sees in former San Diego defensive tackle Jamal Williams in the early stages. With Dumervil out, a lot of Denver’s defensive burst must start from him at nose tackle. That may mean Williams may be on the field more than Denver likes. But he is showing, even at 34 and after missing all but one game in San Diego last year, he could still be a force.
• Denver knows it won’t all be roses, but it is at terms with rookies J.D. Walton (center) and Zane Beadles (guard) starting. Both players have showed intelligence and toughness in camp. Most importantly, they are big and strong and they are well suited for the power-blocking scheme McDaniels is adopting. Denver is scrapping the zone-blocking scheme used during the Shanahan era. One of the reasons is McDaniels wants a bigger offensive line that can stay fresh throughout the season.
• D’Anthony Batiste is doing well at left tackle. The Broncos think he will be a valuable backup when Clady returns from a knee injury in September.
• Inside linebacker Joe Mays, acquired from Philadelphia for running back J.J. Arrington less than two weeks ago, is impressing. He has worked some with the first team. He is likely to be a key backup and a special teamer.
• Veteran defensive lineman Marcus Thomas is buried on the depth chart. If he doesn’t pick up the rest of camp, he could be a candidate to be cut.
• Punter Britton Colquitt, the younger brother of Kansas City punter Dustin Colquitt, is doing well and he will likely win the job. He is going unchallenged, but if he falters, Denver could scour the waiver wire. So far, he is showing that may not be necessary.

J.J. Arrington has been a Bronco for two years, but he will not play a game for the team.

In a surprise move, Denver traded the running back/return man to Philadelphia for linebacker Joe Mays.

According to people close to Arrington, the move was totally unexpected. Arrington was headed into the season with the inside track to be the third-down running back and perhaps a returner. Denver resigned Arrington this year after signing and cutting him last year after he needed knee surgery.

The question now is who Denver’s third-down back will be. The trade could potentially mean Denver will revisit signing free agent Brian Westbrook. In June, Denver sources said they were no longer interested in Westbrook because the team wanted to see what Arrington could do. The source said Westbrook could come back into play in training camp if the team wasn’t sold on Arrington.

So, it’s something to think about.

Eddie Royal and rookie Perrish Cox will likely have the inside track for the return man roles. Mays, a third-year player, will compete for a roster spot. Denver needs some depth at inside linebacker.