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While Ryan McBean's fight with the NFL is over, D.J. Williams is continuing his battle.

The Denver Post reported that McBean has agreed to drop his lawsuit against the league and his NFL suspension has been dropped from six games to three. Denver released McBean last month. He signed with the Ravens on Monday.

Both McBean and Williams were suspended for six games for using a banned substance earlier this offseason. Both players immediately decided to sue the league to get their suspensions overruled. The paper reports Williams is continuing on with his lawsuit.

It is not clear if Williams was offered to have his suspension reduced in exchange for dropping the lawsuit as McBean did.

Williams is one of Denver’s better defensive players.

In other AFC West news:

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting Tennessee is visiting with cornerback Drayton Florence on Wednesday. The Chargers are highly interested in Florence. He spent his first five NFL seasons in San Diego. The Chargers want him to be their nickel cornerback. He was cut by Buffalo last week.
• Atlanta cut fullback Ovie Mughelli. Denver may be among the teams interested in adding a fullback.
• The Raiders signed center Colin Miller. He was in Pittsburgh’s camp last season. He faces an uphill battle to make the Raiders’ roster.

Oakland strong safety Tyvon Branch reportedly will sign his franchise tender Monday and he is expected join the team in its offseason workouts.

NFL Network reported that Branch will sign the tender guaranteeing him a salary of $6.2 million in 2012. The Raiders placed the franchise tag on Branch in March.

Branch and the team are trying to come to terms with a long-term deal. They have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal. If the deadline passes without Branch signing an extension, he will play for the franchise tender amount. He is due to be a free agent in 2013.

UPDATE: The Raiders announced Monday afternoon that Branch has signed his tender.

In other AFC West news:

Former Denver defensive tackle Ryan McBean has signed with Baltimore. He is facing a six-game NFL suspension for using a banned substance.

The Denver Post is reporting the Broncos will bring in receiver Brandon Stokley for a visit on Monday.

The visit has been expected essentially since the Broncos signed quarterback Peyton Manning last month. The two played together in Indianapolis and are close. Manning stayed at Stokley’s home when he visited the Broncos prior to signing there. Stokley is also a former Bronco. The Broncos have previously signed former Colts tight end Jacob Tamme, so Manning might have two targets he is familiar with.

Meanwhile, the Denver Post is reporting the Broncos will release defensive tackle Ryan McBean. He is facing a six-game NFL suspension for using a banned substance. The Broncos just signed defensive tackle Justin Bannan and are expected to add a player at the position early in the draft.

UPDATE: The Broncos rescinded McBean’s restricted free-agent tender and he is now an unrestricted free agent.

The Denver Post reports the Broncos are still interested in Pittsburgh free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon and Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the draft. Dixon visited Denver a few weeks ago. Right now, newly signed Caleb Hanie is Manning’s backup, but the Broncos will likely bring in another quarterback at some point.

Here is a look at the 2012 strength of schedule. The Broncos have the second toughest schedule in the NFL based on last season’s combined win/loss records of their 2012 opponents. The Chiefs have the easiest schedule in the division.

Here is a look at some of the draft prospects the Broncos have looked at.

The tremendous folks at ESPN Stats & Information have passed along some key statistics for each NFL team as we prepare for the draft. Let’s review some of the findings:

Denver:

Here is one of the reasons why the Broncos’ greatest need is at defensive tackle. Denver had just four sacks from its interior defensive line, all from Ryan McBean, a free agent who is fighting a six-game NFL suspension. Of the 4-3 defenses in the NFL, only Seattle had fewer sacks from the defensive tackle position. It is a good thing the Broncos have a dynamic pass-rushing presence from Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

Kansas City:

Here is a reason why the Chiefs should consider drafting Stanford’s David DeCastro and playing him at right guard. The Chiefs ran well to the left last season, but struggled running on the right side. They addressed the issue by signing right tackle Eric Winston, considered one of the best at his position. Adding DeCastro, considered one of the premier guard prospects in the past several years, would further help. Kansas City ranked seventh in the NFL running to the left in 2011, but was ranked 32nd up the middle and 31st to the right side.

Oakland:

Oakland cornerbacks had 27 pass disruptions or interceptions last season, which was tied for 21st in the NFL. Fifteen of those big plays came from Stanford Routt, who is now in Kansas City after being a salary-cap dump in Oakland. More cornerback talent may be necessary even though the Raiders signed projected starters Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer to one-year deals.

San Diego:

The Chargers rushed four or fewer defenders on 77.5 percent of opposing quarterback drop backs last season. It was the fifth highest in the NFL. However, only Antwan Barnes had success, with nine sacks. The Chargers desperately need another impact pass-rusher.

As expected, the Chargers are in the process of cutting left tackle Marcus McNeill.

UT-San Diego is reporting that McNeill’s agent has said McNeill will be cut Tuesday. The Chargers will have about $6 million in salary-cap room with the release.

McNeill is being cut because he has still not been medically cleared to resume playing. Because the Chargers owed him a bonus in the coming days, San Diego had no choice. McNeill spent last season on injured reserve with a neck issue. There is a chance McNeill could come back to San Diego with a lesser deal.

McNeill is the second starting offensive lineman in San Diego to leave this team in the past couple of weeks. Guard Kris Dielman retired because of health issues.

Center Nick Hardwick is a free agent, as is Jared Gaither, who replaced McNeill. The Chargers badly want to re-sign both players. If not, there will be dramatic change on the team’s offensive line. Nearly three weeks ago, at the NFL combine, San Diego general manager A.J. Smith said it was the team’s biggest current issue and it remains the team’s biggest issue as we are closing in on the start of free agency.

In other AFC West news:

San Francisco signed former Denver cornerback Perrish Cox. He was recently found not guilty in a sexual assault case in Denver that could have resulted in him being in prison for the rest of his life. He was with the Broncos when he was arrested, but the Broncos later cut him.

My thoughts on the decision of Denver’s D.J. Williams and Ryan McBean to sue the NFL over their recent six-game suspension for using a banned substance: Why not? The players have nothing to lose, and the Ryan Braun situation in MLB shows it’s a worthwhile try for the players.

Former Denver receiver Brandon Stokley explains in a radio interview his involvement in Peyton Manning's trip to Denver last weekend.

The NFLPA released a statement expressin its displeasure with the NFL giving suspensions to Denver linebacker D.J. Williams and Denver free agent defensive linemen Ryan McBean. Both were suspended for six games. The players have indicated they will file a lawsuit to fight the case:

Here is the NFLPA’s statement:

The NFLPA is disappointed by the decisions in the cases of Ryan McBean and D.J. Williams. Despite substantial evidence of breaches in the collection protocol and other procedural irregularities, the NFL decided to punish these players without judicious review of the facts. The League-appointed hearing officer then affirmed the discipline, even though the specimen collector was fired by his agency for not following procedures. The NFL also failed to produce the sample collector as a witness during the players’ appeals hearing.

The NFLPA and NFL have been negotiating a new and comprehensive Substances of Abuse and Steroids policies. The facts in these two cases, and in recent cases in other sports, dramatically underscore the players’ insistence to have independent, neutral arbitrators as part of any future policy. We will continue to fight for a fair, clean and safe game.

NFL free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Here is the complete list of unrestricted free agents for each team in the division:

Denver Broncos: S Brian Dawkins, DT Brodrick Bunkley, LB Mario Haggan, TE Daniel Fells, DE Derrick Harvey, OL Russ Hochstein, DE Jason Hunter, FB Spencer Larsen, LB Joe Mays, DT Ryan McBean, QB Brady Quinn, WR Eddie Royal, DT Marcus Thomas, TE Dante Rosario, CB Jonathan Wilhite, WR Matthew Willis , LB Wesley Woodyard, G Manny Ramirez.

Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jackie Battle, LB Jovan Belcher, CB Brandon Carr, S Jon McGraw, QB Kyle Orton, DB Travis Daniels, DE Wallace Gilberry, DL Amon Gordon, NT Kelly Gregg, S Reshard Langford, FB Le’Ron McClain, TE Anthony Becht, RB Thomas Jones, OT Ryan O’Callaghan, TE Jake O’Connell, QB Tyler Palko, S Sabby Piscitelli, TE Leonard Pope, OT Barry Richardson, WR Jerheme Urban, C Casey Wiegmann.

Oakland Raiders: RB Michael Bush, LB Quentin Groves, OT Stephon Heyer, QB Jason Campbell, DE Jarvis Moss, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DL Trevor Scott.

San Diego Chargers: WR Vincent Jackson, G Nick Hardwick, OT Jared Gaither, RB Mike Tolbert, RB Jacob Hester, NG Antonio Garay, SS Steve Gregory, DL Tommie Harris, ILB Na'il Diggs, OLB Everette Brown, SS Bob Sanders, SS Paul Oliver, WR Patrick Crayton, OG Tony Moll TE Randy McMichael, ILB Stephen Cooper.

Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams issued a statement to ESPN.com in response to his six-game suspension from the NFL to start the 2012 season. Denver free-agent defensive lineman Ryan McBean was also suspended for six games.

The players are expected to file a lawsuit over the matter. Here is Williams’ statement:

I understand from media reports today that the NFL has announced a suspension based on a specimen that the NFL acknowledges did not contain steroids or any illegal substance. Instead, the NFL contends that I provided a non-human specimen. I have never failed a test of any kind – for steroids or illegal substances – during my eight-year pro career. I am proud of my record and proud of the way in which I conduct myself as a professional athlete and citizen. We proved – conclusively – at the NFL hearing on this matter that the NFL and its specimen collector wholly failed in their duties to safeguard and process my specimen properly. In fact, the specimen collector was fired by the NFL after compromising my specimen as well as others’. The hearing officer, an NFL executive, ignored the NFL’s own Policy, engaged in inappropriate communications with top NFL officials about this matter without my knowledge or approval, corrupted the system, ignored that my specimen had been compromised, and now has subjected me to humiliation as well as suspension. We will be vigorously pursuing my rights in the judicial system. My suspension is unjust; the NFL has undermined and corrupted its own steroid policy.

On the day the Denver Broncos try to convince Peyton Manning that they are ready to win now, the team is dealing with the news that three players have been suspended by the NFL.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and John Clayton are reporting that the suspended players are linebacker D.J. Williams, defensive lineman Ryan McBean and tight end Virgil Green. Williams and McBean were suspended for six games, while Green was suspended for four games.

Williams and McBean were allegedly found to have "non-human" urine in their system, a source told Clayton.

They are expected to file a lawsuit. And with the recent success baseball star Ryan Braun had in a similar case, the two players may have some hope to win theirs.

Losing Williams for six games would be a blow for Denver. He is a solid tackler and a savvy veteran for what was an improved Denver defense in 2011. McBean is a free agent, one the Broncos have some interest in upgrading from.

Green is a promising second-year player, who the Broncos would like to see take the next step in the offense. But there’s no doubt the biggest news here is Williams’ suspension. Denver would have to find a way to account for his loss for nearly half the season.

On a hopeful day in Denver, the Broncos had no comment on this situation. You have to wonder if this news affects Manning's desire to go to Denver. I wouldn't think it would, but it won’t help the Broncos' cause to land Manning, either.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that it doesn’t appear Trent Edwards is interested in returning to the Raiders at this point. He was cut this summer when Kyle Boller beat him out for the No. 2 job behind starter Jason Campbell. Campbell is out for several weeks, and perhaps the season, with a broken collarbone.

I think the only way the Raiders would bring back Edwards is if he was a backup to Boller. Oakland coach Hue Jackson said Monday the team is preparing to go with Boller, but it will continue to look at other options.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis reiterated that quarterback Carson Palmer is retired in the eyes of the organization. The Raiders reportedly have tried to acquire Palmer. The trade deadline is Tuesday. With David Garrard unavailable because of a back injury, it appears the Raiders’ best bets are either sticking with Boller or trading for Kyle Orton from Denver.

UPDATE: NFL.com is reporting the Raiders will work out quarterback Todd Bouman this week. He is 39. I’m sure it’s simply as a backup. It is another indication the team is leaning toward going with Boller.

In other AFC West news:

Denver defensive lineman Ryan McBean was arrested on stalking charges.

The Raiders had a memorial for Al Davis on Monday.

Jackson told reporters that defensive end Matt Shaughnessy may be out for an extended time. He’s missed the past three weeks with a shoulder injury.

Oakland coach Tom Cable said Friday he still hasn’t decided if rookie Jared Veldheer or Samson Satele would start Sunday against St. Louis. Veldheer beat out Satele and started last week at Tennessee. But the rookie from a Division II school struggled against the Titans.

This is just a guess, but if Cable hasn’t decided yet, I bet he may go back to Satele. Still, that doesn’t seem like a great option. If the Raiders were happy with Satele, Veldheer wouldn’t have started in the first place. He has limited experience at center.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper looks at the Chief’s impactful rookie class.

Minnesota coach Brad Childress wouldn’t comment on San Diego Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson. The Vikings are said to be one of the teams interested in trading for Jackson.

Denver defensive lineman Ryan McBean was fined $5,000 for a facemask infraction last week against Jacksonville.

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired Dan Crumb as Chief Financial Officer. Crumb was last with the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets.

Check here for a full list of Denver’s roster moves.

Biggest surprise: There were a few surprises from Denver on Saturday. The two big ones involved second-year cornerback Alphonso Smith and free-agent pickup Jarvis Green. Denver traded Smith to Detroit for reserve tight end Dan Gronkowski. Smith was the No. 37 overall pick last year, and Denver gave up its first-round pick in 2010 (No. 14) for Smith. He was a failure in Denver. Still, basically giving him away was a shocker. Denver paid Green several million to come in and be a starter on its new-look defensive line. Yet, Green could never win a starting job, losing out to Ryan McBean. Still, it never appeared Green’s job was in jeopardy. Also cut was second-year guard Seth Olsen. He was a fourth-round pick in 2009. Thus, Denver got rid of second-round pick and a fourth-round pick from a year ago. That’s not the way to build a program.

No-brainers: A big reason why Smith was expendable was the play of rookie cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Syd’Quan Thompson, fifth and seventh-round draft picks, respectively. These two players are keepers. Expect Cox to immediately play a huge role as the nickel cornerback and as a return man. Matthew Willis had a great camp and he deserved a roster spot. Keeping Willis was made easier when Denver put receiver Brandon Stokley on the injured reserve with a groin injury. There were reports earlier Saturday that Stokley was released. Recent pickup, linebacker Jason Hunter, excelled in the preseason and was an easy choice to make the roster, as was backup running back Lance Ball

What’s next: Denver will look to upgrade at a few spots. First on the list is running back. The Broncos have been decimated by injuries at the position this summer, and it is not clear if starter Knowshon Moreno will be ready to play opening day at Jacksonville. Denver will look at every running back option available. Other areas Denver could look to upgrade include tight end, offensive line, receiver and the defensive front.

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.

Something had to give as Denver revamped its defensive line -- and it was Kenny Peterson.

The Broncos released Peterson on Wednesday. He started 14 games last season and he had 40 tackles.

However, Denver signed defensive ends Jarvis Green and Justin Bannan in free agency. It also signed nose tackle Jamal Williams. So, there was little room for Peterson. The Broncos other starting end in 2009, Ryan McBean, could stay with the team.

Denver also cut backup guard Mitch Erickson.

After relying heavily on players from his former team (New England) last year, second-year Denver coach Josh McDaniels went back to the Patriot well Tuesday as he remakes his defensive line.

The Broncos signed New England defensive end Jarvis Green. He signed for four years in a deal that will be worth a maximum of $20 million. Denver signed Baltimore defensive tackle Justin Bannan last week.

Both Green and Bannan should play significantly. Last year, Denver’s starting defensive ends were Kenny Peterson and Ryan McBean, and the nose tackle was Ronald Fields.

The Broncos are still trying to get a deal done with former San Diego nose tackle Jamal Williams to play him in a rotation.

Green is a solid but not a spectacular player. He started 12 games and he had one sack last season. Green, a veteran in the 3-4 scheme, has 28 sacks in eight seasons.

With all of the moves Denver is making on the defensive line, it may mean the Broncos will not use an early-round pick on a defensive lineman.

Meanwhile, it is being reported Denver could make a run at Tennessee veteran center Kevin Mawae.