"The circus was in town last year. Not Barnum & Bailey — Champ Bailey and Co.

The Broncos might have been dreary on the field with a 7-9 record, their first losing season in eight years. But with the colorful cast of characters assembled, it rarely was dull.

Todd Sauerbrun, Javon Walker, Simeon Rice, Sam Adams, Ian Gold and Travis Henry were unique personalities. They accounted for numerous off-field headlines and locker-room intrigue.

None is on the roster this season as players report to training camp today.

And it isn’t an accident.

After last season’s disappointing finish, team owner Pat Bowlen lamented a lack of “closeness ... togetherness ... and leadership” on the club and insisted upon a “different attitude” at Dove Valley.

The next three months were aimed at accomplishing just that, while simultaneously improving the on-field product.

Wanted: character

Free agents and draft picks were scrutinized for character and leadership qualities.

And in between, the Broncos tried to overlook receiver Brandon Marshall’s missteps because of his prodigious talent, hoping against hope the new group will rub off and bring further equilibrium to the roster in 2008.

“We had too many guys that probably had their own agenda vs. having the Broncos’ best interests at heart,” assistant general manager Jeff Goodman said, without naming names, about the 2007 experience.

“And so we tried to find guys who were going to put team before self and really care about the people around them more so than just themselves.”

Among the key newcomers who’ll take the field Friday for the opening of training camp are receivers Keary Colbert and Darrell Jackson; linebackers Boss Bailey and Niko Koutouvides; safeties Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree; and top draftees Ryan Clady at offensive tackle and Eddie Royal, another wideout.

“It’s too early to say conclusively how our character is, but it’s not too early to see signs,” tight end Nate Jackson said.

“And the signs are good. There are so many new guys here — and it seems like they’re good professionals and long-term guys.

“When you bring in proven veterans, you want those guys to set examples for the younger guys so they see, ‘This is how you do it.’ But the last couple years, there’s been such a big mixed bag of people it was hard for the younger guys to know which guys to follow.”

One reason for the confusion was the loss of some longtime leaders.

Injuries caught up to Rod Smith. Jake Plummer, a popular teammate, was traded. Al Wilson suffered a career-threatening neck ailment and was released. Ebenezer Ekuban missed the season because of injury.

“You need to gain guys that step into their place,” Jackson said. “And some guys have taken a while to do that.”

There also might have been residual effects from the offseason deaths in 2007 of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash."