Broncos News

"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 ..."

"Starters: D.J. Williams (weak side), Boss Bailey (strong side) and Niko Koutouvides (middle). Backups: Nate Webster, Jamie Winborn, Jordan Beck, Louis Green, Spencer Larsen, Wesley Woodyard. The lowdown: Williams will open the season in a different position for the fourth consecutive year, moving back to the weak side, where the Broncos believe he is most productive. Koutouvides will need a quality camp to hold off Webster for the starting spot in the middle — who makes the fewest assignment mistakes will likely decide the issue. Good to know: The Broncos have not had a linebacker other than Al Wilson named on defense to the Pro Bowl — Ian Gold went as a special teams player in ’01 ..."

"Starters: Michael Pittman (RB), Selvin Young (RB), Cecil Sapp (FB). Backups: Andre Hall (RB), Ryan Torain (RB), Peyton Hillis (FB), Anthony Alridge (RB). The lowdown: Once again, this figures to be one of the most-watched battles in camp. Mike Shanahan has committed to none of them as No. 1 just yet. Young, who has to stay on the field and out of the trainer’s room, and Pittman have the best chance. Torain has the ability to add some spice to the mix if he has a quality preseason. Good to know: After September last season, the Broncos had just one game in which a running back carried more than 20 times and averaged more than 4 yards a carry."

"Starters: Ryan Clady (LT), Ben Hamilton (LG), Tom Nalen (C), Montrae Holland (RG), Chris Kuper (RT). Backups: Erik Pears (T), Ryan Harris (T), Dylan Gandy (G), Casey Wiegmann (C), P.J. Alexander (G/C), Mitch Erickson (G), Kory Lichtensteiger (C), Tyler Polumbus (T). The lowdown: This is certainly a group in flux. Clady needs to progress quickly or the Broncos will have to adjust protections to help him, which would certainly add predictability to the offense for opposing defenses. They will also keep a close eye on Hamilton, who is returning after missing all of ’07 because of a concussion. Good to know: Cutler was sacked 10 times — 37 percent of his season’s total — in the Broncos’ ..."

"Starter: Jay Cutler. Backups: Patrick Ramsey, Darrell Hackney. The lowdown: It is Cutler’s offense — his team — and to return to the postseason the Broncos need the third-year quarterback to make another jump on his career curve. They have worked with him to see — and use — the underneath routes more, to take the short completions when they are there and to believe that more big plays will follow as defenses are forced to adjust to his patience. Good to know: In the last two months of the season, a video review shows Cutler both completed and attempted more passes to his right than to his left or in the middle of the field."

"The end is here for one longtime Broncos great. And the beginnings for two potential franchise cornerstones remain temporarily on hold. A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday as an official send-off for Rod Smith, who'll go from the reserve list to retired. Expect no future Brett Favre-type drama in this particular case. Left hip issues and two subsequent surgeries have sapped Smith of the physical gifts that made him the Broncos' all-time leader in most receiving categories, a sure entrant to the Ring of Fame and a contender for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Smith's heart remains in the game, his 38-year-old body simply won't allow it. He finishes his ..."

"Starters: Matt Prater (PK), Sam Paulescu (P/KO). Backups: Brett Kern (P). The lowdown: With Jason Elam now kicking in Atlanta this is easily the biggest question mark hovering for a team that had four of its seven wins decided by three points or less in ’07. Prater has made all of one career field goal attempt — a 45-yarder. Good to know: The last time a player other than Elam attempted more than one field goal in a season for the Broncos was 2000, when Elam was injured and Joe Nedney attempted 10."

"Starter: Daniel Graham. Backups: Tony Scheffler, Nate Jackson, Mike Leach, Chad Mustard, Brett Pierce. The lowdown: Graham can dominate at the line of scrimmage, but he wants to be more involved in the passing game. Scheffler can be a down-the-field option if his foot injury is healed. Good to know: Scheffler, with 49 catches in ’07, was the first Broncos tight end to finish with more than 40 catches in a season since Shannon Sharpe had 62 in ’03."

"Starters: Brandon Marshall, Keary Colbert. Backups: Brandon Stokley, Darrell Jackson, Samie Parker, Eddie Royal, Glenn Martinez, Clifford Russell, Edell Shepherd, Marquay McDaniel, Lorne Sam. The lowdown: Cutler likes this group and believes there is production to be found. Colbert is looking to resurrect his career, and Marshall will have to show plenty of maturity, both on and off the field, in a year when the team likely will start to decide about the feasibility of a long-term deal. Good to know: Marshall tied for the team lead in penalties last season with seven."

"Fans attending training camp might have stars in their eyes - but it won't be the famous Dallas Cowboys emblem. The NFC powerhouse will be at Dove Valley for two days of joint practices Aug 13-14, leading to the preseason game Aug. 16 with the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High. But logistical issues with two full-squad NFL teams and their staffs, combined with the size of Broncos practice facilities, will prevent opening those workouts to the public. The Broncos will hold two-a- day practices in front of fans from Friday to Aug. 12, with the exception of the morning of Aug. 1. Those in attendance generally can't get any closer to the action. The Broncos allow fans to sit on the hill ..."

"Starters: Champ Bailey (CB), Dré Bly (CB), Marlon McCree (S), John Lynch (S). Backups: Domonique Foxworth (CB), Karl Paymah (CB), Jack Williams (CB), Marquand Manuel (S), Hamza Abdullah (S), Josh Barrett (S), Roderick Rogers (S), Christian Morton (CB), Lamont Reid (CB). The lowdown: This group also will fight it out for playing time. Lynch might be looking at spot duty, playing mostly on run downs if the offseason minicamps are any indication, and Foxworth could push Bly for a starting spot if he can consistently turn his quality assignment football into impact plays. Good to know: The six defensive backs who started last season — Bailey, Bly, Lynch, Abdullah, Foxworth and Nick ..."

"For Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, the team’s 2007 season was all about the feel. And Bowlen, who is now in his 25th year at the helm of the franchise, didn’t like the feel of things when he walked through the Broncos locker room last season — “something was missing” is how he has described it — and certainly didn’t like the feel of the team’s 7-9 finish for its second consecutive playoff miss. “I think when it was all said and done, everybody didn’t like the taste in our mouths,” safety John Lynch said. “That is something this organization isn’t used to, something Mr. Bowlen isn’t used to, and something we don’t want to be used to.” So with the disappointment came another offseason of change. ..."

"Brandon Marshall has been sent to the NFL's version of the principal's office. Two NFL sources said Marshall, the Broncos' star receiver who had 102 receptions last season, met Friday morning with league commissioner Roger Goodell in New York. Accompanying Marshall during the 2 1/2-hour meeting were his attorney, Harvey Steinberg, and veteran Broncos receiver Rod Smith, who will announce his retirement this afternoon at the team's headquarters. The purpose of the meeting was not to discuss the Broncos' chances of rebounding from back-to-back disappointing seasons. Of concern was the list of Marshall's off-field troubles that grew in the past year. Goodell is expected to announce a decision ..."

"The Broncos haven't yet had their first day of training camp, and already Eddie Royal has had a big day.

First, the Broncos gave him a new number Wednesday. Then they gave him a new four-year contract.

The new jersey number is 19. He had been wearing No. 3 during the offseason minicamps. The contract numbers are much larger: The guarantee is worth nearly $2.25 million, with the total package coming in at around $3.9 million.

More important, Royal will be back deep, ready to catch the first punt and kickoff of training camp Friday as he bids to become the Broncos' top returner in 25 years.

Rarely has the return game been a Broncos strength since Rick Upchurch retired in 1983. ..."

"As the current Broncos prepare to report to training camp on Thursday, the franchise's most famous player is readying himself for an entirely different game.

John Elway will be among the field teeing off Thursday in the Colorado Open at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, and Elway set a goal to at least make the cut. It's a realistic expectation, considering the Hall of Fame quarterback is a zero handicap and won the club championship at Castle Pines earlier this summer.

The crowd gathered in the pavilion outside the Green Valley Ranch clubhouse applauded when Elway admitted his handicap during a press conference following Wednesday's Pro-Am.

"Hopefully I can make the cut, that's ..."

"The Broncos have reached an agreement in principal on a four-year deal with No. 2 draft pick Eddie Royal, who is expected to become the No. 1 punt and kickoff returner.

More details on Royal's signing will be in the Thursday edition of The Denver Post and DenverPost.com.

With Royal signed, the only Broncos player not under contract is first-round pick, Ryan Clady. However, negotiations have been progressing and the Broncos and their rookie left tackle are expected to reach an agreement on a six-year contract by Thursday night."

"Forget about the diabetes, the size of Jay Cutler's biceps or his agility in the pocket. John Elway said Wednesday that whatever success the Broncos' offense has this season will have more to do with Cutler's mind than his body. That's because Cutler, entering his third season %u2014 but first since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes %u2014 should be at the point where he is comfortable enough to just play, Elway said as he prepared to play in this weekend's Colorado Open at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. "Really, in the NFL it is all about reaction. After three years you are pretty comfortable with what goes on," Elway said. "I'm sure we'll see a lot better Jay Cutler than we have in ..."

"Rod Smith. Hall of Famer? Given the Broncos' track record in these matters, it's hard to envision it happening. They've been blocking and tackling since 1960 and have one player in the Hall who spent all or most of his career in Denver. That, of course, is John Elway. Then there's Gary Zimmerman, who played five seasons in a Broncos uniform after playing seven years in Minnesota and two in the long, lost USFL. Zimmerman will be enshrined next month. That's it. Beyond those two, Tony Dorsett and Willie Brown provide the only Broncos presence in the Hall, and their days in Denver can only be found in the fine print of their careers. Lifelong Broncos such as Randy Gradishar, Billy Thompson, ..."

"Rod Smith, who leads all undrafted players in NFL history in every major receiving category and had nine consecutive seasons with at least 70 catches, on Thursday is expected to officially announce his retirement. The 38-year-old has undergone two hip surgeries and did not play a down in 2007 but stayed around the team, attending practices and meetings. He has been on the Broncos' designated as reserve/retired list, meaning he is not on their roster but they retain his rights if he had returned. A news conference involving Smith has been scheduled for 2 p.m."

"Rod Smith, the Broncos' all-time leading receiver in nearly every category, has decided to retire. The Broncos and Smith will hold a 2 p.m. news conference Thursday. Smith, 38, missed all of last season with a serious hip injury so his retirement has been expected for nearly a year. An undrafted free agent who signed with the Broncos in 1994, when Wade Phillips was the coach, Smith finishes with 849 receptions, 11,389 receiving yards and 68 touchdown receptions."

"As he looks back now, as Jeremy Bates peels away the pages of calendars gone by, it's clear to him the roots of his coaching career stretch deep into his childhood. Deep enough to reach him as a kindergartner in Lubbock, Texas, deep enough that he can only now shake his head, offer a quick chuckle and remember how it all began. Muzzled. And hopeful. But very muzzled. "It was real early, I guess," said Bates, 31, now in his first season as the Broncos' quarterbacks coach. "I was 5, I believe. I used to go to two-a-days with my dad at Texas Tech, and he only had one rule for me. "Only the one rule, and if I broke it, I just couldn't come any more, that would be it. I wasn't allowed to ..."

"It's not a depth chart so much as a warning. At cornerback, the Broncos have 10 combined Pro Bowls from starters Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Their experienced backups are former third-round picks Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah. This stacked position seems to be putting rookie Jack Williams on notice: Wait till next year, kid. And next year may open nicely for Williams with Foxworth and Paymah eligible for unrestricted free agency and Bly turning 32. Problem is, Williams is so eager about starting his NFL career, he hardly wants his first lesson to be about patience."

"The Broncos have reached an agreement in principle on a four-year contract with fourth-round draft pick Jack Williams, leaving only their first two draft picks unsigned. Williams, who played cornerback at Kent State, will receive a guaranteed signing bonus of around $450,000. With the Broncos scheduled to report Thursday evening for the start of training camp, only first-round pick left tackle Ryan Clady and second-round returner/receiver Eddie Royal remain unsigned."

"And then there were two. The Broncos on Tuesday agreed to a four-year contract with fourth-round pick Jack Williams, leaving only the first-day duo of April draftees remaining on their pre-camp, to-do list. Williams, a cornerback from Kent State, was the 119th overall selection and the second of two Denver fourth-round picks. Center Kory Lichtensteiger reached terms Monday."

"Mike Bell finally has gone from the doghouse to the outhouse. The one-time Denver Broncos starting running back, whose playing time diminished last season after a switch to fullback, was released Monday as the club began making room for rookie signings. Denver inked fourth-round pick Kory Lichtensteiger, a center from Bowling Green, to a four-year, $2.19 million deal that includes a $484,250 signing bonus. The team also was closing in on terms with the second of their fourth-round selections, Kent State cornerback Jack Williams. And with 80-man roster restrictions in place, Denver had to make some moves, since unsigned rookies were not counted toward the roster limit."

"It may not be in the first round. It may not be on the first day. But let there be no doubt: It pays to be drafted. Kory Lichtensteiger, widely considered by scouts as one of the top five interior offensive linemen prospects in the 2008 NFL draft, had to wait until the fourth round, No. 108 pick overall, before he was selected by the Broncos. Patience was rewarded Monday when Lichtensteiger agreed to a four-year contract with the Broncos that includes a signing bonus of approximately $485,000. A four-year starting center at Bowling Green, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound Lichtensteiger will also receive reps at guard for the Broncos."

"The once precipitous rise of running back Mike Bell has now reached bottom with the Broncos. Bell was released Monday along with rookie place kicker Garrett Hartley. Bell went from undrafted rookie free agent to No. 1 tailback in the Broncos' 2006 training camp. He eventually settled into the backup role and gained 677 yards as a rookie."

"Mike Bell not only had it all, he had it almost immediately. Born in Denver and raised here until he was 11, Bell needed just one week of his 2006 training camp to ascend from undrafted rookie to starting tailback for his hometown Broncos. Not even two years later, Bell is gone, released Monday by the Broncos. His precipitous rise was nearly matched by his rapid descent. He lost his starting job to Tatum Bell by the 2006 season opener, but Mike Bell still gained 677 yards and scored a team- high eight rushing touchdowns as a backup."

"The third time's supposed to be the charm. But here's Bob Slowik, on chance No. 4 as a defensive coordinator with the Broncos, via Chicago, Cleveland and Green Bay. What the heck do you call that? Good fortune, for starters. Perseverance. Hard work. "It just points out to me that you know he's good," said Dave McGinnis, now the Tennessee Titans assistant head coach and a member of the Bears' coaching staff with Slowik in the mid-1990s. "A lot of times you have to see through things that happen, such as, 'What were the injuries?' and get the overall picture.""

"All but four Broncos are under contract, ready to report in four days for the start of the 2008 training camp. The four players happen to be the Broncos' top four 2008 draft choices. Representatives for first-round pick Ryan Clady, second-round selection Eddie Royal and fourth-rounders Kory Lichtensteiger and Jack Williams will resume serious negotiations with Broncos executives today. The Broncos hope to have one or two of those draft picks signed by Tuesday and all four by Thursday night, when all players are to report for their first training camp meeting. The Broncos' first camp workout will commence at 8:30 a.m. Friday."

"Everybody has questions. How soon can quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco start in Atlanta and Baltimore? Where does Brett Favre play in 2008, if he plays at all? Is there another team such as the New York Giants that will come out of the shadows at playoff time to seize the Super Bowl? There are no ready answers in July and August. Training camp is a time to grind, but it's also a time for optimism. Let's set the stage for the NFL's 89th season."

"There wasn't much room for it, and there were the usual signs of neglect. No net. A rusted backboard. Bent rim. Nevertheless, the transportable basketball hoop had become a magnet for neighborhood activities. It was around suppertime, between downpours on a midsummer day, and the air was sweating. Moving within a 10-foot radius of the ironed circle were five boys, all shirtless, not an ounce of fat anywhere. There were smiles during horseplay, although there were hints the game was but a few minutes shy of serious. Girls were approaching from both sides of the road, oblivious to the boys, intent on conversation. The nearby yards were covered with green grass, toys and bikes, ..."

"If father knows best, the Broncos will be pleased. Roland Bailey Sr. thinks it's best for all concerned that Boss Bailey will be playing alongside his older brother Champ, formally if not formerly known as Roland Bailey Jr., on the Broncos' defense. "I think Boss will play better, play harder," Roland Sr. said about his youngest son. "He won't want to let Champ down." Boss Bailey agrees with his father about the positive influence he will draw by often lining up just a few feet away from his older brother on the left side of the Broncos' defense. Champ plays left cornerback, and Boss, as a strongside linebacker, will often line up off the tight end on the left side."

"By the time the Broncos play at Kansas City in their fourth game, safety John Lynch will be 37 and into his 16th, and likely final, NFL season. He was the league's oldest defensive back last year, so he has substantially outlived the standard shelf life. His nine Pro Bowl selections at the safety position are more than any Hall of Famer except Ken Houston, who had 10. Yet, during the Broncos' offseason mini-camps in May and June, Lynch ruminated on how for the first time since 1995, he is competing for a starting job. Lynch was playing alongside strong safety Hamza Abdullah with the No. 1 base defense in the offseason, but Marlon McCree, who had started the previous two years for ..."

"Yes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other 31:"

"Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler doesn't mind being mentioned in conversation about the NFL's stable of "Young Guns." Just don't label Cutler a gunslinger. "I don't feel like I'm a gunslinger," Cutler said, not long after whacking golf balls earlier this month on the driving range at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, where several of the NFL's top young quarterbacks competed in the American Century Championship. "I feel like every throw that I make is anticipated," Cutler said. "I know where I'm going with the ball, I'm not just throwing it anywhere and everywhere for fun. I don't mind it, but I don't think it's completely accurate.""

"The Broncos start camp Friday with the fresh scent of lavender baby powder. Last season, the Broncos stunk like a skunk. The stench could have been worse. They were close to stinking like a Titan Arum, a large, flowering plant that is indigenous to Sumatra and emits an odor considered by many botanists, and the people in Sumatra, to be the foulest on Earth. I've never sniffed a Titan Arum, but I got a whiff of the Broncos last season. They won only seven games, but their record easily could have been 3-13, down below the Oakland and Kansas City nether regions."

"To Broncos fans long accustomed to his silence, Gary Zimmerman might just pull off a shocker at his Aug. 2 enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "For the first time in my life, I have too much to say," Zimmerman said Thursday. Now, with the ceremony just more than two weeks away, Zimmerman is staying up late crafting his speech. And the man who rarely %u2014 if ever %u2014 spoke publicly while a member of the Broncos can't seem to stop the words from flowing. "The problem is, I've got twice as much as I need, so that's my issue right now," Zimmerman said. "I'm trying to cut it in half and not screw up the meaning of the whole thing.""

"In the nearly six months since Gary Zimmerman was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, at least one thing hasn't changed: His loyalty to the Broncos and owner Pat Bowlen. Zimmerman reiterated on Thursday morning that on Aug. 2 he will be enshrined in Canton a Bronco, with Bowlen presenting him. Zimmerman, arguably the best tackle in the 1990s, spent the first seven years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Broncos in 1993. He retired after Denver won its first Super Bowl in 1997. "For me, when I came to Denver, it was like when a dog gets taken to the pound, and you get a new owner, and your loyalty is to that new owner, and that new owner treats you ..."

"The Broncos on Wednesday signed fullback Peyton Hillis, their seventh-round pick (227th overall) in the 2008 NFL draft. Terms of the deal with the University of Arkansas product were not disclosed. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder totaled 2,624 career all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns as a three-year starter for the Razorbacks."

"An Arapahoe County jury Wednesday found Broncos cornerback Karl Paymah guilty of driving under the influence and careless driving. Paymah was found asleep or unconscious at the wheel of his Land Rover 50 yards off Arapahoe Road at South Parker Road at about 5 a.m. on May 26, 2006. Paymah was unconscious when officers pulled him from his vehicle, with the SUV still running and in gear, authorities said. His defense argued that the breath test was invalid. Officers in the case testified in the jury trial."

"The Denver Broncos signed seventh-round draft pick Peyton Hillis, a fullback from Arkansas who helped clear the way for two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden. Hillis gained 2,624 all-purpose yards and scored 23 touchdowns as a three-year starter at Arkansas, where he set school records for running backs with 118 career catches, 1,195 yards receiving and 11 TD receptions. He also rushed for 959 yards and a 4.7-yard average with 12 TDs."

"Two men accused of abducting, beating and robbing NFL player Javon Walker got new lawyers and another court date Tuesday from a judge who told them he'll consider requests to reduce bail later this month. "We need to find both of them new lawyers and reset the preliminary hearing," Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo said as Deshawn Lamont Thomas, 40, and Arfat Abdo Fadel, 30, appeared before him by videoconference from the Clark County jail."

"As one of few holdovers from the days the beams shook at Mile High Stadium, announcer Alan Cass was a familiar — and often infuriating — voice of the Denver Broncos. Cass, the Broncos' long-time public address announcer known for his prodding calls of "IN-COM-PLETE" after visiting team's dropped passes, retired after Denver's final home game last season. He was replaced in the booth Monday by Alan Roach, the gruff-pitched Colorado Avalanche announcer and former Colorado Rockies PA man."

"Alan Roach, who served as PA announcer for Rockies games from 1995 to 2006, will handle those duties at Broncos home games this season, it was announced today. The announcement was made by the Broncos and KOA-AM (850), for which Roach had worked as a Broncos sideline reporter since 2000. He replaces Alan Cass, who was the Broncos' PA announcer from 1988 to 2007."

"The New England Patriots didn't do much this off-season, which is why not much has changed in the American Football Conference. New England did lose All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, but otherwise looks like the same team that went 16-0 last season. The Patriots have won 20 regular-season games in a row, dating to a 21-0 loss at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006. They have broken their own NFL record of 18 consecutive victories set in 2003-04. The Indianapolis Colts, the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't change much in the off-season, either, which is why they are given the best shots to challenge the Patriots for AFC supremacy this season."

"The unfortunate comeback of Brett Favre just settled it. I root for a particular colored jersey, not necessarily the people wearing it. I grew up 40 miles west of Chicago rooting for the Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks ... and Green Bay Packers. (There is a pocket of us Chicago-area sports fans who found greater appeal in Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr and Ray Scott on national television than George Halas, Jack Concannon and Irv Kupcinet on radio.) Although by law of the press box I was forced 24 years ago to stop cheering and start impartially observing, long-buried green-and-gold-tinged nerves became agitated last week with the revelation Favre's retirement announcement in March was a ..."

"Travis Henry wasted what Broncos coach Mike Shanahan had called a "second chance" when the team released him June 2. Now, his NFL career teeters on the brink after league sources confirmed Friday that Henry, now a free agent who can sign with any team, faces a year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy in the weeks before the Broncos cut him. Henry didn't return calls Friday, and his agent, Hadley Engelhard, did not respond to a message."

"KCNC-Channel 4 will carry all four preseason Broncos games and 11 regular season games this season. The station will also carry five Broncos programs, airing Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 13 (bumped to 10:35 p.m. by U.S. Open Tennis on Sept. 6). Sports anchor Vic Lombardi will host the pre-season coverage beginning with the Saturday, August 9 Denver at Houston game. Sports reporter Gary Miller handles play-by-play duties and weekend sports anchor Reggie Rivers takes over color commentary."

"The Broncos were not aware the NFL had ruled Travis Henry again tested positive for marijuana prior to the team releasing the running back on June 2nd, two NFL sources said. A source close to Henry confirmed the league said he tested positive for marijuana in May. However, procedure in such instances limits the league to sending one letter to the players union, and one letter to the player notifying them of the positive test. Because of the drug program's confidentiality agreement, no notification is sent to the team."