Broncos fall to Bears in pre-season game 3

Heckled and harassed by a hostile crowd, Jay Cutler silenced the jeers the best way he knew how — with his powerful right arm.

The Chicago quarterback played the role of villain to perfection in his return to Invesco Field, leading the Bears team to a 27-17 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

"This isn't your everyday situation," Cutler said.

Far from it.

Cutler had a very public spat with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels after Cutler decided he didn't want to play for him anymore. The rift came to a halt on April 2 when the Broncos dealt Cutler to Chicago for Kyle Orton and a handful of picks.

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Denver and Chicago duke it out in Mile High City

Well the Bears win the game, but I must say that the Broncos did better than I thought they would. Except for an unfortunate 2nd half fumble they might have actually won the game, or at least forced overtime. Also, sloppy play producing penalties of about 100 yards for the Bears was a factor.

Take out the penalties and that fumble, and the Broncos win the game!

This is kinda hard for me since I hit McDaniels hard on this blog for trading Cutler, but it is the truth that as the season approaches, I feel the Broncos might do better than I originally believed they would.

I am impressed overall, and I am looking forward to the team getting sharper and smarter before the first regular season game. They actually look pretty good

Brandon Marshall Suspended Today

Finally McDaniels has gotten tired of the prima donna attitude of Brandon Marshall. Brandon saw that it worked for Cutler, so he wants the same kinda deal, but guess what? He waited too long to make his move. Now he is in violation of his working contract and he didn't even bother to memorize the playbook. Too bad, so sad. His majesty has been suspended.

Here's the press release out of Englewood:
Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason by the club for conduct detrimental to the team, it was announced Friday.

At a press conference later in the day, first-year head coach Josh McDaniels said the suspension will carry through to September 5. The Broncos' final preseason game is on September 3 against Arizona, while their season-opener is September 13 at Cincinnati.

McDaniels explained that the suspension was levied because of a "cumulative number of things," though he did not get more specific. Marshall has been pushing for a trade after his requests for a new contract were rebuffed, but a series of events Wednesday provided the most recent evidence.

Marshall was given a warning about his conduct before practice Wednesday, but proceeded to display instances of counterproductive behavior. The Denver Post reported Marshall was indifferent in running drills and did not run routes or makes catches in another drill, while Denver TV station KMGH aired clips of Marshall punting a ball away after a drill and swatting at a pass thrown his way.

"His actions didn't really change after that warning," said McDaniels, who told Marshall of the suspension Friday morning.

As for the length of the suspension, McDaniels said the team tried to follow an escalating discipline schedule, aiming to employ a suspension long enough to discourage Marshall's behavior without throwing the book at him.

"You don't just come out and throw out the most significant discipline at a player you can," McDaniels said.

He added that the team will look forward to having Marshall back on September 6 to prepare for the Bengals, and Marshall is certainly a key cog to the team's offense.

The explosive wideout has led the team in receptions the last two seasons, logging at least 100 in each, and is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection. In three seasons with Denver, Marshall has accumulated 226 receptions for 2,899 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Marshall was also given a three-game suspension from the NFL last August for violating the league's personal conduct policy, though it was later reduced to one game after his appeal.

But despite Marshall's behavior, McDaniels said the sides were trying to work through the situation.

"It's going to take two sides who want to make this work, who want to make this better," McDaniels said.

McDaniels has had a rocky start to his tenure in Denver. The former New England offensive coordinator made an attempt to acquire former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, who was later dealt to division-rival Kansas City. The overture did not sit well with incumbent signal-caller Jay Cutler, who demanded a trade and was eventually dealt to Chicago.

"Get to Work Brandon" (my own comments)

Cutler and McDaniels talking nice in public ... but

Yesterday there were media releases concerning how both Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels were talking nice about each other to there respective media. All very professional and nicey nicey, but underneath I know what they are really thinking, and really wanting to say.

Cutler is likely to get booed by the crowd in Invesco Mile High Stadium when the Bears come to town this coming Sunday, August 30th. What they really want to say is ......

Jay Cutler - "Yeah, we are coming to Denver and we are going to beat his team bad, and teach him a lesson".

Josh McDaniels - "Yeah, when they get here we are going to beat his team up and teach him a lesson".

Well anyway, that is just my opinion of what they are really thinking and wanting to say!

Broncos Claimed Antwain Spann off Waivers from Buffalo

The Broncos on Monday claimed defensive back Antwain Spann off waivers from Buffalo and waived rookie wide receiver Travis Shelton.

Spann is a fourth-year player who competed in training camp with the Bills before he was waived on Friday. He played for New England from 2006-08 and entered the NFL with the New York Giants in 2005 as a college free agent from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

For his career, Spann has appeared in 19 career regular-season games and totaled 11 special-teams tackles along with one defensive stop. He also has played in three playoff contests for his career, posting two special-teams tackles. Spann saw time in a career-high 10 games with the Patriots last year and registered four tackles on special teams and one defensive stop.

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Broncos lose but looked better than I expected

So I watched most of the game last night against Seattle. I was impressed with the play execution the Broncos had during the first 2 quarters. They seem to have developed a series of fast action short yardage pass plays, and they performed these plays well. I was both surprised and impressed.

Things fell apart later with more interceptions and some botched plays, but my take on this is that they do have a winning strategy in the play selection because Seattle's defense was very off balance during a good part of the 1st and 2nd quarters.

They have to keep it up over the entire game for all 4 quarters!

The other problem I see is RED ZONE-ITIS. Again, like last year with Cutler, they get a lot of offense but can't get in the zone and get the 6. That is the other part but overall I was impressed with the game performance by the Broncos and Orton.

Orton completed 18 of 26 passes for 182 yards. He threw one interception. Orton played into the third quarter. It is clear Orton will be given every opportunity to keep his starting job.

Broncos see quiet steady progress in Seattle

They need to get the Headphones working!

Denver And Seattle in August Preseason game

The Broncos head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in their second preseason game of 2009, and look to build on some progress shown in a narrow 17-16 loss in last week's exhibition matchup in San Francisco.

The last time the team played against Seattle in a preseason game, the Broncos totaled 206 rushing yards, including 120 by Mike Anderson, and the defense posted five sacks in a 19-3 win.

Any predictions about tonight's game? Since preseason games do not count, they often do not interest me. Football games like this are fun, and we get to see may different people in many different positions, but usually they mean even less to me than practice does. However, stats and bragging rights are at stake, so I will watch just for awhile and see what gives.

Interceptions were the story last week and it makes me wonder; How is Cutler doing over at Chicago? Not bad as I read it, but let the pundits handle that part. Anyway, maybe this new guy we have at QB will develop a good hand off routine and some guys will run some plays and get some first downs?

My prediction for tonight is Denver 27 Seattle 23

Well what the heck? Seems about right, unless they mess it up.

Brandon Marshall miffed again with Denver Broncos

Brandon Marshall miffed again with Denver Broncos

Associated press - ARNIE STAPLETON

(this just goes on and on, apparently without end)

Brandon Marshall has one more reason to be miffed at the Denver Broncos.

Marshall, who is unhappy with his contract and wants either a raise or a trade, is annoyed with the way the team handled his acquittal on misdemeanor battery charges last week, a person close to him told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Marshall learned upon rejoining the team that a member of the Broncos' public relations staff told his teammates after their preseason opener at San Francisco on Friday night that they shouldn't gloat over his acquittal hours earlier in an Atlanta courtroom.

The Denver Post, quoting a person it didn't identify, reported that players were told not to say they were happy for Marshall but instead to say it was good for the organization that the issue was behind them.

Marshall was told the staffer was acting on his own but figured the directive came from someone higher up in the organization, so he met with Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis, who apologized to him Monday, the person familiar with the matter told the AP.

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Where change abounds, the Broncos new Team

McDaniels is a coach with his own plan and he believes in his own way. All the players are amazed by the swift and precise manner in which practices are conducted. Shanahan held camp practices that were fairly relaxed. Mike Shanahan believed in making sure his troops were rested and prepared for Sundays, but he did not overwork them in camp.

The Broncos future may depend on whether the defense can make it work. They have compiled a sold back eight, if everyone stays healthy. But the key in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense is the front three, and this current defensive unit is inexperienced. Kenny Peterson and Ryan McBean at end and Ronald Fields at nose tackle have two combined starts in the past two NFL seasons. The three starters are big and stout, but unproven in real NFL play.

What is the future of this team? Just a few weeks to find out. Shall we run it up to 8 and 8, or it that too high? Am I being pessimistic?

Broncos sticking with Orton despite interceptions

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Kyle Orton only needs to worry about correcting his mistakes, not looking over his shoulder.

New Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is standing behind his struggling quarterback, whom Denver acquired this spring in a trade with Chicago. That deal sent Pro Bowl passer Jay Cutler to the Bears after his relationship with McDaniels soured.

Orton threw three interceptions on three straight first-half series in Denver's 17-16 exhibition loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while his backup, Chris Simms, threw two touchdown passes.

McDaniels said it's too early to think about pulling the plug on Orton, who was booed for his poor play and two interceptions in a free scrimmage at Invesco Field last week, dampening what was supposed to be a night of fun.

"I feel very confident where we're at," McDaniels said after the game. "He made a few mistakes, but we're not going to go into this thing after the first preseason game and start tailspinning and doing thisand that and making knee-jerk reactions."

The bigger issue facing the Broncos could be the health of top draft pick Knowshon Moreno, who went to the locker room in the second quarter with a leg injury. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Saturday.

McDaniels didn't hesitate to play Moreno against the Niners even though he had practiced just five times after ending an eight-day holdout by signing a five-year, $23 million contract.

The Broncos return to the field Sunday, and wide receiver Brandon Marshall, fresh off his acquittal in a misdemeanor battery trial in Atlanta, could return for the first time since pulling up lame on a deep route Aug. 2.

As for his quarterback, McDaniels named Orton his starter in June. Coaches say he's come a long way in learning the intricate Patriots' style offense that requires the quarterback to make plenty of decisions at the line of scrimmage.

But he's struggled to put together any consistency, throwing several interceptions in one practice and then looking picture perfect the next.

"I'm not pressing at all," Orton said. "I'm trying to get comfortable with the offense and get ready for the first game."

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New season is just 3 games away - will we make at least 6 and 10 this year?

Since McDaniels decided to trade Cutler that guy's Chicago jersey has become the most popular jersey in the NFL inventory. Everyone in Chicago wants one, and it seems they understand that they got the best end of the deal.

Bronco offense will have to develop a superior running game to offset the lack of Cutler. Orton is ok, and would be great as back up, but he is no way talented enough yet to be called one of the best 25 QBs in the league.

As I see it the Broncos will have to score a lot to offset the defenses lack of ability to stop the other top offenses in the league. They have a tough schedule ahead, after the next 3 pre-season fun games are finished. So far, they look pretty rough on execution.

I was never behind any of the stuff the Bronco ownership did in the spring, including the trade for Cutler. McDaniels is confident, but it is not him on the field, it will be Kyle Orton. Brandon Marshall will be a good asset out there, but since he and Cutler were a good team, there goes another learning curve that could take a lot of games to overcome.

I want the Broncos to win. I want McDaniels to prove me and many other fans wrong, but I am not betting money on it. I want to be wrong, because this is MY Team. So, I am reluctantly predicting the inexperienced team will not do real well.

So what about 4 and 12 as a conservative estimate of what they will do this season? And if they finish less than 500, will the Bronco organization keep McD? All ahead of us but I am not sure of anything anymore. I wonder if Bronco ownership has a rational mind nowadays.

We will see very soon. The next 3 games simply will not be a good measure. That first season opener will be, and all the next few games after that as well. I do have a suggestion for them: Use trick plays like our team back in 1977 did. That was a riot, and it might help them to go with
6 and 10.

Do you have any better information than I do?

Brandon Marshall gets to Walk in Atlanta

This guy has nine lives at least, and has not used them all up yet. Really, let's hope he is done needing to use them! In Atlanta today, a six-person jury acquitted him on charges of misdemeanor battery in Atlanta.

The charges originated from an incident on March 4, 2008, when his girlfriend, Rasheedah Watley, accused the receiver of hitting her in the mouth and grabbing her neck during a confrontation at Marshall’s downtown condo.

"It's been almost over a year and a half and I'm just happy that now, legally and emotionally we can move forward and hopefully get past this thing," Marshall told reporters outside the courtroom. "For me, I'm excited about the opportunity just to start over. It's a new life almost."

At least Brandon's difficulties are not nearly as bad as Michael Vick's burdons.

Saccomano Book Signing Coming Up - Get There

Broncos Vice President of Public Relations Jim Saccomano will be signing copies of his new book - "Denver Broncos: The Complete Illustrated History" - at the Broncos Team Store at the store's training camp location at 13655 Broncos Parkway, Englewood, CO 80112 at 4:30 p.m. MDT on Monday Aug. 17.

"Denver Broncos: The Complete Illustrated History" is the first complete, illustrated account of the storied Denver Broncos. This book tells the full story of the charter AFL team's wild ride from its humble beginnings in 1960, through its emergence as a powerhouse in the late 1970s behind the "Orange Crush" defense and quarterback Craig Morton, to its rise to dynastic standing with John Elway at the helm.

Saccomano, who has worked for the team for 32 years and is a lifelong Broncos fan, profiles star players, recaps seasons and crucial games, and the stories behind the great teams accompanied by hundreds of color and black-and-white images documenting the team's history.

Come out and meet Jim and get a copy of Broncos history!

Get Bronco Gear, Collectibles and Memorabilia Here

Broncos' Marshall to appear in Atlanta court

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall is set to appear in Fulton County State Court on a misdemeanor battery charge.

He is scheduled to appear before Judge John R. Mather Thursday morning.

The charge stems from a March 2008 argument with then-girlfriend Rasheedah Watley at Marshall's downtown Atlanta condominium.

Marshall was suspended for last year's season opener after a series of domestic disputes. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said a conviction in this case could lead to a second suspension.

Broncos add RB Marcus Thomas

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday added RB Marcus Thomas to the roster. Thomas was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In just over 16 months, Thomas has had a wild and crazy ride with the NFL:

• He was drafted in April and waived during final cuts by the Chargers.
• He played in three games for the Detroit Lions last year before being waived in October.
• The Dallas Cowboys added him to their practice squad at the end of the season
• The Cleveland Browns signed him to a future contract in January and waived him in June.

That makes the Broncos his fifth NFL team.

Hailing from Texas El-Paso, Thomas enjoyed some success in college, finishing his career as the Miners’ fifth all-time leading rusher (2,615 yards) and third-leading scorer (26 rushing touchdowns) while racking up a school-record seven 100-yard games.

Broncos’ Marshall out of starting lineup

Brandon Marshall(notes) may have been the best receiver the Denver Broncos had last year but he's apparently on the second team this season.

Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that he hasn't shown up to any workouts except on the first two days of camp due to a hamstring injury and an apparent disdain for what the Broncos are currently paying him (a teensy $448,000, according to FOXSports). Because of that, the team is finally thinking that maybe he won't be around when push does come to shove and the season gets underway so the Broncos are listing him on the second team, according to the Denver Post.

The receivers will be first on the field are Eddie Royal(notes), Brandon Stokley(notes), and Jabar Gaffney(notes).

Source: Denver Post

Related: Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

Knowshon Moreno agrees to terms with Broncos - Gets on Board

The Broncos have agreed to terms with their top pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, running back Knowshon Moreno.

Moreno, the 12th overall selection in April's draft, sports a collegiate track record that includes 2,734 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns in two seasons at the University of Georgia. He also made his mark on the Southeastern Conference record book, averaging 105.15 rushing yards per game -- good for seventh in league history.

"I'm a high-motor guy -- tough, hard-nosed, a hard runner, can make you miss at times, and just competitive," Moreno said. "I love to play the game and I bring that energy to my team."

Moreno brings that energy out of the backfield as well, pulling down 53 passes for 645 yards and two scores with the Bulldogs. And in the eyes of Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Moreno has a final intangible that's crucial for success at the pro level.

"One of the things that nobody will talk too much about is his pass protection," McDaniels said. "For a college back, that is something that doesn't get a lot of recognition. This guy stands in there and he can put his face right in their numbers and he'll keep them off the QB. So certainly on third down as the player grows in our system and he becomes more comfortable with what we are doing, I think he could definitely give us that versatility."

Training Camp updates and new management methods for fans

This year, the Broncos are doing something a little different during training camp.

This Thursday, Aug. 6, the team will head to INVESCO Field at Mile High for an evening practice session, and it's free and open to the public!

The practice will run from 6 to 8 p.m., with the team in full pads. All players will sign autographs after the practice, an there will be a limited T-shirt giveaway for fans.

"We are all looking forward to going down there," Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. "Usually during this time of training camp, you get rejuvenated by going down there, putting the lights on and being in the stadium. It is a fun thing for all of us. Everybody is looking forward to it, and I hope there is a good turnout. I hope we put on a good show."

Come see McDaniels and his coaching staff lead the team through drills and several "live" scrimmage periods complete with some hitting. If you haven't made it out to Dove Valley for a practice session, here's your chance to get a first-hand glimpse at the 2009 squad in action, including new Broncos like Kyle Orton and Brian Dawkins, newly-signed rookies like Robert Ayers and Alphonso Smith and familiar faces like Eddie Royal and D.J. Williams.

The players themselves are excited for the opportunity.

"I'm very excited," Kenny McKinley said. "The young guys, we get to go and scrimmage each other and that type of thing. And then, it will be my first time going on the field into the stadium, so I'm very excited to go out there and perform."

Free parking is available on the south end of the stadium in lots A, B and C. Fans should enter the stadium through gate 10. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m.

For a complete training camp schedule, check out the Fan Information Guide on DenverBroncos.com, and check out the team's Training Camp page for continuing coverage throughout camp.

Come on out and support your Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Thursday!

Who is Josh McDaniels? Learn about your new head coach

Josh McDaniels was named the 12th head coach in Denver Broncos history on Jan. 12, 2009. The 33-year-old joined the Broncos after spending the previous eight seasons (2001-08) with the New England Patriots, including the last three years (2006-08) as the club's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

McDaniels was part of a New England franchise that won three Super Bowls, four AFC championships and six division titles while posting the NFL's best overall record (111-34 / .766) during his eight years with the club. The Patriots had seven 10-win seasons with him on staff, including the 2007 campaign when New England became the first team in NFL history to post a 16-0 regular-season record, as well as a league-high 14 playoff victories (14-3 postseason record).

Born on April 22, 1976, McDaniels is the sixth-youngest head coach in NFL history (32 years, 8 months) at the time of his hire and was the fifth youngest when he was named the Broncos' head coach. Raheem Morris, who was hired by Tampa Bay on Jan. 17, 2009, is four months younger than McDaniels and makes Denver's head coach the second-youngest active head coach in the league.

While he is the youngest head coach in the 50-year history of the Broncos, McDaniels' dynamic personality and organizational skills have already re-energized the entire franchise in just a short time in Denver. His previous experience came at the highest level while with the Patriots, whose standard of operation and success prepared him for the challenges of an NFL head-coaching position.

Led by Head Coach Bill Belichick and personnel director Scott Pioli, New England evolved into one of the most successful organizations in the NFL over that eight-year stretch with McDaniels on staff. He was a part of that transition at both the coaching and personnel levels, beginning his career with the franchise as a personnel assistant/coaching assistant in 2001 before moving into a coaching capacity on a full-time basis in 2002.

After working as a coaching assistant for two seasons, he was named New England's quarterbacks coach in 2004. The club promoted him to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on Jan. 20, 2006.

During three years (2006-08) as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, McDaniels directed a New England offense that led the NFL in points per game (28.8) while ranking second in the league in yards per game (370.8). The Patriots also committed the third-fewest turnovers (63) and ranked fourth in the league in third-down success (44.4%) under McDaniels during that three-year period.

In his five seasons (2004-08) with the Patriots handling positional coaching responsibilities, McDaniels guided six different players to a total of nine Pro Bowl selections. Quarterback Tom Brady was named to the Pro Bowl three times (2004-05, '07) under McDaniels, including the 2007 campaign when he earned league MVP honors, and ranked fourth in the league in passing yards per game (249.4) over those five years.

Despite a season-ending injury to Brady in Week 1, New England's 2008 offense finished the year with an NFL-best 356 first downs and ranked fifth in the league in yards per game (365.4) under McDaniels. His coaching helped backup quarterback Matt Cassel, who became a starter for the first time since high school, post the eighth-most passing yards (3,693) in the league. The fourth-year quarterback, who had attempted just 39 passes in his first three seasons, registered an 89.4 passer rating for the year while throwing 21 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions.

McDaniels' passing offense in 2008 featured wide receiver Wes Welker, who was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after finishing the year with the second-most catches (111) in the league. The slot receiver posted a league-high 758 of his 1,165 receiving yards after the catch while becoming one of eight players in NFL history and the first Patriot with consecutive 100-reception seasons.

Welker's 111 catches in 2008 combined with his club-record 112 catches in '07, his first year playing in McDaniels' offense, gave him the seventh-highest two-year reception total (223) in NFL history. New England's ground attack also was one of the league's best with McDaniels calling the plays in 2008, ranking sixth in yards per game (142.4) and fourth with 21 rushing touchdowns that were the most by the franchise in 27 seasons.

During the 2007 season, McDaniels helped the Patriots set numerous league offensive records en route to becoming the first team in NFL history to win its first 18 games and advancing to Super Bowl XLII. New England's 589 points (36.8 ppg.) and 75 touchdowns were the most in league history for a season while its 6,580 yards (411.3 ypg.) ranked seventh in league annals for a single campaign.

Individually, five Patriots earned Pro Bowl honors under McDaniels' coaching in 2007-Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss and three offensive linemen (center Dan Koppen, tackle Matt Light and guard Logan Mankins).

Brady, the league MVP, set an NFL record for touchdown passes in a season (50) and registered the third-most passing yards (4,806) for a year in NFL annals in 2007. Moss set a league record for touchdown catches (23) and totaled a franchise best for receiving yards (1,439). Welker's 112 catches tied for the league lead, set a New England record and marked the most receptions by a player in his first year with a new team in NFL history.

In his first year as the Patriots' offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2006, McDaniels' unit had the third-lowest three-and-out percentage (18.5) in the league and was fifth in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage (60.0). Brady continued his success under McDaniels, ranking seventh in the league in passing yards (3,529). McDaniels' offense also was one of only two in the NFL to feature two running backs with at least 740 rushing yards (Corey Dillon and rookie Laurence Maroney) and included one Pro Bowl selection (Light).

As quarterbacks coach with New England from 2004-05, McDaniels worked closely with Brady, helping him earn consecutive Pro Bowl honors. In that two-year period under McDaniels' instruction, Brady ranked second in the NFL in touchdown passes (54) and fourth in both passing yards (7,802) and completions (622).

In 2005, Brady led the NFL with a career-high 4,110 passing yards that marked the third-best season mark in Patriots history. With McDaniels handling positional coaching responsibilities for the first time in his career as quarterbacks coach in 2004, Brady registered a career-best 92.6 passer rating.

McDaniels earned the third Super Bowl ring of his career at the end of the 2004 campaign with New England's 24-21 win against Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

He was named a coaching assistant by the Patriots in February 2002 with his responsibilities including film breakdown and scouting chart preparations for the defensive staff. McDaniels acquired additional responsibility in 2003 working with the defensive backs on a New England squad that had a 14-2 record and won Super Bowl XXXVIII with its 32-29 win against Carolina.

The Patriots' Super Bowl win against the Panthers was part of their NFL-record 21-game winning streak in which they went more than a calendar year without a loss (Oct. 5, 2003 - Oct. 24, 2004).

McDaniels joined the Patriots as a personnel assistant/coaching assistant in 2001. In that capacity, he handled film breakdown and scouting preparation for the defensive staff on a club that captured Super Bowl XXXVI with its 20-17 upset win over St. Louis.

In 1999, McDaniels began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University. Working under Head Coach Nick Saban, he was part of a staff that helped the Spartans to a 10-2 record and a Citrus Bowl victory.

Initially recruited by John Carroll University (University Heights, Ohio) as a quarterback, McDaniels spent the majority of his collegiate playing career as a wide receiver from 1995-98 for the Blue Streaks. He was a college teammate of Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio, who was John Carroll's starting quarterback.

McDaniels graduated from the school in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Shula (Class of 1951) as John Carroll alums.

Born in Barberton, Ohio, McDaniels grew up in Northeast Ohio, one of the most football-rich regions of the country. He was a quarterback and kicker at Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, competing for a program that has received national recognition for its success and one located in the shadows of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The school plays its home games at Fawcett Stadium, site of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

McDaniels' father, Thom McDaniels, coached him at McKinley during his 16-year stint as its head coach from 1982-97. During that time, he became one of the state's most celebrated coaches en route to winning more games (134 / 134-42 overall record) than any coach in McKinley history. He continued his coaching career at Warren Harding High School (Warren, Ohio) and at Massillon Jackson High School (Massillon, Ohio).

Josh and his wife, Laura, have one son, Jack Thomas (5), and one daughter, Maddie (3).

Ayers Arrives at Dove Valley

The Broncos on Monday officially announced the signing of outside linebacker/defensive end Robert Ayers, whom they selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Ayers, the 18th overall selection in April's draft, started 14 games at Tennessee before joining the pro circuit. The 6-foot-3, 274-pounder lead the Volunteers in tackles for a loss during each of his final two years with the program, totaling 27.5 tackles for negative yardage over that stretch.

As a senior in 2008, Ayers earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors after leading the conference with 15.5 tackles for a loss in addition to pacing the team’s defensive line with 49 tackles.

Ayers began his collegiate career at Tennessee playing outside linebacker before making the switch to defensive end as a redshirt freshman. Now, Ayers is prepared to play both roles -- and possibly others -- during his first season with the orange and blue. He will likely do plenty of moving around in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme. According to Ayers, his role could fluctuate. He might be rushing from the nickel package at defensive end. If it's a base package, he could be at outside linebacker. At other times, he may be lined up at defensive tackle.

"This is a perfect defense for me," Ayers said. "Out of all 32 teams -- I’m not with the other teams -- but I don’t think there could be a better match for me. The way I play and the things I do well fit perfectly with this defense."

Only Knowshon Moreno remains unsigned.

Champ Bailey Returns to Practice with Team

Champ Bailey returned to the football field and also coach Josh McDaniels' good graces Saturday after failing his conditioning test 48 hours earlier.

The perennial Pro Bowl cornerback said at first he was angry with the Denver Broncos' new head coach but came to realize McDaniels made the right move in holding him out of Friday's two practices along with safety Renaldo Hill and defensive lineman Marcus Thomas.

"It bothered me a little, but I'm all for the right thing, you know?" Bailey said after the three veterans returned to action Saturday. "In the end, as long as I'm there Sept. 13 (for the season opener), that's all that matters."

Bailey and the others were banished to the team's weight room during Friday's practices, and Bailey acknowledged it was difficult for a team leader like himself to accept such a red-faced punishment.

"It's frustrating because one thing I want to do is always practice," Bailey said. "I don't want to be just a guy off to the side, and I've had my share of days doing that. So, I want to be out here practicing."

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