September 29th, 2010 with 1 comment

Thrust Into Fullback, Gronkowski Finds Another Role

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – If Laurence Maroney had landed on the grass with the football over the goal line on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter last Sunday, the Broncos and their fans wouldn’t be beset with frustration over the team’s red-zone and goal-line struggles.

Instead, they might be talking about the block tight end Dan Gronkowski placed [...]

August 13th, 2010 with Comments closed

Five Observations: Aug. 13 Practice

The stadium practices have brought out the best in punter Britton Colquitt. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM)

1. Both stadium practices the last seven days saw plenty of punt work, and Britton Colquitt delivered each time. Friday morning, he blasted back-to-back punts of 66 and 53 yards on plays where the ball was snapped at the 1-yard-line, [...]

August 10th, 2010 with 5 comments

Five Observations: Aug. 10 Practice

Jamal Williams and Robert Ayers share a fist-pound before practice Tuesday. With Elvis Dumervil out indefinitely after Tuesday's surgery, the Broncos need Williams' gap-clogging, blocker-occupying presence more than ever. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM)

1. At times last week, the Broncos didn’t have a pure nose tackle to use in practice, with Jamal Williams on the physically-unable-to-perform [...]

May 17th, 2010 with Comments closed

On This Date: Chronicle of a Retirement Foretold

“I will leave one year too early instead of one year too late.”

Shannon Sharpe said that midway through the 2003 season, one which saw him score more touchdowns and average more yardage per catch than any year since the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl seasons. His productivity that year (62 catches for 770 yards and [...]