NFL: Denver Broncos news...

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:25 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos acquired 14-year veteran defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson from Miami on Saturday in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in next month's draft.

Wilkinson was selected by Cincinnati with the first overall selection in the 1994 draft out of Ohio State. He has played for the Bengals (1994-97), Washington (1998-2002), Detroit (2003-05) and Miami.

Wilkinson, who has 54 1/2 sacks in his career, has started all 16 regular season games eight times in his career, including three of the last four seasons. He joined the Dolphins after starting every game in three seasons with the Lions.

He was strictly a backup for the Dolphins last year, playing in 10 games and posting 14 tackles, breaking up three passes and forcing a fumble.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:27 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos signed free agent guard Montrae Holland to a one-year deal Saturday.

"I think it's a great fit for him," said Neil Schwartz, Holland's agent. "It's a great opportunity."

The 26-year-old Holland has played the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, starting 30 of the 52 games he's played. He was drafted in the fourth round out of Florida State in 2003.

Holland was expected to compete for the starting spot at right guard with Chris Kuper and Cooper Carlisle, who's a free agent and may not be re-signed.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:33 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN (TICKER) -- Champ Bailey has a Pro Bowl complement at the other cornerback spot.

The Denver Broncos on Friday acquired Dre' Bly and a sixth-round pick in 2007 from the Detroit Lions for running back Tatum Bell, tackle George Foster and a 2007 fifth-round pick.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Bly is entering the last year of a five-year, $22 million contract he signed with Detroit in 2003. Last month, he received permission to seek a trade.

The Broncos needed a starter at left cornerback after the tragic death of Darrent Williams, who was killed in a drive-by shooting after a New Year's Eve party in Denver.

Bly, 29, now pairs with Bailey, considered by many to be the NFL's best cornerback. In 2006, Bly had three interceptions, 18 passes defensed and four forced fumbles.

Bly spent his first four seasons with the St. Louis Rams and was a nickel back on the 1999 Super Bowl-winning team.

The Lions fill two needs with the trade, adding a 1,000-yard rusher and a tackle who started 45 games with the Broncos.

Bell, 25, led the Broncos with 1,025 rushing yards last season. He has a chance to become the feature back for the Lions as Kevin Jones is expected to miss the start of the 2007 season with a foot injury.

The acquisition of Bell may also signal that the Lions will not take Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson with the second overall pick in next month's draft.

Foster, a 2003 first-round pick, should move in as a starter at right tackle for the Lions, who yielded the second-most sacks (63) in the NFL last season.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:25 pm

ESPNRadio is reporting the Broncos have signed RB Travis Henry to a contract.

toddzilla · Post by **toddzilla** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:56 pm

GO BRONCOS!! All they need now is a ball hawking safety to learn from John Lynch.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:57 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

Update: TE Daniel Graham has agreed to a contract with Broncos, the Boston Globe reports. The deal is reportedly for five years and $30 million, with $15 million guaranteed.

Recommendation: He was considered the top tight end on the free agent market, and while the Broncos have Tony Scheffler and Stephen Alexander in the fold, it's hard to imagine that the team signed Graham for his outstanding blocking alone. Look for Denver to deploy Graham, who has displayed solid red-zone ability in the past, more as a pass-catcher than the Pats did in 2006.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:10 am

DENVER (AP) -- Jake Plummer poured a glass of water, took a giant gulp and then talked for almost five minutes about how he was officially retiring from the NFL before stepping away from the podium without answering any questions.

The Denver Broncos quarterback was in a hurry Friday. He had a handball tournament he needed to attend.

"I wanted to come in and tell you guys on camera and face-to-face that the speculation can stop tonight," Plummer said from the Denver Athletic Club. "You can know by the looking in my face and hearing my words that I am retiring from the NFL. At 32 years old, I'm running away from the game. Not in fear or fright, but health-wise. I'm healthy. I'm happy. I have a lot to look forward to in my life."

The Broncos traded Plummer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 3 for a conditional pick in the 2008 draft. The Bucs made the deal despite being aware of Plummer's retirement plans. He said on the Web site of The Jake Plummer Foundation last Saturday that he was retiring.

"Football has been awesome to me in many ways. I leave the game with my health and happiness, and look forward to the future," Plummer said on the Web site.

Yet there was still doubt whether he'd follow through with retirement. Maybe it was leverage to get traded to the Houston Texans so he could be reunited with former offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak?

Plummer doused the speculation.

"You don't have to chase me around anymore," he said. "There will not be a jersey that has an NFL patch right here (pointing to his chest). If (Broncos third-string quarterback) Preston Parsons gets in somehow, maybe I'll have his jersey on."

Plummer has three years left on his contract and was due $5.3 million in 2007. He led Denver to the AFC championship game two seasons ago, but lost his starting job after 11 games last season to rookie Jay Cutler. Plummer was 40-18 as Denver's starter, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs.

"I poured my heart and soul into this game, not just in the NFL, but in college and in high school," Plummer said. "I'm ready to move on with my life and try some new challenges."

One of those challenges is handball. He and his brother, Eric, were scheduled to play in the Colorado state handball doubles tournament this weekend.

"Life is grand, life is exciting," Plummer said. "I'm excited to move on, and encounter and take on new challenges with my life. ... I'm excited to see my family more, to be spending time with my friends. You guys can probably know that I'll be at a mountain, either at the bottom or the top of a mountain somewhere. Don't worry about Jake, he'll be fine."

Plummer went out of his way to heap praise on his teammates and how much they meant to him.

"Anything in the NFL I've ever achieved, anything I did that was positive, exciting, got you on your feet, I couldn't have done it without the guys surrounding me, the guys that gave me the love, gave me the energy," Plummer said. "If anything, that's the hardest thing -- I'll miss those guys."

Plummer gripped the edge of the podium and stared down.

"Just know I'm going to be fine," he said. "I appreciate everyone's support. So, thank you."

With that he retreated down the hall of the Denver Athletic Club to get ready for his handball match.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:56 am

DENVER (AP) -- Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him in Denver through the 2011 season.

Shanahan, 54, led Denver to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998. Since becoming head coach in January 1995, he has led the Broncos to seven playoff appearances and a 123-69 regular season record, best in the NFL over that span.

Although he's had just one losing season, in 1999, following John Elway's retirement, Shanahan has just one playoff win in the last eight seasons.

Team owner Pat Bowlen announced the extension Monday in a news release.

After failing to make the playoffs last season, Shanahan has overseen another major roster makeover this offseason.

The Broncos traded away quarterback Jake Plummer, running back Tatum Bell and offensive lineman George Foster and acquired cornerback Dre Bly, wide receiver Brandon Stokley, quarterback Patrick Ramsey, running back Travis Henry, tight end Daniel Graham and guard Montrae Holland, among other veterans.

Shanahan's victory total with Denver is 11th-best by one coach with one team in NFL history. Since he became their coach in 1995, the Broncos have led the NFL in points, total yards and yards rushing.

Shanahan was head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders from 1988-89. He has spent 20 years with Denver, joining the team in 1984 and also has served as wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

He ranks third among active coaches with 139 career wins, including eight in the playoffs.