Author: Bob Morris

I'm a sports writer in real life, though I've always focused on smaller communities, but that hasn't stopped me from learning more about some of the ins and outs of the NFL. You can follow me on Twitter @BobMorrisSports if you can put up with updates on the high school sports teams I cover.

Who Is PFF’s Top-Rated 2015 First Round Pick?

You can see for yourself.

23. Denver Broncos: Shane Ray, DE (PFF Grade: +6.2)

Ray has been a force throughout preseason, and is a little unlucky that second-year teammate Shaquil Barrett is stealing his thunder and doing even better. Ray has a sack in each of his last two games and has graded positively against both the run and pass in each preseason outing. He will have to fight for playing time during the season, but could have a real impact as a situational option.

The only point I take exception to is that Ray is a “little unlucky” about Barrett. If anything, it’s every Broncos opponent who is a “little unlucky” to have to contend with multiple pass-rushing threats from a deep Broncos defensive unit.

In The Interest Of Fairness…

…we bring to you Drew Magary’s season preview for the Denver Broncos.

Needless to say, he does provide an unfortunate reminder for Broncos fans.

What else is new? Oh, right! Pat Bowlen’s son is an accused woman beater. And so is Elway’s kid! When the Broncos front office isn’t getting tagged for DUI, it’s dragging you down the stairs by your ponytail.

He also brings the marijuana jokes, as one might expect.

This NFL Problem Won’t Go Away Any Time Soon

The first trailer for “Concussion” has been released, generating much discussion about how the film, to hit theaters on Christmas Day, will paint the NFL regarding its previous attempts to cover up the effects of concussions on players.

Now comes this USA Today article which covers scenes in early script drafts that were removed, most that would not make the NFL happy.

There will be those who may believe the public is simply tired of these issues and wants them to go away. And, no, there’s no sign that the NFL is going to go out of business if the public does get too upset.

But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking the concussion issue will just go away, particularly if the movie gets strong reviews from critics and theater goers. If it does get strong reviews, it’s more likely the issue becomes a greater problem for the NFL to confront.

Notable Cuts Around The NFL, Aug. 31

The most notable cuts around the NFL as of Monday morning, Aug. 31.

Tim Jennings, CB, Bears: This may be the biggest surprise. Jennings is 31 years old but his $4.4M salary is fully guaranteed. If the Bears are thinking Jennings will just sign for that amount with another team, that’s not going to happen. Teams won’t have incentive to offer more than the veteran minimum of $970,000 and Jennings will take it, knowing the Bears will have to pay him the bulk of the salary he is due.

Donald Thomas, G, Colts: Thomas was activated from the PUP list and cut this morning. The Colts obviously made this move because Thomas was healthy enough to release without paying an injury settlement. Don’t ask if the Broncos will be interested; the answer is no.

Fred Jackson, RB, Bills: He’s a popular player, but at 34 years old, it made little sense to keep him. I suspect he’ll find another team, but it won’t be the Broncos, who have enough young backs who can contribute.

J.D. Walton, C, Dolphins: An old friend of ours failed to make the cut in Miami as a backup to Mike Pouncey. Again, don’t count on the Broncos bringing him back, especially given how Matt Paradis has impressed in the preseason.

Broncos Cutting Roster Down To 75

I imagine some of you will not be happy with the decision to part ways with Spencer Lanning. I can only assume that the Broncos didn’t find anybody they were comfortable with as the holder for PATs and field goals, a role that Colquitt fills.

I am not surprised Dysert is gone. It is pointless to keep four QBs when it’s clear Dysert won’t make the final cut and you need to see what other players can do in the final preseason outing.

The Stewart cut likely means Kapri Bibbs will get his chance to prove himself against Arizona.

Along with placing Jeff Heuerman on IR and the pending trade of Chris Clark, the Broncos have made 12 moves with three more to go.

ETA: Here is the more detailed list of the Broncos’ roster moves as of Monday morning, Aug. 31.

Tanier: How To Reduce Preseason ACL Injuries

Mike Tanier has a great article about how NFL teams can reduce preseason ACL injuries without having to eliminate the games.

One point he brings up is that the CBA requirements about offseason training may have done more harm than good.

The 2011 collective bargaining agreement added a dizzying array of restrictions on offseason training. The nine-week OTA period is broken into three phases. Strength and conditioning, with no on-field work, is limited to the first three-week phase. After that, coaches can schedule 90-minute on-field practices, while players are only required to be at the team facility for four hours; factor in everything from meetings to suiting up, and conditioning gets the short shrift.

The CBA rules were designed to severely limit full-contact practices and keep coaches from requiring 60-hour work weeks in May, both worthy goals from a player-safety standpoint. But the rules squeezed out much of the offseason conditioning work. That’s a problem, because the exercises and drills that can prevent ACL tears and soft-tissue injuries take additional time and must be reinforced over a series of weeks.

There’s more discussed about what NFL teams should do, based on medical research.

While there are legitimate arguments to make about changing the preseason, we do need to ask ourselves if the changes are really going to help reduce injury risks as much as they think they will.

Midweek Musings: Those In Danger Of Being Sept. 1 Cuts

Evan Mathis is officially a Bronco and Connor Barth is gone, but these roster moves won’t be the only ones the Broncos will have to make in the coming days.

That is because on Tuesday, Sept. 1, all NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 75 players, meaning each team will have to make a decision about 15 players.

The players who make up the first wave of cuts usually fall into three categories:
Continue reading Midweek Musings: Those In Danger Of Being Sept. 1 Cuts

Gut Reaction: Broncos Sign Evan Mathis

It was just a few weeks ago that some of you were wondering if the Broncos might bring in another veteran lineman. Well, look no further as the Broncos have signed former Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis to a one-year deal.

Mathis was very good last season, ranked by Pro Football Focus as one of the top guards in the NFL. He’s 33 years old, though, so one has to wonder how much he has left in the tank.

So why would the Broncos bring him on board? Does it mean they might look at more veterans? Let’s consider a few possibilities.
Continue reading Gut Reaction: Broncos Sign Evan Mathis