Thin Air

Here are the upcoming dates that the Broncos will be convening in the next few weeks:

• OTAs: May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4, June 15-18
• Minicamp: June 9-11

Hope for no more injuries!

If Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf can stick to her guns, it pretty much guarantees the inevitable departure of the Raiders from her city:

Raiders owner Mark Davis and his colleagues at the NFL might have to wait a long time to hear from Oakland and Alameda County on a plan to help finance a new $900 million stadium.

That’s because elected officials are in no hurry to help the team close a $400 million funding gap, partly because taxpayers in Oakland and Alameda County are still paying millions of dollars a year for the Coliseum renovations that lured the team back in the mid-1990s. And that debt won’t be paid off until 2026.

“That money we’re paying now is general-fund money we could spend on police, parks or libraries,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who has said she cannot support spending a dime of public funds for a new stadium.

Continue reading The Dark Side’s Groping in the Dark for a Stadium

Seattle Seahawks fans are attempting to crowdfund a contract extension for Russell Wilson.

Think about this, if every Seahawks fan donated $1 to this campaign, they’d easily reach the goal and, potentially, provide themselves with much more enjoyment as there will be more money to spend on other players, thus their team will be better. Sounds like a pretty simple investment, just use the money that you would have spent on a beer or two during the season.

Certainly there could be salary cap issues as far as what the NFL considers an appropriate source of revenue, although it’s not going to change much as far as how the Seahawks could structure a deal for Wilson.

With that said, the time it’s taking for Wilson and the Seahawks to agree to an extension likely has more to do with contract details such as contract length, how much money is fully guaranteed, etc. For example: If Wilson wants three years of full guarantees and Seattle won’t give him more than two, only continued negotiations will lead to a new contract, no matter how much is raised through GoFundMe.

Introduction

Hello all, hope all is going well. I just got done spending a nice Memorial Day with my family and ate some of the best steak of my life. No joke. My step-dad got a smoker from my mom last Christmas, and he has been cooking up a storm since early March. I can’t remember what type of steak we had, but I hope I can have some more before I have to leave.

I have also been learning a lot of football since the last time I wrote last December. I got the chance to volunteer for a Division I-AA football program in the Western United States and I am absolutely loving it. I get to break down film, fill out team scouting reports, sit in on staff meetings for both offense and defense, watch live practices, and run the occasional errand for the coaching staff. They have even given me some of their apparel for me to wear so I don’t look like a hobo in my ripped up hoodie and torn cargo shorts. Even though it has taken a lot out of my budget and paychecks so far, I am happy with where I am at and am getting the opportunity to learn from those who know a lot more than me about the game.

While it is nice, I am glad that I am currently on leave so I can save up enough money to stay up there for the upcoming season. It gives me a chance to enhance my knowledge of the game the way that I want to and I have enough time to write about what I have learned thus far. I am hoping to master every subject I write about so that if I need to explain it to someone else, I will be able to inform them clearly and directly.

That’s the main reason why when I was approached by Royalwithcheese and David Singer to write for the blog, I thought about it for a short period of time and took it. I felt like this was great developmental work for me and if I get the chance to put my knowledge to the test on pen and paper I can reaffirm what I know and don’t know.

Without further ado, lets get to it. Continue reading Introduction to RPOs: Part 1 (Bolt Concept)

With the news that Ray McDonald has been cut by the Bears swiftly after he was arrested a second time for an incidence of domestic violence, it’s spurned me to open up a discussion on what the NFL in general should do about disciplining such actions—especially since this could ensnare the Broncos soon regarding the ongoing investigation of Antonio Smith. My own thoughts are beyond the fold, and as always, I encourage you to give your own in the comments. Continue reading How should the NFL improve its disciplinary system regarding domestic violence?

Antonio Smith, who signed with the Broncos as a street free agent this offseason, is being investigated for child abuse. Here is TMZ’s report.

Sources connected to the case tell us … the accuser claims there are multiple incidents dating back to 2010.

We’re told the case was first reported to officials in Colorado back in November — but the case was forwarded to Texas, because that’s where the accuser says the alleged incidents took place.

FYI — Smith played for the Houston Texans from 2009 to 2013.

Mike Klis has a little more information.

Regarding why a case was first reported in Colorado last November, when Smith was with the Raiders last season, that’s hard to say. The Raiders and Broncos did play each other in early November, but that game was in Oakland.

Regardless, this case bears watching.

Carson Land Deal Closes For Shared Chargers-Raiders Stadium

One day after San Diego officials unveiled a financial plan aimed at keeping the Chargers in town, the team and the Oakland Raiders Tuesday completed a complex land transaction for 157 acres in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, where they are proposing a joint stadium. Mark Fabiani, the Chargers’ general counsel on stadium issues, told City News Service the transaction “that would enable the Chargers-Raiders joint venture to build an L.A. NFL stadium in Carson has officially closed this morning.”

The extra point rule for 2015 just changed. Snap for kick from the 15-yard line, 2-pt try stays at 2-yard line and defense can return.

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) May 19, 2015

Chris Harris and Von Miller ranked in the top 10 of Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players of 2015:

Coming so quickly off the back of a torn ACL, Harris’ season was scarcely believable. A positive grade in every single game, a season passer rating allowed below 50, no touchdowns allowed and less than 400 yards conceded on more than 700 coverage snaps. Throw in that he covered the slot for more than 250 snaps and Harris’ season is all the more remarkable.

PFF has more about what a great find Harris has been for the Broncos.

As for Miller, well…

Just another season of excellence as we have come to expect from Miller. Back on a full 16-game schedule, Miller recorded 74 total pressures, the second-best season of his short career in that regard. More than just a pure pass rusher, Miller continues to put his immense physical talents to good use in run defense, earning a grade above +20.0 in that area for the fourth straight season.

Here is more from PFF about Miller’s 2014 season.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/john-lynch-kubiak-s-2005-departure-hurt-the-broncos-051715

“I just felt like, and looking back I’ll always feel like we were never quite the same after Gary (Kubiak) left,” former Denver safety Jon Lynch said. “I think (then-head coach) Mike (Shanahan) didn’t feel the same, have the same confidence in how we were doing things. I think Gary was just, beyond what a great football mind, was somebody who just knew how to help push a team along.”