NFL combine and recent drafts show one thing (other than QB) the Broncos could really use By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 2, 2018

For years, the debate of the true value of running backs and the justification for selecting one high in the draft has raged as teams weigh need vs. want, and risk and vs. reward.

Only once in the last 30 years have the Broncos used their first-round selection on a running back — Knowshon Moreno in 2009 — and since John Elway joined the front office seven years ago, they’ve never drafted one higher than the 58th overall pick — Montee Ball in 2013.

“That whole dynamic of that position, in many people’s minds, losing value, but I think much like a quarterback, when there’s a great one, it’s tough to deal with,” Broncos Ring of Famer and 49ers general manager John Lynch said at the NFL scouting combine Thursday. “I know that from playing defense. So I think is that changing? I don’t know. I think everyone has their own perspective. But that is a position where you can affect a game in a great way.”

This year, as the Broncos’ search for another starting quarterback and a more efficient offense, and as other NFL teams find success with young and versatile backs, the prospect of nabbing a playmaker in the early rounds is alluring.

One like Leonard Fournette, the No. 4 overall pick last year, turned into for the Jaguars.

One like Alvin Kamara, the 2017 offensive rookie of the year who had nearly 730 yards rushing and almost 830 yards receiving, was in New Orleans.

One like Kareem Hunt, the league’s rushing yards leader, was in Kansas City.

One like Christian McCaffrey, the No. 8 overall pick in 2017, was in Carolina.

One like Todd Gurley, the 10th pick in 2015, became with the Rams.

And one like , a projected top-five pick with the speed, power and versatility to alter an offense as a rookie, could be in 2018.

“I talk about the last three or four running backs that went in the top 10, which were Fournette, Ezekiel Elliott went at 4, Gurley went at 10, McCaffrey went at 8. They’re the last four top-10 backs. They’ve all helped their teams become better,” NFL.com’s draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “I could make the case that this kid Barkley is the best of those guys, best of all five of them. He’s clean off the field. And he’ll be great in your locker room. I would be absolutely stunned if this kid doesn’t go in the top five.”

The Broncos own the No. 5 pick and nine others in the upcoming draft, and their haul in April will be dictated heavily by their signings in free agency this month. If they get their starting quarterback for the near and long-term future on the open market, their options the first round grow significantly as they try to fill in the remaining roster holes and improve the offense.

Barkley may not still be on the board when the Broncos are up, but running back is on the team’s list of needs heading into the offseason spending period, especially as they mull parting with starter C.J. Anderson. Anderson was the franchise’s first 1,000-yard back since Moreno in 2013, but he has no guaranteed money left on his contract and would save the team $4.5 million in cap space if he’s released.

The versatile “swiss army knife” is a player most NFL teams covet, and Denver could use help in multiple areas: The run game, passing game and special teams.

“That’s where the game is going. If you want to be elite, if you break down the top-five backs, all those guys can catch the ball out of the backfield,” Barkley said. “All of those guys are special with the ball in their hands. That’s something I strive to be. I want to be one of the best. … I want to show that I can run routes. I ran routes in college a little bit. But I want to show I can run a zero-to-nine route tree.”

The Broncos have changed head coaches and coordinators, offensive systems and starting quarterbacks multiple times over in recent years, skewing any true measure of some of their skill players. But the reliable “go-to” man for their quarterback has been elusive.

Maybe they’ll find that guy in April.

Broncos meeting with agents of current players; future of three potential QB targets uncertain By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 2, 2018

Broncos general manager John Elway was expected to meet with the agents of running back C.J. Anderson and inside linebacker Todd Davis at the combine Thursday. Saturday, he is expected to meet with the agent of Corey Nelson.

Anderson has two years remaining on his contract, but his contract has no guaranteed money remaining and the Broncos could release him, if they choose to, without cost. In fact, they would save $4.5 million in salary cap space if they were to part with him.

Asked on Wednesday about Anderson and cornerback Aqib Talib, another veteran whose return is uncertain primarily because of the cap savings, Elway said: “We’ll see. We’ll look at that. Like I said, we’re looking at every option that we can and where our football team is. I’m not saying they’ll be back for sure, but I’m not going to say they are gone.”

Davis and Nelson will both be free agents in March. Davis has said he hopes to return to Denver, and Elway said Wednesday the team would like to have him back. But he will test the open market first.

Local talent. Former Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage knows the Broncos better than most prospects in the upcoming draft. The Falcon, Colorado, native played for Vance Joseph’s at the Senior Bowl in January and earned high praise from Denver’s coach. He also learned first-hand that the Broncos are in the market for running back help, and he hopes his name is on their list.

“It would be amazing. Really, though, I’m just excited about the opportunity to play in the league,” Ballage said. “That’s where I’m at right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s Buffalo or Cleveland or the Broncos or Tampa Bay. Wherever it is, I’m going to take the opportunity and run with it.”

Bench press stars. Will Hernandez, a guard out of University of Texas-El Paso, put up 37 reps in the 225- pound bench press Thursday. Hernandez played for current Broncos interior offensive line coach at UTEP and was briefly reunited with the coach on the North team at the Senior Bowl this year. Former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Georgia back Nick Chubb both recorded 29 reps, which ranks as the 13th-best among all running backs since at least 2006.

Viking uncertainty. The Broncos’ quarterback options are still in flux weeks before the start of free agency. Three of them were Vikings last year — Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater — and their futures remain uncertain as Minnesota mulls its options.

“After we get done here, we get done looking at some of these draftable guys, we’ll sit down and figure out the direction we’re going. But I feel very confident in really all three guys,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “I love all three of them. They’re great people. I love how they work. They understand how we do things there as a team and the way we go about our business. It’s important for myself and Rick and the organization that we pick the right guy that is going to help us to continue to move forward. If we don’t do that, then I’ll probably get fired.”

Offensive guard wants to destroy the will of his opponents. Will his rare breed of nastiness entice the Broncos? By Nick Kosmider Denver Post March 2, 2018

Quenton Nelson learned early in life that when you are the youngest of 39 nephews and nieces, you can’t be afraid to throw your weight around.

“It definitely shaped me, just getting picked on by being, I guess, the little guy in the family,” he said. “That shaped me into the person and player I am today.”

Luckily for Nelson, the so-called “little guy” who weighed nearly 11 pounds at birth and checked in at 6- foot-5, 325 pounds when he arrived at the NFL scouting combine this week, he’s always had the requisite physical tools to shove his way into the mix. Now, the former Notre Dame offensive guard is pancaking his way into the conversation about the 2018 draft’s best overall prospect. It is rare a guard finds himself among the top five picks. In fact, it hasn’t happened in a generation, since Leonard Davis was drafted second overall by the Cardinals out of Texas in 2001.

Then again, Nelson is a rare breed. When asked Thursday about the mindset that allows him to drive opponents into the ground at all three levels, the native of central New Jersey delivered an answer so chilling it should send shivers down the spines of interior defensive linemen soon to be in his path.

“As a blocker, my mindset is to dominate,” Nelson said. “I want to dominate all my opponents and take away their will to play the game.”

Their will to play game. It was a statement made matter-of-factly, without any hint of hyperbole, as if he was asking for extra pepperoni on his pizza. But the videotape backs up his desire to destroy.

Like the time he picked up an LSU defender under the helmet, slammed him to the ground and then squatted on him for good measure. Or the time he sprinted from his left guard position across the formation to squash a blitzing Georgia running back coming from the right side. Or the time he pancaked a defensive tackle, linebacker and safety all on the same running play.

“He’s got a nasty demeanor,” said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, dispensing the highest of compliments for a player who will make his living in football’s mosh pit. “He finishes with an edge. He’s probably the best run-blocking interior offensive lineman I’ve seen in years.”

Plus, this is an NFL in which a defensive tackle, the Rams’ Aaron Donald, was just named defensive player of the year. And others like the Bengals’ Geno Atkins and the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox have also been wreaking havoc up the middle.

“You have guys who are dominating the NFL right now … who have just been working guys, and you need interior guys to stop them,” said Nelson, who put up 35 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds Thursday. “I think I’m one of those guys.”

Nelson could have been the first lineman off the board last year, when only two of them — Garett Bolles to the Broncos at No. 20 and Ryan Ramczyk to the Saints at No. 32 — were selected in the first round. Instead, he returned to Notre Dame and further improved his stock as a mashing, run-blocking guard who also has the quickness and reach — his 83⅝-inch wingspan requires an Uber ride to traverse — to excel as a pass blocker.

Whether Nelson could be an option for the Broncos at No. 5 hinges, like nearly everything else for general manager John Elway and his staff over the next couple months, on how their pursuit of a new starting quarterback materializes.

Would signing, say, Kirk Cousins in free agency free up the Broncos to use that pick on a non- quarterback? What if they signed a less-heralded veteran quarterback in March? Elway said that all options are on the table when it comes to finding their starting quarterback of the future.

But an option that allows them to draft a blue-chip prospect like Nelson could provide an immediate upgrade at a position of need. The Broncos found a solid starting guard in free agency last season when they signed Ron Leary. Still, depth is lacking. And Denver alternated left guards Max Garcia and Allen Barbre for much of last season.

Broncos coach Vance Joseph said this week he wants his team to build on the physical, run-first approach it began to solidify late last season. Selecting a rare breed like Nelson at a rare spot in the draft could be a move in that direction.

“It’s like running behind a tow truck,” former Notre Dame running back Josh Adams said of playing with Nelson. “He’s going to move out anything that’s in his way.”

Former Falcon star Kalen Ballage is on doorstep of NFL dream with “a lot of tread on my tires” By Nick Kosmider Denver Post March 2, 2018

Everyone inside Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., knew what was going to happen when Kalen Ballage lined up in the shotgun formation back on Sept. 11, 2016.

The Texas Tech defense knew. The fans new. The television broadcasters knew. And so did Ballage, Arizona State’s bruising running back by way of Falcon High School.

Six times, as the Sun Devils prowled the goal line, Ballage took the snap in the wildcat formation — or the “Sparky” formation as they call it at ASU — and six times he burst across the goal line. Oh, and he added a 39-yard touchdown catch and a 75-yard scoring run to total eight touchdowns, tying an NCAA single-game record.

Ballage was an overnight sensation, but his heavy production on that sweltering night in the desert didn’t foreshadow a massive workload to come. In four years at ASU, Ballage carried the ball just 450 times. For reference, Saquon Barkley, the top-rated running back in the draft class, ran 671 times in just three seasons at Penn State.

But Ballage, who split carries with his college and combine roommate, Demario Richard, doesn’t see what others may view as a lack of college stats — he never ran for more than 700 yards in a season — as a negative.

“I think my body is fresh,” said Ballage, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound picture of chiseled muscle. “I have a lot of tread on my tires. … I’m a competitor. If I could carry the ball 80 times a game, I would. That’s just my mentality. At the end of the day, the coaches didn’t feel like that was best. There’s another great running back here from Arizona State as well (Demario Richard). But we both ended up here.”

Ballage, who impressed with his performance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last month, believes his versatility is another strength. During his junior season in 2016, he caught 44 passes for 469 yards, an average of 10.7 yards per catch. He said he tries to emulate Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, who ran for 1,239 yards in 2016 while also catching 80 passes.

“He brings a lot of speed at a lot of different positions,” Richard said of Ballage. “He’s got durability. He’s another fresh face who do a lot of different things for an offense.”

Ballage is ranked as the eighth-best running back prospect in the draft by CBS Sports, which would likely slate him somewhere in the middle rounds. He admitted he has thought of what it would be like to play for the hometown Broncos, who could be looking for depth at the position. Really, though, Ballage is just ready to spin his tires.

“This is something I’ve been preparing for all my life,” he said. “I pictured myself here, and now I’m here. I don’t have to panic or do anything different. Just be myself.” Falcon's own Kalen Ballage has potential to become better in pros By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 2, 2018

alen Ballage, the pride of Falcon, Colorado, is most often compared to big backs who can catch like David Johnson, Le’Veon Bell and Todd Gurley.

In another way, perhaps Ballage can become the next C.J. Anderson.

Like Anderson, Ballage is a running back has what it takes to become better as a pro than he was in college.

Anderson was a backup at Cal who rushed for 345 yards and 790 yards in his two seasons there.

Undrafted by the Broncos in 2013, Anderson became a Pro Bowler in 2014, the rushing star in Super Bowl 50 to cap the 2015 season and a 1,000-yard rusher in 2017.

Ballage is nearly 6-foot-2 and weighed in at 228 pounds here at the NFL Combine and while he scored eight touchdowns for Arizona State in a 68-55 win against Texas Tech as a junior, he never rushed for as many as 670 yards in his four seasons.

Was he disappointed by his modest production?

“Nah, I’m not really worried about it,’’ Ballage said Thursday during his Combine interview. “I’m a competitor. Obviously, I set goals. I would love to be a 1,000-yard back every year, 20 touchdowns. All those accolades, but I think I have the opportunity to do that at this next level.’’

At Arizona State, Ballage was the 1B running back to Demario Richard the past three years, and played sparingly behind D.J. Foster and company as a freshman.

Despite Ballage’s size, he was used more like a change-of-pace back than he a bell cow at Arizona State.

“I’m a competitor. If I could carry the ball 80 times a game I would,’’ Ballage said. “That’s just my mentality. At the end of the day, the coaches didn’t feel like that was best. There’s another great running back here from Arizona State (Demario Richard). We both ended up here.’’

Born in Denver, Ballage moved to Falcon, an unincorporated town outside of Colorado Springs, when he was “8 or 9.’’

His father, Reggie, has been an underground locator for more than 20 years and his mom, LaVonda, is a real estate agent.

Falcon doubled in population in the 1990s, but Ballage still described his town as: “Small. Small and … small.’’

Later he said: “Falcon’s a little bit different now even since I was there. It’s grown. It’s almost connected to Colorado Springs now. There’s no in between.’’

When it came to football, there was no middle ground in the Ballage family. It was always huge. Kalen’s uncle Pat Ballage was a four-year safety for Notre Dame during the Gerry Faust years and played a couple years in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts.

Another uncle, Norm Barnett, was a tight end for the University of Colorado in the early-1990s. Another uncle, Howard Ballage, was a running back/receiver/returner for the CU Buffaloes in the late-1970s and played in the Canadian Football League and Denver Gold in the United States Football League.

“It was a good thing for me growing up, seeing them older than me and already doing what I wanted to do,’’ Kalen said. “I felt that from a young age.’’

The Broncos got a good look at Kalen Ballage during Senior Bowl week in late January as Vance Joseph’s staff coached his North squad.

Ballage rushed for 57 yards on just ten carries in the game. The experience helped.

“I think continuing to put my name on the map,’’ Ballage said. “A lot of scouts had seen me play on film but maybe not play in person. I think it was good for me to play in front of a lot of NFL scouts and have them visualize what I’m able to do.’’

Scouts are impressed by his mix of size and versatility. As for those lack of awe-inspiring stats, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“I only had like [450] carries,’’ Ballage said of his four-year career at Arizona State. “A lot of these guys, they get that in one season, almost. So, I think my body is fresh and I got a lot of tread on my tires.’’

Combine revelations: Four Broncos safe; Talib, Anderson less so By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 2, 2018

Never mind the prospects who are getting poked, prodded, weighed, measured, grilled and run through the athletic-drill ringer.

The NFL combine has brought clarity to the future of several Broncos mainstays.

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders? Both receivers are staying in Denver.

“The plan is to have them back,’’ said Broncos general manager John Elway.

Said head coach Vance Joseph: “Watching those guys on a daily basis, watching them work, and watching them in games go uncovered the way they tend to do, I don’t see those guys not being a Bronco.''

Defensive end Derek Wolfe is coming back.

“That is another one we plan on going forward with,’’ Elway said.

Backup, first-round quarterback Paxton Lynch?

"Oh yeah,’’ Elway said. “Paxton will be back and we're going to continue to work with Paxton and continue to develop him. We knew it was going to take a little bit of time with Paxton. … But we still have high expectations for Paxton.’’

But when asked about cornerback Aqib Talib and running back C.J. Anderson, the Broncos bosses were considerably less emphatic about their return.

“We’ll see,’’ Elway said. “We’ll look at that. Like I said, we’re looking at every option that we can and where our football team is. I’m not saying they’ll be back for sure, but I’m not going to say they are gone. We’re exploring a lot of options on other players, too. That is what you do this time of year. It’s not just isolated to those two players.”

Talib is scheduled to make $11 million this season. That salary is not guaranteed. Anderson is scheduled to make $4.5 million. No guarantee.

Saving $15.5 million is one reason those two players are vulnerable. Having young talent behind them is another.

Talib has been backed up the past four years by Bradley Roby, whose salary jumps from $1.02 million in 2017 to $8.526 million this year.

Anderson, who is coming off a 1,007-yard rushing season, has been backed up by , who will make a relative modest $630,000 in 2018, and De’Angelo Henderson, who will make a more affordable $555,000.

And this year’s draft is considered deep in running backs.

Given all these factors, the surprise would be if Talib and Anderson do return.

“There is a business side of the NFL,’’ Joseph said. “So, you also have to consider that. Sometimes for your football team to get better and grow, you have to part ways with people you don’t want to part ways with. That’s just part of the business.’’

There are no young players behind Thomas and Sanders who are ready to assume a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver role in the NFL. The Broncos need another Derek Wolfe up front, not one less.

Talib and Anderson are still very good players. But in the business side of the NFL, there is no greater opponent to a proven, well-paid player than a younger, less-proven but less-paid backup.

Broncos' belief in Bradley Roby as starter could impact roster decisions By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 2, 2018

Denver Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway and coach Vance Joseph have already covered a lot of ground at the NFL combine regarding their roster.

Some of the key nuggets beyond the free-agent quarterbacks or the draft:

Roby ready: Elway and Joseph both said they believe cornerback Bradley Roby is ready to be a starter on defense right now. Roby, who was the Broncos’ first-round pick in the 2014 draft, has been a regular on defense, given they are in their nickel or dime packages well over 60 percent of the time, but he’s been behind Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. as a full-time starter. “Bradley is a first-round pick; he should play well for us,’’ Joseph said. “He’s definitely capable, but he should be."

No sure things: The Broncos are expected to create additional salary cap space before free agency opens, and that could put some veteran players in jeopardy. While Joseph has said “we want to keep all our good players," Talib and cornerback C.J. Anderson are two starters who could be released. Elway offered no guarantees of a return when asked about those two specifically. “We’ll see," he said. “We’ll look at that. Like I said, we’re looking at every option that we can and where our football team is. I’m not saying they’ll be back for sure, but I’m not going to say they are gone. We’re exploring a lot of options on other players, too. That is what you do this time of year. It’s not just isolated to those two players."

Lynch as backup QB: While Elway hasn’t given much public support to the idea that quarterback Paxton Lynch, a 2016 first-round pick, could find himself in a competition for the starting job in 2018, he believes in Lynch as a prospect who could be the team’s backup while continuing to work toward being a starter. "He’s going to come back, continue to get better and continue to fit in and see how he can continue to improve," Elway said. “That is what the expectations we have for Paxton is to come back and continue to work to get better … The bottom line is … we’re going to try to get as many good [quarterbacks] as we can. ... I still think Paxton’s got the ability to have a great career in this league, so by no means are we kicking him to the curb."

Their own free agents: Elway said the Broncos would like free agent linebackers Todd Davis and Corey Nelson back and is slated to meet with agents for both players in Indianapolis. And regarding their top restricted free agents -- linebacker Shaquil Barrett and center Matt Paradis -- Elway said it's important to set the compensation properly to keep teams from negotiating deals with those guys. Teams can negotiate with the two players, but the Broncos can then match the offer or receive the compensation they attach to each player if they don't want to match. The Broncos can set compensation, with one- year tender offers at a first-round pick, a second-round pick, “original draft round’’ or simply through the right of first refusal. Barrett was an undrafted rookie when they originally signed him and Paradis (sixth-round pick in 2014). Paradis has played every snap the past two seasons despite surgery on each hip last offseason. “[We’d] like to have them both back,’’ Elway said. “So putting the right number on them is going to be important." Make an offer: Elway also said the Broncos would be open to trading the No. 5 pick of the draft if the offer is right and the player they want is not available. “We’re open for business at fifth pick depending on how things fall," Elway said.

Broncos focus on next level of familiarity with top QBs at combine By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 2, 2018

The Denver Broncos' football decision-makers got an up-close look at some of the better quarterback prospects in this year's draft class during their January work at the Senior Bowl, but this week's NFL scouting combine will kick in the real efforts to get to know them.

As president of football operations/general manager John Elway put it: "I've heard so many different things out there about all the quarterbacks, but I'm looking forward to meeting them myself."

The Broncos' coaching staff worked with the North team at the Senior Bowl, and that roster included Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, Wyoming's Josh Allen and Washington State's Luke Falk. Mayfield and Allen will almost certainly be top-of-the-board picks in the April draft, and Falk may also be among the top five or six at the position.

But the combine will allow the Broncos, who have repeatedly said they're in the market for a makeover at quarterback, to see players who were not in the Senior Bowl, such as UCLA's Josh Rosen, Southern California's Sam Darnold and Louisville's Lamar Jackson. Rosen and Darnold, in particular, will probably be among the first players selected.

For the Broncos, who are also evaluating how aggressively they will look in free agency for a solution behind center, vetting the quarterbacks in this draft is on the front burner because they hold the No. 5 pick.

"It's a long process and having those quarterbacks on our [Senior Bowl North] team was obviously a good thing," Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. "All three guys were good guys. They're all talented guys. They all worked at it. Again, it's a long process. As we move forward, we just want to find out more about the guys as people and as quarterbacks. This week is always a good week to sit back and watch them compete and watch them perform."

Elway said Wednesday he believes the Broncos have enough salary-cap flexibility to make any deal in free agency, and that he would consider all options there. He also said he would expect the top quarterback prospects like Rosen, Darnold, Allen and Mayfield to be among the Broncos' 30 allotted pre- draft visits.

The Broncos will meet with all of the high-profile passers at the combine, but those interactions can only last 15 minutes, by rule. The pre-draft visits to the team complex can be several hours, and the players can meet with the assistant coaches as well as Joseph and Elway.

Rosen and Jackson entered the draft after their junior seasons and could not participate in the Senior Bowl. Darnold declared for the draft after his sophomore season, so this week's work is really the first chance for Joseph and Elway to have a face-to-face with those players. "I'm looking forward to get to know him, I've heard all that," Elway said of Rosen's hard-edged approach. "This is our time to try to get to know him. Arm-talent-wise he can throw it as good as anybody. And the bottom line is you've got to have confidence to play that position, so if he's overconfident that's not bad."

Elway said the Broncos will put the quarterbacks through the paces somewhat during the combine interviews -- "we'll put them on the board" -- and then add far more intensity to those football discussions during the pre-draft visits.

"We've been doing a lot of work on [the quarterbacks], but we still have a lot of work to do," Elway said. "We're in that process now. There is a group of guys that are very talented. We'll continue to do our homework on them. There is a possibility of some really good quarterbacks coming out of this draft.”

Domestic violence case vs. Broncos' Will Parks dropped By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 2, 2018

A domestic violence case involving Denver Broncos safety Will Parks has been dropped, the Adams County (Colorado) District Attorney's office confirmed Thursday.

Parks had been arrested on March 31 last year on misdemeanor charges of harassment and family- offense domestic violence after an alleged incident involving a former girlfriend.

The former girlfriend was subpoenaed for the trial but did not appear to testify, leading the case to be dismissed by the DA's office.

In the arrest affidavit, Parks' former girlfriend stated that Parks had made threatening phone calls after a relationship ended. Parks initially told police he believed the woman had stolen items from his home.

Parks is still subject to discipline under the NFL's personal-conduct policy.

Parks, 23, has played in all 32 games since the Broncos selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. He started five games last season and registered an interception, 4 passes defensed and 47 tackles.

Illinois House to debate, vote on organized tackle football ban for kids under 12 By Michele Steele ESPN.com March 2, 2018

Illinois took a significant step toward becoming the first state to ban organized tackle football at the youth level.

HB 3431, also called the Dave Duerson Act, would prohibit any child under 12 from participating in organized tackle football. The measure passed out of the Illinois House mental health committee on an 11-9 vote Thursday and now heads to the House for a full debate and vote.

The bill needed 11 votes for passage.

Illinois is one of four states -- New York, California and Maryland are the others -- to introduce legislation regulating tackle football.

Duerson's family has put its support behind the bill since the two-time Super Bowl winner killed himself in 2011. He left a note asking that his brain be studied by researchers.

"This is a first down," said Duerson's son, Tregg, who was holding back tears as the votes were counted. "It's going to be a long process."

Proponents of the bill -- including Boston University CTE researcher Dr. Robert Stein, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland and Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Chris Nowinski -- argue that fewer years of tackle football will lower the risk of CTE later in life.

Tregg Duerson spoke to lawmakers about his father's years-long struggle with what was ultimately diagnosed as CTE.

"He went from a Harvard-educated, successful businessman to a shadow of himself," Tregg Duerson said. "He struggled with bankruptcy, urges of physical assault and depression. In the note he left for us, he mentioned issues with blurred vision, memory loss and an ability to control his own temperament. This bill honors my family's hope and my father's legacy to protect future athletes and the future of football."

Prosecutors dismiss charges against Denver safety Will Parks By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press March 2, 2018

Colorado prosecutors say they have dismissed charges of harassment and non-physical domestic violence against Broncos safety Will Parks.

District attorney Dave Young's spokeswoman Sue Lindsay said Thursday that the woman who made the allegations didn't show up to testify when subpoenaed.

Parks was arrested in March.

Court documents say his ex-girlfriend told authorities that Parks accused her of taking some of his belongings and made threatening phone calls to her after she went to his home in Englewood to pick up her belongings.

Parks has denied threatening the woman.

The Broncos and the NFL didn't immediately return messages on Thursday. The league can penalize players with or without a conviction if it determines a violation of the player code of conduct occurred.

NFLPA health playbook for players puts concussions in focus By Staff Associated Press March 2, 2018

The NFL Players Association has created a medical guide for players, a 107-page reference book written by scientific professionals with extensive material on concussion detection, treatment and the league's game-day protocol for head injuries.

The union's inaugural "health playbook" was distributed electronically to NFLPA members this week.

Speaking at a head, neck and spine committee meeting during the league's scouting combine, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills revealed a 16 percent rise in diagnosed concussions, from 250 in 2016 to 291 in 2017. Sills said the data was a "call to action" to the NFL for greater prevention.

The NFLPA health playbook also includes information on joint injuries and wear and tear, high blood pressure and cholesterol, plus performance-related topics such as sleep, nutrition and mental health.

Broncos take look at running backs, offensive linemen; weigh trade for Cravens By Troy Renck KMGH March 2, 2018

Walking through the hallways of the convention center can become a lost maze of turns and ballrooms. Answers and pitfalls lurk around every corner as college football's top players begin testing and interviews on Thursday.

They will run the 40-yard dash (a metric created for punt coverage decades ago), tip-toe through shuttle drills, and push up 225 pounds as many times as possible in the crowd-cheering bench press.

Some players become workout warriors, mesmerizing with their fitness. The NFL, though, is not "American Gladiator." Athleticism matters. However, the ability to play the game remains paramount. Hardware without software leads to teams trying to correct mistakes every April.

There's no denying the importance of the upcoming draft for the Broncos. The 2017 class provided little punch -- though rebounds and good health from slot receiver Carlos Henderson and tight end Jake Butt could change the grade -- in a lost season. The Broncos enter Thursday considering a trade and taking a longer look at the top running backs and offensive linemen.

Denver is interested in acquiring Washington safety Su'a Cravens, and has 10 picks in the upcoming draft to try to strike a deal.

What makes Su'a Cravens a potential interesting fit for Broncos if acquired? He would add depth to the existing safety group and, as a safety/LB hybrid, has athleticism and size to cover tight ends. Few teams struggled more with that matchup than Denver last season.

However, the asking price is a factor. The Broncos will be measured in their pursuit, recognizing Cravens, 22, missed all of last season due to injury and concussion treatment after considering retirement.

In looking at last year's spiral, the offense remains front and center. Denver showed progress in the ground game, but ranked near the bottom of nearly ever passing metric, including interceptions (22) and sacks (52). The offensive line requires upgrades. The draft could offer the best vehicle.

Top guard Quenton Nelson will meet the media on Thursday. His position makes it harder to see the Broncos taking him at No. 5 overall, but a trade back a few slots to add a pick would put him play. The Notre Dame star features a rare physicality, and has drawn comparisons to former Irish standout Zack Martin.

Will Hernandez of UTEP impressed the Broncos at the Senior Bowl and played for their new line coach Sean Kugler in college. Hernandez weighed in at 327 pounds at the combine, and is a mauler in every way. Former Thunder Ridge star Sam Jones, who delivered a solid college career at Arizona State, is here at the combine, hoping to prove he's a draftable player.

Oklahoma tackle Orlando "Zeus' Brown will talk reporters Thursday. He ranks near top of class along with Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey and Texas' Connor Williams. Menelik Watson sits atop the Broncos' depth chart at right tackle, but finished last season injured. He will have to win a roster spot in training camp. Elway is considering all options to upgrade the line.

"We’ve got 10 picks. I think depending on how free agency falls—we’ll dabble in free agency too. We want to continue to get better there. I’m excited about the new coaches we’ve hired with (tackles coach) Chris Strausser and (offensive line coach) Sean Kugler and what they’ll be able to do with the group that we have. I’m excited about them.”

Thursday, running backs begin taking over the combine.The Broncos have a need with the increasing likelihood C.J. Anderson will not return despite eclipsing 1,000 yards. The Broncos believe Devontae Booker will continue to improve, but will be eyeing help in the draft. Penn State's Saquon Barkley will be the most attended presser Thursday afternoon. He continues to move up draft boards, and has been linked to the Giants' at the No. 2 spot.

Sony Michel, who could be this year's Alvin Kamara, talks at 2:30 p.m. He features the type of burst and big-play ability the Broncos sorely lacked a year ago. Former Falcon High prep star Kalen Ballage, whose family has a long history of athletic greatness in Southern Colorado, will meet the press. He impressed the Broncos coaches at the Senior Bowl, and projects as a second-to-third round pick.

Quenton Nelson makes quite an impression during NFL combine presser By Troy Renck KMGH March 2, 2018

In a bland Indiana Convention Center ballroom dressed up with league signs, name placards and featuring a soundtrack of bench press grunts, Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson stepped to podium 1 at the NFL combine on Thursday -- and walked over the competition.

Dressed in black and purple official Under Armour combine gear that fit as if it were part of the Baby Gap spring collection, Nelson described his style of play.

"As a blocker my mindset is to be dominant. I want to dominate all of my opponents. I want to take their will away to play the game by each play finishing them past the whistle," Nelson said. "Yeah, I would consider myself a nasty player. Clean. But nasty."

Nelson spoke as if he were channeling Rocky VI villain Drago. Forget "I will break you." More like, "I will break your will."

The monotone voice represents a juxtaposition to his layered skillset. Nelson, who grew up in New Jersey as a fan, features strength, balance, and advanced technique. He ranks among the best players in the draft, and he is, without modesty, "the best lineman" available.

Click on Nelson's YouTube highlight clip and hide the children. He jabs jumping rushers, pancakes others. He demonstrates breathtaking strength. Probably because he's so strong. He benched 225 pounds 35 times Thursday, second only to UTEP guard and resident mauler Will Hernandez's 37 reps.

Nelson is attempting to become the first guard to go in the top five since Leonard Davis went No. 2 overall in 2001. If the Broncos selected Nelson, he would start Day One, replacing Max Garcia. Denver needs offensive line help, and is seeking to add a right tackle and guard in free agency or the draft. Hernandez might be a better fit given where the Broncos' pick in the early second round, though there's no guarantee he will be available.

Nelson will not have to wait long for his named to be called on April 26.

“I think I should be talked about in that regard — in the top-five conversation — because you have guys that are dominating the NFL right now in Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins, Fletcher Cox, that have just been working on interior guys. And you need guys to stop them,” Nelson said. "I think I’m one of those guys. You talk to quarterbacks and they say if a defense end gets on the edge, that’s fine. They can step into the pocket and make a throw. That’s what I give – a pocket to step up in. I also think I help the offense establish the run with my nastiness, and establishing the run also opens up the passing game. So I think it’s a good choice."

Kirk Cousins is THE target for Broncos By Charles Robinson Yahoo.com March 2, 2018

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway said Wednesday that the team is going to “explore all options” when it comes to filling the team’s void at quarterback – but one option has apparently risen above all others. Kirk Cousins has become an “all-in” target for the franchise when free agency kicks off March 14, two sources familiar with the Broncos’ free agency plans told Yahoo Sports.

Whether the Broncos will have the salary cap capital – and sales pitch – to land Cousins remains to be seen. Sources told Yahoo Sports that the Broncos have examined scenarios to potentially open up between $40 million and $50 million in cap space for this offseason. But the key to a deal is expected to hinge on a variety of factors, including the number of years in the contract, overall guaranteed money, the team’s foundation for success and possibly the city itself.

As it stands, the Broncos are expected to have two other significant competitors for Cousins: the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. The Cleveland Browns can’t be ruled out, but Cousins landing there would be a significant coup pulled off by that franchise. Ultimately, the determination within these teams could be determined by the structure of Cousins’ next deal, which may not end up looking like the classic seven-year contracts typically signed by franchise quarterbacks. Instead, Cousins could end up seeking a deal as short as three or four years, with salaries that are almost fully guaranteed each season. Such a deal would be very attractive for Cousins, giving him a concrete commitment and the ability to go back to the negotiating table for another big deal just before his 32nd or 33rd birthday.

Such a contract takes away some of the advantages teams have with long-term franchise quarterback deals – with fast-rising QB salaries making the team-controlled fifth, sixth and seventh years of deals far more attractive. With Cousins already slated to land near the top of the quarterback scale (or possibly setting a new bar for it), giving him the ability to play for max money over a short term and then negotiate another max term in only three or four years might prove too player-friendly for some franchises. And as it stands, some have expressed consternation about tilting a team’s salary structure too far into one position.

As Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday, “… part of the reason we’ve been winning games and staying in games is because we’ve been playing good on defense and we’ve been a smart team and all those things. I want to be really careful about taking away from our strength and saying, ‘OK, we’re not going to be able to do this and we’re not going to be able to do that anymore because of financial reasons or something else.”

Of course, Zimmer can’t know the impact of a Cousins deal until the two sides officially exchange numbers on March 12, when the league’s three-day negotiating window opens before the start of free agency. As it stands, Cousins’ agent is expected to stack up each team’s best offer and then arrange for visits in free agency before any decision is made.

In many respects, that will make his pursuit similar to the Peyton Manning sweepstakes of 2012, when Manning visited several franchises and spoke with ownership before making a decision. Unless something changes drastically in that three-day negotiating window before free agency begins, Cousins is expected to make multiple visits before signing a deal. That scenario could be scuttled if multiple teams either find Cousins’ contract demands to be too rich, or they simply don’t want to do anything less than a seven-year deal.

If the planned visits remain a staple of his negotiation, that could give Denver an advantage as it successfully went through the 2012 Manning recruitment. A visit would also give the Broncos a chance to sell Cousins on a culture that goes beyond the paycheck he’ll be cashing, which would be important if the Jets or Vikings had larger offers on the table.

If Denver is indeed “all-in,” there’s no better way to illustrate that than by getting Cousins into the city and face-to-face with the brain trust and other players. This negotiation will come with many facets and some moving parts, but the Broncos appear fully committed in a way that harkens back to 2012. They can only hope that the deal is rich enough, salary structure is attractive enough, and sales pitch is sharp enough to land the biggest quarterback free agent since reeling in Manning.

Aqib Talib tweets about whether he’ll be traded By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 2, 2018

Denver cornerback Aqib Talib is aware of the reports that the Broncos would like to trade him, and he’s having a little fun with those reports.

Talib saw a tweet from the NFL that the Broncos could look to move him, and he asked, Who’s coming to get me?

He then asked who within the Broncos organization thinks he’s not the same player he used to be.

Being realistic, Talib is 32 years old, and the Broncos would save $11 million by trading or releasing him, so it’s easy to see why he’s on the market. In fact, although Talib was asking about a trade, a release seems like the more likely option. He can still play, but he can’t still play up to his big salary.