What will Stan Kroenke do now about his St. Louis Rams?

What will Stan Kroenke do now about his

St. Louis Rams?

By Mike Klis The Denver Post July 5, 2013

In seeking upgrades to its NFL home, the Edward Jones Dome, the St. Louis Rams asked their local government for just about everything, including a retractable roof. The estimated cost to fulfill the Rams’ wish list came to $700 million.

The local government, more specifically the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, informed the Rams on Friday it would not be funding such a proposal. “Everybody’s on the same page,” Jeff Rainford, chief of staff for St. Louis mayor Francis Slay, told the Associated Press. “It was a no-brainer. There was nobody in St. Louis who thought that the Rams proposal was a good idea, other than the Rams.”

That may be, but in the past 25 years, nearly every new major sports venue has been a sweetheart deal for the team owner, not the city. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has a far better arrangement at Sports Authority Field at Mile High than he did at old Mile High Stadium. Why do you think teams ask for new stadiums? You didn’t think it was to shorten the bathroom lines did you?

But in return, the city of Denver got to keep the Broncos. Period. You want them or don’t you? Denver’s taxpayers did.

St. Louis, though, just made a perfectly sound business decision that also puts itself in position to lose its NFL franchise for the second time in 27 years. The St. Louis Cardinals left for Arizona in 1987. The Rams now have the right to break their stadium lease and go elsewhere after the 2014 season.

So what will Stan Kroenke, who became the Rams’ principal owner three years ago after transferring his control of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his son Josh, do now? When the St. Louis stadium upgrade process began in earnest two years ago, I thought sure Kroenke was covertly planning to move the franchise back to Los Angeles. He even bid on the L.A. Dodgers baseball team. But the Dodgers were awarded to a management group headed by Mark Walter with an assist from Magic Johnson. And L.A.’s elaborate NFL stadium plans backed by Philip Anschutz hit some snags.

However, the Denver billionaire has regrouped and recently recommitted his efforts to the venue that is to be called Farmer’s Field. Are Anschutz and Kroenke talking? If so, Kroenke would need still another partner if his goal is to move the Rams back to L.A. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already said it would take two NFL franchises to sustain the country’s No. 2 largest market. Anschutz’s new stadium, if it ever gets built, would likely soar beyond $2 billion.

We can't wait to see: 2013 Broncos

ESPN.com July 5, 2013

Last time we saw the Denver Broncos, they were stunned at home in double overtime in the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. TEAMS WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE

ESPN.com examines five of the most intriguing NFL teams for 2013: Monday: Philadelphia Eagles

Tuesday: Detroit Lions

Wednesday: Washington Redskins Thursday: New Orleans Saints Friday: Denver Broncos

Denver headed into the postseason riding quarterback Peyton Manning and the No. 2-ranked defense in the NFL. It won 11 games in a row to close the season. After the disappointing defeat to Baltimore, Denver felt like it blew a golden opportunity to win its third Super Bowl.

Undeterred, Denver went out and made several key additions to an already strong roster. Some think this is a Super Bowl-or-bust team.

Let’s look at the top 10 reasons why this is a team we can’t wait to see in 2013:

1. An uncomfortable setting: Denver executive vice president of football operations John Elway said early in the offseason that he wanted it to be an “uncomfortable” atmosphere in the Broncos’ building in 2013. Basically, Elway wants to see his team have a sense of urgency after the Baltimore fiasco.

Elway lived it as a player. Like the 2012 Broncos, the 1996 Broncos were the No. 1-seeded team in the playoffs and lost at home in their first playoff game. Elway said that loss led to the next year’s team being uncomfortable and angry. It worked. Denver won the next two Super Bowls. Elway knows it can happen again, so it will be interesting to see if a similar theme develops this season as the Broncos react to the playoff loss.

FLOP FACTOR

1.8 (1-5 scale). The only way Denver doesn't make the playoffs is if there are major injuries. This team is set up for success.

1: Small chance; 5: Great chance HOT SEAT

John Fox. Things would have to go really, really bad for anyone to lose his job after this season. But it starts with the coach. Fox would be the point man for an epic failure.

SECRET WEAPON

Trindon Holliday. He had two return touchdowns, one on a punt and one on a kickoff, in the playoff loss against Baltimore. He would have been a legend had Denver not blown that game.

KEY NUMBER

37. That's Peyton Manning's age. John Elway was 37 when he won the first of back-to-back Super Bowls to end his career. Elway knows it can be done.

-- Bill Williamson

“Expectations are high,” defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson said. “We know what we’ve got to do. We had a bad taste to our season ending last year. We’re trying to get that out and go forward and go further than we did last year.”

2. What is the Super Bowl window? The Broncos have been asked this often already, and training camp is still a few weeks away. How long is the window to winning a championship going to be open? Some folks think it’s this year. I do not agree. I think it will be open as long as Manning is healthy. He is 37. Manning can play at a high level for at least another two years. The way this roster is built, there is no doubt the team is thinking Super Bowl in the immediate future. This is a team poised to win now, not in 2016.

The Broncos get it.

“In the end, we want to be holding up that trophy,” 35-year-old cornerback Champ Bailey recently said.

3. Manning’s health: Manning was brilliant last year, recording one of the best seasons in his decorated career. But he was not at full strength. He had four surgeries to repair a neck injury that kept him out of the entire 2011 season in Indianapolis. Manning was healthy last year, but there was some rust. By all

accounts, he has made major strides this offseason. Manning should be even more entertaining to watch in his second season in Denver than he was in his first

season.

4. Manning’s tempo: A healthier Manning might mean a more active Manning. Manning said very early in the offseason that he wanted the offense to move at a faster pace. New offensive coordinator Adam Gase has been working the unit to move at a quick pace all offseason, and it seems to be taking. This doesn’t mean the Broncos are going to use a pistol offense or Manning is going to look more like Robert Griffin III than himself. It just means Denver is going to utilize its talents and work to be more crisp and keep opposing defenses on their heels.

5. Welker in the slot: In an offseason in which Denver reloaded, no addition made bigger headlines than the free-agency signing of slot receiver Wes Welker. He was a huge part of New England’s success and seems like a perfect fit in Denver. Manning loves to get the ball to his slot receiver, and Welker has led the NFL in catches over the past six seasons. Combine Welker with young receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and it’s difficult to imagine Denver’s passing game will be stopped much.

6. Miller and company: Third-year linebacker Von Miller is developing into one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He is dominant and was a big reason why the unit was ranked second in the NFL last year. The unit has gotten better, as whole, around Miller. Yes, Elvis Dumervil is gone, but Denver is confident Shaun Phillips, Quanterus Smith and Robert Ayers will give Miller enough help. And if they don’t, there’s no reason to believe Miller will not continue to raise the level of his game.

7. The rookie running back: Denver took Wisconsin workhorse Montee Ball in the second round. Denver has immediate plans for Ball. Unless he completely falls on his face in camp and in the preseason, Ball will have a major role in the offense from the start of the season. Denver thinks Ball can have a major impact. If he is successful, there will be little not to like about this offense.

8. The damaged offensive line: One of Denver’s major concerns is the offensive line. It is banged up. Center J.D. Walton, who was lost for the season last

September, will be out for at least half the season. The team has brought back Dan Koppen to take over for Walton again. Star left tackle Ryan Clady is coming back from a rotator cuff injury, and Orlando Franklin was out with a toe injury. The long-term prognosis is fine for this line, but it is banged up right now. If injuries continue into the season, it will be an issue.

9. The defensive front: Two years ago, this unit was a mess. Now it’s strength of the team. Denver added Terrance Knighton in free agency and grabbed a falling Sylvester Williams with the No. 28 overall pick in the draft. This unit is versatile and

talented. It has a chance to be dominant.

10. The Del Rio factor: The Denver defense has rare continuity. Coordinator Jack Del Rio is back for his second season. Last year, Del Rio was Denver’s seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons. He had great success with the unit and the players loved him. Defensive players have been raving all offseason about the importance of having Del Rio back.

Denver's wide-open title window

ESPN Insider July 5, 2013

The narrative surrounding the 2013 Denver Broncos tells us this is a team entering a "win-now" season. Last year, we saw what they might be capable of; this year, it had better happen -- or else.

The 2012 team was the seventh-oldest in the league based on snap-weighted age (a Football Outsiders measure), and it didn't get any younger with the additions of players like Wes Welker and Dan Koppen. Peyton Manning is 37, Champ Bailey is 35, and after a somewhat reserved approach to finding immediate help in the 2012 NFL draft, John Elway went hard after players in the 2013 draft who could help immediately. Even the rookies are seasoned. Sylvester Williams is 24 and will start right away at defensive tackle. Montee Ball carried the ball a hair under 100,000 times at Wisconsin and was drafted as a potential Week 1 starter. During the draft, ESPN and other network hosts were ready when Ball was picked. "Any concern about all that wear and tear on Ball's legs?" they asked. "Sure," analysts said. "But why should Denver be concerned when they're the NFL's ultimate win-now team?" You could imagine an ad agency using Jack Bauer to sell tickets for the season. Set the music, cut to images of Manning dropping back, then Bailey backpedaling, finally a John Fox grimace as he looks up at a clock ticking down. "Come see your 2013 Broncos," says Jack, wincing as he scales Invesco Field stairs. "Because we're running (TICK-TOCK) … out of (TICK-TOCK) … time! (KABOOM)." Cue the

scoreboard exploding.

This is the narrative, but is it a fair one?

Maybe not. When you look closer at the Broncos, there's reason to believe Jack Bauer won't be needed for a few years. The Broncos might be old in places, but in many ways they're like any other potential Super Bowl contender -- built around a QB -- and they'll be pretty good as long as that QB is healthy. His age

notwithstanding, Manning could be healthy for a while. Let's take a look.

Start with that issue of roster age. While Manning is old, aside from he and Bailey, Denver is no older than any other average NFL team. Last year, Denver's No. 2-ranked scoring offense was an average of 28.3 years old based on snap-weighted age, which simply measures how old the team on the field was based on total snaps

played. But if you replaced Manning, the offense was 27.5, or within a few months of league average. Replace Willis McGahee with Ball, and Denver is suddenly

younger than average. Even the addition of Welker doesn't make the Broncos older, not when he replaces 37-year-old Brandon Stokley. And in perhaps the most critical offensive area for Denver not named Manning -- his offensive line -- the Broncos are plenty young. If J.D. Walton beats out Koppen at center, the Broncos should have a Week 1 starting O-line with players aged 26, 26, 26, 26 and 25. And that could be the best line in the NFL.

A similar theme follows the defense. Last year, Denver was the NFL's fourth-stingiest defense to score on. Bailey was exceptional in his age-34 season, but replace him with an average-age NFL CB, and the defense is suddenly an average of 26.3 years old based on snaps, or the NFL's 24th-oldest defense of 2012. Denver doesn't really have an "old" roster. Ultimately, if we're talking about

Denver's roster age as somehow different from other teams', we're really just using language any amateur codebreaker could figure out. "Aren't you guys just really talking about the quarterback?"

Well, yeah. And a smart critic would note that it's a fair point to make: Why exclude Manning from the average age when you're talking about the most important player on the roster? Why evaluate the car and act like the age of the engine isn't a huge deal? It's a fair point, but the fact is the Manning engine could be fine for several years to come, keeping the window wide open.

Start with that offensive line. Denver was a lock for the best pass-blocking team in the NFL last season, and it allowed an adjusted sack rate of just 4.2 percent. With the addition of Louis Vasquez, it actually has gotten better at right guard. The group was above average as a run-blocking unit in 2012, but don't be surprised if it looks better in 2013 with Ball picking up a lot of the carries McGahee was getting. McGahee created just 13 missed tackles on 167 carries last season, which is well south of "elusive" on a standard atlas. Denver's offensive line should be among the best -- if not the best -- in the NFL in 2013, and not just because it protects. The running game should improve as well.

That's point No. 1 in Manning's favor. Point No. 2 is Manning himself. It's possible that no QB will be better protected than Manning, which goes hand in hand with the fact that no QB does a better job of protecting himself.

Consider this: According to ESPN Stats & Information, Manning got hit while throwing a total of 15 times last year, or less than once per game. He was sacked 21 total times, but watch the tape and you'll see the more comfortable he got, the more in total command of Denver's offense, the less he got hit. The ball started

coming out quicker, and defenses couldn't create pressure. In three of Denver's final five regular-season games, he didn't get sacked once.

Manning was always hard to get to, and it could get even worse. In 2012, Manning averaged 2.50 seconds to throw, according to Pro Football Focus. Only one QB got the ball out faster, on average. That was Tom Brady at 2.47 seconds. Now, consider that Brady's top quick-throw target -- Welker -- is now going to be Manning's. Also consider that Manning will have a full season of rapport built in with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Consider that he'll be healthier. And this all coming the season after he was already the hardest NFL QB to pressure. PFF's numbers show Manning saw any form of pressure on less than 20 percent of dropbacks, lowest in the NFL.

As Elway told us at the NFL combine earlier this offseason, "I think he exceeded expectations. Now that I know what he had to go through and the things that he had to overcome with that neck, not so much physically, but mentally, he did a tremendous job in the way he worked at it. So when I say he met, I should

probably rephrase that and say he exceeded that. But I'm looking forward to next year, too. I think he's just going to continue to get better."

Elway isn't just talking about 2013, either. Manning's contract now takes him through 2016, and he seems perfectly equipped to see it through at a high level. The reality of Manning is that no QB seems better equipped to keep Denver's window wide open and his health intact, because no QB does a better job of

eliminating the consequences of football, which is getting hit. Denver might face a win-now season in 2013, but that should only be because the Broncos know they're capable of winning it all right now.

But based on the roster, the protection for the QB and who that QB is, there's a reason to think "win now" could be a good phrase to recycle for a few years. The tick-tock can wait.

It's Super Bowl or bust for Broncos

After last year's disappointment, urgency increases in Manning's second season By Jeffri Chadiha

ESPN.com July 5, 2013

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The best way to measure Peyton Manning's impact on the Denver Broncos this offseason was by what didn't happen. There was no repeat of his 2012 arrival in Denver. Younger teammates weren't awed when he first walked into the building for workouts. There wasn't giddy anticipation when Manning tossed perfectly thrown passes in practice. There also was no mystery about whether he could survive a full season with a surgically repaired neck. "Everything is different now," said Broncos head coach John Fox. "Back then you didn't know for certain what he could do."

After Denver won the AFC West with a 13-3 record and earned the top seed in last year's playoffs, there is only one question left for Manning to answer this season: Can he actually lead the Broncos to their first Super Bowl win since the 1998

season? At first glance, there should be little doubt about Denver's viability. No AFC team has more talent then the group Manning will lead this fall. The issue,

however, is whether the Broncos can avoid the heartbreak that plagued them at the end of last season.

Of all Denver's accomplishments in 2012 -- Manning's remarkable comeback from four neck operations, the dominance of Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller and a

regular-season winning streak that reached 11 games -- the Broncos' season really came down to a painful 18-minute stretch at the end of an AFC divisional playoff loss to Baltimore. Between safety Rahim Moore giving up an inexplicable 70-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, Fox refusing to let Manning attempt a game-winning drive with two timeouts in hand and the Denver offense wilting without an effective running attack, the Broncos were left wondering what could've been. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl.

This helps explain the sense of urgency in Denver, which can be felt in everything from Miller tweeting that Denver will win this year's Super Bowl to his teammates echoing the heightened expectations around this squad. "It's back to business for us," said Broncos cornerback Chris Harris. "We're tired of getting into the playoffs and getting bounced out early. It's Super Bowl or bust this year. We have the talent and we have Peyton Manning."

Having Manning around for a full year may not seem like that big of a deal for a team that watched him produce MVP-worthy numbers in 2012 (4,659 passing

yards, 37 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions). But it means everything to players who admit that his arrival last spring -- after he picked the Broncos

following his release from Indianapolis -- required a major transition for everybody. As Harris noted, it was strange to go from watching coaches overhaul the offense to help Tim Tebow a few months earlier to where Manning "was telling everybody where they needed to be." Manning didn't even hit his stride until after Denver opened the season with a 1-2 start and some skeptics openly questioned whether he could throw the ball effectively beyond 30 yards.

Denver's opponents this year can expect plenty of passes down the field, underneath and to any other area Manning wants to attack. Wide receivers

Demaryius Thomas (94 receptions, 1,434 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Eric Decker (85 receptions, 1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns) are both coming off career years, while the free-agent signing of Wes Welker gives Manning a dangerous weapon in the slot. The 32-year-old Welker made life much easier for Tom Brady in New

England, averaging 112 receptions during his six seasons with the Patriots. Manning will keep him just as busy in Denver.

The Broncos also plan on operating at an even quicker pace this season, with Manning running more no-huddle plays. "It should give us an advantage at home, just to be able to play fast and keep defenses on the field and not let them sub," said Manning of an offense that averaged 30.1 points per game in 2012. "I think it gives us another outlet, whether we go fast, slow or whatever it is, wherever we can have success that's what we're going to do. I think this allows us just to play a different game with defenses."

That approach also should give an intriguing defense more time to develop its own chemistry. After finishing second in the league in yards allowed (290.8) and fourth in points surrendered (18.1), the Broncos are relying on some new faces. Those additions include outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, safety Quentin Jammer and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. Phillips' presence is huge because the Broncos lost Pro Bowl defensive end Elvis Dumervil to the Ravens earlier this offseason. Denver also is anticipating big things from

second-year defensive end Derek Wolfe, especially after he registered six sacks as a rookie.

If this year's defense can come anywhere close to what it was in 2012 -- and Miller will have plenty to do with that happening -- the Broncos shouldn't have a hard time returning to the playoffs. If they didn't have enough talent, they also have the NFL's easiest schedule coming into the season. Eleven of the 16 games Denver will play are against teams that didn't qualify for last year's postseason. Six of the Broncos' games will come against squads that held the top four picks in this year's draft (Kansas City, Jacksonville, Oakland and Philadelphia).

Of course, the Broncos will be the first to tell you that schedules and rosters don't win championships. Hard work and execution are the bedrock of such ambitions. "I think every year your expectations are to win the Super Bowl or it's a bust," said Decker. "That's why you play the game. But this year we feel confident about who we are as a team -- the identity we have, the guys that we have. I think we're a very deep team. It all comes down to staying healthy and getting on a run at the end of the year."

"You do have to fight complacency," Fox added. "That's why it's hard to repeat as Super Bowl champs. That bull's-eye on your chest only gets bigger. But I also can tell you we are as hungry as it gets. That's because we didn't win anything last year."

NFL Division Power Rankings: NFC West

takes top slot

By John Breech CBSSports.com July 5, 2013

Three years ago, the NFC West was the worst division in the NFL, possibly in professional sports and maybe even in the world.

You remember 2010, don't you?

That's the year the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks -- the 2010 NFC West division champions -- hosted the 11-5 New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Things got so bad in 2010 that some people were calling for a rule change that would send a division-winner on the road in the Wild Card round if the Wild Card team had a better record.

Forget proposed rule changes for a second though, it gets worse: Stats guru Nate Silver called the 2010 Seahawks the second worst playoff team of all-time. That's not just in football either, Silver's ranking included all NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB playoff teams dating back to 1949.

So what did the second-worst playoff team of all-time do in the playoffs? They won. And the Beastquake happened in that win.

Now three years later, we're here. Where's here? With the NFC West inarguably at the top of the first CBSSports.com NFL divisional power rankings.

1. NFC West: The scariest thing about the NFC West might be that the 49ers and Seahawks didn't even have the best divisional record last season. That honor belonged to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams went 4-1-1 against division their rivals with the only loss coming by seven points to Seattle. (NFC West vs. NFC South and AFC South in 2013)

2. AFC North: Not only does the AFC North boast the defending Super Bowl champion, but it's the only division that's sent multiple teams to the playoffs in each of the past five seasons and won multiple Super Bowls in that same time period. If the Cleveland Browns do something called 'competing' this year, the AFC North could make a case for No. 1 by season's end. (AFC North vs. NFC North and AFC East)

3. NFC North: This is the only division in the NFL last season that had three teams with double-digit wins. If the Lions hadn't fallen flat on their faces in 2012 -- after making the playoffs in 2011 -- we might be calling the NFC North the best division in football. The NFC North is also the only division that has sent all four of its teams to the playoffs in the past three seasons. (NFC North vs. NFC East and AFC North) 4. NFC South: Last season, the NFC South was the Falcons and three slightly below average teams and when we say slightly below average, we literally mean slightly below average. The Saints, Panthers and Buccaneers all finished with 7-9 records. The NFC South might be the first division to make a move in the regular season rankings because the Panthers host Seattle in Week 1. (NFC South vs. NFC West and AFC East)

5. NFC East: The NFC East was exactly average against other divisions last season. The Redskins, Eagles, Giants and Cowboys combined to go 8-8 versus the NFC South and 8-8 against the AFC North in 2012, although it should probably be noted that four of the eight wins against the AFC North came against Cleveland. (NFC East vs. NFC North and AFC West)

6. AFC South: The AFC South might be the weirdest division in the NFL. It's not ranked last in our rankings, but it is the one division that doesn't feel like it has a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. Honestly, is anyone driving to Las Vegas this week and betting on the Texans, Colts, Jaguars or Titans to win Super Bowl XLVIII? No. No one is. (AFC South vs. NFC West and AFC West)

7. AFC East: This division might be second-to-last in the rankings, but it should be first in your heart because it's provided about 95 percent of all the NFL news that's happened this offseason. The Dolphins started it all by signing every free agent available. Mark Sanchez helped things out by making a weird video. And then there's the Patriots. The Patriots probably just need their own news channel at this point. (AFC East vs. NFC South and AFC North)

8. AFC West: The AFC West should be ranked closer to 12th, but we only have eight spots in these rankings, so it had to go here at eight. The division went 5-11 last season against the NFC South -- with three of the wins coming from Denver -- and it probably won't be much prettier this season for the AFC West going up against the NFC East. (AFC West vs. NFC East and AFC South)

Here at CBSSports.com we've ranked everything from teams to quarterbacks to the best front offices. Now we're ranking divisions. For the upcoming NFL season, we'll have a weekly power ranking of NFL divisions and every week you'll be able to tell us how horrible they are in the comment section below.

Ranking NFL Teams By Skill Positions:

Atlanta Falcons Rank Among the Game’s

Greatest Quartets

By Jason Lisk

USA Today Sports - The Big Lead July 5, 2013

Steven Jackson went from the outhouse to the penthouse of offenses when he joined the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. In St. Louis, his teams won 31% of their games (44-100) while he was there, while the Falcons have won an almost mirror opposite 70% of their games since Mike Smith became head coach. When the apparently ageless Tony Gonzalez also opted to return to Atlanta after his sixth all-pro season, following early whispers of retirement, it meant that Matt Ryan would have it pretty good again in 2013.

When you look back at the careers of these players a decade from now, where will this group rank historically on career achievement? Think about how many teams could imagine them. The key here is Julio Jones, who looks to be on his way to being one of the best receivers of his generation and gives this group the dynamic playmaker entering his prime. Who will be considered the worst player of the group? Jackson? By the time his career is over, he should be past 15,000 career yards from scrimmage, which would place him somewhere in the top 15 all-time. Roddy White? Even if he never does anything else, he will have had a career at least as good as Wes Chandler.

Here are my thoughts on other teams in the running for the best historical combination of two receivers, a tight end, and running back.

1963 to 1966 Colts: Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore, Jimmy Orr, and the young all pro tight end in John Mackey. You can also throw in Tom Matte as the fifth, who had a better career than many other guys showing up here.

2003 to 2005 Colts: Dallas Clark is the least accomplished member of the group, but was still one of the top 5 tight ends in the league in his prime. The

Wayne/Harrison/James trio was one of the best of all-time.

1981 to 1983 Chargers: Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler, Kellen Winslow and Chuck Muncie, with a young James Brooks also.

1996 to 1998 Broncos: Terrell Davis, Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey, who had a fairly underrated career.

Depending on how great Julio Jones becomes, and whether this group can stay healthy and productive in 2013, they have a chance to be considered among the top five skill position quartets.

Here are the rankings for the rest of the NFL teams by looking only at their offensive skill players. The top 5 to 6 players for 2013 are listed with each team. This is not a look forward beyond this year, and is meant only to evaluate where teams are for this season (including injuries).

#1 Atlanta Falcons (Julio Jones, Roddy White, Steven Jackson, Tony Gonzalez, Jacquizz Rodgers): When you are this good, you are experienced, not old. Jones has flashed enough potential in his first two seasons to think he could join the game’s best receivers

#2 Denver Broncos (Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, Jacob Tamme): Question marks begin right away for Denver in the backfield, and the Ball/Hillman combo will determine how good this group can be. Not bad when you can add Wes Welker to an already stout receiving group. #3 Green Bay Packers (Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Jermichael Finley, Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin): Like Denver, Green Bay will rely on young running backs to emerge, while depth is plentiful at the receiver positions.

#4 Seattle Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, Golden Tate, Robert Turbin): The addition of Harvin to go along with Lynch has the makings of an explosive offense. Zach Miller is a tough tight end, and the depth at running back is among the best in the league.

#5 New Orleans Saints (Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram, Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas): With Gronkowski coming back from multiple surgeries, Graham occupies the top tight end slot. Add in the always solid Colston, and diversity and depth at running back, and the Saints should again be explosive in Sean Payton’s return.

#6 Houston Texans (Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, Owen Daniels, DeAndre Hopkins, Ben Tate): The big issue for Houston has been lack of a quality second wide

receiver to go with Andre Johnson. If rookie DeAndre Hopkins emerges, this group soars even higher.

#7 Dallas Cowboys (Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray, Miles Austin, Joseph Randle): Dez Bryant emerged as a star over the second half of last year,

while Witten is still a top five tight end. Can Murray stay healthy this year? The running game really suffered when he was out.

#8 Minnesota Vikings (Adrian Peterson, Kyle Rudolph, Greg Jennings, Cordarelle Patterson, Jarius Wright): Peterson alone shoots the Vikings up the list, Rudolph is a solid tight end, and the Vikings tried to upgrade their poor receiving group (once Harvin was hurt last year) by going both the veteran (Jennings) and rookie

(Patterson) routes.

#9 New York Giants (Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, David Wilson, Brandon Myers, Andre Brown, Rueben Randle): David Wilson could be huge this year, after leading the NFL in kick return yards as a rookie and showing big play ability in smaller doses. The team also added a pass catching tight end in Myers, who led Oakland in receiving a year ago, in place of the departing Bennett.

#10 Indianapolis Colts (Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Ahmad

Bradshaw, Coby Fleener, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Vick Ballard): Indianapolis really needed to upgrade the skill group around the veteran Wayne a year ago, and added Hilton, Allen and Fleener. This is the year we see how much they are improved, and I look for Dwayne Allen to be the guy that many don’t know–yet–but will make waves in 2013. Ahmad Bradshaw upgrades the running backs, if he can stay off the injury report.

#11 Baltimore Ravens (Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta, Bernard Pierce,

Jacoby Jones): The defending champs will need to continue the offensive surge that came during the playoff run, once Jim Caldwell took over as coordinator.

#12 Philadelphia Eagles (LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Bryce Brown, James Casey, Brent Celek): The first year of Chip Kelly should be fun, and depth like Brown and Casey should find prominent roles in 2013.

#13 New England Patriots (Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Aaron Dobson, Donald Jones): I’ve written about the turnover in New England, and we also don’t yet know about Gronkowski’s health. Amendola could be in line for a lot of targets, and Vereen may also have to play a large role in the short passing game.

#14 Cincinnati Bengals (AJ Green, Giovani Bernard, Tyler Eifert, Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham, Benjarvus Green-Ellis): Andy Dalton should have no excuses this year, as the Bengals have looked to upgrade their athleticism at both running back (Bernard) and tight end (Eifert) to complement the acrobatic A.J. Green. #15 Detroit Lions (Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, Brandon Pettigrew, Ryan Broyles, Joique Bell, Mikel Leshoure): Calvin Johnson had a ton of yards last year, but faced a lot of defensive focus in the red zone. This group depends on whether additional

targets emerge to take that pressure off. Reggie Bush may be the second best receiving option on the team, and Bell should be in front of Leshoure for touches. #16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, Brian Leonard, Luke Stocker): Martin/Jackson/Williams give the Bucs a pretty good trio that would rank higher if we were looking at just the top three; the concern here is depth and production at tight end.

#17 San Francisco 49ers (Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Anquan Boldin, LaMichael James, A.J. Jenkins, Kendall Hunter): This group would rank much higher with Michael Crabtree, but it is very questionable whether he can make any meaningful contribution in 2013. The running back position is stocked, and they may need to get creative with James to counter what looks like a receiver group with a lot of question marks.

#18 Chicago Bears (Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte, Martellus Bennett, Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett). Will Alshon Jeffery (or someone else) emerge opposite Marshall? Brandon Marshall had more receiving yards than the next four Bears, combined, in 2013. The upgrade from Kellen Davis to Martellus Bennett is huge, mainly because Davis was not good.

#19 Carolina Panthers (Steve Smith, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Brandon LaFell): Steve Smith continues to get it done, and Greg Olsen had a very good year last season. After that, the team has not done a good job developing receiving talent, and the running back situation is not as good as it should be based on the amount of money invested in the position.

#20 Arizona Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald, Rashard Mendenhall, Michael Floyd, Andre Roberts, Rob Housler, Ryan Williams): Will Larry Fitzgerald bounce back? the team added Mendenhall to what was an injury filled mess a season ago. The quarterback play was so dismal a year ago, and this group should be motivated to improve. #21 Washington Red Pandas (Alfred Morris, Pierre Garcon, Fred Davis, Santana Moss, Evan Royster, Leonard Hankerson):

#22 Pittsburgh Steelers (Heath Miller, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Emmanuel Sanders, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Jonathan Dwyer): Probably the least explosive group that Pittsburgh has had during Roethlisberger’s career as a starter, though the team will surely benefit from better health at the running back position this season. Bell could be in line for a large amount of touches as a rookie.

#23 Buffalo Bills: (C.J. Spiller, Stevie Johnson, Fred Jackson, Robert Woods, Scott Chandler): C.J. Spiller will try to do it all in 2013, and the Bills should let any remaining reins off. The team needs one of the unproven players opposite Stevie Johnson to take advantage of the opportunity.

#24 Miami Dolphins (Mike Wallace, Lamar Miller, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Dustin Keller): The Dolphins have upgraded their offense, with additions of Wallace and Keller. The emergence of Lamar Miller will be a big

factor.

#25 San Diego Chargers (Antonio Gates, Danario Alexander, Ryan Mathews, Vincent Brown, Malcom Floyd, Danny Woodhead). An aging star tight end, a lead receiver who can be great but has dealt with several knee injuries, and back that has not stayed healthy. Vincent Brown missed last season and is the X-factor. #26 Cleveland Browns (Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon, Davone Bess, Jordan Cameron, Greg Little): Can Trent Richardson have a huge year after playing through a lot of injuries? Josh Gordon was explosive, but needs to stay out of trouble.

#27 St. Louis Rams (Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, Brian Quick, Zac Stacy, Isaiah Pead): the Rams added Tavon Austin after trading up in the first round, while signing the athletic, but inconsistent, Jared Cook at tight end. The running backs are very young now that Jackson is gone, and the opportunity is there. This group has potential to shoot up higher on this list.

#28 Jacksonville Jaguars (Maurice Jones-Drew, Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts, Marcedes Lewis, Justin Forsett, Denard Robinson): Blaine Gabbert gets one final shot, with Jones-Drew returning from injury, and Justin Blackmon entering his second year. Denard Robinson is the highest ranked Offensive Weapon.

#29 Kansas City Chiefs (Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery, Dexter McCluster, Anthony Fasano, Travis Kelce): Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe would rank much higher, but there are a lot of question marks in this group. I didn’t even list Jon Baldwin (1.6 receptions per game for career) among the group, though he’ll get a (final?) chance to compete with Avery to start opposite Bowe.

#30 Tennessee Titans (Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker, Shonn Greene): If I knew for sure that Chris Johnson would rush for 2,000 yards for the fifth year in a row, I would rank this group higher.

#31 Oakland Raiders (Darren McFadden, Denarius Moore, Rod Streater, Marcel Reece, Jacoby Ford, David Ausberry): McFadden was dreadful last year, Denarius Moore was inconsistent, and if those two do not have much better years, the quarterbacks (whomever it may be) will struggle.

#32 New York Jets: Chris Ivory, Jeremy Kerley, Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill, Mike Goodson, Jeff Cumberland): Chris Ivory finally gets a shot as a starter. Jeremy Kerley is underrated but is miscast as the best receiver on a team, so it falls to

Santonio Holmes to come back in good form for this group not to finish as the worst in the league.

Top 100 plays of 2012: Plays 21-30

July 5, 2013

From now until Aug. 2, "NFL AM" is counting down the top 100 plays from the 2012 season. Tune into "NFL AM" on NFL Network each weekday at 6 a.m. ET to see which play is revealed in the countdown.

30. Jones goes the distance

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones takes the kickoff deep in his own end zone and runs it back 108 yards for a touchdown, tying an NFL record in the Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Jones' touchdown dance appears to be inspired by former Cowboys great Deion Sanders. Watch

29. Jackson helps force OT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson makes a grab in traffic for a 24-yard touchdown and then catches a two-point conversion to send the Week 11 game against the Carolina Panthers into overtime. Watch

28. Stick to Stevie

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson makes an incredible one-handed, 25-yard catch, converting a third-and-20 situation in a Week 15 game against the Seattle Seahawks in Toronto. Watch

27. Houston, Jones is your problem

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers airs it out to James Jones, who makes a spectacular one-handed grab for a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a Week 6 rout of the Houston Texans. Watch

26. Victorian with the assist to Allen

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen causes his third turnover of his team's Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an incredible diving interception along the sideline after the ball is tipped by teammate Josh Victorian. Watch

25. Goin' all the Wayne

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck throws a strike to wide receiver Reggie Wayne for the 4-yard, go-ahead score to defeat the Green Bay Packers in Week 5. Watch

24. Peterson pounds path to postseason

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's final carry of the game sets up kicker Blair Walsh for the winning field during a Week 17 game against the Green Bay Packers, sending Minnesota into the playoffs. The 26-yard jaunt by Peterson helps him finish the season with 2,097 rushing yards, the second-most in NFL history and nine short of Eric Dickerson's record. Watch

23. Murray is a man among Giants

In the first game of the season, the Dallas Cowboys' DeMarco Murray does his best Barry Sanders impersonation ... run right, left and right again for 48 yards. Murray helped the Cowboys knock off the defending Super Bowl champion New York

Giants, 24-17, in the NFL's kickoff game. Watch 22. All the Wright moves

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Eric Wright makes some incredible moves to get down the sideline and score after intercepting Eli Manning in the closing

moments of the first half of a Week 2 game against the New York Giants. Watch 21. Harris pick burns Ravens

Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris picks off Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on the 2-yard line, and runs the interception back 98 yards for a touchdown in the Broncos' 34-17 Week 15 win. Watch

Top plays Nos. 21-30 in the countdown will be revealed on "NFL AM" from Monday, June 24 through Friday, July 5.

2013 Game-by-Game: Week 10

DenverBroncos.com July 5, 2013

In Week 10 of the 2013 season, the Broncos take on the San Diego Chargers. Check out some news and notes about the matchup.

• WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 10; 1:25 p.m. PST. • WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego. • TV: CBS.

• SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead, 57-48-1. • JOHN FOX'S RECORD: 4-2.

• PEYTON MANNING'S RECORD: 6-3 (0-2 in the playoffs).

• SERIES STREAK: Denver has won three straight overall and in three of its last four trips to San Diego.

• LAST TIME IN SAN DIEGO: Broncos 35, Chargers 24, Oct. 15, 2012. For those who believe in the notion of a single turning point to a season, this was it for 2012. The Broncos roared back from a 24-0 halftime deficit, scoring three times on Peyton Manning touchdown passes and twice on defense to pull away with 35 unanswered points. Denver's swarming defense coaxed six turnovers from Rivers (four interceptions, two fumbles), including five in the second half. The takeaway that turned the game came when Elvis Dumervil sacked Rivers and jarred the football loose; Tony Carter subsequently

recovered and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown that snuffed out a potential San Diego scoring drive and effectively represented a 10-point swing that drew the Broncos back within 24-14. Denver's defenders intercepted three fourth-quarter passes, with Chris Harris providing the final theft that he returned 46 yards for a score with 2:05 remaining, clinching the game. The win started an 11-game Broncos winning streak, while it sent the Chargers spiraling down the standings. The Chargers had lost a week earlier at New Orleans and eventually dropped seven of eight games before a 3-1 finish that wasn't enough to avoid the Chargers' first losing season in nine years.

• The Chargers' quick hire of former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy adds an extra dose of intrigue to this always-compelling rivalry. McCoy's first task is to restore the fortunes of the Chargers' ailing offense, and that starts with the offensive line, which was the target of his first draft pick in April (offensive tackle D.J. Fluker). But in the short run, free-agent pickup Max Starks might be more crucial. With Fluker pegged for the right side, Starks appears set to handle the left-tackle position that let down the Chargers week after week last season and kept quarterback Philip Rivers under constant duress.

• McCoy becomes the first Chargers head coach without previous head-coaching experience on the college or pro levels since Al Saunders (1986-88).

• John Fox is a San Diego State alumnus who played his college football in Qualcomm Stadium (then known as San Diego Stadium). His teams have won all three trips he's made there as a head coach -- each time coming back from a fourth-quarter deficit.

• Only once (1989) have the Broncos managed to win a playoff game against anyone without first winning a regular-season game at San Diego. Even that year has an asterisk, because the Broncos' loss came in a throwaway

regular-season-ending game after Denver had clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. As a result, John Elway didn't play in the second half and the Broncos lost, 19-16, but followed with consecutive postseason wins to reach Super Bowl XXIV.

• The winning team has scored at least 34 points in four of the last five games between the clubs at Qualcomm Stadium.

• Rivers has as many home losses to the Broncos (three) as a starter as he does to the rest of the AFC West combined. The Broncos have also held Rivers below an 80.0 quarterback rating in four of their last five games against him.

Gray Matter Mailbag: Starting RB Spot

DenverBroncos.com July 5, 2013

This week's Gray Matter mailbag features questions on the competition for the starting running back position.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Happy Fourth of July weekend, everyone. In honor of the fact that it's a holiday, and the fact that it falls on the 4th, let's go with four questions in this week's mailbag.

Then we can all get back to eating leftover hamburgers and hotdogs this afternoon. Gray Caldwell@GrayCaldwell

Putting together this week's #GrayMatter mailbag right now. Any last-minute questions? What do you want to read about?

pshin8670@pshin8670

@GrayCaldwell If @Julius_Thomas stays healthy during camp, what will his role in the offense be? I think he has enormous upside to be TE1/2.

As we've talked about throughout OTAs and minicamp, Thomas has been making a big impression in his first full healthy offseason. Everyone from Peyton Manning to Head Coach John Fox to Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase has been complimentary of the young tight end, who saw an uptick in repetitions when Joel Dreessen was temporarily sidelined due to a knee scope. He's got Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme ahead of him at tight end, not to mention the big three receivers --

Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Wes Welker -- battling for receptions. So it's tough to figure what his role on the offense might be, especially before training camp even starts. But I think the club would agree with you that the former college basketball player has enormous upside, and health is the key.

Gray Caldwell@GrayCaldwell

Send over your questions for this week's #GrayMatter fan mailbag -- what do you want to know leading up to camp?

broncosfan@tommyvalentine3

@GrayCaldwell @DenverBroncos where does knowshon moreno stand

The team hasn't forgotten the professional way Moreno handled his situation last season, when he was inactive for parts of the season before taking over for an injured Willis McGahee and going on to notch a pair of 100-yard games down the

stretch. Coach Fox mentioned Moreno was one of the running backs the team has confidence in after McGahee was released. He spent a chunk of OTAs still working back onto the field from his knee injury, but he gained more and more reps as the offseason workouts went on, and he'll be in the mix as the team looks for its starting running back. Of course the club's two recent draft picks at the position -- Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball -- will have something to say about that

competition as well.

Gray Caldwell@GrayCaldwell

Send over your questions for this week's #GrayMatter fan mailbag -- what do you want to know leading up to camp?

Dee Moe@SirDmo_Esquire

@GrayCaldwell @DenverBroncos is Montee Ball gonna get to battle for a starting spot?

Yes. That race seems to be relatively wide open after McGahee's release. The rookie will have every chance to take over that role at some point this season. Of course it could end up being a running-back-by-committee situation. Fox's Carolina teams seemingly always had two big-time backs that could rotate every other series or so -- Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster, then Foster and DeAngelo Williams, then Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Could it be the same situation with Ball and

Hillman? Could Moreno factor in? Something to keep an eye on as camp progresses. But to answer your question, yes, Ball will get to battle for the starting spot.

Gray Caldwell@GrayCaldwell

Keep them coming for next Friday's #GrayMatter. What do you want to know as we wait for training camp to kick off next month?

Rick Casey@CoachCasey

@GrayCaldwell What's the progress of Q Smith? News is minimal and last I heard he expects to be ready for TC. Any Change? Will he be limited

No change -- he's still hoping to be ready for training camp. The last time he talked to the media, he said he "feel(s) good about everything," and he was already able to run and work on agility drills before even coming out to Denver. Late in

offseason practices, we saw him going through a few individual drills with his teammates for the first time, so it would appear that he's progressing. He said he wants to be "full-go" by the start of camp, but after missing so much time due to injury, he might be a little bit "limited" at first as he's eased back into the action.

Week 10 Travel Guide: San Diego

Chargers

By Stuart Zaas DenverBroncos.com July 5, 2013

Travel Liaison’s note: In conjunction with DenverBroncos.com’s 2013 game

previews, we thought fans might like to get more information about the cities that the Broncos will visit in 2013. Here’s a look at some of the DenverBroncos.com contributors’ favorite things about the fourth of Denver’s 2013 road trip

destinations – San Diego. If you have any travel tips or favorites about San Diego, feel free to leave them in the comments section below for other readers who might be making the trip to watch the game.

Week: 10 Date: Nov. 10

Opponent: San Diego Chargers Time: 1:25 p.m. PST

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium

Distance from Sports Authority Field at Mile High: 1,073 miles miles, 15:41 by car.

Fun Fact About San Diego: San Diego County produces the most avocados of any region in the country.

Trivia About San Diego: The USA’s largest wooden structure is in San Diego on Coronado island. Name the structure.

Team Media Picks

Category Gray Caldwell Team Media Editor Stuart Zaas Digital Media Coord. Chris Hall Team Media Manager Andrew Mason Independent Analyst Eric Bakke Team Photographer Favorite Food/Restaurant: Oysters Fish tacos In-N-Out Fish tacos at The Tin Fish

George’s at the Cove or Cafe 21 on 5th

Favorite Place to Visit: The ocean USS Midway Museum Visitors locker room post game Pacific Beach boardwalk Mission Bay strip along the ocean Times Visited Qualcomm Stadium 5 3 7 10 36