The Denver Broncos final 2012 roster

The Denver Broncos trimmed their roster down to the league mandated 53 for the beginning of the regular season. Teams made more moves throughout the weekend, and practice squads could be formed as of noon Saturday.

The claiming period for any players cut expired at noon on Saturday, so if a player was part of these final cuts and not claimed, they can get signed to the practice squad or become free agents.


The following players were cut:

Jamie Blatnick (DE)
Drayton Florence (CB)
Jerry Franklin (LB)
Ben Garland (DT)
Adam Grant (G)
Ryan Harris (T)
Jason Hill (WR)
Tony Hills (G)
Duke Ihenacho (S)
Cornelius Ingram (TE)
Jeremiah Johnson (RB)
Mike Mohamed (LB)
Greg Orton (WR)
Gerell Robinson (WR)
Sealver Siliga (NT)
Syd'Quan Thompson (CB)
Wayne Tribue (G)
Adam Weber (QB)
Rafael Bush (S)


The following players were placed on Injured Reserve:


93 Beal, Jeremy DE
42 Fannin, Mario RB
11 Goodwin, D'Andre WR
13 Grisham, Tyler WR
90 Hunter, Jason DE



The final roster for the Broncos for the 2012 regular season:


20 Adams, Mike S
91 Ayers, Robert DE
24 Bailey, Champ CB
35 Ball, Lance RB
97 Bannan, Justin DT
68 Beadles, Zane G
64 Blake, Philip G/C
31 Bolden, Omar CB
46 Brewer, Aaron LS
57 Brooking, Keith LB
30 Bruton, David S
17 Caldwell, Andre WR
28 Carter, Quinton S
32 Carter, Tony CB
78 Clady, Ryan T
75 Clark, Chris T
4 Colquitt, Britton P
54 Davis, C.J. G
87 Decker, Eric WR
81 Dreessen, Joel TE
92 Dumervil, Elvis DE
74 Franklin, Orlando T
49 Gronkowski, Chris RB
16 Hanie, Caleb QB
25 Harris, Chris CB
21 Hillman, Ronnie RB
56 Irving, Nate MLB
70 Jackson, Malik DL
53 Johnson, Steven LB
73 Kuper, Chris G
36 Leonhard, Jim S
18 Manning, Peyton QB
51 Mays, Joe MLB
23 McGahee, Willis RB
58 Miller, Von SLB
26 Moore, Rahim S
27 Moreno, Knowshon RB
6 Osweiler, Brock QB
22 Porter, Tracy CB
5 Prater, Matt K
65 Ramirez, Manny G
14 Stokley, Brandon WR
84 Tamme, Jacob TE
88 Thomas, Demaryius WR
80 Thomas, Julius TE
59 Trevathan, Danny LB
96 Unrein, Mitch DT
99 Vickerson, Kevin DT
50 Walton, J.D. C
94 Warren, Ty DT
12 Willis, Matthew WR
95 Wolfe, Derek DL
52 Woodyard, Wesley WLB




The Broncos have also signed 8 players to the practice squad. Teams can carry up to eight on a practice squad.


Practice Squad:

63 Garland, Ben DE
33 Ihenacho, Duke S
82 Ingram, Cornelius TE
37 Johnson, Jeremiah RB
89 Orton, Greg WR
60 Saulsberry, Quentin C
98 Siliga, Sealver DT
69 Tribue, Wayne G

Broncos 2012 draft update

By Dave Brown

The Denver Broncos had a solid draft in 2012, in my opinion, but how many of those picks are on board?

Seven teams have signed all of their draft picks, while five teams have signed no draft picks. The top picks Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Trent Richardson remain unsigned. Brock Osweiler, the Broncos second round pick at #57 overall also remains unsigned, along with two other picks, but the Broncos do have four draft picks under contract.


Rd 2, Pick 4 (36) Wolfe, Derek DT - Signed
Rd 2, Pick 25 (57) Osweiler, Brock QB - Unsigned
Rd 3, Pick 4 (67) Hillman, Ronnie RB - Unsigned
Rd 4, Pick 6 (101) Bolden, Omar CB - Signed
Rd 4, Pick 13 (108) Blake, Philip C - Unsigned
Rd 5, Pick 2 (137) Jackson, Malik DT - Signed
Rd 6, Pick 18 (188) Trevathan, Danny OLB - Signed



Main story, all first round draft picks

Related articles

• Top Twelve quarterbacks to watch in 2012 (nflen.com)

Wayne Nunnely is retiring

Wayne Nunnely is retiring after spending the last three seasons as the Denver Broncos defensive line coach. His decision is based on a desire to spend more time with his wife and three children.

"This was not an easy decision, but it was the right one for me and my family," Nunnely said. "At this stage of my life, I want to devote more time to my wife, Velda, and the rest of our family. They have been with me every step of the way through an incredible career that I’ve been so blessed to enjoy. The NFL has a wonderful retirement plan, and it’s time for me to begin the next chapter of my life."

Jay Rodgers, who spent the last three seasons as a defensive assistant with the club now takes over as defensive line coach. Rodgers spent last season working primarily with Nunnely and the defensive line, so he should be ready to step in, and at this point it looks like he was being groomed for the role.

Related articles

• Wayne Nunnely, Broncos defensive line coach, retires; Jay Rodgers take over (broncotalk.net)
• Broncos' Wayne Nunnely Retires (predominantlyorange.com)
• Wayne Nunnely Retirement: Denver Broncos DL Coach Calls It A Career After 36 Years In Coaching (denver.sbnation.com)
• Denver Broncos Coach Wayne Nunnely Retiring (milehighreport.com)

Manning rides to Denver

The decision was made this morning, and Peyton Manning is finalizing his contract with the Denver Broncos.

There is a video on NFL.com here.


The Broncos are reportedly trying to trade Tim Tebow, and whether he will be a Bronco in 2012 after creating a great deal of excitement in 2011 for the organization is still up in the air.

I think the Broncos and Tebow could both benefit if Tebow had some time to learn from one of the best ever at the position.

Manning missed all of the 2011 season with a neck injury, but everyone who has seen him throw recently says he is ready to go. For the Broncos, that's good news, as Manning could run the offense from under center. No Bronco receiver had 700 or more receiving yards last season.

That's about to change in 2012.

Related articles

• BREAKING: Manning to choose Denver, Tebow trade imminent
• Denver Broncos: 10 Reasons Trading Tim Tebow Would Be a Mistake
• Peyton Manning to Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow Is Finished as Broncos Quarterback
• Peyton Manning Chooses Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow Now On Trading Block

Eddie Royal to Washington

Broncos wide receiver/punt returner Eddie Royal has left the team to sign a two year deal worth $12 million with the Washington Redskins.  This move rejoins Royal with head coach Mike Shanahan who drafted Royal out of Virginia Tech in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.  Eddie Royal had career highs in receptions (91), yards (980), and touchdowns (5) in '08, his rookie year.  This fan favorite of Denver may have left Denver since he wanted to catch balls instead of block for the run game 80% of the time with Denver having a heavy run first approach.  Royal will join Josh Morgan, formerly of the 49ers, and Pierre Garcon, formerly of the Colts, who also signed with Washington to help strengthen the wide receiver position that only has Santana Moss as a clear cut reliable receiver.  I wish Royal well in his time in Washington and wonder how well he and RGIII will connect.

Denver franchises Prater

The Denver Broncos used their franchise tag on kicker Matt Prater.  Prater was key in the Broncos six game win streak as he made two game-tying field goals and four game-winning field goals.

Pat Bowlen turns 68!

Last Saturday on February 18, Denver Broncos Majority Owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer celebrated his 68th birthday!