Denver Broncos

*Mike Bell claims that his dislocated finger should prove no problem in holding on to the ball.  He will not start against the Chiefs, but expect him to get a good deal of carries, unless Tatum Bell looks unstoppable.

*Tatum Bell has been named the starting back this week.  But look for Mike Bell to get about 1/2 the carries.

*Mike Shanahan has become tired of the talk to move Jay Cutler into the starting position.  He reiterated that Plummer is #1, Cutler is #2, end of discussion. 

*Still no official word on who will start the season at running back.  Mike Bell is the favorite with Tatum Bell and Cedric Cobbs still in consideration.  Frankly, whatever Shanahan decides would not surprise us.  And odds are whoever gets the starting job may not keep it all season.  This is another situation that you might want to let someone else gamble on, unless Mike Bell is still sitting on the draft board with your starting backfield already in place.

*Both Ron Dayne and Darius Watts have been released.  Dayne's release was a imild surprise, but Watts release in the face of the trade of Ashley Lelie is somewhat of a shock.  It speaks volumes to how far Javon Walker has come in his recovery.

*The Rumor Mill has Ron Dayne being shopped, possibly to Houston.

*Run out and pick up Mike Bell?  You weren't alone.  Yet Mike Shanahan refuses to name his starter and from what I hear, Tatum Bell is going to win out.  It' starting to look like I was right in the first place that this was a motivational tactic by Shanahan the same way it was used for Ashley Lelie last year.  Don't jump on either of them too quickly.  And don't put too much into it, but there is a rumor that Ron Dayne could be cut.

*Javon Walker looks like he's back.  He's running out of the slot position and using his size to make room.  Houston looked like they had a ton of trouble covering him.  That's good news for Walker owners.

*Finally unloaded Ashley Lelie, who because of his off season antics probably would not have been a factor in Denver this year, anyway.

*As skeptical as we'd like to be, it's hard to ignore the fact that Mike Bell looks like he's going to start for the Broncos this year.  It's still a crowded situation, but Mike Bell is beginning to separate himself from the crowd based on a 10 carry, 73 yard, 2 touchdown performance this past week.  His value is moving up quickly.  But don't completely write off Tatum who is fighting for his life right now.  Carries may be split 60-40 in the regular season.  Ron Dayne is drifting back down to his usual position on the bench.

*Mike Bell struggled in Detroit; 7 carries for 20 yards and a fumble.

*Both Rod Smith and Javon Walker have been sitting with various minor ailments.  Probably nothing, but Walker sitting concerns us a bit.

*Mike Bell is now running with the first team.  Last year, Shanahan promoted Darius Watts to first string to motivate Ashley Lelie.  I don't think that's the case here.  What I'm hearing is that Tatum Bell is struggling and Ron Dayne is falling out of favor.  Mike Bell will most likely be your day 1 starter.  How well he does and if he splits time is another question.

*Mike Shanahan is reporting the former Patriot back Cedric Cobbs is now competing for the starting job.

*Javon Walker is running routes on the sidelines and is close to full speed.  He is on target for a return for the start of the season.

*The Broncos are looking to trade to help fill a void at Tight End.  Eric Johnson, Erron Kinney and Daniel Graham are names being bounced around, although the Pats have stated they are not trading Graham.

*Javon Walker is being moved forward slowly by the Broncos because of his surgically repaired knee.  They claim that they don't want to take any risks.  He claims he will return faster than he was before.

*A lot is being said about Tatum Bell splitting time with Ron Dayne.  While it may happen, Bell is more talented and the running back position in Denver is too valuable to ignore.  Bell is worth the risk as a #2. 

*Look for Darius Watts to move into the #3 spot that Ashley Lelie is pissing away.  Although not worthy of a draft pick, Watts is someone to keep an eye on should fate move him into a starting spot.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/ - Official Site

http://www.denverpost.com/

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos

http://www1.dailycamera.com/bdc/broncos/0,1713,BDC_2453,00.html - news sites

http://football.espn.go.com/nfl/roster?team=den - roster

http://www.ourlads.com/secure/depthchart.cfm?index1=DEN - depth chart

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/stats.htm - stats

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/afc-signings - free agency