Kiszla: Jeremy Lin might have more game than Tim Tebow

By Mark Kiszla

The Denver Post

February 15, 2012

While Tim Tebow refuted the rumor he has "a thing" for singer Katy Perry, New

York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin stole the job as America's 24/7 sports obsession.

In a nation where our attention span is 140 characters long, Linsanity has grown

louder than Tebowmania.

At least until the next big thing starts trending.

Sure, Tebow smears Lin on Twitter with nearly four times as many followers. But

Lin shines as the brightest light in the city that never sleeps, while Tebow works magic in the lost time zone. Call it a draw.

Please forgive me for interrupting the social phenomena of dueling pop-culture comets with a trivial sports question or two:

Could it be Lin possesses a more refined game than Tebow?

Does either the Asian-American point guard or God's quarterback have true staying power?

In California to hang with the Hollywood crowd during the "Act of Valor" movie premiere, eat some good, old breakfast food and read Dr. Seuss to kids during

recent days, Tebow did what 21st century celebrities do best: Keep his name in the headlines.

Lin has cited Tebow as an inspiration.

While visiting a recreational center in south Los Angeles, Tebow was asked his

impression of Lin.

"It's awesome to see what he's done," Tebow told The Associated Press. "It's going to be fun to see where it goes from here."

What Linsanity proves is how quickly Tebowmania can be shoved to the shadows of

the national sports conversation. It also amplifies the advice Broncos executive John Elway gave Tebow at the conclusion of the giddiest 8-8 season in franchise

history: Improve your quarterbacking skills. Pronto.

Superstars now rise and fall at the speed of the Internet.

Sure, Tebow led jaw-dropping comebacks and humbly thanked God for the blessings. If the game is beating the clock and praising the Lord, however, Lin can

make us believe we've seen a sports miracle every bit as vividly.

What could separate Lin from Tebow? Victories. And skill.

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Tebow faithful, Lin already passes with more accuracy than the 24-year-old Broncos quarterback. And the Knicks point

guard scores better too.

With all due respect to Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, Lin also benefits from a stronger supporting cast than Tebow. There has been speculation our old friend

Carmelo Anthony will end all this beautiful Linsanity when he returns from injury to hog the basketball for the Knicks.

In response, let me employ an acronym from my Twitter for Dummies dictionary:

FDROTFL.

Lin will make Melo more effective, and I find it laugh-out-loud hilarious that anyone seriously believes their on-court relationship is doomed to failure. When Anthony had Chauncey Billups running the point in 2009, the Nuggets went to the Western

Conference finals.

Since watching the United States win a gold medal four years ago at the Summer Olympics, I have applauded coach Mike Krzyzewski for the brilliant idea of playing

Anthony at power forward.

Guess what? New York coach Mike D'Antoni served on the Team USA staff. So don't be surprised when you begin seeing stretches of Knicks games with Lin dropping

dimes to Amar'e Stoudemire at center and Melo playing a face-to-the-basket power forward that fits perfectly in the up-tempo style favored by D'Antoni.

Lin entered Harvard in the same autumn Tebow was winning his first national

championship with the Florida Gators. Although Tebow is a year older, Lin has a more refined basketball education when compared to the remedial work Tebow must do in footwork and reading NFL defenses.

Tebow and Lin are heroes of the moment in America's favorite game: Made you

look.

But there's one essential element of sports that remains unchanged in the hyperventilating hyperbole of the rowdy and fun Twitterverse. It's the only question

that really matters for the staying power of Lin and Tebow:

Can you play?

Temporary unemployment comes with NFL free agency

By Mike Klis

The Denver Post February 16, 2012

Free agency, NFL players discover in time, is a two-way street.

Yes, it can lead to a jackpot of riches. But only the elite players, maybe the top 5

percent, wind up receiving the huge paydays.

For everybody else, free agency leads to a temporary state of unemployment: the darkened place that is unknown.

It's usually not until they reach free agency that it fully hits players how they got

there in the first place: Their previous contract expired. And their previous employer didn't extend their contract before free agency began.

For 17 Broncos who are eligible for unrestricted free agency when the market opens March 13, this can be a scary time.

"For a guy like me, who's 34 years old and has been fortunate enough to play in this league for 11 years now, it's not as scary as it once was," offensive lineman Russ Hochstein said. "When I went through this after my seventh or eighth year,

you maybe have dollar signs in your eyes, and maybe you go through a little letdown when it works out a little differently than you thought. But then, after

you've been through this process, you realize you have to stay patient, take it year by year and hope you get to keep playing."

Hochstein, who wound up replacing the injured Chris Kuper at right guard for the final three games of the 2011 season, is among the Broncos' 17, which represent a

whopping 32 percent of the team's season-ending, 53-man roster. It would seem that before the Broncos can start working on improving their team that finished 8-8

last season, they must first secure much of their status quo.

"There's no question those 17 guys are our first priority," said John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations. "We'd like to have them all

back to come in and compete because we know them."

Put kicker Matt Prater high on the list of the team's priorities. He is the free agent who could receive the Broncos' franchise tag — which would be for a relatively modest, one-year contract worth $2.6 million. Prater would like to escape the tag

and sign a more lucrative multiyear contract.

"We don't want to use it," Elway said of franchising Prater. "We'd like to get a deal done."

The Broncos will talk to backup quarterback Brady Quinn before he hits the free-

agent market. And if Quinn leaves, the Broncos will have at least one and likely two quarterback transactions this offseason.

"No question," Elway said. "We've only got two under contract (Tim Tebow and

Adam Weber). We're going through guys on the free-agent board, and now we're going through the draft picks. So we'll have a plan for that."

Don't rip up the newspaper, Tebowmaniacs. Regardless of which quarterbacks the

Broncos sign in free agency, select in the draft or both, Tebow will be the starting quarterback entering training camp.

"No question, he's our starter going in," Elway said. "But competition will be good

for everybody, at every position."

The Broncos will have more money to spend on their 2012 payroll than they did in 2011. Each year, the Broncos' cash budget for player salaries has been about 95 percent of what the NFL lists as the salary cap. The Broncos usually keep the other

5 percent to fund extra salaries they may need during the season to replace players who wind up on season-ending injured reserve.

In 2011, the Broncos spent $117.5 million on salaries — 98 percent of the league's

$120.38 million salary cap. The salary cap is expected to be the same for 2012.

"That $3 million difference," Elway said, "we'll roll that over to this year. And that really came from the savings of Orton, so we'll have that money to spend this

year."

The Broncos waived quarterback Kyle Orton with six weeks remaining in the 2011 season. When he was claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs, they assumed the final $2.6 million of Orton's contract.

NFL teams can manipulate the salary cap according to their accountants' desire, depending on how they account for things such as signing bonuses, which can be prorated over several years. The 2007 New York Giants, who were NFL champions,

ranked 32nd in the 32-team league with a $75.7 million salary cap figure. The Broncos, who finished 7-9 that year, ranked 15th with a $102.2 million salary cap

figure.

"There's a lot of things that go into the formula," Elway said. "The good teams do a good job of putting the right value on the players."

Before the Broncos start spending in the free-agent market, though, they will have

to budget plenty of dough for their own. Among the Broncos' 17 potential free

agents are wide receiver Eddie Royal, safety Brian Dawkins, linebackers Joe Mays, Wesley Woodyard and Mario Haggan, defensive tackles Brodrick Bunkley and

Marcus Thomas, defensive end Jason Hunter and fullback Spencer Larsen.

The Broncos are expected to start negotiations with their own potential free agents next week during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Once free agency

opens March 13, the Broncos will be looking at players from other teams.

"We're going to be smart with it," Elway said. "We're not going to blow it to blow it. We want to definitely get the value for each dollar. That's a big part of this

business, getting the value right on these players. Putting that right dollar amount on each one of these players."

Sweet 17?

Among the Broncos' 17 potential unrestricted free agents are eight starters (Matt

Prater, Brodrick Bunkley, Joe Mays, Spencer Larsen, Daniel Fells, Brian Dawkins, Eddie Royal and Marcus Thomas). Denver Post beat writer Mike Klis analyzes the entire group:

Matt Prater, kicker: Figures to re-sign with Denver even if it takes a franchise tag

to keep him.

Brodrick Bunkley, defensive tackle: Played for the minimum salary last year. In line for a multiyear contract with a raise.

Joe Mays, middle linebacker: Too productive not to bring back.

Spencer Larsen, fullback: Solid blocker and better guy. Has battled injuries.

Daniel Fells, tight end: Played 86 percent of the snaps in 2011. Broncos would like him back, but he will have options.

Jason Hunter, defensive end: Played 33 percent of the defensive snaps. Could return at team- favorable rate.

Mario Haggan, linebacker: Lost starting job to NFL defensive rookie of the year

Von Miller, but led Denver in special-teams plays (71.8 percent).

Wesley Woodyard, linebacker: Lost his nickel slot near the end of the season, but ranked second to Haggan in special-teams plays (69.9 percent).

Brian Dawkins, safety: If he plays this year, it will be for Denver. But retirement

still appears to be the best bet.

Russ Hochstein, guard: Versatile veteran and natural leader just completed his 11th season.

Eddie Royal, receiver-returner: Tough to re-sign. May want more money than the Broncos offer. And he no doubt would like a more pass-oriented offense.

Marcus Thomas, defensive tackle: Re-signed to a one-year contract last year. A

starter who will want at least a two-year deal this time.

Brady Quinn, quarterback: Has not ruled out a return even though he never took a snap in two years. Will look elsewhere.

Dante Rosario, tight end: Didn't get a chance to catch the ball, but was in on 63

percent of special-teams plays.

Manny Ramirez, guard: Veteran was inactive most of the season. May return as swing inside guy.

Jonathan Wilhite, cornerback: Briefly a nickel back until he was replaced by

rookie Chris Harris. Not expected to return.

Derrick Harvey, defensive end: Where have you gone, No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft?

Elway says Broncos to spend more than NFL salary cap in 2012

By Mike Klis

The Denver Post

February 15, 2012

Because of the complexity of the NFL salary cap, comparing cap figures can be like

comparing apples to oranges to bananas to walnuts.

Apples to apples? The Broncos will spend more on their 2012 payroll than they did in 2011.

"Cash-wise we'll spend more than cap this year," John Elway, the Broncos' head of

football operations, said today. "But that's where it comes down to how everybody accounts and how the numbers get skewed. Whether you're over the cap or under

the cap it just comes down to the accounting."

Each year, the Broncos' cash budget for player salaries always has been around 95 percent of what the NFL lists as the salary cap. Cash versus cap? Say the Broncos gave Von Miller a five-year contract with a $10 million signing bonus. The 2011

salary cap figure is $2 million because that $10 million can be spread out equally over the length of the five-year contract. While that $10 million can be reduced for

cap purposes by accounting, it's real money.

To the Broncos, Miller's $10 million bonus counts as $10 million towards their cash payroll.

Sometimes a team's cash number is lower than the actual cap. In 2012, for

instance, Miller's bonus will still count $2 million against the Broncos' salary cap, but because the Broncos paid it all a year ago, it's counts zero against the cash budget.

The Broncos usually keep back the extra 5 percent in order to pay players they may

need to sign during the season to replace players who wind up on the season-ending injured reserve list.

In 2011, the Broncos spent $117.5 million in cash on salaries, or 98 percent of the

$120.375 million salary cap. The cap is expected to again come in at $120.375 million for the 2012 season.

"That $3 million difference, we'll roll that over to this year," Elway said. "And that

really came from the savings of (Kyle) Orton, so we'll have that money to spend this year."

The Broncos waived quarterback Kyle Orton with six weeks remaining in the 2011 season. When he was claimed by Kansas City, the Chiefs assumed the final $2.6

million of Orton's contract.

Before the Broncos start spending in the free agent market, though, they will have to budget plenty of money for their own players. The Broncos have 17 players —

including Eddie Royal, Matt Prater, Brian Dawkins, Joe Mays, Brodrick Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, Wesley Woodyard, Mario Haggan, Spencer Larsen and Jason

Hunter — who become eligible for free agency on March 13.

The Broncos are expected to open negotiations with their own potential free agents next week during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

"We're in draft meetings right now, getting ready for the combine, but there's no question those 17 guys are our first priority," Elway said. "We'd like to have them

all back to come in and compete because we know them. But bottom-line is, until we start talking to them and figure out where they're coming in (with contract

expectations) and whether they want to see where their value is on the market, or if we can get a deal done with them before they hit the market, we won't know for sure (who can be signed)."

Broncos sign speedy wide receiver Jason Hill

By Mike Klis and Lindsay Jones

The Denver Post February 15, 2012

Check out the background of receiver Jason Hill and it seems like the Broncos have done this once before.

Brandon Lloyd was a fourth-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2003, then bounced around with decent production here and there until he had a breakout

season as a deep-ball receiver with the Broncos in 2010.

Hill was a third-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2007, who had 30 catches in 2008, then 25 in only 10 games for Jacksonville and coach Jack Del Rio last season. Hill is

a speedster who ran 4.32 second 40 at the NFL scouting combine.

With the help of Denver-based agent Peter Schaffer, Hill signed a one-year contract Wednesday with the Broncos.

"It's an opportunity for me to compete and that's all we want at the professional

level," Hill said Wednesday night. "They've got a good vibe going. I think they're ascending. And I want to be a part of it."

Now for the biggest difference between Hill and Lloyd: Hill is looking forward to

playing with quarterback Tim Tebow. Lloyd asked for a trade at the same time the Broncos changed quarterbacks from Kyle Orton to Tebow last year.

The Broncos hope Hill, 28, can adjust better than other Bronco receivers did in trying to catch Tebow's left-handed throws.

"I haven't caught a left-hander before in my career but I'm sure it's something I

can adapt to," Hill said. "I like him. He's a winner. It's all about winning to me."

Hill now gets the chanced to reunite with Del Rio, who was hired last month as the Broncos' new defensive coordinator.

With a chance Eddie Royal will leave for free agency, the Broncos need Hill to help

complement Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker next season.

The Broncos on Wednesday also signed free agent guard CJ Davis, who played for John Fox in Carolina in 2009 and 2010.

Denver Broncos need to keep DT Brodrick Bunkley or find someone like him

By Jeff Legwold

The Denver Post February 15, 2012

Today's question about the Broncos comes from Anthony Marshall in Atlanta:

Q: On the free-agency front, from what I'm reading, there seems to be some reluctance about whether defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley remains in the team's

plans. In my opinion, Bunkley should be one of their main priorities in free agency. It would not make sense if the Broncos didn't re-sign him. Didn't (the Broncos) give

up a draft pick for him?

A: Anthony, this past summer the Broncos surrendered what turned out to be a fifth-round draft pick in this coming April's draft to the Eagles in exchange for Bunkley.

The Broncos later gained a fifth-round pick in their deal with the Rams for wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, so they have a pick in every round except the sixth of the seven-round affair.

Bunkley was athletically gifted enough to have been the 14th overall selection of

the 2006 draft by the Eagles — the same year the Broncos moved up to take Jay Cutler at No. 11 — but also one who had never quite lived up to the team's

expectations.

As Bunkley put it, "I think they were done with me."

Bunkley suffered ligament and nerve damage to his left elbow in the 2010 season. He has consistently maintained he didn't need surgery to repair the injury, but the

day before the Broncos completed the trade for him, the Cleveland Browns scuttled a deal for Bunkley after giving him a physical.

That trade also would have been for a fifth-round pick.

So there was at least some injury concern when Bunkley went to the Broncos, but

once he arrived, he didn't miss a practice on the way to playing in every game in the 2011 season. His statistics were modest on the surface — 43 tackles and no sacks — but his teammates, particularly the ones who have been with the Broncos

for a while, say he was a key part of any improvement the team made defensively over 2010.

Elvis Dumervil said: "We haven't had a guy like that, not since I've been here. He's

been like a monster in there."

Bunkley is one of many unrestricted free agents the Broncos have — he played this past season on the final year of a deal he had signed with the Eagles — and he

plays a need position in the team's depth chart. The Broncos figure to give some attention to that position in the draft.

Certainly the Broncos would want a player like Bunkley to return, but it will be a

question of money. Bunkley and his representatives will want to find out what they can get in the open market, especially since defensive tackles did fairly well in free

agency last year, including players like Barry Cofield (Redskins) and Brandon Mebane (Seahawks). The Broncos took a look at those two but didn't want to spend what it cost to sign them.

The Broncos also expect Kevin Vickerson and Ty Warren back from injured reserve

— both signed two-year deals last year — so that will be the starting point on the depth chart.

The Broncos have phrased their free-agency approach as "aggressive" in the

pursuit of "value signings." Slice that however you want, but that doesn't sound like a team that's simply going to bid whatever it takes to get a player.

It sounds like the team is hunting for a deal like running back Willis McGahee's —

an under-the-radar signing for many, but one that resulted in a highly productive player who was the team's leading rusher.

But if it's a calmer sort of free-agency

market, especially after the first few days, and Bunkley is still available, the

Broncos would take a look if they believe he could give them the same kind of effort that he did this past season.

He was a situational player at times down the stretch — he didn't play in the team's nickel (five defensive backs), and the Broncos spent much of the stretch run in that

set — but it was often evident when he wasn't in there. So, if they don't re-sign him, they had better find somebody just like him.

Chris Weinke was the first Brandon Weeden

By Jeff Legwold The Denver Post

February 15, 2012

Some players awaiting the NFL draft are short, some are tall, some are fast and some are really fast. And then there is Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, a Big 12

champion quarterback who will be 29 years old during his rookie season in the NFL. Weeden is the only player on this year's draft board in that age bracket.

Chris Weinke can relate to Weeden. Weinke was 28 when he was drafted and

turned 29 during his rookie season. Weinke, like Weeden, played minor-league baseball before he played college football.

Weinke, who was a Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State, now tutors quarterbacks of all ages at the IMG academies in Bradenton, Fla.

"He's a guy I followed very closely," Weinke said of Weeden, "because our paths

were mirror images of each other. We were both 28 our last years of college. I've had a chance to spend some time on the phone (with him) about similar things he

was going to face. I love his game. Hopefully, people can overlook the age factor."

Weinke played several years in the Toronto Blue Jays' farm system before he played football for Florida State. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the

fourth round of the NFL's 2001 draft, the 106th pick overall. Weinke was a starter for most of Carolina's 1-15 season in 2001. He became a backup, playing behind Rodney Peete and Jake Delhomme, when the Panthers hired John Fox as their head

coach in 2002. He was released by the Panthers after the 2006 season and played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2007, his final NFL season.

"I never let the age question affect me," Weinke said, "but you knew it was like the

elephant in the room whenever you talked to teams (before the draft). 'Hey, the guy's 28.' I try to educate these guys I'm working with now about this being a

process where they are trying to find what's wrong with you. But I believe (being 28 at the time of the draft) was a positive thing for me, and I think it could be a positive thing for Brandon as well."

Weinke is tutoring quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M, Russell Wilson of

Wisconsin and Kirk Cousins of Michigan State before the April 26-28 draft. Tannehill, Wilson and Cousins have been invited to the NFL scouting combine,

which starts next week in Indianapolis.

"Anyone around John Fox has heard him say 'play fast, but don't hurry,' that John Wooden quote," Weinke said. "That's the message I try to convey with a lot of fundamentals. I'm an old-school guy. I wasn't the most gifted athlete. I had to be a

student of the game.

"So whether it's helping a kid start in high school, helping a kid who's starting in high school get a college scholarship or helping an NFL guy who wants a little more,

to tweak something to get a little bit better, that's what I do. And nobody asks me how old I am anymore."

Denver City Counil yanks plans for flashy Mile High signs

By Jeremy P. Meyer

The Denver Post February 16, 2012

A controversial plan to place large signs on the iconic steel band that wraps around the Denver Broncos stadium was pulled after more than three hours of public

comment at a marathon Denver planning board meeting Monday night.

Officials from Sports Authority toward the end of the meeting agreed not to place red-lettered 9 ½-foot-tall and 178-foot-long signs on the east, north and west sides

of the upper ring of the 11-year-old stadium. Riled-up neighbors had complained they would be too bright.

The board and Sports Authority did agree to go ahead with an illuminated roof-line ring that wraps around the top of the stadium and can be lit up during events.

The decision now goes to the city's zoning administrator.

A crowd of neighbors, who stayed throughout the six-hour meeting, applauded the board's unanimous decision.

Neighbors had been worried about the potential impact that the light from the signs would have on their homes and what they said would be a garish display on a

taxpayer-funded stadium that had been carefully designed more than a decade ago.

"We strongly oppose the proposal on grounds that it would inflict egregious visual pollution on the citizens of Denver," said Walter Friedenberg, speaking for a

downtown Denver neighborhood group. "To put large illuminated signs on the crowning band would sully that iconic structure and constitute corporate graffiti."

Others supported the move, lauding the Englewood-based Sports Authority sporting

goods company that over the summer bought the naming rights for $150 million.

Broncos President Joe Ellis said he and team owner Pat Bowlen support the signs. "We think this brings life to the building," said Ellis.

City staff studied the proposal, finding it was acceptable under city code and zoning

rules, and recommended its approval.

The planning board's approval is one step in the process. The matter next goes to the zoning administrator, who has the final say.

Four city council members have asked the planning board to reject the proposal, citing the opposition from numerous neighborhood groups. Sports Authority officials

say they have responded to the community's concerns — holding 25 meetings with neighbors, agreeing to limit when the signs are illuminated and conducting lighting

studies that they say show a "negligible" impact.

Designer John Dohner, from Monigle Associates Inc., which created the signs, explained that the lighting studies found the glare at the stadium's property line

would be the equivalent of a single candle from 50 feet away.

Later in the public hearing, Rafael Espinoza, who lives near the stadium and opposes the sign, attempted to debunk the lighting studies. He pointed a flashlight at another man's back and asked him to walk away.

"You will see how that (light) decreases and diminishes," he said before pointing

the flashlight at the board members.

"This is glare. Can everyone see the light from my flashlight? The photometric study measures what is falling on his back, not what is going into your eye. The

whole purpose of signage is to be seen. To parse it out and say it is immeasurable is absurd."

Tim Tebow “Will to Win” Broncos book signing with Mike Klis

The Denver Post

February 15, 2012

Broncos fans can meet Denver Post NFL reporter Mike Klis on Thursday (Feb. 16)

and hear about the Broncos’ star-kissed 2011 season with Tim Tebow.

Klis will sign copies of “Will to Win: How Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos turned 2011 into a season to remember,” which was published last month.

When: Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Denver Post auditorium, 101 W. Colfax Ave. Admission is free

Copies of the book will be available.

Broncos QB Tim Tebow goes old school

Associated Press February 15, 2012

Tim Tebow delivered one of his greatest clutch performances — an effort that's sure

to benefit children everywhere.

The Broncos quarterback benched the playbook long enough to read his favorite childhood book, "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss. No, Tebow didn't read the

children's classic in a house or read it with a mouse; instead, he read it to a national audience as part of America's Biggest Storytime, an annual celebrity

webcast to motivate children to read more.

You can witness the narrator in action by visiting bookitprogram.com/biggeststorytime through Wednesday.

Report: Tebow gets tutoring from QB guru Mazzone

Associated Press

February 15, 2012

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has been getting some extra coaching in Los

Angeles this week courtesy of new UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, ESPN

reported Wednesday.

The network said Mazzone and his son Taylor have been working on Tebow's much-

maligned mechanics twice a day.

Improving Tim Tebow's performance in the passing game will be one of the keys to

Denver's 2012 season, Elliot Harrison writes. More...

"It's kind of like a golfer who hit that bad drive," Mazzone said. "Every other guy in

the foursome can tell you what you did wrong and all three opinions are different.

We're just going out and kind of going back to the basics and working on some

fundamentals to try and become a little more efficient."

Tebow led the Broncos to the AFC West crown last season and topped that with a

wild-card victory over the Steelers. But his 46.5 completion percentage was the

worst among NFL starting quarterbacks. Noel Mazzone said the sessions will last

through the weekend and maybe longer. The Mazzones worked with Tebow when

he left college, and also last offseason.

The Broncos know about the sessions, according to Noel Mazzone.

"Obviously I wouldn't do anything that would go against what their beliefs are," he

said. "I know after coaching quarterbacks for a long time, they're like girlfriends.

You don't like other guys messing with them."

Broncos sign guard C.J. Davis

Associated Press February 15, 2012

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—The Denver Broncos have signed third-year free agent

guard C.J. Davis, who will reunite with coach John Fox.

Davis played for Fox in Carolina in 2010, when he appeared in seven games after spending the previous season on injured reserve.

The Panthers signed Davis as a college free agent in 2009 after he started 43

games at the University of Pittsburgh and was named All-Big East his senior season.

Tim Tebow working on throwing motion

By Peter Yoon

ESPNLosAngeles.com

February 15, 2012

LOS ANGELES -- Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has been in Los Angeles working on his throwing mechanics with new UCLA offensive coordinator Noel

Mazzone.

Mazzone and his son, Taylor, have been working out with Tebow twice a day for a couple of hours at a time since last weekend, Noel Mazzone said Wednesday, hoping to improve upon Tebow's heavily-scrutinized passing ability.

"He just came out here to throw and work on a few things and see if we can just

become a little more efficient in what he's doing," Noel Mazzone said, noting that

the sessions will last through the weekend and maybe longer. "Throwing motion,

footwork, everything I work on with all my quarterbacks."

Tebow started 11 games for the Broncos in 2011 and won seven of his first eight

starts, leading Denver to the AFC West title and a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Tebow completed just 46.5 percent of his passes in

the regular season and only 40.4 percent in the Broncos' two playoff games.

"It's kind of like a golfer who hit that bad drive," Mazzone said of working on Tebow's unorthodox throwing motion. "Every other guy in the foursome can tell you

what you did wrong and all three opinions are different. We're just going out and kind of going back to the basics and working on some fundamentals to try and

become a little more efficient."

The Mazzones previously worked with Tebow when the Heisman Trophy winner was coming out of Florida and helped him become a first-round pick in 2010. They also worked with him last offseason.

NFL teams are limited in the amount of practice time they are allowed with players during the offseason, but there is nothing preventing players from working with non-affiliated coaches. Mazzone said the Broncos are aware that he is working with

Tebow and that he regularly communicates with Broncos quarterbacks coach Adam Gase.

"Obviously I wouldn't do anything that would go against what their beliefs are,"

Mazzone said. "I know after coaching quarterbacks for a long time, they're like girlfriends. You don't like other guys messing with them."

Noel Mazzone, who was Philip Rivers' offensive coordinator at North Carolina State, said the San Diego Chargers quarterback and Minnesota Vikings quarterback

Christian Ponder are expected to join the workouts later in the week.

Mazzone said he is also working with former Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler as Osweiler prepares for April's draft.

"Philip is right down the road and he's always itching to throw a football," said

Mazzone, who was Osweiler's offensive coordinator the last two seasons at Arizona State. "He might shoot up and throw the ball around a little bit. That would be a

good guy for both Brock and Tim to be around also."

Denver signs former Jaguars' WR

By Bill Williamson ESPN.com

February 15, 2012

The Denver Post reports the Broncos have signed former Jacksonville starter Jason Hill. He started 10 games for the Jaguars with new Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. Hill had 25 catches those starts. He was cut later in the season.

Hill has a chance to be a rotational receiver in Denver. I still think Denver will look

to add receivers, but Hill provides some depth. Meanwhile, Denver signed guard C.J. Davis. He did not play in 2011, but he was

with Carolina -- under Denver coach John Fox -- in a reserve role for parts of the 2009 and ’10 seasons. He will compete to be a bottom-of-the roster player in 2012.

In other AFC West news:

Here is another mock draft that has the Chiefs taking Alabama running back

Trent Richardson at No. 11. The two questions are, will Richardson drop past the top 10 and would the Chiefs bypass other needs to put Richardson and Jamaal Charles in the same backfield? It will be fascinating to see if this

potential pairing gains traction as the draft approaches. Denver leader John Elway talks about the team’s plans for free agency.

UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone discussed working with Denver quarterback Tim Tebow this week. Mazzone coached San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in college and Rivers is expected to join the workouts later this

week.

Mailbag: Eddie Royal a fit in San Diego?

By Bill Williamson ESPN.com

February 15, 2012

Mid-week mail call: Justin R. Blacksburg, VA. wants to know if Denver free agent receiver/return

man Eddie Royal could be a fit in San Diego.

Bill Williamson: I’m not sure Royal will be a priority for any team, but he could be an interesting, experienced player for San Diego to look at. He could be intriguing because he’d fit both as a No. 3 receiver and as a return man. I could see the

Chargers, at least, considering Royal. I think the favorite to land Royal is Washington, which is coached by Mike Shanahan. He drafted Royal in Denver in

2008. Jason K. from Wichita wants to know why the Chiefs cut tackle Jared Gaither especially since he flourished in San Diego and may be re-signed there.

BW: He was cut after making a crucial penalty in loss to Pittsburgh. After he was

cut, then-Kansas City offensive coordinator Bill Muir said Gaither didn’t have “explosiveness.” He missed all of 2010 with a back injury and he was slow to respond in Kansas City. Yet, once he was signed by San Diego, Gaither played very

well and he is once again considered a potentially top tackle. I could see the Chargers trying to keep him in free agency. Should have Kansas City shown more

patience with the immensely-talented Gaither? Perhaps, yes.

Parker Keegan from Seattle wants to know to know if the Oakland Raiders

could potentially trade tight end Kevin Boss to the New York Giants since they had two tight ends suffer major knee injuries in the Super Bowl.

BW: I like where you are going with this, sir. New York tight ends Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum are expected to miss part of the 2012 season after being hurt in the

Super Bowl. Boss is a former Giants’ tight end who the team wanted back. The Raiders could use draft picks and perhaps a trade would help both teams. Boss would likely command a conditional mid-round pick. I could see the fit here. Nice

idea.

Tim Tebow getting back to basics, works on throwing motion

By Mike Foss

USA Today February 15, 2012

After a season riddled with incomplete passes, Broncos QB Tim Tebow is spending

the offseason working on his mechanics.

Tebow has been tweaking on his throwing motion with new UCLA OC Noel Mazzone twice a day since last weekend Mazzone tells ESPN's Peter Yoon.

"He just came out here to throw and work on a few things and see if we can just

become a little more efficient in what he's doing," Mazzone said. "Throwing motion, footwork, everything I work on with all my quarterbacks."

Tebow started 11 games for the Broncos during the 2011 season, winning seven of his first eight starts on the way to Denver's AFC West title . However, Tebow's

40.4% completion rate in the playoffs left something to be desired. Tebow's poor throwing motion can be attributed to some of his struggles.

"It's kind of like a golfer who hit that bad drive," Mazzone said. "Every other guy in

the foursome can tell you what you did wrong and all three opinions are different. We're just going out and kind of going back to the basics and working on some fundamentals to try and become a little more efficient."

Tebow will also get help from Broncos VP of football operations and Super Bowl-winning QB John Elway after Mazzone finishes his training, which is expected to last another week. In the meantime, Mazzone said the Broncos are aware that he is

working with Tebow whose regular season 46.5% completion rate was lowest among NFL starters.

NFL teams are limited in the amount of practice time they are allowed with players

during the offseason, but Mazzone said he has been in daily contact with Broncos QB coach Adam Gase while working with Tebow.

Tebow works on throwing motion in L.A.

By Mike Florio

Pro Football Talk

February 15, 2012

Two years ago, as Tim Tebow tried to get himself in position to be taken in the first round of the draft, he embarked on an effort to change his throwing motion.

Today, the effort continues. According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Tebow is working

on his mechanics with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.

“He just came out here to throw and work on a few things and see if we can just become a little more efficient in what he’s doing,” Mazzone said. “Throwing motion,

footwork, everything I work on with all my quarterbacks.”

Mazzone said that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder are expected to join the workouts soon. Mazzone was Rivers’

offensive coordinator at North Carolina State.

“Obviously I wouldn’t do anything that would go against what their beliefs are,” Mazzone said in reference to the Broncos’ plans for Tebow, adding that Mazzone

regularly talks with Denver’s quarterbacks coach, Adam Gase. “I know after coaching quarterbacks for a long time, they’re like girlfriends. You don’t like other guys messing with them.”

Tebow completed 46.5 percent of his throws during the regular season, and only

40.4 percent in two playoff games. If he can improve his accuracy, he can become a dangerous dual-purpose weapon.

Broncos pick up Jason Hill

By Gregg Rosenthal

Pro Football Talk

February 15, 2012

The Jaguars thought enough of Jason Hill last offseason that they re-signed him to a two-year contract and started him ten games.

The rest of the league thought so little of Hill that no one picked him up when he

was released in late November.

Hill will be reunited with his former Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio this season in Denver. Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post reports the Broncos picked up Hill on

Thursday.

The former 49ers draft pick had career highs in 2011 with 367 yards and three touchdowns. His most noteworthy moment came when he called out Darrelle Revis,

and then didn’t even play against the Jets. If Hill winds up starting in Denver, the Broncos have some problems.

They have Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker slated to start, but Eddie Royal is a

free agent. Denver’s depth is poor after that.

A Little Intrigue Exists in Broncos’ Mid-February Pickups

By Andrew Mason

MaxDenver.com February 16, 2012

The Broncos’ signing of ex-49ers and Jaguars wide receiver Jason Hill, first reported

by The Denver Post on Wednesday night, could be a harbinger of what they plan to do with Eddie Royal.

Royal is due to become an unrestricted free agent March 13 after a season in which he had career lows in receptions and yardage. Seemingly supplanted on the

Broncos’ depth chart by 2010 draft picks Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, Royal’s primary value last year was as reliable returner; in fact, his most crucial

play of the regular season was a touchdown return at Oakland in Week 9 that broke a 24-all standoff in the fourth quarter.

Hill has one more season of experience than Royal, breaking into the league in

2007 as a draft pick of the 49ers. He also has a connection with Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. Not only did Hill start 10 games for Del Rio before he was fired by the Jaguars, but Hill was cut by Jacksonville on Nov. 30 — one day after

Del Rio was fired with a 3-8 record.

When the Jaguars jettisoned Hill, he already had career highs for receiving yardage (367) and receiving touchdowns (three). Those are modest totals, to be sure, but

they easily outpaced Royal’s 2011 numbers in the same categories (155 and 1, respectively).

Among the 94 wide receivers who had at least 25 receptions in 2011, Hill ranked

37th in first-down percentage; 17 of his 25 catches (68 percent) made the line to gain. By comparison, Thomas hit the sticks on 75 percent of his catches; Decker did so 65.9 percent of the time.

THE SIGNING OF C.J. DAVIS could prove intriguing as the year develops.

Carolina invested two seasons of development in the former University of Pittsburgh

guard, waiting out a rookie season spent on injured reserve and retaining him for the 2010 season. But when John Fox and offensive line coach Dave Magazu left,

Davis wasn’t far behind, and didn’t make it out of the 2011 preseason. Carolina placed him on the waived/injured list last Sep. 5 and he didn’t play again in 2011.

The key issue with Davis are the free agents Denver has up front: backup guards

Russ Hochstein and Manny Ramirez. If they depart, Davis could be in position to make the roster.

Is Denver's Skyline For Sale?

By Dave Krieger

850KOA.com February 15, 2012

Is Denver's skyline for sale? And, if so, what's it worth?

The first of these questions has gotten a lot of attention in the debate leading up to today's hearing before the city planning board on The Sports Authority's proposal to

install three 178-foot, lighted signs along the metal band that undulates around the top of the stadium where the Broncos play in northwest Denver.

The second question has gotten almost none.

The Sports Authority, a Denver-based nationwide sporting goods retailer, took over the stadium naming rights deal from Invesco Funds Group last summer. It has

proposed amending the comprehensive sign plan that governs signage at the stadium to permit much larger, more prominent signs than Invesco installed to

identify it as the naming rights holder.

Opponents of the signs -- each of which would be nine and a half feet high and 178 feet long -- include a host of neighborhood organizations, a handful of Denver City

Council members and at least one editorial columnist who generally opposes government interference in the free market.

"I object to it on aesthetic grounds because the stadium is an attractive stadium and that's no accident," Denver Post columnist Vincent Carroll said on the Dave Logan Show.

"I object to it on commercial grounds since the taxpayers get nothing in return for the addition of these huge signs in their faces. And I object to it on procedural

grounds. Nobody warned anybody when this transfer of naming rights occurred at an Aug. 16 meeting of the stadium board that these sorts of signs were in the offing. And yet, lo and behold, all of a sudden there's this proposal and it seems to

be just taken for granted by city bureaucrats, by the stadium district, by the Broncos' management team, the stadium management team, that this is going to

be a fait accompli.

"And you know, maybe it is. Maybe it's a juggernaut that can't be stopped. But I, at least, and a whole host of neighborhood organizations that were on this case long

before I was, think it's bad policy, it's bad for Denver and it's going to mar the skyline."

The Broncos, through a subsidiary that manages the stadium, now known as Sports Authority Field at Mile High, stand behind their corporate partner.

"The proposed signs celebrate a couple of things," said Andy Gorchov, general manager of Stadium Management Co. "They celebrate, obviously, the naming rights

partner and the new name of the stadium. The one thing that people may say is this is a form of advertisement. But it's not. It's actually the name of the building.

So that's an important distinction to make.

"It also incorporates the Broncos' logo as part of the combined sign elements. That's something that has not had any kind of a presence on the outside of the

stadium before. As the home of the Broncos, to be able to incorporate the Broncos' logo is something that we're definitely excited about.

"But additionally, it also incorporates the legacy 'at Mile High' term. So combining all three of those was the intent of the design, as well as giving it enough of a size where it has sufficient legibility and visibility from a reasonable distance away. I

think we believe that the old signs, though everybody liked them, they were small and they were difficult to read from a distance. The proposed sign was designed to

improve that."

Last week, the city's community development and planning staff completed its review of the proposed amendment to the sign plan and recommended that the

planning board approve it.

"The criteria, some are very concrete and very scientific, others are more

subjective," said Kelly Leid, Denver's director of development services. "I think the aspect of the city's role in this is to say, 'Look, we have a responsibility to, one,

follow a clear and consistent and transparent process.' The comprehensive sign plan has a process we follow and we've done that.

"The second is we're obligated to review the application when it's submitted, which

we have done. To the extent there are impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods, we take those very seriously and we have to evaluate those and look for, are there

any mitigating factors that can be taken into consideration that may impact the neighborhoods?

"And then lastly, and I think of equal importance, is that we have to have a system

that is predictable. And by that I mean, in this case the applicant relied on a set of rules that were in place for the comprehensive sign plan, they've submitted a

request to amend that sign plan based on those criteria, and we have to make sure as a city that we're providing a system of predictability in the review of that plan."

Area neighborhood organizations describe the likely local impacts of the signs in

somewhat stronger terms.

"The neighborhoods surrounding the stadium, believe it or not, are kind of a nice,

quiet, serene place to live and raise families," said Michael Gates, co-president of Jefferson Park United Neighbors, the neighborhood that abuts the stadium to the west.

"We're all aware that there's 10 Bronco home games that are going to happen and they're going to create a certain amount of energy. We just don't want that energy

to be translated to these giant, red, lighted signs that are going to be on 365 days a year up until 2 a.m. in certain instances."

As I understand the most recent negotiations on that issue, The Sports Authority has agreed to turn off the signs facing west and north, toward residential neighborhoods, at midnight. The sign facing east, toward downtown, would remain

on until 2 a.m.

The city skyline is often photographed from the east so as to include the Rocky

Mountains as a backdrop. Depending on the angle, these photos often include the stadium. In photos of the skyline taken from the west side of town, the stadium is in the foreground. Putting aesthetic objections to the proposed signs aside for a

minute, one would think that the right to put a commercial brand on a public building that is part of the skyline would be a fairly expensive proposition.

So perhaps the most surprising aspect of the debate is that at no time has the city or the stadium district asked The Sports Authority to pay an additional fee for the right to vastly augment the signage that went with the original naming rights deal.

The money from the naming rights deal -- approximately $6 million a year -- is divided between the Broncos and the stadium district, which uses its share for

upkeep of the facility. If there is excess, it is supposed to go back to the counties that provided the public funding that got the place built.

I don't know where in the bureaucratic process this possibility should have or could have been raised, but the failure of public officials to broach this topic raises the question of their fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers to maximize revenue from the

facility.

If the free market allows The Sports Authority to put its brand on the Denver

skyline, then the free market should also require it to pay a market rate for the privilege. And that doesn't mean just picking up the existing naming rights fee, which included much more modest signage rights.

At least, that's how it looks from here.

Today's public hearing before the planning board is at 3 p.m. in the Webb Municipal

Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., 4th floor. Those who want to speak should arrive early to sign up.

Tim Tebow Debate: Should Homeschoolers Be

Allowed on Public-School Sports Teams?

Several states are considering proposals to let homeschooled kids play sports at

public schools

By Andrew J. Rotherham

Time Magazine

February 16, 2012

The Denver Broncos’ offseason just started, but their star quarterback Tim Tebow is

already back in the news. Legislators in Virginia and several other states are

considering proposals to allow homeschooled students to play high school sports at

local public schools. Called Tebow laws, they are the same kind of rules that

allowed their homeschooled namesake to play high school football in Florida long

before he joined the NFL.

Despite — or perhaps because of — Tebow’s success, the prospect of lots of

homeschoolers joining high school sports teams has the education establishment up

in arms. Many opponents to Tebow laws repeat the mantra, “High school sports are

a privilege, not a right.” Others fret that the logistics will be too daunting; for

starters, how can you ensure homeschoolers are academically eligible to play? And

after years of deriding public schools, homeschooling advocates seem shocked

they’re not being greeted with open arms. The controversy surrounding Tebow laws

is at once a reminder that homeschooling is too lightly regulated and a cautionary

tale for those who want to broaden support for public schools.

The debate in Virginia, where I served on the state board of education, about the

proposed Tebow law is the highest-profile so far. The politician championing the

law got a lot of attention last week with the way he celebrated the bill passing one

chamber of the state legislature: by Tebowing, getting down on one knee as the

quarterback has become famous for doing and bowing his head his head in

prayer. (Governor Bob McDonnell has said he will sign the bill if it passes in the

state senate.) Homeschooled students in Virginia — as well as in some other states

— can already take classes in public schools if local school districts decide to allow

it. The Tebow law would work the same way. It wouldn’t mandate participation but

would create a local option for school districts to decide. For their part, student

athletes would still have to make the teams they want to play on and pay fees just

like public school kids. According to various homeschooling associations, 29 states

currently allow access to sports for homeschooled students, although often with

many restrictions on eligibility. Just 13 states provide broad access for

homeschoolers.

The most recent federal government figures estimate there were 1.5 million

homeschooled students in 2007. Homeschooling continues to grow — advocates say

the total figure is closer to 2 million today — but its popularity remains tempered by

the reality that doing it well is an awful lot of work. Serious homeschooling parents

not only spend a great deal of time teaching but also staying current on curriculum

and pedagogical issues. Increasingly, homeschooling parents are banding together

and using technology to help lighten the load. Although religion and values are big

drivers of many families (including the Tebows) who decide to homeschool, those

aren’t the only reasons. Some families are attracted to the schedule flexibility;

others are concerned about the academic quality of their local public schools or just

want something different. As evidence of the diversity among homeschooling

families: not all the homeschoolers in Virginia support the Tebow law, and major

homeschooling associations are staying on the sidelines absent a consensus.

Opponents of Tebow laws make some good points. Just because some

homeschoolers win the National Spelling Bee or ace the SATs doesn’t mean

homeschooling is uniformly high quality. There are no reliable systematic

evaluations of homeschooling quality because there are no common measures. Only

24 states even require any kind of standardized testing for homeschooled

students. Homeschooling families I know worry about this and acknowledge the

complicated interaction of personal liberty with the societal need to ensure that

students are getting a sufficient education.

Virginia, like many states, has slowly moved to liberalize homeschooling. For

instance, in 2006 then-Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signed a bill lowering one

educational requirement for homeschooling families, from requiring a bachelor’s

degree for one parent to simply needing a high school diploma to be able to teach

at home. The state’s previous governor, Mark Warner, now a U.S. Senator, had

vetoed that legislation. Proponents argued that most states had no such

requirement — in fact, 41 don’t require any qualifications for parents. But that

speaks more to the lack of attention to quality than the merit of the idea.

That’s why I agree with Tebow law opponents that there is reason to be concerned

about the quality of some homeschooling experiences. Academic eligibility rules for

high school sports are a hard-won education reform. If homeschoolers want to

integrate with the public system more, they need to play by some of its rules. That

means that, at a minimum, there needs to be some sensible regulation of

homeschooling quality for students who want to play sports.

But I don’t understand the self-anointed public school advocates who are

simultaneously decrying homeschoolers for being separatists while throwing up

walls to keep them from participating in high school athletics, an activity that brings

communities together. It’s a position born of adult prejudices, not the well-being of

kids.

In a diverse society like ours, there is value in commonness. Opponents of Tebow

laws have it backwards: integrating homeschoolers into our public education

system advances the goal of commonality. Besides, given all the problems our

public schools face, it makes sense to build bridges to different communities, not

exclude them. It’s how you build support and political coalitions. Letting

homeschoolers play sports is one way to do that — if the homeschooling community

can get past its reflexive opposition to regulation and meet the public schools halfway.

Students read along to Dr. Seuss with Denver Broncos' Tim Tebow David Berman Gillicothe Gazette (Ohio)

February 15, 2012

CHILLICOTHE -- After a season of reading defenses, Tim Tebow read something less complicated in a video made available to schools, including Tiffin Elementary, on Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos quarterback read from Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" in the

four-and-a-half-minute clip on the website for Book It!, a reading incentive program sponsored by Pizza Hut.

The event, dubbed "America's Biggest Storytime," was even sweeter for a group of fourth-graders at Tiffin because the school was one of only 10 nationwide randomly

selected to receive a Book It! prize pack filled with football-themed goodies, including foam fingers, mini footballs, plastic megaphones and a bean-bag toss game.

Students were dressed for the occasion, wearing Book It! eye black stickers. A handful even came to school wearing their favorite teams' jerseys.

Representatives from the Pizza Hut on North Bridge Street and America's Pizza Company, which owns 41 Pizza Hut stores across central Ohio, helped hand out the prizes.

Chillicothe Superintendent Jon Saxton dropped in to congratulate the group.

"Those foam fingers, I'm not too worried about anyone poking an eye out, but be careful," Saxton said.

Saxton asked the students why they liked Tebow.

"Because he's a good Dr. Seuss reader," one student shouted.

Saxton agreed, but said he likes Tebow because he's a great role model.

Tiffin fourth-grade teacher Becky Seidel entered her students in the prize pack contest. She said Tiffin is the first Ohio school to win since the contest started five years ago.

Seidel gives her students their Book It! incentive -- a coupon for a free personal pan pizza -- once each month as long as they meet their reading goals.

Gang Leader Punished For Not Talking In Bronco Murder?

Lawsuit Claims Brian Hicks In Solitary For Not Cooperating In Darrent Williams' Case Alan Gathright KMGH.com

February 15, 2012

DENVER -- A Denver gang leader and convicted witness-killer has filed a lawsuit saying he's being punished with solitary confinement for not cooperating in the investigation of Denver Broncos player Darrent Williams' murder.

On Feb. 8, Brian Hicks filed a federal lawsuit against Assistant U.S. Attorney

Stephanie Podolak, the former and current warden at the Federal Correctional Institution/Englewood and two supervisors in the special housing unit where he lives.

The lawsuit says that Hicks has been punished with solitary confinement for more

than three years because he repeatedly refused to cooperate with the Denver police investigation of Williams' murder.

Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Colorado, said he could not comment on pending litigation.

Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting early New Year’s Day 2007 after a friction between members of the football player's group and gang members at a downtown

Denver nightclub.

Hicks' gang underling, Willie Clark, was convicted of the murder in March 2010 and

police determined that Clark was driving Hicks' Chevrolet Tahoe in the drive-by shooting.

But Hicks was in jail on drug charges at the time of the killing and his lawsuit says he played no part in the killing.

In the 263-page lawsuit complaint, largely written by Hicks in prison, he states that homicide detectives relentlessly tried to interview him about the Williams slaying

and he was even offered a plea deal if he cooperated. But he repeatedly refused to cooperate.

At one point, Hicks' then-defense attorney, Jonathan Willett, warned Hicks that if he kept refusing to cooperate, prosecutors would "come down hard on him," and

additional charges would be filed against him, the lawsuit said.

Hicks refused again and days later additional drug charges were filed against him, the lawsuit said.

In August 2008, Hicks said two prison lieutenants threatened to have him "gassed" and forcefully removed from his cell, if he didn't voluntarily come out to be

interviewed, the lawsuit said. When Hicks refused, two Denver homicide detectives came to his cell and asked him to talk with them about the Williams case.

Hicks refused to leave his cell, and prison officials left him alone, the lawsuit said.

But the prisoner said that Podolak, the federal prosecutor in his drug case, and prison officials conspired to punish him with solitary confinement, where he was

locked up 23 hours daily and only allowed one hour of exercise five times a week, the lawsuit said.

In one incident, he said a prison supervisor wrote "Go Broncos" in orange and blue marker on a tablet placed in his cell, the lawsuit said.

Hicks said he repeatedly asked why he was held in isolation and prison officials told him that his drug case had attracted national publicity and he was kept in the

segregated unit to "ensure (his) safety and the security of the facility," the lawsuit said.

However, Hicks said prison Warden Blake Davis told him that Podolak had directed that Hicks be held in the Special Housing Unit at the prison located in Littleton, the

lawsuit said.

In 2009, Hicks said a new warden, Rene Garcia, told him that unnamed "outside

sources" had instructed Garcia to keep him in solitary, the lawsuit said.

Hicks' lawsuit said the "true reason for his placement in segregation (was) to punish him for his refusal to cooperate with law enforcement," the lawsuit said.

Hicks said he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and the "punitive" confinement has caused his health to deteriorate. He's lost 20 pounds and even

contemplated suicide, the lawsuit said.

Hicks currently faces federal cocaine trafficking charges.

Last year, Hicks, Willie Clark and another gang underling, Shun Birch, were convicted of murdering Kalonniann Clark just days before she was to testify that

Hicks shot at her outside a Denver nightclub. The men are serving life sentences in prison.