Broncos Free Agent signings:

[BOSSHOGG30]

Scouts Inc. has evaluated and graded all the NFL players eligible for free agency this offseason. The lists are available to everyone, but only Insiders get access to exclusive grades and scouting reports.

90-100: Elite Player
Player demonstrates rare abilities and can create mismatches that have an obvious impact on the game. ... Premier NFL player who has all the skills to consistently play at a championship level. ... Rates as one of the top players at his position in the league.
80-89: Outstanding Player
Player has abilities to create mismatches versus most opponents in the NFL. ... A feature player who has an impact on the outcome of the game. ... Cannot be shut down by a single player and plays on a consistent level week in and week out.

70-79: Good Starter
Solid starter who is close to being an outstanding player. ... Has few weaknesses and usually will win his individual matchup but does not dominate in every game, especially when matched up against the top players in the league.

60-69: Average Starter
A valuable roster player but not a dominant player against the better players he faces on a weekly basis. ... Gives great effort and teams are glad to have him, but he may or may not go to the next level.

50-59: Good Backup
This is a player who is really on the bubble and only starts because of a deficiency at the position. ... He lacks complete overall skills, and although he will battle, he will hinder his team's ability to play at a championship level if he is forced to be in the starting lineup consistently over a 16-game season. Teams don't mind having him on the roster but are always looking to upgrade.

40-49: Below Average Backup/Core Special Teamers
Strictly a backup player who is not capable of starting. If forced to, he is only a short-term fix. ... He might make the roster because of special-teams contributions or experience. ... He is the type of player teams consistently look to replace with an upgrade. ... He always will be a borderline roster player.

30: Developmental Player
Players with this grade have very little film to evaluate. Such players might flash potential in the preseason but don't have any regular-season performances to judge. they usually have very little experience but have to be tracked due to developmental potential.

20: Rookie (Post Draft)
No professional tape to evaluate. These players will have an evaluation based on their college tape, but we will not put a new grade on them until after their rookie seasons. They will carry the 20 grade throughout their first NFL season.

10: Evaluation in Process
Need more information

[BOSSHOGG30]

Keary Colbert WR UFA 6-1 200 Panthers 54
Ebenezer Ekuban DE UFA 6-3 275 Broncos 58
John Engelberger DE UFA 6-4 260 Broncos 59
Nate Jackson TE UFA 6-3 235 Broncos 42
Niko Koutouvides LB UFA 6-2 238 Seahawks 51
Boss Bailey LB UFA 6-3 235 Lions 62
Marquand Manuel S UFA 6-0 209 Panthers 53
Marlon McCree S UFA (released) 5-11 202 Chargers 62

[BOSSHOGG30]

Keary Colbert | WR
Full Name: Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert
Born: May 21, 1982
Oxnard, CA
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 25
Pos: WR
Experience: 4 years
College: USC
Drafted: Year:2004 Round:2 Pick:30, Panthers

Colbert is athletic and has functional play speed. He gets to top speed quickly and has good play speed in his routes. He has some lateral quickness and acceleration off the line. He has above-average route savvy and the quickness at the top stems to create separation. He has some awareness to find soft spots in coverage and he works to get open on slow-developing plays. He plays bigger than his size. He has good leaping ability, ball skills and timing on his jumps downfield. He isn't a burner, but he has deceptive speed after the catch. But he plays too upright and has a choppy running style. He seems to have problems with his feet. He isn't very physical against press coverage. He isn't very fluid when separating at break points. His concentration and body control can be inconsistent on tough catches in traffic. He isn't a strong or consistent blocker. Colbert has underachieved since his rookie season. He's best suited to being a backup.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Ebenezer Ekuban | DE
Full Name: Ebenezer, Jr. Ekuban
Born: May 29, 1976
, Ghana
Height: 6-3
Weight: 275 lbs.
Pronounced: ECK-you-bon
Age: 31
Pos: DE
Experience: 9 years
College: North Carolina

Ekuban, a 10-year veteran, had major back issues in 2001 and returned to health for five good seasons before landing on injured reserve in '07. He has good size, initial quickness and speed, and he plays with a good motor. He is a good technician who uses his hands well and reads blocks quickly. A bit undersized, he can be swallowed up by big offensive linemen and will struggle to hold his own at the point of attack. He relies on upfield speed and quickness to pressure the pocket more than an array of countermoves. He lacks the punch to bull rush effectively. He is getting on in years, and injuries could have an impact on whether or not he makes his way on to an NFL roster.

[BOSSHOGG30]

John Engelberger | DE
Full Name: John Albert Engelberger
Born: October 18, 1976
Heidelberg, VA
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260 lbs.
Pronounced: INGLE-burger
Age: 31
Pos: DE
Experience: 8 years
College: Virginia Tech
Drafted: Year:2000 Round:2 Pick:4, 49ers

An on-again, off-again starter in Denver, Engelberger is a high-motor player with above-average long speed. He is asked to play a run-stopping role as the left end in the Broncos' even front, but he isn't very powerful or stout taking on blockers at the line of scrimmage. He relies on his motor and active hands to take on and shed blockers, but he too often winds up losing ground. He has speed off the edge, but he lacks natural pass-rush skills. He has marginal initial explosiveness off the ball and lacks countermoves once a blocker gets his hands on him. He has lined up at linebacker in the NFL, but he isn't quite athletic enough to make the move full time.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Nate Jackson | TE
Full Name: Nate Jackson
Born: June 4, 1979
San Jose, CA
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 lbs.
Age: 28
Pos: TE
Experience: 5 years
College: Menlo

After six NFL seasons, Jackson has proven to be a 'tweener who doesn't quite fit the mold at either wide receiver or tight end. He lacks the size and strength to be an effective in-line blocker aligned tight to formations, and he lacks the speed and explosiveness to line up and beat cornerbacks on the perimeter. He is very athletic and catches the ball very well, but he has trouble getting uncovered and separating from good man-to-man coverage. He has some special teams ability, but he isn't fast enough to make many plays in the open field. He definitely will find himself in a battle to make a roster in 2008.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Niko Koutouvides | LB
Full Name: Niko Stelios Koutouvides
Born: March 25, 1981
Plainville, CT
Height: 6-2
Weight: 238 lbs.
Age: 26
Pos: LB
Experience: 4 years
College: Purdue
Drafted: Year:2004 Round:4 Pick:20, Seahawks

A four-year veteran, Koutouvides is versatile and intelligent. He has good size and straight-line speed. He is tenacious and tough. He plays very hard and will throw his body around. He can play any of Seattle's linebacker positions and is one of the team's better special teams contributors. He consistently is one of the first players downfield in kick coverage. He lacks ideal lateral agility and change-of-direction skills. He can struggle to avoid blockers and get good fits to squeeze a play. He isn't the most instinctive player. He can be late to react and runs himself out of some plays by overpursuing. Koutouvides knows how to play within his limitations, but he likely never will be more than a backup and special teams ace.

[Slick]

Thanks for the inside info Boss.

[Stargazer]

Diamonds in the rough.:D

[Italianmobstr7]

Thanks Boss.

[str8jacket]

Poor Nate Jackson

[turftoad]

Looks like we all of our backups locked up. Now how about a starter or two.

[Nature Boy]

Pat Bowlen is tired of paying for over hyped FAs that don't produce in relative to their huge salaries. Gardner, Warren just to name 2 recent DTs. It's great draft or bust this year.

[Nature Boy]

I think Nate Jackson must brew some of the best coffee in the Rocky Mountains to stay on the roster for this long.

[topscribe]

Great inside information, Boss. It really helps in evaluating the players.

Thanks. :beer:

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[TXBRONC]

Thanks for the information Boss.

[MHCBill]

At least we didn't overpay...

Calvin Pace - 6 years 42 million

Tommy Kelly - 7 years 50 million

Allan Faneca - 5 years 40 million

Bernard Berrian - 6 years 42 million

Justin Smith - 6 years 45 million

Gibril Wilson - 6 years 39 million

***************************

Outside of Faneca I have as many pro-bowl visits as the rest of these multi-millionaires.

Free Agency aint' everything folks!

[G_Money]

It's kinda scary when the 31 year old guard might have gotten the most reasonable deal at 40 million bucks.

All the more reason to draft well and keep your own (good) players. Can we extend Brandon Marshall soon please?

Many more offseasons like this and we'll have to trade in Cutler's Porsche just to pay for BM's next contract.

~G

[BOSSHOGG30]

Boss Bailey | LB
Full Name: Rodney Bailey
Born: October 14, 1979
Folkston, GA
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 lbs.
Age: 28
Pos: LB
Experience: 5 years
College: Georgia
Drafted: Year:2003 Round:2 Pick:2, Lions

Bailey has exceptional speed and very good athleticism. He closes on the ball in a hurry against the run and has the tools to be effective in coverage. He uses his hands well to ward off and shed blockers. He is at his best when covered up and able to move laterally, making plays inside-out to the ball. He has the size, quickness and agility to cover top interior receivers and tight ends. He was very raw coming into the league, but he has developed his reads and techniques. He has learned how to play under control and take proper angles to the ball. He is tough and competitive, but he isn't physical. He isn't powerful enough to stack and shed effectively. He tends to get banged up and misses some time almost every year. Bailey has developed into a good starter and special teams contributor.

[Watchthemiddle]

At least we didn't overpay...

Calvin Pace - 6 years 42 million

Tommy Kelly - 7 years 50 million

Allan Faneca - 5 years 40 million

Bernard Berrian - 6 years 42 million

Justin Smith - 6 years 45 million

Gibril Wilson - 6 years 39 million

***************************

Outside of Faneca I have as many pro-bowl visits as the rest of these multi-millionaires.

Free Agency aint' everything folks!


or ......Javon Walker - 6 years 55 Million :rofl:

[Watchthemiddle]

Boss or anyone..

Why do we keep hanging on to Nate Jackson?

Has the boy played a complete season in 6 years?

Has he played 16 total games if you add up 6 years of being in the NFL?

I like the guy, but as a football player and roster spot, why do we hang on to him?

[BOSSHOGG30]

I think sometimes coaches develop a special bond or liking for a player. Denver probably values his all around ability. He is a team player who is willing to play any position if it will keep him on the roster and help the team. As of right now he provides us with a special teamer, tightend, wide out, and positive locker room guy.

[xzn]

I think sometimes coaches develop a special bond or liking for a player. Denver probably values his all around ability. He is a team player who is willing to play any position if it will keep him on the roster and help the team. As of right now he provides us with a special teamer, tightend, wide out, and positive locker room guy.

You forgot to mention that Nate also has a picture of Shanahan passed out, drunk and naked "spooning" with his pet goat...

[SmilinAssasSin27]

That's BS...he just tripped over his dog.

[Lonestar]

That's BS...he just tripped over his dog.

If its that long he should see a doctor about it..

[BANJOPICKER1]

Boss or anyone..

Why do we keep hanging on to Nate Jackson?

Has the boy played a complete season in 6 years?

Has he played 16 total games if you add up 6 years of being in the NFL?

I like the guy, but as a football player and roster spot, why do we hang on to him?
Perhaps Denver NEEDS a solid clip board holder????:D

[TXBRONC]

At least we didn't overpay...

Calvin Pace - 6 years 42 million

Tommy Kelly - 7 years 50 million

Allan Faneca - 5 years 40 million

Bernard Berrian - 6 years 42 million

Justin Smith - 6 years 45 million

Gibril Wilson - 6 years 39 million

***************************

Outside of Faneca I have as many pro-bowl visits as the rest of these multi-millionaires.

Free Agency aint' everything folks!

I saw earlier this evening that we did in fact sign Boss Bailey today.

[Npba900]

This season shaping up to be another 7-9 season or worse!

[Stargazer]

Can we extend Brandon Marshall soon please?



Not yet. He's still playing for peanuts. So far, he has had only one major season.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Marlon McCree | S
Full Name: Marlon Tarron McCree
Born: March 17, 1977
Orlando, FL
Height: 5-11
Weight: 202 lbs.
Age: 30
Pos: S
Experience: 7 years
College: Kentucky
Drafted: Year:2001 Round:7 Pick:33, Jaguars

McCree is a veteran safety with a lot of starts under his belt and has been with four teams in his eight years in the league. He is a former seventh-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars who became a starter midway through his rookie season. He is not quite as big as youd like for a safety but is well put together and plays stronger than he looks. He is definitely better in coverage than he is in run support as can get swallowed up and disappear when coming up to force the run. He takes good angles and is more than just a willing tackler when inserting himself and generally gets the ball carrier down quickly. He shows good route recognition from deep zone and gets a good jump on the ball by reading the quarterback. He looks light on his feet when dropping into coverage and can be quick in transition. He is not quite a ballhawk as a free safety but he will make a play when the quarterback makes a mistake. He is not real strong to the ball in a crowd but does have the ability to react to and deflect balls. While he never really jumps off the screen, he does a lot of things pretty well and should draw some attention as a free agent.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Marquand Manuel | S
Full Name: Marquand Alexander Manuel
Born: July 11, 1979
Miami, FL
Height: 6-0
Weight: 209 lbs.
Pronounced: MAR-kwand
Age: 28
Pos: S
Experience: 6 years
College: Florida
Drafted: Year:2002 Round:6 Pick:9, Bengals

Manuel has good size, athleticism and experience. He is competitive and tough, and he's a physical player on coverage teams. He's a willing insert player who can be physical against the run. He capably communicates calls and seems to understand concepts. He is more quick than fast. He has solid play speed, takes decent downfield angles and has some range. He has an upright pedal and above-average transition skills, but lacks good top-end speed. He's more natural playing near the line of scrimmage than downfield. He can be late in his recognition against both the run and pass. He's a better short zone player than when he is isolated in man-to-man situations. He has questionable playmaking skills. Manuel fits best as a reserve and core special teams player.

[Brand]

These evaluations are made on what the players have done so far. It does not take into account the situatuions they were in prior to hitting FA, nor does it take intoi account the "roles" those players were expected to play on the old team. I am skeptical of any "rating" of a player. Maybe the overall skill set is important to observe when the new team works them out in their system.....

Pfttt.

[SmilinAssasSin27]

wow...thanx for that absolutely meaningless contribution.

[Joel]

Ebenezer Ekuban | DE
Full Name: Ebenezer, Jr. Ekuban
Born: May 29, 1976
, Ghana
Height: 6-3
Weight: 275 lbs.
Pronounced: ECK-you-bon
Age: 31
Pos: DE
Experience: 9 years
College: North Carolina

Ekuban, a 10-year veteran, had major back issues in 2001 and returned to health for five good seasons before landing on injured reserve in '07. He has good size, initial quickness and speed, and he plays with a good motor. He is a good technician who uses his hands well and reads blocks quickly. A bit undersized, he can be swallowed up by big offensive linemen and will struggle to hold his own at the point of attack. He relies on upfield speed and quickness to pressure the pocket more than an array of countermoves. He lacks the punch to bull rush effectively. He is getting on in years, and injuries could have an impact on whether or not he makes his way on to an NFL roster.
I'm biased as one of the few around here who actually grew up LIKING Dallas, but I'll never forget two years ago when we played SD and Tomlinson ran a toss left, the D totally read it and the back cut back and ran the width of the field to turn and take off for a long TD. ONE guy ran with him, caught him from behind right before he reached his turn, and tackled him for a loss. Ebenezer Ekuban. Undersized he may be, but he's as big as or bigger than all our other ends, and better than most if not all if he's in playing form again. IF....