Jamie Winborn: In His Own Words

"[The defense] is coming together; obviously we still have some work to do," Jamie Winborn said. "We've been having a lot of fun and that is the important part of the game."

"Anytime you are playing a game like this you want to have fun," he said. "If you can get everybody, first-team, second-team, third and fourth string, involved and having fun people want to be a part of it. I think that is how you begin to make something and build something special."

"I'm not too certain right now," He said regarding which position we would see him in 2008. "I can pretty much play any [position] they want me to play. However they see fit for me to be used I am willing to do that."

"[Denver] brought in guys that work hard, guys that have a lot of talent," he said. "The guys that they brought in will definitely help the team have a better chance at getting to the Super Bowl."

And playing special teams?

"I love playing special teams, I just love playing football in general," he said. "I definitely think I can help on special teams. Defensively, as they've seen from last season, if I am needed in that area I can also do that. As far as plans coming from upstairs I really don't know what they have, I am just happy that I am in any of the plans."

Jamie Winborn led the Broncos last season with 11 tackles on special teams and he also started the last two games at weak-side linebacker. He is heading into his first training camp with Denver, you'll remember he was signed after week 2 to the Broncos last season.

Winborn is a worthy option backing up and relieving current starter DJ Williams and is a headhunter on special teams.

Marlon McCree: In His Own Words

"I think it's going really well," Marlon McCree said. "I think guys are learning the defense, I think the scheme is great, every day it's a battle and we're all having a lot of fun."

"It kind of makes you settle a little bit, especially when you have a number that's been pretty good to you," he said. "I've only lost about seven games with No. 20, so hopefully we can carry that over."

"I'm definitely just trying to help out any way I can," he said. "Wherever the coaches feel I'm needed, that's what I'm trying to do."

"It's interesting, because there are a lot of similarities and there are a lot of differences, too [between San Diego and Denver's practices]," he said. "The guys on this team, the work ethic is extremely hard -- I've never worked this hard in an offseason program before."

"I'm in the best shape of my life, the guys on the team are in the best shape of their lives, and it's going to be a great year for us."

When Marlon McCree was brought in, Denver not only got a great player that has been essential in San Diego. He comes with a total of 404 tackles, 16 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and three sacks and fumbles. Speculation is that McCree may have been brought in to replace John Lynch, who may or may not be in his final season in Denver (or the NFL).

However, it would be great to see the utter havoc a combo Lynch/McCree defensive backfield could unleash. If only for a year, wide receivers would tremble in fear of catching over the middle against Denver with these two skull crackers snarling somewhere in the mist.

Tim Crowder: In His Own Words

"[The Broncos defensive line] can be great. We have all the conditions. We have all the great guys. We've got the pass rush. We've got run stoppers," Crowder said. "We have guys that can do it all."

"I think minicamps went great," Crowder said. "Overall, everybody had good and bad days, but everybody improved. I improved, and I already feel better than last year."

"Just relax," Crowder said. "That's the main thing because training camp will be here before you know it."

"I ask more of myself," Crowder said. "I want to be able to do more and more each year and just be a dominant player right now."

"If you do your job, you're helping the team. That's basically what I'm trying to do," Crowder said. "Personal goals come with it."

"I just want to do anything to help the team win."

Tim Crowder, was Denver's second round pick last year out of Texas. You'll remember that he picked off Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Rothlisberger last season and ran the ball back for a touchdown.

In His Own Words: Anthony "Quick" Aldridge

"I mean the guy is fast," Samie Paker, unofficially the current fastest player on the Broncos, said. "As fast as advertised."

"I think I’m more of a speed back," Alridge said. "I think I can hit the edges. Counter plays, catching the ball out of the backfield. I think that is my part on this team. I am just going to try and do my part."

"Really nothing has surprised me," Alridge said. "I knew everybody was going to be fast on the defense. I knew everyone was going to float to the ball. I’m just trying to soak it all in because of all the plays and the long terminology. The blocking schemes are a whole lot different than college. It is a little challenging but it is fun all at the same time."

"They are teaching me everything I know," Alridge said. "Selvin Young has taken me under his wing, been a big brother type. Michael Pittman is doing the same thing. I am just learning as much as I can and trying to soak it all in."

"I am always with [Jarvis Moss] (whom is from the same home town as Aldridge) so it isn’t anything new; it’s fun," Alridge said.

"Who’s the fastest on the team? It’s me," Alridge said. "The rookie free agent. Anthony Alridge. Houston, Texas."

Keary Colbert: In His Own Words

"That's how life is sometimes," Colbert says. "You've got to take each lesson in football and apply it to life. Everything is not always going to go the way you plan it to go or want it go, but what do you do?

"How do you respond? How do you come back? How do you fight?"

"Regardless if I was the first guy or the last guy they signed, everybody's responsibility is the same," Colbert said.

"You're supposed to come in here and make plays, compete and help the team get better. But I was ready to get to a new place, a new opportunity. I had a good time in Carolina, but my time was up. I was anxious and excited to move on."

"It just didn't happen there, but that doesn't mean it will never happen," Colbert said. "It just means I have to continue to work, to get better, to compete. That stuff will come.

"And if it doesn't come, then maybe God has another plan. Sometimes those personal goals, the numbers, can be a little overrated in the big scheme of things because, really, everybody's goal should be to go to a Super Bowl and win. And that's always my goal - that hasn't changed."

"It's about winning," Colbert said. "I was careful about where I wanted to sign because you want to go to a good place where you can contribute to something. This is the place for me; I'm excited about what could happen."

"I just go by what I see," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "(Colbert) plays hard, I liked him coming out (of the University of Southern California in the 2004 draft), and I think we've shown over the years a guy can be productive in a new place."

Keary Colbert was the most expensive wide receiver the Broncos picked up this season, signing a three-year, $7.2 million deal. Shanahan's compared him to both Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith in the last week. Pointing out that no one wanted McCaffrey (or Smith for that matter) when they were signed by Denver.

"That's what you look at," Shanahan said. "What a guy can do in your offense, what kind of offense he was in. . . . You look at the whole situation, then you make your decisions."

Generally you see a receiver in the NFL come into his own around his third season. It didn't happen for Colbert though, whose best season thus far was his rookie season. However he's only 26 years old (Brandon Marshall is 24), although it's been too often more-so lately in Denver that players have come in full of potential and have died off into football obscurity a season or two later.

thanks to rmn.

Champ Bailey: In His Own Words

"Well, one thing about being on a bad defense, everybody looks bad," Champ Bailey said. "No matter how great you are, if we don't cover in the secondary, the front four is not going to get sacks, and if they don't get sacks - get pressure - we're not going to get any picks.

"It all goes hand in hand. And we didn't get our hands on enough of any of it [last season].

"I think we were just confused," Bailey said. "We were just so inconsistent. At times, we'd see good stuff, do some good things and all of a sudden, we'd look like the worst team in the NFL. You know you can't win games like that.

"We were so successful before last year. We're kind of going back to that. . . . Things are not as complicated, we know what our responsibilities are and it's really helped us. We can concentrate on execution instead of just thinking about where we're supposed to be.

"So, yeah, I know people pick and choose when to challenge me, but that was true in [2006] and I still had 10 picks, and it was true [in 2005]," Bailey said. "So I try to figure out what the problems were. I can't say I have full responsibility for what happened, but at the same time, I don't like to point fingers at anybody and I need to do what I can to make it better.

"And I know I can do better. I mean, I had three picks [in 2007]; I have to make a lot more plays than that."

"It's special to see [Boss Bailey] every day, to do things together again, all the time, like we've been doing our whole lives until we got to the NFL," Champ Bailey said. "I just feel like it can all be better this year. Last year, we had so much talent - potential - it was definitely frustrating. Nothing we did seemed to pan out for us as far as winning games.

"Hopefully, we change that."

It's a good time to be a Denver Broncos fan, it's not often (if ever) that we get to see two potential first ballot Hall of Famers in Champ Bailey and John Lynch every Sunday during the football season. Just as special may be the renaissance, of the brothers Bailey, we see when Champ lines up once again with his brother Boss this season.

Is it Sunday yet?

thanks: RMN