Every football season, teams create and print out playbooks for each of the players, coaches and other personnel. Players and coaches spend hours in the locker rooms going over game videos. However, this year, the Denver Broncos are looking to change all of this and take a step into the digital world.

For the 2012 NFL season, the Broncos have decided to toss out the traditional playbooks and instead turn to iPads. They will be able to have their game plans, video clips and anything else they may need right in their hands. If Broncos coach John Fox adds a new play, the players will not have to wait for a meeting and their new page. It will now be able to be uploaded immediately.

Traditionally, players would take notes on their weekly playbooks but when the week was over, many of these notes went out the window. These new tablets will allow the players to make notes and highlight certain plays and their information will be retained each week.

Personally, as a tech geek, I think this is a great idea. However, when I first read about it, I did have one concern. A tablet that holds all the plays and secrets of a team would be a huge target for other teams. Playbooks are protected just as fiercely off the field as the ball is on the field. What happens if a player leaves that tablet behind somewhere?

The answer to that is simple and it actually makes the new tablets and their secrets more secure than the old paper playbooks. If a player loses their new tablet, the information on the tablet can be deleted from a remote location via the Verizon’s LTE network.

The Broncos will be the third team in the NFL to make a turn to the digital world. Currently, the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only other teams using tablet and digital technology. However, I don’t think that will be the case for long. The company that created the PlayerLync app that is being used is in talks with other NFL teams as well.

While I think the biggest difference this season for the Broncos will be the addition of Peyton Manning, it will be interesting to see how these tablets make a difference too. As a fan, I can only hope that these tablets and their internet access will give the players an opportunity to hit Twitter more often and share more updates.

Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and avid football fan. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. She has followed the Denver Broncos since she was a child and is looking forward to a season with QB Peyton Manning. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.

Georgia’s Brandon Boykin (2) in 2009 (AP file photo)

Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Josh Kroll in Louisville, Ky.

Q: Will the Broncos draft somebody this week to replace Eddie Royal on special teams?

A: Royal made some big plays on special teams, including an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown last year. He signed with the Chargers as a free agent. But even if he had re-signed with the Broncos, they still would have been looking for help on special teams. That’s because Royal primarily is a wide receiver, and he has battled injuries throughout his NFL career.

Defensive back Cassius Vaughn could help the Broncos as a returner. Also, wide receiver Eric Decker had a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown last year.

Georgia’s Brandon Boykin, a 5-foot-9½, 182-pound cornerback, is an intriguing prospect. He’s a bit undersized, but he might be the best returner available in this draft. He’s the only player in Southeastern Conference history with three 100-yard plays — all on kickoff returns (two in 2009, one in 2010). He is Georgia’s career leader in kickoff return yards and ranks No. 2 in SEC history in that category.

Boykin averaged nearly 13 yards on punt returns last year. In the last game of his Georgia career — a triple-overtime, 33-30 loss to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl — he had a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown, seven tackles on defense (including one for a safety) and a 13-yard touchdown reception.

He probably will get a long look from the Broncos because he can give them instant impact on special teams and also contribute on defense.

Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com

Despite bringing in a 36-year-old Peyton Manning to take
over at quarterback, the Broncos’ focus in this draft will predominantly be
about getting younger. Age is a particular worry in the middle of the
defensive line, where two prominent members of the rotation (Ty Warren, Justin
Bannan) are on the down side of their careers and Warren has missed the last
two seasons due to injuries, so most insiders expect Denver to use its No. 25
overall pick on the best interior tackle that’s still standing. Leading rusher
Willis McGahee enjoyed a career renaissance for the reigning AFC West champs
last year, but the 30-year-old has considerable tread on his tires and 2009
first-rounder Knowshon Moreno seems to have fallen out of favor with the
current coaching staff, which makes a running back with fresh legs a potential
priority for the new Manning-led offense. The Broncos, who picked up a second
fourth-round choice in the trade of popular quarterback Tim Tebow to the Jets,
also seek a future building block at cornerback and are short on quality
reserves on the offensive line, while a more talented alternative to backup
quarterback Caleb Hanie also may be found out of the rookie ranks.

2011 Record: 8-8

Top Needs: DT, RB, OL

First Three Picks: No. 25, No. 57, No. 87

Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6)

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2011 – Von Miller (LB, Texas A&M); 2010 -
Demaryius Thomas (WR, Georgia Tech), Tim Tebow (QB, Florida); 2009 – Knowshon
Moreno (RB, Georgia), Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee); 2008 – Ryan Clady (T,
Boise State); 2007 – Jarvis Moss (DE, Florida); 2006 – Jay Cutler (QB,
Vanderbilt); 2005 – none; 2004 – D.J. Williams (OLB, Miami-Florida); 2003 -
George Foster (OT, Georgia).

©2012 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Denver Broncos are receiving their first taste of the hurry-up-at-altitude offense that Peyton Manning will unleash on the NFL this fall if everything keeps going well with his surgically repaired neck.

As they go through their offseason workouts, the Broncos are laying the foundation for the offense that Manning is bringing with him from the Indianapolis Colts.

“You get a sense that that’s coming along,” wide receiver Andre Caldwell said. “We’re in the beginning process, but you can tell by the way they’re installing the offense that it’s going to be a lot more difficult and he’s going to be back to doing what he did in Indianapolis.”

Manning was one of the first to report to the Broncos’ voluntary team workouts Monday.

“I’ve seen that firsthand over the course of my career — that offseason work makes a big difference come fall,” Manning said in a video posted on the Broncos’ official website. “You can’t just show up in September and expect to be successful, expect to win games. And so this offseason work is critical.”

When they signed Manning to a five-year, $96 million deal last month and dealt Tim Tebow to the New York Jets, the Broncos scrapped the option-style offense they had dusted off last season to fit the left-handed scrambler’s unique skill set.

Now, it’s all about the fast-paced switcheroo offense that’s the basis of Manning’s maniacal motions at the line of scrimmage as he deciphers defenses.

Broncos coach John Fox spoke at Manning’s introductory news conference last month about how excited he was to have such an accomplished and cerebral quarterback running the no-huddle at Mile High.

“I’ve said all along, from having had to compete here, it might be the best home-field advantage in the NFL,” Fox said, “because, on an NFL travel schedule, you don’t have time to acclimate to altitude.”

Linebacker Joe Mays said the only defense that will appreciate the turbocharged no-huddle is Denver’s, which will have to keep pace with Manning every day in practice and be better for it.

“We’re all excited,” Mays said. “We’re looking forward to working with him on the field, looking forward to those no-huddle practices … You’re going up against the best quarterback who ever played the game — in practice. So, it should definitely help the defense out during the game.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Peyton Manning has wasted no time meeting and greeting his new teammates in Denver since he was signed by the Broncos three weeks ago. Since he arrived in Denver, Manning has apparently spent most of his time in the Denver area working with several wide receivers and offensive lineman.

Of course, the fact that one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time is here in Denver and working hard on his game with the rest of the offense in the off-season still isn’t good enough for that subset of Broncos fans that may never get over the fact that Tebow is no longer here. They still have two criticisms of the situation. One is that they believe that Manning is still not totally healthy (and may never be). The second issue they bring up is that they believe that he’s going to get hurt the first time he gets hit next season.

Now, while Manning may not still be up to the physical standards that he holds himself to, it seems that many others think he’s ready to go. Wide receiver Eric Decker, who apparently has been working with Manning constantly for the past three weeks, has gone on record saying that Manning can make all the throws already. Now given who used to throw to Decker, the wide receiver’s comments may not 100% represent the situation, but it’s certainly highly encouraging.

As to the idea that Manning is now a china doll, I’m getting a little sick of this particular argument. When the statement comes from someone who maintains that he is a Tebow fan, it sounds petty. Manning didn’t get “injured.” It wasn’t as if he got hurt in a game or practice from a tackle or a sack. One prominent neurosurgeon has come out and said that the area in his neck that had the neck fusion may be stronger than the rest of his neck. The only concern from the doctors is if his arm strength can come back fully, and it sounds (from Decker) like that has come along very well and we’re still five months away from Week 1.

Manning isn’t giving these Tebow fans anything that they can criticize in a rational way (then again, Tebow fans are not terribly well-known for their rational thinking). He’s kept his head down, stayed out of the news, and has been working hard. In his three weeks here, I’ve only heard him on the local radio once, but I have heard several Broncos on the radio discuss Manning come to town and how excited that they are. Even today, long snapper Lonnie Paxton was on the Les and JoJo show on today discussing how most of the team are reporting early for the beginning of the off-season program (due to start next week) and are showing an excitement that they haven’t had in a while. He also talked about how Manning is constantly talking football to the receivers and lineman in the locker room.

For fans like me that want football players to be all about football, Manning is a dream come true. In contrast to the circus that surrounded Tebow (even now he’s making more waves because of his religious beliefs rather than working on his football skills), Manning makes everything about football. From everything I’ve heard and read, Manning’s recovery already puts him close to where he used to be. Give him another five months, and he will come in better and stronger.

Julie has been an avid NFL fan her entire life, and became a Broncos fan when she moved to Denver in 2001. She reluctantly embraced Tebow when he found some success, but was happy to kick him to the curb when Manning signed. She is eagerly awaiting the regular season.

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB – DEN), Denver Broncos

ESPN’s Mel Kiper projects the Denver Broncos to select LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers with the No. 25 overall pick in his latest mock draft. With the acquisition of Peyton Manning giving Denver new life on offense, it seems likely that defense will be the team’s focus early in the 2012 NFL Draft.

The LSU defense in 2011 was the kind of unit that makes you rewind the tape a lot. So many guys made so many plays, you have to go back and look at where it started. In many instances, it was with the disruptive Brockers, who can create havoc from the inside, blowing up the run and penetrating against the pass. Denver needs to strengthen the inside to complement a solid group of pass-rushers.

Kiper also projected the second round of the upcoming draft in his latest mock. He sees the Broncos taking Oregon running back LaMichael James with the No. 57 overall pick in the draft, citing his receiving skills out of the backfield as a good fit for a Manning-led offense.

For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. For more on the NFL Draft, stick with SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

There’s a reason Peyton Manning is in Denver, and it’s not only team exec John Elway or head coach John Fox. It’s Tim Tebow, the quarterback he displaced.

Let me explain. Tebow made the Broncos an attractive choice because he turned what should have been a 4-12 doormat into a division winner that upset defending AFC champion Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

That told Manning the Broncos aren’t that far away … except they might be. Eliminate those miracle finishes and last-gasp victories, and you’re looking at the AFC West’s worst ballclub.

Still, Manning will make this team better, with most confident that Denver wins the AFC West. Maybe, but that’s only if he is recovered from a significant injury and plays as he did two seasons ago. That’s a big if, with nothing certain until play resumes.

QB: The only question here is how healthy Manning is or will be. One coach I trust told me he doesn’t have the arm strength yet, comparing it to, oh, say, that of Chad Pennington. Then again, we’re over five months from the start of the season. There seems little doubt Manning will improve, that his arm will return and that he will be effective. But he hasn’t played in over a year and just turned 36, so you have to wonder: At what level does he play and where, exactly, will he come up short? We’re about to find out, and heaven help Denver if Manning is sidelined. Caleb Hanie is the backup.

RB: Willis McGahee wasn’t just good last season; he was marvelous, rushing for 1,199 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and shouldering the bulk of the Broncos’ top-rated rushing attack. But McGahee turns 31 this season and was winding down at the end of last year, failing to rush for more than 76 yards in five of his final six starts, including the playoffs. Also, he’s not a big playmaker. The Broncos still have Knowshon Moreno as a backup, but the guy has missed 12 games over the past two seasons — including nine last year. As a holdover from the Josh McDaniels era, he wouldn’t appear to have much of a future here. Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson comprise the rest of the running-back brigade, and we’re missing someone significant from last year’s rushing attack. Oh, yeah, it’s Tim Tebow. Look for the Broncos’ running game to suffer without him.

WR: DeMaryius Thomas is a star waiting to happen … if he can stay healthy. So far he hasn’t, having missed parts of his first two seasons. When he’s on the field, he’s a load. But he could use help, and while Eric Decker is a solid possession receiver with sure hands, he’s not much more than a No. 3. Andre Caldwell and Jason Hill are next in line, and connect the dots, people. This is not Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Manning doesn’t have the receivers he had in Indianapolis.

TE: Once, there was the expectation that Denver would hire Dallas Clark to join his favorite quarterback. But so far, that hasn’t happened, which may tell you how much Clark has declined. He turns 33 this summer and missed 15 games the past two seasons. Instead of reaching for him, Denver chose another Indianapolis tight end, Jacob Tamme, who is younger and healthier. Look for him and fellow newcomer Joel Dreesen to be Manning’s favorite short-to-intermediate targets.

OL: Former Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday was expected to follow Manning to Denver too, but he didn’t. Instead, he took a deal with Green Bay. So Manning operates behind an offensive line that is strong at left and right tackle, where Ryan Clady and Orlando Franklin operate. The Broncos aren’t quite as strong inside, but having Chris Kuper back at guard is critical. He broke his leg and dislocated his ankle late last season, breaking a string of 15 games where the Broncos’ offensive line was intact. Protecting Manning is not just important, it’s critical — and his quick release and smarts will help his bodyguards. He knows how to avoid repeated hits, which always makes an offensive line look good.

DL: There is talent on the outside, where Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil man the end positions, with Ayers more comfortable as a 4-3 down lineman than a 3-4 outside linebacker. Still, he doesn’t have the push you would like to see from an outside pass rusher — one reason the club re-signed backup Jason Hunter. Brodrick Bunkley, who was a pleasant surprise, will be missed, with the Broncos plugging in Kevin Vickerson and Ty Warren as prospective starters inside. Vickerson is good for rotations but doesn’t look like star material, while Ryan McBean and Mitch Unrein provide inside depth. Denver needs help at defensive tackle, and don’t be surprised if it makes one an early draft pick.

LB: Despite a thumb injury that forced him to miss a start and handicapped him down the stretch, Von Miller was the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. And he should have been. The guy was an impact player, explosive in his pass rush and solid in his play — with former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen moving him around to confuse and confound opponents. But neither Miller nor the Broncos’ defense was the same after he was hurt in late November, with turnovers one area where they were deficient. The Broncos wound up finishing tied for 28th in that department, with none in their final three regular-season games. D.J. Williams’ limitations in pass coverage were exposed, with special-teams whiz Wesley Woodyard sitting behind him. Joe Mays was re-signed to plug the middle. Mays is solid vs. the run, but look for Nate Irving to push him.

DB: There’s an overhaul here, and there should be. The Broncos got torched down the stretch, especially in the playoff loss to New England. In three of their final five games, opponents scored 40 or more points, with quarterbacks picking apart a secondary that had played well until then. Look for three new starters, with Champ Bailey the only returnee. Tracy Porter and Mike Adams joined the Broncos via free agency, while Quinton Carter is being promoted from within. Carter was inconsistent when he played last season, but coaches are high on him and believe he will improve with experience. Chris Harris played well in his role as a nickel back, while safety Rahim Moore must look better than he played as a rookie.

PALM BEACH, Fla. John Fox will be coming back to Charlotte this season, and he will bring a future first-ballot NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback with him.

This time, Fox will man the sideline as coach of the Denver Broncos.

During his nine years with the Carolina Panthers, Fox’s quarterbacks formed a forgettable list that included Chris Weinke, Rodney Peete, Randy Fasani, 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen.

Fox made it to the Super Bowl with Jake Delhomme in 2003, but he has never had a quarterback like he has in Denver, following the Broncos’ win in the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes.

And no, don’t expect Fox to run draws on third-and-long. Or more to the point, don’t expect Manning to let him.

“I think he’ll have some ideas” on the Broncos’ offense, Fox said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings.

Then he laughed. Fox , and everyone associated with the Broncos, is in good spirits these days.

During a wild, 48-hour span last week, the Broncos signed the most notable free agent in NFL history and traded one of the most polarizing figures in sport.

Hello Peyton, good-bye Tim Tebow.

“I guess I attempted a vertical (leap), but you couldn’t have slipped a paper underneath it,” Fox said of his reaction to Manning’s call informing the Broncos he was Denver-bound.

“It was very exciting,” Fox said. “Having been in recruiting a long, long time ago … it’s always exciting to get a player of that caliber.”

Fox, who is always cautious with the media, drew a big crowd of reporters Tuesday morning at the AFC coaches’ breakfast at the Breakers Resort.

Fox detailed Denver’s pursuit of Manning, who worked out at Duke with Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe, his quarterbacks coach in college at Tennessee. Fox and John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations, flew to Durham to watch Manning throw.

Manning, who has had four neck procedures during the past two years, showed Fox and Elway enough to convince the Broncos to sign the 36-year-old to a five-year, $96 million deal.

“He said in our press conference, and he’s right, he could play tomorrow. But he’s not where he wants to be at this point,” Fox said. “I’ve got a lot of guys rehabbing in our locker room from injuries a year ago. So it’s very common in late March, early April in this league to have guys rehabbing and getting healthy for the season. And he’s on that list.”

Teams’ offseason programs don’t begin until April 16. Under the terms of the new collective-bargaining agreement, coaches can’t oversee on-field activities until May.

But Fox said that’s plenty of time for Manning to get familiar with a scheme that will change dramatically from the spread offense Fox and former Panthers offensive coordinator Mike McCoy installed after Tebow took over for Kyle Orton in Week 7 last season.

Tebow led Denver to a series of fourth-quarter comebacks as the Broncos made the playoffs in Fox’s first season.

“I thought our staff, our players, our team did a great job adjusting to Tim Tebow’s strengths. I’m sure our players, our staff, will do a great job adjusting to Peyton Manning’s strengths,” Fox said. “It’ll be quite a bit different. I thought last year’s (offense) was effective and I expect this year’s to be effective.”

Manning, who won four most valuable player awards and a Super Bowl during 14 seasons in Indianapolis, called his own plays with the Colts. Fox indicated Manning would be given the same latitude in Denver.

“I think he’ll raise all boats on our offense. It doesn’t matter whether it’s players or coaches,” Fox said. “We know his M.O. He’s a general out there, does a great job and we’re looking forward to him doing that to our offense.”

Fox still has a house at Quail Hollow and returns frequently to see his three sons. One of Fox’s sons lives in Charlotte; the other two attend Elon.

Still, Fox said it would be odd returning to Bank of America Stadium.

“It’s always weird going to back to your (old) place. I’ve done it a bunch of times, whether it was New York or you name it,” said Fox, who was let go after a lame-duck, 2-14 season in 2010.

“But at the end of the day, it’ll be another game. It’ll be a trip I look forward to, and look forward to the trip home (to Denver) better if we win.”

There were several times during the 439 days that passed between the time he took his last meaningful snap for the Colts and when he signed his new contract with the Broncos that Peyton Manning couldn’t help but wonder if his career might be over.

After spending all of 2011 on the sideline because of neck injuries, Manning had to consider the possibility of not playing.

“I can’t say it wasn’t,” Manning said this week in a private conversation with The Denver Post.

To continue reading this story go to DenverPost.com/Sports.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) A person familiar with the negotiations says the Denver Broncos have signed former Chicago Bears backup quarterback Caleb Hanie to a two-year deal to back up Peyton Manning.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced by the team. ESPNChicago.com first reported the deal earlier Saturday.

Hanie, 26, who played at Colorado State, spent the last three seasons in Chicago. He replaced an injured Jay Cutler in the NFC championship two years ago and nearly rallied the Bears past the Packers. But he went 0-4 in place of Cutler last season, including at loss at Denver.

The Broncos signed Manning on Monday and then dealt Tim Tebow to the New York Jets. They also considered signing free agent Billy Volek.

Denver’s fondest Super Bowl memories came in 1998 and 1999 when John Elway led the Broncos to back-to-back NFL titles.

For more than a decade, there has been faint hope in these parts that the team would ever return to those heights.

Prospects of winning another championship got a Mile High boost on Tuesday when, for the second time in just over a year, team owner Pat Bowlen turned to a Hall of Fame quarterback to help lead the franchise.

Manning’s signing is demonstrative of the lengths to which Bowlen is willing to go to provide this city with a championship. For that, we should be grateful (ask fans in, oh, Cleveland and Detroit).

Doubters need only look back at Bowlen’s reaction in the wake of the team’s loss to the

New England Patriots in the AFC playoffs earlier this year. While there was much to celebrate in the season, including the arrival of quarterback Tim Tebow, it was not enough in Bowlen’s eyes. “Not a bad season, but not a great season, either. I want a great season,” he said.

Tebow performed admirably last year, but when the goal is Super Bowls in a passing era, we understand why the team went all-in for Manning. If the Colts’ legend, who has had several surgeries on his neck, returns to form, he gives them a better chance at the ultimate prize.

The move marks a bold turnaround from the position the franchise found itself in just over a year ago.

In the wake of the Josh McDaniels debacle, Bowlen turned to Elway to restore the

franchise. No. 7 is well on the way, given his role in helping land No. 18 — arguably the biggest free-agent signing in NFL history.

“He is one of the greatest to ever play, and his knowledge and respect for the game is evident in everything he does,” Manning said of his new boss.

“This guarantees us nothing,” Elway said. “It guarantees us a chance to work hard.”

The team’s owner — and Broncos fans — expect as much.

Denver now has two Hall of Fame quarterbacks on the payroll.

Their goal, and the only measure of their success, will be if they deliver a third Lombardi trophy to Broncos Country.

– The Denver Post

All that’s needed is Peyton Manning’s autograph.

The Denver Broncos have tentatively scheduled a news conference for Tuesday afternoon, ostensibly to introduce the four-time MVP. There was no announcement that a deal was finally completed, but the last details were expected to be a formality.

After being pursued by teams around the NFL, the quarterback with four MVP awards is headed to the land of John Elway and Tim Tebow, agreeing to a contract with Denver that could make the Broncos an instant Super Bowl contender. It could also send one of the NFL’s most intriguing young players packing.

So much for Tebowmania.

Manning called Elway on Monday and told the Broncos executive that he had chosen Denver over the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers in the wildest free-agent chase of the offseason.

The Broncos and Manning’s agent then hashed out details of a deal that’s expected to be worth about $95 million over five years.

Manning was wooed to Denver by Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s and now serves as their vice president of football operations. Elway never sounded all that convinced Tebow was the answer at the league’s most important position, and could trade the hugely popular quarterback who energized the Broncos in a run to the playoffs last season but was plagued by erratic play.

Manning turns 36 on Saturday and missed the 2011 season because of multiple neck operations, which made him expendable to the rebuilding Indianapolis Colts. They cut him March 7 rather than pay a $28 million bonus.

But Manning’s success in the past made him a prize that teams from San Francisco to Miami felt they couldn’t pass up.

“There’s a lot to be excited about,” Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers said outside the team’s complex. “Just being on his team is going to make you want to play better.”

By luring Manning to Denver, Elway has delivered his biggest victory for the Broncos since he led them to their second straight Super Bowl title in 1999. He retired shortly after that 34-19 win over Atlanta and the Broncos have won just two playoff games since.

Manning won the NFL championship in 2007. No starting quarterback has earned a Super Bowl ring for two different teams,. But when Manning when he arrives at the Broncos’ headquarters to sign his new deal, he at least can see the two Lombardi Trophies in the lobby that Elway won when he was 37 and 38.

Elway returned to the Broncos last year after the franchise hit rock bottom amid scandal — the team was caught videotaping a 49ers practice — and a four-win season that cost coach Josh McDaniels his job. It was McDaniels who drafted Tebow with the 25th pick of the 2010 draft.

The big question now facing Elway is what to do about Tebow, who has three years left on his contract.

Tebow took over a 1-4 team from Kyle Orton last year and led the Broncos to an 8-8 finish and the AFC West crown with a series of stirring comebacks that captured the attention of the NFL and beyond.

Tebowmania reached its apex in the playoffs, when he threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the very first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. The next week, though, Tebow was smothered by the New England Patriots, who routed the Broncos, 45-10.