Offseason Changes In AFC West Still Favor Broncos

Offseason Changes In AFC West Still Favor Broncos
By Tim Sullivan
Posted: 5:30 am PDT 2006-06-19

The AFC West, perhaps more than any other division, underwent wholesale changes this offseason. New coaches. New quarterbacks. New strategies. You name it.

All four teams changed.

Only one got better.

The Denver Broncos, the defending division champions and sure to be the heavy favorites to repeat this season at any sportsbook, came within four quarters of making the Super Bowl last season. They went 15-4 overall, 9-1 at home, and outscored opponents by 137 points.

And that was without a young, gamebreaking wide receiver.

This year, they just may be able to get over that AFC Championship Game hump, thanks to the acquisition of former Packers wideout Javon Walker, who had 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last full season in Green Bay (2004).

Can anyone say X-factor?

Walker, 27, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, has been limited in Denver's Offseason Training Activities, but expects to be at 100 percent when camp opens next month.

In the interim, the Broncos are left to ponder the possibilities of him teaming up with Pro Bowl regular Rod Smith -- who, despite his age (36), continues to produce 1,000-yard receiving seasons -- and quarterback Jake Plummer, who has done everything in Denver except make the Super Bowl.

"People are learning the system. People are getting back into football shape," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "This time of year you feel good."

Not the best of news for the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders, who added big names as well, but still have an uphill battle to win the West.

Kansas City -- a popular team that is sure to have good betting value -- has the best 1-2 backfield punch with NFL MVP-in-waiting Larry Johnson and a healthy Priest Holmes, who decided to stick around as a backup after much deliberation. Holmes, keep in mind, compiled 4,590 rushing yards and 61 total touchdowns from 2001-03. Not bad for a reserve.

"There's no reason for me retire," Holmes said. "Anytime someone can have the enthusiasm that I have, that I can bring to the team and the city, there's no reason to walk away yet."

But, remember, all the headaches New Yorkers suffered over Coach Herman Edwards' poor time management and puzzling third-down calls through the years, are now Kansas City's problems.

And the Chargers, who also boast plenty of offensive firepower with running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates, have concerns. With quarterback Drew Brees now in New Orleans, Coach Marty Schottenheimer will turn the reins over to the unproven Philip Rivers.

"You have to make sure your players understand what it is they're being asked to do," Schottenheimer said. "Put them in a position where whatever it is that they do best, they'll have the opportunity to do."

Rivers has that chance. But with defenses such as Denver's waiting for him, it's hard to foresee a breakthrough.

It's even harder to predict one in Oakland, where Art Shell returns as coach and former Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks tries to resuscitate his career. Receiver Randy Moss will get his numbers, as will running back LaMont Jordan. But the Raiders defense, a unit that allowed 383 points last season, ultimately will lead to the Silver and Black's downfall.

As with any year in any division, anything can happen. After all, who thought the Bears, Buccaneers, Bengals and Giants would win divisions last season?

But in the AFC West -- at least in June -- it's tough to go against the chalk.

GIANT CONCERNS: Coaches usually look the other way when players decide to train on their own in the offseason. Most figure as long as the work gets done, and the players return in shape, everything is OK.

A trendy place to be these days is the University of Miami, where former Hurricanes and other South Floridians work out together on the Coral Gables campus. But Giants coach Tom Coughlin may have to rethink his stance on letting tight end Jeremy Shockey and receiver Plaxico Burress train there.

When the duo arrived in East Rutherford, N.J., for a three-day minicamp Wednesday, Shockey was sporting a black left eye and Burress refused to speak with reporters.

"I'm not Tarver," said Shockey, referring to the beating Antonio Tarver took at the hands of Bernard Hopkins on June 10. Rather, he blamed it on a weight training accident.

Burress was less jovial. Still upset at the Giants' play-calling in a 23-0 playoff loss to Carolina, he maintained his silence and added to speculation that there's a rift between he and quarterback Eli Manning.

"We're locker mates. We see each other daily," Manning said. "We have a good relationship."

Burress finally dropped his guard Thursday, but offered little in the way of diffusing the situation.

"I don't feel like I have to really explain myself to anybody," he said. "I can't get better without [Manning]. I want everyone to understand that."

Stay tuned.

SOPHOMORE SLIDE: Will the real Michael Clayton please stand up?

The 2004 Buccaneers first-round pick exploded onto the scene two years ago with numbers fit for a Pro Bowler. He played all 16 games, catching 80 passes for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns.

Last season, quite simply, he flopped. The former LSU Tiger grabbed 32 passes for 372 yards and failed to reach the end zone in 14 games. Not to mention, signs of strife between he and Coach Jon Gruden -- as well as quarterback Chris Simms -- surfaced.

Apparently, though, as camp nears in Orlando, the situation has been smoothed.

Or so he says.

"Coach Gruden drafted me to be the guy," Clayton said. "It was important that we sat down, talked things out and made sure we're all on the same page so that we can get back to putting up the numbers I had in my rookie season. We did that."

With 821 yards difference between years, however, it's clear that it'll take more than meetings to revive Clayton's role on a division-winning team.

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