Happy Friday, Broncos fans! Does the label lying season apply solely to free agency, or does it also include the runup to the NFL draft?

We think it's the latter, but really, a good rule of thumb is to never believe what an NFL executive says about any player. For a fine example, recall that not that long ago, John Elway hilariously claimed that he'd love for the Ultimate Self-Promoter™ to marry one his daughters. In turn, that was offered by many as proof that Elway believed Tebow was Denver's long-term answer at quarterback.

With that in mind, it's rather laughable to see Jeff Legwold write that "one of the Broncos' six draft picks will almost certainly be used on a running back."

More believable is Legwold's report that the team took a long look at Giants back Ahmad Bradshaw and still considers him a veteran option, should they end up not drafting a back.

The 215-pound Bradshaw is twenty pounds shy of Willis McGahee's listed playing weight, but Legwold says the team is looking to get bigger in the backfield while shifting McGahee to a reserve role.

Bradshaw underwent surgery to repair a foot injury in February (his third operation on his right foot), and had also drawn interest from Green Bay and Pittsburgh. According to Mike Freeman, teams are concerned by the Marshall alum's injury history, and are looking to sign him on the cheap, if at all.

Back to draft possibilities, Legwold says the team held a private workout with Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, and has spent plenty of time considering A&M's Christine Michael.

News

Welfare queen Arthur Blank will get a $200M handout to fund his new retractable dome stadium in Atlanta.

Giants WR Victor Cruz will be represented by Jay-Z's new sports agency and is said to be seeking around $10M-11M/year in a new deal.

A Newsday article about the Baltimore's release of Brendon Ayanbadejo makes it sound like Ayanbadejo thinks he was cut because of his outspokenness regarding gay rights, but the linebacker says that portrayal doe not match his sentiments, and that he has no hard feelings toward the Ravens.

Lions K Jason Hanson is retiring after 21 seasons; Tampa Bay released QB Dan Orlovsky and RB D.J. Ware; Arizona added CB Bryan McCann and S Curtis Taylor; San Francisco extended RT Anthony Davis.

Terrell Owens worked out with Tom Brady the other day, but the Patriots reportedlyhave no interest in signing the wideout.

According to Mike Freeman, several teams are closely following the comeback efforts of JaMarcus the Hutt.

Draft

FWIW, the Chiefs are forgoing visits with several of the top prospects they've been linked to, including Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Dion Jordan, and Sharrif Floyd.

As experienced by Jon Gruden, and detailed by Doug Farrar, WVU QB Geno Smith isn't as dumb as PFW hitman Nolan Nawrocki so willingly made him out to be.

In his latest two-round mock, Mel Kiper Jr. has Denver taking Houston CB D.J. Hayden at #28 and A&M DE Damontre Moore at #58; Todd McShay has them taking BSU Jamar Taylor at #28 in his mock (both ESPN Insider).

Khaled Elsayed reviews the 2008-10 drafts of the Browns and Cowboys.

Analysis

While noted jackass Elijah Cummings wants to puff his chest about the NFLPA and HGH testing, Doug Farrar says the union's concerns about the lack of an independent appeals process are legit.

Pete Prisco thinks the NFL should cut preseason ticket prices or shorten the exhibition schedule, and he believes Carson Palmer can still make all the necessary throws to win in the NFL.

Jim at OTC discusses the recent QB transactions involving the Raiders, Seahawks, and Cardinals.

In studying the Patriots, Andy Benoit says the team's success on offense doesn't require Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to be on the field together, and he says improved personnel on defense means Bill Belichick can go back to utilizing more complexity in his schemes.

Chase Stuart examines teams that have won more games within their division than they won out of it, in a given season.

Andy Barall memorializes the late longtime NFL player and head coach Jack Pardee.

RIP legendary film critic Roger Ebert, eulogized by the Sun-Times, NY Times, NPR, Gawker, Mother Jones, CNN, and Larry Brown Sports, plus Will Leitch writing in 2010 about his own correspondence with Ebert.