With a gorgeous Colorado backdrop that belonged on an Ansel Adams photograph, the Broncos looked like a real football team in the foreground Saturday morning.

The Dove Valley setting — a hue of orange, a sky and a field of green — and the practice were strikingly splendid. A good day, everyone agreed. The Broncos were in full pads and full thrust. The defense was especially strong.

WATCH: Is Peyton Manning getting his arm strength back?

Afterward, coach Gary Kubiak was in a cheerful and talkative mood while quarterback Peyton Manning romped with his twin kids (both wearing No. 18 jerseys, of course), and linebacker Von Miller wore a smile that could light up that new Boeing 777-sized airplane hangar that serves as the team’s indoor training facility.

Manning was off for a trip to Canton, Ohio, for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He will be back there for his own induction in five, six or ? years, depending on when he retires from the game.

The other day, when Tom Brady’s phone messages were revealed (once the NFL finished scavenging through his garbage can), one text written by the Patriots quarterback suggested that the 39-year-old Peyton would be gone soon, and he would play another seven or eight years (until he is 45, 46; really?).

Saturday, as he scampered on a rollout and threw for a long touchdown, Peyton seemed as if he might want to play beyond 2015 or 2018. What else would he want to be doing? Singing another duet with country singer Kenny Chesney, who was in attendance at the workout wearing a University of Tennessee T-shirt and dripping sweat off his bald head. Don’t be so sure this is Peyton’s last year, but that’s not something Brock Osweiler will want to hear. Besides, the quarterback of the future for the Broncos is Trevor Siemian.

Only one member of the Broncos’ family was being hauled around training camp with a bad knee. John Elway underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week. The Duke played his entire career without an ACL in his left knee — and it was replaced with an artificial knee in 2007. (Elway has not been put on injured reserve. He will continue to (general) manage.) Elway did not make the trek to Canton. He was inducted 11 years ago.

Two former Broncos with repaired knees — Mark Schlereth (20 surgeries on his knees) and Terrell Davis (injured knees ended his run prematurely) — also were present Saturday, with Schlereth offering offensive line advice and Davis talking about “young running backs still adjusting to the new offensive system.”

And an observer of Broncos training camps since 1974 (in Pomona, Calif., Fort Collins, Greeley and suburban Denver) watched the goings-on and determined for his own self who will be on the final 53-player roster before the opening game against Baltimore on Sept. 13. The Broncos probably will have only nine players 30 or older and possibly 32 players 25 or younger. They will try to stash 10 other young players on the practice squad or injured reserve.

Here it is. Clip and save.

• Quarterbacks — Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert. Trevor Siemian on IR.

• Running backs — C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, Juwan Thompson.

• Fullbacks (who also will play H-back and tight end) — James Casey, Joe Don Duncan.

• Tight ends — Owen Daniels, Virgil Green.

• Wide receivers — Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, Solomon Patton.

• Offensive tackles — Ty Sambrailo, Ryan Harris, Michael Schofield.

• Guards — Louis Vasquez, Max Garcia, Ben Garland.

• Centers — Matt Paradis, Gino Gradkowski.

• Punter — Britton Colquitt. Long snapper — Aaron Brewer. Kicker — Connor Barth.

• Defensive ends — Malik Jackson, Vance Walker, Antonio Smith*, Gerry Rivers. (Derek Wolfe on the suspended list.) *Depending on his issues.

• Nose tackles — Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo.

• Outside linebackers — Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, Kenny Anunike.

• Inside linebackers — Brandon Marshall, Danny Trevathan, Corey Nelson, Lamin Barrow, Steven Johnson, Todd Davis.

• Cornerbacks — Chris Harris, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss.

• Safeties — T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, David Bruton, Omar Bolden, Josh Furman.

• Kick returner — Bolden.

• Punt returners — Norwood, Patton.

Bring on the Seahawks this Friday.

Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or twitter.com/woodypaige