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The sports book makers are liking the Denver Broncos less and less these days. First the Broncos give up a franchise QB in Jay Cutler for a good-but-not-franchise QB in Kyle Orton. That seemed to work out well until the second half of the season where the Broncos looked totally lost. Now the sports betting community has to watch WR Brandon Marshall shipped to Miami for a second round draft pick in the 2010 draft and a second round pick in the 2011 draft.

In order to get the trade done the Dolphins had to agree to give Marshall the richest WR contract in the history of the league. Marshall gets a 4 year deal that totals $47.5 million with $24 million being guaranteed. That is more than Arizona superstar Larry Fitzgerald.

Was it the right move? The Broncos actually did pretty well. They got rid of a locker room cancer and troubled kid in Marshall for the chance to draft his replacement this year and next year. The Dolphins get another target for QB Chad Henne to throw to, and added in with Miami’s already potent ground attack this could make the Dolphins a problem for teams in the AFC East.

There was another big trade in the NFL during the off-season that will have long term effects on two divisional rivals. The Philadelphia Eagles traded QB Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins for a second round pick in the 2010 draft, and a third or fourth round pick in the 2011 draft.

This trade by the Eagles is almost a disrespecting of McNabb. The Eagles thought so little of McNabb’s talents that they had no problem trading him to a division rival. McNabb has a lot to prove …

Donovan McNabb was traded to Washington from Philadelphia for a second and fourth-round pick, and some thought that new coach Mike Shanahan would pick a quarterback to replace Jason Campbell, who to be fair, has been battered behind an awful offensive line. Now, the Redskins can take a lineman, likely Russell Okung from Oklahoma State. They also have some trade bait in Campbell, and there are a number of teams looking for a quarterback, like St. Louis. Many think the Rams will select Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford with the first overall pick in New York on April 22^nd, but his rival from Texas, Colt McCoy, also had a great pro day, and then there’s also Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, considered by many to be the most pro-ready of the three. Sports betting odds figure it’s going to be a close race to see who will be picked first of the trio, or at least Bradford and Clausen.

So, what happens? St. Louis says that the release of Marc Bulger wasn’t a sign that they were going to draft a quarterback, but who are they going to turn the offense over to, Kyle Boller? A.J. Feeley? They would almost be better served to try and work out a trade for Campbell, who is an experienced quarterback, and they could go for their other needs, which is pretty much everything outside of running back with Steven Jackson. If they put a rookie quarterback behind that line, like Matt Stafford in Detroit, you could be leading a pivot into a dangerous situation, and we know how banged up Stafford was at the end of the year. They could trade Campbell to another team and get a pick from them (probably not a …

National Football League executives are focused on the upcoming league draft beginning on April 22^nd. It is fully documented how one poor selection in the top round has the potential to setback a franchise for years, and this year, the most pressure will be on the St. Louis Rams, who own the first overall pick after finishing the 2009-10 season with the worst record in football.

The Rams have a variety of areas where they could use an upgrade on both sides of the ball, which makes the decision at the top that much more difficult. NFL observers have called for the selection of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford to become the face of the franchise in St. Louis with the top selection, however Bradford missed all of last season with injuries, and his narrow frame and short stature could limit him in his transition to the league. The Rams may be much better off selecting a sure thing with the number one pick, which either of the top defensive tackles available in the draft are just that. Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh is a massive hard-working interior lineman that can collapse the pocket, and never quits, while Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy has Pro Bowl-caliber and may be a better all-around defensive tackle than Suh for team’s looking for someone who can get after the quarterback.

The Detroit Lions own the second pick in the draft, and with a franchise quarterback already in place in Matt Stafford, head coach Jim Schwartz, a former defensive line coach with the Tennessee Titans, could select whichever of the defensive tackles are available to shore up their defensive interior. Should the Lions decide to make a move to help protect Stafford, Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung is …

With 2010’s NFL Draft just one month away, the league feels like a schoolyard as rumors and gossip begin to grow. With the Donovan McNabb lottery already in full swing, it appears that news of other deals in the NFC East are getting fans and sportsbook odds makers talking.

Reports indicate that Dallas Cowboys’ running back Marion Barber could be dealt after suffering a myriad injuries over the past few seasons – especially given the fact that the team lacks depth in other areas, and coach Jerry Jones has publicly stated he prefers Felix Jones in the starting spot over Barber. It remains to be seen whether or not Dallas is actually interested in dealing Barber, and it is important to note that it would take significant interest from another franchise in order to generate the kind of offer Dallas would be looking for.

Oklahoma’s QB Sam Bradford is widely considered the number one pick in the draft by online sports book cappers and other expert prognosticators. With nine of the last 12 overall top picks being quarterbacks, Bradford’s elevation over Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska’s formidable defensive tackle and another frontrunner for the number one spot – was not surprising for many fans.

With the St. Louis Rams tipped to choose first, may pundits are predicting head coach Steve Spagnuolo will go against his tendencies to think defense first, and jump at the chance to pick up a franchise quarterback in Bradford. While many individuals have questioned Bradford’s durability, don’t expect such concerns to dissuade Spagnuolo from jumping on the opportunity to snag the future star.

In terms of other picks, CJ Spiller, a leader in mock drafts and expected to be the first running back selected, while Tim Tebow – …

This time of year is filled with sports betting excitement. While everyone is watching their March madness picks there is also the anticipation of the NFL draft that starts April 22. The super casino odds on who the number one overall pick will be seem to be pointing more towards Sam Bradford going to the St. Louis Rams, but nothing is set as of now.

College basketball odds and NFL draft odds are similar in that there is no sure thing when the clock starts ticking. The only thing that has become readily apparent in the weeks since the combine in Indianapolis and the various pro days at each school is that Tim Tebow’s stock is tumbling. The former Heisman Trophy winner is now considered by many experts to be a high second round pick and his chances of being an NFL starter in his rookie year are all but gone.

The drama surrounding Pittsburgh Steeler QB and two-time Super Champion Ben Roethlisberger continues to grow. Georgia law enforcement officials have decided to not ask for a sample of Big Ben’s DNA in association with the on-going investigation into the sexual assault allegations by a 20-year-old female.

Roethlisberger has not yet been interviewed by the police in connection with the investigation, but there is a growing feeling that there may be charges pressed this time and that the QB may face punishment from the law and from the NFL. The league is waiting to see what the law does, and Commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated that he will speak to Roethlisberger personally very soon.

The owners voted in a new rule change by a vote of 28 to 4 that will change the way overtime is played in the playoffs. …

Pick 1 – St. Louis Cardinals – Sam Bradford – QB – Oklahoma

The St. Louis Rams have given up on QB Marc Bulger and had no faith in Kyle Boller to begin with. Boller was brought in to be the back-up to the eventual starter. It looks like that starter will be Sam Bradford.

This would not be a bad pick if it were not for Bradford’s injury history. Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen is more durable and better equipped to play behind that horrible offensive line in St. Louis. But the Rams need to also put fans in the seats, and Bradford is the guy to do that.

Pick 2 – Detroit Lions – Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma State

If the Detroit Lions do not do something to fix their offensive line then they will wind up getting QB Matt Stafford killed before the end of the 2010 season. Okung is fast, strong and smart. He is a natural on the offensive line, and he is just what the Lions need to protect Stafford’s blind side.

Pick 3 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma

The Buccaneers lost more games last season because they could not put the other team away than any other reason. They could not put pressure on the opposing QB, they could not stop the run and they could not prevent other teams from throwing the ball up the middle. McCoy is a big and fast DT that can get to the QB and clog up the middle in time for the linebackers to get there and shut the run down. McCoy will start and make an impact for the Buccaneers.

Pick 4 – Washington Redskins – Jimmy …

The sportsbook betting world and the online betting community have not made the Cleveland Browns their primary concern for quite a while. The sportsbook reviews on the Browns usually amounted to an NFL doormat that had a potential marquee QB in Brady Quinn, but never amounted to much. With the March madness betting in full swing, the Browns are starting to make some moves that may help them be more competitive in the 2010 season.

In 2009 the Browns jumped back and for the between QBs Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. When that idea led to a 5-11 record, the Browns brought in Mike Holmgren and began to re-evaluate their situation.

Derek Anderson wound up signing with the Arizona Cardinals to compete for the starting QB job left behind by the retired Kurt Warner. Brady Quinn was shipped off to Denver to make a further mess of the QB situation with the Broncos. The first player Holgren brought in was Seattle QB Seneca Wallace. While few were prepared to give the starting job to Wallace, there was a feeling in Cleveland that he could compete for the job.

The next move the Browns made was to bring in Jake Delhomme to compete with Wallace for the starting position. Now the Browns have two QBs with NFL experience that want the starting job. As soon as the Browns address their offensive line, then they can begin to build an offense.

Tim Tebow heard the rumors swirling around about him. He heard that his throwing motion was too deliberate and he heard that his accuracy was suspect. He worked on both and scouts say that Tebow really impressed them at his recent pro day workout. Tebow has tightened up his motion, worked …