Posted by Andy Benoit

Weapons charges stemming from Laurence Maroney’s January 17 arrest in St. Louis have been dropped after it was discovered that Maroney actually had the proper permit. However, KMOX in St. Louis reports that the Broncos running back still faces marijuana charges.

Maroney and four of his friends were found to be in possession of less than 35 grams of the drug, which is a misdemeanor. They were busted in their car outside a concert after officers smelled the tangy aroma.

If convicted, Maroney could face up to a year in prison. (Of course, he’s more likely to win the lottery than actually see time in the can.)

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

On Tuesday, we told you about the arrest of Broncos RB Laurence Maroney on drug and gun charges in St. Louis.

Later that day, though, he was released from his holding cell after police declined to charge him with a crime. It sounds like he’s in the clear, at least from the statements made by his publicist.

"Mr. Maroney was unlawfully arrested for possession of weapons," Jane Higgins said in a statement obtained by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "He holds a permit to carry a concealed weapon.  He was not arrested for any drugs nor was he involved in a high-speed chase.  He was released without being charged with any offense and we do not anticipate he will be charged with any criminal offense."

More from Higgins: "We don't anticipate any charges. He just wasn't involved in whatever (police) were going after. Our police department has a very difficult job."

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Posted by Will Brinson

It looks like new Broncos coach John Fox won't get much of a reprieve from poor off-field behavior by his players -- Laurence Maroney, a Broncos running back, was arrested in St. Louis on gun and drug charges.

That's according KMOV in St. Louis, who reports that Maroney is being "held on unlawful weapons charges and drug charges" after being pulled late Monday night in a car with three other men.

There was also some sort of high-speed chase going on near the car Maroney was in, but Maroney's publicist told KMOV that he wasn't in that car, and only behind the car in the chase "by pure coincidence."

That's a tough sell, but obviously there's still a lot to sift through on the judicial end before any judgment can be passed on Maroney in a court of law.

The same might not apply for the Broncos -- Josh McDaniels' regime foolishly gave up anything of value (a fourth-rounder for Maroney and a sixth-rounder) for Maroney last year when the Patriots were through with him, and he never really played for Denver.

Unless Fox thinks Maroney's an absolute necessity to the 2011 Broncos running game -- and it's hard to figure how he would think that -- it wouldn't be surprising to see him cut loose by Denver if this police matter gets ugly at all.

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Posted by Will Brinson and Josh Katzowitz

Some bigger name football players who are ACTIVE this week: Colts WR Austin Collie, Texans WR Andre Johnson, Texans DE Mario Williams, Ravens S Tom Zbikowski, Broncos CB Andre Goodman.

And the inactives:

Jacoby Jones, WR, Texans - Kevin Walter goes back to being the No. 2 option that he always was? Or something like that -- Jones out, Johnson in, though.
Tyson Jackson, DE, Chiefs - We thought he might be active today, because he practiced all week. But the knee injury he suffered in the first week is keeping him out. His first-round bust status remains intact.

Roy Williams, SS, Bengals - He's one of the more physical DBs in the league, but Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis smashed him around last week. Williams has become awfully injury prone the last few years.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos - The team was hopefuly Moreno (hamstring) could play this week, because the running game has not been good without him. Looks like they're stuck for another week with watching Laurence Maroney run the ball.

Stanley Daniels, G, Broncos - Daniels started the first four games of the season, but apparently, he's fallen out of favor with Denver's coaching staff. He's a healthy scratch.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels told the media Friday that Knowshon Moreno will not play Sunday against the Ravens, marking the third straight game the running back will miss due to a right hamstring injury. You probably know by now that this is NOT the same hamstring that sidelined Moreno during the preseason.

The bigger story here is that by addressing Moreno’s status for Week 5, we have reason to believe McDaniels still knows the running back position exists. The Broncos have thrown the ball over 50 times in three games this season. Their “running attack” has been more like a “walking attack”. On the ground, Denver is averaging 2.2 yards per attempts (by far the worst in the NFL) and 55 yards per game (13 yards worse than the 31st-ranked Bears run game).

Laurence Maroney will once again fill in for Moreno; Correll Buckhalter will shoulder some of the load on third down. (Fullback Spencer Larsen is also out for a second straight week with a bum ankle.)

It wasn’t all bad news for the Broncos. Cornerback Andre Goodman will return after a two-game absence (quad injury). So will special teams maven Wesley Woodyard (hamstring).


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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

First, the notable actives:

Baltimore RB Ray Rice will play today. As will Raiders WR Louis Murphy (that’s very good new for Oakland). Rookie NT Terrence Cody and DL Paul Kruger will make their 2010 debuts for the Ravens. Also, Denver's Tim Tebow is the No. 2 QB today, while Brady Quinn is No. 3. Jets RB Joe McKnight, who's been a big disappointment so far, is active for the first time. Bills CB Marcus Trufant is active as well. And in some great news for Seattle, LT Russell Okung will make his career debut. 

And now the inactives:

Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets: He’s getting closer to returning, but against the Bills – where the only real receiving threat is Lee Evans – it’s probably unnecessary to play a Revis that’s still not 100 percent. Antonio Cromartie, who’s had mixed results as the No. 1 shutdown corner, should be OK vs. Evans.

Jonathan Fanene, DE, Bengals: This isn’t as big of a loss, considering Antwan Odom will play. Fanene has been bothered by a hamstring injury.

Cory Redding, DL, Ravens: He suffered a concussion last week, and he didn't pass his baseline tests this week. Therefore, he's inactive. It's unfortunate for Baltimore, considering the Ravens will try to slow down Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall, the fourth-leading rusher in the league.

Jake Delhomme, QB, Browns: Seneca Wallace will take over the QB spot for Cleveland for the second straight week as Delhomme tries to recover from an ankle injury. Delhomme was listed as questionable, but he was seen limping around the locker room this week. So this isn't a big surprise.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos: We know this would happen, and therefore, it falls to newly-acquired Laurence Maroney to move the ball. Last week, he struggled, gaining just 24 yards on 12 carries. QB Kyle Orton can't be expected to throw for 400-plus yards every week.

Andre' Goodman, CB, Broncos: Bothered by a quadriceps injury, Goodman is inactive for the second-straight week. His replacement last week, Perrish Cox, gave up the TD pass to unknown Colts rookie Blair White.

Josh Wilson, CB, Ravens: Cary Williams, who missed the first two games of the season with a suspension, takes the place of Wilson. Special teams might have played a factor in this decision.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Good analysis here by Jeff Legwold in the Denver Post today regarding the Broncos options in the running game considering No. 1 RB Knowshon Moreno – who injured his hamstring before last weekend’s game and didn’t practice at all this week – is out.

Without Moreno, expect Laurence Maroney – who rushed 12 times for a team-high 24 yards last week in his first appearance in a Denver uniform – to get the bulk of the carries.

From the Post:

Maroney, because of his history in McDaniels' offense in New England, figures to get the start again and do the bulk of the early-down work. McDaniels sees Maroney as more of a run/receiving option than (Correll) Buckhalter.

Buckhalter will play in the team's third-down package as well as in most hurry-up situations. Buckhalter was in the hurry-up drives against the Colts just before the half and at the end of the game when the Broncos stayed in their three-wide-receiver set.

McDaniels likes Buckhalter as a runner, but the Broncos have been careful in monitoring his workload given how much time he missed in training camp because of a neck/back injury.

Because FB Spencer Larsen (ankle) also won’t play, TE Dan Gronkowski will fill that role when Denver goes into its two-back set. Last week, he split time between tight end and fullback, so this week, he should be better prepared to handle his somewhat-unfamiliar position.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said he expects running back Knowshon Moreno to miss Sunday’s game against the Titans. Moreno is nursing a right hamstring injury. The injury left him inactive last week against the Colts.

The second-year pro sat out most of the preseason with a left hamstring injury. Moreno’s fragility inspired Denver to sign former Patriot Laurence Maroney (who, ironically, was released by New England because of his own fragility).

Maroney will likely start Sunday, with Correll Buckhalter serving as the third-down back.

McDaniels also said that linebacker/utility man Spencer Larsen will not play. Larsen injured his ankle against the Colts.

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