CHARLESTON, W.Va. — ESPN sportscaster Brad Nessler didn't get the memo.

Unless his memo was dated prior to 1863.

During a broadcast of Tuesday's Sugar Bowl game between Michigan and Virginia Tech, Nessler read a script for a promo. its unfortunate – and inaccurate – wording later set West Virginia social media accounts into overdrive.

The promo for the following evening's Orange Bowl was worded thusly:

"the only team to beat Virginia Tech this season, the Clemson Tigers … take on another team from the state of Virginia: West Virginia in the Discover Orange Bowl. It's coming up tomorrow night."

A Knight of the Golden Horseshoe, Brad Nessler is not.

As West Virginia grade schoolers are taught, this state broke away from Virginia in 1863. Mountain region residents were motivated not only by the Civil War but by what they saw as economic and governmental inequity and cultural differences with Richmond, which is nowhere near here, by the way.

So Nessler's slip-up hit a nerve.

West Virginians rushed to tweet.

Statuses were updated angrily.

Some viewers – along with the blog site Deadspin.com – recorded the error and sent videos spiraling into cyberspace. 

Fans were steaming like Morgantown couches.

"REALLY?" wrote WVU fan Cari Nichols in the comments section of the Daily Mail's Reporter's Pad blog. "If you are really that stupid that you don't realize WV is a SEPARATE state, then you shouldn't be on television!"

"Wow, it is ridiculous that he ever got a job on television or any kind of media," said Clay resident Cathy Ross.

Even people from outside the state posted messages online suggesting Nessler brush up on his American history and geography.

"Warning, you will become dumber just listening to this," said David Antonik of the (real) state of Virginia, when he posted the video of the slip-up on his Facebook page.

"Brad Nessler is not smarter than a 5th grader," former WVU kicker Pat McAfee and current Indianapolis Colts punter said on his Twitter page.

Lindsay Jefferson of Charlotte, North Carolina – which is not the northern portion of Clemson's home state of South Carolina – also chimed in on Twitter.

"This is ridiculous how does one go through life in the US, not knowing that there are 50 states?" Jefferson said.

ESPN officials said Nessler's misstatement was caused by an error in a promo script.

"it was a mistake while doing the promo and unfortunately on live television," said ESPN spokesman Mike Humes, a University of Pittsburgh graduate whose father was born in West Virginia.

Nessler, who lives in Minnesota and who earned a bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting from Mankato State University in 1977, is no stranger to WVU either.

He was the play-by-play broadcaster for the 2006 Sugar Bowl when the Mountaineers defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-35 for their first-ever victory in a BCS bowl game.

"Brad is aware West Virginia is a state," Humes said.

Not all fans were angry though; some kept their sense of humor online.

"Can't believe he said that!" wrote username MySources on the BlueGoldNews.com message boards. "everyone knows Virginia is a COMMONWEALTH, not a 'state.'"

"I guess Brad Nessler never listened to John Denver," Ricky Taylor said on Twitter.

Bob Jones kept his eye on Wednesday night's Orange Bowl when he jokingly posted on the Reporter's Pad site Wednesday afternoon.

"Let's Go Western Virginia Mountaineers," Jones said. "Let's take a victory back to Roanoke and make my cousin proud."

WVU officials got a lesson in double-checking how people handled the state's name in 2007 when the WVU men's basketball team won the NIT Tournament.

During the post-championship game trophy presentation, team members were handled shirts congratulating the West "Virgina" Mountaineers.

WVU officials said Wednesday afternoon they would make sure that all matters of statehood are corrected before the game broadcast later that night.

"WVU Sports Information officials are aware and have been sure to point out the slipup to the ESPN crew working tonight's game," said university spokeswoman Becky Lofstead.

Contact writer Jared Hunt at jared.h…@dailymail.com or 304-348-5148.

ESPN's gaffe has residents up in arms 
– WVU Sports –
Charleston Daily Mail – West Virginia News and Sports -

We already knew Betty White could take a hit. but Snickers commercial aside, who knew she was ESPN’s secret weapon

Betty White to kick-off Christmas-themed ‘Monday Night Football’

MU says budget cuts played role in switch to SEC

A decade of declining state funding for the University ofMissouri enhanced the appeal of switching conference alignmentsfrom the big 12 to the more financially stable and lucrativeSoutheastern Conference, university chancellor Brady Deaton saidMonday.

Mizzou plans to join the SEC in July. the golden financialopportunities associated with the SEC’s powerful football programswere a much-publicized part of the deal. (AP)

Penske, Kurt Busch part ways • Kurt Busch and Penske Racingparted ways after six bumpy seasons, a split that clouds the formerchampion’s future in NASCAR as he embarks on a personal journey toreclaim his passion for racing.

Both the team and driver said ending the relationship was a”mutual agreement,” but most believe Busch was fired in the falloutof yet another embarrassing incident. A fan caught Busch on videoverbally abusing an ESPN reporter during last month’s seasonfinale, and Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR after the clip wasposted on YouTube. (AP)

Brian Pattie named crew chief for Bowyer • Michael WaltripRacing hired Brian Pattie as crew chief for new driver ClintBowyer. Pattie was most recently crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya,and led him to a spot in the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cupchampionship. Pattie has 18 wins as a crew chief in the NationwideSeries, one in Cup. (AP)

Klitschko calls off fight after surgery • Heavyweight championWladimir Klitschko pulled out of his fight against Jean-MarcMormeck this weekend after two operations in two days to remove akidney stone. the fight had been scheduled for Saturday inDuesseldorf. Klitschko’s promoter, Bernd Boente, said March 3 was apossible new date. the IBF would have to approve because Klitschko,the WBO, IBF and WBA champ, would be requested to fight a mandatorychallenger on that date. (AP)

Roy Jones to fight for vacant cruiserweight title • Roy JonesJr., 42, a former world champion in several divisions, will fightMax Alexander, 30, for the vacant UBO intercontinentalcruiserweight title Saturday in Atlanta. (AP)

Nets’ Outlaw has broken right hand • New York Nets forwardTravis Outlaw has a broken right hand. General manager Billyreleased no other information about the injury, saying he wouldhave more to say after the player was examined by team doctors.(AP)

Area marathoner qualifies for Olympic Trials • JackiePirtle-Hall of St. Charles qualified for the Olympic Trials byfinishing the California International Marathon with a time of 2hours, 44 minutes and 34 seconds, just under the qualifying time of2:46:00. A graduate of Francis Howell North, Pirtle-Hall joinsSerena Burla, Julie Lossos and Adam MacDowell as area athletes whohave qualified for the Trials on January 14 in Houston. (KathleenNelson)

Mizzou says budget cuts played role in switch to SEC

There is renewed momentum to push through a trade that would send Chris Paul from the league-owned New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to sources close to the process.

After a seemingly imminent trade routing Paul to the Clippers collapsed earlier Monday, sources told ESPN.com that the league officials negotiating on the Hornets’ behalf had aggressively re-engaged the Clippers in talks in hopes of completing a deal as soon as Tuesday.

One source close to the process also told ESPN that league officials also definitely did not see talks with the Clippers as “over,” since they rank as the Hornets’ most natural trade partner given L.A.’s trade assets and how it ranks as Paul’s preferred destination if he can’t land with the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks. The NBA remains “hopeful,” according to the source, that Paul’s fate can be resolved “soon.”

Two other sources went so far as to say that a deal could be in place by Tuesday, with the league officials who have essentially taken over the entire negotiating process from the Hornets eager to finally bring an end to this saga after NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed a three-team trade Thursday that would have landed Paul with the Lakers.

The talks hit an impasse earlier Monday when the Clippers decided that the league’s asking price for the All-Star guard was too high. Sources told ESPN.com that the Clippers balked when the Hornets, at the league’s insistence, asked for the Clippers’ top five trade pieces in exchange for Paul: Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and Minnesota’s unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick.

Sources close to the talks insisted Monday night that both Gordon and the Minnesota pick were in the package that would be going to New Orleans.

The Clippers found the demands “too steep,” according to one source close to the process, even after Paul told the Clippers he would invoke the 2012-13 option in his contract as part of the trade, ensuring that L.A. would have him next to Blake Griffin for at least two seasons.

The Hornets wanted “everybody,” one source said. That meant both prized shooting guard Gordon and the highly coveted Minnesota pick, with requests at various points in the day from NBA negotiators Stu Jackson and Joel Litvin for Bledsoe and an additional first-round pick as well. The latter two requests, sources said, were met with particular dismay by the Clippers, since they are already so skittish about surrendering both Gordon and the Timberwolves’ pick.

It was not immediately known how many of those assets the Clippers will be able to keep out of the latest round of talks, but Clippers general manager Neil Olshey acknowledged at a Monday afternoon news conference that the trade could be revived if some of the parameters change. The Clippers are likewise open, sources said, to the recruitment of an additional team to add to the deal, since they ultimately still want Paul, knowing that acquiring him now is their best chance of securing a long-term commitment from Griffin.

“Everything’s over,” Olshey said, “until it’s reborn again.”

On a busy day for the Clippers, they also won a waiver auction to claim veteran point guard Chauncey Billups. The 35-year-old point guard was released by the Knicks last weekend through the amnesty clause in the NBA’s new labor agreement.

Sources with knowledge of the Clippers’ thinking said that they feel as though Billups’ arrival can only make the Clippers more attractive to Paul and help ensure they have a sufficiently strong cast around him even after surrendering the assets needed to finally complete a trade. Billups played in the same backcourt alongside Derrick Rose at the 2010 World Championships, so L.A. is confident he’ll mesh in the same backcourt with Paul.

“

Everything’s over until it’s reborn again.

”– Clippers GM Neil Olshey

Meeting with reporters later Monday after the acquisition of Billups, when asked if the Clippers still need Paul, Olshey said: “I don’t know if there’s anybody on the planet that doesn’t need Chris Paul if they had an opportunity to acquire him. but I don’t think anything’s changed. I think they made a fair proposal. I’m sure in their mind it was (fair), given what they were giving up, (but) we passed on it and moved on with our business. We’re going forward with this group of players. it just got better by keeping DeAndre (Jordan) and adding Chauncey.”

After claiming Billups off waivers, L.A. announced that, as expected, it had also formally matched the four-year, $43 million offer sheet tendered to Jordan by the Golden State Warriors.

ESPN.com reported Sunday that the Clippers quickly emerged as the “early frontrunner” to land Paul after the three-team deal involving the Lakers and Houston Rockets crumbled Saturday night.

In unprecedented circumstances, since New Orleans is the first league-owned team in league history, Olshey has largely been conducting negotiations with Jackson and Litvin from the league office as opposed to Hornets general manager Dell Demps.

If the deal collapses for good, L.A. is expected to focus on signing Gordon to an extension as part of its desire to build around Griffin, who is eligible for a contract extension in the summer. Jordan, 23, averaged 7.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season and was also seen as a must-keep free agent by management, largely because of his close relationship with Griffin.

The Hornets’ original three-team deal with the Lakers and Rockets would have brought a trio of quality starters to New Orleans: Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Lamar Odom. but with the league still trying to find a buyer for the Hornets and determined to take more of a long-term view, Hornets officials were instructed to focus on more young players with shorter contracts and draft picks before the league office ultimately commandeered the bulk of the negotiations.

The Lakers ultimately became so frustrated with the complicated nature of those talks that they walked away from the table Saturday night and quickly dealt Odom to the Dallas Mavericks instead.

Former Hornets forward David West, who reached agreement on a two-year, $20 million deal Sunday with the Indiana Pacers, expressed great sympathy for the plight of Demps and Hornets coach Monty Williams, who clearly favored the original three-team deal as a means to stay competitive without Paul and West.

“There just really is no direction with no legitimate owner, so that just makes it tough,” West told The associated Press on Monday. “It really made it tough for me to see myself going back there.”

West suspects Paul wants out not only for that reason, but also because of “a series of events that transpired after (winning the Southwest Division in 2007-08 and coming within one game of the Western Conference finals) that sent Chris and myself into a different mindset in terms of what we really could get in New Orleans.”

The Hornets “gave a cold shoulder,” in West’s words, to backup point guard Jannero Pargo, who had been Paul’s best friend on the team.

“And (they) didn’t consult Chris about anything,” West said, referring to former Hornets general manager Jeff Bower.

West insisted that, before the hiring of Demps and Williams, Hornets upper management did not consult him or Paul about any major moves, such as the 2009 trade of center Tyson Chandler. The Hornets actually traded Chandler twice that year, first to Oklahoma City in a deal that was quickly rescinded and later to Charlotte for Emeka Okafor.

“It’s nothing against Emeka, but from our perspective, being teammates with Tyson and knowing the type of impact he had on both of our careers at that particular time, I just felt like at that moment, things, in terms of the trust, the direction we were going, started to wane a bit,” West said. “When you have a franchise guy like Chris, build a team around him, I’m under the impression that you’ve got to keep your franchise guy happy.”

West said Demps and Williams constantly consulted him and Paul but added that he and Paul both struggled to envision a fruitful long-term future in New Orleans while the Hornets had no permanent owner nor an owner with a proven commitment to winning.

“Ultimately, I think (Demps and Williams) got the bad luck of the draw because things were already sort of soured,” West said of his and Paul’s feelings before last season. “And it was just that idea of trying to build a relationship of trust in such a short period of time.”

Marc Stein is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne and The associated Press contributed to this report.

Sources — NBA officials renew New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul-to-Los Angeles Clippers push – ESPN Los Angeles

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun certainly doesn't fit the image fans conjure up when they hear that a baseball slugger has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Since he joined the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007, Braun has belted big home runs not with cartoonishly large muscles, but with a sweet swing and an ultra-quick bat. Last season, he helped drive the Brewers to the playoffs and was voted the NL's most Valuable Player.

Now Braun finds himself fighting a 50-game suspension after news leaked that he has tested positive for a banned substance. he steadfastly maintains his innocence.

A spokesman for Braun said in a statement issued to ESPN and The associated Press that there are "highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence."

ESPN cited two sources Saturday in first reporting the result, saying Braun tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone, adding that a later test by the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal determined the testosterone was synthetic. Braun is appealing, according to people familiar with the case.

And fans may be inclined to believe Braun, given his clean-cut image and that he hasn't tested positive or even been suspected of using banned substances in the past. and, perhaps above all, the fact that he doesn't look like a human science experiment.

But there is a long history of athletes accused of taking banned drugs insisting they did so to recover from injuries. Sports medicine experts acknowledge the drugs may help, raising the possibility Braun might have been doing just that.

Norman Fost, a professor of pediatrics and director of the bioethics program at the University of Wisconsin, said vigorous exercise breaks down microscopic muscle fibers.

"one theory is that anabolic steroids hasten the repair of those muscle fibers, and allow you to work out harder," Fost said.

Dr. Susannah Briskin, a primary care sports medicine physician with Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, says the potential injury recovery benefits associated with anabolic steroids have been tested on a limited basis but only on animals.

"This stuff will never end up being studied with humans," Briskin said. "any medical study must start with, `Do no harm.' The problem is, there's been a lot of harm proven in studying anabolic steroids."

According to a document on the Mayo Clinic's website, the potential injury recovery benefits of performance-enhancing drugs are part of their appeal to athletes.

"Besides making muscles bigger, anabolic steroids may help athletes recover from a hard workout more quickly by reducing the muscle damage that occurs during the session," the document says. "This enables athletes to workout harder and more frequently without overtraining. in addition, some athletes may like the aggressive feelings they get when they take the drugs."

Braun has dealt with nagging injuries in recent years, and other players have acknowledged they used performance enhancers to help them recover from injury.

One of the most well-known is pitcher Andy Pettitte, who said he used human growth hormone to recover from an injury, not to enhance his performance. given the generally positive public reception to Pettitte's admission, Fost wonders why more athletes accused of using banned substances don't just follow his lead.

"What amazes me and mystifies me is that every athlete hasn't figured out that's a correct answer — and an answer that seems to be deemed acceptable," Fost said.

And Fost doesn't necessarily see anything wrong with athletes taking a substance that helps them recover from their injuries. he believes health concerns about steroids haven't been sufficiently proved, and blames the media and Congress for creating an atmosphere he likens to the Salem witch trials.

"That's the big question — why is it 'cheating?'" Fost said.

Braun did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.

"we are dealing with an incomplete set of facts and speculation," Brewers chairman and principal owner Mark Attanasio said in a statement. "before there is a rush to judgment, Ryan deserves the right to be heard. we are committed to supporting Ryan to get to the truth of what happened in this unfortunate situation."

As Braun awaits his appeal, doctors continue to promote awareness of the potentially harmful effects of performance-enhancing drugs in youth and high school sports.

And despite ongoing education efforts, Briskin has suspected some of her patients were using them – especially those who have "unrealistic weight goals," like football players whose coaches have asked them to bulk up and switch positions.

One patient actually asked her for them.

"I'm like, 'are you aware that's an illegal substance, and I can go to jail for prescribing it, and you can go to jail for taking it?'," she said.

Still, she says, performance-enhancing drugs remain remarkably easy to get, whether it's through somebody at a gym or online.

"You can pretty much buy anything on the Internet," she said.

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

Ryan Braun a Clean-Cut ‘Good Guy,’ Doesn’t Fit Steroid, PED Image – MLB – NESN.com

Updated – 10:06 AM: According to Yahoo! Sports, Clippers guard Eric Gordon is not part of the deal that could send Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Eric Gordon isn't included in a revised Clippers-New Orleans deal for Chris Paul, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 12, 2011

ESPN’s Chris Broussard, however, remains firm on his earlier report that the emerging star is in fact a part of the deal. According to Broussard, the Clippers do not want to upset Gordon if a deal for Paul falls through.

Source insists LAC offering Gordon, Kaman, Aminu & Minny's pick for CP. LAC dont want Gordon's name reported in deal in case it don't happen

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) December 12, 2011

Original – 9:23 AM: The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly submitted a deal to the NBA that would result in the acquisition of New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, a source has told ESPN.com.

The trade would reportedly send emerging star Eric Gordon, front court players Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu, as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round pick in 2012 to the Hornets in return for Paul. Sources have told ESPN that as part of the deal, Paul would agree to pick up his player option which would keep him in Los Angeles through at least 2012-13.

The disgruntled Hornets guard has been a focal point since the NBA has re-allowed transactions following the end of the NBA lockout. The 26-year-old guard has made it clear that he would like to leave New Orleans, however a deal for the former Rookie of the Year  has been hard to come by. The Los Angeles Lakers had twice agreed in principle to a trade with the Hornets and the Houston Rockets for a three-team trade that would allow Paul to team-up with fellow superstar Kobe Bryant, but those deals were nixed by the league.

The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks have also expressed interest in the services of Paul, however neither team was able to put together a package to acquire him.

Since being drafted No. 4 overall by the Hornets, Paul has been an All-Star four times and has finished in the top-five in MVP voting twice. In 2007-08 and 2008-09 he led the league in assists, and in 2005-06 he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Los Angeles Clippers Submit Trade Deal for Chris Paul to NBA

Bonnie-Jill Laflin hosts ESPN2’s “SpeedWorld” and contributes to ESPN’s morning show “Cold Pizza.” she is also the first and only female scout for the NBA (she scouts for the Lakers) and is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.more importantly, however — Laflin has traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries on 17 Goodwill and USO tours, [...]

ESPN’s Bonnie-Jill Laflin not just a pretty face (although a pretty face she does have)

As the NBA lockout comes to an end, teams will have not much time to acquire free agents and make trades

Lockout? What lockout? now that the NBA season is set to begin on Christmas Day this year, NBA fans can now focus on the highly anticipated free agent market and blockbuster trade rumors during the preseason. Let’s take a look at some potential moves.

There are many places that would make good fits for the best center in the league and number two on ESPN.com’s NBA player rankings.

First off is his current place on the Magic. Howard has made great connections with his fans and teammates that it would be very hard for him to leave that. also with a new area set to host this season’s All-Star Game, Howard might want to wait until after mid-season to make a move.

Los Angeles is also a destination where Howard will gel. both the Lakers and the Clippers offer Howard advantageous positions on their respective teams. the Lakers can offer up center Andrew Bynum and forward Lamar Odom in exchange for Howard, creating another “big three” in the NBA. the combination of Howard, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol will be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.

The Clippers can offer up center DeAndre Jordan and some draft picks for Howard but Orlando will most likely settle for nothing less than a trade involving rising star guard Eric Gordan.

 If this trade can go through, the Clippers will be left with the most insane frontcourt since the Charlotte Hornets had Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning in the power forward and center positions. Howard paired with Blake Griffin would not only absolutely dominate the paint but would also manhandle the boards.

Arguably the most effective point guard in the league and ranked number four on ESPN.com’s NBA player rankings, Chris Paul has the ability to make any team that he goes to better whether it’d from a scoring or passing perspective.

The buzz surrounding Chris Paul has been the rumors that he is extremely interested in playing for the New York Knicks along with Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony to form what I would like to call “the biggest Three”. this has been a rumor since last season and with every passing day seems to be more and more plausible, but there is one major problem. the Knicks have nobody to offer.

With no draft picks left to offer and a team filled with no trade value, the Knicks have only Anthony and Stoudemire to offer in exchange for Paul, those two being the reasons why Paul wants to play in New York in the first place.

Rumors also surfaced that the Celtics would be willing to trade their star point guard Rajon Rondo for Paul if Paul was willing to sign a contract extension with them. Those rumors were shot down within days when Paul said he would not sign an extension in Boston; also Celtics president Danny Ainge said that they would never trade Rondo.

Another place Paul could end up is in Oklahoma City. If the Thunder would be willing to deal Russell Westbrook and a few draft picks they could acquire Paul, but would he sign an extension? If this deal goes down, the Thunder would have all of the issues solved between Kevin Durant and Westbrook.

Westbrook has yet to really fit his scoring ability in with Kevin Durant’s. by bringing in Paul, the Thunder will still have a great scoring presence at the point but also a star who is willing to feed the league’s number one scorer in Durant.

Chandler is not a superstar or a household name by any means, but the way this guy can stifle an opposing team’s inside game is incredible. Chandler’s length and defense could be invaluable to a team like the Celtics if he does not re-sign with the Mavericks.

The aging Celtics are lacking a strong center after trading Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder last season for forward Jeff Green. Jermaine O’Neal has been filling the void but has been unreliable with health issues. They lost backup Nenad Kristic when he signed a deal overseas with a no opt-out clause, not that he would really have made a difference anyway.

Chandler would mesh nicely in Boston. he can score when he has to and keep opposing players out of the paint. also, at 29 years old Chandler can add a little splash of youth to the Celtics starting five.

For the fans that live for the transactions that takes place during the NBA season, you are in luck. Starting December 9th, teams can start talks and negotiations with players. It looks like Christmas will come early for some NBA teams.

The Chronicle: Student News at The College of Saint Rose » Tis’ the Season for Trades and Free Agents

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Penske racing apologizes for Kurt Busch outburst

ESPN's John Clayton caused a bit of a stir on Wednesday when he suggested that QB Kyle Orton wouldn't report to the Kansas City Chiefs if they were the team to claim him.

With Kyle Orton having been released by the Denver Broncos, speculation has run rampant about where he will finish the season. most observers feel he is headed back to the Chicago Bears, where he began his career. other possible destinations mentioned

It appears likely that Kyle Orton will be throwing passes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High again next year. on the first day of next year, to be exact.

Kyle Orton has gone from Jay Cutler's replacement to Tim Tebow's backup to the unemployment line — but probably not for long. The Broncos released Orton on Tuesday, six weeks after benching him following a 1-4 start. Tebow has gone 4-1 as a starter

Chiefs claim veteran QB Kyle Orton off waivers from Broncos; waive WR Keary …