Marcell and Patrick, Come on Down….

The NFL prospect carousel spins on at Dove Valley, and this week’s lineup includes two frontrunners for the second overall draft pick.

As posted by John Elway on Twitter, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson are among 13 players visiting the Broncos over a 10-day span.  Dareus and Peterson are reportedly even visiting Dove Valley the very same day – Wednesday – according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

How intriguing?

I'd imagine Dareus' teammates didn't enjoy lining up across from him at the 2010 Crimson Tide spring game. Dareus is wearing #57.

If recent mock drafts are any gauge, Dareus will likely become the next Denver Bronco, a decision I fully support.

Today.

Beyond that is anyone’s guess.

That puts the official tally of players I’ve championed at four, a painfully obvious indicator I’ve adopted the “flavor of the month” philosophy for my dream draft scenario.

Regular Denver Horse Force readers may fondly recall oh-so-long ago when I declared Patrick Peterson the “it” player for Denver.

Ah yes, early March.  I was all about Peterson.

Then.

That’s cooled off, but he remains a viable option.  John Elway believes Peterson is perhaps the best athlete in the draft.  His knock?  It’s not that dismal Wonderlic score; it’s where Peterson plays on the field.  Denver has far greater defensive needs closer to the line of scrimmage, which makes someone like Dareus, Auburn’s Nick Fairley, or even Texas A&M’s Von Miller, a better fit.

Take a look at Dareus’ numbers last season at Alabama, and keep in mind he was suspended two games:

• Tackles: 34
• Tackles for loss: 11
• Sacks: 4.5
• Pass breakups: 4

The Quarterback Question

It’s another hot draft day debate in Denver:  Should the Broncos invest an early round draft pick on a quarterback?

America, it’s your chance to decide…just know that your ESPN vote means absolutely zilch to the Broncos’ decision making powers that be.

At last check, some 2,400 people had voted, and the results were overwhelmingly against Denver drafting a quarterback.  It seems John Clayton’s “yes” argument isn’t compelling enough.

Event of the Year

Don’t worry.  This is NOT a Prince William and Kate Middleton wedding update, because, and I cannot be more frank about this, I don’t care.  I do care about Shannon Sharpe, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.  Invitations have been mailed out for his induction ceremony.  Former Broncos tight end Byron Chamberlain showed off his invitation on Twitter this afternoon:

Love the Bart Scott reference, by the way.  As for that invitation, here is it, courtesy Chamberlain:

The HOF induction invitation, as posted on Twitter by Byron Chamberlain (@bc_chamberlain)