Rookie Mini Camp, Day 1

On Friday, 30 Bronco Rookies met at Dove Valley for their first practice together. Denver will only carry 53 players on its active roster this fall, and only 45 will dress for games. Then add the vets that will automatically make the team, and the odds become strongly against these players, save the drafted ones, to make the team. Yet, even Denver's 9 drafted players will ultimately have to fight for a roster spot, and compete for a starting job. Today, a long hard journey these rookies will take, began.

As the Rookies ran through drills, they were not only closely watched by their position coaches and Josh McDaniels, but also 53 media members, who were all itching to see Tim Tebow throw. Tebow, who was very excited to be on the field, did very well, and his throwing motion looked a lot better than it has.

"(I was) very antsy to get out here and start practicing," Tebow said. "Once I have to leave again and then won't be able to come back until (OTAs begin on May) 17th, I'll get antsy again then. But I'm just so excited for when I can get out here and be a full-time Denver Bronco."

Denver's two drafted Wide Recievers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, sat out of practice, while nursing injured ankles. Neither have given a timetable for their return, but Thomas told Andrew Mason he's "about 85 percent", while Decker told me he was about 65-70% recovered from his injuries. Perhaps to fill-in while Thomas and Decker are out, Denver brought in two undrafted WR's to tryout for the team. Dicky Lyons Jr from Kentucky and Rockeed McCarter from James Madison participated in practice. The Broncos drafted Zane Beadles 45th overall in the Draft, knowing of his versatility. But nobody knew that Ryan Clady's status for the season opener would be in jeopardy. Over the weekend Clady hurt his knee playing basketball, opening the door for Beadles to contribute on offense immediately. In practice, Beadles took reps at both left and right tackle, and he is expected to learn the Guard position as well.

There were only two players at practice who weren't rookies; punters AJ Trappaso and Britton Colquitt. AJ Trappaso played for the Titans last season in the Pre-Season, while Colquitt signed with the Broncos as a undrafted free agent in 2009. The punters are competing for the starting job.

The Broncos first day of Rookie Mini Camp went smoothly, nobody was watched and scrutinized more than Tebow, and he handled it very well, “I guess that goes with the position,” he said. “But honestly, I’m a rookie just like everyone else.”View more photos from the Broncos Rookie Mini Camp on our Facebook Page, and check back for more coverage of Mini Camp which runs through May 3rd.