Denver Broncos

Academy standouts Garland, Mooney return to NFL practice squads

By Kevin Lilley on September 3, 2013 Air Force, Army, Football, nfl

Former Army Black Knight Collin Mooney, the team’s single-season rushing leader, rose from the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad to the game-day roster late last season, playing in his first two NFL games and even making the stat sheet — five carries, 19 yards. Former Air Force Falcon Ben Garland recorded 115 tackles as a collegiate defensive lineman and spent all of 2012 in that same position with the Denver Broncos practice squad, only to transfer to offensive guard in preseason workouts this year in a move designed to improve his chance to make the 53-man game-day roster. Despite Mooney’s game…

Ben Garland waived by Broncos, could be (UPDATE: is) headed to practice squad

By Kevin Lilley on August 31, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

The Denver Broncos waived Air Force Academy grad Ben Garland on Friday, but the defensive tackle might not need to pack his bags just yet. Garland, who recorded a sack in Denver’s preseason-ending 16-13 win over Arizona on Thursday, could end up on the Broncos’ practice squad, according to multiple reports. (UPDATE: The Broncos released their practice squad via Twitter, and Garland’s on it.) Denver and the 31 other NFL clubs had to cut their rosters to 53 players by 9 p.m. Eastern on Friday, but at noon Saturday, the teams can begin building practice squads of up to eight…

Tuesday military sports links: Airmen in NFL and CFL, sailor in Paralympics, wrestlers win in Serbia

By Kevin Lilley on June 19, 2012 Air Force, Navy, Uncategorized, Wrestling

From Denver to Calgary to London to Belgrade and all points in between, here’s a few quick hits spanning eight or so time zones: Oh? Canada? Air Force 2nd Lt. Spencer Armstrong’s college football career barely took off — the wideout missed five games his junior season with a hamstring injury, then broke his leg three games into his senior year, rejoining the Falcons in December for the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl (and that cool picture on the right). The Canada-born Armstrong was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 2009, but as with other aspiring…

Monday football roundup: Short Ben Garland update, bad Big East news, Army film in heavy rotation

By Kevin Lilley on May 14, 2012 Air Force, Army, Football, Navy, nfl

A few service academy-related football notes to start off your week: 1. Praise from high places: We promised you updates on Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland’s quest for an NFL job with the Denver Broncos, so we pass this along from Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Denver head coach John Fox offered some short remarks on Garland’s stellar work ethic during a post-rookie workout news conference late last week. Judging from the picture in that first link, the Air Force Academy grad’s strength and conditioning won’t be an issue. 2. Conference calamity: Speaking of early outs,…

Returning to a deferred dream: Ex-Falcon Ben Garland back with Broncos

By Kevin Lilley on April 24, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

We’ve written about Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland before, when his career paths collided last year and he chose to give up his chance at becoming a pilot for the chance pursue an NFL career. As we reported, the defensive lineman had to skip the 2011 NFL season and serve on active-duty while applying for the Palace Chase program, part of which allows airmen “early release from active duty to pursue activities with potential recruiting or public affairs benefit to the Department of the Air Force.” Cut to a year later — his release has been approved, according to…

Air Force coach keeps his word

By Mike Hoffman on January 5, 2011 Air Force, Football

It turns out Air Force coach Troy Calhoun really meant what he said. Despite rumors he was a candidate for both the University of Colorado and Denver Broncos head coaching positions, he remains committed to his alma mater. At a time when the head coaching carousel is at full tilt and coaches like new Maryland hire Randy Edsall will ditch his old team, Connecticut, without even the courtesy of an in-person goodbye, Calhoun is staying in Colorado Springs. His name has been replaced with everyone’s coach-of-the-hour Jim Harbaugh as the top candidate to take over the Broncos. No longer do…

Calhoun: I'm committed to staying at Air Force Academy

By Mike Hoffman on December 7, 2010 Air Force, Football

The Air Force Academy just issued statements from head coach Troy Calhoun and Athletic Director Hans Mueh in response to the rapid-fire rumors of Calhoun becoming the next Denver Broncos head coach. One Colorado radio station even reported that Calhoun is in contract negotiations with the Broncos. Calhoun says that’s not the case. “Our coaching staff and our families are proud to be a part of the daily lives of our nation’s future officers. We certainly look forward to seeing our seniors graduate in May along with coaching the Falcons in 2011 and beyond,” Calhoun said in the statement. Mueh…

Troy Calhoun a candidate for Denver Broncos coaching job?

By Sean Smyth on December 6, 2010 Air Force, Football

As the dust settles from Josh McDaniels’ rapid fall from grace in Denver, The Denver Post suggests that Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, a former Broncos assistant, is a candidate for the opening. Notice that Calhoun’s name is the only one mentioned in the story as a possible candidate. Surely someone inside the organization already is floating Calhoun’s name. Calhoun was an assistant for the Broncos under Mike Shanahan from 2003-05, then served as offensive coordinator on Gary Kubiak’s staff in Houston in 2006. At first glance, it seems far-fetched that a Mountain West coach would be looked at as…

Report: 2nd Lt. Ben Garland didn't sign autographs for reporters after first preseason game

By Mike Hoffman on August 17, 2010 Air Force, Football, nfl

Air Force Academy grad Ben Garland made a strong impression in his first preseason game with the Denver Broncos Sunday night, logging five tackles while playing on the defensive line. (Yes, it’s hard to believe, but After Action can confirm that a rookie other than Tim Tebow played in a Broncos uniform Sunday night. And no we were not one of the two reporters to ask for Tebow’s autograph after the game.) Garland has still not publicly announced if he will accept his pilot slot that is waiting for him at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, after he completes training…

Caleb Campbell, Chad Hall make long-awaited NFL debuts this weekend

By on August 13, 2010 Air Force, Army, Football

Barring some unforeseen disaster, Army 1st Lt. Caleb Campbell will play his first NFL game when he runs out onto the field Saturday for the Detroit Lion’s first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a huge step for a guy that spent the last two years on active duty in the Army and far, far away from the world of professional football. Campbell did a few interviews recently where he said he kept his distance by choice. While the former 7th-round draft pick had no say in his NFL dream being abruptly put on hold by the Army in…

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