The Rocky Mountain News reports RB Cecil Sapp, QB Darrell Hackney, WR Glenn Martinez and S Josh Barrett were some of the first players cut by the Broncos today in order to trim the roster down to 53 players.

Also cut so far: offensive linemen P.J. Alexander and Mitch Erickson, tight ends Chad Mustard and Brett Pierce, defensive ends Paul Carrington and Larry Birdine and punter Sam Paulescu.

Running back Ryan Torain was apparently told he will have a spot on the roster.

Update: The Broncos placed RB Anthony Alridge on IR with a torn foot ligament.

The Denver Post’s Mike Klis looks at possible strategies the Broncos could employ when they play Oakland without Brandon Marshall and suggests five goals the team should aspire to in the preseason finale against the Cardinals tonight. DP’s Woody Paige thinks an 18 game NFL schedule is a good thing. Our own Horvil Tiki badgers Mr. Paige in the comments once again asking for Jay Cutler’s autograph.

RMN examines the players and head coaches thoughts and feelings at this point in the preseason when the dreaded roster cuts become plentiful. Also listed are five things to watch in tonight’s game.

RMN takes a look back at the Broncos 27-24 preseason loss to Green Bay. CBS4Denver reports the extent of the Broncos injuries in the game that includes DE Elvis Dumervil – broken pinky, Safety Marquand Manuel – fractured thumb and DE Paul Carrington – strained left calf.

The Broncos made a good showing in their 23 to 13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in preseason action last night. The Rocky Mountain News article states “Cutler shines in Broncos win over Cowboys” and mentions rookie WR Eddie Royal certainly looked good as well. CBS4Denver states “Marshall Gets Best of Jones as Denver Tops Dallas.”

The official site of the team, Denver Broncos.com offers up a piece entitled “Offense Astounding” that is loaded with quotes from the players. Also appearing on the website is an article “Steadily Improving” that centers on the offense, Eddie Royal’s emergence as a starting receiver and the somewhat embarrassing end to cornerback Jack Williams 4th quarter interception.

This Denver Post article praises the first string offense, while another commends an improved defense and yet another reveals backup QB Patrick Ramsey braved last nights game shortly after his grandmother died on Thursday and his wife gave birth to his second child on Friday. In other news, a couple Denver Post stories mention John Lynch’s migration to the Patriots, and the second found here receives commentary from our own Horvil Tiki:

Maybee Lynch forget Bronco own patrot, send packing for school lunch in afc titel match Baily pict off goal line pass run all way back guy, all way. That with dude where my car plumber now Shanhan has have protegee propeller arm Cutsler pict 11 steal of draft. New eggland fan rejoyced last few year they rejoyce they say Shanhan is out of play off! I hears them guy, they say that. Litle genral beats the bellycheck. Makey him mumbel and so disgrunt. Bellycheck so disgrunt he try to throw heavied flash light at Shanhan car in parkig lot try to dent the shanhan car.

I look into magic bag. New eggland will be the lucky if the lynch play more than 8 week for guy. Good guy, good carreer but guy cant even stay on feeld.

The intensity of the Broncos practices with Dallas seem to be amping up. CBS4Denver reports Brandon Marshall beat Adam “Pacman” Jones on a deep route for a touchdown during the morning practice. He later said Adam Jones isn’t even as good as “Pacman” Jones among other things:

“As a (defensive back) in the NFL press coverage is how you’re supposed to make your money. So let’s get it. I said, ‘let’s go deep.’ We went deep. We were 100 percent going deep on Pacman Jones, I mean, Adam, sorry. And we won.”

CBS4′s Reggie Rivers also relays that during today’s practice a scuffle broke out between Dallas offensive guard Flozell Adams and Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas. What ignited the minor altercation was Thomas evading the blocks of the Dallas line and tackling their running back for a loss.

In other news, former Broncos safety John Lynch will sign with the New England Patriots. The teams will play each other October 20 on Monday Night Football.

Coach Shanahan and quarterback Jay Cutler spoke with the media about today’s practice with the Cowboys on DenverBroncos.com. Shanahan mentioned Nate Webster and Niko Koutovides are in a battle for starting middle linebacker that will likely last right until the end of the preseason. Cutler says he talked with Dallas quarterback coach Wade Wilson about diabetes prior to todays practices. Wade Wilson also has type 1 diabetes and played with the disease throughout his career as a quarterback for the Cowboys.

The Rocky Mountain News posts an article on Broncos off season acquisition WR Samie Parker. Parker hopes he can be a speedy deep threat for the Broncos. RMN also has a report on today’s signing of Tyrone Poole. It is interesting to see yet another cornerback signed by Denver in what is an already deep position.

Dallas cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones says Brandon Marshall is “nowhere near” as talented as Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens. His statement comes after today’s first practice where the cornerback looked less than stellar against Marshall. The details can be read in this article at the Denver Post. Cutler reacted to the statement with a subtle dig stating, “We go against Champ Bailey every day.” Marshall shrugged off the comments from Jones at first, but NFL.com reports (via AP) the the receiver sported “21′s no Champ” on the back of his shoulder pads written in tape for the second practice today.

In other news at the Denver Post, former Broncos safety John Lynch is visiting with the New England Patriots.

A variety of articles surfaced today on the eve of the Broncos hosting two-a-day practices with the visiting Dallas Cowboys.

CBS4 Denver‘s 8/12 Training camp report quotes Mike Shanahan and Brandon Stokley. Another article surfacing today on the CBS4 news site features DE Jarvis Moss and his um… love of the Cowboys growing up… in addition, last weeks standout linebacker Wesley Woodyard relays why he is a little bit annoyed lately.

Sam Adams of the Rocky Mountain News asks Little T.O. if he’s ready for this week’s inevitable comparisons to “big” T.O. RMN also has an article on the upcoming practices titled Dove Rally: Cowboys are Coming. In it, some Broncos comment that practicing against a different team is fun, while Tight End Daniel Graham seems to disagree. RMN also has an AP article on Tony Romo and the botched autograph.

DenverBroncos.com’s Week 16: Coming Together report features a few more quotables from Shanahan and Stokley in addition to some short talks with Ebenezer Ekuban and one of Horvil’s favorite Bronco rookies Anthony Alridge:

With his history as a bit of a Cowboys fan, Alridge was asked if he thought the Cowboys had an aura or mystique around them.

“I really don’t know, because I think there’s an aura about the Denver Broncos,” he said. “We’re a great team and we’re going to prove ourselves this year.”

Finally, Horvil chimes in with the first reply to the Denver Post’s article: Big Bad Cowboys ride into town.