"In the sea of scouts, coaches, agents, media and personnel executives taking notes Wednesday at the Senior Bowl, John Elway still found a way to get seats on the 50-yard line, 10 rows up from the field.

Elway, sitting next to Broncos general manager Brian Xanders, has made it a point to get an up-close look at draft prospects whenever he has the opportunity. Returning to the Senior Bowl marks a one-year anniversary for Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations.

"It was really the first significant football (work), personnel-type, we did as a team after I got the job," Elway said, "and it does feel different this time. I think learning all the systems, learning how everything works, it's been a good year. I realize everything that goes into it now after a year of doing it. It has been everything I expected it to be, and this is a big part of it.""