Editor's Note: DenverBroncos.com's Stuart Zaas is in New Orleans working for the NFL during Super Bowl week. He will check in from time to time with updates leading up to the game on Sunday
NEW ORLEANS --* *Both the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers met the press at Media Day in New Orleans. There are Broncos connections on both sides of the game and below are some quick hits concerning the Broncos from Tuesday's press sessions:
2011 Draft Produced Top-Tier Pass Rushers
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and Broncos linebacker Von Miller were all drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Combined, they brought down opposing quarterbacks 58.5 times in 2012 -- 6.5 sacks more than any entire NFL team posted on the year.
At the 49ers' media availability, Smith said that there is a healthy competition between the trio, who all are friends off the field.
"We all came out together, we all competed in college," Smith said. "For us to get to this level and compete, it just travels over."
Smith said he and Miller are "really good friends" and that he saw the Broncos pass rusher on Monday in New Orleans.
"I think we both rush but our game is a little bit different," Smith said when asked to compare his game to Miller's. "He's a little bit smaller than I am, so we do things a little bit differently."
Ravens play-caller influenced by Manning
Ravens Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell coached Peyton Manning as both his Quarterbacks Coach and Head Coach during their time together in Indianapolis.
At Media Day, he was asked how their time together helped him as a play caller, something that he is doing for the first time in his current role with the Ravens.
"For the most part, I think we were a pretty advanced offensive unit in Indy," Caldwell said. "We did a lot of things that I think were good. The way in which we approached our preparation I thought was good. Those things that I thought were helpful we've tried to incorporate."
Newsome and Elway Made Similar Transitions
Baltimore Ravens General Manager and Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome and Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway both have made the same move from a Hall-of-Fame playing career to a front office personnel job.
In Elway's second season, he was the runner up in the NFL's Executive of the Year Award voting, while Newsome is in his 19th year in the front office.
Although Newsome said that he has not had a chance to give any advice to Elway about making that transition, he said the two did talk at last year's owners meetings.
"I have not had an extensive conversation with him since the owners meeting," Newsome said. "We did see each other after the (Divisional Round) game and he gave me a thumbs up – that's what competitors do. But I know I'll get the opportunity. The last time I talked to him, I said, 'How can you be so lucky that you end up with Peyton Manning?' (laughing) It takes some of us years and then he gets Peyton Manning."
