Paxton Lynch takes center stage in Broncos’ preseason finale By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post September 2, 2016 The biggest decision had already been made, but coach Gary Kubiak stood from the sideline Thursday night still watching his quarterback’s every move. The quarterback under review this time, however, was rookie Paxton Lynch, who played the entirety of the preseason finale at Arizona to gain extra repetitions and time on the field as he angles to be the Broncos’ backup at the position. Lynch didn’t face the Cardinals’ starting defense, but he did offer a decent showing despite a 38-17 loss. Lynch finished 13-of-22 passing for 214 yards, with two touchdowns, a pick-six and a 103.2 passer rating under heavy pressure. “I thought he did pretty good,” Kubiak said. “You take that interception away at the end, and that’s experience — they changed coverage up on him. He’s got to make better decisions with the ball. He continues to make plays because of his ability, but it continues to be about consistency. I think the strides he makes since we got him continue to be very good, and we got to continue to make some more. The Broncos needed only eight offensive plays and 2 minutes, 35 seconds on the field to gain a 10-point lead in the first quarter. A short pass to Jordan Taylor turned into a 57-yard touchdown and kicked off a big night for the young receiver. A forced fumble by linebacker Dwayne Norman on the Cardinals’ ensuing drive was recovered by Zaire Anderson at Arizona’s 27-yard line to quickly put the ball back in Lynch’s hands. But a return to the end zone fell short and, instead, set up Brandon McManus for a 33-yard field goal. The Cardinals, going against a Broncos defense that featured many players vying for roster spots, responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to close the gap to three points. Although the Broncos had a chance to extend their lead, McManus’ 46-yard field-goal attempt was wide right and started an offensive lull for Denver. Two more three-and-outs — the first of which included a fumbled snap by Lynch — were sandwiched between three scoring drives by the Cardinals before the break. “I know the first half we struggled on third downs. I missed a couple throws,” Lynch said. “I think I just had to settle down and get into rhythm with those guys. The young receivers started making some plays for me — Jordan and Mose (Frazier), along with the running backs opening up some lanes.” Denver opened the second half with two more punts, but the drought ended in the third quarter when Lynch led the Broncos on an eight-play, 94-yard drive that included passes to Frazier (14 and 18 yards)
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Paxton Lynch takes center stage in Broncos’ preseason finale By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post September 2, 2016 The biggest decision had already been made, but coach Gary Kubiak stood from the sideline Thursday night still watching his quarterback’s every move. The quarterback under review this time, however, was rookie Paxton Lynch, who played the entirety of the preseason finale at Arizona to gain extra repetitions and time on the field as he angles to be the Broncos’ backup at the position. Lynch didn’t face the Cardinals’ starting defense, but he did offer a decent showing despite a 38-17 loss. Lynch finished 13-of-22 passing for 214 yards, with two touchdowns, a pick-six and a 103.2 passer rating under heavy pressure. “I thought he did pretty good,” Kubiak said. “You take that interception away at the end, and that’s experience — they changed coverage up on him. He’s got to make better decisions with the ball. He continues to make plays because of his ability, but it continues to be about consistency. I think the strides he makes since we got him continue to be very good, and we got to continue to make some more. The Broncos needed only eight offensive plays and 2 minutes, 35 seconds on the field to gain a 10-point lead in the first quarter. A short pass to Jordan Taylor turned into a 57-yard touchdown and kicked off a big night for the young receiver. A forced fumble by linebacker Dwayne Norman on the Cardinals’ ensuing drive was recovered by Zaire Anderson at Arizona’s 27-yard line to quickly put the ball back in Lynch’s hands. But a return to the end zone fell short and, instead, set up Brandon McManus for a 33-yard field goal. The Cardinals, going against a Broncos defense that featured many players vying for roster spots, responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to close the gap to three points. Although the Broncos had a chance to extend their lead, McManus’ 46-yard field-goal attempt was wide right and started an offensive lull for Denver. Two more three-and-outs — the first of which included a fumbled snap by Lynch — were sandwiched between three scoring drives by the Cardinals before the break. “I know the first half we struggled on third downs. I missed a couple throws,” Lynch said. “I think I just had to settle down and get into rhythm with those guys. The young receivers started making some plays for me — Jordan and Mose (Frazier), along with the running backs opening up some lanes.” Denver opened the second half with two more punts, but the drought ended in the third quarter when Lynch led the Broncos on an eight-play, 94-yard drive that included passes to Frazier (14 and 18 yards)
and Taylor (32 yards) before Lynch found Taylor in the right corner of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. “Sunshine” led all receiver with 109 yards and the two touchdowns on four catches. Taylor was on the verge of collecting more, but a Lynch pass intended for him midway through the fourth quarter was picked off by Cardinals linebacker Gabe Martin and returned 29 yards for a touchdown. “Obviously he’s a kid who’s done a lot of good things since he’s been here,” Kubiak said of Taylor. “Got to play the most he’s played and goes out and makes plays. So I think without me getting into too many names, I think the guys who have been consistent around here in camp and stuff showed it again tonight. Zaire (Anderson) is one of them. I think Shiloh Keo is out there — I think Shiloh played every play of defense and special teams. (Darius) Kilgo did some good things, just watching the game. Kapri (Bibbs) did some good things, but his thigh bothered him a little bit and he couldn’t go. So those guys who have been pretty consistent usually keep going.” Lynch turned in a bevy of high points but left room for improvement — and further evaluation by Kubiak and his staff. Over the last six months, Lynch’s entry to the pros has been expedited out of necessity as the Broncos transition into a new year with a new set of quarterbacks. On Monday, Kubiak appointed Trevor Siemian the team’s starter for its Week 1 game against Carolina, on Sept. 8. Siemian and 24 other Broncos veterans — including the entire first-team defense — did not play Thursday, shifting the focus on Lynch and players on the roster bubble. “I just need to be more consistent day in and day out,” Lynch said. “I have kind of gone up and down while I was learning everything. I think as time goes on, I just need to be more consistent.” NFL teams must pare their rosters to the final 53 by 2 p.m. Saturday, but Kubiak said plans to make most of the decision by early Friday. Sunday at 2 p.m., the Broncos can begin to assemble its practice squads, keeping up to 10 players. Unthinkable in March, veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez could be on the list of cuts. Sanchez was made available but did not take the field Thursday. If he makes the final roster, the Broncos will owe him an additional $3.5 million in salary ($1 million was already guaranteed) and the Eagles a 2017 conditional draft pick, a stipulation of the March trade. If Sanchez is cut, the Broncos save $3.5 million in salary cap space and that late-round pick. But Sanchez’s near future in Denver will depend heavily on Lynch and the coaches’ review of his play Thursday. Although the Broncos have a Week 1 starting quarterback, Kubiak 22 other names to consider now. “We got a lot of decisions to make on our team,” he said. “We got, obviously, running back decisions to make, we got defensive line decisions to make, wide receiver. I mean, Jordan comes in here and plays his tail off. So it’s not about one spot and what we’re gonig to do at one spot. It’s about what we’re going to do that as a team.”
DeMarcus Ware stars in new NFL talk show; first guest Von Miller By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post September 2, 2016 DeMarcus Ware is going Hollywood. The Broncos’ outside linebacker has new show, “Talk Now with DeMarcus Ware,” that will air each week during the 2016 season on NFL Now and the NFL’s other digital and social platforms. The show will feature Ware talking to current players around the league, as well as others who have influenced his life and career. The first episode will air Monday, with guest and teammate Von Miller. “I think it’s showing my personality and just going out there and having fun instead of just asking questions,” Ware told The Denver Post. “I’m trying to go a little bit deeper and have more enriched thoughts.” On Snapchat, Ware and Miller posted an early glimpse at the first episode, which was shot in the basement of Miller’s home, aptly dubbed “Club 58.” Spoiler: Chickens are included. Obviously. D-Ware ✔ @DeMarcusWare Fun fact: I used to work at a chicken coop in college. This little guy brings back memories. #TBT 6:02 PM - 25 Aug 2016
Kapri Bibbs strong final performance in running back competition; Jordan Taylor shines By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post September 2, 2016 Kapri Bibbs stole the show in the reserve running back battle Thursday night. Bibbs started and played most of the game. He rushed 10 times for 51 yards, including an explosive 25-yard run in which he showed speed around the edge. He left in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to his right thigh. After the game, Bibbs said he bruised thigh still hurt but his X-ray came back negative. “I put a big focus on special teams,” Bibbs said. “(Special teams coach) Joe DeCamillis loves me. Guys stay in the league for 10 years just playing special teams.” Ronnie Hillman played a few special-teams snaps in the first half, but he carried only three times for 9 yards for the game. “I won’t be too nervous,” Hillman said about the last round of cuts. “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll be playing football somewhere (this season).” Juwan Thompson played most of the game at fullback but got snaps at running back after Bibbs’ injury. He finished with five carries for six yards. “I tried to solidify myself playing running back, fullback and special teams,” Thompson said about his chances. We are going to get back late tonight and then in the morning we are going to get a good call or a bad call.” It’s possible the Broncos could keep one or two of these backs, but they won’t keep all three. Kubiak said he expects to make most, if not all, of the cuts Friday morning. Air Jordan. Paxton Lynch found his two favorite receivers early and depended on them all night. Jordan Taylor caught Lynch’s first pass of the game, a short hitch, broke a couple of tackles and galloped for a 57-yard touchdown. He caught another short touchdown in the second half and had four catches for 109 yards. “We put more pressure on ourselves than anybody else does. It comes down to one game to make this team,” Taylor said. “I hope I did enough to secure my spot.” Lynch also found a steady connection with his former Memphis teammate Mose Frazier. On seven targets, Frazier had six catches for 79 yards. There probably won’t be a roster spot for Frazier, but if not, he will earn heavy consideration to make the practice squad, where can continue to develop with Lynch.
“It felt great. I can honestly say that I have no worries at this point,” Frazier said. “I made plays. I showed the coaches that I can contribute on offense and special teams and just be on this team period. Today felt like I was in college again. I got the opportunity to start and playing with my quarterback again.” Special-teams worries. The Broncos went young when they decided to release incumbent punter Britton Colquitt and keep rookie Riley Dixon. The first game with Dixon as the sole punter was inconsistent. The dud of the night came when Dixon chunked an 18-yard punt out of bounds in the first half. But he also landed a 45-yard punt inside the 10 near the end of the fourth quarter. He finished the game with five punts for an average of 37.4 yards. “Riley is a young kid. He’s done a lot of good things. Obviously tonight, we’ve got to be better than we were tonight,” Kubiak said. “We were asking Riley to experiment a little bit with the punt Joe (DeCamillis) has been working with him on. Obviously it didn’t work out very good tonight, so put that on us as coaches, but he’s got a bright future.” Place-kicker Brandon McManus didn’t make matters better by missing a 46-yard field goal wide right after making a 33-yard attempt earlier in the game. McManus went 5-of-8 on field-goal attempts this preseason. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him and he’s our guy,” Kubiak said. Footnote. Defensive end Henry Melton went down with a right knee injury late in the second quarter, but he returned to start the second half. Melton said he was scared for a bit that it was serious, but quickly was relieved that he was fine.
25 Broncos not expected to play Thursday against Arizona By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post September 2, 2016 The Broncos heading out on the field Thursday night will look a lot different from the group they sent out last week. The fourth preseason game is all about the backups and bubble guys fighting for a roster spot. A group of 25 Broncos, primarily starters and key reserves, warmed up stretches two and a half hours before gametime and are not expected to play Thursday night against Arizona: Trevor Siemian, C.J. Anderson, Bennie Fowler (elbow), Ty Sambrailo (elbow), Matt Paradis, Sylvester Williams, Darian Stewart, DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib, Shane Ray, Bradley Roby, Demaryius Thomas, Chris Harris, Mark Sanchez, Emmanuel Sanders, Brandon Marshall, Virgil Green, Derek Wolfe, Russell Okung, Donald Stephenson, Jared Crick, Todd Davis, Von Miller and Shaquil Barrett. Sanchez will likely suit up as Paxton Lynch’s emergency backup, but coach Gary Kubiak said he expects Lynch to play the whole game. Receiver Cody Latimer (knee) also warmed up with the group, but he headed back to the locker room early. He could try to give it a go. Kubiak said that he’s making progress and had a chance of being available. Guard Darrion Weems was cleared from his concussion earlier this week and he’ll be available to play Thursday night. Tight end Jeff Heuerman (hamstring) is expected to play as well.
Broncos’ final 53-man roster projection has a few veterans missing the cut By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post September 2, 2016 It’s said every year around this time, let’s get rid of or trim down the preseason. The fourth game is meaningless. Yes, much of that has validity. August injuries like the one suffered by Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hurt the game. Thursday’s Broncos-Cardinals preseason finale won’t win any awards for most entertaining game either. But meaningless for who? Maybe the fans, maybe the media and maybe the team’s starters. However, it means everything for players on the roster bubble with one final audition to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, practice squad or put enough on film to impress one of the other 31 teams in the NFL. “You never know what’s going to happen,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “We’ll probably have two or three guys make our team from this game on Thursday night. There might be two or three guys that think they might be here that may go out there and not make the team. That’s part of this business.” So if fans are watching Thursday night’s game beyond quarterback Paxton Lynch’s every throw, they should look at the bubble guys. Players like running backs Ronnie Hillman, Kapri Bibbs and Juwan Thompson. Also watch for tight ends John Phillips and Henry Krieger-Coble and receiver Jordan Taylor. Watch for defensive linemen Billy Winn, Kyle Peko and cornerback Taurean Nixon just to name a few players on the bubble. Without further ado, here’s my final 53-man roster projection: Quarterbacks (2): Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch Mark Sanchez’s roster spot may have a lot more to do with how Lynch performs Thursday. If Lynch plays well and you’re comfortable with him as your season-long backup quarterback, then Sanchez becomes even more expendable. If Lynch is overwhelmed, Sanchez could still be a veteran backup in between two inexperienced quarterbacks. A trade or release seems like the most likely options, but Sanchez could return on a pay cut. As of Thursday, this one is still up in the air. Losing a draft pick to Philadelphia is also a mitigating factor. Running backs (4): C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Kapri Bibbs, Juwan Thompson It’s the emergence of Booker that costs Ronnie Hillman, the Broncos’ 2015 leading rusher, a spot here. Even with his strong performance lately, it’s almost unheard of to have a No. 3 back that doesn’t play special teams. Hillman played four special teams snaps in three preseason games. His $2 million cap hit is also a hindrance. Bibbs (all-around running back improvement and special teams) and Thompson (short yardage, fullback and special teams) both provide more versatility.
Fullback (1): Andy Janovich The Broncos sixth-round pick is a thumper and favorite of the coaching staff. He should be an immediate contributor on offense and special teams. Wide receivers (6): Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, Jordan Taylor Norwood is a near lock, but still needs to hold off college free agent Kalif Raymond for the returner job. Raymond is likely a practice squad candidate. Jordan Taylor has a big frame and ability to win 50-50 balls, but can you keep him active on game days to use it? If the Broncos go five receivers, Taylor would likely be the one to go. Tight ends (3): Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, John Phillips This is the spot the Broncos would most likely scrounge the waiver wire for a better option. The problem is everyone is looking for tight ends. Phillips provides a reliable veteran option particularly needed due to the uncertainty around Heuerman. Henry Kreiger-Coble will make his final push, but he may need a year on the practice squad to get stronger. Offensive linemen (9): Russell Okung, Max Garcia, Matt Paradis, Ty Sambrailo, Donald Stephenson, Michael Schofield, Darrion Weems, James Ferentz, Connor McGovern Injuries complicate this matter a bit because it’s unknown at this time whether Sambrailo or Ferentz will be ready for week one. If either guy has a setback or is further away than anticipated, they could land on the physically unable to perform list and open up a spot. Otherwise, these nine seem to have a strong hold on a roster spot. Denver may also seek outside options here, too. Offense total: 25 Defensive linemen (7): Derek Wolfe, Sylvester Williams, Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, Henry Melton, Darius Kilgo, Billy Winn Melton provides a pass rush specialist. Kilgo has impressed as a backup nose tackle with defensive end versatility in year two. Which leaves veteran Billy Winn vs. college free agent Kyle Peko for a seventh spot that may or may not be available. Winn has been apart of the first-team rotation a lot this preseason and provides more versatility than keeping a third nose tackle in Peko. Linebackers (9): Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett, Corey Nelson, Zaire Anderson, Dekoda Watson Anderson and Watson have done more than enough to solidify themselves on this 53-man roster. Vontarrius Dora may be the odd man out. He probably flashed too much to land on the practice squad. Linebacker and cornerback are the Broncos two deepest position so don’t rule out a last minute trade at either spot. Cornerbacks (5): Chris Harris, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss
Like with linebacker, depth is incredible. Doss may not get more than a few defensive snaps per game this season as the Broncos No. 5 cornerback, but he would probably be able to start on a few others. Taurean Nixon is the next man in line if the Broncos keep six. Safeties (4): Darian Stewart, T.J. Ward, Justin Simmons, Will Parks If the Broncos keep Parks, and it appears they will, all eight draft picks will have made this team. That’s an impressive feat on a defending Super Bowl champion team. Shiloh Keo will miss the first two games due to suspension and could take someone’s roster spot when he returns. Defense total: 25 Specialists (3): Kicker Brandon McManus, punter Riley Dixon, long snapper Casey Kreiter Money talked when it came to keeping Dixon over incumbent Britton Colquitt. The Broncos chose to go with a young group here betting on upside with a rookie punter and long snapper who hasn’t played a regular season snap. Practice squad (10): WR Kalif Raymond, WR Mose Frazier, TE Henry Krieger-Coble, OG Aaron Neary, OT Lars Hanson, NT Kyle Peko, OLB Eddie Yarbrough, ILB Kyle Kragen, CB Taurean Nixon, [young waived QB]
Which Broncos hurt or helped their stock in the Cardinals preseason finale? By Nick Groke Denver Post September 2, 2016 How was the performance of the top running backs? The most heated remaining roster battle, between tailbacks Kapri Bibbs and Ronnie Hillman, got some clarity. Bibbs started the game and was given all of the running reps in the first quarter, with five carries for 26 yards. Trevor Siemian got all of the initial snaps last week before he was named the starting quarterback. That may be a clue to Bibbs earning a roster spot. Which player really helped or hurt his standing? Linebacker Zaire Anderson already was a near-lock to make the roster. Against Arizona, he improved his lot even more. Anderson was everywhere, making tackles, shedding blocks, tag-teaming a goal-line stand and chasing quarterback Matt Barkley. He also recovered a fumble deep in Arizona territory in the first quarter. How did the new offensive line look? None of the starters played. The Broncos used Justin Murray, Robert Myers, Dillon Day, Connor McGovern and Lars Hanson to start the game. The most important on that list was Day. The long-haired No. 3 center was playing in place of backup James Ferentz (knee injury). Matt Paradis will be the starting center. The drop-off from there may be severe. Any rookies grab our eyes? Adam Gotsis was beastly at defensive end, and wide receiver Mose Frazier made some keen catches in the first quarter. But the most crucial rookie test belonged to punter Riley Dixon. After the Broncos cut veteran Britton Colquitt this week, they gave the job to Dixon, a seventh-round pick out of Syracuse. But Dixon miffed a wobbler late in the first half for just 18 yards. It led to an Arizona touchdown.
Broncos expected to make Sanchez decision Friday By Mike Klis KUSA September 2, 2016 There are 22 players who the Denver Broncos must remove from their active roster in the next two days but any move involving quarterback Mark Sanchez will generate most of the attention. A possible scenario: The Broncos wind up with three quarterbacks, including one not named Sanchez. After losing the starting job to Trevor Siemian during the preseason, Sanchez figures to be caught in a roster and salary-cap squeeze. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak notified the team in the locker room following their 38-17 preseason loss to Arizona here Thursday night that he and general manager John Elway would make most of their cuts by 10 a.m. Friday. Not only is Sanchez not the starter, the Broncos may not want him to be the No. 2 quarterback because they don’t want him blocking the development of first-round rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch. As a backup, Lynch would get more practice reps. That leaves Sanchez as the No. 3 quarterback, where his $4.5 million salary is deemed too expensive. However, Sanchez is willing to take a pay cut to stay. The question is whether the Broncos believe Sanchez is a better option than Lynch as the clipholder to Siemian on opening day against the Carolina Panthers. Sanchez declined to talk to the media Thursday night but he is expected to learn his fate by 10 a.m. Friday like the others. The Broncos have been trying to trade Sanchez, and teams like Minnesota, Dallas and possibly Seattle or San Francisco could use an experienced back-up. But so far teams are waiting for the Broncos to release Sanchez from his contract. Even if the Broncos release Sanchez, they may add a third quarterback. Several quarterbacks are expected to get cut in the next 36 hours. Although Elway and Kubiak will make most of their cuts Friday, they probably won’t announce their 53-man roster until closer to the 2 p.m. Saturday deadline. Once the 53-man roster is set, the Broncos will scan the available players piled up on the waiver wire to see if they can fill positions of need. A quarterback, tight end, offensive lineman and possibly a defensive lineman will be the positions the Broncos’ brass discusses. No play group Bronco players who had their own private workout before the fourth preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium and then watched from the sideline without wearing pads beneath their uniforms: Aqib Talib, Sylvester Williams, Darian Stewart, Von Miller, Cody Latimer, Emmanuel Sanders, Virgil Green, Bradley Roby, Chris Harris Jr., Derek Wolfe, Ty Sambrailo, Shane Ray, Matt Paradis, C.J. Anderson, T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware, Russell Okung, Shaq Barrett, Demaryius Thomas, Donald Stephenson, Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Trevor Siemian, Bennie Fowler and Jared Crick.
Bronco Bits Veteran defensive lineman Henry Melton, signed by the Broncos on Aug. 21, went down in the first half clutching his right knee. Melton limped off the field but sensing a roster spot was at stake, he returned to the game in the second half. "He's not the only one,'' Kubiak said. "You look out there you look at (tight end) John Phillips, he's an eight-year veteran, he knows he's out there battling for his life. (Defensive lineman) Billy Winn, guys that have played in this league, been on teams, been successful in this league yet understand the importance of what tonight meant as far as being a part of our team.'' Riley Dixon shanked an 18-yard punt in the second quarter just two days after the Broncos gave him the job by releasing veteran incumbent Britton Colquitt. Dixon also had a 47-yard punt in the game, and a 45-yard punt inside the 10. Overall, Dixon was shaky. "Obviously we've got to be better than what we were tonight,'' Kubiak said of Dixon. "We were asking Riley to experiment a little bit with a punt, Joe's (DeCamillis, special teams coordinator) been working with him on it and it didn't work the way we wanted so it's on us as coaches.'' … There has to be a spot on the Broncos’ practice squad for receiver Mose Frazier. Paxton Lynch’s college teammate at Memphis, Frazier had six catches for 79 yards against the Cardinals. … Running back Kapri Bibbs had a solid game, rushing for 51 yards on 10 carries.
Broncos lose to Cardinals 38-17, Jordan Taylor shines By Mike Klis KUSA September 2, 2016 In defeat came plenty of Sunshine. Jordan “Sunshine” Taylor caught two touchdown passes to do all he could to possibly secure a spot on the 53-man roster spot, although his Denver Broncos lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 38-17, here Thursday at University of Phoenix Stadium in the fourth and final preseason game. “Obviously nothing’s guaranteed,’’ Taylor said. “I went out there and gave it my all and try to put what I could on tape. I guess tomorrow we’ll find out where I stand.’’ Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak told his players following the game that he and general manager John Elway hoped to set most of their 53-man roster by 10 a.m. Friday. "We've got a lot of tough decisions to make,'' Kubiak said. Taylor, a tall, slender receiver from Rice who spent his rookie season last year on the Broncos’ practice squad, had four catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He was the first Broncos receiver to have a 100-yard receiving game since Emmanuel Sanders against Houston in August, 2014. Taylor now doubt did enough to nab the No. 6 receiver spot on the Broncos’ roster. BUT ... There is a catch – teams don’t always carry more than five receivers. The Broncos already have five in Demaryius Thomas, Sanders, Jordan Norwood, Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer. Helping Taylor’s cause is Fowler (elbow) and Latimer (knee) may not be at full strength for the Broncos’ opener next Thursday night (9News TV) against the Carolina Panthers in a Super Bowl 50 rematch at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. "He's a kid who's done a lot of good things since he's been here,'' Kubiak said of Taylor. "He got to play the most he's played (tonight) and he goes out and makes plays.'' Taylor caught both touchdown passes from rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch, who played well until throwing a pick six midway through the fourth quarter. In his first professional start, Lynch completed 13 of 22 passes for 214 yards, the two touchdowns to Taylor, and the interception to Arizona linebacker Gabe Martin, who returned it for a 29-yard touchdown. “I just need to be more consistent day-in and day-out,'' Lynch said. "I have kind of gone up and down while I was learning everything. I think as time goes on, I just need to be more consistent.” At halftime, the Denver Broncos’ backup players couldn’t claim they were better than the Arizona Cardinals. But they were more ready.
Kapri Bibbs, Lynch and Taylor needed just three plays to go 75 yards for a touchdown on the Broncos’ first offensive possession. Bibbs, the former Colorado State star who entered the game competing for one of the final spots on the Broncos’ 53-man roster, opened with two runs behind huge holes for 18 yards. And then Taylor took a simple hitch pass from Lynch on the right side, broke one tackle, cut inside another and sped into the clear for a 57-yard touchdown. "I was running scared," Taylor said with a smile. “You just get him the ball and he can go make a play with it,'' Lynch said. "On a couple of the stop routes he had, he broke a tackle and got extra yards with it.'' Three plays later, Broncos defensive tackle Darius Kilgo smothered Arizona quarterback Matt Barkley, forcing a fumble that linebacker Zaire Anderson recovered at the Arizona 27. Following a 10-yard pass from Lynch to his former college buddy Mose Frazier, Broncos kicker Brandon McManus converted a 33-yard field goal and Denver had a 10-0 lead just 5 minutes and 15 seconds into the game. At that point, Arizona woke up and dominated the rest of the first half. Neither team played its starters. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, knowing his team had to play for keeps in seven days, rested his top 35 to 40 players. The Broncos finished the preseason with a 2-2 record while Arizona improved to 1-3.
9 Broncos goals for final preseason game By Mike Klis KUSA September 2, 2016 Even if the starters on both sides won't play, don't tell the others this is a meaningless preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals here tonight. Among the Denver Broncos' players who played in the fourth and final preseason game last year against Arizona, and then went on to help Denver win Super Bowl 50: Brock Osweiler, Michael Schofield, Andre "Bubba" Caldwell, Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Norwood, Corey Nelson, third-string quarterback Trevor Siemian, Britton Colquitt, Brandon McManus and Aaron Brewer, Here are 9 goals for the Broncos in their final NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals: 1. Stay healthy, Paxton The first-round rookie doesn’t have to play great. It would help, but more importantly is he comes out healthy. If Lynch finishes in good shape, the Broncos may move on from veteran Mark Sanchez. If there’s concern about Lynch after this game, Sanchez could be asked back at a pay reduction from his scheduled $4.5 million salary. 2. Win the job Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said there will be two or three players who will win a 53-man roster spot based on their performance in this game. Others may lose their tenuous hold. Among the players fighting for a roster spot tonight are Ronnie Hillman, Kapri Bibbs, Juwan Thompson, Jordan Taylor, Kalif Raymond, Taurean Nixon, John Phillips, Dillon Day, Henry Melton, Kyle Peko, Billy Winn, Kyle Kragen and Ryan Murphy. 3. Prove it, Riley The only starters who will play this game are the Broncos’ three specialists: Kicker Brandon McManus, punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Casey Kreiter. Dixon, a draft-pick rookie from Syracuse, will be punting for the first time since the Broncos released his competitor, Britton Colquitt, the six-year incumbent. 4. Avoid the Syd’Quan Thompson In Josh McDaniels’ doomed season of 2010, seventh-round rookie cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson was a preseason surprise who was going to make the Broncos’ season-opening 53-man roster. And then Thompson suffered a torn Achilles in the Broncos’ final preseason game at Minnesota. Thompson played a couple years in the Arena League but never did play a game in the NFL. 5. Run the ball
A game like this, when only desperate, second- and third-stringers are playing, you want to play as conservatively as possible. The Broncos should go heavier on Bibbs’ runs than Lynch throws. . 6. McManus groove Understandably, it took a while for Broncos placekicker Brandon McManus to get used to new holder Riley Dixon after having so much success with Britton Colquitt. But McManus was perfect in three placekicks last week with Dixon holding and since he has to kick tonight, he might as well make them. 7. Stop the run Denver’s second-string defense has been vulnerable to the big run, most notably while allowing a 73-yard run to the Rams’ Terrence Magee last week. 8. Keep the starters well back About 25 Broncos regulars will work out before the game, but not dress for the game. There’s no reason for them to toe up to the field of play where accidental collisions can happen. 9. Play like it’s your last game There will be 22 players removed from the Broncos’ roster with the next 48 hours. Perhaps a handful of those cut player will never play again.
Predicting the Broncos' 2016 season-opening roster By Mike Klis KUSA September 2, 2016 If the end is upon Mark Sanchez, he will exit with remarkable class. At best, Sanchez is in Denver Broncos’ purgatory, stuck somewhere between a possible pay cut offer and employment. At worst, he is little more than insurance for the most meaningless event on an NFL calendar: Preseason game No. 4. Despite his awkward, unpleasant situation, Sanchez met the press Tuesday to answer questions like, ‘What’s it like to lose the starting quarterback job to Trevor Siemian,’ and, ‘What’s it like to carry on when there is speculation of a trade, release or pay cut?’ “If things don’t work out the way that you want, you can’t just act like a crybaby and cause a problem,’’ Sanchez said. “That’s not right. I just don’t think that’s the professional way to do it, so I’ll help Trevor in any way that I can. It’s a good thing he’s a likable guy. It could be a lot worse, so it’s good.” Sanchez is an X factor in my second annual prediction of the Broncos’ 53-man roster. I executed this exercise at this time last year – before preseason game No. 4 – and missed just four. The ones who made it who I had missed: Josh Bush, Curtis Marsh, James Ferentz, and Mitchell Henry. Marsh made it because strong safety T.J. Ward was suspended from the opener so that doesn’t count. Ferentz made it instead of the unnamed offensive tackle I predicted the Broncos would pick up. Ferentz was claimed off waivers from Houston six days after my projection so that doesn’t count. Henry made it as the third tight end instead of Dominique Jones. Henry was claimed off waivers from Green Bay six days after my projection so that doesn’t count. Bush, a backup safety, made it instead of Steve Johnson, a backup linebacker. That one surprised me. That one I missed. I think this year’s 53-man roster may also have a No. 3 tight end who is not currently on the team. And the Broncos may again pick up another offensive lineman. Oh, and maybe another veteran quarterback not named Mark Sanchez. Enough already. Here it is, my projected Broncos’ 53-man roster: OFFENSE (25) Quarterbacks (2): Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch.
I think the seventh-round draft pick ultimately costs Sanchez. The plan for the preseason finale Thursday at Arizona is for Siemian to wear sweats, Lynch to play the entire game and Sanchez to dress and not play for a second consecutive game. The Broncos are currently shopping Sanchez. Even if they trade him, the Broncos would have to surrender a seventh-round draft pick to Philadelphia. But a trade would figure to bring a draft pick back. The Broncos have not yet formally offered Sanchez the option of returning on a pay cut from his current $4.5 million salary. They might if something goes askew with Lynch on Thursday. If Lynch comes out of Arizona fine, and Sanchez isn’t traded, then I think the Broncos openthe season with two quarterbacks. I can see head coach Gary Kubiak wanting Sanchez for his experience. But I can also see general manager John Elway not wanting to give up a draft pick. This is a scenario where a draft pick would likely trump the insurance of a No. 3 quarterback. Offensive line (9): Russell Okung, Max Garcia, Matt Paradis, Darrion Weems, Donald Stephenson, Michael Schofield, James Ferentz, Connor McGovern, Ty Sambrailo. If Ferentz, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery 10 days ago, isn't ready for the opener -- and seven days from the game, he's yet to be cleared for football activity -- Dillon Day could sneak on the 53. Day spent his entire rookie season on the Broncos' practice squad last year. From the group listed, the rookie McGovern was the only one scheduled to play against Arizona. Three of these nine – Weems, Ferentz and Sambrailo -- have injury issues so don’t be surprised if the Broncos pick up a backup blocker who is not currently on the roster. Tailbacks (3): C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Ronnie Hillman. Hillman may have outran the bean counters with his strong performance against the Los Angeles Rams last week. Kapri Bibbs still has a chance to make it if he lights it up against the Cardinals, both as a running back and on special teams. Hillman’s $1.8 million salary will still give the Broncos’ braintrust reason to pause, but the offense needs to run the ball this year and he’s their fastest rusher. Fullback (2): Andy Janovich, Juwan Thompson. I’m not cutting Juwan Thompson. You may cut him. The Broncos may cut him. But I’m keeping him. Thompson is a perfect backup in that he plays hard and never talks. He is a good special team’s player. And he’s the only running back who can play both fullback and tailback. His roster spot may be tied to whether the Broncos keep two, and not three, quarterbacks. It already helps him that safety/special teamer Shiloh Keo is suspended from the first two games. We’ll see.
Receivers (6): Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Jordan Norwood, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Jordan Taylor. Fowler and Latimer may be iffy for the opener so Taylor makes it, although to make sure, “Sunshine” could use a solid game against Arizona. There’s an outside chance Kalif Raymond sneaks on if he breaks a kickoff return against Arizona. Tight ends (3): Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, John Phillips/waiver claim. Phillips is a veteran who was signed late off the street, then went down for two weeks with an ankle injury. The Broncos went through a slew of young tight end prospects last year in hopes of hitting it big. They may try again this year. DEFENSE (25) Outside linebackers (5): Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, Shaq Barrett, Dekoda Watson. Watson started camp working with the third stringers but he won a job through his dominant play in the preseason. He is the only one who might dress as insurance for the game against the Cardinals. The Broncos could do worse than move Eddie Yarbrough and Sadat Sullyman to their practice squad. Inside backers (4): Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Corey Nelson, Zaire Anderson. A sleeper might be Kyle Kragen, who has played well on special teams. Nelson and Anderson will be core special teamers. Cornerbacks (5): Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss Providing Talib avoids league discipline, this is the best group in the NFL. Doss had a terrific preseason and camp. There’s a chance Taurean Nixon makes it as a sixth cornerback if he opens eyes in the game against Arizona. Safeties (4): T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons, Will Parks. Shiloh Keo would make five but he is suspended from the first two games for his DUI incident in February. Simmons and Parks are rookies who will be core special team’s players. Defensive line (7): Derek Wolfe, Sylvester Williams, Jared Crick, Henry Melton, Darius Kilgo, Adam Gotsis, Kyle Peko. Crick and Melton will replace the departed Malik Jackson and injured Vance Walker. Peko would become the first undrafted rookie to make the opening-day roster since Isaiah Burse and Thompson in 2014.
Billy Winn has a chance to make it eight defensive linemen but that’s a lot for a 53-man roster. SPECIALISTS (3) Kicker: Brandon McManus Long snapper: Casey Kreiter Punter: Riley Dixon An extremely young group. McManus is in his third season, Dixon is a rookie, Kreiter is on his first 53-man roster.
Mark Sanchez on future with Broncos: 'I have no idea' By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com September 2, 2016 As Mark Sanchez put the last few things in a bag with the Denver Broncos logo on the side and headed to the bus Thursday night, his future with the team remained a bit of mystery to him. Sanchez did not play in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals. The Broncos must have their roster to 53 players – from the current 75 – by 2 p.m. Mountain time Saturday. Kubiak said Thursday he expected the team to make most of its moves Friday morning. Whether or not Sanchez will be one of those 53 players remains to be seen. “I have no idea,’’ Sanchez said as he left the locker room. “I guess I’ll find out [Friday].’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has named Trevor Siemian his starting quarterback. He started rookie Paxton Lynch Thursday night, and Lynch played the entire game against the Cardinals. That has left Sanchez, with a $4.5 million salary, with the appearance of being the odd man out after he had spent much of the offseason program as well as the early portion of training camp as the player with a slight lead on the starting job. “We’ve got to evaluate the entire situation,’’ Kubiak said. “ ... We’ve got a lot of tough decisions to make.’’ Sanchez is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end under his current contract, which would be nullified if he were released and make him a free agent immediately. There is also the business side, beyond Sanchez’ salary, that the Broncos would not have to surrender a draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles if Sanchez is not on the roster after Saturday. Earlier this week Sanchez said he was determined to handle things in a “professional way,’’ and he promised to help Siemian and Lynch as much as possible. “As a competitor you know you’re disappointed things went the way that they did,’’ Sanchez said after Tuesday’s practice. “But at the same time you understand there’s an emotional side to it, a competitor’s side, but there’s also a teammate. And me, enjoying my time here and really respecting this organization, respecting Trevor as a friend, and as a player, and as a teammate, the most important thing to do is move forward and help this team.’’ Sanchez was 20-of-30 passing for 219 yards and one touchdown, with one interception, in two preseason appearances, including a start in the preseason opener in Chicago. He also lost two fumbles in the closing minutes of the first half of the preseason game against San Francisco, meaning he had three turnovers in 46 snaps on the field.
Paxton Lynch, Jordan Taylor connect in Broncos' preseason finale By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com September 2, 2016 The Denver Broncos wanted to see as much of rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch as they could in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals. While they witnessed some growing pains in the 38-17 loss at University of Phoenix Stadium on Thursday night, they also saw a few of the reasons they traded up in the first round to select Lynch. Now the Broncos must decide if they saw enough to keep Lynch slotted on the depth chart as the No. 2 quarterback. They also need to figure out if they think they need a veteran voice at the position to mentor Trevor Siemian and Lynch and be the just-in-case guy. Lynch got off to a fast start as his first pass attempt went for a 57-yard touchdown. Wide receiver Jordan Taylor spun out of Cardinals cornerback Cariel Brooks' tackle to turn a short pass into the catch-and-run score. Lynch also looked his best on an eight-play, 94-yard touchdown drive to close out the third quarter when he was 5-of-5 for 87 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Taylor. Lynch flashed his athleticism and arm strength on the plays he is most comfortable with -- usually to his right with the receiver running up the hashmarks. Lynch also threw a pick-six in the fourth quarter, was sacked once and fumbled, though he recovered the ball. He also had moments, as expected, when he looked to be a step behind the defense. He likely showed enough to remain the No. 2 behind Siemian, but the Broncos will also think long and hard, once they see which quarterbacks are available in the coming days, about adding a third player at the position. Kubiak has spoken of a preference for three quarterbacks if "you have the right guys." QB depth chart: As expected, and as was Kubiak’s plan, Lynch played the entire game. Siemian was in uniform, but did not have shoulder pads on as one of more than two dozen regulars who got the night off. Mark Sanchez was in uniform and would have gone in the game if Lynch would had to leave the field for any reason. Sanchez, who will be a free agent at season’s end, is not expected to be on the roster when the Broncos go to 53 players by Saturday afternoon’s deadline. Who got hurt? Defensive end Henry Melton, who was signed less than two weeks ago in the wake of Vance Walker's season-ending knee injury, left the game in the second quarterback with a knee injury. Running back Kapri Bibbs limped off the field late in the third quarterback after taking a hit to the side of his knee. Who made the best case to make it? Linebacker Zaire Anderson, who spent the 2015 season on the Broncos’ practice squad, continued to put himself where the action is. He has routinely had some of the biggest hits in the preseason as he added a handful to the list Thursday night to go with a fumble recovery. Anderson will be difficult to turn away, especially given he has been such a productive special teams player when he has played on those units.
Who’s on the bubble? Running back Ronnie Hillman, who was the Broncos’ leading rusher last season, had just three carries for nine yards by end of the third quarter Thursday night and wasn’t even the first running back into the game as Kapri Bibbs got the start. If the Broncos keep just three running backs, in addition to fullback Andy Janovich, both Bibbs and Hillman are not expected to make the roster. And if the Broncos decide to keep four backs, to go with Janovich, Bibbs and Hillman spent Thursday night making their last on-field arguments to claim the spot. Of the two, Bibbs has played more on special teams through training camp and the preseason. One reason to be concerned: The Broncos’ kicking game didn’t close out the preseason on the most solid ground. Kicker Brandon McManus, who missed just five field-goal attempts in all of the 2015 season finished the preseason with three misses, including a 46-yard attempt he pushed right Thursday night against the Cardinals. McManus did make a 33-yarder earlier in the game so is 5-of-8 in the preseason, with all three of his misses coming between 40 and 49 yards. Rookie punter Riley Dixon, who now has the job with Britton Colquitt's release earlier this week, had an 18-yard punt as well. Tough night: Second-year cornerback Lorenzo Doss, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft, had likely one of his most difficult evenings as a pro. Cardinals quarterback Matt Barkley repeatedly went after Doss in coverage as the second-year player, who defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had praised plenty earlier in the preseason, found himself a step behind Cardinals receivers. Make the case: Taylor certainly did what he could to convince the Broncos to keep six wide receivers when they cut the roster to 53. Taylor had four catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns by the end of the third quarter. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer have worked as the top four receivers throughout the preseason and if the Broncos keep Jordan Norwood as their primary returner, that’s five receivers. So, Taylor would likely need the Broncos to go to six to make. They did keep six wide receivers last season at the cut to 53.
Barkley leads Cardinals to win over Lynch, Broncos By Bob Baum Associated Press September 2, 2016 Paxton Lynch was Denver's No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart before Thursday night's game. Now, the question is will he move up to No. 2. "I got a lot of decisions to make," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. Lynch, the Broncos' first-round draft pick, had some good moments and one very bad one while playing the entire game in the Broncos' 38-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the teams' preseason finale. His Arizona counterpart Matt Barkley, trying to hang on to the Cardinals' No. 3 quarterback job, overcame an early turnover to complete 20 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. "We're not going against All-Pros, but we moved the ball and we put points on the board," Barkley said. "That's what our goal was. I think we did a good job of doing it tonight." As the starters for both teams took the night off, Barkley, in his fourth NFL season out of USC, completed 20 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Lynch, the No. 26 pick overall in this year's draft after a standout career at Memphis, was 13 for 22 for 214 yards and two scores, both to Jordan Taylor, but had an interception returned 29 yards for a touchdown by Gabe Martin. "I just think I need to be more consistent day in and day out," Lynch said. "I have gone up and down while I was learning everything. I think as time goes on, I just need to be more consistent." Lynch's night got off to a great start. His first pass went short to Taylor, who slipped a would-be tackle by Cariel Brooks and raced to the end zone on a 57-yard play. The rookie QB played the entire game after Kubiak announced that Trevor Siemian would be the starting quarterback. Mark Sanchez, listed as the No. 2 quarterback, did not play. Taylor, who spent his rookie season in 2015 on the practice squad and was best known as the personal receiver for Peyton Manning in the quarterback's rehab work, caught four passes for 109 yards. Rookie Elijhaa Penny rushed for 113 yards in the Cardinals' lone victory of the preseason. Cracking the deep running back corps in Arizona might be tough, but Penny figures he showed he belongs somewhere in the league. "That is kind of what I prepared myself for this offseason, just games like this, knowing what kind of running back I am," Penny said. "I have put some weight on to carry the load and tire some defenses out. I'm pretty sure, if not the Cardinals, I impressed 31 other teams."
Many, if not most, of those who played won't have a job tomorrow. "It's the saddest time in the NFL," Denver running back C.J. Anderson said. "...Those guys who went out there today, they gave it their all and all they can do is just wait." After spotting Denver to a 10-0 lead, the Cardinals scored the next 23 points, capped by Chandler Catanzaro's 59-yard field goal early in the third quarter. Catanzaro's longest in his first two NFL seasons was 51 yards. POSITION BATTLES Broncos: In the competition for the No. 3 running back job, Kapri Bibbs gained 51 yards in 10 carries. Ronnie Hillman had 9 yards in three attempts. Cardinals: Arizona coach Bruce Arians said linebacker Lamar Louis may have played his way onto the team, especially with his special teams performance. ROOKIE WATCH Broncos: Riley Dixon, who won the punting job from Britton Colquitt, had an 18-yarder late in the first half. That led to a six-play, 45-yard Cardinals touchdown drive, Barkley throwing 14 yards to Jaxson Shipley for the TD with 30 seconds left in the half. Cardinals: Defensive tackle Robert Knemdiche, Arizona's first-round pick (No. 29 overall), spent considerable time in the Denver backfield in his first extensive playing time. He missed most of training camp with a high ankle sprain. INJURY UPDATE Broncos: DE Henry Melton, an eight-year NFL veteran who signed with Denver last week, limped off the field in the first half, but returned in the third quarter. Cardinals: OLB Kareem Martin had to be helped off the field in the third quarter with a knee injury. Arians said he expected Martin to be out two or three weeks with a sprained ligament. OLB Tristan Okpalaugo left in the second quarter with a right knee injury.
ON FOOTBALL: Some big questions remain heading into season By Barry Wilner Associated Press September 2, 2016 Offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games are supposed to supply answers for the 32 NFL teams. Sometimes, they do. More often, the questions remain when the real stuff kicks off. Here are some relatively unsolved dilemmas: ___ STARTING QBS: Every team has one — yes, even the Broncos figured out who will take the snaps Peyton Manning hoarded so well the past few years. And you heard right, it is Trevor Siemian. Not every team can be sure what it has. Such as: Patriots — Now here's a switch. With Tom Brady suspended for four games, the untested Jimmy Garoppolo gets his first (and possibly last) chance. The joke going around is that Jimmy G will go 4-0 and the coaching staff will then tell Tom Terrific he is now a backup. If nothing else, the Patriots will get some of those answers about their backup quarterback. Like, perhaps, is he a future replacement for a retired Brady down the road? Texans — Brock Osweiler had a nice but short stint last season subbing for Manning. He parlayed it into, well, Manning-type money. Now he must show he is worthy of franchise-QB pay. Houston won the AFC South with mediocre play at the position in 2015. So Osweiler doesn't need to be a superstar right away, even though he is getting those big bucks. Browns — It only seems as if Robert Griffin III is the 100th Browns signal caller since Cleveland got back its franchise in 1999. Which RG3 will this be, someone close to the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year sensation? Or the oft-injured and benched RG3 of recent vintage? Colts, Ravens, Eagles — Can Andrew Luck, Joe Flacco, and Sam Bradford make it through 2016 unscathed? ___ RIGHT COACH, WRONG COACH: Several coaches begin the season without a whole lot of security. Nothing that happens in the summer affects that. Everything that happens over the next few months does. Those coaches are:
Rex Ryan — Sure, it's only his second year in charge of the Bills, and he did some nice work previously with the Jets. Still, Buffalo hasn't seen the playoffs since the previous century, and Rex comes with a lot of bravado and even bluster. Anything like last season's 8-8 won't do. Gus Bradley — Not many coaches get a fourth season in charge after going 12-36. To their credit, the Jaguars have been patient and seem to have put together a contender in a mediocre AFC South. Should they flop again this season, Bradley likely will be looking for a defensive coordinator's job. If they succeed — a winning record could be enough, a playoff berth certainly would be — Bradley can begin thinking about seizing control of the division. Jeff Fisher — Unquestionably, Fisher was the right guy to oversee the Rams' move from St. Louis to Los Angeles. He'd been through that drill before with the Oilers/Titans. And he eventually led that franchise to a Super Bowl. That doesn't mean he has a long leash in Hollywood. The Rams have gone 27-36-1 under him and the offense has been particularly stagnant. Still, Fisher is a survivor, and a pretty fine coach. Mike McCoy — The Chargers need a big turnaround before the November elections to entice the public to support a new stadium in San Diego. McCoy led the Chargers to a pair of 9-7 marks before they flopped badly to 4-12. In a very tough division, McCoy needs to solve a weak running game and underwhelming defense. ___ SACKMASTERS: In the pass-happy NFL, the most important defensive player has become the guy who can get to the quarterback. It certainly is critical to have strong coverage players, but the most effective way to prevent a Brady or Rodgers or Brees from tearing apart a defense is by not giving him time to set up and throw. Every team is searching for them. Some have found them recently: Khalil Mack in Oakland, Aaron Donald in Los Angeles, Ziggy Ansah in Detroit. So can they remain consistent threats to the passer? And who else might emerge, carrying their teams into contention? Some names to consider: Leonard Williams of the Jets, Mario Addison of the Panthers and Jacquies Smith of the Buccaneers.
Paxton Lynch inconsistent, special teams struggle in loss By Troy Renck KMGH September 2, 2016 Fake games provide real impressions.Everyone wants young players to get more reps, intrigued, if not hypnotized by potential. The benefit of the unknown remains powerful. As the mystery fades, the reality can be sobering. The Broncos young players need work. It doesn't mean they can’t and won’t help at some point – evidenced by every draft pick expected to make the final 53-man roster on Saturday. But in the desert where Cacti reside within eyeshot, NFL kids provided a reminder they aren’t Chia Pets. Apply water. Watch them grow. Their development is not predictable, not linear. Denver’s final preseason game -- a 38-17 loss to Arizona -- provided a microcosm of the life of a prospect. Lynch looked, well, like a kid. He pushed the Broncos ahead with a 57-yard touchdown on his first pass – Jordan Taylor shed a tackle and ran to daylight – then stammered through nearly two quarters. Then late in the third, he illuminated skeptics. He ran outside for yards, drilled lasers over the middle, and kept throwing to that man again, Taylor. Then, as if to even out his assessment, Lynch threw a 29-yard pick six to linebacker Gabe Martin. "They changed the coverage on him. He has to make a better decision with the ball. He continues to make great plays because of his ability, but it continues to be about consistency," said coach Gary Kubiak, who anticipates cutting the roster by 53 players by Friday, rather than wait for Saturday's 2 p.m. deadline. "The strides he's made have been very good." Taylor eclipsed 100 yards before the fourth quarter, all but securing his roster spot with two touchdowns. "Hopefully I did enough," Talyor said. "I am so much more comfortable now with the scheme." Few other conclusions were as easy to draw. Lynch (13 of 22 for 214 yards) raised hope and doubt that he’s ready to be one snap away in the opener as Trevor Siemian’s backup. Neither player has thrown an NFL pass. "I am just going to keep doing my job. I am going to ready for whatever they need me to do," Lynch said. Yet, this seems the most predictable route given the complications of keeping Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has made it clear to Broncos management he wants to stay. He reiterated that after Thursday's game. He has been open to a paycut, even as the team weighs cutting him to save $3.5 million and a seventh-round draft pick. The Broncos have reached out to multiple teams, finding no takers yet. Even if Sanchez returns to the Broncos after week one at a reduced rate, Denver would have to send the Eagles a draft pick. Sanchez should have resolution as soon as Friday. "We are going to find out soon," Sanchez said.
Lynch made a case he could take snaps in more than “In case of emergency, break glass situation.” Through three quarters, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 205 yards. Kubiak keeps a keen eye on how players respond to adversity. Lynch stood in the pocket, absorbing multiple big hits without changing his mechanics or resolve. He stood out on a night when Kapri Bibbs made a strong push to make the final roster. Bibbs delivered a team-best 51 yards on 10 carries, but didn’t return after bruising his right thigh. "I gave them a lot to think about it," said Bibbs, noting his improvement on special teams. Though he only had three carries, Ronnie Hillman could still join him on the team given his change-of-pace speed. He boasted confidence after Thursday's game like a player who was on the team. If Lynch’s play brought optimism, several other elements raised questions. Let’s start with the special teams. Perhaps no player was under more pressure Thursday than rookie Riley Dixon. The Broncos cut Britton Colquitt – he shared an emotional goodbye with teammates last week at the facility – over his salary. Colquitt said he would take $1 million less. The Broncos wanted a $1.6-million shave. They chose Dixon and his $530,000 salary, and he didn’t respond. He uncorked an 18-yard punt in the second quarter and averaged 37.4 yards on five punts. Kubiak said Dixon needs to be "better," but indicated he changed his technique at the behest of the coaches and that it didn't work. Brandon McManus, who has had an erratic preseason, missed another field goal. He finished 5-for-8 in the preseason after going 30-for-35 a year ago. "He has been good the last few weeks," Kubiak said. Dixon holds appeared fine on McManus’ two attempts Thursday. For a team that will attempt to win ugly early in the season, McManus’ accuracy prompts concerns. So, too, does the Broncos offensive line depth. It’s lacking. Darrion Weems (concussion) is expected to start the season opener at right guard, Ty Sambrailo (right elbow) is making progress. The Broncos are vulnerable at guard and thin at tackle behind starters Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson. Defensively, this game offered a series of disappointments. Beyond strong play from defensive lineman Darius Kilgo and linebacker Zaire Anderson, there was little to like. Cornerback Lorenzo Doss, so strong in training camp, looked lost in coverage. Rookie defensive lineman Adam Gotsis spent the night getting mauled at the point of attack. And Henry Melton hurt his knee, though it wasn’t serious. The Broncos face tough choices for their final three-to-four spots. Injuries to receivers Bennie Fowler (elbow) and Cody Latimer (knee) and tight end Jeff Heuerman (hamstring) – all worked out in pregame – could clear a path for Taurean Nixon and Juwan Thompson to make it on special teams. Latimer and Heuerman said they could have played on Thursday, and Fowler remains optimistic he will be ready for the season opener. The rehearsals are done. The roster will shrink to a more manageable size on Friday. Some dreams will be crushed. But only one matters: chasing another championship, a road that begins next Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.
Troy Renck: Take 5 of things to watch in preseason finale By Troy Renck KMGH September 2, 2016 I have covered plenty of games in Arizona where veterans were feigning interest and eyeing a flight rather than a fight. It was called the last week of Spring Training. On Thursday, the Broncos face the Arizona Cardinals in their preseason finale at the spaceship known as the University of Phoenix Stadium. This game means little to starters, who won't play. They went through a rigorous pregame workout with Von Miller (throwing passes and catching touchdowns) and Chris Harris among those who wrung out calories three hours before kickoff. This night is about rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch. And those 2-to-3 roster spots hanging in the balance. My quick Take Five of thoughts: 1) Is the kid ready? Lynch played in a Wing-T offense in high school. He starred in a spread offense in college with the Waffle House menu of plays. He has spent the last four months getting up to speed in a pro-style attack. Can he show he's ready to be the backup? He needs to call the plays quickly, get the team out of the huddle, and avoid the sacks (he's been taken down six times). Consider tonight a baptism by blowtorch. 2) What happens with Mark Sanchez? What gives? Will he get cut, take a pay cut, get traded? Waived and re-sign after Week 1? A lot of things remain in play. He's not expected to take a snap tonight. His $4.5 million salary and draft pick compensation complicate his situation. He wants to stay, and could have resolution as soon as Friday, according to an NFL source. Even if Sanchez is cut and rejoins the team after Week 1 at a lower salary, the Broncos would still be required to send the Eagles a draft pick. Again, odds are working against Sanchez, who could be replaced by the likes of T.J. Yates or Christian Ponder. 3) Where does the RB stable stand? I'll say it again: Ronnie Hillman should make the team. He was on my projected 53-man roster. I believe he and Kapri Bibbs could stick, leaving Juwan Thompson on the bubble. But injuries make this hard to predict. The team might keep Thompson simply for special teams because of the ailments plaguing Bennie Fowler (elbow) and Cody Latimer (left knee, he worked out before Thursday's game). Both those guys are special teams aces. Bibbs also has practice squad eligibility. That must be taken into consideration. 4) Do they keep an extra outside linebacker?
Dekoda Watson made the team last week as far as I am concerned. But what about blossoming prospect Vontarrius Dora? Could he sneak a spot because he won't clear waivers for the practice squad? I will be keeping an eye on him tonight along with several scouts. 5) How will Riley Dixon respond to his starting role? Want an amazing stat? The Broncos entire draft class is in line to make the team. That's a feat for a defending champion team drafting late. Dixon and rookie Andy Janovich figure to start. Dixon's path cleared with the release of Britton Colquitt, who agreed to take $1 million less, short of the $1.6 million shave the club was seeking. I have no doubt Dixon will punt fine. He needs to hold well for Brandon McManus. For a team that figures to win ugly early, the Broncos can't afford any missed kicks because of bad spots.
Upset Von Miller called John Elway about Broncos negotiating tactics By Terry Terrones Colorado Springs Gazette September 2, 2016 Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller thinks his team denied him the respect he deserved when they leaked a contract offer he refused to sign. He was so upset that the team used such tactics, that he put a call in to Broncos general manager John Elway, to speak about his feelings man to man. Armen Keteyian and "60 Minutes Sports" cameras were following Miller during contract negotiations, which finally ended in Miller becoming the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Miller says he shouldn’t have been treated the way he was by the Broncos. “The leakage of the contract and some of the other stuff that they were doing…it really just didn’t have to happen, especially with a guy like me,” he tells Keteyian. “I’m not even talking about the kind of player, but the type of person I am.” The two sides eventually ended their dispute amicably, agreeing to a contract of $114.5 million for six years with $70 million guaranteed. Elway tells Keteyian, “We were happy to be able to get the deal done…to pay him that kind of money. Because he’s got that ability.” The profile of Miller will appear on the next edition of the program on Tuesday, Sept. 6 on Showtime. You can see a preview of the interview below.
Von Miller called Elway when negotiations stalled to 'take the business out of it' By Jared Dubin CBSSports.com September 2, 2016 Von Miller's contract stalemate with the Denver Broncos lasted 136 days. The Broncos franchise tagged him on March 1, then went right down to the wire in his negotiations on a long-term deal, signing him to a six-year, $114.5 million contract on the July 15 deadline. The talks had a whole lot of ups and downs, with both sides calling each other out in public and (presumably) in private. How did this get done in the end? According to Miller, he placed a phone call to Broncos GM John Elway to help clear the air and get things started. "I called Mr. Elway. I wanted to put it back on a human standpoint. I wanted to take the business out of it," Miller said during an interview with "60 Minutes Sports." "I felt like the leakage of the contract and some of the other stuff that we were doing -- that they were doing in the contract negotiation, it really just didn't have to happen, especially with a guy like me. I'm not even talking about the type of player I am, but the type of person I am. So I felt like some of the stuff that was done, it just didn't have to be done. But they have their own tactics and we just won a Super Bowl so I guess this stuff works." There's obviously going to be more to that conversation on "60 Minutes," but Miller, even with his long-term deal, doesn't necessarily seem thrilled with the way negotiations played out. The Broncos probably care more about the fact that he's locked up long-term than that he's not necessarily wild about the process it took to get him there, though.
Kap kneels for anthem before start, Brady plays a half: 8 preseason takeaways By Jared Dubin & Sean Wagner-McGough CBSSports.com September 2, 2016 Preseason usually goes the same way for pretty much every NFL team. The starters play somewhere between a series and a quarter during the first two preseason games, then play into the second half in the third game before sitting out the fourth game entirely. There are some exceptions, of course, but that's a pretty rough sketch for how things usually go. This year was anything but usual for the New England Patriots. Tom Brady is, of course, suspended for the first four games of the regular season, so he did not follow the typical starters' schedule. In the Pats' fourth preseason game on Thursday night, Brady wound up playing the entire first half. Even as it was happening, people were ... perplexed. Dave Dameshek ✔ @Dameshek It's madness for Brady to be out there. If any other coach took a risk like that he'd be eviscerated. 6:20 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Mike Reiss ✔ @MikeReiss Tom Brady is on the field for a 6th series behind an o-line of Fleming-Barker-Kline-Karras-Waddle. 6:22 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Mike Reiss ✔ @MikeReiss Tom Brady is up to 38 offensive snaps played (including 2-point conversion), as 6th drive ends with 1:11 remaining in second quarter. 6:31 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Mike Reiss ✔ @MikeReiss Tom Brady plays entire first half, 39 offensive snaps, and is 16 of 26 for 166 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. 6:37 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Brady's No. 1 wideout, Julian Edelman, was out there, too. They connected on 3 of 5 pass attempts for 28 yards, which was nice, but still weird. They weren't the only notable players sticking around in their team's preseason finales far later than expected: Clarence Hill ✔ @clarencehilljr Also interesting that free agent signee Cedric Thornton is also playing tonight. Clearly he has not made the impact the Cowboys had hoped 6:25 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Clarence Hill ✔ @clarencehilljr
Cedric Thornton is making $6 million this year. Terrell McClain is making $1 million. The Cowboys had hopes of Thornton being a starter 6:35 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Marc Sessler ✔ @MarcSesslerNFL Why is Josh Gordon still in the game for the Browns? Get him out of there ASAP please, decision-makers. 7:09 PM - 1 Sep 2016 And those are just a handful of guys that beat writers tweeted about. Needless to say, things got a bit weird on Thursday night. Here are eight more takeaways from around the league on the final day of the preseason. 1. Kap kneels for anthem, solid for 49ers The night belonged to Colin Kaepernick, who entered the 49ers' preseason game in San Diego under a microscope. Most tuned in to see what Kaepernick would do during the national anthem, so let's start with that. As expected, Kaepernick didn't stand. He didn't, however, sit. Instead, he kneeled to protest racial inequality. And he was joined by 49ers safety Eric Reid. In Oakland, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane remained seated. Kaepernick's decision to kneel was met with approval from Green Beret Nate Boyer, who met with Kaepernick before the game for a "good talk." Boyer, who had previously written an open letter to Kaepernick and after the anthem on Thursday, texted The Mercury News' Cam Inman that Kaepernick "took a big step by getting up off the bench and taking a knee. He gave a little so I gave a little respect." As for the actual game itself, Kaepernick started for the 49ers and submitted a solid performance. In all, he completed 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards and added 38 yards with his legs before stepping aside after halftime. Though Kaepernick didn't score a touchdown, he led the 49ers on a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive, which included this third-down dart that placed the ball at the 1-yard line. On that drive, he went 6 of 8 for 58 yards and rushed for 30 yards. Kaepernick probably didn't do enough to wrestle away the starting job from Blaine Gabbert, but he showed composure in a hostile environment. The 49ers could use him on the roster when the season starts, because Gabbert might not last long as the starter. 2. The shape of things to come for Titans? Derrick Henry does not look like a typical running back. The Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 247 pounds. In post-merger NFL history (i.e. since 1970), only three players that checked in 6-3/240 or larger have recorded at least 100 career carries: Brandon Jacobs, Barty Smith, and Marcel Reece. If Henry's play this preseason is any indication, we'll be adding a fourth name to that list in short order.
Chris Wesseling ✔ @ChrisWesseling Derrick Henry’s preseason: 34 rushes for 216 yards (6.35 YPC) and 3 TDs. It’s going to be hard to keep him off the field. 6:27 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has gotten a ton of attention for his huge preseason, but Henry has basically given an equivalent performance at his position, with less fanfare. He's not just using his size to run defenders over, either. He's got some wiggle in his game: The Titans are committed to their exotic smashmouth offense, and it's possible (likely?) DeMarco Murray will still be the lead ball-carrier, but Henry has surely earned himself a sizable role with his play. 3. The Giants' King for a day Back in 2010, an undrafted wide receiver that signed with the New York Giants started off the preseason with a bang, catching six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Victor Cruz eventually became one of the NFL's best receivers, and on Thursday he made his return to game action after more than a year and a half away. While he didn't catch any passes, one of his teammates had a breakout performance. Tavarres King, who has bounced around the NFL over the last few years, notched four catches (on five targets) for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots, giving him all three of the Giants' air scores during the preseason. At least one Giants beat reporter thinks Big Blue needs to reward him with a roster spot: Ralph Vacchiano ✔ @RVacchianoSNY 59-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Nassib to Tavarres King, who has been the Giants best WR this preseason. He has to make the team. Odell Beckham is one of the NFL's best weapons, Sterling Shepard is going to be a big part of the New York offense, and Cruz should have a role if he can stay healthy, but maybe King has worked his way into some snaps. 4. Things did not go great for the Rams' top pick Jared Goff was the No. 1 pick in the draft, and the Rams will presumably give him plenty of time to develop. But he's not going to begin the season as the starter (the first No. 1 overall pick quarterback since JaMarcus Russell for whom that's true) and the preseason did not exactly inspire confidence. Goff went 16 of 33 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception through the Rams' first three preseason contests, then stunk it up something good in their warmup season finale. Tom Pelissero ✔ @TomPelissero Goff has looked increasingly skittish behind #Rams' 2nd-/3rd-string OL. Just dropped a shotgun snap on third down, lost fumble near own GL. 7:31 PM - 1 Sep 2016 Tom Pelissero ✔ @TomPelissero
Goff has looked increasingly skittish behind #Rams' 2nd-/3rd-string OL. Just dropped a shotgun snap on third down, lost fumble near own GL. Tom Pelissero ✔ @TomPelissero Next series, Goff throws has another screen pass tipped, then intercepted on a helluva diving grab by 325-pound DT Toby Johnson. Chris Wesseling ✔ @ChrisWesseling Jared Goff’s last 5 third-down plays: Overthrow Overthrow Overthrow Bails out on the throw Muffs shotgun snap inside his 10-yard line By the time the game hit halftime, Goff was 6 of 16 for 67 yards (a truly ugly 4.2 per attempt), a touchdown (on a pretty nice throw, admittedly) and an interception. The Rams don't have the best weapons to begin with, and this game was played without both Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin, but it would have been nice if Goff showed some signs of life against the Vikings' backups. According to Jeff Fisher, if the season started today, Goff wouldn't be the team's backup. He'd be a third-stringer, behind Case Keenum and Sean Mannion. That's awful. 5. Hackenberg looks like Hackenberg for Jets Like Goff, Christian Hackenberg did not enjoy his Thursday night. This is not a typo: Hackenberg threw 31 passes for 54 total yards. To repeat, the Jets let Hackenberg throw the football on 31 different occasions. They were rewarded with 54 passing yards and a pick-six. Let's check in on Twitter: Dan Hanzus ✔ @DanHanzus Christian Hackenberg is a project. Like a 12-to-14 year project. Reuben Frank ✔ @RoobCSN Pretty good battle going on between Hackenberg's attempts and Hackenberg's yards. Yards leading 33-23. Jimmy Kempski @JimmyKempski Hackenberg's spike was his best throw of the night. Hackenberg, a second-round pick, was never expected to play this season, so he at least has some time to develop into a quarterback that doesn't average 1.7 yards per attempt.
6. Paxton Lynch impresses for Broncos Finally, a rookie quarterback who doesn't suck. Paxton Lynch didn't win the starting job in Denver, but he looks competent enough to be the backup behind Trevor Siemian until he's ready to replace him. Against the Cardinals, Lynch completed 13 of his 22 passes for 214 yards (9.7 YPA), two touchdowns, and one ugly interception. His passer rating? 103.2. This touchdown, off play-action, definitely made Gary Kubiak smile. NFL ✔ @NFL Paxton Lynch. Jordan Taylor. In the end zone... Again! #DENvsAZ And this bullet definitely made Peyton Manning jealous. Paxton Lynch: A developmental, rookie quarterback we can believe in. 7. More reps and confidence for Bears' White Bears 2015 first-round pick Kevin White missed all of last year with a shin injury, so he's essentially entering his rookie year. Despite his inexperience, he's expected to function as one of Jay Cutler's primary targets alongside Alshon Jeffery. But through three preseason games, White looked nothing like a key contributor, catching three passes for 12 yards. White started for the Bears in their final preseason game against the Browns and finally showed some flashes. Catching passes from backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, White pieced together the best outing of his career, bringing in all four of his targets for 57 yards. The Bears lost Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett this offseason, so they'll need White to carry Thursday night's success over to the regular season. 8. Seahawks' Rawls shakes off the rust Before Thomas Rawls' season ended last December with a broken ankle, he was enjoying an incredibly successful rookie year with his 5.6 yards per carry. With Marshawn Lynch retired, Rawls will be expected to spearhead the Seahawks' running game. So, consider it good news then that Rawls returned to the field Thursday night, carrying the ball twice for seven yards. Ignore the stat line, what's important is that Rawls was able to experience live game-action before the regular season begins. According to Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, there's "no question" Rawls will be ready Week 1.
And Here Come the Cuts By Albert Breer MMQB September 2, 2016 I don’t need to tell you that Tuesday presented an absolute worst-case scenario for any NFL team. And the Vikings don’t need to hear it either. They know. But no one’s canceling the season because Teddy Bridgewater got hurt, so the obvious question in Minnesota becomes, “What’s next?” Les Snead had to answer that one two years ago in St. Louis, when Sam Bradford tore his ACL in the Rams’ third preseason game. As is the case in Minnesota now, the Rams GM was just days away from the final cutdown. Snead was, as the Vikings are today, looking at Shaun Hill as his starting quarterback. And Snead was operating with knowledge that his options were limited otherwise. “A high percentage of your roster is set at that point, and you’re getting ready to play [the fourth preseason] game, and a few spots are on the line,” Snead said Wednesday. “And it adds energy to all that. Who’s the starting QB? Who’s the backup? Do we need to add another QB, or a practice-squad type, or someone with experience? All that energy goes into that.” This week, we’ll address where Colin Kaepernick is as a player, whether Dak Prescott’s preseason success is sustainable, why Roberto Aguayo is having kicking issues and why Brandon Marshall is a big Josh Norman fan. And we’ll also get going with our weekly staple of giving you two college players to watch this weekend (from archrivals Notre Dame and USC). But we’re starting with the news of the week, and how it relates to one of the most hectic weeks on any general manager’s calendar. That’s why I turned to Snead and the Rams. Their situation in 2014, in timing and investment in the starter—Bradford and Bridgewater are first-rounders—and even the backup, is as similar to Minnesota’s as it could be. Snead says he looks back at that 6-10 season fondly, calling it, “one of the more rewarding seasons I’ve ever been a part of. Guys came together and competed, and by the end they thought they could beat anyone. … The bottom line is they recognized that they’re not calling off the season, they’re still keeping score, and there will be no asterisk.” It was that rewarding, of course, mostly because the most Herculean of football challenges was dropped on the doorstep right before the opener against, yes, the Vikings. (And as luck would have it, the Rams are also playing the Vikings tonight in a final preseason tuneup). As Snead explains it, the first thing the Rams had to do was discuss how many quarterbacks they’d keep on cutdown day. They had Hill, Austin Davis and rookie Garrett Gilbert on the roster, and were fairly confident they could get Gilbert through waivers to the practice squad. The plan was to add a third quarterback to the 53-man roster. And the team made a call at that point to veer away from acquiring a “duplicate” of Hill, preferring to find a 20-something with upside over another 30-something who may be reliable but wasn’t going to
grow into much more. They started by working the trade market. Snead declined to name (or confirm) names, but I was told they made an effort to deal for Kirk Cousins and discussed Jimmy Garoppolo seriously. The price tag was too high, so it was on to the waiver wire to find a young triggerman with starting experience. There aren’t many of those, of course, and one such player they sunk time into studying was Case Keenum. Texans coach Bill O’Brien waived him in the days to follow, the Rams put in a claim, and got him. Two years later Keenum is likely to start Game 1 of the franchise’s rebirth in Los Angeles. “The nice thing with Case, you could sit down and watch him start football games from the previous season—not preseason—and see what he did well, what he didn’t do well,” Snead said. “That experience he had, we could use it.” So within a week of learning Bradford’s injury was season ending, the Rams decided to keep Hill and Davis, waived Gilbert, signed him to the practice squad, and claimed Keenum. Hill started eight games that year. Davis started eight games. Keenum was released that October and then brought back to St. Louis the next year. Something similar could happen over the next few days in Minnesota, or maybe the Vikings pull the Garoppolo/Cousins-like deal that the Rams didn’t. Regardless, the challenge in front of Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman is clear. Of course, that kind of circumstance is rare. But every team has a serious dilemma or two that it’s dealing with over the next few days. After talking to a bunch of personnel guys monitoring other clubs’ rosters, here are 10 situations that you should keep an eye on: 1. Will the Jets keep four quarterbacks? I’m gonna say yes. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starter, and Bryce Petty has shown enough progress to warrant more development, but isn’t ready to play. That means keeping Geno Smith is necessary. Christian Hackenberg needs time to work on his mechanics, but he made the team on draft day. 2. What do the Niners do at QB? I’ll assume Blaine Gabbert will be the starter. Beyond that, this is anyone’s guess. Sixth-round pick Jeff Driskel has shown promise, but would San Francisco really be OK with him as the primary backup? That means Colin Kaepernick is the logical No. 2 over Christian Ponder, but in a roundabout way (read below), making Ponder the backup is less risky. 3. Who makes the cut at RB for the Cowboys? Ezekiel Elliott is the workhorse. Alfred Morris’ strong preseason only backs up what Dallas’ coaches have seen all summer. That’s two tailbacks who’ll likely bring nothing on special teams. Can the Cowboys afford to keep a third? Or could Darren McFadden buy them some help on defense? 4. What’s Jon Robinson up to? The new Titans GM already jettisoned a young, high draft pick he inherited (Dorial Green-Beckham), so there’s the idea out there that few are safe in Nashville. The team’s newfound depth at tailback (DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry) makes 2014 second-rounder Bishop Sankey a candidate to be next.
5. Landing spots for veteran quarterbacks? Obviously the Vikings are one, but they aren’t alone. The Patriots have given off every signal that they’re ready to go with Jacoby Brissett as their primary backup for the first four weeks, but will tonight’s game color whether they go through with that plan? Is Dallas alright having Jameil Showers as the guy if Dak Prescott goes down? 6. Could the Ravens swap their depth to fill a hole? Baltimore’s roster is in a bit of transition, but they have a wealth of promising young interior defensive linemen that other teams have been evaluating. If you have, say, a tight end to spare, the Ravens (since Ben Watson is out for the year) could be in the mood to deal. 7. Will the Lions deal off their newfound depth? Detroit GM Bob Quinn comes from the pro scouting side, so this weekend is a particular area of expertise for him, and he’s been able to assemble depth where Detroit hasn’t had it before. In particular, at defensive tackle and safety, the Lions are in a position where they’ll have to cut experienced players. It’s a good bet they try to trade them first. 8. Who is odd man out in Green Bay? The Packers’ receiver group didn’t look great last year without Jordy Nelson, but it did have depth, and that means other clubs are now looking at who the Packers decide is expendable Nelson healthy again. The emergence of rookie Geronimo Allison complicates things, and opens the possibility that Jeff Janis or Jared Abbrederis could wind up available. 9. Will the Broncos keep Mark Sanchez? The likelihood is $4.5 million is too rich for Denver’s blood, and Sanchez has said he’s wanted to stay, but his disappointing summer could mean he winds up looking for a fourth employer in as many years. And if he’s on the street, that could affect the trade market for quarterbacks. 10. Is Nick Foles available? A month ago Foles didn’t look so attractive. Now? Given the normal spate of injuries and bad preseason performances, and Foles’ $1.25 million base salary ($2.375 million less than Josh McCown), he could be an interesting fit for someone. The Chiefs have Tyler Bray (whom they’ve spent four years developing) and Kevin Hogan on the roster. Would they consider flipping Foles for a pick? * * * FOUR DOWNS • What’s next for Colin Kaepernick? We already addressed the roster conundrum here, and the political issue has been out there for everyone to dissect and digest, and run into the ground over the past five days. As for Kaepernick the player, perhaps the biggest indictment I’ve heard of his work over the eight months that Chip Kelly has been there came earlier this week from a rival pro scouting director. Kelly’s offense is, of course, predicated on pace. So when this particular evaluator was breaking down the Niners’ preseason tape, something obvious stuck out—how Blaine Gabbert and rookie Jeff Driskel were running the offense at one speed, and Kaepernick was running it at another. “When Kap was in the game, it slowed down—significantly,” said the director. “I mean, it slowed down by 10 seconds [per play]. And that indicates he’s not comfortable getting them to the line, operating the offense the way they want him to do it. And it indicates the time he missed is costing him.” To me, the fact that Gabbert is moving the offense faster than Kaepernick isn’t all that surprising, given that Gabbert got a ton of work in the spring and Kaepernick got none. But that Driskel is running it faster, to me at least, seems to be a pretty serious reason for concern regarding where Kaepernick is and how capable he’d be to jump
in there if Gabbert were to go down. And that’s why I’d tell you, at this point, I think the Niners should just cut him. They’re paying him $11.9 million over the next four months no matter what. And if he were to get hurt to the point where he couldn’t pass a physical next April 1, the Niners would be on the hook for another $14.5 million (his 2017 base). So if they keep him on the roster but decide that they’re moving on for good after this year, the logical call would be to do what the Redskins did with Robert Griffin III last year and just deactivate him on a weekly basis, to prevent that injury guarantee from triggering. To me, no one really benefits from that—you can ask the Skins and RG3, if you want confirmation. Look, no one wants to shell out eight figures for a guy who’s not on the team. But the reality is that it’s the conclusion that makes most sense now. • Is Dak’s preseason flash sustainable? Dak Prescott has proven about as much as a rookie quarterback can through three preseason weeks, having completed 39 of his 50 throws for 454 yards, five touchdowns, zero picks and a 137.8 rating. So this week, I went to the teams that played against him, and those who scouted him in college, to see how much we can actually take from it. The Rams were Dallas’s first preseason opponent, and one of their staffers said of Prescott’s work thus far, “I think you have to respect it, and especially after being thrown in unexpectedly and playing well against Seattle’s ones. … Against us he looked calm and poised. Didn’t look too big for him, and they did a good job managing him. Started him with some high percentage throws to build his confidence, and the hidden part is Dallas can work in some designed QB runs for him.” A Dolphins coach added this after facing Prescott on Aug. 19: “He’s more accurate than I thought he would be; strong arm and a good athlete, good poise for a young guy. They’re so good up front, and should be able to run the ball behind Zeke [Elliott] and [Alfred] Morris. Those backs are good, so they can take pressure off him.” But when I asked this particular coach how much of it would translate in September, his answer was “very little. Everyone is vanilla right now.” And that brings us to those who evaluated Prescott in college. “He has every intangible you’d want for a QB, but average arm talent,” said one area scout assigned to Mississippi State. “He isn’t as good as his preseason performances. Teams haven’t schemed for him yet. When they do, you’ll see his accuracy get exposed. [The Cowboys] will need to focus on quick, short, underneath throws, that’ll mask some of the downfield accuracy issues. … They’ll run the s--- out of the ball.” The scout said he expects a mix of “exotic blitzes and pressures” to be thrown at Prescott, but did allow that over the short term, say a six- or eight-game stretch, Dallas can do enough to help him grow without exposing him. “He’s not a bad decision-maker,” the scout said, “and he’s a relentless worker and competitor.” Considering all this, it’d be silly to put the cart before the horse and assume that Dallas has Prescott as its heir apparent based on 50 preseason throws—but it is reasonable to project a scenario where the Cowboys can keep themselves in contention while Romo heals. That is more than they were able to do in 2015. • Back to the future in Philly. When Jeffrey Lurie gave his football operation a facelift for the third time in four years—after more than a decade of stability—the prevailing thought was the Eagles owner was trying to recreate the relative harmony he had in the building for most of Andy Reid’s 14 years in charge. So I asked coach Doug Pederson last week if it feels the same now as it did then (he was there as a player in 1999 and an assistant coach from 2009 to 2012), and his first reaction was to say it’s different. Then, after talking his way through it, he conceded to me that there are plenty of traces of the old blueprint in South Philly. “I had this exact same schedule in Green Bay with Mike Holmgren, went to two Super Bowls,” Pederson said of the Eagles’ new/old setup. “Andy brings it here, 14 years, many NFC Championship Games, Super Bowl run. We did it in Kansas City, playoffs two out of three years. So it works, and the players bought into that. … There are always going to be comparisons because Andy was here for 14 years—I mean, 14 years! Look at these walls, it’s all Andy Reid teams, I’ve got to find space
for Doug Pederson teams, and build my legacy. And I think until that time comes, there’s always going to be the comparison. I don’t mind being compared to Andy Reid. Bottom line, he’s had a lot of success in this league, still does.” We don’t have any actual win/loss results yet, but the setup between EVP of football operations Howie Roseman, VP of player personnel Joe Douglas and Pederson has been structurally sound to this point, and there is a tangible difference in the office. Reid used a spacious area connected to his own office as a conference room/gathering place for staffers to promote communication. Under Chip Kelly, that area was converted into an office for offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Pederson switched it back. “I think the organization is in a great spot right now,” Pederson said. • Bucs rookie kicking his problem. Kickers usually aren’t taken 59 picks into the draft, and that’s why Bucs rookie Roberto Aguayo’s shank-happy August drew headlines. He missed two of his first five preseason field-goal attempts, then followed that up with a rough week of practice. That set the stage for a strange circumstance last Friday, where the spotlight for a game night was squarely on a rookie specialist. Aguayo passed the test, hitting field goals from 48 yards, 21 and 27, which didn’t surprise those who’ve worked with him for a very specific reason. “Pressure is no issue for Roberto, no issue at all,” said Trevor Moawad, who leads the Moawad Consulting Group and serves as a mental conditioning coach at Florida State, Alabama, Georgia and UCLA. “If he misses, it’s a technical issue, not a psychological issue.” Moawad worked with Aguayo for four years in Tallahassee, and he has examples of pressure kicks—he cited a 41-yarder in the third quarter of the 2013 national title game that drew the Seminoles to within a score in a comeback win; and a fourth-quarter 53-yarder against Miami the following October that set the stage for a come-from-behind victory. But to Moawad, the results simply confirm what’s apparent in the kid—a unique mentality for a player at his position, which helped him follow Graham Gano and Dustin Hopkins at FSU. “It’s very rare that you can talk to a kicker like a normal person during a game, and that you can work with them in games to identify issues and then plan for your next one,” Moawad explained. “If we missed something early in a game, he’d come off and go to his coaches and myself and the punter, and we would go through it, and fix it, and it wouldn’t be a problem anymore.” So yes, Moawad is confident that Aguayo will get this corrected. The two have talked a couple times over the past few weeks, but those conversations have centered on Aguayo’s little brother, Ricky, an FSU freshman who just won the job of replacing his sibling. And a few years ago, Moawad connected Aguayo with Martin Gramatica, to help him handle the pressure of being a Groza Award winner, which gave the kicker another resource for situations like this. But if what Moawad has seen is an indicator, Aguayo may not need a whole lot of help. * * * THREE CHECKDOWNS • What was the compromise for Joey Bosa in San Diego? The Chargers got the offset language and the 85/15 payout structure they wanted. Bosa got roster-bonus language that protects his money if he’s put on the active/non-football injury list, a circumstance that cost Dion Jordan cash last year. I could take you through all of that, but rather I’ll just let that reinforce the fact this whole thing was absurd. As is the idea that missing camp will kill Bosa’s rookie year. The last two offensive rookies of the year (Odell Beckham, Todd Gurley) didn’t practice much during their respective first camps, and they did OK. • The one-year extension that the Patriots did for special-teamer Matthew Slater is an example of the little things they do that reverberate organizationally. It’ll only cost them $1.8 million to keep him for another year. But doing it sends the message that: A) people who did things right get rewarded even
when the team doesn’t have to do anything; and B) special teams matter. Remember, this is a team that spent a fifth-rounder on Slater and a sixth on Nate Ebner, two players who had no clear NFL projection coming out of college outside of being able to cover kicks, and both are on second contracts now. Bill Belichick often recalls his time as Giants special teams coach (1979-84) fondly. And his actions back up his words there. • With Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and James Harrison cleared of wrongdoing (and Mike Neal waiting), the NFL got what it wanted out of its Al Jazeera/PED investigation, and that’s cooperation. It puts teeth in the league’s investigatory wing (commissioned after the Ray Rice disaster), which lacks subpoena power, and serves as a great precedent for those at 345 Park. Meanwhile, it’s another blow for the union, which sees the commissioner’s Article 46 power bleeding over into the drug policy (you can read my Aug. 18 column for more on that) and the net widening as far as cases the league can summon players for. Again, these are guys who have the clout to actually fight. That they didn’t should make any complaining about Goodell’s power going forward ring a little hollow. * * * TWO COLLEGE PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND 1. Notre Dame LT Mike McGlinchey (at Texas, Sunday, 7:30 p.m., ABC). Irish coach Brian Kelly has had two starting left tackles in his five years in South Bend, and both—Zack Martin and Ronnie Stanley—wound up becoming first-round picks. So expectations among scouts are high that McGlinchey’s star will rise over the course of the next few months. And Notre Dame did have the benefit of seeing him play a full season at right tackle last year, which sets the stage for him to flip sides and replace Stanley. “He’s a beast!” said one area scout assigned to the Irish. “I haven’t watched film of him yet, but off the practice view alone, he’s a first- or second-round pick. He’s not as athletic as [Stanley], but he’s more physical.” As a redshirt junior, and given the respect that NFL people have for how Irish line coach Harry Hiestand develops guys up front, it’s not hard to see a scenario where McGlinchey could be a candidate to declare early for the draft this season, and he seems to be a good bet to, at the very least, join the four Irish linemen who’ve gone in the first three rounds since 2014. Oh, and his bloodlines aren’t bad either. The Philly-area native’s first cousin is Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
2. USC WR Juju Schuster-Smith (vs. Alabama, Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC). JerryWorld’s annual season-opening showcase gets a couple bluebloods this time around, but also programs in very different spots. And so, for a Trojans team that’s still plenty talented under a first-year coach, this is a great proving ground, and for no one more than the big, true junior Schuster-Smith, who gets to play against a couple future NFL corners in Marlon Humphrey (son of ex-NFL RB Bobby Humphrey) and Minkah Fitzpatrick. One AFC exec referred to Schuster as “pretty” physically, adding that he’s a “very good-sized kid with a good catch radius. He plays the game physical, should have a good year.” Another scout said that, as he sees it, Schuster is ahead of where 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor was going into his final season at USC. The flip side here is there’s a rap that he’s a little stiff, and his hands aren’t outstanding, though he’s coming off a broken hand that might’ve colored some of those opinions. Either way, at 6'2" with the requisite athleticism, he’s drawn some comparisons to Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd, which is an indication he won’t last long in April if he finishes strong at USC and declares. * * *
EXTRA POINT Josh Norman’s agreement with Fox pushes the precedent Brandon Marshall set in 2014 to another level. Now, not only will there be an active player serving as an in-season analyst for a major network, but also one playing that role on game day. I asked Marshall about that a few days ago, and his reaction was probably about what you’d expect: “I loved it.” And then, I found out something I didn’t know. Marshall told me there were two reasons he sought to escape Chicago after the 2014 season. One has long been assumed to be a deteriorating relationship with quarterback Jay Cutler, something Marshall didn’t want to delve into much. The other, he was happy to discuss. By then, Marshall already had a year under his belt on “Inside the NFL.” “When I sat down with [GM] Ryan Pace and coach John Fox, we met, and I asked, ‘What do you guys think about this?’ It was a big topic,” Marshall said. “And Ryan Pace said, ‘Well, we can do that in the offseason.’ So I was like, ‘Well, what about half the season?’ ‘No.’ ‘What about once or twice?’ ‘No.’ ‘What about bye week?’ ‘No, you can do that in the offseason.’ “Right then, I knew I wouldn’t be a Bear anymore, because I think that the business of the NFL is growing every single day, and players are being told to stay in a box and just play football, and we’re missing out on a lot of opportunities, not only to grow as men and businessmen but to experience different things.” Full disclosure: I’ve thought Marshall’s decision to pursue a broadcast career in this way while he was still playing was brilliant from the start, which is why I wanted to ask him about it. Ninety-nine percent of players lose the power of name recognition as quickly as The Turk takes them to the coach’s office. So if a player knows he’ll do TV post-football, it makes all the sense in the world to get started while he can still leverage his name to get a leg up. “You look at how unhealthy guys are when we walk away from the league or the game is taken away from us, 80 percent of us go broke, have problems, marital issues, because we’ve been defined by this sport for all of our lives,” Marshall continued. “So for me? You’ll never have this opportunity again to have a seat at any table in the world. And while we’re here, while we’re relevant, we should absolutely tap into it. “One of the reasons I did it is because I wanted to be thought-provoking, and for guys to start saying, ‘Wow, we can do this. What am I doing on my day off? Can I be doing an internship or taking a meeting or shadowing somebody?’ So when I saw Josh’s deal, I cheered for it. ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I want to see, that’s movement, that’s progress.’” Marshall then smiled, “But I think he could’ve told his coach. I mean, Josh, I don’t know what the heck you were thinking, bro. C’mon, man, you gotta talk to your coach! I did that. I talked to Phil Emery and coach [Marc] Trestman and we made the decision together.”
And it’s with that in mind that Marshall gives Norman this advice: “The number one thing is just protecting the Washington Redskins. That’s it. The NFL, it’s not [just] sports, it’s a media company. This is what it’s about. I think he has the perfect personality. I would tell him to be himself, I’d tell him to take it serious, just like he watches film on a Demaryius Thomas or Odell Beckham Jr., he has to watch film on himself and other guys and prepare and take it serious, because it’s a great opportunity.” It’s pretty easy to see how a similar opportunity worked out for Marshall.
What we learned: Brady plays, Goff struggles again By Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com September 2, 2016 The best part of Preseason Week 4 is the moment it ends. We are less than a week away from football that matters. The imitation stuff got us by for the last month but it all tends to look the same after a while. The final preseason night, with 30 teams in action, is usually a snoozy evening watched only for the diehards, the desperate and those paid to watch. But this Thursday night was different. In New Jersey, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time played an entire half of football to the consternation of the New England region. In San Diego, Colin Kaepernick was joined in his protest during the national anthem by a teammate before trying to save his roster spot. In Minnesota, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Jared Goff, couldn't do enough to prevent becoming a No. 3 quarterback on his own roster. This was not your normal final preseason night. Here's what we learned: 1. Colin Kaepernick made it tougher for the 49ers to cut him. He directed an impressive 15-play touchdown drive in his first series that included 58 passing yards and 30 yards on the ground from Kaepernick. His next two drives in a quick-moving half were less successful, but Kaepernick ultimately showed off a stronger arm and better wheels than he did a year ago. He looked comfortable in Chip Kelly's offense and helped the offense score on two of three drives. No one knows what Kelly is thinking, but he usually likes to have options at quarterback. Keeping Kaepernick on the roster gives him another talented player to groom. We'd guess that Kaepernick sticks, although Christian Ponder's quality performance in the fourth quarter could make the decision tougher. Rookie Jeff Driskel looks headed for the practice squad, if that. 2. We're glad that Tom Brady played the entire first half for the Patriots, if only to hear Bill Belichick's explanation for it afterward. "You can't take insurance out on players," Belichick said. "You play football, you play football. I don't know how you get better playing football without playing football. You can stand around and talk about it all day, but I don't think that really makes you a better player. At some point you have to get out there and play." The Patriots' starters, including Brady, looked like they needed the work. The team's timing was erratic for much of Brady's six series. 3. Rams rookie Jared Goff had another night to forget, marked by inaccurate throws and more trouble with turnovers. It was telling that coach Jeff Fisher said after the game that he's leaning toward making Sean Mannion the Rams' backup quarterback to start the year ahead of Goff, with Case Keenum as the starter. Fisher said that without even watching the game film from Thursday. He's seen enough all month to know Goff is not ready.
Goff finished the preseason completing 45 percent of his throws for for 232 yards (4.73 YPA), two touchdowns, two picks, two lost fumbles and too many sacks. 4. While Goff struggled, Broncos' first-round pick Paxton Lynch continued to show off his considerable skill set. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and a pick in Denver's finale. We'd be surprised if he doesn't start games this season. 5. The fourth week of the preseason can be useful as a springboard for players needing a confidence boost. After a disastrous preseason before Thursday, the Bears should be thrilled to see receiver Kevin White catch all four targets sent his way for 57 yards. That should give the team more confidence that White can handle his starting role heading into the season. 6. Ravens second-year receiver Breshad Perriman had a similarly encouraging night. Playing in his first game action as a pro after battling injuries, Perriman caught the first two passes of the game for 25 yards. 7. If not for Dak Prescott, Titans running back Derrick Henry might just be my Preseason MVP. He has jumped off the screen week after week, finishing out his preseason Thursday with 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. 8. It was great to see Cardinals receiver John Brown back on the field in game action after missing nearly the entire month of August with concussion issues. 9. Seahawks starting running back Thomas Rawls made his preseason debut, carrying the ball two times for seven yards. He looks ready to roll for Week 1, even if he is splitting carries with Christine Michael. 10. Jets quarterback Bryce Petty didn't get to audition for long for the team's backup job. He hurt his shoulder after six throws and will undergo an MRI after the game. Petty had more yards in six attempts (87) than second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg had in 31 attempts (54). That 1.7 yards per attempt for Hackenberg is a number we've never seen. 11. Kaepernick's protest of the national anthem was not done in isolation this week. His teammate Eric Reid kneeled next to Kaepernick during the anthem. Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench during the anthem in Oakland.
Sanders on Siemian: 'He can make every single throw' By Nick Shook NFL.com September 2, 2016 Emmanuel Sanders is entering a contract season. And he faces the Week 1 reality of lining up alongside a quarterback who has yet to throw a pass in the regular season. No better time to look at the glass half full. "To me, it really doesn't matter, as long as they throw a catchable pass," Sanders said when asked what type of demeanor he'd like to see in his quarterback, per the Denver Post. "Trevor (Siemian) is both. He throws a very catchable ball. He can put it there and can make all the throws. I like the decision." When one thinks of a professional quarterback, throwing a catchable pass seems like it would be a skill they all possess. Then, a look down a list of past starting quarterbacks might shake such a generalization, and lend some credence toward Sanders' claim. But in case you weren't convinced, he jumped into the memory bank to slam the point home. "I remember seeing him last year, when I first started seeing him throw, and he was the guy that I was throwing with prior to games," Sanders said of Siemian. "I remember telling Demaryius (Thomas): 'This dude has an arm. He can make every single throw.' It's just all about opportunity in this league." Being able to make every single throw is what gets players such as rookie Jared Goff drafted first overall. Scouts break down hours of tape to find "every single throw," and send prospects jettisoning up the board. But Siemian, a Northwestern product, didn't exactly have the advantage of the spotlight in college. If Sanders is correct, his best days could be ahead. When it comes to Sanders' wallet, he's likely keeping fingers, toes and maybe even his eyes crossed with hope that is the truth. He might as well throw his full belief behind his new starting quarterback. His next free-agent contract depends on it.
2016 playoff predictions: AFC West By Around the League staff NFL.com September 2, 2016 AFC WEST Judy Battista: Kansas City Chiefs. Denver's questions at quarterback open the door for the balanced Chiefs, who have a top-three scoring defense and a deep rushing offense. Also, they can rely on Alex Smith to be steady if unspectacular. Jeffri Chadiha: Chiefs. This is the most talented team head coach Andy Reid has had in his four seasons with the Chiefs. K.C. has to make some noise. Gil Brandt: Chiefs. Andy Reid is a special coach. This is a veteran team with a plus defense and an offense that will be better than it was in 2015. Maurice Jones-Drew: Chiefs. Kansas City isn't a flashy team, but the Chiefs have talent on both sides of the ball. This will be a tough division, but K.C. is the team to beat here. Brian Billick: Chiefs. The Broncos might have the best defense in the NFL, but that's not enough anymore. You have to combine it with a dominant running game that just doesn't exist in Denver. On the contrary, Kansas City might have the deepest backfield in the NFL, and the Chiefs will lean on the three-headed monster of Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. Gregg Rosenthal: Chiefs. Alex Smith and Andy Reid enter Year 4 together. Smith knows this offense down cold and has much-improved weapons around him. Willie McGinest: Denver Broncos. This defense will be great again and should lead the team to its sixth straight AFC West title. Adam Schein: Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are getting back to the playoffs! I love the Derek Carr-Amari Cooper connection, and Khalil Mack is a star. Jack Del Rio will maximize the talent after a great offseason. Bucky Brooks: Chiefs. The Chiefs' blue-collar offense leads a surprising run to the AFC West title. Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West pace the NFL's top rushing attack and key a "keepaway" strategy that frustrates opponents. Elliot Harrison: Chiefs. Kansas City will have its hands full in what should amount to a tight race in the AFC West. With the Raiders ascending but unproven, and the Broncos starting Trevor Siemian, this should be Andy Reid's best shot to win the division. David Carr: Raiders. Duh. Charley Casserly: Chiefs. Most solid team on all fronts: offense, defense and experience.
Ike Taylor: Raiders. Surprisingly, the Broncos will be dethroned. The Raiders have been building and will finally break through this season. Dave Dameshek: Chiefs. There won't be much room between the best and worst in the West this season, but I'll go with Andy Reid, who's fielded a winning team in 12 of his 17 seasons as an NFL head coach. (9-7, No. 4 seed) Chris Wesseling: Raiders. Don't look now, but the Raiders have assembled one of the deepest rosters in the conference, while the Broncos hope to avert disaster at the game's most valuable position for the second straight season. Colleen Wolfe: Chiefs. T-minus four-and-a-half months until Andy Reid swaps regular-season excitement for a catastrophic clock-management failure in the playoffs. Heath Evans: Broncos. The defense plays with confidence and will lead Gary Kubiak's group to another division title. Marcas Grant: Raiders. Reggie McKenzie's work provides fruit as a young and hungry roster takes advantage of a division in flux to get back to the postseason. Adam Rank: Chiefs. Andy Reid finds a way to get it done once again. Alex Gelhar: Raiders. Denver's quarterback issues and Kansas City's injuries on defense pave the way for the Raiders to surprise and take the AFC West crown.
Panthers worried about what they don’t know about Trevor Siemian By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk September 2, 2016 The last time the Panthers faced the Broncos, they at least knew they were playing Peyton Manning, even if he wasn’t Peyton Manning any longer. This time, they don’t really know who Trevor Siemian is, and that worries them. Via Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said the lack of familiarity with the new Broncos quarterback is a concern, a week away from their regular season opener. “I’ll equate it to a baseball analogy where you get a first-time pitcher who’s always going to have more success early because people really don’t know his stuff as well,” McDermott said. “Whereas if you get him on tape and there’s more eyes on him, scouting reports, so on and so forth, then you get a little bit more familiar with him.” That’s not just a function of the Panthers talking up an opponent. They’ve already realized the Broncos can beat them without much of a contribution from the quarterback. Manning was just 13-of-23 for 141 yards and an interception in last year’s Super Bowl, so Siemian doesn’t have a high bar to clear. So when it’s time to study, they have three games of preseason tape to judge, which isn’t always the most reliable indicator. “That’s the hard part, too,” McDermott said. “You’d love to have about three or four games in the regular season and say, ‘OK, we’ve got him in game five.’” Instead, they have to plan for trends in Denver’s overall gameplan, which is simple but effective. But lest you feel too sorry for them, recall they get to open the season against Siemian’s Broncos, Blaine Gabbert’s 49ers and whoever-replaces-Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings, so they need to get used to the struggles of unknowns and backups.
Cardinals 38, Broncos 17: Three Keys, Unlocked By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com September 2, 2016 After a fast start, the Broncos faded in a 38-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on Thursday to close the preseason. Denver sprinted to a 10-0 lead on a 57-yard Paxton Lynch-to-Jordan Taylortouchdown, which was followed by a Dwayne Norman strip-sack fumble of Matt Barkley that Zaire Anderson recovered, leading to a 33-yard Brandon McManus field goal. But from there, the Broncos struggled. Arizona sprinted to 23 consecutive points before Lynch and Taylor connected on a 3-yard rollout touchdown pass with 51 seconds left in the third quarter, and then scored the last 15 points via an Elijhaa Penny touchdown run, a two-point conversion and finally Gabe Martin's 29-yard interception return to provide the final margin. "There's a lot of things that went on tonight that we've got to do a better job at -- coaching, playing, everything," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said. A look back at how the Broncos fared in the three key areas to watch: 1. OFFENSE: GIVING LYNCH A LONG LOOK A late pick-six marred Paxton Lynch's night, but the positives outweighed the negatives for Paxton Lynch in his most extended pro work to date. "I thought he did pretty good," Kubiak said. "He continues to make great plays because of his ability, but it continues to be about consistency. But the strides that he's made since we've got him are very good, and we've got to continue to make them." He started fast, opening the game with a short pass in the right flat to Jordan Taylor that turned into a 57-yard touchdown after a poor tackle attempt by Cariel Brooks. But the rest of the first half was a struggle, as the timing with his receivers was sometimes just a bit off, leading to five incompletions in his next 10 attempts to close the first half. Lynch opened the second half by showing more willingness to escape the rush. On the first snap after halftime, he stepped out of pressure by running left for eight yards, although it was wiped out by a Robert Myers Jr. holding penalty. Three snaps later, he got outside on third-and-10 for seven yards; it didn't move the chains, but it was the right decision. On a drive late in the third quarter, he successfully moved outside when faced with a rush from the right side. The 5-yard gain kept the Broncos' momentum going, and set up a 14-yard quick slant to Mose Frazier on the next play.
Lynch will look back at the pick-six with regret; he locked in on Taylor to his right, allowing Martin to read his intent and jump the pass. "They changed coverage up on him, and he's got to make a better decision with the ball," Kubiak said. But Lynch still finished with a 103.2 rating for the night and a 4-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio for the preseason, with both of his interceptions coming in late-game comeback attempts. It was a preseason of promise on which he can easily build. 2. DEFENSE: SORTING THROUGH DEPTH On the defensive line, the Broncos had a scare when Henry Melton left via cart with a second-quarter knee injury, but the seven-year veteran returned in the third quarter. Still, no matter who was on the line, the Broncos struggled to contain the run and were pushed back off the snap far more often than Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and Defensive Line Coach Bill Kollar would like. Outside linebacker might be the deepest spot on the roster, and could yield some of the most difficult cuts. Even without veteran Dekoda Watson playing, the Broncos got consistent pressure from Vontarrius Dora, Eddie Yarbrough and Sadat Sulleyman. Sulleyman hit Cardinals QB Matt Barkley once and had a tackle for a loss, but was also called for holding on a third-quarter punt return. Yarbrough was particularly effective setting the edge against the run. "That's one position we feel pretty darn good about," Kubiak said. "We got by with three guys, and those guys battled their tails off." Most of the work at inside linebacker went to Kyle Kragen and Dwayne Norman. Norman had the Broncos' lone sack At cornerback, John Tidwellhit the extremes in a two-snap span late in the first quarter by saving a touchdown, then being beaten for one. The Rangeview H.S. product shook off Brittan Golden to make a third-down stop at the goal line, but then was beaten on a Matt Barkley-to-J.J. Nelson fade route on fourth-and-goal to start the Cardinals' scoring binge. It was a rough evening for Lorenzo Doss, who had an outstanding camp but struggled against the Cardinals in extended work. Late in the second quarter, Doss gave up a 14-yard touchdown to Jaxon Shipley on a third-and-9 slant route. Midway through the third quarter, Shipley beat Doss with a double move up the sideline for a 30-yard gain. 3. SPECIAL TEAMS: GIVING RAYMOND SOME MORE REPS It took until the final return of the night, but Raymond finally got the breakaway he and the Broncos were looking for: a 41-yard cross-field jaunt that saw him show his elusiveness as he veered toward the left sideline for his longest return of the preseason. On Raymond's previous return in the fourth quarter, Arizona LB Lamar Louis engulfed him after bursting through a block attempt from Dora, limiting him to a 14-yard runback. That was his only short kickoff return of the night; his other three returns aw him average 30.7 yards per return, and he finished the entire preseason with a 23.9-yard average.
Riley Dixon struggled at times in his first game since the release of veteran Britton Colquitt on Tuesday. He shanked an 18-yard punt in the second quarter, setting up the Cardinals for a 6-play, 45-yard drive to their second touchdown of the game. Dixon's gross and net averages were the same -- 37.4 yards -- with no touchbacks and one punt landing inside the Arizona 20-yard line. "We were asking Riley to experiment a little bit with a punt Joe [DeCamillis] has been working with him on, and obviously it didn't work out very good tonight, so put that on us as coaches," Kubiak said. "But he's got a bright future."
Three key areas to watch in Broncos-Cardinals By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com September 2, 2016 In nine seasons as a player, Gary Kubiak survived the final preseason roster deadline every time. But he also saw the pain that his teammates endured when they got the call, and developed an empathy that guides him today now that he sits on the other side of the table, having to tell players that there isn't a place for them on the 53-man roster, at least for now. He knows the bonds players forge, and how leaving those behind, along with an opportunity to make a roster, is heartbreaking for those who do not stick on the roster. “A lot of those guys are friends for life,” Kubiak said. "You still talk to them. You go through a lot with them. Those kids have been living together in that hotel for four, five months together as roommates. They get very close and if you let one of their buddies go, it’s hard on them. Sometimes they can’t quite see the future. "I tell them, 'Don’t worry about it, just come out every day, have a good time and play hard.' You never know what’s going to happen." This week is the most difficult on the NFL calendar. When asked whether it was the toughest, Kubiak offered another description. “It’s not tough; it’s miserable," he said. "There you go -- it’s miserable. "These guys stay with you all offseason, they’re with you all training camp and then you have to say, 'No.'" But the decisions have not been made. That's a message Kubiak wants to convey to his players -- that if you're still on the 75-man roster, there is still time to make an impression. "We’ll probably have two or three guys make our team from this game on Thursday night," Kubiak said. "There might be two or three guys that think they might be here that may go out there and not make the team. That’s part of this business. You have to play every week and be ready to go." And for those young, unproven players who will battle Thursday night in Glendale, Ariz., they have the opportunity to change their lives -- and establish a toehold on a place in the NFL. 1. OFFENSE: GIVING LYNCH A LONG LOOK By playing Paxton Lynchfrom start to finish, Kubiak will give him a chance to play all points of the game -- another step on the "fast track" the head coach has his rookie quarterback on as the regular season is set to begin. "He’s going to play with a lot of young players," Kubiak said. "I thought he could handle his group a little better than he did last week, so he’s going to play with the same guys he did last week.
"I want to see him consistently improve. It’s not going to be very complicated. He’s going to play a little faster and see if he can take another step." 2. DEFENSE: SORTING THROUGH DEPTH The Broncos' defensive line depth took a hit because reserve Jared Crick was forced to move up to the first team in the wake of Vance Walker's torn ACL. But at other lines of defense, depth remains strong. Outside linebacker is particularly deep; Dekoda Watson, Vontarrius Dora, Eddie Yarbroughand Sadat Sulleyman have all brought punch off the edge. Rookies Dwayne Norman and Kyle Kragen should see plenty of work at inside linebacker. B.J. Lowery, John Tidwell and second-year player Taurean Nixon will be busy at cornerback. For quite a few defenders who will play extensively Thursday, the fight will be for practice-squad spots. 3. SPECIAL TEAMS: GIVING RAYMOND SOME MORE REPS With the punting competition settled after the release of Britton Colquitt in favor of rookie Riley Dixon and Bralon Addison one of the players waived this week, there's more clarity to the punting competition. Kalif Raymond is expected to get work on kickoff and punt returns. But just as important will be what the rest of the special teamers do in blocking and on coverage; that work could determine who nabs the final spots on the roster.
Five Key Moments: Cardinals best Broncos By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com September 2, 2016 The Broncos fell to the Cardinals, 38-17, on Thursday night, but these five moments gave Denver a chance at victory. 1. Lynch finds Taylor for explosive start With 12:29 to go in the first quarter, Paxton Lynch found a positive result on his first throw of the game. Lynch found wide receiver Jordan Taylor on a short curl, and then Taylor turned routine into spectacular. He broke a tackle attempt from Cardinals corner Cariel Brooks, weaved his way past another defender and went 57 yards to pay dirt. Taylor would tack on ____ the rest of the evening, but this was undoubtedly the highlight of his night. Just as he began training camp with a spectacular catch, he ended the preseason with another huge play. 2. Norman makes presence felt After the Cardinals picked up a first down, the Broncos defense went to work. Nose tackle Darius Kilgo blew up Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams’ attempt at a chip block, which gave linebacker Dwayne Norman room to work. Norman pulled the ball away from Arizona quarterback Matt Barkley, and Zaire Anderson came up with the recovery at the Arizona 29-yard line. Anderson is no stranger to big plays this preseason. He forced two fumbles against San Francisco and recovered a loose ball for a touchdown off a blocked punt against Chicago. On Saturday night, Anderson’s recovery of the Barkley fumble set up a 33-yard Brandon McManus field goal that put the Broncos up 10-0 with 9:41 to go in the first quarter. 3. Tidwell does best "No Fly Zone" impersonation On 3rd-and-3 at the Broncos' 45-yard line with the Cardinals threatening to pad their lead, cornerback John Tidwell forced Arizona's offense off the field. Barkley looked deep to rookie wide receiver Chris Hubert, but Tidwell was in perfect position to knock the ball away. The pass breakup helped stall a Cardinals drive that began at the Arizona 14-yard line and looked like it might have resulted in more points for the Cardinals. On the next drive, the Broncos would show how valuable that stop would be to their chances. 4. Lynch guides offense on quick jaunt down field With the Broncos backed up against the doorstep of their own end zone in the third quarter, Lynch made a series of plays to get Denver within range of Arizona. On second down from their own 7-yard line, Lynch found tight end John Phillips for a 20-yard gain out to the 27-yard line. Then, after Lynch scrambled for five yards, he found Mose Frazier for back-to-back gains of 14 yards and 18 yards, respectively. Lynch wouldn’t stop there. He found Taylor on a slant-and-go for 32 yards to get down to the Cardinals’ 4-yard line. In all, the Broncos moved from their own 7-yard line to the Cardinals’ 4-yard line in just five plays. The quick race down the field led to Lynch scrambling to his right and tossing a 3-
yard touchdown to Jordan Taylor to pull the Broncos within 23-17 with 51 seconds to go in the third quarter. 5. Raymond's KR gives Broncos chance to close gap After the Cardinals scored a touchdown to go up 38-17 with 5:36 to go in the fourth quarter, the Broncos were in need of a big play. Rookie Kalif Raymond provided that spark in the form of a 41-yard kick return. Raymond shot through a tight opening near the goal line, made a few players miss and took off toward the left sideline. He nearly took the kick the distance, but Cardinals cornerback Ronald Zamort made his way to Raymond at the sideline and forced him out of bounds. The Broncos wound up with some of their best starting field position of the night after the return.
Injury Update: Henry Melton suffers knee injury By Caroline Deisley DenverBroncos.com September 2, 2016 Late in the second quarter in the Broncos' final preseason game, DE Henry Melton suffered a knee injury. His return is questionable after leaving the sideline on a cart. Melton had one quarterback hit before leaving the game. UPDATE: Melton's return is now probably at the beginning of the third quarter. Phil Milani @philmilani Not what you want to see in the last preseason game. Henry Melton heading to the locker room early on the cart. Andrew Mason ✔ @MaseDenver Henry Melton being treated on the field. Bad news for a D-line that is still looking for depth in the wake of Walker's torn ACL. Andrew Mason ✔ @MaseDenver Henry Melton is back on the field for the first series of the second half.
From the pocket: Paxton Lynch gains valuable experience By Caroline Deisley DenverBroncos.com September 2, 2016 On a night that was meant for young players to take advantage of normally scarce playing time, rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch displayed flashes of his potential but struggled to string together consistent series. The rookie QB, playing with the second- and third-team units, finished the night 13-of-22 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the Broncos’ 38-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in their preseason finale. “I thought he did pretty good,” Head Coach Gary Kubiak said following the loss. “[Lynch] continues to make plays because of his ability, but it continues to be about consistency.” Lynch’s first NFL start began as expected for a first-round draft pick. His first touchdown of his first preseason start came within the first three minutes of the game in the form of a 57-yard pass to wide receiver Jordan Taylor. The score gave the Broncos an early 7-0 lead for the Broncos. “From the beginning of the game, you saw, he was ready to play,” Lynch said about Taylor. “He took that first catch and took it to the house. From there, he just kept doing his thing.” After a sack and forced fumble by the Broncos defense, Lynch and Co. returned with good field position and the rookie quarterback hit wide receiver Mose Frazier for a 10-yard gain to set up a 33-yard field goal from Brandon McManus. On the rookie’s next offensive series, he connected with Taylor and Frazier again for gains of 18 and 17 yards, respectively, to put the Broncos within field goal range. The 46-yard attempt would sail wide right. However, after three series that showed flashes of brilliance from the rookie quarterback, the offense stagnated. The second quarter consisted of short gains by the running backs or incompletions from Lynch, which prevented the offense from moving the chains. This inability to convert on third down halted the Lynch-led offense and Arizona responded by doing what the Broncos couldn’t do offensively. The Cardinals entered the locker room at the half with a comfortable 20-10 lead. “I know the first half we struggled on third downs, obviously,” Lynch said. “I know I missed a couple of throws and I think I just had to settle down out there and get in rhythm with those guys, and those young receivers started making good plays for me, like Jordan and Mose, too, and those running backs, too, opened up some lanes.” Taylor and Frazier were Lynch’s go-to targets all night. Taylor had his best preseason game to date, notching two touchdowns. For Frazier, Thursday’s final preseason game felt more like a college football
home opener. He caught 18-yard bullets from his college quarterback just like they were back in Memphis. “It felt like I was in college again. I was starting, I got to feel like I was the man again,” Frazier said. “[Paxton and I] were just click-clacking. He trusts me and I trust him.” This chemistry sparked a scoring drive in the middle of the third quarter with Lynch hitting deep pass after deep pass to march the Broncos down the field for a four-minute, 94-yard touchdown drive. However, in the middle of the fourth quarter, inconsistency struck again as Lynch misread a coverage switch and threw a pick-six. “They just kind of loaded that side,” Lynch said. “I should have got off it a little quicker, but we were trying to pick up the tempo, so that was kind of getting late in the game, so I kind of forced it.” Though Lynch ended the game with the offense’s only turnover of the night, Thursday’s preseason finale represented a necessary, crucial step in the rookie quarterback’s development. “I think the strides he's made since we got him have been very good, and we've got to continue to make some more,” Kubiak said after the game. The result may not matter, but the experience gained in Lynch’s first professional full game may prove to be more beneficial than any scoreboard outcome could.
