I called John Clayton 10 days ago to ask him why Seattle would trade away Russell Wilson.
His reply: "Because they're stupid."
A straightshooter to the end. He was as big as it gets in this biz. Always admired his love and devotion to his wife Pat. So bummed. RIP.
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Per sources, Broncos are finalizing a three-year contract extension with WR Tim Patrick. What a great American story of redemption. Rough family upbringing, oft-injured in college, undrafted, cut 3 times. Has become Broncos most dependable receiver the past 3 years.
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This is classy. Per source, Broncos have arranged for Shelby Harris to take a private plane back to Denver immediately after game so he can be there with his wife for birth of their son.
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Broncos CEO Greg Penner was bothered by how beat-up middle of field was past two home games. Winter weather extremes/HS state championships took extra toll. Looked bad and unsafe. Even though just 1 home game left, he had entire grass surface replaced at cost of $400k.
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No 88 near corner of end zone where DT ran thru to tunnel to finish 80-yd TD from Tebow. Also near where Demaryius caught Peyton’s record 509th TD pass. Classy.
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Classy Mahomes: "(It's) the worst I’ve felt walking out of the stadium. It's a great environment, I actually had a lot a lot of fun playing here. The fans are awesome. They enjoy the game & know the game. They were a better football team today and I give them their props.”
While there are various reports out there on Aaron Rodgers and Broncos, I'm told Broncos are not in talks with Green Bay. All Broncos brass in war room gearing up for draft.
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Just talked to Shelby Harris: "It's tough. I loved Denver. Denver really gave me a chance. It's tough, really tough but you have to stay positive. Things happen for a reason so you have to stay positive. I'm excited for what's to come.But it's tough right now. (more)
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There’s been some gossip about Russell Wilson’s standing in locker room. Here’s some context. Per source Wilson’s wife Ciara thru him a birthday party last night and “it looked like about half the team was there.” On player’s day off. Why do people have to be so hurtful?
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Russell Wilson reportedly frustrated he didn't have enough say in SEA offense. Won't be case w/Broncos. Hackett on tailoring offense: "Once get to know him, understand him, we'll build it around him. So what is it going to be? It’s going to be what Russell likes to do.”
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Broncos bring back S Kareem Jackson on one year deal, sources confirm. 1st by
@RapSheet
. Secondary complete: Kareem/Simmons at safety/Darby/Fuller/Callahan at CB.
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Source confirms Broncos are hiring Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to be their next head coach. Close to contract agreement. Team had been in contract negotiations past couple days. 1st by
@TomPelissero
.
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Broncos have been informed their game against New England will be moved from Sunday to Monday night per source. It will be early Monday night game.
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All three Broncos QBs have been ruled out. One possible QB: Kendall Hinton. He's on Broncos practice squad as WR but he was a three-year starting QB at Wake Forest. (Won't be coach Rob Calabrese. League won't allow, I'm told).
Russell Wilson briefly choked up when asked about Jeudy, Hamler, et all supporting him via social media this week: "It meant the world to me,'' he said.
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Source confirms the Broncos are signing veteran RB Latavius Murray off the Saints practice squad. Elevated last week for London game, he rushed for 57 yards and TD off 11 carries. So he’s ready to roll.
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George Paton on praise he's got since R. Wilson trade: “I don’t get out much. My family doesn’t praise me. The fact is we won 7 games. I’m a 7-10 GM. No one cares if you win the offseason. They only care if you win the regular season. We keep everything in perspective.’’
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Denver D personnel changes since 70 in Miami:
*McMillian instead of Bassey at nickel
*Moreau instead of Mathis at CB
*More Purcell instead of Harris at DT
*Browning instead of Clark/Incoom, OLB
*Bonitto instead of Gregory, OLB
*Simmons/Jewell/Locke return from injuries.
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Broncos receiving great Demaryius Thomas announces his retirement as a Bronco. Per source, DT to be honored at Broncos home opener vs Jets (9/26) with video tribute and serve as honorary team captain.
DT goes down as top 3 WR in Broncos history (and may have been best).
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Per player sources: Lock, Rypien, Bortles all tested negative again today, clearing them to return.
They could have played tonight.
Brings into question league’s final-hour decision to quarantine them in first place. Obviously an overreach.
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Per source, Broncos are planning to interview former Broncos offensive assistant/current Vikings OC Klint Kubiak for an offensive coaching position. It’s a new generation of the West Coast offense - Paul Hackett to Nathaniel; Gary Kubiak to Klint.
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Just announced on Broncos Tonight: Shelby Lamar Harris Jr. was just born. Text came from Shelby at 10:49 p.m. 12/27/2020. "Literally just born." Congratulations to Stephanie and Shelby on their fourth child!
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BREAKING: I’m a grandpa for second time per family sources (and photo). Eleanor Ruth Klis born today. 6 lbs, 10 oz. Baby, mom and dad doing well.
Can’t wait to tell Eleanor how in my day, they had this thing called Twitter and everybody who used it was so nice.
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Source confirms new Broncos QB and former Rockies minor-leaguer Russell Wilson will throw out first pitch for Rox season opener Friday vs Dodgers.
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Vikings and OC Gary Kubiak have announced his retirement from NFL after 36 years as player, assistant coach, head coach and personnel executive. To Broncos fans, he will be remembered as Elway’s QB backup, Shanahan’s right-hand man and head coach of Super Bowl 50 team.
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If I remember right from Peyton Manning years, Russell Wilson means every top free agent is now interested in Denver.
Broncos don’t have top draft picks, but they do have money. (Edge, RT, TE, DL, ILB, one more CB, one more S).
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Pat Surtain II on ignoring union's wish for rookies to skip minicamp: "I was going to come up here and play regardless. I'm a rookie. I feel like I don't have that bit of advantage yet for me to ... miss minicamp. I have no proven ability to miss minicamp."
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Aqib Talib not surprised Broncos haven’t been back to playoffs since 2015: “It’s a quarterback-driven league and The Sheriff left the building.”
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Source confirms Hackett has turned over play calling to QB coach Klint Kubiak, who called plays for MIN last yr. (1st by
@TomPelissero
). Went thru week w/Kubiak calling plays while Hackett worked all 3 phases. Went well and Hackett told team of switch Saturday.
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Ejiro Evero is gone. Per source, Broncos are releasing him from contract. (1st by
@RapSheet
). While Broncos like Evero and hoped to retain him he wanted fresh start elsewhere. All signs point to Evero as Vikes DC. Broncos to interview Sean Desai, Brian Flores for DC.
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Source confirms Broncos converted WR Courtland Sutton's $10.5M roster bonus into signing bonus, a cap maneuver that saves $7.875M in 2022 cap space.
At same time, Broncos converted WR Tim Patrick's $6.9M roster bonus into signing bonus which created $4.6M in cap space.
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After saying he wanted “more efficient decisions” w/gameday operation, Nathaniel Hackett is backing words with action.
Per source, Hackett hired widely respected 40-year coach Jerry Rosburg to assist on game management.
Huge hire. Rosburg spotted at practice this wk.
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Emmanuel Sanders honored his late friend, former Broncos teammate, Demaryius Thomas by opening a game room Friday at the Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo. Demaryius supported the club in Denver.
The game area has ping pong, foosball, pool, air hockey tables. (more)
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Coaching firings at Broncos headquarters continues. Per source, coaches have been informed special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry have also been dismissed.
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Tipster: Paton finally made his way to Shanahan’s last night w/Hackett and search committee to celebrate new coach hire. In midst of dinner, Hackett was introduced to Mike Shanahan himself. Chatted about what it’s like to be Broncos HC and Dad Hackett/Shanny offense.
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Von Miller is at Broncos headquarters, per player source. He is saying hello to teammates, coaches and personnel staff, including new GM George Paton.
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Per sources, Broncos were engaged in Stafford talks. There were multiple proposals on table - none near haul Lions got from Rams. Lions were interested in Broncos core of young players including Drew Lock. Broncos new GM George Paton was reluctant to part w/young core.
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Fangio, Paton, TE coach Wade Harmon, Von Miller, Drew Lock and Ray Jackson flew by private plane Wednesday to Omaha for funeral of Noah Fant's mom. "It was important. It was traumatic for Noah and his family. It was good to get some guys together and show some support."
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Fixing Drew Lock can begin with doing something about this outrageous ratio:
Lock had 47 pass attempts
Phillip Lindsay had 4 carries.
Come on. It was 10-6 at halftime, 13-6 until late in 3rd.
No excuse for this. When QB is struggling, run the ball.
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Wilson and longtime agent Mark Rodgers in Denver yesterday. Spent afternoon in Broncos facility, QB took physical, and had dinner with coaches and execs at - where else - Elway's. Little more under radar than helicopter chase for Peyton Manning visit 10 years ago today.
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Source confirms Klint Kubiak will become Broncos new QB coach/passing game coordinator. Team also working to make Packers TE coach Justin Outten their new OC, but his deal not yet finalized.
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Talked to Drew Lock. He declined comment, saying he wanted to talk to family members and close friends to process the trade before he speaks publicly.
I'll say this for Lock: No Broncos player got beat up more the past 2 years but he was always professional with press.
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League source: Broncos have requested permission to interview Cowboys OC Kellen Moore. Only 33. Might be the McVay of this hiring cycle. A rising star coach with ties to Mountain West. Paton likes both Cowboys coordinators (Quinn, too).
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Source: WR Tim Patrick converted $6.9M of his roster bonus to signing bonus, a move that saves the Broncos roughly $4.6M in cap space.
Wherever it comes from, Patrick still gets $8.5M total this year. Broncos still need a CB or two, George Paton said, so this will help.
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Confirming Broncos have reached agreement with WR Courtland Sutton on 4-year deal worth a tad more than $15 million per. (1st by
@RapSheet
and
@TomPelissero
). Sutton, Patrick, Jeudy, Hamler all under contract thru 2023.
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BREAKING: Denver Judge Gilman issues order on Broncos case vs. Kaiser estate: "The right of first refusal is no longer valid or enforceable in any respect."
This means final impediment to Broncos sale has been removed.
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Confirming Broncos have acquired QB Russell Wilson from Seattle. Broncos giving up multiple first-round picks as part of the deal, per source. GM George Paton in process of notifying players.
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Broncos safety Kareem Jackson, who grew up 35 miles from Demaryius in Georgia, was same age and selected 2 picks ahead of DT in 2010 draft (20 and 22) placed this jersey on Broncos bench as he came out for early warm up.
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Per source, Kareem Jackson's one-year deal is worth up to $5 million. He made $5 million last year. Arguably the hardest hitting pound for pound defender in the league, Jackson returns for a fourth season with the Broncos, 13th season in NFL.
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Major precaution Broncos took against virus is they bought up entire hotel in Boston area for their stay Saturday. Had to pay more, but it reduced risk of other guests bringing in the virus. Broncos not cutting corners when it comes to health of their players/coaches.
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Broncos money on IR compared to their 3 opponents this year:
Broncos $53.42M
Titans $3.66M
Steelers $3.18M
TB Bucs $2.95M
It could be argued they were not fair fights.
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Source: Broncos first offered interim HC job to Ejiro Evero. He declined. He's going to be a HC candidate this offseason. Preferred to stay with defense. Rosburg then made sense as he can oversee entire operation while coordinators run each phase.
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