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DeMarcus Ware shares “cupping”
technique for football recovery
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
July 18, 2014
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — DeMarcus Ware joins the Broncos with 117 career sacks and
a wealth of knowledge in how to attain optimum performance.
Ware recently sent out an Instagram that showed him laying flat on his stomach
and at least 20 jars positioned on his back. A lady with a lighting device was
standing over him.
Following a workout Thursday at Impact Performance & Fitness, Ware explained he
was going through a therapy called “cupping,” an Eastern medicine technique.
“It is like a jar, and you put a hot fire in there and the heat that’s in there just
sucks the skin up in there,” Ware said. “It keeps your pores open and it sucks that
bad blood that’s on the surface of your epidermis. The skin. It helps with blood
flow. It helps out a lot.”
Although he is two weeks away from turning 32, Ware says he has never felt
better. A pass-rushing outside linebacker by trade, he tried to play near 270
pounds — 15 more pounds than usual — as a defensive end last season when the
Dallas Cowboys switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
The Broncos play a 4-3 but there are enough 3-4 principles to where Ware mostly
starts from the stand-up position. Working in the offseason with his longtime
personal trainer Kevin Kordish, Ware’s weight is down to 250-255 pounds.
“I feel better than I did the last two years going into the season,” Ware said.
“Stronger, faster. I feel flexible.”
NFL to restrict number of underclassmen
who get evaluations
The Associated Press
July 18, 2014
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL will limit the number of underclassmen who can receive
evaluations for the draft to five from a single school, although special exceptions
will be allowed.
Concerned about the record 107 underclassmen who applied for this year's draft,
and with 37 of them not selected, the league's College Advisory Committee
developed new guidelines for players considering forfeiting their final years of
eligibility.
Troy Vincent, the league's head of football operations, says the underclassmen will
be advised on their potential to be picked in the first or second round. They also
could be advised to stay in school.
Previous assessments dealt with the first through third rounds, and whether a
player had no potential of being selected.
Countdown to camp: Defensive line
By Jeff Legwold
ESPN.com
July 19, 2014
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is,
publicly anyway, a rather understated guy when he talks about the players around
him.
A “solid player’’ is a guy headed to the Pro Bowl. A “really, really solid player’’ is a
guy who already has been to several Pro Bowls.
So when he says the Broncos’ defensive front “has some options we feel good
about,’’ it really means if the Broncos have the good fortune of good health -- they
certainly didn’t on defense in 2013 -- then Del Rio sees something a lot closer to
the top five defense the Broncos sported in ’12 rather than last year’s middle-ofthe-pack group.
“I think so, we’ve got a lot of guys who can do a lot of things,’’ defensive
tackle Terrance Knighton said. “ … You always have to wait and see for sure when
we all put the pads on and go at it. But I think there’s a lot of versatility in the
group.’’
So much so, the position will feature some of the fiercest battles, not for starting
jobs, but rather to simply carve out some playing time as Del Rio will routinely mix
and match to fit a variety of down-and-distance situations.
It’s all part of a position-by-position look at where things stand with the team as
training camp approaches.
Saturday: Defensive line.
How many coming to camp: 13.
How many will the Broncos keep: This position, and its place in the final roster
count, has evolved at least some over the last three seasons. The Broncos kept 10
defensive lineman in 2011, the first season of the John Elway/John Fox regime as
well as Dennis Allen’s only season as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Then in 2012, Del Rio’s first year with the team, they kept nine defensive linemen
as they moved into the opening week of the regular season. Last season they kept
eight on the roster.
They could get themselves to eight this time around as well, but to do that they
would leave somebody behind who can contribute, if not for them, somebody else.
Knighton andSylvester Williams project as the starters at tackle, with Kevin
Vickerson in the rotation.Mitch Unrein is a productive tackle who sees some spot
duty on offense from time to time and played 148 special teams snaps last season.
The Broncos also see potential in Marvin Austin as well, a former second-round pick
whose career has been derailed some by injuries. That’s five interior players right
there.
DeMarcus Ware, Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe and Quanterus Smith will divide the
snaps at end. Linebacker Von Miller has often dropped down to end in the team’s
nickel and dime packages, so that impacts this group as well.
Jackson, who is one of the most efficient players in the league in terms of
production in snaps played, and Wolfe move inside to tackle in some of the
specialty packages as well. All in all, it projects to some tough calls when the cut to
53 players comes.
Break it down: Ware says he feels better than he has in more than two season and
as a member of the league's 100-sack club, he certainly fits the profile Elway talks
about when he says "I like to sign future Hall of Famers with chips on their
shoulders.'' The Broncos will be creative with Ware. He figures to show up all over
the formation, sometimes on the same side as Miller, something Del Rio did when
he paired Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
Because Wolfe and Vickerson spent so much of the 2013 season out of the lineup
because of injuries, the Broncos got extended looks at Jackson and Williams last
season. Williams has shown the athleticism the Broncos hoped for when they made
him the first-round pick in ’13, and he appears poised for a significant jump in
production this time around.
Jackson has simply forced the team to find a place for him in the lineup. He
consistently gets to the quarterback when he’s on the field.
Knighton is in a contract year and if he plays wire to wire like he did over last
season’s stretch run, after Vickerson went to injured reserve, he’ll be a popular
player on the open market. The Broncos believe Miller will be full-speed -- he’s
coming back from ACL surgery -- before the season is too old so he will be in the
mix on passing downs in the defensive front. The Broncos thought Smith showed
himself to be ready for some snaps as well.
Del Rio believes the potential of playing time is a powerful lure, and he has
consistently used a variety of players in a variety of specialty roles to get people on
the field and allow the Broncos to adjust to what an offense is doing.
"I think the guys know if they show us the can help, we'll get them on the field,"
Del Rio said. "That keeps everybody engaged.''
So, he’ll use plenty of folks in the front this time around, and the battle to get on
the field should keep things lively for these guys all through the season.
Denver Broncos’ projected roster
By Jeff Legwold
ESPN.com
July 18, 2014
Examining the Denver Broncos' roster:
Quarterbacks (3)
Peyton Manning
Brock Osweiler
Zac Dysert
The Broncos carried three here last season and thought enough of Dysert to keep
him despite a long list of injuries on defense that eventually saw five starters on
injured reserve. It could be more difficult to use that third spot on Dysert again.
The Broncos would like to, but it might be a luxury they can’t afford this time
around, especially if they want a return specialist.
Running backs (4)
Montee Ball
Ronnie Hillman
Juwan Thompson
Brennan Clay
The Broncos kept five at this spot as recently as 2012, but this position shapes up
to be a quality camp battle, and last year’s rookie to make it -- C.J. Anderson -could certainly hold off this year’s crop. It would be a rarity to have two undrafted
rookie running backs make the final 53, but Clay’s pass-catching ability is
intriguing, and the 225-pound Thompson would give the Broncos a bigger back with
an understanding of pass protections to go with some special-teams ability.
Receivers (5)
Demaryius Thomas
Emmanuel Sanders
Wes Welker
Cody Latimer
Andre Caldwell
The Broncos have two undrafted rookies at this spot who have turned some heads
already -- Isaiah Burse as a returner and Bennie Fowler at wideout -- but Latimer
will be the youngster on the depth chart barring an unexpected injury. Latimer and
Caldwell give the Broncos some insurance against any potential concussion issues
for Welker. Latimer figures to get plenty of quality snaps. The Broncos have kept
five here for the past three seasons, although last year's five included
returner Trindon Holliday.
Tight ends (3)
Julius Thomas
Jacob Tamme
Virgil Green
The Broncos kept four last season -- they kept three in '11 and three in '12 -- and
could keep four again if Joel Dreessen shows some improvement as he recovers
from offseason knee troubles. But the need to keep an extra spot open for a
potential return specialist or an extra defensive lineman looms large.
Offensive line (9)
Ryan Clady
Orlando Franklin
Manny Ramirez
Louis Vasquez
Chris Clark
Will Montgomery
Michael Schofield
Vinston Painter
Winston Justice
The Broncos have kept nine players at this position for the opening week roster in
all three previous seasons of the John Fox/John Elway regime, but with all of the
shuffling in the search for swing players, they may feel the urge to add one here
just in case. But the starting group up front looks to be Clady, Franklin, Ramirez,
Vasquez and Clark. However, Montgomery could push hard at center and Justice
got a long look at right tackle in offseason workouts and rookie Schofield should get
a shot there as well. Perhaps Ryan Miller or Ben Garland could earn the extra
(10th) spot.
Defensive line (9)
DeMarcus Ware
Terrance Knighton
Sylvester Williams
Malik Jackson
Derek Wolfe
Kevin Vickerson
Quanterus Smith
Marvin Austin
Mitch Unrein
The Broncos kept 10 here in '11, kept nine in '12 and had eight on the opening
night roster last season. They could trim to eight again if they have a glaring need
elsewhere, but Vickerson and Smith are both coming back from stints on injured
reserve.
Linebackers (7)
Danny Trevathan
Von Miller
Nate Irving
Lamin Barrow
Steven Johnson
Lerentee McCray
Jamar Chaney
The workouts when the pads go on will mean plenty for this group, and there is
room here for a wild card, including a late roster pickup, to make the depth chart.
McCray likely would have made it as an undrafted rookie last season had he not
been injured in the preseason. As it stands now, the final slot may be a battle
between Brandon Marshall, who spent much of ’13 on the Broncos’ practice squad
before being promoted to the active roster, and Chaney, who was a 16-game
starter for the Eagles as recently as 2011.
Cornerbacks (5)
Chris Harris Jr.
Aqib Talib
Bradley Roby
Kayvon Webster
Tony Carter
Last season, the Broncos kept seven cornerbacks on the opening night roster,
including the injured Champ Bailey, but this time around Carter will enter camp
squarely on the bubble, especially if one of the younger corners with some
additional size, like rookie Louis Young, shows promise and some special-teams
chops. But the top four spots are solidly in place, and the Broncos can sport the
four-cornerback look they’d like to in the dime.
Safeties (5)
T.J. Ward
Rahim Moore
Quinton Carter
David Bruton
Omar Bolden
If Carter’s knee holds up in camp as it has through the team’s offseason workouts,
he should be among the final group. Duke Ihenacho made the roster last season
but will have a tougher road this time around. Bolden’s ability to be a swing player
at corner and safety as well as having some potential as a returner gives him the
edge as well.
Specialists (3)
Matt Prater
Britton Colquitt
Aaron Brewer
The only question here is if a returner such as Burse or a player to be named later
can show enough pop to lure the Broncos into keeping a return specialist.
NFL goalposts gaining 5 extra feet
thanks to 'The Tucker Rule'
By Gary Mihoces
USAToday.com
July 18, 2014
The simple aim is to help officials better eyeball whether field goal tries that fly high
split the uprights. But when it comes to making that structural change, the devil is
in the details.
It's not just welding 5 extra feet of tubing atop the previously 30-foot uprights.
Engineering goes into ensuring goalposts hold true when one kick might decide a
game.
A quick fix won't cut it.
"That is because from a structural analysis standpoint, we had to make sure that
the goalposts were going to be able to withstand the wind loads of all areas of the
country," says David Moxley, director of sports construction sales for Sportsfield
Specialities, Inc., (SSI), the New York firm handling the switch to its aluminum
goalposts in 23 of the NFL's 31 stadiums.
Why not add 10 feet? Or 15? Moxley says that would really tax the engineering.
How about lasers atop the uprights? That would pose a challenge, too. Anybody
who's watched a field goal try hit an upright and make that "bonk" sound as it
caroms either way knows that can be iffy.
"As a purist of the game, think of how many field goals get bumped off the uprights
and go in our out," says Moxley. "If you put a laser in ... you can't necessarily
replicate the bounce of an upright. There's no bonk. That bounce can mean a lot of
things with how the football is going."
All NFL goalposts this season will sit atop crossbars attached to goosenecks 10 feet
above the ground, meaning the top of each post will extend 45 feet into the air
(compared to 40 previously).
The change was proposed by the New England Patriots. In 2012, they lost 31-30 to
the Baltimore Ravens after kicker Justin Tucker's 27-yard field goal flew higher than
the top of the right upright.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick protested the kick was wide. He drew a $50,000 fine
from the NFL after running toward an official and reaching at his arm at the end of
that defeat.
A field goal can be reviewed on replay. But, according to the rules, only "when it is
lower than the top of the uprights." So that was no help to the Patriots in
Baltimore.
New England's suggestion was approved by NFL owners in March. Some dubbed it
"The Tucker Rule."
And there's another new rules interpretation related to the extra length on the
uprights. That's the designation of a 15-yard penalty for "dunking" the ball over the
crossbar in celebration. That will now be viewed as a violation of the rule which
prohibits using the ball as a prop.
During a game last season between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints,
there was a nearly half-hour delay after Saints tight end Jimmy Graham dunked the
ball and knocked the crossbar askew.
"I don't think we ever contemplated that the goalpost would ever be thrown off
kilter and there (would) be a 20-minute delay of the game as they try to right
them," Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Falcons, said after the dunking ban.
"When you add 5 feet to the top and make them even heavier, I think we were
concerned about how it would impact the game from a competitive standpoint,"
said McKay, who also serves as chairman of the NFL's competition committee.
SSI, which makes goalposts for hundreds of colleges and high schools, had them in
three NFL stadiums last season: Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium,
Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium, and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, shared by
the New York Giants and Jets.
This offseason, SSI added 20 more NFL stadiums. It's also installed goalposts at
some practice facilities. Other firms in the NFL goalpost mix are Gilman Gear,
Aluminum Athletic Equipment and First Down Football Products.
This week, Moxley oversaw installation of new goalposts at FedEx Field in Landover,
Md., home of the Washington Redskins. Also this month, his firm's goalposts went
up at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, home of the Ravens. He says the NFL wants
the work done by Aug. 1.
"We will meet their deadline," said Moxley. "All the NFL cared about was it was
done on time, and it was safe."
He says the price is about $8,000-$10,000 for two goalposts, depending on how
they are mounted to the ground (via a sleeve, a steel base plate or a hinged mount
for speedier lowering).
At the three stadiums where SSI previously had goalposts and verified engineering,
all it had to do was install new uprights. At the other venues, it had to custom-fit
each gooseneck to existing mounts or build new ones.
Moxley says installation takes a crew of three stadium workers about two hours,
using ropes and a couple of 10-foot ladders. There's also bolting, measuring and
leveling. Goalposts weigh roughly 500 pounds, but the extra 5 feet add nearly 20
pounds more.
When new ones go up, Moxley says he is not tempted to tee up a ball and kick the
first one through uprights.
"If you saw me kick an extra point, you might laugh and cry at the same time," he
says.
But when he sees an NFL kick go between his firm's product, he does do some quiet
celebrating.
Vikings suspend special teams coach
Mike Priefer
By Tom Pelissero
USAToday.com
July 19, 2014
The Minnesota Vikings suspended special teams coordinator Mike Priefer three
games and pledged $100,000 to LGBT rights charitable and educational
organizations in response to an investigation into allegations of inappropriate
conduct made by former punter Chris Kluwe.
Priefer's suspension can be reduced to two games if he attends anti-harassment,
diversity and sexual-orientation sensitivity training, according to a Vikings
statement Friday night that answered the latest round of claims by Kluwe, who has
announced he intends to file a lawsuit next week.
"I owe an apology to many people – the Wilf family, the Minnesota Vikings
organization and fans, my family, the LGBT community, Chris Kluwe and anyone
else that I offended with my insensitive remark," Priefer said in a statement issued
by the team.
"I regret what has occurred and what I said. I am extremely sorry but I will learn
from this situation and will work on educating others to create more tolerance and
respect."
Among other allegations in a Jan. 3 post to Deadspin.com that alleged he was
released for his activism on same-sex marriage, Kluwe wrote that Priefer said in a
meeting room, "We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then
nuke it until it glows."
A 29-page memo released Friday night by Littler Mendelson P.C. – an employment
law firm the Vikings retained to review findings of a six-month investigation by a
different firm – said long snapper Cullen Loeffler confirmed Priefer made that
remark after becoming frustrated Kluwe and Loeffler weren't focusing on practice.
However, the memo said there was no evidence to support Kluwe's other claims:
that Priefer made additional homophobic statements, that the Vikings released
Kluwe for his activism and that the team harbored a homophobic hostile work
environment.
"Coach Priefer is a good man, and we know that he deeply regrets the comment.
We do not believe that this error in judgment should define him," Vikings owners
Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a joint statement. "Accountability, however, is important
both on and off the field. In this instance, Coach Priefer fell short of what is
expected."
Kluwe's attorney, Clayton Halunen, told USA TODAY Sports his client had requested
a $1 million donation from the Vikings and a four-game ban for Priefer, whom
Kluwe has alleged made homophobic remarks before the Vikings cut Kluwe in May
2013.
Instead, the plan is for Kluwe to file a lawsuit next week in Minnesota court naming
Priefer and the Vikings organizations as defendants and believe they can get a $10
million jury verdict, Halunen said. Kluwe has said he would donate any money
gained in the lawsuit to charity.
"They had that opportunity (to settle)," Halunen told USA TODAY Sports. "They
didn't take advantage of it. There will be litigation. The first thing we'll request is a
copy of the full report and we are going to do our best to make it public."
That report was the product of a roughly six-month inquiry led by former Minnesota
Supreme Court justice Eric Magnuson and former U.S. Department of Justice trial
attorney Chris Madel, who were retained by the Vikings to complete what the team
called an independent review.
In lieu of the full report, the Vikings released the Littler Meldelson P.C. memo,
which also included unflattering allegations against Kluwe, who "viewed his
performance as a member of the Vikings in an inflated manner. … No interviewed
witness agreed that Kluwe had a good year in 2012."
The memo said interviewees shared stories "stories about Kluwe dropping his pants
in front of 20-25 business people as they were being escorted through the locker
room on a tour" and mocking the Penn State child sex scandal.
Kluwe quickly responded via Twitter, saying "over half the team" made the same
jokes in front of then-strength and conditioning Tom Kanavy, a Penn State
alumnus, and making a vague accusation about transgressions of other Vikings
players.
"Don't worry folks, you'll know when I'm on tilt," Kluwe tweeted. "The Vikings
clearly think turning this dirty will scare me off. Says all you need to know."
Broncos' DeMarcus Ware says he feels
healthier than past two years
By SI Wire
SI.com
July 18, 2014
The Denver Broncos made one of the biggest splashes this offseason when
they signed defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Ware is feeling better coming into
this season than he has in the past few, he recently revealed to The Denver
Post.
“I feel better than I did the last two years going into th e season,” Ware said.
“Stronger, faster. I feel flexible.”
Ware will be a key addition to a defense that was embarrassed in the Super
Bowl last season by the Seattle Seahawks. The team also signed free -agent
cornerback Aqib Talib to a six-year, $57 million contract.
In nine years with the Dallas Cowboys, Ware registered 117 sacks and 442
tackles.
In the past two seasons he has notched 11.5 and 6.0 sacks respectively.
Denver Broncos training camp: Dates,
location and site
By SI Wire
SI.com
July 18, 2014
The Denver Broncos finished last season 13-3 en route to an AFC
Championship. However, Peyton Manning and company were dominated by
the Seattle Seahawksin the Super Bowl and lost 43-8.
The Broncos have had a strong offseason, highlighted by signing former Dallas
Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Denver used its first-round pick on
Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby.
More: 2014 NFL MVP odds: Peyton Manning is betting favorite to win award
Broncos’ training camp information:
Site: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Center
Location: Englewood, Colo.
Rookie report date: July 23
Veteran report date: July 23
Training camp dates: July 24 – Aug. 15
It’s Past Time to Thank Pat Bowlen
By Joe Morrone
MileHighManiac.com
July 18, 2014
Pat Bowlen has owned the Denver Broncos for 30+ years and his record over that
time span is remarkable. In a piece on Mile High Sports, James Merilatt details how
special Bowlen has been. Appreciating Broncos owner Pat Bowlen
by@jamesmerilatt. http://milehighsports.com/?p=40608
There may not be a lot I can had and I’m sure some of it will be repetitive, but it’s
past time that people start appreciating what Bowlen has brought to the Broncos
and Colorado.
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We’ve spent the better part of the last month complaining about Colorado Rockies
owner, Dick Monfort. From his public relations gaffes to the terrible product on the
field that he refuses to do anything about, we’ve spent too much time on him.
On the other side of the ownership fence is Bowlen, an owner who cares only about
winning and will do whatever it takes. Monfort has employed General Manager, Dan
O’Dowd for 15 years despite a miserable record. Meanwhile, Bowlen fired Josh
McDaniels less than two years after he hired him because he didn’t like the
direction of the franchise.
As Merilatt points out, everything Bowlen does is first class and his only business
interest is the Broncos. The public relations department just won the award for
being the best in the NFL. It goes all the way through the organization; from the
front office to the support staff to the players.
There’s little doubt that free agents are attracted to the Broncos for various reasons
including John Elway, Peyton Manning but they also come to Denver because of
Bowlen. The Broncos owner has a reputation for treating players better than most
other owners.
There is breakfast and lunch at the facility so players aren’t hitting Taco Bell, the
medical team is second to none and Dove Valley is a state of the art facility; even
more so now with the renovations. Players like money first but after that it’s about
comfort and winning, and Bowlen provides both.
Since taking over in 1984, the Broncos have done nothing but win. They are third in
wins during that time, have won six AFC Championships and two World
Championships. The Broncos, as Merilatt points out, have also won 11 division titles
and been to the playoffs 16 times in Bowlen’s tenure. Any way you slice it, the
Broncos are one of the premiere franchises in the NFL and it starts with Bowlen.
Bowlen has made his share of mistakes but unlike Monfort, he doesn’t make
excuses and he moves quickly to fix those mistakes. We’ve all ready touched on the
McDaniels disaster but there was also the failed two years under Wade Phillips. Few
would have blamed Bowlen if he had given Phillips one more year, but he had lost
confidence and saw no reason to continue down that road.
He also had his own public relations issues in the early years including the wearing
of a fur coat on the sideline. Bowlen also struggled being in the public spotlight
early on and would say things that would make any public relations guru
uncomfortable.
Those issues never spilled on to the field though and the Broncos have remained
competitive for nearly all of those 30 years. Sure there have been the occasional
down seasons but there has never been a two or three year stretch where the
Broncos were bad for all of that time.
As a fan of any team, all you can ask for is for that team to do everything in their
power to win. No one is going to win a title every season or even post a winning
record every season, but as long as you know that’s what they are striving for; fans
can live with that.
Denver Post Columnist, Troy Renck was asked by a fan what the biggest difference
between covering the Rockies and the Broncos was? Renck said the Broncos “burn”
to win from the top down. That’s all they care about and that culture begins with
Bowlen and filters all the way down to the people who take care of the fields, and
do the laundry.
So instead of spending so much time crying about Monfort and the Rockies, maybe
it’s time we thank Bowlen for 30 years of excellence.
Again, a special thanks to James Merilatt for bringing this topic to everyone’s
attention.
Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs wants to leave
legacy in community
By Matt L. Stephens
The Coloradoan
July 18, 2014
A Denver sports talk station set the bar low for Kapri Bibbs on Tuesday, while still
holding it out of his reach.
The host, when asked to share his thoughts on Bibbs' chances of making the
Denver Broncos' roster, thought it would be a long shot for him to beat out Ronnie
Hillman. The same Hillman that has twice as many fumbles than touchdowns in his
two NFL seasons, including one on the goal line at Indianapolis last year that cost
Denver its come-from-behind victory.
The host called Bibbs' decision a mistake; a cautionary tale of an undrafted player
who left college too early that's seen every year in the NFL. It's the same criticism
Bibbs has heard the past seven months since electing to forgo his final two seasons
of eligibility at CSU.
"If I look at where I'm standing right now, I feel pretty good. I thought I had great
OTAs and minicamp," said Bibbs, who is about to start training camp with the
Broncos in Englewood on Thursday. "I opened a lot of eyes, of the players and the
coaches, so the opportunities are going to be there come training camp time.
"I have what it takes to play in the NFL. That's all I'm trying to prove, to show that
I can get to the season. I can't wait for the first preseason game to get here."
Bibbs admittedly has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to that need to prove
he's an NFL running back, thanks to all of the second-guessing he's heard about
him leaving college after his redshirt sophomore season. But that's a secondary
motivator for him to succeed.
When he first announced on Twitter in late December he was entering the NFL
draft, the 5-foot-9, 212 pounder from Plainfield, Illinois, said he was doing it
because he saw an opportunity to finally achieve his childhood dream of playing
professional football.
That dream has since expanded to encompass more than the game.
Since ending his amateur status, Bibbs started to recognize the impact his life had
on others. The name Kapri Bibbs has always carried some national prestige when it
came to football, rushing for more than 500 yards in a high school game or six
touchdowns in an evening against New Mexico, but the attention was relatively
short lived.
He's now a public figure representing the Denver Broncos and everywhere he goes,
someone — usually children — want to talk to him.
"Kapri is so angelic when it comes to kids. If you look at his (Twitter) followers,
about 70 percent of them are age 13 and under, and I think that says a lot because
children are so impressionable," Bibbs' mother, Stacey Griffin, said. "Kapri has been
mentoring children, white, black, Hispanic, in Plainfield for years. He even flies back
just to go check on them at their school."
Every move he makes off the field is being watched — not by coaches — by the
people whose opinion means the most to him: his fans and 16-year-old brother,
Marcus Edwards. If he does anything stupid, someone will notice.
"I know I made a lot of mistakes when I was his age, so I try to do my best to be a
great role model to him, and others, and not make any mistakes now because I
don't want him to look at me as a hypocrite," Bibbs said. "And not just mistakes in
football, but in life. I want to show people the importance of having a good
personality and behavior."
And that's why signing a contract with the Broncos is so important to him. It's not
the paycheck (though it's a nice bonus) that's driving him to succeed, it's about the
chance to start a legacy in his community as an NFL running back.
Weeks of minicamp and offseason training activities were easy, Bibbs said, calling
them less taxing than the practices he had in his one season CSU, when he rushed
for a school-record 1,741 yards and 31 touchdowns on 281 carries.
This summer, he had six fellow running backs to split reps with during practices
that had limited contact. Now, there are still seven backs on roster, but training
camp is about become significantly more demanding on the physical side. Bibbs is
going to get hit — repeatedly — to see if he's up for the challenge of being one of
the (likely) four running backs Denver keeps around.
Bibbs said he is ready, that he'll be around for the first preseason game Aug. 7
against Seattle, when the season officially kicks off a month later versus
Indianapolis and for every significant milestone after that.
He's come so far, silencing critics from high school, junior college and CSU. Why
stop now with the NFL?
"Getting that call after the draft to sign as a free agent, obviously, that was a
blessing, but I feel like a lot of people get in that mode where they get content, but
not me," he said. "I want to be legendary. I want to be one of those guys that in
the end, you remember my name. It'll never be about the money, it'll be about the
legacy I leave with the game."
How Do Monday Night Football Tickets
Compare To Other Games On The
NFL Schedule?
By Jesse Lawrence
Forbes.com
July 18, 2014
Monday Night Football is always one of the biggest games on the NFL schedule each
week. But while Monday night is a prime time-slot for television viewing, that isn’t
the case for ticket prices on the secondary market and a Monday night premium
doesn’t consistently exist. According to TiqIQ, of the 16 Monday night games, the
average price each week is actually 2.5% below the home team’s season average
over the course of the season.
Only five of the 16 Monday Night Football games this season have a premium
above the home team’s average price, however three of those games have a
premium of at least 20% higher. Two other games this season have an average
price at least 20% below the team’s secondary market season average.
One factor that may be bringing premium prices down is that there will only be two
divisional match-ups on Monday night this season. Week 8 the Redskins visit AT&T
Stadium for the only Monday Night Football match-up on the Cowboys schedule for
a game 1.3% above the season average for Cowboys tickets. The other comes in
Week 13 when the Miami Dolphins visit the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The
Jets will be the only team to host two Monday Night Football games this year, and
both are currently listed below their $196.03 season average.
Four games will pit 2013 playoff teams against each other and only one–
Philadelphia at Carolina Week 10–does not have a premium on the secondary
market. When the Denver Broncos head to Cincinnati in Week 16, that game will
have the second highest Monday Night Football premium, 27.6% above the Bengals
season average.
The following is the average price of each Monday Night Football game for the 2014
NFL season, along with its listed average price and how it compares to the home
team’s secondary market season average.
Merilatt: Make Bowlen next Bronco in
Ring of Fame
By James Merilatt
The Coloradoan
July 18, 2014
Sometimes in life, something doesn't get appreciated until it's gone. It's taken for
granted on a daily basis, not seen as special until a giant void is created once it's no
longer there.
At other times, getting a glimpse of the alternative can provide the same
perspective. The “It's a Wonderful Life’’ effect can be a powerful tool, helping
people value what they have instead of longing for something else.
Here's hoping everyone who cares about the Denver Broncos — staff members,
players, fans and even the media — fall into the second category. They certainly
have had the George Bailey-like experience to provide the necessary nudge in that
direction.
During the past week, sports news in the Mile High City has been filled with a lot of
negativity, all stemming from a franchise (read Rockies) that is mired in one of its
worst seasons in team history. That has led to regrettable email exchanges
between frustrated fans and an equally frustrated owner, which have produced
quotes that will unfortunately live in infamy.
But while trying to make sense of a business owner telling his customers not to
come to the ballpark if they don't like the product, or attempting to decipher if that
same leader really suggested that a city that holds nearly every attendance record
in Major League Baseball doesn't deserve a team, one gigantic positive did emerge
from the entire ordeal on 20th and Blake. Taking a step back, exhaling for a
moment and looking around the rest of the sports landscape provided a revelation
of sorts.
Denver is lucky to have Pat Bowlen.
In the 30 seasons that Bowlen has owned the team, the Broncos have won 307
games, which is third most in the NFL during that span. The franchise has captured
the AFC West 11 times, made the playoffs on 16 occasions, gone to six Super Bowls
and won two world championships.
That's a pretty dazzling record, one that any fan of any team should be thrilled to
see attached to their favorite franchise. But it all stems from the fact that Bowlen
has had a very simple motto since the day he bought the team of wanting the
Broncos to be No. 1 in everything they do.
That should be music to the ears of every fan. It's the aspiration one hopes for from
the team they invest so much time, money and emotions into.
Obviously, that starts on the field, a goal Bowlen has helped make possible by
continually opening up his checkbook to sign free agents, hire coaches, build stateof-the-art training facilities and much more. But it also extends to every other
aspect of the team's business.
All of that is the result of Bowlen's mantra; he wants his organization to be great at
everything it does, even if it's behind the scenes and won't get noticed. And that
standard has provided sports fans in Denver with a franchise they can be proud of,
a team that others around the country envy.
As a result, it's time to honor Bowlen for his efforts. It's time to provide everyone in
Denver, as well as past and current players, the chance to say thank you for
creating something that makes the city proud.
It's time to put Pat Bowlen in the Broncos' Ring of Fame.
Yes, this year's class has already been announced. And yes, the owner himself
would almost assuredly decline the honor, wanting to put the emphasis and
attention instead on the players and coaches who've worked for him. But none of
that matters; do it anyway.
It's no secret the team's 70-year-old owner has been dealing with health-related
issues in recent years. And based on the fact that the man who was so involved
with every facet of the organization for so long has slowly relinquished more and
more day-to-day duties to team president Joe Ellis in recent years, it's clear that
something has changed with regard to Bowlen's physical abilities.
Honoring Bowlen can't be put off until next year. It can't wait until there's a smaller
class of inductees. It can't be put on the back burner until an anniversary of some
sort rolls around for the franchise.
It needs to happen now. This year. As soon as possible.
Five people from the six-member committee that decides who gets inducted into
the Ring of Fame need to call a special meeting without inviting the entire group
and hold a special election. John Beake, Joe Collier, Joe Ellis, Jim Saccomano and
Larry Zimmer — a collection of people who have been associated with the Broncos
for nearly a combined 200 years — should gather without Bowlen, who holds the
sixth spot on the committee, and vote the owner into the Ring of Fame he created.
If four out of the five vote yes, that would provide a majority, even if it's assumed
Bowlen would cast a nay if asked.
Typically, new members get their name permanently placed on the façade at Sports
Authority Field on Alumni Weekend. This year, that's slated for Sept. 14, when the
Broncos host the Chiefs. And that day is already packed, as the organization honors
Gene Mingo, Dan Reeves and Rick Upchurch.
Bowlen wouldn't want to upstage the three worthwhile new members of the
exclusive club, so adding him to the docket that day wouldn't work.
Instead, Oct. 19 would be a much better fit. That day, the 49ers come to Denver
for a Sunday night tilt, providing just the kind of big-time atmosphere that's
appropriate for the occasion.
It would be a grand evening, one that would be memorable for all involved.
The last few days have been an embarrassing time to be a Denver sports fan. But
they've also provided the perspective needed to see that the city is lucky to have
one of the top owners in professional sports.
Thankfully, that's provided the opportunity to appreciate, as well as thank, Pat
Bowlen.
Horse Tracks: Everybody loves
Peyton Manning
By Kyle Montgomery
MileHighReport.com
July 18, 2014
You love Peyton. I love Peyton. America loves Peyton Manning.
The Denver Broncos quarterback again ranked fourth in Harris Interactive's annual
poll of America's favorite athletes, behind only LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and
Derek Jeter. And while it's hard to compete against basketball legends and biracial
angels, Manning certainly belongs in the conversation of greatest athlete.
Broncos fans have definitely come to love Peyton - he's the first quarterback since
John Elway to give us confidence in our signal caller. We have grown into a position
of absolute faith in our quarterback.
A lot of that surrounds his work ethic - a unique trait that Jeff Legwold recently
detailed.
How do you reboot the game of a legendary competitor coming off the most epic
disappointment of his career?
This is how:
You dissect every piece of the 2013 season to see what worked, what didn't work
and where the good and bad decisions were made. You prepare to win the last
game of the 2014 season and watch Peyton Manning hoist the Lombardi trophy
under a sea of orange and blue confetti.
"The first day back in the building, we watched the Super Bowl," said Broncos
quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp. "I told him the day after the game we were going
to watch it when he came back, not right then, but the first day he was back, and
we were going to watch it without the emotion of what just happened. And that was
step one."
Many of us joke about not having watched the Super Bowl since it happened. I still
get thefunny tweets about them all the time, and even though the joke has been
told a hundred times, it's still funny. It's certainly more enjoyable than, y'know,
actually having to watch the thing - something I've tried do a handful of times but
only succeeded in doing once.
Not Manning. As embarrassing and disappointing as that game was, he has bitten
the bullet. He's watched the tape.
Hopefully he's learned from it.
Peyton watched Super Bowl on first day
of offseason work
By Michael David Smith
ProFootballTalk/NBCSports.com
July 18, 2014
The Broncos and quarterback Peyton Manning had a Super Bowl to forget, but not a
Super Bowl they think they can afford to ignore.
Manning and Broncos quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp made watching the tape of
their loss to the Seahawks their first priority when they got together on the first day
of offseason work, reasoning that enough time had passed for the pain to dissipate
— while also reasoning that if they didn’t examine why their offense struggled so
much against the Seahawks’ defense, they wouldn’t know how to fix it when they
face the Seahawks again in Week Three of the regular season.
“The first day back in the building, we watched the Super Bowl,” Knapp told ESPN.
“I told him the day after the game we were going to watch it when he came back,
not right then, but the first day he was back, and we were going to watch it without
the emotion of what just happened. And that was step one.”
Manning said he doesn’t think he can get better until he identifies where he went
wrong.
“If you ever feel like that’s not important — like, ‘Hey, I don’t need to watch last
season; I know what we did; I know what I did wrong’ — no, you don’t know,”
Manning said. “You need to watch it. Watch the bad plays. It’s not fun to watch bad
plays, to sit there and say, ‘That’s a bad decision’ and ‘That’s a really bad decision’
and ‘Horrible read.’ . . . No matter how old you are, you need to go into that
prepared to be constructively criticized and learn how to grow out of the mistakes
every year.”
That’s the right approach. Even if it was the least enjoyable film session of
Manning’s career.
DeMarcus Ware: I feel stronger and
faster than I have the last two seasons
By Josh Alper
ProFootballTalk/NBCSports.com
July 18, 2014
DeMarcus Ware slipped to six sacks last year while missing the first three games of
his career, developments that combined with his large salary to grease the skids for
his exit from the Cowboys after nine years with the club.
Ware quickly signed with the Broncos, but last year’s injuries and the nagging ones
that impacted him in 2012 create some reason to worry that Ware may not be able
to reach the same levels that he has in the past. Ware has dropped weight as he
expects to stand up more this year after spending last year with his hand int he
ground as a defensive end, though, and he’s explored alternative medical
techniques like cupping to help him get back to where he wants to be.
“I feel better than I did the last two years going into the season,” Ware said, via
theDenver Post. “Stronger, faster. I feel flexible.”
The Broncos aggressively overhauled their defense this offseason and they are
counting on Ware and Von Miller to put some of bite into a defense that was
missing it as last season came to an end. Both players are coming off injuries that
required surgery, however, and that’s going to leave their prospects up in the air
until we’ve seen them in action this summer.
2014 Game-by-Game: Week 15
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
July 18, 2014
The Broncos have a three-game winning streak in San Diego, but face the Chargers
there in December -- which has usually been bad news for Denver.
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WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 14; 1:25 p.m. PST.
WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego.
TV: CBS.
SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead, 58-49-1 (Broncos lead, 1-0 in the postseason).
JOHN FOX'S RECORD: 5-3 (1-0 in the postseason).
PEYTON MANNING'S RECORD: 7-4 (1-2 in the postseason).
SERIES STREAK: Denver has won three straight and four of the last five in San
Diego.
LAST TIME IN SAN DIEGO: Broncos 28, Chargers 20; Nov 10, 2013. The Broncos
were held below 30 points for the first time in the 2013 season, but had enough
explosive plays to build a lead that withstood a late Chargers rally. A 74-yard
touchdown pass from Manning toJulius Thomas 5:42 into the game gave the
Broncos a lead they would never relinquish. Denver eventually built a 28-6
advantage before the Chargers came back, forcing a fumble and three
consecutive Broncos punts. But the Chargers couldn't get the Broncos off the field
one final time in the last three minutes, and the Broncos were able to run out the
clock and improve their record to 8-1. The game was Jack Del Rio's first as
interim head coach; he would lead the Broncos to a 3-1 record in John Fox's
absence during the most demanding quarter of the regular season.
NOTING THE GAME:
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The Broncos' current three-game winning streak in San Diego is their longest
since 1997-2000. The current streak is their fourth of at least three consecutive
wins at San Diego; the others came from 1986-88 and 1975-77.
San Diego's balmy temperatures make it a gorgeous December destination. But
for the Broncos, it has been a city to avoid in the year's 12th month. They have
lost three straight and seven of their last eight December games at San Diego,
and are 3-12 overall. (In all other months, the Broncos are 19-19 in San Diego.)
The Broncos even lost a December game to the Chargers when they were based
in Los Angeles, falling 41-33 on Dec. 10, 1960. The Chargers moved to San Diego
the following year.
Even though Fox was not present in person for last year's trip to San Diego, the
win still counts on his career ledger, and continued his undefeated streak as a
head coach at Qualcomm Stadium. In three of the wins (2008 with Carolina, 2011
and 2012 with Denver), his team rallied from a deficit in the fourth quarter.
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The Broncos have won at least one postseason game in 11 seasons. In 10 of
those 11, they won at San Diego in the regular season. The exception was in
1989, when the Broncos rested John Elway for the second half of a Week 16
game at San Diego, since they had already clinched home-field advantage in the
AFC postseason.
As a starting quarterback, San Diego's Philip Rivers has more home losses to the
Broncos (four) than to fellow AFC West rivals Oakland and Kansas City combined
(three).