Denver Broncos – Page 12 – North Platte Post Archive

Manning, Gronkowski on All-Fundamentals Team

Posted on December 10, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning, Rob Gronkowski and Earl Thomas are among the 26 players chosen by USA Football for its All-Fundamental team.

Players from 22 NFL teams have been selected with guidance from a five-man committee of Bill Polian, Herm Edwards, Merril Hoge, Charles Davis and Carl Peterson.

USA Football, the governing body for the sport in the United States, recognizes NFL players who employ proper technique, particularly when blocking and tackling, which fosters safety benefits and better on-field performances.

Among the other players chosen for the squad are Reggie Wayne, Golden Tate, Matt Forte, Joe Thomas, Luke Kuechly, Cameron Wake, Gerald McCoy and three rookies: place kicker Chandler Catanzaro, linebacker Khalil Mack, and guard Zack Martin.

“These 26 men serve as examples to the millions of youth football players across the nation that fundamentals are vital to success at every level,” said Peterson, USA Football’s chairman and a longtime NFL executive. “According to medical experts, players who master the fundamentals and learn them at younger ages are safer as they progress within the sport.”

The team:

Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Denver

Running Back: Matt Forte, Chicago

Fullback: John Kuhn, Green Bay

Wide Receivers: Golden Tate, Detroit; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Center: Ryan Kalil, Carolina

Guard: Zach Martin, Dallas; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore

Tackle: Jason Peters, Philadelphia; Joe Thomas, Cleveland

Defensive End: Cameron Wake, Miami; Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets

Defensive Tackle: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Kyle Williams, Buffalo

Linebacker: Khalil Mack, Oakland; Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Tamba Hali, Kansas City

Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis; Terence Newman, Dallas

Safety: Ryan Clark, Washington; Earl Thomas, Seattle

Placekicker: Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona

Punter: Jon Ryan, Seattle

Return Specialist: Jacoby Jones, Baltimore

Long Snapper: Cullen Loeffler, Minnesota

3 AFC Teams can Clinch Divisions this Week

Posted on December 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The Patriots, Broncos and Colts can clinch their division titles this week.

New England (10-3) hosts Miami (7-6) and will own the NFC East with a victory. The Patriots can earn an AFC first-round playoff bye if they win while Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati lose, or win and the Colts, Steelers and Broncos lose.

Denver gets the AFC West crown by beating San Diego. Indy owns the AFC South by beating Houston this Sunday.

The Broncos get a first-round playoff bye with a win and losses by the Colts and Steelers, or by the Colts and Bengals — provided Denver has a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over Pittsburgh.

Denver also can get at least a wild card with a loss and defeats by Miami, Houston, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, or Miami, Houston, Baltimore and Cleveland, or Miami, Houston and Baltimore, plus a Pittsburgh win.

NFL Says Refs’ Fist Bump OK After Broncos TD

Posted on December 7, 2014

DENVER (AP) — After C.J. Anderson bulled in for his second touchdown of the day, the Broncos celebrated. So did the refs.

Moments after Anderson’s 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter of Denver’s 24-17 win over Buffalo on Sunday, line judge John Hussey and umpire Carl Paganelli fist bumped after making what turned out to be the correct call.

Bills safety Aaron Williams wasn’t amused. After the game, he linked the video of the officials’ reaction to a tweet that said he can’t win when the referees are against his team.

The NFL had no problem with the gesture.

League spokesman Michael Signora says the two officials were acknowledging good mechanics.

It was a tough call because Anderson bulled through the center of the line. Paganelli helped Hussey determine whether the ball had crossed the goal line.

Broncos Beat Bills 24-17 Behind Anderson’s 3 TDs

Posted on December 7, 2014

DENVER (AP) — C.J. Anderson ran for three touchdowns and the Denver Broncos overcame a rare unsteady outing by Peyton Manning to beat the Buffalo Bills 24-17 Sunday.

Manning’s streak of 51 straight games with a touchdown throw — three shy of Drew Brees’ NFL record — ended on a sun-splashed, almost still afternoon in Denver, where the game-time temperature was a balmy 63 degrees.

Despite three turnovers, the Broncos (10-3) won their third straight game since changing from a pass-oriented attack to a run-heavy approach.

Manning finished 14 of 20 for 173 yards with two interceptions. His top receiver, Demaryius Thomas, was held to two catches for 11 yards, and tight end Julius Thomas (ankle) was active but didn’t play for the third straight week.

Buffalo is 7-6.

Broncos Bring Back McManus as Kickoff Specialist

Posted on December 7, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brandon McManus is back with the Denver Broncos as their kickoff specialist two weeks after losing his kicking job to veteran Connor Barth.

Denver waived rookie punt returner Isaiah Burse.

McManus’ 69 percent field-goal conversion rate prompted the switch to Barth, who was 5 for 5 on field goals in a 29-16 win at Kansas City.

However, none of his eight kickoffs went for touchbacks on a frigid, windy night at Arrowhead Stadium and the Chiefs’ average starting position on those kickoffs was their 33.

McManus had 48 touchbacks in 64 kickoffs (75 percent) this season. Barth is just 11 for 164 in his career.

Burse averaged 7.2 yards on 29 punt returns. He’ll be replaced Sunday by Emmanuel Sanders or Wes Welker against Buffalo.

Demaryius Thomas Says He’ll Give Broncos a Break

Posted on December 5, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Demaryius Thomas says he’d take a hometown discount to stay in Denver.

If he does, the Broncos can thank Peyton Manning and even Josh McDaniels, the man who drafted him.

Thomas, who has a bruised right ankle, said he expects to play Sunday against Buffalo, but the bigger news is his eagerness to get a deal done to stay in Denver for the long haul.

While hometown discount is a nebulous term — is that less than the $16 million annually that Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald average, and if so, how much less? — it is certainly good news for the Broncos.

They have two other stars up for megadeals in cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and tight end Julius Thomas. Then, there’s the blockbuster extension looming for Von Miller after 2015.

Broncos Beat Chiefs 29-16 to Stay Atop AFC West

Posted on December 1, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, Connor Barth was perfect on five field-goal attempts and the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 29-16 on Sunday night to remain alone in first place in the AFC West.

C.J. Anderson added 168 yards rushing and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, and Demaryius Thomas also had a TD grab to help the Broncos (9-3) beat Kansas City for the sixth straight time.

Alex Smith threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs (7-5), the second of them to Jamaal Charles to make it 26-16 early in the fourth quarter. But Smith’s pass on the 2-point try fell incomplete, and the Broncos added another field goal to put the game away.

The victory kept Denver a game up on San Diego in the division race.

Marshall Expects to Play Sunday at K.C.

Posted on November 28, 2014November 29, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos top tackler Brandon Marshall says he expects to play Sunday night at Kansas City after clearing concussion protocol and practicing in full Friday.

Marshall was knocked out of last week’s win over the Dolphins when he ran into 6-foot-4, 265-pound tight end Dion Simms on T.J. Ward’s interception return.

Simms was unfazed while Marshall was wobbly and walked off the field with assistance.

Marshall said he was confident he’d clear the league’s concussion protocol this week “because honestly, it wasn’t that bad. Right after the game I could drive.”

This was the first concussion of Marshall’s career.

Marshall is officially listed as probable. Aqib Talib (hamstring) is 50-50. Three players are out: Kayvon Webster (shoulder), Ronnie Hillman (foot) and Montee Ball (groin).

AP Source: Broncos Waive McManus, Sign Barth

Posted on November 25, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the transactions says the Denver Broncos have switched kickers again, waiving rookie Brandon McManus and signing Connor Barth, who hasn’t played since 2012.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the moves hadn’t been announced. The Denver Post first reported the switch.

Barth, a five-year veteran, and 13-year pro Jay Feely worked out for the team Tuesday, 48 hours after McManus clanked a 33-yard field goal off an upright in Denver’s 39-36 win over Miami.

The Broncos traded a seventh-round draft pick to the Giants for McManus in August after Matt Prater’s suspension. They later released Prater, who signed with Detroit.

Solid on kickoffs, McManus was 9 for 13 on field goal attempts.

Broncos Bringing in Kicker Feely for Tryout

Posted on November 24, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are bringing in veteran kicker Jay Feely for a workout Tuesday.

Brandon McManus clanked a 33-yard field goal attempt off the right upright in Denver’s 39-36 squeaker over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

McManus has made 9 of 13 tries (69.2 percent) and coach John Fox twice went for it on fourth down two weeks ago in St. Louis rather than try long field goals inside a dome.

Feely was beaten out by Chandler Catanzaro for Arizona’s kicking job last summer, ending his four-year stint with the Cardinals. He’s also played for the Falcons, Giants, Dolphins and Jets and has made 82.7 percent of his kicks in his career.

The Broncos might also bring in other available kickers.