Denver Broncos – Page 6 – North Platte Post Archive

Broncos DE Antonio Smith under investigation in Texas

Posted on May 21, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith is under investigation in Texas over a criminal allegation the local sheriff describes as “sexual in nature.”

Smith has not been arrested and no charges have been filed. TMZ first reported the investigation on Thursday.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said a complaint was made against Smith in November and it was “sexual in nature.” After its investigation, the sheriff’s office forwarded its findings to the county District Attorney’s Office in February.

Prosecutors are still reviewing the matter.

The 33-year-old defensive end signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Broncos on April 2.

Owner Pat Bowlen selected for Broncos ring of fame

Posted on May 13, 2015May 13, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who stepped down from daily duties last summer as he battled Alzheimer’s disease, has been selected for the team’s ring of fame that he created in 1984.

Team president and CEO Joe Ellis said he visited Bowlen with the news Wednesday.

Bowlen is the only owner in NFL history to win 300 games, counting playoffs, in a 30-year span.

Bowlen will be honored before the Broncos’ Sunday night game against Green Bay on Nov. 1.

Ellis said he hopes the next move is for Bowlen to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor like 2015 inductees Ron Wolf and Bill Polian.

Broncos rookie suffers major knee injury at practice

Posted on May 10, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos rookie tight end Jeff Heuerman tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during a special teams practice inside the team’s field house Saturday and is expected to miss the season.

The third-round draft selection out of Ohio State was one of GM John Elway’s prized picks He was hurt when he made a cut during the special teams portion of the afternoon practice for rookies.

The workout had been moved indoors because of wintery weather that had made the regular fields too slick.

Heuerman is the second notable draft pick to sustain a devastating knee injury at a rookie minicamp this weekend. On Friday, No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

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Peyton Manning Begins Working on Denver Broncos’ New Offense

Posted on April 28, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is back on the football field learning a new offense under new coach Gary Kubiak.

Manning, who turned 39 last month, was without his top target when the Denver Broncos opened their first minicamp. Demaryius Thomas is skipping the offseason program after being franchise tagged, to the chagrin of GM John Elway.

Manning is acclimating to a shuffled O-line that lost Orlando Franklin and Will Montgomery and a new group of pass-catchers minus Julius Thomas, Jacob Tamme and Wes Welker.

Afterward, Manning is expected to meet with the media for the first time since pondering retirement following the 2014 season.

He agreed to the first pay cut of his career, a $4 million reduction that helped alleviate the Broncos’ cash crunch.

Peyton Manning Donating $3 Million to Tennessee

Posted on April 24, 2015

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is donating $3 million to Tennessee to benefit the Volunteers’ football program and Manning’s scholarship endowment.

The university issued a release Friday saying Manning and wife Ashley announced a “$3 million leadership commitment.” Manning starred for Tennessee from 1994-97.

Manning’s donation honors Gus Manning, who isn’t related to the quarterback, and Carmen Tegano. Gus Manning has served Tennessee’s athletic program since 1951 in many roles. Tegano, an associate athletic director, has worked at Tennessee for over three decades.

Gate 16 at Neyland Stadium will be called the Gus Manning Gate. A student-athlete dining hall in a residence hall under construction will be named after Carmen and Deborah Tegano.

The Peyton Manning Scholarship for students in Tennessee’s honors program has been awarded annually since 1998-99.

Elway on Demaryius Thomas’ Absence: ‘Makes no Sense’

Posted on April 23, 2015April 24, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos general manager John Elway disagrees with Pro Bowl receiver Demaryius Thomas’ strategy to skip the team’s offseason program while angling for a long-term contract.

Elway said Thursday during a news conference to discuss the upcoming draft that “there’s zero value of him being away from here.”

A prolonged boycott by Thomas could hinder the installation of new coach Gary Kubiak’s offense that will feature Peyton Manning’s tactical and timing proficiencies while placing a greater emphasis on the run and two-tight end sets.

The Broncos placed their franchise tag on Thomas, guaranteeing him $12.8 million in 2015 — which is about the same amount as he’s made in his first five NFL seasons combined.

Packers-Patriots, Broncos-Seahawks Top Preseason

Posted on April 9, 2015

The NFL preseason will open Aug. 9 when Pittsburgh and Minnesota meet in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

In the first full week of the preseason, the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will host Green Bay, which lost to Seattle in the NFC title game. The Seahawks will host Denver, which they beat in the 2014 Super Bowl, in Week 1 of the exhibition games.

Most matchups in the preseason involve AFC vs. NFC teams, but a dozen games will feature intraconference meetings. Pittsburgh, Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay and Buffalo each play two exhibitions within the conference.

The regular season begins Sept. 10; that schedule is expected to be released later this month.

Kubiak Lands Another of His Former Players

Posted on April 2, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Dove Valley is beginning to look like a class reunion. Veteran defensive lineman Antonio Smith is the fifth player to reunite with coach Gary Kubiak in Denver.

The 12th-year pro who signed a one-year deal Thursday recorded 27 of his 44 1(backslash)2 sacks in his five seasons (2009-13) in Houston, where Denver’s new coach was in charge of the Texans from 2006-13.

Smith played in Oakland last year. He also played in Arizona from 2004-08. Overall, he’s appeared in 156 regular season games (133 starts) and eight playoff games (seven starts).

Broncos Acquire Center Gradkowski from Ravens

Posted on April 1, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos continued addressing their needs along the offensive line by acquiring fourth-year center Gino Gradkowski from the Baltimore Ravens for 2016 draft considerations.

Gradkowski started every game in Baltimore in 2013 but only saw action in eight games last year after the Ravens obtained Jeremy Zuttah from the Buccaneers.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder appeared in every game during Baltimore’s Super Bowl run his rookie season. Overall, he played in 40 regular season games and six playoff games with the Ravens, who selected him in the fourth round out of Delaware in the 2012 draft.

Demaryius Thomas Says He’ll Skip Offseason Workouts

Posted on March 30, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Demaryius Thomas says he’ll skip the Denver Broncos’ offseason workouts until the sides agree on a long-term contract.

The star receiver also said he’ll bypass Peyton Manning’s annual passing camp next week at Duke, where the five-time MVP QB works on his timing with his wide receivers.

Speaking by phone Monday from an XBox “Call of Duty” event in Los Angeles to benefit military veterans, Thomas said if a long-term deal isn’t reached, he’d sign the Broncos’ $12.823 million franchise tender by the July 15 deadline.

Because he’s played three years with Manning, Thomas said missing offseason workouts won’t complicate his adjustment to the Broncos’ new offense under coach Gary Kubiak.