Denver Broncos – Page 8 – North Platte Post Archive

Broncos Place Franchise Tag on Demaryius Thomas

Posted on March 2, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have placed their franchise tag on star receiver Demaryius Thomas, guaranteeing him roughly $12.8 million next season and buying them more time to work out a long-term deal.

General manager John Elway used that same tactic before re-signing kicker Matt Prater and left tackle Ryan Clady before training camp in recent years.

Selected 22nd overall in 2010 out of Georgia Tech, Thomas has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Thomas could always signal his displeasure with the move by waiting to sign the tender and skipping offseason workouts that begin the first week of April. If Thomas doesn’t sign a long-term contract, the Broncos could use the franchise tag on him again next year.

AP Source: Manning, Broncos Talking About Reworking Contract

Posted on February 25, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirms the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning’s representatives are discussing ways to revise his contract and give the team more flexibility in free agency.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

Manning, who has made more money than any player in pro football history, is due to make another $19 million in both 2015 and ’16, and his salary cap number for next season is $21.2 million.

John Elway has traditionally been one of the more aggressive general managers in the NFL when it comes to free agency.

Elway: Broncos Want Manning Back, Still Awaiting Word

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The ball is in Peyton Manning’s court.

Broncos executive John Elway said as much Thursday at the NFL scouting combine, making it clear he’s still waiting to hear whether the 38-year-old quarterback wants to return for a fourth season in Denver.

Manning and Elway met last week in Denver, but Manning left without a definitive answer about his return.

Elway said he wanted No. 18 back. He was less clear about what financial terms Manning might return under.

Asked if there was a holdup because of contract considerations — Manning is scheduled to make $19 million next season — Elway said he didn’t like to discuss contracts, but that he does believe Manning will be the Broncos quarterback next season.

Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak Rounds Out His Staff

Posted on February 14, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has finished building his staff by hiring Marc Lubick as assistant wide receivers coach and Samson Brown as assistant defensive backs coach.

Kubiak, who replaced John Fox, has a 22-man staff that includes nine offensive coaches, seven defensive coaches, two special teams coaches and four strength and conditioning coaches.

Lubick is the son of longtime Colorado State University coach Sonny Lubick. He’s coached in the NFL six seasons and in the college ranks for nine. Last season he coached wide receivers at Vanderbilt after spending the previous four seasons on Kubiak’s staff in Houston.

Brown is in his fifth season in the NFL. He spent the last two years as assistant defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills.

Peyton Manning Still Considering his Future with Broncos

Posted on January 30, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Peyton Manning is still mulling his future in the NFL.

At a breakfast Friday to receive the Bart Starr Award, the five-time MVP said he still hasn’t made a decision about whether he’ll return to the Denver Broncos next season.

After the season-ending 24-13 loss to Indianapolis in the divisional playoffs, Manning made no guarantees about coming back for another season — a change of heart from a month previous, when he said he had every intention of returning.

He played the end of this season with a leg injury that hampered his effectiveness.

Broncos executive vice president John Elway told Manning to take his time before deciding.

“I’d like to make a decision soon,” Manning said, but he did not indicate when that would be.

AP Sources: Phillips will be Broncos Defensive Coordinator

Posted on January 28, 2015

Wade Phillips with the Houston Texans (Photo from ESPN.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the agreement say Wade Phillips is returning to Denver as Gary Kubiak’s defensive coordinator.

The two spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t immediately announce the hiring, which was first reported by KDCO-AM and FM Mile High Sports Radio in Denver.

Phillips, 67, interviewed for the position Tuesday.

He was Kubiak’s defensive coordinator in Houston from 2011-13 and replaced him as interim coach when Kubiak was fired by the Texans in December 2013.

Phillips has also coached the Saints, Cowboys, Bills and Broncos, where he went 16-16 from 1993-94.

He was out of football last season for the first time since 1975.

Broncos Hire Bill Kollar as Defensive Line Coach

Posted on January 23, 2015January 24, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Bill Kollar, who has 26 years of experience coaching defensive lines in the NFL, is the Denver Broncos’ new D-line coach.

Kollar spent the last six seasons in Houston, five of them under new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak. With the Texans, he worked with stars J.J. Watt and Mario Williams.

He’s also served as defensive line coach for Buffalo (2007-08), St. Louis (2001-05) and Atlanta (1990-2000).

Kollar spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Buccaneers and Bengals, who drafted him in the first round out of Montana State in 1974.

Kubiak Returns to Denver to again help Elway and the Broncos

Posted on January 20, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Gary Kubiak was all set to stay in Baltimore, where he’d had a terrific comeback as the Ravens offensive coordinator after getting fired from his head coaching job in Houston the year before.

He turned down opportunities to interview for the head coaching vacancies with the Bears and Jets, and planned a vacation with his wife, Rhonda.

Then, his cellphone buzzed.

It was John Elway.

Cancel the sand and the surf.

Pack the skis instead.

“It was just a game-changer,” Kubiak said Tuesday after being introduced as the 15th head coach of the Denver Broncos, where he spent 13 seasons either backing up Elway at quarterback or drawing up blueprints as his offensive coordinator.

“This place is special for me” Kubiak said.

Gary Kubiak Signs 4-Year Contract as Broncos’ Coach

Posted on January 19, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Gary Kubiak has signed a four-year contract to coach the Denver Broncos.

He replaces John Fox, who was ousted a week ago following Denver’s 24-13 playoff loss to Indianapolis.

Kubiak’s relationship with general manager John Elway goes back 32 years, when they entered the NFL together in 1983. Kubiak spent nine seasons as Elway’s backup quarterback and 11 more as Denver’s offensive coordinator, including the final four years of Elway’s Hall of Fame career.

Elway said in a statement: “Having coached on three Super Bowl teams and 11 playoff teams, Gary knows what it will take to deliver another world championship” to Denver.

Kubiak went 63-66 as coach of the Texans from 2006-13.

AP Source: Broncos Finalizing 4-Year Deal with Gary Kubiak

Posted on January 18, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Denver Broncos GM John Elway is hashing out a four-year contract with Gary Kubiak to become the team’s head coach.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement isn’t expected to be announced until Monday.

Kubiak replaces John Fox, who was ousted last Monday following Denver’s loss to Indianapolis in the playoffs.

Elway and team president Joe Ellis met with Kubiak in Houston for several hours Sunday.

Kubiak was Elway’s backup QB from 1983-91 and Denver’s offensive coordinator from 1995-2005 under Mike Shanahan.

Kubiak, who was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator last season, went 63-66, counting the playoffs, as head coach of the Texans from 2006-13.