Denver Broncos – Page 9 – North Platte Post Archive

Peyton Manning to Miss Pro Bowl with Thigh Injury

Posted on January 18, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is skipping the Pro Bowl because his right thigh injury hasn’t gotten much better in the week since the Denver Broncos were bounced from the playoffs.

Manning calls it “a great honor” to be selected to the game and he’s “always taken the obligation to play in it very seriously.”

He adds: “I’ve believed that, if healthy, it’s a player’s responsibility to play in the game because of what it means to be voted in by your peers and the fans.”

Manning was injured late in the first half of a game at San Diego on Dec. 14 and missed a handful of snaps before returning to play the entire second half. He didn’t miss any more time with the injury.

Sanders Becomes 10th Broncos Player Named to Pro Bowl

Posted on January 15, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Four days after calling his season a failure because it won’t end with a parade, Denver receiver Emmanuel Sanders was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl.

Sanders replaces injured Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones.

This gives the Broncos an NFL-best 10 Pro Bowlers, including four free agent acquisitions — safety T.J. Ward, defensive end DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib are the others.

That ties an NFL record set by the 1996 Panthers, who had running back Michael Bates, cornerback Eric Davis, linebacker Kevin Greene and tight end Wesley Walls make the Pro Bowl team in their first year with in Carolina.

Sanders caught 101 passes for 1,404 yards with nine touchdowns — all career bests — in his first season in Denver.

Bears Interview John Fox for Coaching Job

Posted on January 15, 2015January 15, 2015

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Former Denver Broncos coach John Fox interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ job.

Fox met with the Bears on Wednesday, two days after he and the Broncos agreed to part ways.

He is at least the sixth candidate to interview for the job. He is widely seen as a strong possibility given his record and his ties to consultant Ernie Accorsi and new general manager Ryan Pace.

Fox was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 1997 to 2001 when Accorsi was the GM. Saints coach Sean Payton was the offensive coordinator for part of that time, and he is tight with Pace, who was hired out of New Orleans’ front office.

AP Source: Jack Del Rio to be New Raiders Coach

Posted on January 14, 2015

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have hired Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as their new coach.

A person with knowledge of the deal said it was agreed to on Wednesday, not long after the team told interim coach Tony Sparano he would not get the job. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made.

ESPN first reported the hiring.

Del Rio replaces Sparano, who replaced the fired Dennis Allen and had hoped to keep the job.

Del Rio was head coach in Jacksonville for nine seasons before spending the past three as defensive coordinator in Denver.

Peyton Manning is 2015 Bart Starr Award winner

Posted on January 14, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is the winner of the 2015 Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who exemplified leadership and character on and off the field.

Manning will receive the award at the Athletes In Action Super Bowl Breakfast in Phoenix on Jan. 30.

Manning and his wife, Ashley, have helped at-risk youth in Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee through the PeyBack Foundation since 1999.

Other causes Manning is involved with include St. Vincent’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, the American Red Cross, the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Peyton Manning Scholarship program at Tennessee.

Saints tight end Benjamin Watson and Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck also were finalists for the honor that recognizes character and community contributions.

John Elway Still Wants Peyton Manning to be His Quarterback

Posted on January 13, 2015

If John Elway gets to choose, his quarterback next season will be Peyton Manning.

His coach: To be determined.

During a news conference Tuesday, Elway said he did not press Manning for a decision on his future when they met the day after Denver’s 24-13 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC divisional playoffs.

The Broncos executive vice president said he expects to reconvene with Manning in about a month to see where he stands.

Elway said he has not contacted anybody about his open head coaching job.

He described the parting with John Fox as the culmination of a disagreement over what it takes to win the Super Bowl.

Elway stuck to a statement that has lived with him since he signed Manning: “There is no Plan B. Plan A is still the same — to win a world championship.”

John Fox Out after 4 AFC West Titles, 4 Playoff Nosedives

Posted on January 12, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Coach John Fox and the Denver Broncos are parting ways following the team’s latest playoff meltdown.

Fox won the AFC West all four of his years in Denver, but each of those seasons ended in ugly fashion in the playoffs, including Sunday’s stunning 24-13 loss to Indianapolis.

Fox was 49-22 in Denver after going 73-71 in nine years with the Carolina Panthers.

In three seasons with Peyton Manning, the Broncos went 38-10 in the regular season but were upset twice at home in the divisional round and got upended by the Seahawks 43-8 in last year’s Super Bowl.

The Broncos went 8-8 in Fox’s first year, when Tebowmania was in full pitch. The stakes were raised when Manning replaced Tim Tebow in 2012.

AP Source: Jack Del Rio to get 2nd Interview with Raiders

Posted on January 12, 2015

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will have a second interview with the Oakland Raiders for their head coaching job.

A person with knowledge of the plans said Monday that Del Rio will interview with Oakland on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not releasing details on interviews.

Del Rio met with Raiders owner Mark Davis during the Broncos’ bye week. With Denver being eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, Del Rio is available for a second interview and will be able to sit down with general manager Reggie McKenzie as well.

Del Rio was head coach in Jacksonville for nine seasons before spending the past three as defensive coordinator in Denver.

Manning’s Future Murky after Another Playoff Disappointment

Posted on January 11, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning hedged on returning next year to play for the Denver Broncos.

Following a 24-13 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday, the 38-year-old, five-time MVP was asked if he planned to return for the 2015 season.

“I guess I just can’t give that simple answer, I’m processing it,” Manning said. “So, I can’t say that.”

As recently as Christmas Eve, Manning said he planned on being back next season if the Broncos wanted him.

Manning went 26 for 46 for 211 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. He struggled to find his rhythm, as has been the case since mid-November, when the Broncos started running the ball more.

He said he’s been dealing with a thigh bruise since the Dec. 14 game against the Chargers, but said it felt good enough to play with coming into the playoffs.

Luck leads Colts to Upset of Manning and Broncos 24-13

Posted on January 11, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and the Indianapolis Colts upset Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 24-13 Sunday in the AFC playoffs.

The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFC conference championship next weekend in New England. The Patriots (13-4) rallied past Baltimore 35-31 Saturday in the other AFC divisional playoff.

The Broncos (12-5) were left to deal with the hangover of yet another playoff debacle — and maybe questions about Manning’s future and that of coach John Fox, as well.

Manning, who joined the Broncos in 2012 after his release from Indy, has gone one-and-done in the playoffs a record nine times in his otherwise stellar career. That includes twice in Denver, where he’s 38-10 in the regular season but just 2-3 in the playoffs.

Overall, Manning is 11-13 in the postseason and this was one of his worst playoff performances ever.