Kiszla: In contract fight, Broncos linebacker Von Miller beat John Elway on his home turf By Mark Kiszla DenverPost.com July 14, 2016 Nobody messes with John Elway. Not in Denver. Nobody even tries. So maybe Von Miller really is crazy. Miller dared to pick a fight with the local hero who has owned Denver since 1983. And it appears Miller got away with challenging Elway, who is bigger around here than Red Rocks and more powerful than the mayor. In a contract standoff between Elway and Miller, the boss blinked. With a 2 p.m. Friday deadline looming to get a contract done, the Broncos have finally backed down, offering Miller a record $70 million in guarantees to push a six-year, $114.5 million deal near closure. In the process, Miller has pulled off a bigger upset than beating Cam Newton and Carolina in Super Bowl 50. When’s the last time anyone has beaten Elway in a big fight? Way back in the day, Dan Reeves fought Elway and the quarterback won. After Elway retired as a player with two championship rings, when powerful forces in the organization schemed to keep him away, Elway forced his way back in and became the front-office architect of the Broncos’ renaissance. As the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease sadly caused the influence of Pat Bowlen to fade, the vision of Elway now has more influence on the team Mr. B owned than all his children combined. In negotiations with Miller, all the emotional leverage was in Elway’s hands because the 56-year-old general manager has ruled Denver longer than Miller has been alive. Yes, Broncos Country loves Miller. But Elway is the rock on which Broncos Country is built. Broncos Country stands up and cheers for Miller. Broncos Country bleeds orange for Elway. For all the ways, for better or worse, that metro Denver has grown since a young Elway bullied his way out of Baltimore to join the Broncos more than three decades ago, the rallying point of this community remains its pro football team. When Elway put his badge on car dealerships, we all went along for the ride. When Elway got divorced, we forgave him for marrying a Raiders cheerleader. When Elway loaned his name to steakhouses, we ate it up. What constituted a fair deal for Miller was obvious from the moment the Super Bowl parade ended. There should have been no argument. The parameters were six years, $120 million, with $60 million guaranteed. A contract could have been written on a cocktail napkin, and both parties should have reached agreement before the wine steward showed up to pour the Dom Perignon for a toast to a beautiful partnership between Elway and the 27-year-old linebacker.

Von Miller, Denver Broncos pushing toward deal with $70 million By Troy E. Renck DenverPost.com July 14, 2016

For Broncos fans frustrated with the lack of resolution in the Von Miller contract talks, Thursday night tempered anxiety. The sides moved in the right direction with $70 million in guaranteed money, according to an NFL source, leaving optimism that a landmark deal — the most money ever for a nonquarterback in league history — will be struck Friday before the 2 p.m. deadline. Negotiations last week, combined with recent progress, left the sides within striking distance of a contract that could accomplish Miller’s goal of remaining a “Bronco for life.” The all-pro outside linebacker has long been comfortable with the terms of the contract at six years, $114.5 million. Reaching the finish line has been predicated on guaranteed money. The Broncos eclipsed $57.5 million last week, not including $1.3 million in roster and workout bonuses, and made a move to push Miller to $70 million leading up to Friday’s deadline. It represents a remarkable juxtaposition from the $38.5 million guaranteed June 7, when talks stalled after the Broncos’ contract proposal leaked to the media, upsetting Miller. Once the Philadelphia Eagles’ Fletcher Cox received $63 million in a contract extension last month, the floor was established for Miller, the MVP of Super Bowl 50. Miller sought more than Cox in what he viewed as a more apt comparison to him than Justin Houston’s franchise tag talks that produced $52.5 million guaranteed a year ago from the Kansas City Chiefs. Miller’s teammates predicted he would sign, but the lack of a deal has created nervous moments in the Rocky Mountain region. The Broncos experienced a turbulent offseason, and the possibility of Miller holding out in training camp would have created an unnerving distraction. Miller, 27, promised to sit out the 2016 season rather than play under the $14.1 million exclusive franchise tag, which prevented other teams from negotiating with him. But after talks thawed last week, the sides built a deal worthy of a player of Miller’s status. He is considered one of the league’s top players, and delivered five sacks in the playoffs last season. As one former Denver player admitted, Miller was to the 2015 Broncos what running back Terrell Davis was to the 1997 team. The Broncos’ contract proposal to Miller reflects major ground covered by general manager John Elway and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion. Not working out a deal sooner with Miller after the 2015 season helped Miller because the market shifted — with less accomplished players, Cox included, driving up the price. On a Denver defense pressure and coverage, Miller is the anchor. With quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler gone, he also is set to become the face of the franchise. Option defense The Broncos have moved toward signing all-pro outside linebacker Von Miller to a long-term contract before Friday’s 2 p.m. deadline. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck examines the possibilities: — Miller signs a six-year, $114.5-million landmark deal that includes $70 million in guaranteed money, making him the NFL’s highest-paid nonquarterback. — Miller, in a less likely scenario, doesn’t sign by the deadline and holds out rather than play on a one-

year, $14.1 million exclusive franchise tag. — If he were to sit out the 2016 season, which he mentioned before this week’s progress toward a deal, the Broncos couldn’t place the exclusive franchise tag on him again. They could use the franchise tag, meaning any team signing him would have to surrender first- and third-round draft picks as compensation.

What’s the precedent and possibility of Von Miller holding out if there’s no long-term deal? By Cameron Wolfe DenverPost.com July 14, 2016 What if it doesn’t work out? What if egos prevail over reason and outside linebacker Von Miller and the Broncos don’t reach a long-term contract before Friday’s 2 p.m. deadline. First, it means something went terribly wrong. Second, it would be decision time for Miller. Do you play or stay away? He told ESPN on Monday that he would not play on a one-year, $14.129 million franchise tag. “It’s a league-wide problem that I feel like I’m in a situation to help out with,” Miller said. Most NFL players wouldn’t give up $14 million guaranteed and a year in the middle of their prime. Miller isn’t most players. In 2011 during the NFL lockout, Miller was the only rookie to join an antitrust lawsuit filed by the players against the league. He hadn’t even hit the field yet and was ready to put his neck out there. Whether his possible holdout would inspire change in franchise tags is uncertain, but Miller’s stance appears to be more than just leverage. Miller has not felt the love from the Broncos with the way contract negotiations have gone. A full-season holdout instead of playing on the franchise tag would be ground-breaking for the new-age NFL. It hasn’t happened since Chiefs defensive end Dan Williams sat out the entire 1998 season. Washington defensive tackle Sean Gilbert set the template in 1997 by sitting out the year. Each had different outcomes. Williams ended up signing a six-year, $28 million contract with the Chiefs the following offseason. The Panthers signed Gilbert to a seven-year, $46.5 million dollar offer sheet to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Washington didn’t match and received two first-round picks in compensation. Seahawks tackle Walter Jones, in 2002, is the last player to miss any games because of an unsigned franchise tag. Gilbert’s scenario is an example that sitting out a year doesn’t decrease your value. It’s reasonable that Miller could receive a lot closer to open-market value in 2017, when teams could pluck him from Denver with an aggressive offer sheet while only giving up a first- and third-round pick. More recently, Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor sat out all of camp and the first two games of the regular season in a contract dispute. Ultimately, he gave in and returned to the field. From the Broncos’ perspective, losing Miller even for a few games would be debilitating. His loss would create a void on the field and in the locker room. There’s no question the team would be worse and pressure would boil over for outside linebackers Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett and DeMarcus Ware, particularly the health of the latter. It’s a road that no one wants to go down, but as the deadline approaches it’s a road that’s still a possibility.

Broncos, Von Miller on verge of contract agreement By Mike Klis 9News July 15, 2016 KUSA - It appears the Denver Broncos and Von Miller are on the verge of a contract agreement that will keep the star linebacker with the team into the next decade. While there may still be some final-hour haggling, sources tell 9NEWS Miller is expected to accept the Broncos’ offer of six years and $114.5 million that for now includes $70 million in guarantees before the 2 p.m. Friday deadline. In average annual value and total guaranteed dollars, Miller will become not only the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, but his contract will be the richest at any position other than quarterback. Back on March 1, the Broncos slapped an exclusive franchise tag on Miller that included a one-year, $14.26 million salary. Negotiations snagged on June 7, when the Broncos tried to set a take-it-or-leave-it deadline. Miller reacted to the deadline by lowering his demand from $22 million a year to the $19.083 million annual average the Broncos' proposed. But the teams were significantly apart on the guaranteed portion. Miller became furious when the six-year and $114.5 million terms became public. As recently as last week, it appeared Miller’s days as a Bronco were numbered. Miller’s feelings were sore and the two sides seemed too far apart on how the contract should be structured. But negotiations became serious last Thursday afternoon, July 7, when Elway rewrote his proposal so that the guarantee of Miller’s third-year payout was triggered a year early. The two sides exchanged proposals again Friday with Elway working directly with Joby Branion, Miller’s agent. Again, the Broncos sweetened their guarantee to $70 million. Miller didn't accept as he wrestled his feelings while Branion sought to sweeten the guarantee a tad more. But as of Thursday night, the Broncos were not expected to increase their offer. With the 2 p.m. Friday deadline looming for franchise-tagged players to sign a multiyear deal, Miller is not about to turn away from the promise of $70 million. The $19.083 million a year average will exceed the previous defensive average record of $19.063 million received last year by Miami’s Ndamukong Suh. And the $70 million in “essential” guarantees exceeds the $63.3 million guaranteed deal Philadelphia gave defensive tackle Fletcher Cox last month. Only Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, who two weeks ago received a new $140 million contract extension, has greater guarantees in his deal with $75 million. In return, the Broncos will secure the new face of their franchise. With the retirement of quarterback Peyton Manning, Miller is now the team's No. 1 star -- as he was during a historic playoff run last season when he had 2 1/2 sacks with an interception against the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game and another 2 1/2 sacks with two strip-sack fumbles that led to two touchdowns against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl. Miller was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, setting the stage for highly publicized negotiations. Miller may have got a huge break when Philadelphia signed Cox to a six-year, $102 million contract extension last month. Cox's deal included "early triggers" that provided stronger binding guarantees of $55.55 million over three years and $63.3 million in year four. Considering Miller has been far more productive than Cox,

the Broncos had to include the early triggers in his contract that helped increase his solid guarantees from $39.8 million to $70 million.

Broncos host Jr. training camp By Janet Oravetz 9 News July 14, 2016 The Denver Broncos partnered with the Denver Rescue Mission to host a one-day Jr. Training Camp for at-risk youth. About 100 kids between 6 and 13 years old participated in the camp at the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus in northwest Denver. "Just chilling with these kids, it's a blessing," said rookie Broncos' safety Will Parks. "To come out here and put a smile on these faces." Parks says he was in their place not too long ago. "Just coming here and seeing all these kids it's a dream come true to actually see yourself in this position. I was just here." The annual Denver Broncos/Gatorade Jr. Training Camp gives the kids an opportunity to learn valuable skills they can apply on and off the field. High school football player from Grandview High School also volunteered their time at the camp. "It's just a chance for these kids to take a break from their day-to-day and have a really good time," said Stacy Parker with the Denver Rescue Mission. "We've got Broncos players and Miles the Mascot. They have a lot of fun and the goal is to teach them about sportsmanship."

Mike Shanahan's mansion hits the market for $22 million By Mark Harden Denver Business Journal July 14, 2016 Mike Shanahan's Super Bowl rings as Denver Broncos head coach? Priceless. His palatial home in Cherry Hills Village? Yours for a mere $22 million. Oh, and then there's the matter of the $4,282 in quarterly homeowners association dues (according to listing agent Sandy Weigand with The Kentwood Company) and $109,628 a year in taxes. Shanahan's 33,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, 11-bathroom palace hit the market Wednesday. Weigand describes the property as "Denver's most spectacular estate." 8 Cherry Hills Park Drive also offers a seven-car garage (with an elevator for storage), a two-lane bowling alley, golf simulator, weightroom, "wine grotto," tiled mosaic artwork on the floor, 11 fireplaces and a 13,347-square-foot finished basement. And there's a two-bedroom guest house on the 3.88-acre lot. Ironically, the custom home was built in 2008, the year that Shanahan was fired as the Broncos head coach following a string of lackluster seasons. After becoming Broncos head coach in 1995, he led the team to two Super Bowl victories in the late 1990s. Since leaving the team, Shanahan coached the Washington Redskins from 2010 until his firing in 2013. He has been out of coaching since then. Shanahan had a smaller (yet still palatial) 17,850-square-foot home in Cherry Hills that was sold in 2010 for $7 million, Denver Real Estate Watch reported. Weigand also had that listing. Shanahan, now 63, and his wife, Peggy, plan to stay in Cherry Hills at slightly less super digs, the Denver Post's Tracy M. Cook reports.

Man accused of defrauding Jordan Norwood, others in horse-racing scheme By Staff Associated Press July 14, 2016 An Ohio man accused of running a horse racing scheme that bilked four NFL players out of more than $300,000 has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering. Cleveland.com reports 29-year-old Jonathan Pippin was charged Wednesday in federal court in Cleveland. Prosecutors say he persuaded the players to give him money to invest in racing horses. Investigators say the Logan man used the cash for personal expenses and some operating expenses. Court filings identify the players by first names and initials. Pippin attorney Carlos Warner says they are former Cleveland Browns players Chansi Stuckey and Reggie Hodges, former Browns and current Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood and current San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead. Warner says his client is remorseful and has agreed to plead guilty.

Broncos' latest offer to Von Miller includes $70M guaranteed By Adam Shefter and Jeff Legwold ESPN July 15, 2016 With the deadline for a long-term deal looming, the Denver Broncos have offered star middle linebacker Von Miller a record $70 million guaranteed as part of a six-year, $114.5 million deal, which the sides had agreed to in June, a source said. That would make Miller the highest-paid nonquarterback in NFL history based on guaranteed money as well as the highest-paid player in Denver franchise history. A source familiar with the talks said Thursday night that he was "optimistic'' the deal will get done by the 4 p.m. ET Friday deadline for designated franchise players to sign long-term deals. Two executives from teams other than the Broncos said Thursday that Miller "would have to take it.'' The Broncos and Miller's agent, Joby Branion, had no substantive talks Thursday, but they are expected to re-engage Friday morning, a source said. The two sides had agreed to the basic framework of the deal -- six years, $114.5 million -- in June, and after a negotiating respite in recent weeks, they have since traded proposals about the guaranteed money. Quarterback Andrew Luck's recently signed extension with the Indianapolis Colts included an NFL record $87 million in guaranteed money. The highest amount for a non-QB currently belongs to defensive end Fletcher Cox, who got $63.3 million guaranteed from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Broncos' latest offer to Miller includes the majority of the guaranteed money in the first two years of the deal. Their offer to him in June included $39.8 million guaranteed in the first two years -- $38.5 million guaranteed money at signing with $1.3 million in workout bonuses. But with a finger pointed at the market, Miller and his representatives flagged Cox's six-year, $102.6 million deal with the Eagles. Miller had been designated the team's franchise player in February, which came with a one-year guaranteed tender of just over $14 million for the 2016 season. But the two sides have tried, with some starts and stops, to negotiate a long-term deal since the NFL scouting combine. Miller has vowed not to play the 2016 season under the franchise tag, which is increasingly looking like a moot point with the megadeal on the table. The Broncos' first-round pick in 2011, Miller has 60 sacks in five seasons and played a key role on last season's league-best defense. He reached what Broncos coach Gary Kubiak called a "dominant level" of play in a postseason run that included five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in the team's three postseason games. His sack and forced fumble on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in Super Bowl 50 created the Broncos' first touchdown in the title game as Denver's Malik Jackson recovered the fumble in the Panthers end zone. Miller's ascension to Super Bowl MVP came after a troubled 2013 season during which he was suspended six games under the league's substance-abuse policy. Miller also tore an ACL in the second-to-last regular-season game of 2013.

AFC West Q&A: Who will win the division and which teams will make the playoffs? Team Staff ESPN.com July 15, 2016 Today's question: Who will win the division and how many teams from the division will make the playoffs? Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos reporter: Until somebody shows they’re ready to push the Broncos aside, the division belongs to Denver. It’s won five consecutive division titles despite the best efforts of the others to stop the string. The Raiders, who finished 7-9 last season, including a win in Denver, have been the most aggressive in trying to unseat the Broncos. They have drafted impact players, led by Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, spent lavishly with piles of salary-cap room and have publicly professed their readiness to end their playoff drought. They also present, before any potential injuries on their roster or anybody else’s in the division, the best chance to break the Broncos’ streak. The Chiefs largely chose to stand pat while the Chargers, in the eyes of most personnel executives in the league, still have too many question marks on the depth chart. The Broncos have the core of their Super Bowl roster still in place but have dealt with a healthy dose of Super Bowl hangover. The Broncos won 11 games by a touchdown or less on the way to the title -- a sign of a staff doing the right things with the game on the line. The Broncos still look like they can grind to a division title, while Denver and Oakland figure to be the playoff representatives.\ Adam Teicher, Kansas City Chiefs reporter: This year’s AFC West race looks as open as any since Peyton Manning took over as the Broncos quarterback in 2012. The Broncos, Chiefs and Raiders have legitimate reasons to believe they will win this year’s division title. While Kansas City or Oakland could certainly break Denver’s five-year hold on the AFC West championship, there’s no clear and compelling case to be made that either team has covered enough ground from last year to do so. So I’ll go with the Broncos to win a sixth straight division championship. Either the Chiefs or Raiders will join them in the postseason. I’ll go with the Chiefs in a tough call. Paul Gutierrez, Oakland Raiders reporter: The Broncos are the defending champs and have a defense that many observers say reminded them of the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. The Raiders are a sexy pick to break through and not only get their first winning record since 2002 but also claim their first playoff berth since going to the Super Bowl that same season. And the Chargers seem to have more important things on their mind -- like whether they are staying put in Mission Valley or moving to Los Angeles to join the Rams in Inglewood. Quietly, though, the Chiefs ran off an 11-game winning streak last year, including a 30-0 blowout of the Houston Texans in the playoffs, and they did it without running back Jamaal Charles, who tore an ACL in Week 5. He should be back to take some of the pressure off of quarterback Alex Smith, even if the defense is weakened by the departure of cornerback Sean Smith to Oakland. Which brings us back to the Raiders. Look, they are throwing more than flirtatious glances at Las Vegas as a potential future home, so let’s go with the gambling theme here by proclaiming that three teams from the AFC West will go to the NFL’s postseason tournament -- the Broncos, Chiefs and Raiders. And while defense won the Broncos a championship last year, it will also win them a division in 2016. Eric Williams, San Diego Chargers reporter: I like the Chiefs to overtake the Broncos and win the AFC West for the first time since 2010. Kansas City has a consistent performer at quarterback in Alex Smith along with a good defense. With the Broncos going through a change at quarterback, 2016 should be the time for Andy Reid to take his team over the threshold and win an AFC West title. The Broncos and Raiders should compete for a wild-card spot, with the Broncos advancing to the postseason and Oakland finishing above .500 for the first time since advancing to the Super Bowl in 2002.

Hang Time: A Q&A with Von Miller, Super Bowl-winning chicken farmer By Sam Alipour ESPN.com July 14, 2016 On a sweltering July afternoon in DeSoto, a sleepy suburb just outside of Dallas, the chicken farmer sweats through his Texas A&M T-shirt as he tends to two dozen of his feathered friends in the backyard of his parents' home. "Chickens," says Denver Broncos pass-rusher Von Miller, "are dope." Despite the oppressive 100-degree heat here in Texas and increasingly heated contract negotiations with his team back in Denver, Miller, 27, is beaming like a proud papa. This chicken coop, which is no bigger than a tennis court, is the four-time Pro Bowler's happy place, his refuge from the spotlight that tends to follow a Super Bowl MVP with charisma to burn. There's Miller on "Dancing With the Stars" and the Academy of Country Music Awards. There's Miller, nude save for his ubiquitous eyewear and fur hat, in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue. There's Miller at the White House, where the champs were feted by President Obama -- and this champ, at least, botched the greeting. "I thought I just would, like, get a handshake, but he kind of held my hand, and he talked about how cool he thought my shoes are and my dance moves," Miller explains. "I was just in awe, thinking this is so surreal. Then he let go of my hand, and I'm looking at my hand -- and I just tripped on the presidential rug. "It's the story of my life, man," he adds with a chuckle. It's a funny anecdote, anyway, in a story about a self-described "geek" with a dream, one that was born in College Station and, if the Aggie has his way, could soon be fully realized with a moneymaking poultry operation. Miller is in talks to potentially acquire a commercial chicken farm not far from his childhood home, but make no mistake, it's passion, not profit, that powers Miller's poultry game. Here, presumably, is ESPN's first Q&A with a chicken farmer. And check out the SportsCenter feature above for more. ----------- ALIPOUR: How did you get into the poultry game? MILLER: I'm not even gonna lie, man, it started off by taking an easy class in college. [Laughs.] My professor, Dr. [Morgan] Farnell, he wouldn't let it be an easy class -- you know how these electives can be, you just go in there and sleep through it. But he made it a point to make sure I knew my information. And then I learned about it and really enjoyed it. Before you know it, it's my major. How passionate are you about this? I'm very passionate, especially when it comes to humanely raised chickens. I take pride in healthy birds. You got all these other big-time commercial farms that raise, you know, 30,000 birds. Me, it's a whole lot smaller operation, but it's a lot of bang for the buck. When did you acquire your first flock?

I started building this chicken farm my sophomore year in college. As I got a little bit more money, it just got bigger and bigger. I got my first flock like five years ago. And then this current flock right here, it'll be three years in November. It's like family. They're more like pets. We got a lot of natural predators out here, so we got to watch them as well. Hawks took a couple of birds from us, and there are snakes and coyotes. But other than that, they really don't have to worry about much here at Miller Farms. Wait, let's back up. Where are the snakes at? We got a little creek. We're not visiting the creek. No. So, let's say I'm a chicken. What kind of life can I expect on Von Miller's farm? You can expect a long life, a lot of space, great food, and you'll get along with your teammates. All our chickens, they get along pretty well. It's just a great environment, like a great organization that you want to play for. For example, they get to go out in the pasture in the afternoon and the morning. I like to bring them out to natural, solid grass, their natural setting in which they're picking up worms rather than the litter and the dirt we have in the coop. That's what it's all about for me. It's not about the commercial aspect of it. Of course, there's money involved, and being able to make a buck off of this is what makes everything go, but that's not at the foundation at Miller Farms. It's about happy, humanely raised chickens. Should I expect my owner to eat me? I'm not out here to eat the birds. Now, the eggs, that's a different story. Oh, yeah, I eat eggs all day [laughs]. I think you can taste the difference between a pasteurized egg and a commercial egg. How many eggs do they produce? We've got 10 [chickens] laying eggs, so about 20 eggs a day. We take them in the house, wash them off, put them in storage. My mom [Gloria], she has a whole system. She's really the mastermind behind the eggs. So it's really like a family operation for me and my little brother [Vince], my mom and my dad [Von]. It was something that I brought home and they just ran with it. Are the birds cool with you taking their eggs and eating them? Oh, yeah, they're cool. I don't even think they know what's going on. Do the birds have personalities? Yeah, they definitely have personalities, especially the rooster. The rooster is the man. He's the leader of the pack. He's watching out for everybody. I call him Peyton. We had five of them originally -- he was the toughest one out of the whole flock. It's only one of him, so he's just chillin' around. You know, if it's you with 30 females, you'll be pretty chill too. But they all got personalities. I thought about creating a little TV show for the birds. You know, you have a celebrity do voice-over for the chickens, like, "Mine, mine, mine, get away!" [Laughs.] But if you just sit and watch them, they all work as a team. They find food. One will alert the other one to come over here. It's pretty dope.

So when did it become an insult to call somebody a chicken? I think when we were little kids, you know? "Oh, you're a chicken. You're afraid." When you think about chickens, you think about them being cowards and, you know, running away. That's what it looks like. But when you actually look at them, especially the rooster, he's one of the toughest guys in the animal kingdom. So, what happens if I call you a chicken? [Laughs.] I'm going to be OK with it. Hey, Von. You're a chicken. I mean, I understand it. I'm a chicken. Chickens are dope. Rocky trained by chasing chickens. Is that Hollywood fiction? No, it's not Hollywood fiction. I tried it. But, you know, I'd rather chase quarterbacks. Chickens are way more athletic than the most athletic quarterback you could probably go get. What do your teammates think about all this? When they first started hearing about me raising chickens, they thought it was a joke, another one of Von's tricks. But once you really get to know me and where I'm from, then you get it. And when you come see my farm and the way I raise my chickens, you get to know me a lot better as well. I know you're in talks to acquire a commercial chicken farm. What's the next step in your poultry empire. I want to create a different lane. You've got all these big companies that do it other ways. I want to create a lane where there can be happy, healthy birds -- and that'll be my whole slogan. You'll see the bird with a smile, saying, "Hey, I'm living with Von Miller and we're living great, man!"

AP Source: Broncos now offering $70M guaranteed to Miller By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press July 15, 2016 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have upped their offer to Von Miller by offering to guarantee the Super Bowl MVP a record $70 million of the six-year deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to share candid details of the blockbuster offer that also was reported by ESPN and the NFL Network. The sides have until 4 p.m. EDT Friday to get a signed deal into NFL headquarters. Miller's agent, Joby Branion, and the Broncos agreed to the parameters of a six-year, $114.5 million deal last month but Miller's camp held out for more guaranteed money. ADVERTISING

The June offer included $38.5 million in guarantees over the first two years, another $1.3 million in workout bonuses, plus the chance to earn another $19.5 million in guaranteed money in 2018. General manager John Elway reignited talks last week when he offered to move up guaranteed money in Year 3 to next March. This week, he upped the overall guaranteed money. Elway's offer now far surpasses the $63 million in guarantees that Philadelphia's Fletcher Cox received last month and represents the most money ever offered a non-quarterback in the NFL. The latest proposal checks off all the boxes for Miller — the biggest overall contract for a non-QB in league history, most guaranteed money for an NFL defensive player and a benchmark deal that raises the bar for the next superstar. Franchise players have to sign long-term deals by 4 p.m. EDT Friday. Without a signed contract delivered to NFL headquarters by the deadline, they would only be allowed to play the 2016 season for their tender, $14,129,000 in Miller's case. That's something Miller has insisted he won't do. Last month, he threatened to sit out the season absent a blockbuster deal. The star of Super Bowl 50 skipped the Broncos' offseason program, only joining his teammates for their White House visit and ring ceremony. But Miller stayed in tip-top shape, in part by participating in "Dancing With The Stars." Miller predicted peaceful contract negotiations 12 hours after spearheading Denver's 24-10 win over Carolina in the Super Bowl when his two sack-strips of Cam Newton led to both of Denver's touchdowns. But things got thorny last month. After details of Denver's June 7 offer became public, Miller cropped Elway from a photo on his Instagram account and then said there was no way he'd play this season on the franchise tag.

As negotiations reignited, Miller's teammates expressed confidence things would work out. "I think it will happen because me and Elway went down to the wire last year," said receiver Demaryius Thomas, who signed a $70 million deadline deal (including $43.5 million guaranteed) in 2015 with only about 30 minutes to spare.

Colts commission artist to create statue of Peyton Manning Associated Press July 14, 2016 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have commissioned city firefighter and artist Ryan Feeney to create a statue of former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. The Colts say the statue will be placed outside Lucas Oil Stadium next year. Manning was quarterback of the Colts for 14 seasons, leading them to a Super Bowl title, and retired after playing four seasons with the Denver Broncos, leading them to a Super Bowl win last season. Feeney is founder of Indy Art Forge and has created numerous works around Indianapolis, including the Peace Dove sculpture for the Indianapolis library, the Fallen Deputy Memorial in front of the Marion County Jail and the bronze eagle at the Indianapolis 9-11 Memorial.

Broncos' record contract offer to Von Miller includes $70 million in guarantees By John Breech CBSSports.com July 14, 2016 It doesn't look like Von Miller is going to have to sit out the 2016 season. The Broncos linebacker had threatened to sit out the year if he was forced to play the season under the franchise tag, but that's not likely to happen now, thanks to the record-breaking contract offer the Broncos gave Miller on Thursday. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora confirms multiple reports that the Broncos are offering Miller $70 million in guaranteed money, which is a huge jump from the $39.8 million that the team was offering Miller as recently as June 7. The amount of guaranteed money in Miller's deal has been the biggest obstacle in getting a deal done. Back in June, the Broncos offered a six-year, $114.5 million deal that would've made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL based on average annual salary, with Miller pulling in roughly $19.083 million per year. The problem for Miller is that the deal was guaranteeing him less than $40 million, which seemed like a slap in the face, considering that the Eagles had given Fletcher Cox a $63.299 million guarantee in June. Von Miller isn't a fan of the franchise tag. The Broncos upped their offer last week, and then upped it once again on Thursday. If Miller signs a new six-year, $114.5 million offer that includes $70 million in guaranteed money, it would make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. The two sides have until 4 p.m. on Friday to officially reach a deal. If you're still sweating about the deal, Broncos fans -- well, we can't blame you. After all, Denver was the team that lost Elvis Dumervil after a fax machine flub in 2013. Anyway, if Miller's deal somehow fell apart, the linebacker would have two options: He could sit out the season or play the year under the one-year, $14.26 million deal that he's entitled to under the franchise tag. Option 2 doesn't really seem like an option though, because Miller has been adamant that he wouldn't play under the tag. "I'm not gonna play on the franchise tag. It just doesn't make sense in any way," Millersaid this week. The Broncos linebacker also called the tag a "league-wide" problem. "I've never really played for money. It's bigger than that for me," Miller said. "It's a league-wide problem that I feel like I'm in a situation to help out with." At this point, the threat doesn't seem like an issue because all signs are pointing to a deal getting done before Friday's deadline.

Peyton Manning's statue is coming to the Colts' stadium in 2017 By Sean Wagner-McGough CBS Sports July 15, 2016 Beginning in 2017, Peyton Manning will live forever at Lucas Oil Stadium. Well, as long as they don't rip him out of the ground. On Thursday, the Colts announced more details about Manning's statue, which they originally unveiled plans for back in March when Manning retired. For one, it will be completed in 2017. And, a local sculptor and fireman of 13 years, Ryan Feeney, will build the statue. According to the Colts' release, he created the Peace Dove sculpture at the Indianapolis library, the Fallen Deputy Memorial at the Marion County Jail, and the bronze eagle at the 9/11 Memorial in Indianapolis. "Ryan Feeney is not only very talented, but also a great representative of our community," said Colts owner Jim Irsay said in the team's release. "I am excited to see this project begin. ... in favor of a more normal rendering. We also don't have to wait to know it's purpose. Luckily, it includes leaving cans of Budweiser for Manning. "(The statue) will be a destination spot for all of our fans ... to leave cans of Budweiser or notes for (Manning)," Irsay said in March, per the team's website. "We couldn't be more excited about the statues. It's not too often you build statues for people, particularly in their lifetime, but we are really excited about putting this iconic statue in front of Lucas Oil Stadium where it will stand for many, many years." In Manning's Colts career, which spanned 13 years, he threw for 54,828 yards and 399 touchdowns. More importantly, he brought home a Super Bowl.

LOOK: Peyton Manning's retirement party is the social event of summer By John Breech CBSSports.com July 14, 2016 Two months after he officially announced his retirement, Peyton Manning finally found time to hold a retirement party. The huge event went down on Monday at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. Manning's party was basically the social event of the summer in the NFL. According to KUSA, Von Miller and Demaryius Thomas were both on hand to honor their former Broncos teammate. Eric Decker, Champ Bailey, Jacob Tamme and Julius Thomas were among the other former Broncos players who attended Several former Colts players also showed up, including Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Jeff Saturday. Edgerrin James also showed up, and we know that because he basically took a picture with everyone at the party. First, he got a group shot of former Colts players: Then he got a picture with just Peyton: After that, James hunted down Peyton's brother Archie Manning was also at the event. The whole party was planned by Peyton's wife Ashley, according to KUSA's Mike Klis. Anyway, thanks to James, who was the unofficial social media guru of the event, we also know that LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk were in attendance at the party: A few NFL head coaches also showed up, including John Fox, Adam Gase, Mike McCoy, Sean Payton and Andy Reid. Jim Kelly and Rex Ryan were also on hand to bid Peyton adieu: Former Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden also made time to attend the Peyton's retirement bash. The picture below comes from the Instagram page of Reggie Miller: The guest list wasn't just limited to the sports world, either. Justin Timberlake and Chance the Rapper were also in Beverly Hills, although no one seems to be sure if Chance was actually invited. Phil Simms, Matt Ryan, and Al Michaels were also in attendance. Two days after the retirement party, Peyton was given the Icon Award at the ESPYs. Timberlake presented the award to Manning, Derek Jeter and Abby Wambach. By the way, if Manning's retirement party is any indication, it looks like he's actually done and we don't have to worry about him pulling a Brett Favre for the next two years.

Reports: Von Miller deal likely after the Broncos increase guaranteed money By Chris Bahr FOXSports.com July 15, 2016 The Denver Broncos and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller are just hours away from Friday's deadline to hammer out a contract extension, and they reportedly are making solid progress. Miller, 27, was hit with the franchise tag in February but has said he will not play the 2016 season on that one-year guaranteed deal, which is worth just more than $14 million. The sticking point in negotiations has been the amount of guaranteed money in a long-term deal. According to reports, however, the Broncos have improved their offer this week and a deal appears likely. ESPN and NFL.com report Miller and the Broncos have agreed to the framework of a six-year, $114.5 million deal -- with only the guaranteed money still up for debate. With roughly $70 million guaranteed, Miller would become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Miller and Denver have until 4 p.m. ET today to reach an extension, as do all players who were given the franchise tag. This past season, Miller had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and 35 tackles in 16 regular-season games. In the Broncos' three postseason wins, he had five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. In his five-season NFL career, he has 60 sacks.

Broncos offer Von Miller at least $70M in guarantees By Jeremy Bergman NFL.com July 14, 2016 Friday's 4 p.m. ET franchise tag deadline is drawing near, and Von Miller and the Broncos are inching closer to a deal. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night on NFL Total Access that Miller and the Broncos spent the last week making significant progress on the six-year, $114 million offer and that "a deal is likely" by Friday's deadline. Denver's most recent offer includes $59 million of fully guaranteed money in the first nine months and at least $70 million in guarantees overall. “There is now a better chance this deal gets done than it doesn't get done." Rapoport added on NFL Network. "As things have gone quiet in the Von Miller negotiation, optimism has grown for all involved. It's headed in the right direction quickly." Denver's latest offer would not only make Miller the highest-paid defensive player in the league; it would put him in the same stratosphere as Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, in terms of guaranteed money. Luck earned $47 million in fully guaranteed money last month when he signed his record six-year, $140 million deal to stay in Indianapolis. If this deal gets done by Friday, Miller would outpace Luck by $12 million. This news follows a timeline of negotiating that began last week. NFL Media's Mike Garafolo hinted last Friday at a new offer based on more fully guaranteed money, adding that the Broncos "moved up the date for some of that non-guaranteed money, non-fully guaranteed money at signing to become fully guaranteed. But that sweetening of the pot is not sweet enough for Von Miller." NFL Media's Rand Getlin reported Monday that the two sides began exchanging multiple proposals over the weekend. Now that there are serious, record-breaking numbers on the table, the pressure is on Miller and his team of negotiators to strike a deal before Friday's deadline passes.

Franchise tag deadline primer: Who will get new deal? By Kevin Patra NFL.com July 14, 2016 The deadline for franchise tagged players to sign long-term contracts sits one day away. Those tagged players not inked to a multi-year contract by July 15 at 4 p.m. ET will have to play under the one-year tender -- or choose to sit out the year with no pay. The one-year contract cannot be extended until the team's last regular season game. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that there are several players not expected to get long-term deals, per sources informed of the negotiations: Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson; Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. Let's take a quick look at each case: Trumaine Johnson: Sides remain far apart on their positions of Johnson's worth. The corner would make $13.9 million on the tag. One prevailing thought when the Rams tagged Johnson instead of Janoris Jenkins was that it might be easier to get a deal done with Johnson. With a big jump to tag Johnson in back-to-back years, the Rams risk losing two starting corners in two years (Jenkins signed in New York this offseason). Alshon Jeffery: With Jeffery's injury history, the Bears are skittish at giving the dynamite receiver a lot of guaranteed money. NFL Media's Mike Garafolo previously reported that the Bears want Jeffery at a deal closer to the $11 million per year contracts Allen Hurns and Keenan Allen signed than the $14.6 million franchise tag number. As the Bears' best player, Jeffery, has little incentive to cave. Muhammad Wilkerson: Sides haven't appeared close on a new deal in a long while. With Making the Leap candidate Leonard Williams in-house, the Jets might feel they already have Mo's eventual replacement. Kirk Cousins: Rapoport notes that both sides are comfortable playing it out and proving it for another year. Cousins was phenomenal down the stretch last season, but has only started one full season. One year at $19.9 million seems plenty fair for both sides. If Cousins repeats his 2015 performance, the Redskins won't be shy to give him a new big deal. If Cousins bombs, Washington saved itself from a potentially hamstringing contract. NFL Media's Rand Getlin previously reported that Eric Berry and the Chiefs are unlikely to come to terms on a deal "unless there is a significant shift." Could a shift happen Friday? Rapoport added that a deal hasn't been ruled out and that general manager John Dorsey's best offers to tagged players usually fall on the day of the deadline, according to sources informed of the negotiations. This sounds a lot like last year when Kansas City also came down to the wire with Justin Houston before agreeing to a long-term deal. There are two players for which new deals remain more in play before the deadline, according to Rapoport: Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. Von Miller would become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. Guaranteed money has been the sticking point thus far. Will John Elway unstick the problem prior to the deadline?

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday on NFL Network's Total Access that "the guarantees in this deal would now eclipse $70 million." As a result, Rapoport added that "a deal is likely" by 4 P.M. on Friday. Justin Tucker is set to make $4.57 million on the tag. The Ravens would need to pay up on a long-term deal or face tagging one of the NFL's best booters again next season at an increased rate. On Thursday, Tucker's agent, Rob Roche, made it clear Tucker would not play for the Ravens in 2017 without a long-term deal by Friday. "Justin's disillusioned with the process right now and the Ravens' position with him on his contract," Roche told ESPN. "If we don't get a long-term deal done by Friday, Justin will not entertain offers from Ravens after the season."

Silence descends on Von Miller talks By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk July 14, 2016 Last month, the talks between the Broncos and linebacker Von Miller became very public. With the deadline for doing a long-term deal getting closer and closer, the talks have become very private. Private as in silent. As in no one is sharing any specifics about the talks. The Broncos, per a source with knowledge of the situation, are hopeful that a deal will be done, and they believe that a lot of progress has been made. However, neither team nor player have leaked anything since reports emerged over the weekend that the Broncos moved the trigger for converting injury-only guarantees to full guarantees from March 2018 to March 2017 and that they increased the total guarantee from $58 million to $61 million. It’s unclear whether team and player agreed to stop talking or whether it just happened. It’s possible that, given Miller’s reaction to some of the tactics employed by the team in June, Miller’s camp has decided step back and watch the team dance on the edge of the cliff. Regardless, it’s quiet. And it’s not as if people aren’t trying to find out what’s happening. Here’s one thing that’s apparently not happening. The two sides still aren’t truly negotiating. Instead, the Broncos will make an offer and Miller’s camp will respond and that back and forth will continue without meaningful engagement aimed at resolving any lingering differences. Miller’s camp has interpreted that as an effort by the organization to impose its will on the player. It may have worked for other players, but it hasn’t worked for Miller. Unless the team’s will at some point matches what Miller wants, it may never work. Either way, we’ll know more by 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday.

Decision day for Von Miller By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk July 14, 2016 After several days of quiet, the leaks returned with a vengeance on Thursday night. It’s now widely known that the Broncos have offered linebacker Von Miller $70 million in guaranteed money as part of the broader six-year, $114.5 million package that has been on the table for weeks. The reports have made it clear that: (1) the Broncos aren’t moving any farther; and (2) the Broncos except Miller to take the deal. Indeed, Mike Klis of 9news.com in Denver reports that “Miller is expected to accept” the offer before Friday’s 4:00 p.m. ET deadline. Which raises a very important question: Expected by whom? With a lingering sense in Miller’s camp that the Broncos have attempted to impose their will on him and other players at the bargaining table, is it the Broncos telling reporters like Klis that Miller “is expected” to take the deal, or is it Miller’s people? If it’s the latter, then there likely will be a deal. If it’s the former, well, things could get interesting on Friday. Miller already is rankled by the manner in which the negotiations were handled in June, perceiving that the team was trying to make him look greedy to the public and, more importantly, to his teammates for not accepting a deal that had a total of $58 million guaranteed for injury, $38 million of which was fully guaranteed at signing. If Miller now perceives that the Broncos are trying to paint him into a corner by making it known that he’s “expected” to sign the enhanced offer, maybe he won’t. The overriding question remains whether he can get the same deal or a better one in March 2017, if he sits out the full year and the Broncos lose the ability to apply the exclusive tag on him again. If Miller’s agents know, on a wink-nod, non-tampering tampering basis, that another team would gladly give up a first- and third-round pick and pay Miller the $114.5 million plus the $14.129 million he’d lose by sitting out with a better guarantee structure, maybe he passes on the offer and takes a year off. Rarely does a player not play for a full season due to contractual issues. But this is the first potential example of that happening after everyone became more sensitive to the long-term health effects of playing football. Maybe a season away from the grind extends Miller’s career and allows him to eventually walk away from the game with fewer problems later in life. Regardless of whether that’s true, if he thinks it’s true, he could be more likely to not take the deal. The options are as simple as they can be. Take the deal behind Door No. 1, or sit out the year and roll open Door No. 2. If Miller believes that the Broncos are trying to coerce him into picking Door No.1, maybe he’ll show them one finger and take Door No. 2.

Dumervil debacle looms over Von Miller talks By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk July 14, 2016 Technically, the Broncos have until 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday to get linebacker Von Miller under contract. As a practical matter, the issue will be decided several hours before then, at the latest. Due to the Elvis Dumervil fax machine faux pas of 2013, when the Broncos ultimately were forced to cut Dumervil after the two sides failed to get a restructured contract signed by both parties for submission to the league office before the deadline for changing the contract or dumping him off the roster. It’s still unclear what happened as the Broncos tried to re-do Dumervil’s contract before a $12 million salary for 2013 became fully guaranteed. The team blamed the agent, the agent blamed the team, claiming that the Broncos made a late change to the revised deal that delayed the process of getting the deal done. An effort to enforce a verbal agreement between player and team ultimately failed. And the agent eventually received a six-month suspension. Regardless of whether the Broncos bear blame for the Dumervil outcome for making a late change to the offer, Miller’s agents won’t be taking any chances. With the rules requiring the Broncos to submit a fully-executed contract to the league office before 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, the process will need to be fully and completely finalized far enough in advance of 4:00 p.m. ET to ensure that there will be no last-minutes complications or entanglements or snafus or anything else that would keep a signed contract from being submitted to 345 Park Avenue in time for it to become legally binding. While the real deadline may be 4:00 p.m. ET, as a practical matter look for Miller to pull the plug at some point before that, if a deal isn’t otherwise in place. So if Von Miller ends up leaving the building, it can at least in part be blamed on the time that Elvis did. Yeah, I said it.

Making sense of the Von Miller talks on the eve of the deadline By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk July 14, 2016 Even though the talks have been dysfunctional at times and still haven’t consisted of a meaningful, sustained, back-and-forth negotiations, there’s an emerging sense that the Broncos and linebacker Von Miller will have a six-year, $114.5 million contract in place by this time Friday night. It’s still difficult to track down specifics as to how much guaranteed money the Broncos are offering, but there’s a sense among some league insiders not directly involved in the communications that the Broncos have put their best offer on the table, that the total guarantee approaches if not exceeds $70 million, and that the team is confident Miller will accept it on Friday. Von Miller wouldn’t (or perhaps more accurately shouldn’t) accept the offer if he knows with a reasonable degree of certainty that, after sitting out all of 2016 and giving up $14 million under the tag, a team would be willing both to give up a first-round and a third-round pick to get him, and would be willing to sign him to a six-year, $128 million deal with a better collection of guarantees than what the Broncos are currently offering. Technically, Miller shouldn’t know whether another team would indeed make an offer of that magnitude, but it would be naive to assume that there have been no hypothetical conversations about what another team would pay Miller in 2017. Regardless, the Broncos are believed to be confident that Miller will take the money and stay with the team, regardless of his feelings about the franchise tag or his disdain for the manner in which the team has handled the discussions. Ultimately, the Broncos like him enough to give him what would be the biggest contract ever paid to a non-quarterback, and that should count for something. UPDATE 8:11 p.m. ET: Mike Klis of 9news.com has reported that the offer stands at $70 million in guarantees, and that the Broncos won’t move any higher. The question remains whether Miller will take it.

Colts to build Peyton Manning statue at Lucas Oil Stadium By Curtis Crabtree Pro Football Talk July 15, 2016 While Peyton Manning’s storied career came to a close in Denver, the majority of his Hall of Fame resume was written in Indianapolis. The Colts plan to honor that legacy with a statue of Manning outside Lucas Oil Stadium. According to the Associated Press, the Colts have hired Ryan Feeney – a local artist and firefighter – to create the statue of Manning that will be installed outside the stadium next year. Manning spent 14 seasons with the Colts and led the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory since moving from Baltimore in 1984. In 13 seasons on the field, Manning started 208 straight games for the Colts. He passed for 54,828 yards with 399 touchdowns, 198 interceptions and a completion percentage of 65 percent. Manning led the Colts to a victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He won four league MVP awards, was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was a five-time first-team All-Pro during his tenure in Indianapolis.

Demaryius Thomas promises a better year “for sure” By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk July 15, 2016 When you look at his raw numbers — 105 catches for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns — Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas doesn’t appear to have had a bad season in 2015. But when you consider that those numbers represent a decline across the board from 2014, and you throw in his two lost fumbles and several costly drops, Thomas didn’t play like one of the NFL’s best receivers, which is what the Broncos are paying him to be.

This year, Thomas promises that things will change. Thomas said he’s both healthier now than he was last season and heading toward camp with a better mental focus.

“It’s just keeping a clear mind and going out and working hard to get prepared for this year to have a better year than I had last year,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t the best of years — and the drops were one of the biggest reasons. But it happens. I’ll come out this year and for sure have a better year.”

The big question for the Broncos is whether they’ll have a better quarterback. The combination of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler did not play well last year, but there’s no guarantee that the winner of the Mark Sanchez–Trevor Siemian–Paxton Lynch quarterback competition will play better this year. A better quarterback may be the key to Thomas having a better year.

20 days, 20 Broncos camp questions -- 7. Who could start a new undrafted streak? By Andrew Mason DenverBoncos.com July 14, 2016 After 11 years, the Broncos' streak of having at least one undrafted player make the first post-preseason 53-man roster ended last year. Who could start a new streak? First, look to special teams. Three of the primary candidates to handle kickoff returns are undrafted rookies: wide receivers Bralon Addison, Kalif Raymond and Mose Frazier. All are in the mix, along with incumbent punt returner Jordan Norwood, to fill the positions held for much of last season by Omar Bolden, who left for the Chicago Bears in free agency.

Raymond got the jump on the position by displaying shiftiness and good vision on returns during OTAs. At a listed weight of 160 pounds, the former Holy Cross sprinter is the lightest player on the roster by a 20-pound margin, but plays on offense and special teams with a fearless abandon and a willingness to go into heavy traffic and use his quickness to break through. "He's got some speed. That's the big key with him," Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis said. "He's a guy that also catches the ball well. That's the first thing you look at as a punt returner is how they track the ball and how they catch it. He does a really good job of that." Frazier got more work on returns later in OTAs and was "a little bit of a surprise" during OTAs, DeCamillis said. Frazier should see repetitions throughout training camp and the preseason. His timing with Paxton Lynch from their days together at Memphis also enhances his chances, given what his offensive role could be. Addison has the most high-level college experience on returns, coming from Oregon, but missed nearly all of OTAs because of his school's academic calendar, so he will have the most catch-up work ahead of him. "I thought I did okay," he said after his work during the last week of OTAs. "Definitely a lot of room for improvement. I've got a lot of time to catch up and a lot of making up to do just because I was behind being out." Nathan Theus also has a shot at roster spot; he will battle with Casey Kreiter, a veteran of two training camps with the Dallas Cowboys, for the long-snapping job. But for roles on offense or defense, the undrafted player best positioned to grab a roster spot is tight end Henry Krieger-Coble. The Iowa product saw plenty of first-team repetitions during team and seven-on-seven periods of OTAs because of injuries to Virgil Green and Jeff Heuerman. He became a reliable target; he has some of the best hands on the team, and is outstanding at reaching out and plucking passes with his arms extended and without breaking his stride. Just as important as what Kreiger-Coble does on the field is what he accomplishes in the weight room.

"The big thing for him is going to be getting bigger and stronger," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said during OTAs. "I don't know how much ground you can make up between now and training camp, but that's going to be the key for him in his career. Can he get a little bit bigger?"

Krieger-Coble said the Broncos want him at 245 pounds -- five pounds below what he was at Iowa. But they want his weight to be from lean muscle.

"You go in there and do what they tell you, because they know exactly what's right for you," he said, "and then go in and work your hardest the whole time."

Kubiak also pointed to outside linebacker Kyle Kragen, the son of former Broncos nose tackle Greg Kragen, as an undrafted rookie who impressed during OTAs, but the coach added that it was hard to single out one or two players. "They're all ready to compete, I know that," Kubiak said.

Adam Gotsis joins Broncos fans at Dinner with a Draft Pick By Aric DiLalla DenverBoncos.com July 14, 2016 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Broncos rookie Adam Gotsis joined four Broncos fans for the second annual Dinner with a Draft pick on Wednesday at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. “It’s just awesome to see the support,” Gotsis said. “[I’m a] new face in town and just to see some of the support from the crazy fan base that we do have is pretty cool.” The event, which was sponsored by CenturyLink, paired the Broncos’ second-round pick with Roger Smith and his family for an all-expenses paid meal. “I like to find out more about them than to just talk about myself,” Gotsis said. “Most of the people that I do meet now have an idea about me, and I kind of don’t know who they are. So just what they do, where they grew up, what they kind of enjoy doing and things like that.”

Adam Gotsis on track to return for beginning of training camp By Aric DiLalla DenverBoncos.com July 14, 2016 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Rookie Adam Gotsis’ return to the football field is drawing near. After a nine-month recovery process from a torn ACL in his left knee, Gotsis said Wednesday he felt he was on track to return near the beginning of the Broncos’ training camp. “I feel like, come training camp, it might be a couple days before they throw me in there with full-contact type stuff,” Gotsis said, “but I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling real confident and ready to get back out there with the team.” During Denver’s OTA sessions, the second-round draft pick worked out off to the side and took mental repetitions during team periods. The Broncos will hold their first training camp practice on Thursday, July 28. Part of Gotsis’ recovery plan was to remain in Denver for the break between OTAs and training camp. With few players in town, the defensive tackle said he’s been able to concentrate on his journey back from a torn ACL. “I’ve been here rehabbing, working out,” Gotsis said. “There’s been a group of us guys here and been working hard, so it’s just every day. … Now everything’s just focused on football and getting back out there on the field.” For at least a few days, however, Gotsis had the chance to return home to Melbourne, Australia. Gotsis said he hadn’t been home in about a year and a half, so he relished the time to see his family and old friends. He sorted out his visa paperwork and also got the opportunity to be “a regular dude again.” He and his friends watched Australian rules football, which he said gave him necessary time to relax and get his mind off the American game. And when Gotsis was home, he saw an outpouring of support from those closest to him. “It was awesome,” Gotsis said. “A lot of my friends and family showing their support and they’ve been with me since Day 1 since I tried to do this and came over to college. A lot of them were just real proud of me. They don’t see a lot of the hard work that goes in, but they hear about it when I talk to them, so it’s just cool that they finally saw everything pay off for me. And it’s good to see what they’re getting up to. Things change in a year. A lot of things changed for me and it’s good to see how guys have changed and what’s happened in their lives, too.” But Gotsis is back in Denver now, and with just two weeks remaining before training camp, he’s eager to return to football. Nearly nine months have passed since Gotsis tore his ACL during an Oct. 31 game against the University of Virginia, and he’s clearly missed the game. “You can’t describe that feeling, [of having] something like that taken from you,” Gotsis said. “Now it’s like you’ve worked so hard to get back to where you were – it’s a big time thing. I’m just ready to get back out there and compete and do all I can do.”