Broncos QB Case Keenum Says on Podcast He Was “Definitely Shocked” by Joe Flacco Trade by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Feb
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Broncos QB Case Keenum says on podcast he was “definitely shocked” by Joe Flacco trade By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Feb. 22, 2019 Broncos quarterback Case Keenum said he was “definitely shocked,” by last week’s agreed-upon trade to acquire Baltimore’s Joe Flacco. Keenum and his wife, Kimberly, appeared on the “The Sports Spectrum” podcast, a faith- and sports- based website, that aired Thursday. “(General manager John) Elway called me that morning and we had a great conversation, which he didn’t have to do — I appreciated that,” Keenum said. “It was definitely a shock. It was a surprise for us … For us, we’re definitely disappointed. It’s not something we wanted to happen. I know everybody is doing their job and John feels like it was a chance to help the Broncos out. “It’s another chapter in our lives and we’re going to roll with it.” Flacco will replace Keenum as the Broncos’ starter. In one year for the Broncos (6-10 record), Keenum had 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million contract in March 2018 and remains on the Broncos’ roster although it is unlikely he returns. He is scheduled to count $21 million on the salary cap. If Keenum is cut, the Broncos will save $11 million and have a $10 million “dead” cap hit. According to the industry website Over The Cap, if the Broncos are able to trade Keenum, they will save $18 million and have only a $3 million “dead” cap charge. A veteran of 54 regular season starts (26-28 record), Keenum could be attractive to a team looking for a quarterback who can be a bridge to them playing a rookie or as a tested backup who can serve as a mentor. “It’s really open-ended right now,” Keenum said of his future. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. This is still very fresh. A lot of these emotions we’re talking about are still going on and still happening. Who knows what’s going to be in store. I don’t, for sure.” If Keenum does move on, he will be playing for his fourth team in as many years, having spent 2016 with the Rams, ’17 with Minnesota and ’18 with the Broncos. “I know my time with the Broncos has been really special,” Keenum said. “I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I have absolutely been so proud to wake up every day and walk into that building and call myself to represent the Broncos as their quarterback. I know the tradition and history the Broncos have at quarterback especially. It was an honor to represent them.” Broncos not expected to re-sign veteran nose tackle Domata Peko By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Feb. 22, 2019 The Broncos will be in the market during free agency and the draft for a new starting nose tackle. Veteran Domata Peko, an unrestricted free agent next month, is not expected to return, a source confirmed Thursday. Peko, 34, played the last two seasons ($7.5 million contract) for the Broncos after spending the first 11 years of his career with Cincinnati. He had 69 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 30 games for the Broncos. Peko played 522 of 1,077 snaps in 2018. Per the Denver Post’s game charting, he had 11 run “stuffs” (gain of three or fewer yards). His eight penalties were tied for second on the team. Minus Peko, the Broncos could lean on restricted free agent Shelby Harris (assuming he returns) and Zach Kerr (who is a free agent) or address the position in the draft. Domata Peko to become a free agent as Broncos seek his replacement By Mike Klis 9NEWS Feb. 22, 2019 Veteran nose tackle Domata Peko has been informed by the Broncos they will not try to sign him back during the early stages of free agency, sources told 9News. It means Peko most likely will not return as he will become an unrestricted free agent when the negotiating window opens March 11, while the Broncos seek a younger alternative at his position. The team and Peko’s representative never entered contract negotiations. The team did leave open the slight possibility that if they can’t find a defensive lineman in free agency, they could reconsider Peko at a later date. Peko, who turned 34 in November, recently completed his 13th NFL season – all but one as a starter. After playing 11 years with the Cincinnati Peko became a free agent and signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Broncos prior to the 2017 season. He started 30 of a possible 32 games for the Broncos and while Peko was a good value – he brought energy and leadership to the team’s day-to-day environment and did his job in the middle of the team’s defensive front, as evidenced by him playing 52.9 percent and 48.5 percent of the defensive snaps the past two years – NFL teams are always trying to get younger. The Broncos’ defensive line currently consists of Derek Wolfe, Adam Gotsis, Shelby Harris and DeMarcus Walker with Zach Kerr also eligible for unrestricted free agency. "They expressed interest in bringing me back, but no offer or anything like that," Kerr said. Harris is a restricted free agent. Broncos coach Vic Fangio sought 'good, good teachers' to fill staff By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Feb. 22, 2019 Vic Fangio said he wanted "good, good teachers" to populate his Denver Broncos coaching staff and that aspect was "nonnegotiable." In the weeks that have followed Fangio's formal introduction as the new coach, he has filled out his staff with a former Broncos coach in Ed Donatell (defensive coordinator), a Hall of Famer in Mike Munchak (offensive line coach) and a first-time NFL playcaller in Rich Scangarello (offensive coordinator). Below is a look at the offensive and defensive assistants: OFFENSE Zach Azzanni (wide receivers): Azzanni is one of the two assistants on offense who were retained from Vance Joseph's staff, but he's no stranger to Fangio. Azzanni was on the Chicago Bears' staff in 2017 when Fangio was the team's defensive coordinator. Azzanni spent almost two decades as a college assistant, including stops at Tennessee, Wisconsin, Western Kentucky and Florida, before joining the Bears' staff in '17. Rob Calabrese (quality control/offense): Scangarello reached into his collegiate background to hire Calabrese for his first job as an NFL assistant. Calabrese was the offensive coordinator at Wagner for the past two seasons and was Wagner's running backs coach when Scangarello was the school's offensive coordinator. Wade Harman (tight ends): Harman has been a longtime NFL assistant, including a 15-season run with the Baltimore Ravens, as well as the past four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He coached tight ends in 19 of his 22 previous seasons as an NFL assistant coach. Broncos Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was one of the Ravens players coached by Harman during his time in Baltimore. Chris Kuper (assistant offensive line): Kuper spent eight seasons as a Broncos player and has quickly developed into a young coach with a bright future. He will enter his fourth season as a coach in 2019 having spent the past three years on Adam Gase's staff with the Miami Dolphins. Kuper played 90 games with the Broncos. T.C. McCartney (quarterbacks): McCartney was on the 49ers' staff the past two seasons with Scangarello. A graduate of Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, McCartney is the grandson of former University of Colorado coach Bill McCartney and the son of former Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese. Curtis Modkins (running backs): Modkins is the other assistant on offense who was retained from Joseph's staff. This past season Phillip Lindsay became the fourth 1,000-yard rusher Modkins has worked with during his time in the league (C.J. Spiller, Reggie Bush and Jordan Howard were the others). Like Azzanni, Modkins was on the Bears' staff during Fangio's time in Chicago. Modkins has also been the offensive coordinator for the 49ers and Bills during his time in the NFL. Mike Munchak (offensive line): Munchak is one of the most respected coaches in the league and was a Hall of Fame player -- class of '01. Including his playing career, Munchak has been in the NFL for 37 years. He has been an offensive line coach for 19 seasons and was the Tennessee Titans' head coach from 2011 to 2013. He has coached seven different offensive linemen who have been named to the Pro Bowl and spent the past five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Justin Rascati (quality control/offense): Rascati is the former offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Rascati won a national championship as a player at James Madison and played two seasons in the Arena Football League before beginning his coaching career. Rich Scangarello (offensive coordinator): Scangarello spent the past two years on Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers staff as quarterbacks coach and has called Shanahan an important mentor in his career. He brings plenty of college coaching experience with 17 years overall -- 14 of those years he was his team's quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator or offensive coordinator. DEFENSE Chris Beake (defensive assistant): Beake has been on the Broncos' staff since 2013, meaning he's been through three different head coaches in John Fox, Gary Kubiak and Joseph before Fangio's arrival. His father, John, was a longtime Broncos general manager.