Broncos Briefs: Vic Fangio looking forward to “feedback” first preseason game will provide By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post July 31, 2019

Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s goal for Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Atlanta Falcons: See as many young players as possible.

“I just really want to see all of them, to be honest with you,” Fangio said after Tuesday’s abbreviated practice. “This was Practice (No.) 11 so it’s going to be nice to go out there and go against somebody else, play live football and see where these young guys are at.

“I don’t think we can make any final conclusions off of one game, but it’s great feedback for us.”

To get the best take, Fangio plans on challenging his players with his defensive calls and wants offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello to do the same.

On defense, Fangio said: “If I’m pretty confident they might be throwing it, instead of giving a corner some help, I’ll see if he can cover his guy. Or I’ll play a light box even though we think they may be running it to see if we can handle it.”

On offense, Fangio said: “Let’s see who can block a good pass rusher without chipping. And even though they have the box loaded, let’s see if you can run the ball in there.”

Fangio said the coaches will have a pecking order of who plays when and how much.

“Some of it is by feel and the way the game is going,” he said. “I always tell the coaches, ‘Count on 65 plays.’ If one side is doing really well, you might have only 50 and the other side 80. You have to adjust as you go. If you’re on the side that gets only 50, some guys will get cheated.”

Fangio was asked if winning the game is important.

“As we stand here today, it’s not that important,” he said. “Invariably, when we get on that sideline Thursday, it’s like playing a game of horse in the backyard — you still want to win. We want to win, but we know there are bigger fish to fry in the game, meaning we need to get evaluations of these guys to help us pick the best 53 for the team.”

Three first-team linemen to start. Fangio said center Connor McGovern, left guard and left tackle Garett Bolles will start against Atlanta and “play a few plays.”

Risner, a rookie second-round pick, will be making his NFL debut.

“I think it’s good (for Risner),” Fangio said. “Dalton is the kind of guy that likes to play and it will be good to get his feet wet.”

Fangio and Scangarello had praise for Bolles’ play in camp.

“So far, he’s had a great camp,” Fangio said. “If we were to play (Tuesday) against Oakland (instead of Sept. 9), he would be the starter hands-down, unanimous decision.”

Said Scangarello: “He’s a really good scheme fit. His athleticism helps in the run game. … I think he’s playing very, very well.”

It is expected that Don Barclay (right guard) and Elijah Wilkinson (right tackle) will start in place of Ron Leary and Ja’Wuan James, respectively.

Pads come off. After seven consecutive days in full pads, the Broncos went through a lighter (no hitting) and shorter (less than two hours) practice.

Not participating were inside Todd Davis (calf, 10th consecutive missed practice), receivers River Cracraft (oblique, ninth) and DaeSean Hamilton (hamstring, fifth), tight ends (knee, eighth) and Bug Howard (ankle, fourth), cornerback (foot), and offensive linemen Jake Rodgers (calf, fourth) and Leary (day off).

Fangio ruled all of those players out for Thursday. James (lower leg), who did some individual work Tuesday, will also be held out.

Preseason experimentation. Scangarello will be in the coaches’ box to call the offensive plays. Fangio (defensive play-caller) will, of course, be on the field and so will defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

Field level will be a new view for Fangio. He won’t stand along the line of scrimmage, instead choosing to be well behind or ahead of the football.

“It’s good (to) experiment with where’s the best place for me to stand when we’re on defense,” he said. “I’ll try and get an end zone view so I have somewhat of a wider view.”

Fangio will also need to design a hand-held play-call sheet as opposed to the big card he had in front of him in the coaches box.

“I may have to go to a double-sided (sheet),” he said. “It’s a work in progress.”

Briefly. The Broncos will have a light practice Wednesday before flying to Ohio and touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame. … The Broncos’ next open practice is Sunday at 9:15 a.m. … Scangarello on the offensive progress: “I think offensively, we’re coming together. It’s not there yet by far. But I feel confident and () Joe (Flacco) has settled in a little bit.”

Drew Lock reacts to third-string challenge in Hall of Fame game: “I’m confident in what I can do” By Kyle Fredrickson Denver Post July 31, 2019

Drew Lock has not lost confidence he will someday become the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

But his climb up the depth chart is proving to be initially steep.

The evidence was clear again Tuesday during one specific 11-on-11 period in helmets and shorts at UCHealth Training Center. Lock, listed as third-string on the first preseason depth chart, quarterbacked Denver’s scout team against the starting defense. It’s not the training camp role one might expect of a second-round rookie only two days before his first NFL preseason game. Then Lock tossed an interception to cornerback Chris Harris on a deep ball down the sideline.

“That was the first time for me (running scout team),” Lock told reporters after practice. “Again, it was Chris Harris; I was still pretty (mad) at myself regardless of what happened. I’ll go back and look at everything that happened. I try to hold myself to a really high standard.”

The Broncos will start quarterback Kevin Hogan, a fourth-year journeyman backup, on Thursday against the Falcons for the Pro Football Hall of Fame game instead of Lock, the planned future at the position selected No. 42 overall in the 2019 NFL draft. Quarterback Joe Flacco and most starters will not play.

The Hogan-over-Lock decision was predictable considering Hogan’s majority share of second-team snaps in training camp practices and Lock’s ongoing transition from a spread offense at Missouri to a pro-style system in Denver. He has flashed the tools of an elite passer but without the consistency.

Lock developed a gunslinger reputation in college by stretching the field vertically with 12,193 career passing yards. Just don’t expect the exact same mentality in his NFL debut off the bench. Lock described his top priority against the Falcons as “managing the game.”

“It’s obviously not the 1s that are going to go out and play this game,” Lock said. “There will be a lot of young guys, a lot of draft picks, a lot of couple-year guys — the juices will be flowing, people will be riled up, but let’s calm down, let’s show we can drive down the field, be crisp, be smart, no penalties before the snap — be a really clean quarterback that doesn’t force the ball downfield, that can check it down and keep moving the sticks.”

Coach Vic Fangio revealed his quarterback order against Atlanta — Hogan-Lock- — but would not divulge specific snap count goals. Fangio said: “Some of it is by feel and the way the game is going.” Among the greatest challenges for each passer will be adapting to the Falcons’ defensive scheme after 11 training camp practices against the Broncos defense.

“It will feel very foreign to those young guys and it will not be an easy transition,” offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said. “We’re not game-planning or preparing them for that stuff, so (Lock) has to understand that and it will be a process for him. That’s part of his journey.”

Lock’s football education is on display for public viewing at training camp. Scangarello and Flacco spent one small portion of practice with Lock to the side during 7-on-7 focused on footwork with Flacco demonstrating a drop-back in real time. Lock’s increased knowledge of the playbook breeds confidence when asking for help from a former Super Bowl champion and coaches.

“We can actually have a dialogue and talk, and get into the really deep stuff about football rather than, ‘What did I do wrong on this play?’ Just very simple things like that,” Lock said. “Being able to have in- depth conversations, I think that was the big jump for me in these first two weeks.”

Hogan gets the starting spotlight before a national television audience in his Broncos debut. He is relishing the opportunity — “I just want to go out and prove I can execute the offense, be an efficient quarterback and score some points,” Hogan said. But he is also aware of the franchise’s long-term commitment to his competition for the backup job this year.

“(Lock’s) very talented and eager to get better,” Hogan said. “He’s a great guy to have in the room. The talent is there. It’s just about getting reps and experience. He’s going to be around for a long time.”

Coming off the bench is not familiar territory for Lock after starting 46 of 50 career games at Missouri.

It hasn’t changed his mindset as QB3 on Thursday night.

“Of course, I’ll be a little fired up to show people what I can do and bring the juice that I brought through college,” Lock said. “I think you’ll still see the same me. I’m confident in what I can do, whether I go in right at the beginning of the game or at end of the game. I’m going to be the same guy and prove to people that one day, I should be starting these games.”

One of the newest Broncos could force the team to make some difficult roster decisions By Nicki Jhabvala The Athletic July 31, 2019

Brandon Stokley’s eyes lit up as he scanned the Broncos’ practice field and spotted a newcomer of a similar build with likely a similar role.

“Oh, what do we have here?” Stokley said as the team’s newest No. 86 ran through early individual drills with the receivers. “I like this.”

If anybody can spot a talented slot receiver it’s Stokley, a two-time Super Bowl-winning receiver who played with five different teams in his 15-year NFL career, had two stints in Denver and spent a year with Joe Flacco.

Stokley saw something immediately in Nick Williams, who was signed last Friday amid a string of injuries to Denver’s young receiving corps.

At 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, Williams is the smallest of the 13 receivers on the Broncos’ camp roster, and of course, his pre-draft comparison was Wes Welker, the Broncos’ last true slot receiver.

“You’re not going to compare me to Calvin Johnson, right?” Williams said with a laugh.

But Williams’ journey to Denver sheds more light on why he arrived — and why he has a good chance to stay.

Undrafted out of Connecticut, where he starred as a returner more than a receiver, Williams was signed by Washington in 2013, when Mike Shanahan was head coach, Kyle Shanahan was offensive coordinator, and the staff featured future head coaches in Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur.

When Kyle Shanahan went to Atlanta in 2015, he brought Williams with him. Williams played 19 games in three seasons (playoffs included) with the Falcons, recording 25 catches for 248 yards (9.9 average) and two touchdowns. In Williams’ first season in Atlanta, Rich Scangarello was the Falcons’ offensive quality control coach, a stepping stone to coach in San Francisco and now offensive coordinator in Denver.

When Williams became a free agent in 2018, he reunited with LaFleur, then the Titans’ offensive coordinator, but saw limited action. A reunion with McVay in Los Angeles followed, after an injury to Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, but it lasted about a month before Williams was cast aside once more.

Since he entered the league, Williams has been cut six times by four different teams. And although he’s less than a week in with the Broncos, the early signs offer promise.

The first giveaway: Broncos head coach Vic Fangio gave him reps with Flacco and the starting offense in his first day on the job last Friday.

“We’ve run low at receivers and particularly at the slot. We’re not low enough to ask Stokley if he can still play, but he did a good job,” Fangio said Friday afternoon. “He’s a guy that doesn’t meet your height, weight and speed, things that all the personnel people like, but looks like a pretty damn good football player to me out there. Maybe all he needed was an opportunity and he’s got one now. Let’s see.”

The second tell-tale: Williams’ path from UConn has a clear trend. He’s a receiver molded in the Shanahan system. He was signed by Mike, played for Kyle, has been around Scangarello and is comfortable with the offense.

“Pretty comfortable,” he said. “It’s just little subtleties, where you might have known it as ‘box’ but now it’s ‘Joe’ or something like that. You just have to memorize it in the beginning until you learn it in the new terms. But there’s a lot of carryover.”

Familiarity and veteran experience provide the Broncos two things they’re thin at with their receivers, especially as Emmanuel Sanders continues to work his way back into full practices.

“You can tell he has a little quickness and a knack to run a handful of routes in our offense — a really good feel for how to run them,” Flacco said after the Broncos’ practice at the stadium Saturday.

The third sign? At UConn, Williams returned 79 kickoffs for 2,045 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned 52 punts for 470 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

His first kickoff returned for a touchdown was 100 yards. His second was this 95-yard return against Pittsburgh.

He also had an 80-yard returned for a touchdown against Pittsburgh, and this 58-yard gem, in which he weaved through and past nearly every Maryland player after fielding a punt to reach the end zone.

“I enjoy it. I don’t really consider it special teams; it’s just another part of the game,” Williams said. “It’s a part of winning football.”

The Broncos’ biggest reason for bringing in Williams was likely need: Sanders isn’t a full-go, DaeSean Hamilton is nursing a hamstring injury and River Cracraft has been dealing with an oblique injury.

But the secondary reasons may be just as important, and ultimately force the Broncos to make difficult decisions with how many and which receivers they keep on their 53-man roster.

“There are a lot of offenses where you respect guys are who smart, crafty, (able to) get open, slot-type players. Nick had a real rapport with (Falcons quarterback) Matt Ryan, and … he knows the offense,” Scangarello said. “We’ve had some guys nicked up and he’s experienced and can go out there and compete with the best of them. He’s played in this league, and it’s nice to have that around.”

The risk for a player of Williams’ size at his position, though, is always being on the edge and having to constantly fight for one of the last roster spots.

His situation in Denver is no different.

“I think in the NFL when you’re a slot player, it has to be the right offense and you’re always one of those guys who is always going to be on the bubble,” Scangarello said. “You have value, but if you’re not the punt returner or something like that, sometimes it makes it hard and you’re always that last guy battling to make it. I think Nick’s had some unfortunate circumstances in that respect, but he’s proven he can play in the NFL. And he’s a talented, smart guy and he’s competitive and he’s already helped some of the young guys just with knowing the offense, the details and things like that.”

Thursday, less than a week into his tenure as a Bronco, Williams gets his first big test toward making the roster against his former team, the Falcons, in the Hall of Fame Game.

His reliability on offense will undoubtedly be key, but his ticket may also depend on special teams, where he will join the wide-open competition for the returner job.

The quick turnaround from free agency to game-day receiver requires cramming and an ability to adjust on the fly. But for Williams, it’s one he has grown accustomed to as he tries to capitalize on his latest opportunity and separate himself from a crowded (and typically bigger) room of receivers.

After practice Tuesday, as the Broncos began to look ahead to their preseason opener, Stokley stood at the front of a media scrum to pepper Fangio with questions. When he got his chance, Stokley asked for the coach’s opinion on his newest and smallest receiver.

“You kind of have a little love for him don’t you?” Fangio joked with Stokley. “He kind of reminds you of yourself. He’s done well. He’s quick, he’s elusive, he’s smart. He’s been in this system — a similar system before — so the learning curve hasn’t been as steep. I think he’s done well. It’ll be interesting to see how he does when he gets in there. When you get a guy in camp at this stage you think you’re just bringing him in to fill up the roster and take some reps, but he’s already proven he’s above that, so he’s in the hunt.”

Broncos QBs Kevin Hogan, Drew Lock eye Hall of Fame game opener By Troy Renck KMGH July 31, 2019

The Broncos open the NFL's 100th season with the Hall of Fame game Thursday in Canton, Ohio. Fake games can give real impressions. And this is a time for the quarterbacks to begin making a statement. For Kevin Hogan, he is auditioning for the Broncos and others. For rookie Drew Lock, it represents the first step in what the organization hopes is a long career in orange and blue.

Hogan will start against the Falcons. He finds himself in a tough spot. He is second string, but it's hard to see an avenue for him making the team. The Broncos are unlikely to carry three quarterbacks on the 53- man roster, and they would prefer to stash rookie Brett Rypien on the practice squad. So if Lock makes progress and stays healthy, the second-round pick figures to be the backup on Sept. 9. A lot can transpire between now and then, leaving Hogan to narrow his line of sight.

"I am realistic, and everyone is self-aware," Hogan said after Tuesday's light workout. "At the same time, you have to control what you can control. I believe if I reach my potential, I will be somewhere. I would love to be here. I love the coaching staff, I love the quarterback room and I love being a Bronco."

For Lock, the first game represents lyrics in a song. Get a verse right, move onto the next. The Broncos, without saying it, have learned from the past with failed first-rounder . Having a plan for Lock's development is critical. Microwaving the process doesn't always work, and can stunt the growth of a young player. But facing a fresh face is welcomed after nearly two weeks of training camp.

"It's just really exciting playing someone else who doesn't have a Broncos helmet on," Lock said. "We all really want to see each other succeed. So I am excited about getting the ball in guys' hands and letting them go to work a little bit."

Hogan will be surrounded by a few starters. Center Connor McGovern, left guard Dalton Risner and left tackle Garett Bolles will all start. McGovern could use additional reps to develop consistency with his shotgun snaps, Risner is a rookie requiring snaps and Bolles is looking to build off a solid training camp as Elijah Wilkinson pushes for time. Fangio said Tuesday Bolles is "hands down" the starter and that "someone's got to knock him out kind of like a heavyweight champ. He's the incumbent."

For Fangio, it represents a time to break out the beakers and experiment. And that starts with where he stands. After nearly three decades coaching from the booth, he will be on the sideline.

"When we are on defense, I am going to try and get the end zone view of it," said Fangio, who will be joined by defensive coordinator Ed Donatell on the sidelines while offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will work from upstairs. "I won't be on the line of scrimmage starting off. I'm going to try and be back a little ways, so at least I have somewhat of a wider view," he said.

Footnotes The Broncos have an unusual practice. Their next full practice is not until Sunday. They will have meetings Saturday and lift. It's part of the pacing in a long preseason as the Broncos integrate new systems while also remaining mindful of keeping veterans fresh for the regular season. ... Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello remains pleased at the progress of his quarterbacks. As it relates to Lock specifically, he is cognizant that the rookie is on a journey. "There are no shortcuts to playing quarterback in the NFL." ... Those who will not play in the Hall of Fame game because of injuries or prescribed rest: right guard Ron Leary (Achilles), right tackle Ja'Wuan James (leg), Jake Butt (knee), who hasn't practiced since July 20, tight end Bug Howard (ankle), cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) and receiver DaeSean Hamilton (hamstring). ... Fangio on touring the Hall of Fame and seeing line coach Mike Munchak's bust. "I am sure Munch will be there changing a fee to take a picture with the guys. It'll be good. I am going to try and get a picture with Mike next to it. It will be cool."

3 QBs to make Denver debut in Hall of Fame Game By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press July 31, 2019

None of the Broncos' four quarterbacks have ever taken a snap for them in a game. Three of them will make their Denver debut Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons in Canton, Ohio.

Joe Flacco , acquired in a trade with Baltimore last winter, will sit out the Hall of Fame Game that kicks off the NFL exhibition slate along with most of the Broncos' other starters.

Rookies Drew Lock and Brett Rypien will get some work against Atlanta behind fourth-year pro Kevin Hogan, the incumbent backup who joined the Broncos last September off waivers.

''Whoa! I'm not used to this,'' Hogan exclaimed when he stepped in front of the media pack Tuesday.

A heady QB whose 36 wins at Stanford broke Andrew Luck's school record, Hogan has made just one start in his three-year pro career, for Cleveland in 2017.

Hogan, who didn't take a single snap behind Case Keenum last season, said he was eager for his first start for the Broncos this preseason.

''I feel like I've put a lot of good work in the offseason and camp, grown within the offense, within this system, taken the coaching points,'' Hogan said. ''So, I just want to go out and prove that I can execute the offense, be an efficient quarterback and score some points.''

Hogan realizes his audition isn't necessarily for the Broncos , who see Flacco as the unchallenged starter in 2019 and Lock, a second-round pick from Missouri, as the franchise's future.

''Yeah, I'm realistic. Everyone's self-aware. But at the same time you've got to control what you can control and I'm just worried about me,'' Hogan said. ''I believe if I can push myself to my potential and keep getting better, then there will be a place for me, whether it's here'' or elsewhere.

''I'd love to be here. I love our room. I love our coaching staff and love being a Bronco,'' Hogan said. ''So, I'm going to go out and make the most of this opportunity.''

Flacco and Lock are unquestionably the ones that the Broncos' brass and their fans are eager to see play this summer. Lock gets that chance first while Flacco will have to wait until Aug. 8 against Seattle.

''Of course when I go out there, I'm going to be a little fired up to show people what I can do and definitely bring the juice that I brought through college,'' Lock said.

Unlike in years past, there's no open quarterback competition at training camp, except to see who will back up Flacco, and Hogan said he understands the hype surrounding Lock.

''He's very talented and eager to get better,'' Hogan said. ''A great guy to have in the room and you know the talent's there, and it's just about getting reps and experience and he's going to be around for a long time.''

First, Lock has to adjust to the pro game after taking precious few snaps under center in college, where he relied on his athleticism - he grew up playing basketball, too - ad-libbing when plays broke down or his primary read was covered.

The coaches aren't expecting Lock to make the jump all at once.

''It's a journey,'' offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said. ''In the end, it takes time to mature as a quarterback in the NFL. There are no shortcuts.''

Lock said he wasn't bothered by being the backup to the backup to start out.

''I think you'll still see the same me. I'm confident in what I can do,'' Lock said. ''Whether I go in at the beginning of the game or go in at the end of the game, I'm going to be the same guy and prove to people that one day I should be starting these games.''

Notes: Coach Vic Fangio snuffed out speculation that LT Garett Bolles' starting job was in jeopardy with Elijah Wilkinson playing so well. ''Well, right now Garett's the starter. He's the incumbent and somebody's got to knock him out, kind of like a heavyweight championship,'' Fangio said. ''And so far he's had a great camp. So, if we were to play today against Oakland (in the season opener), he'd be the starter hands- down. Unanimous decision.''

Bowlen provided blueprint for owners By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press July 31, 2019

John Elway is glad he had the chance to return the favor and dedicate a championship to his beloved boss 18 years after Pat Bowlen jabbed the Super Bowl 32 trophy into the San Diego night and hollered, ''This ... one's ... for ... John!''

Elway called it the greatest moment of his career, and when Denver beat Carolina in Super Bowl 50, the Broncos QB-turned-GM couldn't wait to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and howl, ''This ... one's ... for ... Pat!''

''That was my goal when I took the job,'' said Elway, who considers himself ''the luckiest guy in the world to get an opportunity to play for him and also get an opportunity to come back and work for him.''

Bowlen, who died in June at age 75 , will be posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, honored for helping the NFL usher in billion-dollar television deals and for turning the Broncos into a model franchise with as many Super Bowl appearances (seven) as losing seasons since buying the team in 1984.

''I can remember the hug with him in the locker room'' after that first championship, which followed three Super Bowl blowouts, said Elway, who helicoptered his way into history in leading Denver past Green Bay 31-24.

A year later, Bowlen dedicated Denver's 34-19 win over Atlanta in Super Bowl 33 to the fans.

By the time the Broncos won their third title, Bowlen was homebound, forced by Alzheimer's to step down from his daily duties running the franchise. Team president, CEO and confidante Joe Ellis took the trophy to Bowlen's house when the team flew back to .

Three years later, Ellis and , one of Bowlen's favorite players, informed Bowlen he was a Hall of Fame contributor nominee.

''I strongly believe that he knew that he got into the Hall of Fame,'' said Brittany Bowlen, the owner's 29- year-old daughter who aims to one day assume controlling ownership. ''He had a really big smile when he found out. And I find that a real blessing to know that he knew.''

Presenting Bowlen, the first of the Hall's 326 members to die in the roughly six months between election and induction, is longtime head trainer Steve ''Greek'' Antonopulos, the only fulltime employee who worked for the Broncos during Bowlen's entire tenure as owner.

Bowlen always began his day stopping by the trainer's room for updates.

''Nobody cared more about players than Mr. Bowlen,'' Antonopulos said. ''He liked to communicate with them, not because he wanted to rub elbows, but because he cared about them.''

Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman realized Bowlen wasn't your typical team owner his first Thanksgiving in Denver when he found a sign-up sheet for a turkey, surely a prank on the rookies and other newcomers like himself. What the heck, he figured he'd play along, so he scribbled his name.

''Then I come into the locker room,'' Zimmerman recounted, ''and there's Pat sticking turkeys into our lockers.''

A billionaire businessman whose family made its fortune in oil, gas and real estate, Bowlen just wanted to be one of the guys. A competitive triathlete, Bowlen often was found on the StairMaster in the weight room, drenched in sweat when he wasn't on the sideline checking out practice.

If Bowlen's competitiveness set the standard, his style set the tone.

Remember him on the sideline, arms crossed, sporting sunglasses, a mink coat and that stoic look? His team embraced that image.

''As players we thought, 'This dude is a cool dude as our owner,''' Elway said. ''We all thought we were kind of hip because of Pat.''

Bowlen served on more than a dozen NFL committees, including the competition and broadcast groups that played key roles in the game's soaring popularity.

''He wanted to do the best thing for the league and he didn't want any credit for it,'' former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. ''He didn't take a whole lot of accolades, but he did a whole lot of work. And I think that was Pat in general.''

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in Bowlen he found a kindred spirit, one who recruited him in selecting dark horse candidate Paul Tagliabue as commissioner in 1989, and in bringing Rupert Murdoch and Fox aboard as a broadcast partner in 1993.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, ''There was no owner or person like Pat Bowlen. I loved him. ... He was relentless in his competitive desire to win, but he was always a gentleman, a professional and a trusted partner. He was a leader both in his success and in his kindness and humility.''

Bowlen had every right to boast, suggested fellow 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Champ Bailey.

''He had the style for it, he had the charisma for it,'' Bailey said. ''It's just, what does that really bring to the team? Nothing, really. I loved that about him.''

A fierce but friendly competitor, Bowlen provided a blueprint for ownership in professional sports, suggested Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.

''A huge reason I came to Denver was I knew Mr. Bowlen was all about winning,'' Peyton Manning said.

Outside the team's locker room is a large image of Bowlen and his signature saying, ''I want us to be number one in everything.''

That included player relations.

''He ran this football team with his heart and not his pocketbook,'' Elway said, a sentiment to which Ellis can attest. ''He wanted to rip up everybody's contract all the time to give them more money.''

Ellis said Bowlen's competitive streak was especially evident on game day when ''Pat had those binoculars to his eyes with fire burning through them until the gun sounded.''

He remembered a 41-14 win at Oakland. Late in the game, Ellis told Bowlen he could go ahead and relax.

''Let me tell you how many games I've enjoyed over the years,'' Bowlen interrupted. ''I've got this anxiety level and until the gun sounds, it's never over. But I can count on one hand how many games I actually recall that I can fully enjoy.''

A sly smile came next.

''Tonight's one of them.''

Bowlen split his offseasons between Denver and Hawaii, and every year he'd take his players out canoeing, golfing and dining at one of his restaurants during Pro Bowl week. Those are the only times Elway ever saw Bowlen show off.

''He was proud of his restaurants,'' Elway said. ''But you know what? He'd walk in that restaurant and he was more proud of the guys he was walking in with. Not too many times did we have a private room. We sat out in the public and he enjoyed that.'' Bailey's best play blemished Brady's perfection By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press July 31, 2019

From the moment he played his first pickup game on a steamy summer day in the three-stoplight town of Folkston, Georgia, Champ Bailey had a nose for the football.

''I mean, he was greedy with the football,'' said Boss Bailey, his younger brother by 16 months who played with Champ in high school, college and the pros. ''He wanted the ball in his hands. He never said, 'Nah, give it to somebody else.''

Those ball-hawking skills served Bailey well when he converted from a star and quarterback in high school to a superstar cornerback in college and the pros, where he was downright gluttonous with the football during a 15-year NFL career in Washington and Denver that landed him in the 2019 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bailey picked off 54 passes altogether, including one against New England that he returned for 100 yards in the divisional playoffs after the 2005 season.

''That moment was so big because of what the Patriots had done and the kind of run they had going on,'' Bailey recounted.

Tom Brady had already won three of his six Super Bowl rings and all 10 of his playoff starts when he drove the Patriots to the Broncos 5-yard line late in the third quarter on that icy Denver night.

The momentum, if not the lead, was slipping from Denver's grasp when coach Mike Shanahan called for a safety blitz from Nick Ferguson, who collected just one sack in his decade-long career.

Surprised, Brady rolled right and rifled an off-balance throw he'd regret.

''The Broncos never blitzed me, so it probably surprised the hell out of Tom Brady and the offensive linemen,'' Ferguson said. ''And truth be told, we ran the same blitz twice. The first time, I didn't go. So, the second time I lined up on that particular play, the linemen even said, '25 isn't coming.' And I was just like, 'Holy smokes, they're not going to block me!'''

Ferguson shot through the line untouched and ''Brady saw me at the last second and he started to roll to his right side and he wasn't able to set his feet,'' Ferguson said. ''So, he just threw it toward Troy Brown and luckily enough, Champ broke on the ball and we're off to the races.''

Scurrying down the Denver sideline after Bailey were teammates John Lynch, Gerard Warren and Ferguson, who slowed down and stepped in front of Brown to shield Bailey about 25 yards from the end zone.

''I'm just like, 'OK, that's a touchdown,''' Ferguson recalled. ''Then, 'Oh! What was that?''' That blur was tight end Benjamin Watson, who had raced from the far side of the field, or, as Ferguson said, ''from out of nowhere,'' to knock Bailey out at the New England 1.

''It took a fellow Georgia Bulldog to catch me,'' Bailey cracked after the longest non-scoring interception in NFL playoff history, one that helped saddle Brady with his first playoff loss.

In the AFC championship a week later, Bailey had another interception in his grasp and both the end zone and a trip to the Super Bowl in his sights only to watch Steelers receiver Hines Ward somehow come down with the ball instead.

Pittsburgh went on to beat Denver 34-17, denying Bailey a chance to play in the Super Bowl in his prime.

''It denied all of us,'' Ferguson said. ''I still have trouble coming to grips with that years later because you only get a few opportunities and you may get one. Unlike myself and John, Champ fortunately got another opportunity and he actually went to the Super Bowl. But it would have been great if we could have won that game because we knew for sure Seattle wouldn't have beaten us. The NFC didn't have any really good teams that year.''

Nearly a decade later, Bailey again bested Brady in Denver, this time in the AFC championship, to reach Super Bowl 48 against Seattle. Only, these Seahawks were indestructible as the ''Legion of Boom'' crushed Peyton Manning's record-setting offense and put a 43-8 shellacking on the banged-up Broncos in the final game of Bailey's storied career.

''I've settled with the fact I didn't get it,'' said Bailey, whose dozen Pro Bowl berths are an NFL record for defensive backs. ''I did have a shot, though.''

Looking back, Denver's drubbing at the hands of the Seahawks was no surprise, Bailey said. While the Broncos' offense piled up points by the bunches, becoming the first NFL team to top 600 in a season, Denver's defense was hit hard by injuries, including a nagging foot injury that limited Bailey to just three starts - and only one full game - that season.

Pat Bowlen: Ironman athlete By Cliff Hickman Canton Repository July 31, 2019

Bowlen wasn’t only one of the most successful owners in the NFL. He may have been the most physically fit.

Most people might take it easy after reaching the pinnacle of sports ownership by purchasing an NFL franchise. Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 enshrinee Pat Bowlen wasn’t most people.

The owner had a love of physical fitness and once famously competed in two Ironman triathlon events in Hawaii. It was a year-round pursuit for Bowlen who would often begin working out immediately after checking in on his players in the morning.

“You got used to how competitive he was,” Broncos director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos told KMGH-TV in May. “He worked out all day long. That guy was crazy, the way he worked. It was unbelievable how he was.”

How crazy? Early in his ownership, Bowlen attempted to bike 60 miles from the team’s original headquarters to training camp in Greeley. A pothole got in the way and Bowlen ended up with a broken collarbone after a bad landing.

It was noted that Bowlen was upset. But not about the issues you might think.

“I asked him, ‘What did you do?’” Antonopulos told KMGH-TV in May. “And here he was mad he got hurt because it could affect his training. I will always remember his competitiveness. He wanted to be the best at everything he did.”

How committed was Bowlen to his morning routine? He once famously refused to take a call from President Bill Clinton after a Super Bowl victory because it conflicted with his workout schedule.

“Pat has a situation,” former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan told KMGH-TV in May. “The President’s going to call at 5:15 a.m. and he says to me ‘You got to make the call.’ I’m like ‘What the hell? I can’t. It’s the President of the United States!’ He says ‘Nope, I got to get my workout in,’ and he got his workout in.”

Shanahan went out to find out first hand how seriously Bowlen took his workouts during training camp.

“We would run together and you learn fast that with Pat it’s always a competition,” Shanahan told KMGH- TV in May. “I had to get in shape if I was going to run with him because he would try to hurt you. Not just beat you. Hurt you.”

Coaches weren’t the only ones to learn about Bowlen’s workouts. Franchise quarterback hit the water with Bowlen in Hawaii.

“We’d get in those canoes and go wave surfing,” Elway told the Denver Post in June. “That’s when you saw Pat when he was at his best. That was really good. We got a chance to do that until he tipped one and I was still playing. He said, ‘OK, that’s the last time we’re riding waves in an outrigger canoe until you’re done (playing).’”

One thing is for certain, future inductees will have a high bar to reach if they want to beat out Bowlen for the title of most physically fit owner in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Time to see how quarterback Drew Lock fails with the Broncos By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette July 31, 2019

All smiles, this guy. Tap his left shoulder and run right, like did Tuesday, Drew Lock smiles. Throw a pick to Chris Harris Jr., Drew Lock swears. Then smiles.

“It was Chris Harris,” Lock justified after the interception on Day 11 of Broncos camp.

“I was still pretty (ticked) at myself,” he added.

Good! Get (ticked). Get angry. Then get even.

If you’re watching the Hall of Fame Game with the Broncos and Falcons on Thursday, you’re a real one. And you're probably watching the quarterbacks. (Except for Joe Flacco. As the designated, sure-fire starting quarterback he won’t play in the first of five preseason games.) You’re watching Lock, the second- round pick dubbed the QOFT (Quarterback of the Future) and John Elway’s latest swing at QB glory.

I’m watching Lock, too — to see how he fails. I want to see Lock’s response when he gets picked again, when it's not fun and games, when it’s not tossing the pigskin around with the boys on the Augusta fairways at UCHealth Training Center. I want to see Lock when he’s not smiling like a frat boy on Friday.

Because the last QOFT crumbled like a Jenga board when something bad happened. There’s still a hole on the west wall inside the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. Residents call it the Paxton Patch, and it’s where Lynch aimed and launched a football — on fourth-and-goal. Yep, fourth-and-goal. Bang, right into the wall. Turnover on downs.

It was about that time you knew Lynch wasn’t the actual QOFT, just a pretend QOFT. The Broncos need a quarterback who’s cocky enough to believe failure is simply a detour to success.

You know, like Elway, who’s taken swing (Brock Osweiler) after swing (Lynch) after swing (Lock) at quarterbacks until he finds the one that's going to be here after him.

“I’m not done swinging and missing,” Elway said prior to the 2018 draft. “Misses don’t bother me.”

That’s what the Broncos need in a quarterback — one who’s cocky enough to believe the next touchdown is on the next series, with a memory short enough to forget the pick to Chris Harris.

“I’ll go back and look at everything that happened,” Lock said.

Vic Fangio’s plan for the quarterbacks Thursday: Kevin Hogan, listed as QB2 on the first depth chart, will start the game and play alongside a handful of starters (offensive linemen Garett Bolles, Connor McGovern and Dalton Risner among them). Then comes Lock, then comes Brett Rypien.

Then comes four more preseason games, or too many. Shoot, the Broncos have more preseason games than the Nuggets, who have four. Something silly about that, but Fangio digs it.

This weekend takes Broncos legends Pat Bowlen and Champ Bailey into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It also takes Fangio, a 60-year-old football lifer, down memory lane. As a kid, Fangio was a Butkus fan, a Namath fan, an Eagles fan. "And those were some down years (for the Eagles)," he said. He hopes to take a photo with Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak alongside Munchak's bust in Canton. He hopes to escape the game with a healthy roster. He hopes that coaching from the sideline — instead of up in the booth — is no biggie.

Anyway, Lock loves the new offensive coordinator. Rich Scangarello makes him smile. (So does the sun, lunch, puppies and Von.) And Scangarello warned the first defense Lock will see in the NFL — Atlanta’s defense, cut from the mold of Seattle’s defense and the Chargers’ defense — is new to Lock.

“It will not be an easy transition,” Scangarello said.

Good. Hope he gets picked off and ticked off — then gets even.

Fangio runs drills specifically to put players in a bad spot. If he’s certain the preseason opponent will run a pass play, he won’t give safety help to a cornerback. It’s like the basketball coach who pairs his star point guard with four walk-ons and orders, “Now go beat the starters.”

“Just to see who can handle it,” Fangio said.

But Thursday is a big deal to Lock, his first televised step toward being the real, live QOFT.

“When I go out there I’m going to be a little fired up (to) show people what I can do. Definitely (want to) bring the juice that I brought through college,” Lock said Tuesday. “You’ll still see the same me. I’m confident in what I can do. Whether I go in right at the beginning of the game, or I go in at the end of the game, I’m going to be the same guy. I’m going to prove to people that one day I should be starting these games.”

Time to see how he fails.

Broncos Day 11 Camp report: Getting ready for the Falcons By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com July 31, 2019

Unlike the other practices of training camp to date, Tuesday's work was geared toward game preparation.

Quarterback Kevin Hogan, who will start Thursday, worked against the first-team defense and with three first-team offensive linemen -- Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner and Connor McGovern. All three are expected to play "a few plays" in Thursday's preseason opener against Atlanta, Head Coach Vic Fangio said.

Offenses and defenses gave each other scout-team-type looks. While the work wasn't at half speed, the tempo was throttled back a bit. Pass rushers didn't always come charging at the quarterback as they did during the first 10 practices.

LOCK FINDS SUCCESS IN MOVE-THE-BALL PERIOD

There was one move-the-ball series in practice, and it saw Drew Lock lead the offense into field-goal range against a defense that had a mix of backups and some prominent first-teamers like outside linebacker Von Miller and .

Given 1:58 on the clock, a two-point deficit and a timeout, Lock guided the offense 54 yards on a drive that began at its 25-yard line. The two longest plays came on passes to Khalfani Muhammad (14 yards) and Austin Fort (13 yards), the latter of which came on a third-and-10 with 1:21 remaining.

After the pass to Fort moved the offense to the defense's 35-yard line, Lock hit Devontae Jackson for a pair of 6-yard passes before the drive stalled when a first-and-10 pass to Dave Williams bounced off the running back's hands. Williams carried for a 2-yard gain on the next play before a third-and-8 spike set up what would have been a 39-yard field-goal attempt under game conditions.

Lock said he wants to refine his work in game management on Thursday. What he did during Tuesday's move-the-ball period showed progress, as he guided the offense into scoring range without having to use a timeout.

“We talked about the groups that are going to be playing this game," he said. "It’s obviously not the ones going out there and play this game. There's going to be a lot of young guys, a lot of draft picks, a lot of just now free agents, a lot of couple-year guys. Juices will be flowing, people will be riled up.

"Let’s calm down. Let’s show that we can drive it on the field. Be crisp, be smart, [and] no penalties before the snap. Just be a really clean quarterback that doesn't force a ball downfield, that can check it down and keep moving the sticks."

If Lock succeeds at this Thursday, a possession like the one he led Tuesday will be a reason why.

NOTES

... As has been the case throughout training camp, passes to running backs and tight ends were a point of emphasis Tuesday.

Heavy involvement of the running backs as receiving targets is by design, Offensive Coordinator Rich Scangarello noted.

"Yeah, without question. This style of play is about creating matchups where you can, and the halfback is a big part of that," he said.

"We definitely have complementary pieces and really talented backs that can do a lot of different stuff, so it's our job to put them in position to do that as much as we can."

... Fangio expressed satisfaction with the work of left tackle Garett Bolles so far in training camp.

"He's the incumbent, and somebody's got to knock him out, kind of like a heavyweight championship, and so far he's had a great camp," Fangio said. "If we were to play today against Oakland, he'd be the starter hands down -- unanimous decision."

... Cornerback Isaac Yiadom should play extensively Thursday, and he capped the day with a back-of-the- end-zone interception of a Lock pass toward Fred Brown during a team red-zone period.

With Bryce Callahan sidelined after having his foot stepped on during Saturday's practice, Yiadom has been a mainstay during first-team periods, giving him a path to be the No. 3 cornerback.

"Ever since they took the caution away from him with the shoulder I like the way he's progressing," Fangio said. "He's a very conscientious player, wants to do well for himself, for the coaches, for the team. We really enjoy coaching him. It'd be good for him to get action."

... Chris Harris Jr. also intercepted Lock, leaping for a pass intended for rookie Juwann Winfree.

... Defensive end DeMarcus Walker continued his solid camp by batting down a pass at the line of scrimmage during the team red-zone period.

... One positive moment for Lock came when he was working against the first-team defense. Rolling out to the right, he had Von Miller closing in on him, but Lock deftly lofted the ball over Miller's reach and into the grasp of with Harris in coverage. The play gained only 3 yards, but the touch on the ball from Lock was a good sign.

... Linebacker Justin Hollins showed off his 4.5 speed, breaking up a long attempt to tight end during a team period. Hollins stayed with Fant step for step, allowing him to remain in position to make a play on the football.

Starters Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Connor McGovern to 'play a few snaps' vs. Falcons By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com July 31, 2019

At least a few of the Broncos’ starters will appear in Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame game.

Left tackle Garett Bolles, left guard Dalton Risner and center Connor McGovern will “play a few plays,” Head Coach Vic Fangio said Tuesday.

“Dalton’s the kind of guy that likes to play and it will be good to get his feet wet,” Fangio said.

Bolles, meanwhile, will take snaps after a “great” start to training camp.

“Right now, Garett’s the starter,” Fangio said. “He’s the incumbent. Somebody’s got to knock him out, kind of like a heavyweight championship. So far he’s had a great camp. If we were to play today against Oakland, he’d be the starter, hands down. Unanimous decision.”

Right guard Ron Leary and tackle Ja’Wuan James will not play. Leary (Achilles) sat out Tuesday’s practice, while James (lower-leg bruise) appeared limited.

Fangio said Jake Butt (knee), Bug Howard (ankle), Bryce Callahan (foot) and DaeSean Hamilton (hamstring) will also not play in Thursday’s game. Starting quarterback Joe Flacco is also not scheduled to play.

At times on Thursday, Fangio may purposefully call plays that put certain players in difficult situations.

“For instance, if I’m pretty confident they might be throwing it, instead of maybe giving a corner some help, I might see if he can cover his guy,” Fangio said. “[Or] play a light box even when we think they might be running it [and] see if we can handle the run in a light box. Things like that.”

That philosophy extends to the offense, as well. “Yeah, let’s see who can block a good pass rusher without chipping them,” Fangio said. “Even though they’ve got the box loaded, let’s see if we can run the ball up in there.”

FINDING HIS WAY

During nearly all of his 19 years as an NFL defensive coordinator, Fangio worked games from the coaching box. As he begins his head-coaching career, Thursday’s game will serve as a way for him to test out coaching from the sideline.

“[I will] experiment with where the best place for me to stand is when we’re on defense,” Fangio said. “I’m going to try to get an end-zone view of it. I won’t be on the line of scrimmage starting off. I’m going to try to be back a little ways, one way or the other, so at least I’ve got somewhat of a wider view. We’ll see how that works.” Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell will also be on the sideline on Thursday, Fangio said. The glaring difference between Vic Fangio’s preseason approach and his predecessor’s By Ryan Koenigsberg BSN Denver July 31, 2019

Ah, the preseason, the egg nog of NFL football.

When the holidays come around, and you see egg nog on the shelves at the store, you think, “Oh, I gotta get some of that!”

Then, you pour yourself a big ol’ glass of nog, and by the third sip, you realize it’s really not that good.

While it’s quite exciting that the Broncos are going to play a football game on Thursday, it will only take a couple sips of the preseason egg nog to remember why the exhibitions are a massive tease.

And this year might even be worse, for all the right reasons.

Let’s go back to the 2017 preseason, new head coach Vance Joseph explained that winning preseason games is still important, noting that the team wouldn’t put together a full game plan for their games, but that he would give them “enough to play well.”

In his first preseason game as a head coach, the Broncos beat the Bears 24-17.

“Winning is winning, guys,” he said after the game. “It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or not.”

The Broncos went on to win each and every one of their four preseason games.

“That’s exciting,” Joseph said following the 4-0 start. “Winning is winning.”

Heading into the 2018 preseason, Joseph echoed a similar message.

“I think winning is important,” he said. “Winning is a habit, so you want to win games.”

Joseph wanted to win in the preseason, and he did, finishing his career in Denver with a 7-1 record in exhibitions.

Now, this is not to suggest that wanting to win is a bad thing, but hearing Vic Fangio talk about his very- different approach to the preseason is just another in a long line of, “Ahh, that makes sense” moments from the new head coach.

“The main thing that we want to accomplish is get the individual and the team ready for the regular season,” Fangio said early this week. “One of our biggest jobs is to make sure we pick the right 53 guys. We want to see guys go out and play. There will be times whereas coaches we may have a good feel for what the other team is going to run, but we’re going to call something that’s hard for us just to see if guys can handle it. You know a hard assignment, not hard mentally.”

In other words, Fangio plans to do things that may actively work against winning but work towards his overarching goal of evaluation.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he won’t care about the result come game day.

“You know, as we stand here today, [the final score is] not that important but when we get on that sideline on Thursday night, it’s like playing a game of horse in the backyard, you still want to win,” he said. “We want to win, but we know there’s bigger fish to fry. We’ve got to get evaluations of these guys to help us pick the best 53 for the team.”

When the Broncos take the field on Thursday, expect to see the coaching staff experiment with things you wouldn’t normally see on a Sunday. You’ll see a corner left on an island against a better receiver, a light box called in a run situation, a tackle attempting to block a good pass rusher without a chip block from a back, a run up the middle against a stacked box and more.

On the surface, it may seem like players aren’t being put in the best position to succeed, but it’s really an opportunity for them to shine. If they can succeed in these purposefully-tough situations, that sends a bright signal to the folks in charge of who has a job on Sept. 1.

Of course, there’s the flip side, which is that this could result in some ugly, ugly moments for the Broncos throughout the preseason.

So, on Thursday, don’t be surprised if your egg nog is a little sour, just remember the bigger picture, and that egg nog isn’t that good anyway.

Broncos Training Camp Observations: A pattern in the offense By Zac Stevens BSN Denver July 31, 2019

The next time the Broncos take the field, they’ll be opening the 2019 NFL season, even if it is just the preseason.

On Thursday, the Broncos take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio to kick off the Hall-of-Fame weekend with Pat Bowlen and Champ Bailey’s induction into football’s most elite club.

To prep for their final practice before their first game, Vic Fangio took off the pads for the first time since the team put them on over a week ago.

As always, BSN Denver was on hand to take in all of the action. Here’s what went down on Tuesday, the team’s 11th practice of camp.

CHECKDOWN JOE Short pass. Dumpoff. Quick toss in the flat. Repeat.

That’s essentially been the Broncos’ offense through the first two weeks of camp.

This, while it may seem boring, isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, on Tuesday, it’s what an optimist would call efficient.

In the limited reps No. 5 received during Tuesday’s practice, as the team prepared their backups for Thursday’s game, not a single pass from Joe’s hose hit the ground.

During team periods, Flacco started the day off hitting Kelvin McKnight on a short gain on the right hash. Then it was Emmanuel Sanders on a slant for five yards followed by Noah Fant in the left flat for a gain of a couple.

Then it was time to dial up a Joe specialty—a checkdown. That completion was courtesy of in the middle of the field for positive yards.

The following series included catches by and McKnight, both for, you guessed it, minimal gains.

There was one lone pass on the day from Flacco that picked up a first down as he hit for 15 yards on the left sideline.

With Sanders out, Flacco’s offensive identity has been either launching it to Sutton deep—which hasn’t happened as often as one would expect—or looking short time and time again.

This shouldn’t be a surprise, however. Although Flacco’s arm strength is talked about ad nauseam, to the surprise of many, he isn’t a consistent deep-ball thrower.

In fact, he’s the complete opposite. Over the past three seasons, 55.6 percent of Flacco’s throws have been short of the sticks—the third highest in that stretch, only trailing Drew Brees (56.3) and Alex Smith (55.7).

Yes, Joe can launch the ball over the Rocky Mountains. But that’s not his game. That’s been very clear through the first half of camp.

THE GAME WRECKERS Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are playing like they were both top-five picks. Oh wait.

One of the biggest stories of camp has been Denver’s pass absolutely dominating Mike Munchak’s offensive line thanks in large part to terrific play from the former No. 2 and No. 5-overall picks. However, Derek Wolfe, and many others along the front seven have had significant contributions, too.

But over the last two practices, Chubb and Miller have absolutely wrecked entire team periods by themselves.

On Monday, the two got to go against backups. It wasn’t fair.

Von led off one series with a ridiculous jump where he had to pull the emergency brake or else it would have resulted in a quarterback decapitation. Then, Von would have again taken off Kevin Hogan’s head as he was right in his face when No. 9 came out of a play-action boot.

At that point, Chubb had enough of the 58 show and took over.

In back-to-back plays, No. 55 had back-to-back sacks, flying off the edge and around the corner making it look like sacks were easy to come by. Then, the two decided to team up combining for a strip-sack on Brett Rypien.

The damage continued on Tuesday, this time against the ones. Although Von and Chubb made them look like backups.

With Drew Lock running the first-team offense, Chubb flew around Garett Bolles for the near-immediate sack. Then, much like on Monday, Von and Chubb met deep in the pocket where Lock was, likely resulting in another sack.

That wasn’t the end of it as the second-year pass rusher again beat Bolles and was in the rookie quarterback’s face. For a second time in a row, Lock was forced to throw an incomplete dump off pass, but in a game it likely would have been another sack.

It all happened in the same series, too.

In camp, when Chubb and Von have turned it on, they’ve simply wrecked practice.

GAME TIME! The Broncos will travel to Canton early in the afternoon on Wednesday following a brief practice closed to media and fans. They will then visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Fangio joked Munchak will charge players to get a picture with him next to his bust.

On Thursday at 6:00 pm MDT, the Broncos will finally be back.

Being an extra preseason game, most of the starters won’t play. However, the left side of the offensive line will play, including Bolles, Dalton Risner and Connor McGovern.

Bryce Callahan, DaeSean Hamilton, Ron Leary, Ja’Wuan James, Jake Butt and Bug Howard, all players battling injuries, will not play.

Fans will have to wait a week to see Flacco debut, as Kevin Hogan will get the start. Lock will be the next quarterback in the game followed by Brett Rypien. Fangio gave no indication how long each quarterback will play, but it is expected Lock will get a significant amount of reps.

Fangio will be on the sidelines for one of the rare times in his career as he transitions from sitting in the box during games as a defensive coordinator. Ed Donatell will also be on the sidelines, but Rich Scangarello will call plays from up top.

Fangio made it clear winning is not his No. 1 priority in the preseason.

ADDITIONAL TIDBITS After practice, Fangio kept the door open on a potential competition at left tackle. “Right now Garett’s the starter. He’s the incumbent. Somebody’s got to knock him out, kind of like a heavyweight championship,” Fangio stated. “He’s had a great camp. If we were to play today against Oakland, he would be the starter, hands down. Unanimous decision.”

Elijah Wilinson has drawn high praise during camp, most notably from Scangarello.

Emmanuel Sanders continued his progress, catching passes from Flacco and Lock during 11-on-11 periods. Lock threw two interceptions on the day. He was picked by Isaac Yiadom on an ill-advised throw. Rolling to his left, Lock threw across his body to the right directly into the hands of No. 26. He was also picked by Chris Harris Jr. on the right sideline as the veteran cornerback was all over the play and looked like the intended receiver. Lock, however, was running scout-team offense for the first time in his life on that interception.

“I was still pretty pissed at myself,” Lock said after practice. “I try to hold myself to a really high standard.”

The catch and throw of the day was courtesy of tight end Moral Stephens and Rypien. No. 88 snagged a ball thrown high from Rypien as two defenders nearly got their hands on it just in front of Stephens. It was either a brilliant pass or incredibly lucky.

Stephens, the newest addition to the team, not only brought in the catch of the day, but had multiple catches in the end zone during a goal-line period.

Chubb had the off-the-record catch of the day as he snagged a ball out of the air one-handed with ease after a play. The backup quarterbacks followed Flacco’s lead on the day, hitting tight ends all day long. Austin Fort was the biggest beneficiary to the checkdown approach.

Todd Davis, Callahan, Hamilton, Leary, Butt, Howard and Jake Rodgers did not practice on Tuesday.

James returned to practice, although in a limited fashion.

2019 NFL Hall of Fame Game odds, predictions: Falcons vs. Broncos picks from Vegas expert By Staff CBS Sports July 31, 2019

On Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons take on the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton at 8 p.m. ET. The Falcons aim to get back to the postseason after a one-year hiatus, while the game marks the debut of Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. The Broncos haven't played in the Hall of Fame Game since 2004, while it's been 25 years since the Falcons made the trip to Canton. Atlanta opened as a 2.5-point favorite, but the line has flipped a full five points, and Denver now is favored by 2.5 in the latest Falcons vs. Broncos odds. The over-under for total points is set at 34. Before you make any Falcons vs. Broncos picks and 2019 NFL Hall of Fame Game predictions, make sure you hear what SportsLine expert R.J. White has to say.

White has been SportsLine's top pro football analyst for two-plus seasons. Over that span, the CBS Sports NFL editor and nationally recognized NFL Draft expert has gone 214-164 on NFL picks against the spread, returning over $3,200 to $100 bettors.

The last time White made a pick on a NFL game, it was the 2019 Super Bowl. White was all over the Patriots, nailing the year's biggest sporting event for the legions that follow him. White said he wouldn't trust Rams QB Jared Goff in a big spot, and Goff's bumbling performance was key to New England's 13-3 win.

The stats guru, whose picks are coveted by fans everywhere, has cashed huge in the world's most prestigious handicapping tournament, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, twice in the past four years. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, White has analyzed the rosters and made his pick for Broncos vs. Falcons in the 2019 Hall of Fame Game. We can tell you he's leaning under, but his most confident pick is against the spread. He's only sharing that pick at SportsLine.

White knows the Broncos come in with a renewed sense of optimism. Fangio, a 33-year assistant coach in the NFL, finally receives his shot as the head man in Denver. New Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco, the longtime Ravens signal-caller who was traded to the Mile High City in February, will likely give way after one series to Drew Lock, the rookie second-round pick out of Missouri. Kevin Hogan and another rookie, Brett Rypien, will likely see considerable time behind center.

Fangio led the Bears' defense to a No. 1 ranking in 2018 and looks to turn around a Broncos defense that was No. 1 in 2017 but plummeted to 22nd last season. Plus, the Falcons are not preseason warriors, going 0-4 last year while scoring just 27 total points.

But just because Denver may have added motivation with Fangio at the helm doesn't mean it's the best value on the Falcons vs. Broncos money line.

White also knows the Falcons missed last year's postseason for the first time in three years. Head coach Dan Quinn told CBS Sports he wants to run the ball more, and that may start Thursday. Devonta Freeman, who played just two games last year due to injury, is healthy, but won't see much, if any, action on Thursday. Instead, Quinn says the ball will go to backs like Kenjon Barner, the former Panthers backup who's reportedly been impressive in camp, and 2019 fifth-round draft pick Qadree Ollison of Pittsburgh.

Atlanta's defense was a disappointment last year as well, ranking 25th or worse in rushing and passing yards allowed. But the team drafted a plethora of defensive help, including two cornerbacks, and they're expected to see considerable action on Thursday.

White has broken down the depth charts of both teams and unearthed the critical factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and who to back, at SportsLine.

Fabs Five: Positional breakouts and sleepers By Staff NFL.com July 31, 2019

There hasn't been a whole lot of famous No. 5s in the history of the . Paul Hornung might be the best of the bunch. Donovan McNabb ranks up there too. Joe Flacco? Jeff Garcia? Kerry Collins? That's about where it stops ... sorry Washington Redskins fans, I'm not including Heath Shuler.

But the number five does have some significance for me as a sports fan.

It's the number of Super Bowl titles my beloved Dallas Cowboys have won. I'm hoping to see number six at some point (Ezekiel Elliott, we need you man!) My favorite NBA player of all time, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, won five titles for the Los Angeles Lakers. As a die-hard New York Yankees fan since I was eight years old, it's also the number of the great "Joltin" Joe DiMaggio.

"How can a boy from Connecticut grow up and root for the Yankees, Cowboys and Lakers?" That's what my pal Dave Dameshek would ask. It actually wasn't that hard in the early 1980s, fella. But let's get back to the here and now, 2019, where it's draft prep time ... and time to make those all-important predictions and prognostications for the upcoming fantasy football campaign.

So ... why not go with the "five" theme to give you the breakouts, sleepers and deep sleepers you crave? I've broken them down by position, five players per topic, (5)0 players in total. Print it out ... use it. Dominate.

High five!

Quarterback Breakouts

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills Notes: Mayfield is the most popular sleeper in fantasy football at the quarterback position. He threw 19 touchdown passes in eight games under new coach Freddie Kitchens last season, and that was without Odell Beckham Jr. I have a huge fantasy crush on Kyler. Historically, rookie quarterbacks who have made the biggest fantasy impact are the ones who can run with the rock. Murray rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final collegiate season. Giddy up. Winston might surprise some folks, but it shouldn't ... new coach Bruce Arians has produced four top-10 fantasy quarterback finishes as a coach or coordinator. Running quarterbacks can be fantasy heroes, and Jackson averaged 16 carries per game as a starter (including the playoffs) last season. He could be a steal. Allen flashed his upside as a rookie as well, scoring 18-plus fantasy points in five or his final six games including three games with 26-plus points. Quarterback Sleepers

Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers Sam Darnold, New York Jets Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars Notes: Trubisky wasn't a consistent fantasy performer a season ago, but he did show some flashes of potential. He's on the QB2 radar. An injured knee ended Garoppolo's first season in San Francisco, but he's back at 100 percent and has some added weapons around him in 2019. Darnold looked like a fantasy star in two late-season games as a rookie, so he's sure to take the next step as an NFL sophomore. Carr had been somewhat forgotten in fantasy circles in recent seasons, but he's a nice late flier with Antonio Brown, Josh Jacobs, and Tyrell Williams now in the Raiders offense. Foles isn't being drafted in a lot of traditional leagues, but the Jaguars have some nice young weapons on offense and a ton of talent on defense as well. Foles could be a decent surprise.

Running Back Breakouts

Damien Williams, Kansas City Chiefs Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders Notes: Williams was a fantasy monster down the stretch last season, and it looks like he'll be a true featured back in coach Andy Reid's fantasy-friendly offense. Johnson averaged almost 17 touches and 5.3 yards per carry in his final six games of 2018, and the release of Theo Riddick makes him even more attractive in fantasy land. Mack posted 24 or more carries in three of his last five games (including the playoffs) of last season, during which time he averaged 135 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry. He's expected to shoulder the load in an explosive Colts offense. Jones showed flashes of busting out a season ago, averaging a robust 5.5 yards per carry in his 12 games. He also has the benefit of playing behind Aaron Rodgers. Jacobs figures to see a featured role for the Raiders as a rookie, making him an attractive No. 2 target.

Running Back Sleepers

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears Derrius Guice, Washington Redskins Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles Kalen Ballage, Miami Dolphins Notes: Montgomery's fantasy hype has grown through the offseason and into camp. The Bears backfield is a crowded one with Tarik Cohen and Mike Davis also in the mix, but the rookie has three-down potential at the next level. Guice is also in a committee, but he has the most statistical potential of any member of the Redskins offense. He's also back at 100 percent from last year's ACL tear. Henderson averaged a ridiculous 8.9 yards per carry in his final collegiate season, and he'll be a valuable handcuff for Todd Gurley owners. He could also have standalone value as a pass-catcher out of the backfield even if Gurley avoid further knee troubles. Sanders needs to pass Jordan Howard on the depth chart in Philadelphia to make an immediate impact. The Penn State product does possess the most upside in the Eagles crowded backfield. Ballage is moving up rank lists, as he looks destined for a shared role in Miami with Kenyan Drake. He's a sweet option in both re-drafts and in best-ball formats.

Running Back Deep Sleepers

Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers D'Onta Foreman, Houston Texans Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers Damien Harris, New England Patriots Notes: The Seahawks are a run-heavy offense, so there should be plenty of opportunities left behind for Penny even with Chris Carson in the mix. The battle in Tampa Bay's backfield likely won't spawn a fantasy star, but Jones is worth a late dice roll. Foreman is back at 100 percent from a torn Achilles, and he has a clear path to the backup role (and maybe more) behind Lamar Miller. Austin Ekeler is the back to target while is holding out, but I still like Jackson as a late dart throw. Harris could become a fantasy asset if Sony Michel has any setbacks with his problematic knee, which is a concern.

Wide Receiver Breakouts

Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers Notes: You could argue that Golladay and Ridley broke out last season based on their final numbers, but both have room for improvement and should be more reliable fantasy options in 2019. Godwin should inherit a solid target share with DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries out of the mix, making him a huge breakout candidate. Moore is now the unquestioned No. 1 wideout in Carolina and should see even more targets in Norv Turner's offense. Williams figures to see more targets with Tyrell Williams in Oakland, making him a potential No. 2 fantasy wideout. He scored 11 total touchdowns as an NFL sophomore.

Wide Receiver Sleepers

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals Dante Pettis, San Francisco 49ers Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars Notes: Sutton averaged 8.4 yards per target and almost 17 yards per catch during his rookie campaign. He could lead the Broncos in targets this season. Kirk averaged six targets and 15.5 yards per catch over his final six games as a rookie, and now he'll see more opportunities in the high-paced offense of new coach Kliff Kingsbury. One season after showing real potential as a rookie, Pettis now looks like the No. 1 wideout in the Niners pass attack. Samuel has earned rave reviews from Norv Turner, calling him "an outstanding route runner." He'll see a bigger role in the Panthers offense in his second NFL season. Westbrook figures to lead the Jaguars in targets, and the addition of Nick Foles at quarterback should mean more accurate targets as well.

Wide Receiver Deep Sleepers

Keke Coutee, Houston Texans James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers N'Keal Harry, New England Patriots DaeSean Hamilton, Denver Broncos Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears Notes: Coutee missed much of last season due to injuries, but he flashed when he was on the gridiron ... most notably against the Colts. He was a star against them during the playoffs, posting 14 targets, 11 catches, 110 yards, and a touchdown. Washington will battle Donte Moncrief for opportunities in a Steelers pass attack that has the sixth-most targets lost and the third-most air yards available. Harry will be the favorite to start opposite Julian Edelman for the Patriots, making him a worthwhile late rounder. Hamilton showed some real PPR potential at the end of last season, averaging 9.5 targets and 6.3 catches over his final four games. Miller is coming off shoulder surgery but should be fine for the start of the season. He'll be in a good spot to perform well.

Tight Ends Breakouts

Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens Notes: Henry is a full go after suffering a torn ACL last year, and he's in a good spot to record 60-plus catches and seven to nine touchdowns for the Chargers. Howard put up 60-plus yards in six of his 10 games last season before going down with a foot an ankle injuries. He has a massive ceiling under new coach Bruce Arians. The Steelers have plenty of targets available in the pass attack, and McDonald is coming off his best season as a pro. He could be even better in 2019. Hooper had a mini breakout last season with 71 catches, but much of his production came in just three games. He should be more reliable this season. Andrews, a borderline breakout/sleeper, showed flashes at the end of last season and has drawn rave reviews at the start of Ravens training camp.

Tight Ends Sleepers

T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles Noah Fant, Denver Broncos Chris Herndon, New York Jets Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders Notes: The top tight end in the 2019 rookie class, Hockenson will see plenty of opportunities in the Lions pass attack. He's on the TE2 radar. Goedert might have a lower ceiling with Zach Ertz in the mix, but the Eagles did run 12 personnel on 34.3 percent (2nd-most) of their plays last season. Fant, another rookie tight end out of Iowa, should start right out of the gate for the Broncos. Herndon would be ranked higher if it weren't for a four-game ban, but he should be a nice asset upon his return. Waller's hype machine is gaining steam as the projected No. 1 tight end in Oakland for coach Jon Gruden.

Drew Lock focused on learning, as Broncos third-stringer By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk July 31, 2019

The Broncos might have plans for Drew Lock for the future.

But for the present, the second-round pick is stuck third on the depth chart behind a guy on his fourth team in as many years.

The Broncos have announced they’re going to start journeyman Kevin Hogan in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game, but Lock isn’t taking it as a slight, as he transitions from running a spread offense at Missouri.

“It’s obviously not the 1s that are going to go out and play this game,” Lock said, via Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post. “There will be a lot of young guys, a lot of draft picks, a lot of couple-year guys — the juices will be flowing, people will be riled up, but let’s calm down, let’s show we can drive down the field, be crisp, be smart, no penalties before the snap — be a really clean quarterback that doesn’t force the ball downfield, that can check it down and keep moving the sticks.”

Lock started 46 of 50 games in college, so being so far down the depth chart is new to him, though he’s still excited.

“Of course, I’ll be a little fired up to show people what I can do and bring the juice that I brought through college,” Lock said. “I think you’ll still see the same me. I’m confident in what I can do, whether I go in right at the beginning of the game or at end of the game. I’m going to be the same guy and prove to people that one day, I should be starting these games.”

The Broncos are set on Joe Flacco as their starter, but the door was seemingly open for Lock to take on the backup role. New coach Vic Fangio has made it clear that Lock has a lot of development to do, and his assignment this week seems indicative of how far they think he needs to go.