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Home , Brock Osweiler, Clinton Portis, Cornerback, Derek Wolfe, Justin Herbert

Former Broncos cornerback supports Chris Harris’ quest for new contract By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 10, 2019

Add Champ Bailey to the camp that believes Broncos cornerback Chris Harris should be in line for a new contract.

Bailey was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the 43rd Annual Sports Breakfast benefiting the Boy Scouts of America inside the Pepsi Center.

Afterward, Bailey, who will be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, said he has not talked recently to Harris, who is staying away from the Broncos’ voluntary offseason program, but intends to.

Bailey has experience in contractual disputes. After the 2003 season, he told the Washington Redskins he would not report to training camp if placed under the franchise tag. The Redskins moved swiftly, trading him to the Broncos with a second-round pick for running .

Bailey signed a seven-year contract in March 2004 and a four-year deal in April 2014 with the Broncos.

Harris has one season remaining on his deal.

“I’ve said (Harris deserves a new contract) a few times,” Bailey said. “I think it goes without saying he’s been underpaid for a while now. They know that. They know they have a bargain. I basically said it up there (on the stage). They want cheap labor and if you’re going to get it, you’re going to try and get it the best way you can. That’s from the team’s perspective. From Chris’ perspective, you have to get what you deserve before it’s too late.”

Harris’ salary cap of $8,766,668 is sixth-highest on the team and 24th among NFL cornerbacks.

Last month, the Broncos signed free agent cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and . General manager has said throughout the offseason that any talks about contract extensions would not begin until after this month’s draft.

Defensive said it is understandable that Harris would want a new contract.

“Chris is one of the best cornerbacks in the league,” Wolfe said. “I think he deserves to get paid, and he deserves to do whatever he feels is right for himself. He already did his discount deal so it’s time for him to get his money. That’s how he feels. I think everybody can relate to that.

“You’ve got a short time span in this league so you have to earn as much as you can, especially if you take a discount on that first deal. … To me, he’s just trying to make that so he can live an even better lifestyle than he already plans on.”

Wolfe is also entering the final year of his deal, but said sitting out of the voluntary program was not an option for him.

“That’s just not my style (to not attend),” he said. “Everybody’s got their own style. It’s not that I don’t think it’s OK to do that (but) it’s just not something I would ever do.”

Footnotes. Second-year Royce Freeman on having Curtis Modkins return as his : “It helps out a lot. He coached us last year, so he knows how we learn and [he knows] what he taught us last year and our different abilities. Also, I think it will help us grow. He’s the type of coach to push us. He’s pushing all of the running backs.” … The Broncos will hold a three-day voluntary mini-camp next week.

Broncos Mailbag: Dwayne Haskins would be an ideal fit in Denver, but stars would have to align in NFL draft By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 10, 2019

I hate to sound like an over-optimistic Broncos fan, but I think they can easily make the playoffs and even do some damage with the offseason changes that have happened. Do you see that or am I being too optimistic again?

— Matt, Las Vegas

You’re probably shading toward the over-optimistic side because there are still so many unknowns about this team. But fans are supposed to be encouraged by the Broncos’ moves so far in free agency/trades/coaching hires and some of it is justified. On paper, they should be considered better at (), right (Ja’Wuan James), cornerback (Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan) and the head coach’s office/defensive play-caller’s post (Vic Fangio). But it will take a minimum three- win jump from 6-10 to 9-7 to get into wild-card conversation. If the Chargers fall back and the Broncos are much improved, it’s not impossible. But it’s not easily accomplished.

Broncos fan living in Chiefs Country. What would it take to move up in the draft to select Dwayne Haskins? I think he’d be an ideal fit.

— Greg, Liberty, Mo.

The Broncos have the 10th overall pick in the first round on April 25. Here’s the thing: If they really want Haskins, the Ohio State quarterback, the Broncos could just stay put. Let’s say Arizona goes with Oklahoma quarterback first overall. The Giants are at 6 and they should take a quarterback, but general manager Dave Gettleman may wait until the 17th pick (which he acquired for Odell Beckham). The Jaguars are at 7 and they just signed Nick Foles so a right tackle like Florida’s Jawaan Taylor could be their pick. Detroit and Buffalo are at Nos. 8-9 and if they stay put, quarterback isn’t a need. Boom, there is general manager John Elway on the clock with his pick between Haskins and Missouri’s . And I agree — Haskins would be an ideal fit.

How many good years do you think Joe Flacco has left in him? Was this a good QB move?

— Brandon Stolzfus, Denver, Pa.

Flacco turned 34 on Jan. 16, less than a month before the Broncos agreed to acquire him from the . He has been injured twice in his career — he missed six games in 2015 (back) and several weeks last year (hip; he was the backup once he was cleared). He started all 16 games in the other nine seasons. From 2015-17, he completed at least 64 percent of his passes. His totals (28 in 2016-17) aren’t ideal, but the Broncos should feel confident that Flacco has at least two years of productive football in him if he stays healthy.

What if the Broncos pass on Drew Lock? Joe Flacco pretty much guarantees an 8-8 season. What veteran retread will Elway bring in next year? Fitzmagic? How are people sold on Flacco? He’s so average, at best. Everyone was so excited about Keenum as well. Seems Coloradans are easily duped at this time of year.

— Marc, Binghamton, N.Y.

Quarterback acquisitions can dupe even the smartest fans and media members. I wasn’t in town last March when the Broncos acquired via free agency, but from afar, I thought the move was solid because it didn’t kill their salary cap, he was coming off a career year and he projected to be an upgrade over the carousel of passers who played here in 2017. Wrong. Now here comes Flacco. Older and more established than Keenum, but also a player whose team (Baltimore) gave up on to go with . What if the Broncos pass on Drew Lock at No. 10? It shows what we already know: Elway has confidence in Flacco this year and next year and isn’t enamored enough with Lock to draft him. I get your angst about going the veteran “retread” route. And I can rule out “Fitzmagic” () from being an option next offseason.

NFL teams restock with the draft. How do you view the Broncos’ scouting and player-evaluation structure? Are the Broncos good, consistent, accurate in how they go about choosing their picks? Should we feel confident in their process, or is it more like throwing darts against the wall?

— David Brown, Lenexa, Kan.

It’s the opposite of throwing darts against the wall. Like every team, the Broncos’ front office and scouting staffs are grinding away this month to set their board and that means going to Pro Days, traveling for private workouts, hosting players for pre-draft meetings and dotting every possible ‘I’ and crossing every possible ‘T.’ What sticks out about the Broncos’ structure is that from the outside, it appears to be Elway and right-hand man Matt Russell and a wily set of eyes has not been added since Tom Heckert’s death last summer. The draft results do leave things to be desired, but last year’s draft could provide several long-term contributors (Bradley Chubb, Courtland Sutton, Royce Freeman).

How’s Temarrick Hemingway doing? I believe this will be his breakout season if the Broncos will give him the chance.

— Shane Wellington, Dillon, S.C.

Hemingway, 25, has good size (6-foot-5, 246 pounds) and was signed during last year and ultimately played five games for the Broncos when tight ends , Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli were injured. Hemingway played in eight games for the Rams in 2016, but has no career catches. He faces a tall climb to make the team if the Broncos draft a because they have Heuerman (new two-year contract), Butt (coming off an ACL) and Fumagalli (who missed all of his rookie year with a sports hernia injury) as the projected top three.

Signing years ago was a gimme. A 4-year-old could have made that decision. Ever since, the decision making has been beyond poor. So why does John Elway still have a job in the front office? When will this be fixed? It’s called show business not show friends. Show Elway the door.

— Ivan, Minneapolis

Never heard the term “show business, not show friends,” but I will digress. I do agree on the Manning front — Peyton chose the Broncos more than some elaborate recruiting process. But Elway closed the deal and then built an elite to help deliver a 50 championship. But the results have been sub-par ever since, three consecutive years out of the playoffs and a combined 11-21 record the last two years. Elway has deserved all of the criticism thrown his way. Why does he still have a job? There’s no owner. Period. End of story. Sure, he is the most popular athlete in state history, but if there was an owner in place, the situation may be different.

Hey Ryan, what do you know about De’Vante Bausby? Do you think he’ll make a big impact on the team this year?

— Tory, Denver

When the AAF folded last week, Bausby’s four for San Antonio were tied for the league lead. He’s 26 years old and is listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He played four games for Chicago in 2016 and six games for Philadelphia last year. His time with Chicago was when Fangio was the defensive coordinator and new Broncos coordinator Ed Donatell was the secondary coach. That is ultimately why the Broncos showed interest. Bausby will get a chance to compete with as the fourth cornerback. He will get a lot of offseason snaps if Chris Harris continues to stay away and Bryce Callahan recovers from a foot injury.

Do you think the Drew Lock hype from inside Dove Valley is all smoke? Seems that Fangio does not want players to freelance and preaches fundamentals and assignments. That’s probably why they traded for Flacco – a pocket passer who won’t beat you with his legs but sticks to the play design and can make all the throws. Isn’t that exactly what Dwayne Haskins is?

–Dan, St. Louis

It’s not hype regarding Broncos-Lock because the interest has been real in terms of watching him play in person last November and having him into town this week for a visit. I don’t think it’s a smoke screen as much as it is due diligence. We’re not sure what Fangio wants in a quarterback just yet because all he’s coached in his NFL career is defense.

I know Elway is high on and probably a few other coming out in 2020. This may not be a really popular option, but why not trade back in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick and a 2019 second- or third-round selection? That way, the Broncos get the draft ammo they need for a QB next year. Seems reasonable to me if you are looking to draft your franchise QB for the next 10 years.

— David, via email

We don’t really know Elway’s opinion on Herbert, who opted to stay at Oregon. Elway watched him in person last year. Your take on trading back has merit. But I think it will be tough to secure a 2020 first- round pick from a team for them to trade into the Broncos’ No. 10 slot. It would be different if the Broncos were in the top five and wanted to move down with, say, Miami or Washington, teams that could take quarterbacks. If the Broncos move back 6-7 spots this year, the best they could pick up are second- and third-round picks.

Broncos’ preseason schedule includes two national TV games By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 10, 2019

The Broncos’ preseason schedule includes home games against the and . Opponents were announced by the NFL on Tuesday.

The Broncos’ five-game schedule: The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game vs. Atlanta (Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio at 6 p.m., NBC), at (Aug. 8-12), vs. San Francisco (Aug. 19 at 6 p.m., ESPN), at the Los Angeles Rams (Aug. 22-25) and vs. Arizona (Aug. 28).

The Broncos will be the only team to have two nationally televised preseason games. Dates and kickoff times for the Seahawks and Rams games will be finalized at a later date. The regular-season schedule is usually announced the week before the draft, which begins April 25.

Although not official, the Broncos are expected to have joint practices against the 49ers this summer.

At the Scouting Combine in February, head coach Vic Fangio said working against another team was a priority.

“I like to do those,” he said. “I’m confident we’ll have one at least.”

The Broncos will play in the Hall of Fame game for the first time since 2004. Two nights later, owner Pat Bowlen and former cornerback Champ Bailey will be inducted into the Hall.

A look at the five opponents: Atlanta: The Falcons agreed to play the Canton game in part to help honor tight end Tony Gonzalez, who is a part of this year’s Hall of Fame class. The Broncos’ last Hall of Fame Game appearance came against Washington when current general manager John Elway was inducted.

Seattle: The Broncos opened last year with a home win over the Seahawks. This will be Seattle’s preseason opener. The teams have met 14 times in the preseason (the Broncos lead the series 10-3).

San Francisco: New Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach the previous two years. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed all but three games last season because of a torn ACL. If the teams have joint practices, it is expected they would be on Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17. The Broncos hosted Chicago last year for joint practices.

Los Angeles Rams: The defending NFC champions won at Denver last October. This has traditionally turned into the final tune-up for the Broncos’ starters.

Arizona: New coach could have a new quarterback if the Cardinals select Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. Former Broncos coach is Arizona’s defensive coordinator. Former Broncos guard and cornerback signed with the Cardinals last month. Derek Wolfe, with a clean bill of health, aims to be a “Bronco for life” By Kyle Frederickson Denver Post April 10, 2019

Broncos Derek Wolfe is healthy and confident he’s ready for five or six more years in the NFL.

Wolfe, 29, has played seven seasons in Denver since he was drafted in the second-round in 2012 and told reporters Tuesday he would prefer to remain in orange and blue for the remainder of his football playing days.

“I want to be a Bronco for life,” Wolfe said. “That’s why I signed that deal (in 2016). The Broncos have been good to me. If I play good, then they’ll be good to me again and I can finish my career here. I don’t really want to live anywhere else.”

The Broncos picked up the option for the final year of Wolfe’s contract next season with a $10.9 million cap hit. Wolfe endured a spinal cord injury in 2013 and neck surgery in 2017. But he played in all 16 games last year with 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks and six pass deflections. Wolfe, with his eighth NFL season upcoming, entered the voluntary offseason program with a clean bill of health.

“After I got that neck surgery last year, I felt like it added five years to my career,” Wolfe said. “I felt five years younger. Just getting used to not feeling like I was going to die every day. It was scary. Would I be able to walk when I’m 35, 40 years old? But now, I feel young again. My strength is coming back and I’m like two months ahead of where I was this time last year. If I said any more than 10 (years playing), my wife would get mad at me, but I think I can play for 12-13 (total) years and still be OK.”

Wolfe’s enthusiasm for a postseason run next season after three consecutive years of missing the playoffs was bolstered by the arrival of coach Vic Fangio. Wolfe said there has been a leadership gap ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2016 that Denver has searched to fill. Finally, Fangio could could fit the mold.

“That’s the kind of guy this team needs,” Wolfe added. “A guy like Vic, he comes in and he’s a no- nonsense, old-school type of guy who still likes to have fun. You just respect him. He’s got the resume to respect. He just demands that respect right away when he walks into a room.”

Brittany Bowlen on working for Broncos: 'I look forward to it' By Mike Klis 9NEWS April 10, 2019

Brittany Bowlen has a big year ahead.

Joe Ellis, the team’s chief executive officer, told 9NEWS at the NFL owners meetings last month that the 29-year-old daughter of owner Pat Bowlen would come to work in a senior management position with the Broncos at some point in the 2019 calendar year.

“I had talked to Joe about it -- we talked about coming to work for the Broncos at some point and I look forward to that,’’ Brittany Bowlen said prior to the 43rd Annual Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America Sports Breakfast Tuesday morning at the Pepsi Center, where she accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of her father, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. “In the meantime, I love my job with McKinsey and I still have work to do for them.’’

Bet on October as Brittany Bowlen has a full calendar in September. She wants to put in a full year with McKinsey & Co., an international marketing consultant and September 12 would mark her one-year anniversary. During her time at McKinsey, Brittany Bowlen has travelled extensively both nationally and internationally to work as a consultant for some of the biggest businesses in the world.

In mid-September she’ll be getting married and then there will be a honeymoon. The Broncos are why she loves the fall season and consequently whey she's always wanted her wedding to be in the fall.

Brittany Bowlen, 29, has also been working more of her life towards one day succeeding her father. She got a degree from Notre Dame, an MBA in business from Duke. In between, she worked two years in the NFL office and one year for the Broncos. McKinsey offered another level of business experience that Brittany can put to use with the Broncos both later this year and if she one day succeeds her father as the team's boss.

Pat Bowlen, who bought the Broncos 35 years ago, stepped away from running the team in July 2014 because of Alzheimer’s.

“I know he would love to be here,’’ Brittany said in accepting the lifetime achievement award for her father. “My dad always said the Broncos are a public trust. And the team belonged to our fans. That’s why investing in the community, and especially our future leaders were always his priority.’’

Derek Wolfe unfiltered: Broncos defensive end says it straight on several topics By Mike Klis 9NEWS April 10, 2019

Thank goodness Derek Wolfe wasn’t a budget cut like so many other veterans and is back for another year with the Broncos.

Who else will give us the unfiltered truth? Who else wears his emotions on his enormous, tattoo- sleeved arms?

Here are some of the quotable quotes from Wolfe’s first press conference of the 2019 season Tuesday at the Broncos’ UCHealth Training Center headquarters:

*Much was made in week one about how all the Bronco players showed up 5 minutes early to new head coach Vic Fangio’s first team meeting. Some of this may be because of the newfound respect the players have for Fangio.

And some of it can be credited to the calendar. Leave it to Wolfe to put the early-arrival narrative in perspective.

“A lot of people have been talking about how everybody’s 5 minutes early to meetings, and that happens every year whenever you first show up. Everybody shows up 5 minutes early the first couple weeks.

“But what happens in Week 16 when everybody’s beat to hell and nobody feels like being around this building and we’re all sick and tired of each other? Are you still showing up 5 minutes early? That’s when it counts.”

*Both Wolfe and teammate Chris Harris Jr. are in the final year of what they, and many others around the league, have termed “team discount” contract extensions.

Harris is unofficially holding out from the Broncos’ offseason program in hopes of securing a contract extension. He has Wolfe’s blessing.

“Chris is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. I think he deserves to get paid, and he deserves to do whatever he feels is right for himself. He already did his discount deal, so it’s time for him to get his money. That’s how he feels.

“I think everybody can relate to that. You’ve got that short time span in this league, so you have to earn as much as you can. Especially if you take a discount on that first deal. It’s not like we didn’t make enough money to take care of ourselves for the rest of our lives. To me, he’s just trying to make that so he can live an even better lifestyle than he already plans on. He’s got a lot of kids.”

*On what Wolfe expects from training camp this year under Fangio:

“Training camp (stinks) anyways. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to go to training camp.’ It’s just a necessary evil you have to go through to get into that football shape. It’s just part of the game.

“Nobody loves camp. I don’t know anybody that loves it, it’s just something you endure to get in shape.”

*The Broncos let go of three defensive starters this offseason -- , safety and cornerback – for financial reasons. Wolfe, though, was not a cap casualty even though he has one year and $8.55 million left on his contract after the team exercised a $1 million option bonus last month.

Wolfe said he hopes he can earn another contract here so he can retire a Bronco.

“That’s what I want. I want to be a Bronco for life. That’s why I signed that deal that I did last time. The Broncos have been good to me, so if I play well they’ll be good to me again and I can finish my career here. I don’t really want to live anywhere else.”

*Wolfe was the Broncos’ first selection, although in the second round, of the 2012 NFL Draft. The 2019 draft is two weeks away.

“It’s just a big game that they play. It’s just like, ‘I’m going to show interest in this guy just to get this team to think…’ You’re just playing a game.

“Listen, we’re just commodities in a business. Going through the draft process, every day everybody tries to make you feel special like you’re the next greatest thing. That’s just the start of it. Once you get drafted, that’s when the real work has to start. I never even talked to the Broncos. I didn’t even have a single meeting with the Broncos. Every team I thought I was going to go to, they just went the complete opposite direction. I was just like, ‘I don’t know what the hell is going on here? Then I get a call from John Elway and I’m like, ‘Alright, cool. I guess I’m going to Denver.’ I had no clue I was going to come here. I’m glad I did. I have a lot of great memories here. I hope I can create some more.”

*Given his candid responses, it means carries a little more weight for Fangio when Wolfe says he likes his new head coach.

“I think Vic is the perfect … that’s the kind of guy that this team needs. Any time you come off a championship run like we made … we had four great years of Peyton Manning. When Peyton’s around, he’s the leader. He runs the show in the entire building it seems like. Once you lose a guy like that, there’s a space that needs to be filled.

“A head coach usually fills that job and that’s not an easy thing to ask of anybody. A guy like Vic, he comes in and he’s a no-nonsense, old-school type of guy. He still likes to have fun, but he’s the kind of guy—you just respect him. He’s got the resume to respect. He just demands that respect right away when he walks in a room.”

Broncos preseason schedule: First look at Fangio and Flacco By Mike Klis 9NEWS April 10, 2019

Don't change that dial. The Broncos first preseason schedule under new head coach Vic Fangio has been announced.

You knew about the Broncos' Hall of Fame Game against the in Canton, Ohio on August 1.

That's the bonus game on the Broncos' five-game preseason schedule. Thank Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and cornerback Champ Bailey for that. They will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame that same weekend in Canton.

All five preseason games will be broadcast on the networks of 9NEWS/Channel 20. Here's a closer look at the Broncos' preseason schedule:

2019 Preseason Schedule

Game 1: Aug 1: vs. Atlanta (Hall of Fame Game), 9News

With a 90-player roster, Broncos' starters are not expected to play in the Hall of Fame game that will be telivised on 9News. But Fangio and general manager John Elway will get a good look at their backups. By season's end, some of those backups may become starters.

The Broncos are making their fourth all-time appearance in the Hall of Fame Game and first since 2004.

Game 2: Aug. 8-11: at Seattle, Channel 20

A good first test for new Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco and the Denver D against Seahawks' QB .

Game 3: Aug. 19: vs. San Francisco at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Channel 20/ESPN

The Scangarello Bowl. Broncos new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will call plays against his mentor Kyle Shanahan. Scangarello and new Broncos quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney spent the past two seasons with Shanahan in San Francisco.

Game 4: Aug. 22-25: at Los Angeles (Rams), Channel 20

The Broncos will take a long look at their starters against Sean McVay, and the rest of Stan Kroenke's team. If Broncos receiver and left guard Ron Leary do play in a preseason game as they return from their Achilles surgeries, it would be in this one.

Game 5: Aug. 29-31: vs. Arizona at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Channel 20

The traditional final preseason game against the Cardinals. Again, the starters probably won't play, but two or three players will get a final chance at making the roster -- as special teams-linebacker Joe Jones and tight end Matt LaCosse did in the final preseason game last year.

‘I want to be a Bronco for life’: Derek Wolfe believes neck surgery added five years to career By Nicki Jhabvala The Athletic April 10, 2019

A Bronco for life.

Like , defensive end Derek Wolfe wants to end his career in Denver.

One of the team’s few holdovers from their roster, Wolfe is entering the final year of his contract after the Broncos exercised his option for 2019. But he says he’s not anywhere close to being done with the NFL.

Last offseason, Wolfe underwent stem cell treatment and a foraminotomy to enlarge the passageway for his spinal nerve. He has previously said his arm “completely shut down” in 2017 after a Carolina player yanked his head by his facemask in the season opener.

In the months since, Wolfe said he experienced numbness in his face, worrying him that he suffered a stroke or that he wouldn’t be able to walk in the near future.

But the procedure changed everything.

“After I got that neck surgery last year, I feel like it added five years to my career,” Wolfe said Tuesday. “I feel five years younger. Just getting used to not feel like I was going to die every day. It was scary thinking I don’t know if I’m not going to be able to walk when I’m 35, 40 years old. But now it’s like I feel young again. My strength is coming back and I’m like two months ahead of where I was at this time last year. If I said any more than 10 my wife would be mad at me. But I think I could play for 12, 13 years and still be OK.”

Wolfe was drafted by the Broncos with their first selection — in the second round — in 2012, the year they acquired Peyton Manning. Looking back seven years ago, Wolfe can only shake his head at a bizarre pre-draft process that fortuitously landed him in Denver.

“It’s just a big game that they play,” he said. “It’s just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to show interest in this guy just to get this team to think’ — you’re just playing games. Listen, we’re just commodities in a business, man. …

“Going into the draft process, everybody tries to make you feel special and like you’re the next greatest thing. But that’s just the start of it. Once you get drafted, that’s when the real workouts are starting. I never even talked to the Broncos. I didn’t have a single meeting with the Broncos. Every team I thought I was going to go to, they went in the complete opposite direction. So I was like, ‘I don’t know what the hell is going on, man.’ Then I get a call from John Elway and I’m like, ‘All right. Cool. I guess I’m going to Denver.’ I had no clue I was going to come here. I’m glad I did. I’ve had a lot of great memories here and I hope I can create some more.”

Like Harris, Wolfe took a significant discount to remain in Denver in 2016 while his fellow lineman, Malik Jackson, signed a major deal with Jacksonville. Jackson was cut three years into his six-year, $85.5 million contract with the Jaguars, and recently signed a new $30 million deal with the Eagles.

Wolfe is nearing the completion of his four-year, $36.7 million contract and hopes that after another solid season, he too will be considered for a new contract.

“That’s what I want. I want to be a Bronco for life,” he said. “That’s why I signed the deal I did last time. The Broncos have been good to me. So if I play good, then they’ll be good to me again and I can finish my career here. I don’t really want to live anywhere else.”

The first week of the Broncos’ voluntary offseason workout program has come and gone without an appearance from star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. With one year remaining on his contract, Harris opted to remain in Dallas where he’s training instead of joining his team in Colorado, sending a message to those in the front office that he wants a new deal.

The Broncos have had players hold out in the past — and Von Miller to name a couple — but Harris’ situation is different. Entering Year 9 as an undrafted player, Harris is seeking his third contract (a rarity) and is not a free agent.

In 2014, he signed a five-year extension for $42.5 million, a significant discount from what he could have earned on the open market. Harris knew that. He said it was a priority to stay in Denver, and doing so landed him a Super Bowl ring and first-team all-pro honor.

But five years later, as the Broncos try to bounce back from a playoff-less slump, Harris has made it clear he wants to be paid what he’s worth.

“I think it goes without saying that he’s been underpaid for a while now,” Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey said Tuesday at the annual sports breakfast in Denver for Boy Scouts. “And they know that. They know they have a bargain. I basically said it up there — they want cheap labor, and if you’re going to get it, you’re going to try to get it the best way you can. That’s from a team’s perspective.

“But from Chris’ perspective, you gotta get what you deserve before it’s too late.”

The Broncos met with Harris’ agent at the NFL scouting combine earlier this year, but neither contract details nor a timetable for getting something done was discussed. According to a source, it has been quiet ever since.

Elway, who has said he’d like to get a deal done with Harris, has also remained steadfast that further talks about a possible extension will be held after the draft, in early May.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have added three new cornerbacks to their roster in free agency with Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan and De’Vante Bausby. It’s possible they add to the room even more through the draft.

Throughout his absence, Harris’ teammates have publicly expressed their support for him.

“Chris Harris is one of the best cornerbacks in the league,” Wolfe said. “I think he deserves to get paid and he deserves to do whatever he feels is right for himself. He already did his discount deal, so it’s time for him to get his money, and that’s how he feels. I think everybody can relate to that, right? You have a short time span in this league, so you have to earn as much as you can, especially if you take a discount on that first deal. You know, it’s not like we didn’t make enough money to take care of ourselves for the rest of our lives. To me, he’s just trying to get that to live an even better lifestyle than he planned to. He’s got a lot of kids (smiles).”

The Broncos released their 2019 preseason schedule Tuesday, which features five games, two of which will be nationally televised:

Hall of Fame Game: vs. Falcons in Canton, Ohio — Thursday, Aug. 1, 6 p.m. MT (NBC) Week 1: at Seattle — Aug. 8-12 (KTVD / 9News) Week 2: vs. San Francisco — Monday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m. MT (ESPN) Week 3: at L.A. Rams — Aug. 22-25 (KTVD / 9News) Week 4: vs Arizona — Thursday, Aug. 29 (KTVD / 9News)

With the addition of the Hall of Fame game and the arrival of new head coach Vic Fangio, the Broncos will have an extended training camp, starting in mid-July instead of the end of the month.

Some may be less excited about it than others.

“Training camp sucks anyway. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to go to training camp,’” Wolfe said bluntly. “It’s just a necessary evil that you have to go through to get into football shape. It’s just part of the game. Nobody loves camp. I don’t know anybody that loves it. It’s just something you endure to get in shape.”

Exact dates for their first and third preseason games will be released with the regular-season schedule later this month.

Before the game against the 49ers, the Broncos are expected to host them for joint practices at their Englewood facility.

Iowa tight ends' competition continues into NFL By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press April 10, 2019

Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson spent their three years at Iowa trying to one-up each other in a friendly but fierce competition. So, why should the NFL draft be any different?

The latest members of the Hawkeyes' long pipeline to the pros are expected to become the first tight end duo from the same school ever selected in the first round of the draft.

"That would be something special," Hockenson said.

"It would be a special thing," Fant agreed. "More than anything, I'm worried about being the first tight end taken."

Not many people aside from Fant expect him to go ahead of Hockenson, who essentially trailed Fant for two years in Iowa City before blossoming last season into the John Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end.

Although Fant's career receiving stats — 78 catches for 1,083 yards and 19 — are better than Hockenson's (73 receptions for 1,080 yards and nine TDs in two seasons after redshirting his freshman year), Hockenson is viewed as the most versatile and polished tight end in this draft.

"Honestly, I love to block; I love to run routes," Hockenson said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last month. "I really pride myself on being a complete tight end."

Fant was eager to show he was the top tight end at the combine.

"We haven't bet on it. It's a friendly competition," Fant said. "It always has been, always will be."

NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah lists Hockenson as the fifth-best player in the draft overall and Fant as 23rd. He likes Hockenson's receiving skills but says what separates him from Fant and anyone else, for that matter, is his blocking.

"He ragdolls defensive ends and ," Jeremiah said, calling Hockenson a "Day 1 impact player at the next level."

Fant, he said, has exceptional explosiveness and is very versatile: "He moved around in the Iowa scheme, putting his hand in the dirt, splitting out wide or aligning in the wing. He explodes off the and is a very fluid route runner. He creates a lot of separation and tracks the ball easily over his shoulder."

But he's not as polished underneath as Hockenson and certainly isn't in his league as a run blocker. Still, "he'll be a big-play producer right away."

Although NFL scouts graded Hockenson as the best tight end at the scouting combine and even rated Alabama's Irv Smith slightly ahead of Fant at No. 2., Fant delivered on his promise to put up big numbers at the combine.

Fant bested Hockenson in the 40-yard dash (4.5 seconds to 4.7), the bench press (20 repetitions to 17), the vertical jump (39.5 inches to 37.5), the broad jump (127 inches to 123), the three-cone drill (6.81 seconds to 7.02) and the 60-yard shuttle (11.49 seconds to 11.55). The only measurement where Fant lost out to Hockenson was the 20-yard shuttle (4.18 seconds to 4.22).

On tape, however, Hockenson stands out as a superior in-line blocker and route runner.

Fant and Hockenson decided to leave school early and join the nine other Iowa tight ends drafted in this century, a list that includes George Kittle, who led all NFL tight ends with 1,377 receiving yards in his second season in San Francisco last year, and Dallas Clark, the only first-rounder among the bunch, selected 24th overall by the Colts in 2003.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever made ... but one thing that stuck in my mind was getting out of my comfort zone," Hockenson said, nearly choking up as he spoke of leaving Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.

"I could have stayed at the University of Iowa and I would have loved every second of it, just because I love those people. I love coach Ferentz, I love coach Doyle," Hockenson said. "But on the same hand, I wanted to push myself to be a better player, to be a bigger person at the next level."

Actually, both Hockenson (6-foot-5, 251 pounds) and Fant (6-4, 249) will have to pack on more pounds in the NFL.

Fant left the Hawkeyes before Hockenson, choosing not to play against Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl as he heeded the cautionary tale of Broncos tight end Jake Butt, who blew out a knee in the Orange Bowl a couple of years ago, dropping his draft stock significantly.

Fant called it "a hard decision," but didn't want to risk getting hurt.

"Also, with the way we handle bowl games, it's like another spring ball for bowl prep that could be tough on the body," Fant said.

No matter which one gets selected first, both Fant and Hockenson know their timing is impeccable.

"I would say now is the time, if any, to come into the NFL, with the way they're using tight ends," Fant said, "the way they're using them more in the pass game, but also in the run game."

Champ Bailey sees defensive improvement as key to Broncos' U-turn By Troy Renck KMGH April 10, 2019

His answer was incongruous. Cornerback Champ Bailey spent the bulk of his keynote speech at the Denver Area Council Boy Scouts breakfast emphasizing the importance of repetitions. Yet, he insisted his address was not practice for his Hall of Fame induction in July.

“I haven’t thought about that yet,” Bailey said with a disarming smile. “It’s been more than I even thought (to be elected to Canton).”

Bailey spoke of the importance of practice to the kids in the audience, his sons included. He singled out Colorado State coach Mike Bobo for praise, saying he learned the nature of relentless pursuit in workouts set up by his Georgia teammate in the summer of 1997. Bailey remains an example of what happens in a career when the best player is also the hardest worker.

He advanced from a Pro Bowler to a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Bailey singled out a conversation with Marty Schottenheimer during his third season in Washington for providing necessary motivation and humility. Schottenheimer was disappointed in Bailey’s play, and asked him to think of team, not himself. Bailey vowed never to let players down.

It led to a remarkable career, defined by 52 interceptions, including 10 in 2006. He knows what works. And he offered his advice to new Broncos Vic Fangio when I asked what represented the key for the new coach orchestrating a rebound.

“You gotta play great defense. I don’t know how much evidence you need. You saw it in the Super Bowl (won by the over the Los Angeles Rams). Defense is how you win,” Bailey said. “ is great. You don’t want to turn the ball over. You don’t do that, and you are probably going to win. You gotta start on the other side of the ball.”

The Broncos believe they will improve under Fangio, who plans to implement a slightly different scheme with more zone coverages and corner blitzes. Tackling cornerbacks remains critical. The team’s best corner, Chris Harris Jr., remained away from the facility this week during voluntary workouts as he seeks a new contract. He’s willing to stay patient, according to multiple sources. The Broncos share his interest in discussing a new deal, but not until after the draft. Harris credits Bailey for microwaving his development as a young player. Bailey weighed in on Harris’ situation on Tuesday.

“I hope to do it through you guys in the media (that he needs a new deal). Hopefully, we relay the message. It’s probably already been relayed. I think it goes without saying that he’s been underpaid for a while now,” Bailey said. “They know that. They know they have a bargain. Basically, I said it up there, they want cheap labor. If you are going to get it, you try to get it the best way you can, that’s from the team’s perspective. From Chris’ perspective, you have to get what you deserve.”

For Bailey, the last few months have been dizzying. Life changes when you achieve football immortality. He looks forward to his time to shine in July, a moment made more special with owner Pat Bowlen’s induction.

“It’s so rare for a player to go in with an owner, especially an owner you know, you’ve been around, laughed with and joked with,” Bailey said. “It’s hard to explain. It really is. It is something you never imagine happening, and now here you are and we are living it.”

Broncos preseason scheduled announced By Troy Renck KMGH April 10, 2019

While incorporating their fifth starting quarterback and second coach since Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos will feature an extra exhibition game and common opponents to help in their tune up.

The NFL released the 2019 preseason schedule on Tuesday. For the Broncos new coach Vic Fangio and quarterback Joe Flacco there is a welcomed twist. The Broncos open Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio against the Atlanta Falcons as a precursor to the inductions of cornerback Champ Bailey and owner Pat Bowlen. The rest of the schedule looks like many in years past with a Western flavor:

BRONCOS 2019 PRESEASON SCHEDULE Vs. Falcons, Aug. 1, 6 p.m. At Seahawks, Aug 8-12 (date TBA) Vs. 49ers, Aug. 18, 6 p.m. At Rams, Aug. 22-25 (date TBA) Vs. Cardinals, Aug. 29

Because the Broncos are participating in the Hall of Fame game, it requires an adjustment of their offseason. Their final mandatory minicamp is scheduled to end on June 6 with the team's first training camp practice set for July 18.

NFL releases 2019 Broncos preseason schedule: Rams, Flacco and Hall of Fame Game By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette April 10, 2019

Get your Joe Flacco jerseys ready. The NFL released the Denver Broncos' preseason schedule Tuesday. Times and exact dates announced later this month:

Aug. 1: Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons at Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)

Aug. 8-12: Broncos at

Aug. 19: Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High

Aug. 22-25: Broncos at Los Angeles Rams

Aug. 29: Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals at Broncos Stadium at Mile High

Broncos’ 2019 preseason schedule announced By Staff KDVR April 10, 2019

The on Tuesday announced the Denver Broncos’ 2019 preseason schedule, which features five total games.

In addition to opening the preseason against the Atlanta Falcons in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 1, the Broncos will have home games against the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals as well as road contests against the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

The Broncos will play in the 2019 Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton.

The Broncos, who are 4-2 all-time in preseason games against the Falcons, will be making their fourth all-time appearance in the Hall of Fame Game and their first since 2004 when former quarterback and current President of Football Operations/GM John Elway became the franchise’s first Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Denver will travel to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 (Aug. 8-12) at CenturyLink Field. The Broncos lead the all-time preseason series against Seattle 10-3.

The Broncos’ first home game will come in Week 3 when they host the San Francisco 49ers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Monday, Aug. 19.

Denver, which is 22-16 all-time against San Francisco in the preseason, will be making its first preseason appearance since 2007 (W, 17-13 at S.F., 8/13/07).

Denver will travel to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4 (Aug. 22-25). Owning an 8-2 all-time record against the Rams in the preseason, the Broncos will play their first game at the Los Angeles Coliseum since 1994 (L, 23-13 at L.A. Raiders, 12/11/94).

Denver will wrap up preseason play at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

This will mark the 13th time in the last 15 years—and the 19th time overall—the Broncos and Cardinals have squared off in their preseason finales. The Broncos, who beat the Cardinals 21-10 in 2018, are 18-9 all-time against Arizona in the preseason.

Denver owns a 143-122 (.540) all-time record in the preseason and has registered at least a .500 record in the preseason during 21 of the last 23 years. In 2018, Denver finished with a 2-2 preseason record.

Exact dates and times for Denver’s preseason schedule will be announced later this month in coordination with the NFL’s release of the Broncos’ complete 2019 regular-season schedule.

DENVER BRONCOS 2019 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Aug. 1 (Thu.) vs. Atlanta* : 7th all-time preseason game vs. Falcons; Broncos lead series 4-2

Aug. 8-12 at Seattle: 14th all-time preseason game vs. Seahawks; Broncos lead series 10-3

Aug. 19 (Mon.)vs. San Francisco: 39th all-time preseason game vs. 49ers; Broncos lead series 22-16

Aug. 22-25 at L.A. Rams: 11th all-time preseason game vs. Rams; Broncos lead series 8-2

Aug. 29 (Thu.) vs. Arizona: 28th all-time preseason game vs. Cardinals; Broncos lead series 18-9

*Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio

NFL draft do-overs: Let's re-pick ... and fix mistakes for all 32 teams By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com April 10, 2019

The NFL draft annually brings back memories, and many of those memories aren't exactly pleasant. With every draft bust comes the question, "What if we took [fill-in-the-blank Pro Bowler who's on another team] instead?" On that note, what if you could go back and get a do-over on those draft picks that your team whiffed on?

That's the premise of this exercise, as we asked our 32 NFL Nation reporters to go back over the past five drafts (2014-18) and correct their team's biggest draft mistake during that time. We gave them the keys to the DeLorean and waived all speed laws.

The ground rules:

The re-drafted player has to be at a position of reasonable need in that particular draft (no allowed for the Steelers in 2015).

The re-drafted player has to be available at the pick in question (no using the 30th pick in 2017 to draft Patrick Mahomes).

You cannot trade the pick you're looking to re-draft, but you can choose not to trade a pick the team traded (see the ' entry).

Denver Broncos First round of the 2016 draft (No. 26 overall) Actual pick: , QB, Memphis Do-over pick: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

The Broncos traded up in the first round -- from No. 31 and threw in a third-round pick (No. 94) -- because they wanted their quarterback of the future. But Lynch failed to win the starting job in back-to- back training camps and then didn't win the backup job in his third training camp, in 2018. He was waived last summer after four starts, four touchdowns and four interceptions.The Broncos have taken a tight end in three of the past four drafts (Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli) because it has been, and still is, a need position. While Henry has dealt with injuries -- as have the three tight ends Denver has drafted -- he has produced when healthy and would have presented a tempting option. -- Jeff Legwold

Owner Pat Bowlen recognized with Boy Scouts' Denver Area Council Lifetime Achievement Award By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com April 10, 2019

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen has been celebrated as much for his off-field contributions as his on-field success.

On Tuesday at the Boy Scouts of America’s Denver Area Council Sports Breakfast, Bowlen was again recognized for his charitable contributions to the Denver area.

Bowlen’s daughter, Brittany, accepted the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of her father.

“It’s incredibly humbling to accept this Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of my father,” Brittany Bowlen said. “I know he would love to be here supporting the important work of the scouts and listening to one of his favorite players and new Pro Football Hall of Famer, Champ Bailey.”

Bailey served as the keynote speaker for the Sports Breakfast and will be enshrined in Canton alongside Bowlen in August.

Hassan Salem, a U.S. Bank regional president for the Denver region, presented the award and highlighted both the success of Bowlen’s teams on the field and the work he did in the Denver community.

Bowlen, as Salem said Tuesday, led the Broncos’ efforts to be a key partner of the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Broncos’ continuing partnership with the council impacts the lives of thousands of young people per year, Salem said.

“My dad always said the Broncos are the public trust and that the team belongs to our fans,” Brittany Bowlen added. “That’s why investing in this community — and especially our future leaders — were always his priorities."

Bowlen becomes one of a select few to receive the Denver Area Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Peter H. Coors, the chairman and chief customer relations officer of Coors Brewing Company, received the award in 2018. Like Bowlen, Coors helped improve the scouting experience for thousands.

Bowlen previously served as the honorary chairman of the Sports Breakfast in 2007 when NFL Commissioner served as the keynote speaker.

The Broncos' owner was previously honored for his contributions to the community when he received the Mizel Institute’s Community Enrichment Award in 2013.

Champ Bailey on Denver's defensive changes: 'If we play great defense, we can do anything' By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com April 10, 2019

Champ Bailey knows exactly how the Broncos can return to the postseason.

And his background as a Hall of Fame cornerback undoubtedly impacts his view.

“Defense,” said Bailey on Tuesday after delivering the keynote address at the Boy Scouts’ Denver Area Council Sports Breakfast. “You’ve got to play great defense. I don’t know how much evidence you need. You saw it in the Super Bowl. Defense is how you win. Offense is great. You don’t want to turn the ball over. You don’t do that [and] you play great defense, you’re probably going to win most games. You’ve got to start on [that] side of the ball.”

If defense isn’t the priority, Bailey said, then any team will struggle to consistently win games.

“I think people forget that’s how we won Super Bowl 50,” Bailey said. “It’s all about defense. If you can’t stop people, you can’t win. The Patriots proved it this past season. You’ve got to stop people. If defense is not the priority, then you’re really just running in place.”

The Broncos’ efforts to elevate their defense to the heights of Head Coach Vic Fangio’s previous defenses will be aided, in part, by the return of Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell.

Bailey, who played for Donatell from 2009-10, remembers his former coach as a “no-nonsense” person.

“He’s always going to be straight with you,” Bailey said. “It’s [also] good to see Renaldo Hill be the [defensive backs] coach. I was in the same meeting room with them, so I know the knowledge that’s going to be in there. I’m just anxious to see what [Donatell] does and how he runs his defense. He’s had an opportunity to do it before, but I think we’ve got a new Ed Donatell this time.”

And Bailey thinks a resurgence of an elite defense could follow.

“… We have to score points, absolutely," Bailey said, "but if we play great defense, we can do anything.”

Broncos release 2019 preseason schedule By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com April 10, 2019

The Broncos have known since early March that they would play five preseason games for the first time since 2004.

Now, Head Coach Vic Fangio and his team know which opponents they will face.

The NFL released the 2019 preseason schedule on Wednesday, and Denver will face an NFC West-heavy slate with two nationally televised games as the team prepares for the regular season.

The Broncos will compete against the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals at home and the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams on the road.

The Broncos will begin their preseason slate, though, against the Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame game, which was announced in March. Denver and Atlanta will play the game in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. MT on NBC.

The game will kick off both the 2019 preseason and the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement weekend. Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen and former cornerback Champ Bailey will both be inducted that weekend.

Denver will then head back out on the road for its second game of the preseason as they visit Seattle. The Broncos last played Seattle in the preseason in 2015. Denver holds a 10-3 record against the Seahawks in the preseason. The game, which does not yet have a set date, will be held between Aug. 8- 12.

The team will return to Broncos Stadium at Mile High for the first time in 2019 for a "Monday Night Football" matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN.

Denver will then face the Los Angeles Rams in the team’s final road preseason game. The starting units tend to play at least half of this game, as most teams treat the week as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. Denver will play Los Angeles between Aug. 22-25.

The Broncos will conclude the preseason on Aug. 29 with a home contest against the Arizona Cardinals. This year’s game will mark the fifth consecutive season — and the 14th time in 16 years — in which Denver finishes the preseason against Arizona.

The dates for the Broncos' games against the Seahawks and Rams will be announced when the regular- season schedule is released in the coming weeks.

Derek Wolfe explains why Vic Fangio is “the kind of guy this team needs” By Zac Stevens BSN Denver April 10, 2019

Peyton Freaking Manning.

For four years, the Denver Broncos had one of the best to ever play the game’s most important position leading them in his prime—not too bad of a deal.

The record-setting 55 passing touchdowns and 5,477 passing yards were undeniably impressive, to say the least, but what he brought off the field as a leader was equally as, if not more, valuable than the MVP-caliber play on it.

To further this, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer’s impact as a leader is still being talked about inside the Broncos headquarters. Unprompted.

“Any time you come off a championship run like we made—we had four great years with Peyton Manning. When Peyton’s around, he’s the leader. He runs the show in the entire building it seems like,” Derek Wolfe said on Tuesday, as the team began their second week of the offseason training program.

“Once you lose a guy like that, there’s a space that needs to be filled. A head coach usually fills that job. That’s not an easy thing to ask of anybody.”

That’s certainly proven to be the case.

In the three years since Manning hung em’ up after Super Bowl 50, Denver’s blown through quarterbacks—, Paxton Lynch, , and Case Keenum, to name a few—and shuffled through two head coaches in and Vance Joseph who have all tried to fill the leadership void left by No. 18.

After the back-to-back 5-11 and 6-10 seasons, the void remained. That was until Vic Fangio entered the building in January.

“I think Vic’s the perfect—I’ve said this before, that’s the kind of guy this team needs,” Wolfe said passionately, the only way he knows how to communicate.

“A guy like Vic, he comes in, he’s a no-nonsense, old school type of guy that still likes to have fun. He’s a kind of guy—you just respect him. He’s got the resume to respect. He just demands that respect right away when he walks in the room.”

One of the aspects that makes Wolfe a leader himself, on the defensive side of the ball, is his brutal honesty. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound man resembling more bear than wolf, doesn’t mind who or what he rubs the wrong way, as long as it’s the truth.

After 11 combined wins the past two seasons, there wasn’t much to be positive about regarding the most recent years. Wolfe admitted Fangio’s “no-nonsense, old school” mentality was what the team needed because the accountability had slipped, even among the veterans of the team.

“A 16 week season is not just 16 weeks, it starts in April. It becomes a grind. A lot of people have been talking about how everyone is five minutes early to meetings,” Wolfe said, pointing to the culture change his fellow teammates have pumped up recently. “That happens every year whenever you show up. Everybody shows up five minutes early the first couple of weeks. What happens in Week 16 when everybody is beat to hell, and nobody feels like being around this building, and we’re all sick and tired of each other? Are you still showing up five minutes early? That’s when it counts.”

There’s been a tremendous amount of hoopla, excitement, and positivity surrounding Fangio’s hire and yet his ability to constantly make defenses elite has taken a significant backseat to all of this optimism. That shows just how massive Manning’s leadership void has been over the last three years.

And, according to Wolfe, it hasn’t been close to being replaced. Additionally, according to Wolfe, he’s the man to end the drought.

“As long as [Joe Flacco] can control his side of the ball, we can handle the defensive side, and then you have a coach like Vic who just brings it all together, that’s what you need.”

Entering the final year of his four-year, $36.7 million contract, Wolfe wants to be around to see Vic’s tenure play out, too.

“I want to be a Bronco for life,” Wolfe emphasized multiple times on Tuesday. “That’s why I signed the deal I did last time. The Broncos have been good to me. If I play good, then they’ll be good to me again, and I can finish my career here.”

After 1,128 days, it’s time for the Broncos to move on By Ryan Koenigsberg BSN Denver April 10, 2019

One thousand one hundred and twenty-eight days.

It’s been 1,128 days since an emotional Peyton Manning famously said, “God bless all of you and God bless football,” as he rode off into the sunset of his NFL career with his second Lombardi trophy in hand.

1,128 days, and yet the Broncos are still talking about the void left by “The Sherriff” when he walked through those swinging saloon doors.

“We had four great years of Peyton Manning,” Derek Wolfe said on Tuesday afternoon. “When Peyton’s around, he’s the leader, he runs the show in the entire building it seems like. Once you lose a guy like that, there’s a space that needs to be filled. A head coach usually fills that job, and that’s not an easy thing to ask of anybody.”

Peyton Manning has almost been gone as long as he was a Bronco, and the team is still talking about filling his void. And while it certainly plays a part, it’s not even his talent at the most important position in sports that they’re talking about, it’s his leadership. That’s scary.

And Wolfe wonders why his teammates are insistent that Vic Fangio is changing the culture because players are getting to meetings five minutes early?

“That happens every year whenever you show up,” he said, keeping it real as always. “What happens in Week 16 when everybody is beat to hell, and nobody feels like being around this building, and we’re all sick and tired of each other? Are you still showing up five minutes early? That’s when it counts.”

It’s because this team is desperate for Fangio to be that guy. They’re desperate for their new head coach to lead them in the right direction. They’re desperate for him to change the culture. They’re desperate for him to command respect. They’re desperate for him to take control of the reins.

The Broncos have been without a clear leader for too long.

They thought Brock Osweiler was sure to be that guy. They paid Von Miller like he should be that guy. They threw a blind dart hoping Paxton Lynch—hold your lughter—would be that guy. They half- heartedly hoped Trevor Siemian could be that guy. They only told us 100 times that Vance “Leader of Men” Joseph would be that guy. They really wanted to believe that Case Keenum could be that guy.

1,128 days later, and they’re still talking about Peyton F. Manning—and the F isn’t there in a good way anymore.

Maybe this is the standard hangover after an all-time great from a leadership standpoint departs, maybe John Elway has failed in his attempts to replace Manning, maybe it’s a combination of both. Either way, it’s time to move on.

When Week 1 comes around, the Broncos will—at most—have six players on the roster with Super Bowl 50 rings, and many of them, like Wolfe and Miller, are who the guys that didn’t play with Manning look up to. At this point, talking about the way things used to be is an active deterrent to the mission. It’s time to find a new path to the top of the mountain, the old one is closed.

Maybe Vic Fangio is the Sherpa they’re looking for, maybe it’s Joe Flacco, but a gaggle of veterans constantly thinking “this isn’t filling the Peyton void” will never allow for those leaders to truly be empowered.

After 1,128 days, it’s time to realize there’s never going to be another Peyton Manning.

Derek Wolfe: Chris Harris deserves to get paid By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk April 10, 2019

Cornerback Chris Harris is looking for a new deal from the Broncos and the team has said that addressing the veteran’s deal is not on their radar at the moment.

Harris would like to change that and has not joined the team at offseason workouts the last two weeks as part of his effort to make that change. Defensive end Derek Wolfe threw his support behind that bid when he spoke to reporters in Denver on Tuesday.

“Chris is one of the best cornerbacks in the league,” Wolfe said, via Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post. “He deserves to get paid and he deserves to do whatever he feels is right for himself. He already did his discount deal so it’s time for him to get his money and that’s how he feels. I think everybody can relate to that. You have a short time span in this league so you have to earn as much as you can, especially if you take a discount on the first deal.”

Wolfe is also heading into the final year of his current contract and said that he’d like to remain in Denver beyond the 2019 season. The veteran played in all 16 games last year and said he felt revitalized after having neck surgery following the 2017 season.

Derek Wolfe: Vic Fangio fills leadership void left by Peyton Manning By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk April 10, 2019

The Broncos have gone 20-28 over three seasons since Peyton Manning retired and their moves for Case Keenum and Joe Flacco the last two offseasons show that they have not found a long-term replacement for Manning at quarterback.

That’s not the only place where his absence has hindered the team. Manning came up when defensive end Derek Wolfe was talking to reporters about the leadership that’s been missing over the last three seasons and his belief that head coach Vic Fangio can be the man to change that.

“When Peyton’s around, he’s the leader; he runs the show in the entire building it seems like,” Wolfe said, via the Denver Post. “Once you lose a guy like that, there’s a space that needs to be filled. … That’s the kind of guy this team needs. A guy like Vic, he comes in and he’s a no-nonsense, old-school type of guy who still likes to have fun. You just respect him. He’s got the resume to respect. He just demands that respect right away when he walks into a room.”

Other Broncos players also offered strong reviews for the way Fangio has instilled discipline and accountability early in his tenure. Those comments will be a distant memory if the Broncos continue to fall short on the field come September, but they’ll likely be cited as key reasons for a change of fortunes in the event Denver finds itself back on track.

NFL-NFLPA met to “discuss negotiations” on new CBA By Charean Williams Pro Football Talk April 10, 2019

The NFL’s Management Council and representatives of the NFL Players Association met Wednesday to discuss the future Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The sides issued a joint press release after their meeting ended.

“Today, the members of the NFL’s Management Council and the NFLPA’s Executive Committee met to discuss negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement,” the statement reads. “The League and the Union have committed to meet regularly in the coming months, which will involve staff, NFL leadership, members of the NFLPA Executive Committee and Player Representatives.”

The current CBA was executed in 2011 and expires after the 2020 season. The sides hope to avoid a work stoppage by getting a jump on negotiations.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was among those in Minneapolis to attend the meeting, missing the press conference for defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.