President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway

DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (7/26/17)

PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS/GENERAL MANAGER JOHN ELWAY

On signing a five-year contract with the team “I’m excited about it. I appreciate the opportunity that the Broncos have given me. It’s what I love to do. It’s something I was never worried about. I know everyone else was a lot more worried about it than I was. I knew at some point in time that it was going to get done. To have the opportunity to do what I do because I love what I’m doing, I thank [President & CEO] Joe [Ellis] and [General Counsel] Rich Slivka, the Broncos and [Owner] Pat [Bowlen] for the opportunity because I don’t know if there’s a better position in the league because of the resources that we’re given. I’m really excited about it and glad to be here for another five years.”

On what he wants to do in the next five years of his contract “We want to keep winning. Our goal has not changed and the bottom line is that we want to compete for world championships. That’s what Pat said in 1984 and we’re going to continue that and do everything we can. That’s what our fans expect, and that’s what we expect of ourselves. We’re going to continue to work hard and get ourselves in the middle of it. Hopefully, be the one that rises to the top. Our goal and mission has not changed, and that’s to compete for world championships.”

On the quarterback competition “I feel good about that spot. If you look at where we were last year, in my mind, we’re in a much better position this year with [QB] Trevor [Siemian] having a year under his belt. Then, with getting [QB] Paxton [Lynch] in the draft last year, and him having played a couple games and having a year under his belt. There’s always one thing in this league—the one thing that I understand and learn to understand is that there is always going to be an issue somewhere on your football team. Because of the way it’s set up with all the teams in the battle all the time, there is always going to be an issue that you’re going to have to take care of. That’s why [you have to be] flexible, continue to work hard and make sure to take care of every spot on the football team.”

On his expectations for the new offense “I’m excited about it. I’m excited what [Offensive Coordinator] Mike [McCoy] can do. I don’t want to say anything against the previous staff. The previous staff won a World Championship. Anytime I say where we are this year, it isn’t a comparison to where we were last year, but I know having Mike again like we did before—what he did with Peyton [Manning] when he was here last time, I think we’ll be able to do more things. We’ll be more multiple. With [Quarterbacks Coach] Billy Musgrave helping the quarterbacks, I think it’s a good combination. I’m excited with what we’re going to do offensively. I think we’re going to be better offensively. If you look at where we were last year, I think there’s only one way for us to go, and that’s to continue to get better. Especially with two young quarterbacks with another year under their belts, I’m optimistic with what we can do offensively.”

©2017 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club. On his relationship with Head Coach Vance Joseph and the quarterback competition “Vance and I are going to talk every day. I really enjoyed the relationship I’ve had with Vance so and I’m really looking forward to the relationship going forward. It’s a great working relationship. He’s a very bright, young coach. Ultimately, it’s Vance’s choice. I will give my opinion, but even though you make think there’s a lot of differences in opinions, there’s really not. I believe the quarterback position is going to be seen by everyone. To me, it’s going to show up. That’s why as we get into training camp and get into games, we’ll see how they react. Those things usually show up themselves. Again, I’ll go back to the same thing. I think we’re very fortunate to have two young quarterbacks who can play. It’s a good position. The only thing that we want to continue to do is get them more experienced.”

On hiring Gary Kubiak for a position in the personnel department “When [Senior Personnel Advisor] Gary [Kubiak] left here—I never planned on him leaving anyways—he never really left. He just had to get some separation. When we talked about what he wanted to do as far as stepping down as a head coach, I talked to him about coming back in some kind of capacity. Gary is a very bright football man, and he can bring a lot to us. That’s why I’m excited he is going to come back. He’s a great evaluator. He’s a big bonus for us on the personnel side.”

On whether he thought Kubiak would be back with the Broncos so quickly “Yes. Football guys can’t stay away from football. My dad was the same way, so I knew Gary. It was a matter of time before we were going to get him back working. I think the six months that he took off were good for him and now we’ll get him back in the fold.”

On position battles across the roster “I think that it will prove itself out. Everyone is going to see it and if it doesn’t, and they both play very well, which we hope, those are the type of decisions you like to have. The tough decisions. I will say this, I know that the quarterback decision has gotten a lot of attention, but there are 21 other positions on this team, too, that we have to get better. Starting on the offensive side and the offensive line, we have a chance to be much better. We’re deep with wide outs and running backs. I think [RB] Jamaal Charles is going to help us a lot. I’m excited what we can do offensively. That’s where I think for us, the attention is not so much on that position as it is out in the fan base or what you guys have been talking about. We have to get better on the offensive line. On the defensive line, we have to get better. We have to stop the run. We have to do a better job of getting to the run. I think we have a chance to do that. I think we got better on the defensive line. I’m excited to see what [Defensive Coordinator] Joe Woods can do with the defense. I know anytime you have a guy like [Rams Defensive Coordinator] Wade Phillips, it’s tough to replace, but I’m really excited about what Joe can do defensively. Plus, VJ (Vance Joseph) knows the defense, too. I’m excited about how much better we can get on the defensive side, too.”

On analysts’ predictions for the Broncos “Again, I think we can use it as an advantage to us. I think I saw one ranking where they had us 24th. Those are the type of things that are going to be out there. We can use them as incentives and I know our football team and our coaches and myself feel that we have the chance to be a really good football team.”

On the strengths and weaknesses of the team “Our strength is still in the defensive side. We didn’t play as well defensively as we could have as the year before. The year before was spectacular; probably as good as a year that the defense has ever had. That was hard to live up to. I think the defense will have a chip on their shoulder this year. Even though we had a good year last year, I think the guys know that we can be better on the defensive side. Offensively, we continue to get better. Any time you go through a transition from a guy who’s [going to be] in the Hall of Fame in Peyton Manning, you’re going to go through some transition on the offensive side that will take some time. I like where we’re going with the quarterback position with Trevor and Paxton. I like the possibility, it’s there. We’re working our way out of that offensively. If we continue to prove on the offensive side, we know what we can do defensively.

On whether he believes in ‘Super Bowl windows’

©2017 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club. “No. I don’t believe in windows. You’re telling me we can take a couple years off if our window closes on the defensive side? Everyone talks about those windows, but I don’t because we’re trying to do it every year. Obviously in my position, I have to look two, three and four years out, but our goal has not changed. It’s to be competitive year in and year out. I don’t look at windows. We’re trying to be as good as we can each year.”

On Owner Pat Bowlen being up for consideration for the Pro Football Hall of FAme “Hopefully this is the year. As we talked about so many times how much he deserves it, what he’s done for the league, his participation on different committees in the league and the relationships with the commissioners. What Pat has contributed to the NFL has grown it to where it is today. There is no question he deserves to be in there. I know he was really close last year. We’re hoping and I guess we’ll find out in a month or so. Hopefully he’s that guy.”

On whether he wants T Garett Bolles to start “I want the best player to play at that time, so we’ll find out. I root for the guy who is playing the best to be the starter. I know that we have young guys and Garett is one of those young guys that you hope will grow fast, but you never know how they’re going to grow. We can watch him in OTAs and do all that stuff, but the bottom line is, we’re getting into all the big stuff now. We’re going to put the pads on and get into preseason games, and that’s where things, especially for the young guys, start showing themselves to see if they’re going to be able to help us this year or not.”

On OLB Shaquil Barrett and TE Jake Butt’s timetables to returns “We’re not sure. I know that with Shaq, we’re pleasantly surprised with his recovery. He’s on NFI. We’re hoping to get him back. We’re not sure when. He’s going to start working him into it on the first of August with the trainers and start getting him working that way and then we’ll see the progress. The prognosis of his return is a lot better than what we first heard of the injury, which he could have been out for the whole year. We’re hoping sometime in September. Jake just depends on how fast he can come off that ACL and I think physically he is getting a lot closer. But, you know when you have an ACL (injury), the mental side of it is a big side of it, too. We’re hoping that four to six weeks into it that Jake can come back.”

On what improvements he hopes to see from S Will Parks and S Justin Simmons “Well, hopefully another step. They have a year under their belts. Justin had a tremendous spring. He showed his ball skills, made a lot of plays on balls and had a lot of interceptions. Will came in and played looking like he had a year under his belt. That’s a good thing. We have some depth in the secondary and those guys are going to help, not only defensively, but be big contributors on special teams.”

On expectations for TE Jeff Heuerman and TE A.J. Derby “This is the year. Jeff had a good year. We’re waiting for him to take that big step because we drafted him third round a couple years ago, and obviously he tore the ACL in minicamp the first year. We’re looking at this year as Jeff’s coming out year. Like I said, he had a good spring. Hopefully he makes that big jump. A.J. got here halfway through the year last year, so we’ve got expectations for him, too. We’re continuing to work on that position and get better. Those young guys have to take a big step for us and I think they’re ready to do that.”

On Terrell Davis induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame “I’m thrilled for him. A guy that, back in those years, when they’re winning those Super Bowls and had those great football teams, he was the main reason why. I’m thrilled that they overcame the one thing that was keeping him out, and that was the length of career. Because while he was playing, there was nobody better. I’m thrilled for T.D. and I’m looking forward to going to his enshrinement.”

On OLB Von Miller’s leadership following DeMarcus Ware’s retirement “Anytime you lose a guy like DeMarcus, it’s tough. He was a tremendous help, tremendous leader. As we talk about with Von, the steps he’s taken maturity wise, it’s a different type of leadership, which is great. He keeps things loose. I think that he’s relished that role in knowing that as a vet that is one of his responsibilities. He’s done a great job with it.”

©2017 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club.