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Home , Clinton McDonald, Drew Petzing, John DeFilippo, Von Miller

The Broncos and Von Miller are stuck in a money trap. Can they escape and get back to the ? By Mark Kiszla Denver Post March 23, 2018

Von Miller was the No. 1 reason the Broncos won . His contract is the No. 1 reason Denver might not get back to the Super Bowl until after Miller leaves town.

While trying to pull the Broncos from the last-place abyss, president of football operations made a troubling discovery. The team’s best player was making it very difficult for a roster in need of a major overhaul to be competitive in the AFC West.

My intention here is not to bash Miller. Far from it. The Vonster can flatten like a boulder and be as funny as Chris Rock. But I’ve done the math. Paying big money to a defensive player, even one as talented as Miller, generally does not compute in the NFL.

Let’s start with a riddle: What do , Josh Norman, Miller, and have in common? They were the five highest-paid defensive stars in the league last season. And, all together, they won exactly zero playoff games.

In the NFL, where all the rules are tilted in favor of the , a healthy or can all but ensure his team will be a championship contender. Even with a salary-cap hit in excess of $20 million, Rodgers or Brady is worth every last penny.

In 2017, however, Houston, Norman, Miller, Suh and Wilkerson cost an average of $19.8 million on the salary-cap ledger. For those boatloads of Benjamins, only Kansas City was rewarded with a winning record from its hefty expenditure on Houston.

Hey, during the afterglow of the Super Bowl parade, the six-year, $114.5 million contract signed in July 2016 seemed like a great idea. I was not only all for it, but argued loudly for Elway to show Miller the money. So blame me, if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t change the current situation. While Miller grades out as an elite NFL defender, he has been unable to mask the team’s flaws for two years since inking the deal.

While all the recent hullabaloo about the Broncos began with the quarterback and ended with signing Case Keenum to a two-year, $36 million contract, the recent move that was far more telling about Denver’s current difficult state was a restructuring of Miller’s contract, in order to free up $12.375 million for Elway to refortify the personnel around his new quarterback.

Hey, it sounded good. Miller did his team a financial favor. Just like Brady would. What was not to like?

But here’s the rub: The Broncos are still cash-strapped.

Waiting for a big spending spree in free agency? I wouldn’t hold your breath. The No. 5 pick in the NFL draft will chew up most of Denver’s remaining salary-cap space. As much as I’m enamored with the idea of Penn State running back Saquon Barkley or Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson wearing orange on Sundays, there are strong financial reasons a team with more than one hole to fill might want to seriously consider trading back in the first round.

While Miller did help out the team by lowering his cap hit for this season, the Broncos essentially robbed Peter to pay Von, using a little creative accounting that kicked their financial obligations down the road.

Starting in 2019, when Miller will turn 30 years old, the Broncos must swallow a $25.6 million salary-cap hit on their . That’s quarterback money. How the team expects to allocate in excess of $46 million on Miller and Keenum alone in ’19 and still have enough wiggle room under the cap to field a top-flight team figures to be an extremely sticky football calculus.

Catch the hint? There a few chores harder in the NFL than for an aging championship roster to rebuild on the fly without a major retrenchment. The Broncos are in win-now mode this season.

If the gamble on Keenum doesn’t work, Elway might have to swallow hard and blow this thing up.

What could the do to improve their offensive line? By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 23, 2018

Last month at the combine Elway stated “Life is too short to rebuild in the NFL.” Do you really think he believes Denver is reloading and not rebuilding? Forget for a moment that Denver’s defense looks nothing like the 2015 defense, by changing your quarterback alone you are rebuilding.

Nicki: Give it whatever label you want — rebuild, revamp, retool, redo. It’s just semantics. The truth is — and Elway has admitted this much — they have to get better in all three phases. They had to upgrade at quarterback and they believe they did with Case Keenum. They need to improve the offensive line, they need more pass-catchers, they need continue to improve a defense that lost and they really, really need to find help on special teams.

Call it what you want. But that’s the Broncos’ to-do list.

Hi, Nicki, how are you? We are from Brazil and we love your job covering the Denver Broncos. Thank you. John Elway said in Case Keenum’s presentation that the Broncos has several possibilities about the fifth pick in the draft and that’s true. What do you think they can do on draft day?

Nicki: Thanks for the kind words. Signing Case Keenum gives the Broncos flexibility in the first round because they no longer HAVE to draft a quarterback there if they’re not sold on any in this year’s class. They have their starter for 2018, and they have plenty invested in him, so they don’t have to feel a need at that position in the first round.

However, that doesn’t preclude them from drafting a quarterback there if there’s a guy they really like and they feel could be an important part of their future. I’d like to see them use that spot for another need, though. And they have plenty.

If in the off chance that Saquon Barkley is miraculously available at No. 5, he would instantly transform that offense, which, paired with their defense, could turn the Broncos into instant contenders. (Theoretically, that is.) But assuming he’ll be gone long before the Broncos pick, or even Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson could be really interesting additions. Both could have an immediate impact.

The Broncos could also trade back. They have their starting quarterback, so they could give up that No. 5 spot to another quarterback-needy team and rack up more picks to build their roster. Of course, there’s nothing stopping them from trading up either, should they want to get Barkley or even a QB they like. Many, many options.

When does Chris Harris‘ contract end and do you think the Broncos will try to sweeten his deal, given that he is the most criminally underpaid cornerback in the NFL? If they don’t, will he return?

Nicki: Chris Harris is one of the greatest bargains in sports, in my opinion. He’s a No. 1 corner who isn’t paid anywhere near what most No. 1 corners are paid. He agreed to take less to stay when he signed a five-year extension back in 2014, but it would be nice to see the Broncos reward him soon. He has two years remaining on his deal, including 2018. (The Broncos picked up his $1.1 million option for this season.) He’s 28 and with Aqib Talib gone, he’s the primary leader of the secondary and a big leader of the defense — a unit John Elway values greatly. Certainly would make sense to keep a player like that.

What have they done to shore up the offensive line?

Nicki: Nothing yet. Tackle Donald Stephenson left as a free agent, fellow tackle Menelik Watson will be back (his contract became fully guaranteed last Sunday), they placed a second-round tender on center but other than that — no move. No new names. It’s on their list. They could turn to the draft for help, too.

What are the chances Denver picks up a good left tackle in free agency? What are the chances on getting the running back Saquon Barkley in the draft for their first pick?

Nicki: They want to keep at left tackle, but there are a couple intriguing names still available who could man the right side: , formerly with the Patriots, and Austin Howard, who last played for the Ravens.

The Broncos are bringing Menelik Watson back, but their last couple of free-agent pickups at tackle haven’t exactly wowed (Watson, Donald Stephenson). So they could turn to the draft where there is some talent.

I would be surprised if Barkley is available at five in the first round. I can see three quarterbacks and Barkley going in the four spots ahead of Denver. But you never know. He could be — and if he is, it seems like a no-brainer to me. But Elway could surprise, too, and try to move up to get him if he feels like Barkley is the guy. They have 10 picks to work with this year.

If the Broncos don’t go for one of the top five “sexy” QBs — what would be the other options for them at the position? Do we really put all our chips in on Case Keenum to A) stay healthy and B) pan out?

Nicki: Well, the Broncos kind of already put “all their chips” in on Keenum for the next year at least. He’s guaranteed $18 million this year and another $7 million fully guaranteed next year, so they’re clearly invested in the guy and banking on him being a starter — and an upgrade over their rotation of starters the last two years.

If they draft a quarterback at No. 5, to me that says more about what they think about . Keenum is on a two-year deal that essentially gives the team the option of extending his contract if he impresses or cutting ties if he hasn’t lived up to expectations. But they better have a ready backup if they chose to part ways. John Elway has said repeatedly that they’re not ready to move on from Lynch, but if deep down they feel he’s not ready to assume a starting role, then they better find someone who can. That’s why you would take a quarterback at No. 5.

But if they’re confident in Lynch and they want to bring in another quarterback for depth and competition, I could see them taking a quarterback high in the second round. Perhaps Kyle Lauletta or Luke Falk or Mason Rudolph. Maybe Lamar Jackson if he’s still available. Cost of No. 5 pick limits Broncos' offseason spending By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 23, 2018

So is that it?

Case Keenum and go get ‘em on offense? Clinton McDonald, Tramaine Brock and hang with ‘em on defense?

Keenum was huge, no doubt. Quarterback was the Broncos’ priority and quarterback they got. But after a 5-11 season, there was hope for so much more.

With the exception of signing another free agent or two at low-budget rates and possibly working out a trade during the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando next week, it does appear the bulk of the Broncos’ offseason roster changes are completed until the draft.

Bring on the draft!

Blame the projected contract for the No. 5 overall draft pick as a big reason why the Broncos’ free-agent spending so far hasn’t gone much past quarterback.

Based on the typical annual increases with the slotted NFL draft system, the Broncos must budget a four-year, fully guaranteed contract of about $27.5 million for their No. 5 overall pick.

Included in that contract would be a signing bonus of about $18 million. The Broncos have about $19 million in salary cap space after signing McDonald on Wednesday.

Although the No. 5 pick signing bonus is prorated in equal parts over the four-year deal so that the salary-cap hit will be about $4.9 million this year, the Broncos must also fund, or put money aside, for years 2, 3 and 4 of the fully guaranteed contract of their No. 5 pick.

Let’s put it another way: This year’s No. 5 draft will be the Broncos’ second-highest paid player with a cash payout of about $18.5 million in signing bonus and salary – a tick less than Von Miller’s $19 million and a tick more than Keenum’s No. 18 million.

That kind of money brings up an argument either way as to who the Broncos should take at No. 5. The argument for selecting a player at a position other than quarterback is, do you want to pay at least $18 million each to two quarterbacks in 2018?

Then again, do you want to pay $18 million to an offensive guard (Quenton Nelson) in 2018, or a defensive end (Bradley Chubb) or even a running back (Saquan Barkley)?

Then there are the Broncos other 9 draft picks in rounds two through six, which are expected to combine for $6 million against the 2018 cap and $11 million in this year’s cash.

Suffice to say this offseason is about Keenum and the draft kids.

The Broncos so far have added about $25 million in guaranteed money to the 2018 payroll by signing starting quarterback Keenum ($18 million), McDonald (estimated $4 million) and backup cornerback Tramaine Brock ($3 million).

The team is hoping to sign another veteran cornerback and tight end from free agency that is about to exit from its second wave.

But make no mistake, if the Broncos are to jump from last to first in a year’s time, they will need a big year from Keenum, and some immediate contribution from the kids.

Clinton McDonald on choosing Denver: "I mean, who wouldn't want to be a Bronco?" By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 23, 2018

Clinton McDonald has something that several of his new Denver Broncos teammates don’t: The right side of a Super Bowl XLVIII blowout.

McDonald isn’t gloating, though.

“Well two years back they won their Super Bowl as well,’’ McDonald said in a phone interview Thursday with 9NEWS. “They have a lot of experience at going to the next level. The expectations of going to another Super Bowl are very strong. They have great experience throughout the organization. John Elway is leading the organization as a GM. John had talked to me about bringing leadership in.’’

McDonald, 31, will play plenty for the Broncos along their 3-man defensive line as a 3-technique tackle/5-technique end after he signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the team Wednesday.

“I’m excited to be a Denver Bronco,’’ he said. “They have great players upfront I’ll be joining as well as try to help bring a mentality, a Super Bowl mentality back to Denver. That championship mindset.’’

McDonald only started one game for the during the 2013 regular season, but he was out there when Broncos’ center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball past an unsuspecting and into the end zone for a safety on the first play from scrimmage that began a 43-8 Seattle route.

McDonald played the next four seasons with Tampa Bay, where he mostly started through three losing seasons and one 9-7 mark in 2016. He had an impressive 13.5 sacks mostly as an interior pass rusher in his three healthy seasons for Tampa Bay.

As he became a free agent last week, McDonald drew interest from multiple teams. So why the Broncos?

“I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a Bronco?’’ he said in a strong, deep voice. “They have a strong fan base, first and foremost. They’re a legendary team. Knowing that John Elway and and some other guys, they built that culture, that style of play in Denver. It intrigues you to want to go out and check it out and be part of a great organization.’’

Perhaps no one in the Broncos’ organization will be more excited about McDonald’s arrival than Allie Pisching, the team’s community development boss. McDonald has been extremely active in the communities of Tampa Bay and near his hometown of Jacksonville, Ark., to the point where he was the Buccaneers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2017.

With his brother Dominique overseeing the MACCLID Foundation, the McDonalds give time and money to construction projects, military, and child literacy programs to name a few.

“My mother got me involved in community service, reaching out to others, as well as my father, getting involved in the community when I was young,’’ McDonald said. “It just inspired me to do more, to be more. It’s just who I am as a human being, my mindset, ever since I was a child.’’

The Broncos begin their offseason conditioning program on April 16. McDonald will be out a few days earlier to get acclimated. One of his first tasks is to consult with the Broncos’ community department to see how he can get started.

“Denver will be my new home and I feel like wherever I go I want to be able to give back to the community that I’m in and affect the community in a positive manner using the platform that God has blessed me with,’’ he said.

Even with backup role, Siemian pleased to be a Viking By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 23, 2018

Sometimes a player reaches the stage of his career where he just wants to play.

And sometimes a guy like is more interested in winning, even if it came at the expense at playing.

“I just figured I could have gone to a place and been a starter, maybe, but I really wanted to go to a good team,’’ Siemian said Thursday in a phone interview as he was making final arrangements for his move from Denver to the Minneapolis area. “That’s what I was hoping for. When you’re getting traded you don’t have a lot of control over that. But I was hoping to go to a good team in whatever capacity they needed me in.’’

Siemian and a seventh-round draft pick were dealt from the Broncos to the Vikings last week in exchange for a fifth-round draft selection in 2019. The Vikings were one win away from playing in Super Bowl LII last season. Siemian also understands he will be the Vikings’ backup to , who was signed to a record contract last week.

“What’d you mean, you don’t think I’m going to play in front of the guy making 30-million bucks?’’ Siemian said with his typical dry humor. “No. when I found out it was Minnesota I was really excited. I go from one good organization to another. I feel very fortunate in that sense. It was my first time going through this process. I was just soaking it all in, really.’’

Siemian didn’t play for the Broncos in his rookie year of 2015, when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. He was the Broncos’ starting quarterback for most of the past two seasons, posting an 8-6 record in 2016 and 5-5 mark amid the team’s 5-11 season in 2017.

He had surgeries on his left shoulder following each of the past two seasons. The first shoulder injury occurred when he was sacked by Tampa Bay’s Clinton McDonald – whom the Broncos just signed to a two-year contract.

Maybe, it didn’t end well for Siemian – it never does when a player is traded – but he far exceeded the expectations he had as a compensatory, seventh-round draft pick out of Northwestern.

“It was so much fun,’’ he said. “Built some great relationships here, teammates, coaches, people I’m going to stay in touch with for a long, long time. A lot of great memories. I pinch myself every day when I’d come to work. It was awesome.’’

Siemian was vacationing with his fiancé’ Bo in Mexico last week when he first learned his quarterback job had given to Case Keenum, the Vikings quarterback last year, who is now a Bronco after reaching agreement on a two-year, $36 million contract.

Siemian will be pulling for Keenum to succeed as his successor.

“I’m excited to see what happens,’’ Siemian said. “I think they’re in a really good spot. Great team, great roster. Obviously, Case set the world on fire last year. I’m a big fan of his and I’ll be excited to see what happens.’’

A day later, Siemian was informed by his agent Mike McCartney of the swap between the Broncos and Vikings. All this while he and Bo, who was on spring break from University of Denver Law School, were trying to enjoy a getaway.

“The week before I’m thinking, free agency starts next week -- I might get traded or released or something,’’’ Siemian said. “I didn’t take that into account when I booked the trip. But Bo is from Minnesota so when we learned I was going there, she was pretty thrilled.’’

Siemian will be staying at his in-law’s home just outside Minneapolis in Plymouth, Minn., until he can find his own place.

He met some of the Vikings coaches and personnel during a quick trip to Minnesota earlier this week. Then he made another quick stop in Denver to pick up his belongings.

The highlight of his three seasons with the Broncos? You should Siemian by now. It wasn’t the clutch, 76-yard pass he threw to III against Kansas City to give the Broncos a 24-16 lead with 3:00 remaining before a Sunday Night Football primetime audience. A nice moment, sure, but the Chiefs rallied to win that game.

“Being part of the Super Bowl team,’’ Siemian said. “It’s my first year, I tried to soak in as much as I could and not take it for granted but it’s hard to when it’s your rookie year. I didn’t contribute much on the field but just being around everything is something I’ll have for the rest of my life.’’

Broncos, city of Denver want to redevelop parking lots south of Mile High Stadium By Kurt Sevits KMGH March 23, 2018

The city of Denver and the Denver Broncos are working on a proposal to redevelop a large swath of land south of Mile High Stadium and they want the public to help shape the project's plans.

City planners in Denver's department of Community Planning and Development are taking the lead and will organize public meetings to gather input on plans for a 52-acre redevelopment of land that currently serves as parking for the stadium. The project is a joint venture of the Broncos and the Metropolitan Football Stadium District.

The goal of the proposal, which is in its very early stages, would be to create a mixed-use, entertainment-focused district with housing, restaurants and other businesses that would become a destination year-round and not just on game days.

The Broncos also hope the area will become an additional revenue source that will help with maintenance and improvements at the stadium. Any parking that's lost to development will be replaced.

The redevelopment project was spurred on by the Decatur-Federal Station Area Plan, which was established in 2013 and called for a year-round, mixed-use district to complement the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood.

"This is an opportunity to realize the recommendations in the neighborhood plan, including improving critical transportation connections between the site and nearby transit, downtown, Sun Valley and west side neighborhoods, the highway and the South Platte River," said Denver Community Planning and Development Executive Director Brad Buchanan. "The Stadium District can transform its surface parking lots into a neighborhood asset, and we want to work with the community to guide that transformation and ensure it conforms to Denver's values."

Officials said residents of an under-construction Denver Housing Authority development in the area also will have a say in how the project unfolds.

Construction on the stadium district is still several years away and the city won't begin holding public meetings until later this spring.

Justin Simmons eyes lofty turnover totals as he enters Year 3 By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 23, 2018

After transitioning to a starting spot in 2017, safety Justin Simmons has taken aim at bigger goals for his third season in the NFL. But in addition to the lofty standards he’s set for himself on the field, he’ll also gain a big responsibility off the field. We caught up with Justin about impending fatherhood, how he’s spending the time leading up to his daughter’s birth and how he plans to rack up an insane number of turnovers in 2018.

Aric DiLalla: Can you explain what "Fortnite" is?

Justin Simmons: Since I’m an avid offseason gamer?

AD: Yes, that’s why.

JS: You actually have no idea?

AD: Not really.

JS: Have you ever seen “Hunger Games”? That’s what it is. You have 100 people and you can do squads, you can do duos or you can do solo. And you try to be the last one alive. Do you remember in “Hunger Games” how if they wanted you to fight someone, they would close in the mist or the storm? That’s what they do in "Fortnite." There’s like 25 places to land on this map, and you land with just a pick axe. And then you loot as much as you can, and the storm starts coming in. It gets smaller and smaller, and it forces you to fight. By the end of the game, as the circle gets smaller, it’s just the last one standing.

AD: Didn’t Drake play a few days ago?

JS: There’s a very popular streamer out right now called “Ninja.” His name’s Tyler Blevins. People love him because he’s legit, like, crazy. He says some bizarre stuff. But he’s one of the best at the game, if not the best. And then Drake was like, I want to play with him. Everyone loves Drake. So everyone watched his stream. JuJu [Smith-Schuster] from the Steelers was also in it.

AD: How can Broncos fans play the game with you?

JS: I’m on Xbox. JSimms1119. You can add me, and then we join a party and start playing. But I’ve only got a limited amount of time. When May gets here, my kid is due and I’m done. I’m retiring the game for at least a year or two.

AD: How are you feeling about that?

JS: Ah, man. It’s the first one. It’s a girl, so I’m in big trouble. I’m feeling nervous, excited.

AD: Harder than football? Scarier than coming in as a rookie?

JS: Oh, 100 percent. Because, I mean, I love the game of football, and I’m obviously here putting in the work. I put in so much effort and time into the game, but at the end of the game, it is just a game. When it’s all said and done, I want my career to be up there. My standards are to try to get up there with guys like and Brian Dawkins. Those are the type of names that I aspire to have my name associated with. But then when I think about my kid, it’s way beyond that. I’m talking about building their character, responsibilities in life and how they deal with disappointment and losses compared to wins and achievements.

AD: What’s been your strategy to get ready?

JS: I’ve been reading up, but there’s no instruction manual that comes for your kids. They’re all different. But I’ve just been reading stuff, like some parenting advice — like you’re their parent, you’re not actually their friend. That can be a bit of a complex ideal for young parents, because you’re so young and you have a child. … Obviously, a lot of the books that you’re reading, as much as it’s about the child, it’s just as much about you and your spouse and things you agree and disagree on and how you should hash that out beforehand. Those are the types of things that we’re working through and [my wife, Taryn] has me going to baby classes with her. That’s a day in my life: wake up, work out, rest of the day baby classes, and then if I have time at night, hop on Fortnite with Ninja and Drake and them.

AD: How’s the naming process going?

JS: Terrible. I’m so picky. And I didn’t even know I was picky. It’s not good. Taryn will bring up a name, and I’ll be like, “Ah, I knew a girl in fourth grade with that name.” I haven’t talked to her since fourth grade, but it’s the first person that comes to mind. “Nope, knew her in fourth grade, can’t.” She could be a great woman. She could be the next winner on "The Voice." But I know her, so I can’t. I just can’t do it. I just nix a bunch of them. I want a unique name, but I don’t want one that’s out there. I’m not naming my kid Blue Ivy.

AD: A few football questions for you: What’s your perspective on the defensive side of the ball on Case Keenum signing with the team?

JS: I’m excited to have Case for multiple reasons. First, he’s a competitor. I watched the playoffs and consistently saw what he was doing with Minnesota. They had a great defense, but more importantly, he was making the right plays, extending drives, taking risky plays and making them. And then obviously that miracle play against New Orleans was just awesome to watch. It wasn’t what they wanted when they played Philly, but as we know, Philly was a great team. So I’m excited to have him. I think he’s going to be a great leader for us. And not that everyone in here is far removed from that playoff atmosphere, but he was just in it. He was just in the NFC title game. I feel like he’s going to be hungry for more and to earn that leadership spot. And on top of that, being a believer, I’m super excited to have a guy at that position that will lead our team the right way. And having him as a believer and stepping into that leadership role is going to be huge for our team. I think it’s going to affect us in such a positive way.

AD: You mentioned that a lot of your teammates aren’t far removed from the playoffs, but you’ve never had that experience before. How anxious are you to make that happen?

JS: I think back last year, and it’s crazy. You really do take keys and points from every year that you play. Last year, starting 3-1, and after the big win against I was thinking, “Man, we’re on track for a great year this year. We’re going to go the playoffs. We’re going to make a big run.” We were looking so far ahead, and then next thing you know, we lose eight in a row. It just puts it in perspective. This is really a week-by-week, game-by-game, quarter-by-quarter league. You can’t take a week off. You can’t take your foot off the gas pedal. Especially because we’ve got that Broncos logo on our helmet, we’re going to get teams’ best shot[s]. That’s just the way we’ve got to prepare this offseason and really hunker down for a really good 16-, 17-week grind.

AD: If this team gets off to another 2-0, 3-0 start, how do the last two years change how you handle that?

JS: It’s really just going to be focus. It’s going to start with some of the younger guys. When I look at 2016, toward the end of the season, that’s when Will and I played a large number of our snaps. Guys get banged up and the younger guys have to step in and play. Even though this is Year 3 for us, it’s our job to get those younger guys ready to get in and play and to contribute on some key snaps. We’re going to need every single person in this locker room. This isn’t a pride thing about how much I can play and how much I can do for the team. It’s about how much we can do as a whole for the team so that we can be the most successful and extend our season to the playoffs.

AD: Year 3 is sometimes the year when guys take a huge jump. For you, what would be an acceptable next step?

JS: When I’m talking about personal standards, for sure a Pro Bowl. I want to be a 16-turnover guy, whether that’s eight , four forced and four recovered fumbles — whatever it takes for me to get 16 turnovers just on my own. And then at least 10-plus pass breakups. I just need to be more ball productive. I think I’ve done a decent job my first two years, but not to the standards that I hold for myself. That’s really the goal on a personal level. That’s the standard I’m setting for myself. Obviously, as a team, I just want to get into the postseason. Because once we get into the postseason, these veterans that have been there know how to handle these games. We’ll be good to go.

AD: As a third-year player, how do you see your role in the locker room changing?

JS: I’ve never been as vocal of a leader as a guy like Aqib [Talib] and some of the other guys that have been captains, but I will say that being one of the older guys that are starting to come up and going into my third year, it requires you to have more of a vocal presence, not only in the locker room but on the field and in the film room. Like I said, you need every single person on the roster — practice squad and up — to buy in week in and week out. That leadership role is definitely going to be what is coming next in my career, not only vocally but on the field and off the field, showing guys how to do it the right way.

My Life on the Trade Block By Kalyn Kahler MMQB March 23, 2018

It’s a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Punta de Mita, a resort town on Mexico’s west coast—sunny, 80 degrees, a slight breeze blowing off the Pacific Ocean—when Trevor Siemian’s phone rings with the call he has been waiting for since Halloween. But he doesn’t hear the familiar ringtone. That’s because his iPhone is buried in his fiancée’s beach bag, and he’s standing with her in the W Hotel’s shallow, blue- tiled pool, a bottle of Pacifico in hand.

When Siemian gets out of the pool a half-hour later, he sees he has two missed calls from his agent, Mike McCartney. He hurries to find a quiet spot, away from the live band playing poolside, and calls back.

McCartney picks up. “Hey, don’t say anything to anybody. Act dumb if they call.”

The NFL’s new year ushered in a deluge of trades, 22 so far in March—coming into this season, the average number of March trades since 2000 was 7.2. For most, a trade is reduced to names scrolling across the ticker or popping up in a tweet. For the players themselves it’s a life-altering moment, and in Siemian’s case, the culmination of a months-long drama.

OCT. 31, 2017 The Broncos have an off-day after dropping a Monday night game in Kansas City, their third straight loss. Siemian and fiancée Bo Podkopacz are watching TV at his apartment when Phil Rauscher, assistant to head coach Vance Joseph, calls. Hey, can you swing by when you get a chance? Coach wants to talk to you.

Siemian gets a sick feeling in his stomach. Going in on an off-day to talk to the head coach is never a good thing, especially after throwing three interceptions that Joseph had referred to as “horrific decisions” while addressing the press after the game. In Joseph’s office, Siemian gets the bad news: They’ll be starting in on Sunday, and will be exploring quarterback options until they find the right fit. “It’s tough to swallow,” Siemian says now. “At first you’re pissed off because you think you should be playing, and then you go through this self awareness phase and it’s like, Well, shoot, I haven’t played very well… You kind of drive yourself crazy a little bit, like, man, what do I gotta do to get better?”

As he leaves Joseph’s office, Siemian has a feeling this is the beginning of the end for him in Denver. “I knew from that point on,” he says, “that it would probably be unlikely that I would be the guy here.”

It’s a tough realization considering that just a few months earlier, Siemian thought he was on the brink of a breakout season. “Playing 14 games the year before, plus preseason, I felt like I had experience and I was ready to keep growing and developing as a player,” he says. “I felt really good about it going into the year.”

Siemian, 26, ultimately started 10 games in 2017—he was the only Broncos quarterback to win even a single game as a starter (5-5)—and had some good moments in Denver. He won the post-Peyton Manning quarterback competition, and beat then-reigning NFL MVP in his first NFL start, the 2016 season-opener. But, on Halloween one year later, it appears his time in Denver has ended with a thud.

LATE DECEMBER Siemian did make three starts in December, though his season ended with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder suffered on a Thursday night in Indianapolis.

The year winding down, McCartney calls Siemian with an idea. “Now isn’t the time to talk about this, but I’m thinking about exploring trade options for you.”

The agent also calls Denver GM John Elway and Joseph to plant the idea. “No complaints here or hard feelings,” McCartney tells them, “but as you guys head into your offseason meetings, if trading Trevor makes sense to you, you have my blessing.”

JAN. 14, 2018 Siemian, recovering from the second surgery on his left shoulder, watches the Vikings-Saints playoff game on TV. Minnesota trails by one with 10 seconds left and the ball at their own 39-yard line, their season on the verge of ending. He is watching Case Keenum closely, as the Vikings’ unlikely star gathers his teammates in the huddle before one last desperation play. Siemian hopes he is looking at his future. “I don’t know if Case Keenum had a bigger fan going into the playoffs than me,” he says. Siemian was a seventh-round pick; Keenum was undrafted. Neither was supposed to become a starter in the NFL. Keenum, stepping in for Sam Bradford and playing football in mid-January, is proof that perseverance pays off.

Just then, Keenum connects with Stefon Diggs on the Minnesota Miracle, a 61-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs as time expires. “That sequence of events was so cool to watch,” Siemian says. “I’ve been in Case’s shoes, obviously not the same experiences, but I know what it’s like to be kicked in the teeth a little bit in this league. Case has gone through a bit of a tough stretch, but to see him playing really well, I was so fired up for him.”

LATE JANUARY At a press conference, Elway makes it clear he is looking to improve at quarterback and will explore all options to land a new starter. With the organization’s position clear, Siemian and McCartney start to talk, over a series of phone calls, seriously about a trade.

Not that Siemian has any choice—no one would offer him a starting job for 2018—but McCartney thinks the best thing for his client’s long-term development is to land a role as a backup to a seasoned veteran, similar to his rookie year when he was Denver’s third quarterback and Peyton Manning was the starter. “Competing for a starting job is not what is important now,” McCartney advises Siemian. “I am eager for you to take a step back to go forward.”

Siemian agrees. When he was a rookie in the same quarterback room as Manning, he learned how to prepare for every possible look from a defense and how to take thorough notes. During quarterback meetings, the future Hall of Famer would literally pick up Siemian’s pen and hand it to him if he noticed the rookie wasn’t taking notes during an moment he thought was important. “It was like, Hey, you need to be writing this down,” Siemian remembers. “He would show it to you in front of your face.”

But because Siemian only took one regular season snap as a rookie (a victory formation kneel-down), there was a lot he couldn’t know when he shared the QB room with Manning. “Now I have all these real experiences that I went through playing that I didn’t have my rookie year,” he says. “I’m in a room with Peyton and Brock and I don’t have much context with what is going on. When you play you have a little different perspective, it’s not just diagrams in a playbook. You have to have a feel for concepts that you can only get from being in a bunch of games.”

New to this whole trade thing, Siemian asks McCartney if a deal is even possible considering he’s still under contract. McCartney walks him through the basic logistics and also prepares him for the possibility of getting released. Siemian says with a laugh: “I’m hanging on by the seat of my pants and we’ll see what happens.”

MARCH 1 While in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine, McCartney attends a late afternoon meeting with the Broncos at the J.W. Marriott to discuss Siemian’s future. The Broncos express again how much they appreciate the young quarterback and that the way the season went down wasn’t all his fault. When McCartney asks if they would consider trading Siemian, the team seems open to it, but not in any hurry to do so. “I don’t anticipate it is going to happen right away,” McCartney says. “It may not happen at all in the spring, it could be one of those that goes into camp. They aren’t going to tell me what their intentions are.”

Without explicit permission to seek a trade, an agent can’t shop his client to other teams, so when McCartney meets with teams about other clients during the combine weekend, he’s only able to suggest that they might want to do their homework on Siemian, because who knows what could happen in Denver? One night in Indianapolis, McCartney bumps into some old friends who work for the Vikings at the hotel’s bar area. He mentions that they might want to check out Siemian. After all, who knows?

Later, during the blur of combine weekend, McCartney hops in an Uber. He wants to call Siemian to give him an update during his ride, but settles on a text to say he’ll call later because he is paranoid his driver might overhear.

MARCH 12 With the NFL’s legal tampering period open, agents can talk prospective free agents contracts. McCartney is overwhelmed by interest in Kirk Cousins, and has several conversations that day with the Vikings. At some point during those discussions, Siemian’s name comes up. McCartney seizes the opportunity to advocate for another one of his guys, and tells the Vikings why Siemian would be the ideal backup for Cousins, if Cousins chooses to play in Minnesota.

“I’ve always felt like the quarterback room is extremely important, and Kirk and I in particular have talked about this for years,” McCartney says. “In my opinion, the No. 2 quarterback has the most profound effect on the quarterback room, because if his sole desire is to help the starter prepare and do everything that he can to be successful, that can room can flourish, and I personally see Trevor having that attitude with Kirk.”

Later on the same night, Broncos beat writer Nicki Jhabvala reports on that Denver has received calls from teams interested in Siemian.

MARCH 14 9:59 a.m. CT: It’s a Wednesday; Siemian has been in Mexico since Monday. McCartney calls on his way to his downtown Chicago office, figuring Siemian might need to get catch up on the quarterback carousel and anything else he might have missed while in vacation mode.

3:03 p.m.: McCartney gets word that a trade to Minnesota could be coming, so he calls Siemian again. “I hear you are going to get traded to the Vikings,” McCartney says. “How awesome is that?” Pretty awesome, Siemian agrees.

4:30 p.m.: NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport texts McCartney; he’d heard Siemian is getting traded to the Vikings. Can you confirm? Rapoport asks. McCartney doesn’t have confirmation of the trade just yet, so he calls someone he thinks would know. The source says yes, the trade is in the works.

7:39 p.m.: McCartney’s phone buzzes with a text from his source. The Siemian trade is real. McCartney texts Broncos director of football administration Mike Sullivan and tells him to thank John Elway for doing right by Siemian. The official deal: The Broncos send Siemian and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick. Along with the Vikings, several other teams were interested in Siemian—Atlanta, where his former quarterback coach was recently hired, was one of them.

Siemian and McCartney talk one more time that night. McCartney tells him he’s officially a Minnesota Viking. “I’m beyond thrilled,” McCartney says. “This is an absolute perfect fit.”

“I’m pumped,” Siemian says. “I don’t think I could have gone to a better place.” He can’t wait to tell Podkopacz the news. She grew up a Vikings fan in a Minneapolis suburb and had brought Siemian, a Florida native, back home to Minnesota many times. She can’t believe they’ll be moving to the Twin Cities.

Even though Siemian had been preparing to be traded for a few months now, he didn’t expect it all to happen so quickly. “I didn’t absorb it right away,” Siemian says. “It’s my first time going through all this, so the point where it actually happens and the realization hits you, it was a little delayed.” He’s sad to think he’ll soon be leaving Denver and his teammates there. But he describes himself as a “constant optimist,” so he’s already thinking about his to-do list: Reach out to Cousins, find a new place to live, finish rehabbing his shoulder in Minnesota. He’s never met Cousins before, but feels like he knows him through McCartney and is excited to work with him closely.

Soon after getting the news from McCartney, Minnesota John DeFilippo and quarterbacks coach call. They know he’s in Mexico, so they keep the conversation short. DeFilippo brings up the time three years ago when he was one of just a few NFL coaches to work out Siemian before the 2015 draft. Only the Broncos and the Browns made the trip to Evanston to check out Siemian’s arm—DeFilippo was the Browns offensive coordinator at the time. Siemian is certain that history played a role in Minnesota’s trade for him.

While his cell service in Mexico isn’t always reliable, he doesn’t hear from anyone with the Broncos.

MARCH 19 Minnesota athletic trainer Tom Hunkele picks up the team’s newest quarterback from the airport around noon. Siemian gets his medical exams done first, and then heads to the brand-new Vikings facility, the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Stefanski gives Siemian a tour of the team’s new building, which opened two weeks ago. Siemian is impressed by the unusually tall ceiling of the indoor practice field (“specialists can kick and punt indoors!”) and the locker room that features two fireplaces. “It’s jaw-dropping,” Siemian says. “I sure as hell haven’t seen anything like it.”

That night, he dines with DeFilippo, Stefanski, and assistant receivers coach Drew Petzing at Butcher and the Boar, a trendy downtown Minneapolis spot. “It was a lot to digest in a short amount of time,” Siemian says of his quick 24-hour Minnesota visit (or perhaps in reference to the beef long rib he ordered).

The next morning, he tours U.S. Bank Stadium before his flight back to Denver. On Friday, he’ll pack up his black Hummer H3 for the road trip to Minneapolis and leave Denver behind for good. “I don’t see myself getting too nostalgic,” he says. “I’ll probably have a podcast on, or an audio book.”

Owners to vote on 10 rule changes, 12 bylaw changes, 5 resolution changes By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 23, 2018

The league is considering a number of significant (and some not particularly significant) changes at next week’s owners’ meeting.

Among the changes are 10 new playing rules, 12 new bylaws and five new resolutions. Those are detailed below:

2018 Playing Rules Proposals Summary 1. By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the playing rule that changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.

2. By Competition Committee; Changes standard for a catch.

3. By Competition Committee; Makes the penalties for Illegal Batting & Kicking the same.

4. By ; Amends Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add fouls for roughing the passer and fouls against players in a defenseless posture as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.

5. By Washington; Amends Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add review of personal fouls as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.

6. By ; Amends Rule 8, Section 5, Articles 1-4 to change the enforcement for defensive pass interference.

7 By Competition Committee; Authorizes the designated member of the Officiating department to instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant nonfootball act when a foul for that act is called on the field.

8. By Competition Committee; Conforms the amount of time in which a team must challenge a play if there is a television commercial break following the play in question.

9. By Competition Committee; Eliminates the requirement that a team who scores a winning touchdown at the end of regulation of a game to kick the extra point or go for two-point conversion.

10. By Competition Committee; If there is a turnover, a team may win an overtime game, even though it scores on its second possession.

2018 Bylaw Proposals Summary 1. By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the liberalization of rules for timing, testing, and administering physical examinations to draft-eligible players at a club’s facility. 2. By Buffalo; For one year only, amends Article XVII, Section 17.4 to liberalize the rule for reacquisition of a player assigned via waivers.

3. By Buffalo; For one year only, amends Article XVII, Section 17.6 to liberalize the procedures for players placed on Reserve/Retired.

4. By Denver; Amends Article XVII, Section 17.16 to permit clubs to trade players from Reserve/Injured.

5. By Miami; Amends Article XVII, Section 17.1 to remove the requirement that a non-vested player be placed on waivers to be removed from the 90-player roster prior to the roster reduction to 53 players.

6. By Minnesota; Amends Article XVIII, Section 18.1 to replace the 10-day postseason claiming period with a 24-hour period.

7. By San Francisco, Arizona, and Los Angeles Chargers; Reduces the competitive equity that exists between teams who have morning body clock start times on long road trips.

8. By Competition Committee; Permits coaches to review video displayed on League-issued tablets on the sidelines and in the coaches’ booth.

9. By Competition Committee; A player who is designated for return is eligible to be activated after eight games, not eight weeks.

10. By Competition Committee; Lengthens the period to execute an Injury Settlement from five business days to seven business days.

11. By Competition Committee; Changes the deadline to reinstate players from certain Reserve List categories.

12. By Competition Committee; Updates Reserve/Military List procedures to reflect the current League calendar.

2018 Resolution Proposal Summary G-1. By Washington; Allows opposing teams to receive the League’s postgame responses to any officiating inquiries submitted by either team.

G-2. By San Francisco; Requires all NFL stadiums by 2021 to have three separate and permanent locker rooms to be exclusively designated for female football staff on game days as follows: game officials, home club staff members, and visiting club staff members.

G-4. By Competition Committee; Permits a club to negotiate and sign a head coach candidate during the postseason prior to the conclusion of the employer club’s season.

G-5. By Competition Committee; For one year only, permits an interested club to contact a Vested Veteran before clubs have been notified of the player’s termination via the Player Personnel Notice if (i) the players is not subject to the Waivers System and, (ii) the employer club has publicly announced the player’s release.

Report: Broncos sent scout to see Johnny Manziel By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk March 23, 2018

John Elway is apparently serious about that search for quarterbacks and exploring all his options. Except when he isn’t.

According to Mike Klis of KUSA, the Broncos sent a scout to San Diego to watch Johnny Manziel’s throwing session today, which Klis cites as Elway’s commitment to “explore all options” at the position.

Sure. Other than that one guy.

That one guy Elway once tried to trade for, met with twice, and didn’t make the move only because the guy wouldn’t take a pay cut. That one guy who has given away $1 million of his own money despite the fact he’s unemployed. That one guy who started in a Super Bowl, and was beloved and respected by his teammates while he had a job.

That guy, he’s not interested in.

The guy who flamed out in Cleveland, ditched the team for a trip to Vegas, admitted to self-medicating, and was investigated for a domestic incident involving his ex-girlfriend, the Broncos are interested in.

That guy, Elway needs to find out more about. Because he’s prepared to explore all his options to improve his quarterback position.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m. ET: Klis has backtracked from his initial report and the Broncos were not at Manziel’s workout. All the stuff about the other guy remains true.