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Broncos’ priority at the NFL combine? Looking for free agents. By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Feb. 27, 2019

Fifteen things as the NFL starts its 2019 season with the Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis:

1. The Broncos’ objectives this week: Keep the lines of communication open (if they choose) with their free agents to see if a new deal is possible before March 11 (when agents can negotiate with other teams); unofficially take the temperature with the agents of other teams’ free agents to see if the Broncos are a fit; have their medical staff create a report on each Combine participant; meet the underclassmen for the first time; and come up with creative ways to say they can’t talk about new . At this stage, general manager John Elway, coach and Co., should focus more on who they can add, not who they can re-sign.

2. Assessing the and tight end free agent market should be a priority for the Broncos. At cornerback, it’s , Isaac Yiadom … and that’s it. The market is tepid to the point that Philadelphia’s (coming off a torn ACL) could have multiple suitors. I’ve been banging the drum for Bryce Callahan since Fangio was hired because they were together in Chicago.

3. At tight end, the Broncos’ depth chart is (free agent), Jake Butt/Troy Fumgalli (coming off injury), Matt LaCosse and Brian Parker. In free agency, the top names are Oakland’s Jared Cook, Jacksonville’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Pittsburgh’s Jesse James. Waiting for the draft may be a better option.

4. During a conference call Monday, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said it is “one of the better tight end drafts we’ve had in a while — premier, top-end guys as well as a lot of depth.” Jeremiah has Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson and going in the first round. If the Broncos wait until round 2, Alabama’s Irv Smith could be on the board.

5. Wednesday and Thursday will feature podium news conference appearances by 28 head coaches and 23 personnel chiefs/general managers. Wednesday, Fangio and Elway are at 7:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Denver time. The only head coaches not available at a podium: New England’s Bill Belichick, ’ Sean Payton, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Washington’s Jay Gruden.

6. Good news for the Broncos, who should be in offensive-line mode on Days 2-3 of the draft. “Offensive line, there’s not a top-five lock guy, but I think it’s a really, really good group,” Jeremiah said. “Especially when you get to the middle of the first round to the third or fourth round.”

7. Why the Broncos enter this offseason with so many holes: Poor drafting. Only two players on the roster are Broncos draft picks who earned a second contract ( and defensive end Derek Wolfe). That leads to re-drafting a deficient spot and overpaying in free agency.

8. A total of 337 invitations were extended to the Combine. That leaves a list of players who will have only their Pro Day to make a final impression. Last year, Phillip Lindsay was a Combine snub and was not drafted. He signed with the Broncos was named to the . Among this year’s notable non- invitees: Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen (386 tackles in 39 games), Temple defensive tackle Michael Dogbe (seven sacks as a senior), Florida State center Alec Eberle (44 career starts), Pittsburgh running back Darrin Hall (7.5-yard average in 2018) and Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph (292 tackles in 48 games).

9. How a player can help himself this week: Interview well with teams and show a high want-to level in the on-field workout. How a player can hurt himself this week: Fail his drug test and come off as unprepared in the interview. It’s very difficult for players to hurt their stock during the on-field session — teams just want to see guys compete in an uncomfortable situation. Run slower than expected? Use the next few weeks to regroup for your Pro Day. But make a bad first impression during the 15-minute interview? Tougher to overcome.

10. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper on Washington cornerback , who we mock-drafted to the Broncos: “He’s a true playmaker. I could see him easily going in the top 15-20.”

11. Jeremiah mocked LSU linebacker Devin White to the Broncos at No. 10. He cited how Fangio used in Chicago last year as a rookie as the “blueprint for how you would use him. He would be a big-time difference maker for the Broncos.” White had 286 tackles in three years for the Tigers.

12. Veterans are starting to hit the market, the latest being Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and Baltimore receiver Michael Crabtree. The Broncos should pass. This is a roster that should want to get younger, not older. Munnerlyn turns 31 on April 10 and has played 157 regular season/playoff games. Crabtree played nine games with Flacco this year for the Ravens and had 54 catches in 16 games. Crabtree turns 32 on Sept. 14.

13. Unlike last year, there is already a consensus about the top pick for Arizona: Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. “The only reason it’s not a big (between Bosa and the field) is durability,” Kiper said. “If it wasn’t for the injury, there wouldn’t be anybody close to him.” Bosa had an injury as a high school senior and was shut down last year after three games because of a core muscle issue.

14. Jeremiah has Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray graded higher than Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. “The ‘X’ factor is when (Murray) takes off, he’s electric,” Jeremiah said. “That was the tiebreaker. Kyler can do a lot of the things Dwayne can do throwing the , but Kyler has the extra element of what he can do athletically.”

15. The on-field workout schedule: Friday– running backs, offensive lineman and specialists. Saturday– , receivers and tight ends. Sunday — defensive linemen and . And Monday — defensive backs.

Broncos Mailbag: Is it worth pursuing Antonio Brown and ? By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Feb. 27, 2019

What exactly do you think the Broncos are doing? Joe Flacco is OK, but that doesn’t signal “rebuild” to me. That signals “reload.” With Kansas City and the Chargers being as good as they are, what exactly is John Elway thinking?

— Blake Marshall, Lincoln, Neb.

We start off this Combine Eve Mailbag with a simple second guess of Broncos management. But to your question, I never thought the Broncos were in total “rebuild” mode and that was confirmed when they put the deal in place to acquire a 34-year old quarterback in Flacco. What is Elway thinking? Rightly or wrongly, he believes the Broncos are better than last year’s 6-10 record and the combination of a mostly new coaching staff, new quarterback, free agent additions and a full 2019 draft can propel them back into playoff contention. It would have been fascinating to see the Broncos strip down their roster to discard multiple veterans and create salary cap space for 2020, but that doesn’t appear to be their plan.

What are the chances John Elway upgrades the position with, say, Antonio Brown? Unless Pittsburgh wants an astronomical return, with his relatively low cap hit and no guaranteed money, seems it would at least be worth exploring.

— J., Albion, Ill.

Elway must upgrade the receiver position, be it adding a Nos. 2-2A type to play alongside Emmanuel Sanders (if he’s back) and . But it would be a surprise if 1) The Steelers agreed to trade Brown to an AFC team, and 2) The Broncos were willing to give up a Day 2 draft pick for him and they were fine with the contractual commitment. Per Over The Cap, Brown’s cap numbers for 2019-21 are $22.165 million, $18.34 million and $19.54 million. That is not a relatively low cap hit and is a ton of money for a guy who is 30 years old. I’d pass.

Why is John Elway still the GM? He hasn’t made the Broncos good at any position.

— Randy, Pueblo West

Ol’ Randy cut right to the point, didn’t he? Elway remains the general manager because he helped build a Super Bowl-winning defense. But the Broncos have missed the playoffs three consecutive years. Elway remains under no threat of dismissal so long as there is no controlling owner in place. As for his position- by-position work, the Broncos should feel good about their situations at running back ( and Phillip Lindsay), outside linebacker (Von Miller and ). Everything else leaves much to be desired.

Hi, Ryan. Some people think the Cardinals might entertain offers for Josh Rosen and then draft Kyler Murray. Rosen would probably require a first-round pick — he did go No. 10 last year. I actually follow the Cardinals and even though Rosen didn’t blow people away last year, he did play behind the worst O- line in the league and just got destroyed. Do you think that Rosen is better than any quarterback the Broncos could draft at 10? It doesn’t look like or Dwayne Haskins will still be there. What if they used the No. 10 pick to move back to maybe Nos. 13 or 15 (and pick up a draft pick), and then offered that pick to the Cards?

— Jim Niederriter, Springfield, Mo.

The Broncos could have had Rosen with the fifth overall pick last year, but passed to take Chubb. The Cardinals’ plan at No. 1 is the wild card. If new coach Kliff Kingsbury convinces management to take Murray, then Rosen will be available. If Elway didn’t like Rosen enough to draft him last year, will he like him enough this year to trade for him? Probably not with Flacco in the fold. If the Broncos want a quarterback at No. 10, they should learn to like Lock or Daniel Jones because I expect Haskins and Murray to be off the board in the first seven picks.

Unless Case Keenum can land a No. 1 QB job with someone else, rather than send him off to be a No. 2 for some other team, why not see if he will restructure his contract to be No. 2 for the Broncos? Or are Joe Flacco and Keenum so different that a single offensive scheme won’t really work for both? With so many injuries to the offensive line and receivers, and play-calling that we at home could often guess correctly ahead of the play, the Broncos’ offensive troubles were not all Keenum’s fault.

— Rick Ernenwein, Littleton

Having Keenum around as the demoted No. 1 quarterback would be a self-inflicted distraction. Flacco will be the starter. Keenum is no longer the starter, deemed not good enough by the Broncos. It’s time to move him on down the road. Some of your points about Keenum not having things go well around him are valid, but those are all excuses. Yes, it wasn’t all Keenum’s fault, but this isn’t a fair game.

The Broncos have a few positions to fill. Do you think the Broncos will try to keep and Case Keenum? Do you believe that the Broncos should keep ? Do you believe that the Broncos should set an identity early in the draft to show what they’re trying to do to get back as a playoff contender? The AFC West is going to get better — especially Kansas City and the Chargers. The Broncos and Raiders at this point look suspect. Do you believe Elway knows how to get the best out of his players like Mr. Bowlen? I love Mr. B. He’s the man. Do you believe the Broncos have lost their edge or toughness?

— Sam Jones, Fairfield, Calif.

1. I don’t expect them to keep Keenum and the only reason to keep Roby is if he finds the market has dried up and is willing to take a one-year “prove-it” contract with the Broncos. I still wouldn’t sign him under that scenario. 2. Marshall’s time had run out with the Broncos because they felt he wasn’t a three-down player anymore. But he will help a team (at a lower salary) in a cover linebacker role. 3. The Broncos’ identity will be stated in the opening days of free agency by which players they sign and which players they let walk. This is a locker room that needs a culture shift and that should be reflected in the veterans they add. 4. It’s not Elway’s job to get the best out of the players. It’s his job to get the best players and then let Vic Fangio and Co. coach them up. 5. I’ll never question a team’s toughness because this is a brutal game played by tough men. But their edge? If that can be folded into a sense of entitlement and no sense of urgency, then maybe they have lost that edge.

Do you see the NFL handling down a punishment to Patriots owner Robert Kraft for his, um, excursion down in Florida?

— Mike C., Castle Rock

Yes, I would expect Kraft would be fined and suspended if he is found guilty.

With Demaryius Thomas available on the market, do you see Denver trying to bring him back on the roster?

— Pat, Jackson, Wyo.

I don’t. Thomas’ career with the Broncos ended with his deadline trade to the Houston Texans for a fourth-round pick. Thomas sustained a torn Achilles late in the Texans’ regular season.

The Broncos’ secondary struggled hard last year. John Elway absolutely needs to pick up another cornerback to line up opposite Chris Harris. Do you see him finding one in the draft or is there someone out there in free agency who the Broncos can nab?

— Mark, Arvada

I agree that addressing cornerback should be a priority. And I would add multiple . Harris is the clear No. 1, but the Broncos should try and sign a player in free agency who can play over the slot receiver and thus allow Harris to travel with an opponent’s best receiver. And I would also take one in the first few rounds of the draft.

Broncos take plenty of needs with them to NFL scouting combine By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Feb. 27, 2019

Denver Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway heads to this year's scouting combine with a rather significant roster makeover on his hands.

The Broncos have just finished back-to-back seasons with double-digit losses for the first time since the 1960s, when the team was still in the AFL. And with a long list of impending free agents, including starters at cornerback (Bradley Roby), tackle (Jared Veldheer), center (Matt Paradis) and linebacker (Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett and almost certainly Brandon Marshall), the Broncos have more than their share of needs as they head to the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Here are three players to watch:

Jonah Williams, T, Alabama

Why the Broncos are watching: has shown flashes since the Broncos made the left tackle their first-round pick in 2017, but he's among the most penalized players in the league and has been resistant at times to fix the parts of his game that need it, especially in pass protection. And Jared Veldheer, who played in 11 games at right tackle last season, is a free agent. The Broncos would need to use the No. 10 pick to get him, as he started games at both left and right tackle in his three seasons with the Crimson Tide. He's a player with superior fundamentals who has shown he can play with power in the run game and match some of the quickest edge rushers in in the passing game.

What the Broncos want to see: They just need confirmation on this player, to meet him face-to-face, offensive line coach Mike Munchak in particular, because to use a top-10 pick on a tackle means you believe he's a walk-in starter for a long time. Some scouts have expressed some minor concerns about a slightly smaller frame compared to other tackles on the board, but Williams is a complete prospect at a position where that is difficult to find on this draft board. Hand placement, footwork, how he mirrors pass-rushers, how he anchors against the power guys and how he pushes people in the run game, it's all there.

Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

Why the Broncos are watching: They have three -- count 'em, three -- impending free agents at cornerback in Roby, Tramaine Brock and Jamar Taylor, so there almost has to be, at the bare minimum, one cornerback in the 2019 draft class, and that cornerback had better have the ability and mental makeup to step in and play. Ya-Sin has the long reach and physical look any defensive backs coach would want -- he is over 6 feet and expected to check in around 200 pounds. He's a willing tackler who has shown the ability to play off in zone or in press coverage and could be a target on Day 2 of the draft.

What the Broncos want to see: They'll want to know he's ready to learn, because he isn't one of the players on the board with a long résumé in Division I football. He played three seasons at Presbyterian College before finishing out at Temple. He has technique things to work on, and the last time the Broncos took a cornerback in the draft who didn't have a particularly long collegiate résumé -- -- it didn't work out right away. To this point, Langley has spent his time bouncing between the and roster.

Porter Gustin, LB, USC

Why the Broncos are watching: Elway has shown throughout his tenure he will take a long look at a player coming off injuries if he thinks that player is a fit. , Jake Butt, and Quanterus Smith are players Elway has used a draft pick to acquire, often on Day 2 or Day 3, because he believed the potential value was there and outweighed the injury concerns as the draft unfolded. Gustin, who missed much of his junior season with a broken toe as well as a biceps injury and then missed significant time as a senior with a fractured ankle, is one of those kinds of players on this year's draft board.

What the Broncos want to see: The Broncos are far more interested in play speed -- it's why they selected last season after a subpar showing in the 40-yard dash at the combine -- and Gustin is a high-motor player. Some personnel executives believe Gustin lacks quickness in the , but he has the potential fit on defense and special teams. He missed half of his senior year -- he played in six games -- and still led the Trojans with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. What the Broncos think after his medical exam at the combine might have a lot to say about what they think of him as a prospect. Gustin has a place on an NFL roster in the later rounds as a high-effort situational pass-rusher and special-teamer -- if he can stay on the field.

Broncos combine primer: How will John Elway and Co. approach their week in Indy? By Nicki Jhabvala The Athletic Feb. 27, 2019

For the first time in four years, John Elway and his coaching staff head to Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine already knowing their starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

But they won’t be allowed to talk about him.

The Broncos agreed to trade for Joe Flacco, and even welcomed him to Denver where he passed his physical. But the transaction won’t be made official until the league year opens March 13. So until then, the Broncos and Ravens have to keep quiet.

It will make for an interesting, if odd, week in Indy, where general manager Elway and new coach Vic Fangio will address the latest moves to their staff and roster, and possibly impending decisions, all while dancing around the most important move of the year.

But what they can’t talk about will almost certainly affect their approach for the rest of the offseason to fill out the offense around Flacco and to bolster the defense.

So what will Elway and Fangio be looking for at the combine? Everything, really.

They have holes to fill in all three phases, none greater than cornerback or offensive line. And while they have more flexibility with how they use their first-round pick, thanks to the Flacco acquisition, they must still fill out the quarterbacks room and decide how they want to plug the holes in free agency vs. the draft.

Some things — and some names — to watch for the Broncos as the combine unfolds:

Biggest needs Cornerback. Bradley Roby and Tramaine Brock are both headed for unrestricted free agency and likely won’t re-sign with Denver, leaving a gaping hole at corner behind Chris Harris Jr. Prior to last year, the Broncos’ secondary was one of the hallmarks of Elway’s defense; Denver finished as the top passing defense two years in a row (2015-16) and ranked fourth in 2017.

They tumbled all the way down to No. 20 last year after trading away Aqib Talib in the offseason.

A few corners stand above the rest in the class of 2019: LSU’s Greedy Williams, Georgia’s and Washington’s Byron Murphy.

Offensive line. Center Matt Paradis will become a free agent if he and the Broncos can’t agree on a new deal before March 13. Guards Billy Turner and Max Garcia are also up, so is right tackle Jared Veldheer, and left guard Ron Leary is recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

The Broncos hired Mike Munchak to improve the line but, as of now, he doesn’t have a whole lot to work with.

Defensive line. Denver is expected to move on from Domata Peko, who will hit free agency after two years of anchoring the Broncos’ line. Zach Kerr will also be an unrestricted free agent, will be restricted and Derek Wolfe is heading into the final year of his deal. This year’s draft class is loaded with defensive line talent. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler included five in the first round of his latest mock draft.

Linebacker. Brandon Marshall’s time in Denver appears to be up — the Broncos are not expected to pick up his option for 2019 — and the team could sorely use help inside after getting picked apart by tight ends year after year.

C.J. Mosley will be pricey on the open market, so maybe the Broncos look to fill the void in the draft, although the class is thin at this position. One player who has been linked to the Broncos already is LSU’s Devin White.

“When you have linebackers that can’t cover, A, it’s a liability and you will get picked on repeatedly,” NFL Network’s draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “It is tough to hide out there when you have a linebacker that can’t cover. So, to me, you start there. He’s going to be able to run and cover and help match up against some of the better tight ends and even some of these backs with how they’re used in the passing game. That’s a huge asset.

“And then Vic has a way, he can cut him loose as a blitzer too, and he’s outstanding, not only kind of blitzing inside but coming off the edge. He’s got a good feel, he’s got real strong hands. He’d be a big- time difference-maker there for the Broncos.”

Tight end. Another position where the Broncos will soon be thin. Starter Jeff Heuerman will be a free agent, Jake Butt is coming off an ACL injury, Troy Fumagalli didn’t play at all his rookie season, and Matt LaCosse and Brian Parker will both be restricted free agents.

Elway has never taken a tight end higher than the third round (Heuerman), but he’s had a lull at the position since Julius Thomas left in 2015. And this class is stacked, leading with Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant.

Wide receiver. The options on the open market aren’t great, which means the Broncos will likely overpay if they look for a veteran. They need help, though, especially with Emmanuel Sanders coming off an Achilles injury. Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton fared well in their rookie season, but it was clear by season’s end that they’re not ready to carry the load and take on opponents’ top cornerbacks. D.K. Metcalf of Mississippi and Marquise Brown of Oklahoma are projected to go in the first round, but the Broncos could find a receiver that fits their needs on Day Two.

About the quarterback position … Draft experts generally regard the class of 2019 as subpar in comparison to 2018, which featured five first-round quarterbacks who became starters in their rookie seasons.

The Broncos must decide if they’ll select a quarterback this year to learn behind Flacco, or if they’ll wait to add youth to the room until next year. Although having a starter gives them flexibility in the draft, it could be argued that the need to draft a guy this year is greater than ever. The trade was agreed upon with the presumption Flacco will lead the Broncos back to playoff contention, and if he does, they won’t have a top-10 pick next year when the quarterback talent is better. Trading up to snag one in 2020 could cost significant draft capital.

Elway’s track record of drafting quarterbacks has been generally dreadful, but he has yet to find his long- term solution at the position.

On the flip side, if Elway and Fangio aren’t in love with any of the quarterbacks this year, reaching would be a mistake. Reaching for Paxton Lynch is what got them here.

Of their options this year, Elway got a close-up of Missouri’s Drew Lock, Duke’s Daniel Jones, West Virginia’s and North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley at the Senior Bowl. But the combine will be Elway’s first real view of the two quarterbacks regarded to be at the top of their class: Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.

At past combines, Elway has said he doesn’t put too much stock in whether a quarterback throws, although it helps to get a sense of the player’s arm strength, quickness and release. More stock is placed in the intangibles that can’t necessarily be determined from the on-field work or even the brief interviews.

“To me, when it comes down to a quarterback, it is competitiveness and it is toughness,” Elway has said. “It’s mental toughness because it is a tough game and it is a tough position. It is a great position, but it’s a tough position because the expectations that go along with it, the pressure that goes along with it and the reliance of a lot of people on you playing well in that position with the control that you have.”

The decision of whether to draft one may not be decided in Indianapolis, but it will provide the groundwork. Elway and his staff will leave with a more complete picture of the guys they like.

Defense first Instead of drafting a quarterback at No. 5 last year, they selected the best defender on the board in Bradley Chubb, who had a heck of a season. Don’t be surprised if they choose the same path this year.

The defense Elway remade five years ago remains one of his prized possessions, and he has undoubtedly had much more success in evaluating defensive talent in the draft than offensive talent. In his eight years in control of the Broncos’ football operations, he has selected a defender with his top pick six times. And this year he hired a long-time defensive coordinator as his head coach, and he has glaring holes in the secondary and on the defensive line.

Cut a deal? An option the Broncos may consider exploring as they evaluate prospects is trading back from No. 10. Because the defensive and offensive line groups are deep, the Broncos could move down to acquire more picks and still get the help they need up front.

With Flacco taking over, it would make sense to provide him with more support up front and more offensive weapons.

“Offensive line-wise, while there’s not a premier guy — somebody that’s a top-five lock that we’ve seen in some previous years — I think it’s a really, really good group, especially once you get to the middle of the first round probably all the way to the middle of the third- and around the four-round range,” Jeremiah said. “Really good offensive line. And then tight end-wise, one of the better tight end drafts we’ve had in a while with premier top-end guys as well as a lot of depth all the way through.”

Behind the scenes While the focus in Indianapolis will be on the 300-something NFL hopefuls, many free-agent decisions could be decided in back-room meetings. Elway is expected to meet with the agent of center Matt Paradis, and possibly others. Technically, teams are barred from discussing free agents of other teams, but agents represent other players and, well, talks happen.

The Broncos and Paradis’ agent have been talking since last year and the longer the discussions drag on, the more it’s believed that he will be on a new team in 2019. The former sixth-round pick was elevated to a starter in 2015 and played every offensive since until his leg injury suffered in Week 9 last year. Paradis is ahead of schedule with his recovery, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to pass a physical by mid-March.

Still, he’s regarded as one of the top centers on the market and is projected to reel in more than $10 million annually in salary. A meeting in Indy will either determine that the center will test free agency, or it will lay the foundation for a new deal with the Broncos.

Bizarre factoids -Jeremiah lists five Alabama players and four Clemson players among his top 50 prospects for 2019. Elway has never drafted a player from either school.

-In his eight drafts for the Broncos, Elway has found only two players that went on to earn Pro Bowl selections with the Broncos: linebacker Von Miller and tight end Julius Thomas. Both were drafted in 2011. The latter is no longer in the league.

-The class of 2018 was one of the Broncos’ most productive in years, but they need another home run in 2019. If Roby, Paradis, Heuerman, Shane Ray and Max Garcia all leave in free agency the Broncos will have zero picks from 2013-15 still on the roster. They will have only two — Miller in 2011 and Wolfe in 2012 — who were selected before 2016.

2019 NFL combine snubs can look to Broncos' Phillip Lindsay for inspiration By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press Feb. 27, 2019

More than 330 of college football's finest players are gathering in Indianapolis this week for the NFL's annual combine, where they'll be poked and prodded, timed and tested, quizzed and questioned.

Not all the players who will get drafted in April are on the invite list.

The combine simply can't accommodate all worthy candidates, and some prospects will work their way into teams' draft plans via their impressive pro day performances or private team workouts in the coming weeks.

Emblematic of the inexact science of projecting which players will succeed in the pros is this: Super Bowl 53 featured 30 undrafted players on the rosters of the New England Patriots (16) and (14).

More than a third of the 300-plus players invited to the combine last year didn't get drafted, whereas 38 players who weren't at the combine did.

Among them were P.J. Hall, a defensive tackle from Sam Houston State who was drafted by Oakland in the second round, and two players from Southern Miss: Tavarius Moore, a 49ers' third- rounder, and running back Ito Smith, a fourth-round selection by Atlanta.

The biggest snub last year was Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay , the first undrafted offensive player ever selected to the Pro Bowl.

Lindsay understandably has chips on both shoulders, one for going uninvited to the combine and the other for going undrafted altogether, and he figures one had plenty to do with the other.

"Oh yeah, it's disrespectful. But it fueled my fire and got me here to where I am today," Lindsay said. "Maybe I wasn't meant to go to the combine."

Miffed that John Elway had used a seventh-round selection on Arkansas running back David Williams, whose career numbers over four years with the Razorbacks didn't even add up to Lindsay's senior stats, the Colorado native nearly took the ' offer before calling back and accepting the Broncos' proposal.

"But I'm going to win the starting job," Lindsay added as he hung up on his new employer, vowing to beat out Williams, third-round pick Royce Freeman, incumbent Devontae Booker, and anyone else they would bring in.

At 5-foot-8, Lindsay was accustomed to the underdog role, so he was ready to put his immeasurable attributes such as desire and hustle up against anyone's bench press, 40-yard dash or vertical jump.

"It comes down to heart," Lindsay said. "It comes down to you not sitting here and letting people tag you as something. They're sitting here telling you this is who you are. How dare somebody tell you this is who you are? That's why it's funny when these commentators tell you he's going this round or he's not this, he's not that.

"We don't sit here and critique how they talk on TV, and a lot of time what they're talking about, it's stupid."

Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards and nine as a rookie. Only a wrist injury denied him a shot at breaking Dominic Rhodes' record of 1,104 yards for undrafted rookie running backs, set in 2001.

Notable players who aren't among the 338 invited to Indy this year include Nebraska running back Devine Ozigbo, Georgia State receiver , Utah State running back Darwin Thompson, Cincinnati defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, and North Carolina receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams.

Lindsay is pulling for every one of them to have a rookie season like he did. He's proud to serve as an I- told-you-so example for all this year's snubs.

"For me, I would tell everybody that the combine's cute. It's something where you go and put some little pants on and let them weigh you and all that," Lindsay said. "Don't worry about it. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. And that's it.

"There's nothing necessary about the combine. The combine's just something that somebody put together to ... I don't know. I wasn't part of the combine, so I couldn't tell you."

Position groups for Broncos fans to watch at the Combine By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com Feb. 27, 2019

As with any Scouting Combine, some positions will bear more close monitoring than others. For Broncos fans, here are the ones to watch:

TIGHT END

WORKOUTS: SATURDAY, MARCH 2

While some, like UCLA's Caleb Wilson, bring big numbers and high levels of college production to the draft process, others were limited by their scheme or the focus of their quarterbacks.

Two examples of this are Utah State's Dax Raymond and LSU's Foster Moreau. Both were among the standouts of Senior Bowl week; Raymond made some athletic plays, while Moreau created separation all over the field -- including the red zone -- with precise cuts and subtle misdirection that reminded me of Owen Daniels.

If both do well in the on-field drills and the strength, speed and quickness tests, they should solidify themselves as mid-round picks.

LINEBACKER

WORKOUTS: SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Measurements matter, but position drills will be of at least equal importance. How do the prospects look in as they backpedal, and how fluid is their change of direction?

You're not going to find out whether an inside linebacker can be a plus player in coverage; that's going to come from game tape. But you can get enough information from the drills to differentiate between prospects whose film is relatively equal.

First-round caliber players such as LSU's Devin White will attract the headlines, but take note of some second- and third-day prospects such as New Mexico State's Terrill Hanks and Stanford's Bobby Okereke.

Hanks, who was was my third-round pick for the Broncos in my seven-round pre-Combine mock on Orange and Blue 760 on Monday, delivered one of the biggest hits during Senior Bowl practice. He showed speed, quick reaction to plays as they developed and tenacity last month.

QUARTERBACK

WORKOUTS: SATURDAY, MARCH 2

In a Feb. 1 interview on Orange and Blue 760, Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins said that he intended to throw at the Scouting Combine. Oklahoma's Kyler Murray will likely face questions if he opts to bypass throwing drills.

But as is the case with inside linebacker, it's the second- and third-day prospects who bear monitoring. West Virginia's Will Grier needs a bounce-back week after a scattershot performance during Senior Bowl practices. North Carolina State's Ryan Finley should impress in interviews and at the whiteboard, but a good on-field workout could provide him some separation in the race to be the fifth quarterback drafted.

Boise State quarterback could also solidify his place in the draft with solid on-field work and a good performance in interviews.

Below-the-radar names to watch include Mississippi's Jordan Ta'amu and North Dakota State's Easton Stick. Ta'amu had a stellar week at the East-West Shrine Game, while Stick was less consistent during the work in St. Petersburg, Florida.

WIDE RECEIVER/CORNERBACK

WORKOUTS: SATURDAY, MARCH 2 (WR); MONDAY, MARCH 4 (CB)

Even though these groups will work out on different days, you're looking for similar traits in the speed and quickness drills. While much will be made of the 40-yard dash, pay more attention to the 10- and 20-yard splits, and watch the three-cone drill and the short shuttle to see how they change direction, cut and keep their balance.

Ring of Famer Rich 'Tombstone' Jackson's journey from Southern University to Black College Football Hall of Fame By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com Feb. 27, 2019

Nearly 50 years after Rich “Tombstone” Jackson terrorized professional quarterbacks, the former defensive end took yet another step into football’s lore.

It’s not as though he didn’t already have a foothold.

The former Broncos pass-rusher was part of Denver’s inaugural Ring of Fame class, and he is a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.

But this month, Jackson earned an honor that rivaled each of his previous accolades.

After a standout career at Southern University — a historically black university — Jackson was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) on Feb. 16 alongside six other men.

“I didn’t really think I deserved to be there,” Jackson said Monday. “There were so many giants and people who helped make the football league what it is today.

“… I guess if you matched some of the names of the players who went into this HBCU football hall of fame, they would rival any other hall of fame that’s in existence.”

When Jackson began his career at Southern University in the early 1960s, he didn’t expect to garner the sort of accolades that he’s accrued over the last several decades.

At the time, Jackson was just following the direction of a few of his high school coaches. Those two or three men graduated from Southern, and they’d return often to their alma mater.

And most weekends, Jackson would tag along.

“On the weekend, after we would play our football games, they would take us up to Southern University,” Jackson said. “We kind of fell in love with Southern.

“… The coach would have this old station wagon and he’d say, ‘We’re gonna leave at 7 o’clock,’ and all those there at 7 o’clock got in the station wagon and he’d take us. I always made sure I was there before 7 o’clock so I didn’t miss a trip.”

When Jackson arrived at Southern as a freshman in 1962, he didn’t miss his opportunity. “Tombstone” started as a freshman at outside linebacker, and he split offense between split end, tight end and flanker.

Jackson, though, was more than just a . He dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference in track and field, as he won the SWAC three times in shotput and four times in discus.

He still holds the Louisiana collegiate shot-put record.

Jackson’s time at Southern University — located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — coincided with the peak of the civil rights movement. And as he excelled on the football field, he also received a look at the world that he says is incomparable to what one would expect at a non-HBCU.

“It taught us how to navigate through society, making decisions, how to prepare yourself for the long haul,” Jackson said. “Even today, I don’t think some of the kids there would go to other schools would have received what I received in terms of being able to navigate and present yourself and be able to deal with some of the things that I have encountered along the way. Just speaking to some of the guys who have gone to so-called integrated schools, they don’t have the same mindset that I have. They have not had the same preparation that I’ve had, and even today, I’m able to go into any setting and be successful, able to speak with anyone in any setting and any environment and not have a feeling that I would be less than anyone, that I was less educated than anyone, because you have an opportunity to be nurtured. And, like I said, I talked to guys who had gone to their schools.

“You come into contact with some other black players who had gone to other schools, and you just don’t have the same mindset. You don’t have the same concept, the same understanding about worldly ideas and worldly things.”

Jackson said he knows his experience at an HBCU shaped him and the way he’s raised his family.

“I tell you, it’s unbelievable to have gone to an HBCU,” Jackson said. “I’ve taken some classes at some other schools, like graduate classes and other corresponding classes and everything, and just the atmosphere — if you just have to deal with the atmosphere — was different. I go to most of Southern’s home games, and it’s just like Day 1 when I first went up there from out of high school. The camaraderie. It’s just different.”

In the years before his time with the Broncos, Jackson chose to forge that unique path for himself. And decades after his time at Southern University, it’s clear he couldn’t be more grateful that he chose to attend an HBCU.

“All in all,” Jackson said, “I’m blessed to have made the decision I made.”

Source: NFL won't alter officiating rules in reaction to Saint-Rams debacle By Charles Robinson Yahoo.com Feb. 27, 2019

After stirring a hornet’s nest of fans following a controversial non-call on a pass interference in the NFC title game last month, the NFL isn’t moving to make any rules changes to remedy the mistake this offseason.

A source from the league’s competition committee – which is meeting this week during the league's annual scouting combine – told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday there is “very little” support to make changes that would have impacted the infamous no-call late in the NFC championship game, which saw Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman blatantly interfere with Saints wideout Tommylee Lewis on a pass that could have positioned New Orleans for a commanding fourth quarter lead. The Saints kicked a late field goal for a 23-20 lead after the interference, but eventually lost 26-23 in overtime.

Following the game, Robey-Coleman admitted to knowing he had interfered on the play and the NFL immediately apologized to the Saints in a phone call between league officials and New Orleans head coach Sean Payton.The moment sparked outrage in the Saints fan base, leading to – among many things – a grassroots boycott of the Super Bowl broadcast, some political grandstanding, a lawsuit, and even a seemingly easily provable conspiracy theory that Payton donned a Roger Goodell “clown” T-shirt beneath a pullover during a news conference to wrap up the Saints’ season.

Despite that high-profile gaffe and the fallout that ensued, the competition committee source told Yahoo Sports that this week’s meeting at the combine hasn’t had any pointed focus toward fixing the obvious officiating error. The source said the committee's stance is partially because there isn’t enough data to support the erroneous call being a pressing league issue, but also because there is significant reticence to expanding instant replay into non-calls.

“The implications at this point – there’s just a lot that could be impacted and not enough thought behind that kind of a change,” the source said. “Some of the things being called for by [the media and fans] are big changes and the appetite just isn't there right now.

“It was a big mistake in a big game – nobody is denying that. But there isn’t evidence that it's something undermining the vast majority of our games. You are all a long way from proving that.”

NFL office loses the tie, goes casual dress By Daniel Kaplan Sports Business Journal Feb. 27, 2019

The NFL has long been the most conservative of America’s biggest sports leagues, not just in its cautious approach to major policy issues, but right down to the way its executives dress at the office. Now, however, even the old-school NFL is bending to the long-running trend of less formal attire.

Earlier this month, the NFL allowed business causal dress for the first time at league headquarters at 345 Park Ave., in New York City, joining the NHL, MLB and NBA in loosening its real and proverbial neckties.

“We continue to evolve policies to better reflect workplace practices,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, reading off the internal memo announcing the news to the hundreds of employees. He also noted he was tieless as he spoke.

Staffers in the NFL’s media office in Los Angeles, and at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J., have been business casual for years.

“In essence if you [are] meeting with partners or people from outside it is anticipated you would wear business attire,” McCarthy added. The memo includes guidelines for what constitutes business casual, McCarthy said, though he declined to provide specifics.

Business formal attire as a requirement for office wear has been receding for decades, especially as millennials come of age. Even JPMorgan Chase, perhaps the epitome of white shoe banking, allowed business causal three years ago. To attract young business talent, companies must often accommodate that demographic’s different approach to how to dress for the office.

MLB moved to business casual over 15 years ago, a spokesman said, while an NBA representative said its policy came into effect in 1997. An NHL spokeswoman confirmed the league has a business casual policy but did not know when the organization allowed relaxed fashion. MLS also allows for business casual attire.

The NFL, however, has long been different. Team officials, when griping about a new policy handed down from the league, often mockingly refer to “the suits on Park Avenue.” They’ll need a new phrase.

Joe Browne, who rose from the mailroom in the 1960s to being head of communications for the NFL, ending a half century there in 2016, described how formal the league used to be.

“My first boss was Pete Rozelle,” he said, referring to the legendary commissioner. “He always wore a jacket and tie in [the] league office. One day the air conditioning wasn’t working so I begged him to take off his jacket. The funny thing was he didn’t know where to hang it because he had never removed it before. My second commissioner was Paul Tagliabue. His idea of a casual-attire policy was to wear only a blazer and tie when he worked in the office on a Saturday during the offseason instead of wearing his normal dark suit and tie.”

So NFL insiders took great notice of the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell for the last three years went tieless during his annual press conference at the Super Bowl.

Even Browne, who seemingly slept in a suit during his days in the NFL, recognizes the different eras.

“This is the 21st century; mores change,” he said.

Indeed, Browne, who now has his own public relations agency, said he has not worn a tie for business meetings since leaving the NFL.

LOWER SUPER BOWL FOOD PRICING TO STAY? By Don Muret Venues Now Feb. 27, 2019

The NFL could potentially expand fan-friendly concessions pricing for Super Bowls after seeing a record total of transactions for the 2019 game, according to league officials.

This year’s game took place Feb. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the . For the game, the NFL adopted the “Fan First Pricing” program of AMB Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Falcons.

The program cuts the price of hot dogs, soda and popcorn to $2 and to $5 for small beers, among other items. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has had the model in place for all events since it opened in 2017.

For Super Bowl LIII, AMB Sports reported 110,184 food and beverage transactions, a single-event record for NCR, the stadium’s point-of-sale supplier. Levy runs the food service at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“It’s something we’re going to explore, sit down and have (internal) conversations,” said Jon Barker, the NFL’s vice president of event operations and production. “There’s still a lot of data to capture and analyze coming out of Atlanta. We’re certainly open to considering all options and this will be one of them.”

AMB Sports’ commitment stands out for Super Bowl programming. Typically, food and drink prices increase for the Super Bowl compared with the regular season as teams and vendors seek to maximize revenue from one of the world’s biggest one-day sporting events.

“When we were going through the bid process with (Atlanta Falcons president and CEO) Rich McKay, that was one of the first conversations he and I had, and we were in right away,” said Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s senior vice president of events and club business development. “It made a ton of sense to adopt it. From an operations standpoint, it went real smoothly for Super Bowl LIII.”

AMB Sports would not a disclose a Super Bowl per cap, which makes it difficult to say whether the deep price cuts had an effect on total sales. Over the past eight years, the Super Bowl has generated food and drink revenue of $6 million to $8 million, producing per caps of $72 to $95. Those numbers cover general concessions, club level destinations and suite catering, and in some cases, the Gameday Fan Plaza outside the facilities.

“I don’t want to get into the weeds on details, but we’re very pleased about the results from Mercedes- Benz Stadium,” Barker said. “While you do have lower pricing, you are driving additional revenue. You increase volume across the board, and that’s a success for everybody.”

To make it a permanent addition, the NFL could simply require a value pricing menu in the bid proposals for hosting the Super Bowl, said food consultant Chris Bigelow.

“My guess is they will let each stadium decide on its own,” Bigelow said. “People want to go to the Super Bowl because it’s a major event. They’re not going because of concessions pricing. The regular season is a different conversation.”

Over the past two years, the Fan First Pricing model has resulted in multiple teams and food vendors across sports reducing food and drink prices. After seeing AMB Sports’ program in Atlanta, the NFL reduced concession prices for the 2019 Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Fans could buy $2 sodas and $3 hot dogs and popcorn at a few stands. Levy also runs the food service at that venue.

“We were looking at (the model) and thinking about what Pro Bowl is, an event where we’re trying to bring fans and players closer together,” Barker said. “It’s almost a way to say thank you to our fans through that game and the entire week of programming at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. It was an opportunity to learn a little bit and use Pro Bowl to do that.”

Apart from general concessions, the NFL tested all-inclusive tickets in the stadium’s club spaces, Barker said. For years, big league teams and facilities have folded the price of food and drink into premium tickets.

It’s another food-related feature the league is taking a closer look at for next year’s Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami.

“We want the fan experience to be seamless and easy,” Barker said. “If you’ve got a fan inside one of these clubs, having them not have to take out their wallet and go through the transaction process and stand in line to pay for something heightens the experience.”