Despite Filing Lawsuit, Bill Bowlen's Lawyer
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Despite filing lawsuit, Bill Bowlen’s lawyer hopes for out- of-court resolution with trustees By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 27, 2018 A lawyer representing Bill Bowlen, who filed a lawsuit Thursday asking that the three-member trust appointed by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to run the team be removed from power, said the goal is to have an out-of-court resolution. Giovanni Ruscitti of the firm Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP in Boulder also represents Beth Bowlen- Wallace, who has the support of her uncle Bill to become the Broncos’ next controlling owner. “From our perspective, what’s next is that we hope we’re in discussions with the trustees and their attorneys,” Ruscitti told The Denver Post in a phone interview on Friday. “I would hope we could sit down and have a professional discussion that would lead to an amicable resolution. It’s something we were pushing for from the get go. “We were hoping we didn’t have to file it. It was our sincere hope that these issues could be worked out.” Bill Bowlen filed the petition in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial and alleged that trustees Joe Ellis, Rich Slivka and Mary Kelly have not upheld Pat Bowlen’s wishes and “have conflicts of interest that impair their ability to act impartially in Pat Bowlen’s interest.” Through a public relations firm, Bill Bowlen declined to an interview request on Friday. As of Friday afternoon, Ruscitti said the trustees have not been served the lawsuit’s paperwork. “We expect them to obviously fight this,” Ruscitti said. Once the trustees are served, they have 21 days to file a response to the court. Before the lawsuit was filed, Ruscitti said there were a “number of efforts from different sources to get these issues resolved.” Ruscitti said he tried to schedule a meeting next week in New York (home of the NFL office) with the trustees but he cancelled when he was informed that only the trustees’ attorneys would be attending. In response to Ruscitti’s comments, the Trust told the Denver Post in a statement on Friday night: “There have been many meetings and written communication between the trustees, Beth Bowlen-Wallace and lawyers for Beth Bowlen-Wallace over the last four years. To suggest that the trustees have not been willing to discuss and consider these issues is directly contradicted by the facts.” Ruscitti confirmed there has been several examples of communication between the sides over the years but it hasn’t led to resolving issues regarding the future of ownership. In late May, when Bowlen-Wallace announced her desire to succeed her father, the trustees responded forcefully, saying she was not “not capable or qualified at this time,” to lead the Broncos. Asked if the trustees’ statement emboldened Bill Bowlen to go down a legal avenue, Ruscitti said Bill was among those family members who were, “greatly disappointed with that response from the leadership of the organization.” Ruscitti added: “Bill was concerned that his brother’s wishes are not being carried out appropriately and in a timely fashion. We have somebody (in Bowlen-Wallace) who is ready, capable and qualified to take over ownership now and we presented a succession plan that keeps the team in the family and has an orderly transition from Beth to the next child and does exactly what you would hope a well-thought out succession plan does. But there was no hurry to adopt that, which caused Bill to think there were some conflicts of interest (by the trustees).” The trustees did not learn of the lawsuit until Thursday night when the Denver Post contacted them for comment. “The trustees were never advised that Bill Bowlen ever had any intention of filing a lawsuit or that the same lawyer representing Beth Bowlen-Wallace was also representing him,” the trustees said in a statement. “The first we learned of these facts was Thursday after the lawsuit was filed.” Ruscitti said he represents several members of the Bowlen family. An email Friday to the NFL requesting comment on the situation was not returned. “If you’re asking me if this will end up going through the court process — I would hope not,” Ruscitti said. “I would hope reasonable minds prevail. … (An out-of-court solution) is in the best interest of the Bowlen family, the Denver Broncos and everyone involved.” Broncos Journal: Derek Wolfe “progressively” getting better … but pretty good right now By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 27, 2018 Months removed from neck surgery that likely saved his career, Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe needed to overcome one final hurdle: Concerning himself with who he wanted to hit, not the other way around. “You have to get used to playing the way you want again,” Wolfe said. “When I was pass-rushing (earlier this year) and your neck was messed up (last year), sometimes I was worried to bend around the corner because I was thinking about getting hit in the head. “And I had to get used to throwing myself into the piles. I’m kind of getting away from being worried. Now I’m paying attention to who I’m going to hit.” Wolfe has consistently flashed during the Broncos’ 3-4 start. Through seven games, he has played 69.2 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps (328 of 474) to lead the team’s linemen. Per the Denver Post’s game charting, Wolfe has 12 1/2 run “stuffs” (gain of three or fewer yards), five quarterback pressures, three quarterback hits and a half-sack. Most impressive are his five passes defended, including his first career interception (Week 5 at the Jets) and a tipped pass at Arizona that led to linebacker Todd Davis’ interception return for a touchdown. It will take that kind of performance to slow down the 6-1 Chiefs on Sunday. “I wouldn’t say it’s the best (football) I’ve played,” Wolfe said. “I’m probably at 75 percent.” Say what? Before speculating that Wolfe is playing with an injury, let’s put the 75 percent comment into context. Coming off a major surgery, it takes time — on-field-against-another-team-time — to regain the rhythm that made him successful pre-injury. “It will all come together; it’s progressively getting better every week,” he said. “But I’m missing things I shouldn’t be missing.” Like what? “Just reading what kind of protection I’m going to get,” Wolfe said. “Some of that stuff is being disguised against me because they know I know what to do.” If there was a hockey assist system (two players get the credit), Wolfe’s numbers would be even more impressive. Even against the Jets and Rams, when the Broncos were gashed for 593 yards rushing, they found success bouncing runs outside (Jets) and on cutbacks (Rams). In some respect, Wolfe did his job, clogging up the middle to force the running back to change directions and momentarily run laterally. “I’m cool with that, forcing plays to my teammates,” he said. “The same with the pass rush, setting up games with Von (Miller). They’re set up for both of us to win, but if Von wipes the guard out, he’ll get the sack-fumble. If the tackle stays on Von, I’ll get the sack.” Wolfe did not get one of the Broncos’ six sacks against the woeful Cardinals — “That (ticked) me off but I still did a lot of good stuff,” he said. He had two run “stuffs”, one quarterback hit and the tipped pass that Davis intercepted. “That was a good start for who we want to be as a defense,” Wolfe said. In the first Chiefs-Broncos game, Wolfe was all over the field: Four run “stuffs,” three pressures and two hits on quarterback Pat Mahomes. If he gets the statistics in a win, great. If not but the result is a win, great. “At this point of my career, I just want to win,” Wolfe said. “If somebody else gets the sack, that’s good.” Broncos Briefs: Vance Joseph’s top task for defense is to contain Kareem Hunt By Ryan O’Halloran and Kyle Fredrickson The Denver Post October 27, 2018 The Broncos look to win consecutive games for the second time this year when they visit Kansas City Sunday at 11 a.m. Here is a Week 8 whip-around: Pressing question. Can the Broncos slow down Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt? “He makes it all go,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “If you don’t stop Hunt, you have no chance stopping the passing game because you can’t control the game. He’s the guy as far as getting this offense stopped.” High praise for Hunt considering Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (22 touchdowns/four interceptions) is an MVP candidate and tight end Travis Kelce and receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins are dynamic options. Hunt, the 2017 rushing champion as a rookie (1,327 yards), started slower this season. He gained only 49, 75 and 44 yards in the first three games. But he gained 121 against the Broncos and has followed with games of 87, 80 and 86 yards. The Broncos’ run defense rose from 32nd to 22nd in the league after the Arizona game. Spotlight player. Tramaine Brock, the Broncos’ No. 3 cornerback, was among those players who caught the ire of coach Vance Joseph during Denver’s four-game slide. Joseph specifically mentioned Brock’s performance against the Rams: “He didn’t tackle well at all.” However, Brock and Broncos’ secondary elevated their play in a 45-10 rout of the Cardinals last week.