The Broncos Have a Von Miller Problem. Here's What John Elway
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The Broncos have a Von Miller problem. Here’s what John Elway can do to fix it. By Mark Kiszla Denver Post Jan. 18, 2018 The Broncos have a Von Miller problem. Don’t get me wrong. The Vonster is an elite pass rusher, a good teammate and a funny dude. But he was born to dance, not lead. Since Peyton Manning retired, let’s just say Miller is 0-for-2 in leading the Broncos to the playoffs. “Two times not going to the playoffs is just not going to ride,” Miller admitted before Denver’s final loss in a 5-11 season. “There are going to be some drastic changes this offseason, and I’m all for it.” Well, now we get to find out how much Miller really means it. If Denver wants to return to the playoffs in 2018, what the team needs is a new leader to set the tone, so Miller can focus on producing more than his 10 quarterback sacks in 2017, which ranked 18th in the NFL. Miller turns 29 in March. When I asked him if he felt like an old bull, Miller laughed and replied: “No, not yet. I still have like 12 or 15 (years left). I hate to say that ‘old’ word.” How many prime seasons, however, does Miller realistically have left? Three? Maybe four? If the Broncos want to avoid the pain of a lengthy rebuild, they need a quarterback who can not only lead touchdown drives but command respect in a locker room full of strong personalities. They need a quarterback capable of being that leader sooner than later, while Miller is in his prime. If general manager John Elway thinks he can find that quarterback with the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft, more power to him. Would it be fair to expect a rookie quarterback named Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold to not only master the Denver playbook but also be the face of the franchise at age 21? Watching the playoffs, as the AFC falls down at the feet of Tom Brady, giving him and the New England Patriots a leisurely stroll to the Super Bowl, there is bad news and good news for Denver. The bad news? How badly must the Broncos have stunk to miss the playoffs in a conference that allows Jacksonville to play for its championship? The good news? With such weak opposition, how hard could it be for Denver to re-establish itself as the chief threat to Brady and the Pats in the AFC? Elway will turn 58 before the Broncos play their next game that counts in the standings. Ambitious men in their late 50s don’t slow down. They’re in a hurry to beat the clock. So why should we believe Elway will settle for a long rebuilding plan? He wants to get the Broncos back to Super Bowl contention while Miller is still young enough to be the MVP of the championship game. For starters, Elway must address a basic flaw in the way Denver’s roster is constructed. There’s nothing wrong with paying Miller $22.4 million in 2018; he’s earned it. But there will be 900 NFL players due to make more money next season than the $718,000 scheduled for Trevor Siemian. It’s madness for the Broncos to continue to pay their starting quarterback like a backup tight end and realistically believe the team can compete for a championship. In the NFL, money not only talks, it commands respect, because salaries are another way that players keep score. The Broncos need a new leader at quarterback, with a voice strong enough to tell Miller to shut up and play. There’s no certainty about which veteran quarterbacks might be on the market when the free-agent shopping spree begins in March. But this much we do know: If the Broncos have to pay Kirk Cousins $27 million a year or Alex Smith $17 million, that’s not only the cost of doing business, it’s the price of success. Broncos sign three players to futures contracts; CSU receiver headed to NFL combine By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post Jan. 18, 2018 The Broncos signed three more players to compete for jobs in 2018. Receiver Kenny Bell and defensive linemen DeShawn Williams and Andreas Knappe signed future contracts that will go on the Broncos’ books when the 2018 league year begins March 14. Bell, a Boulder native and the son of former Bronco Ken Bell, is a third-year player from the University of Nebraska who was drafted by the buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. After spending a year on injured reserve with Tampa Bay, Kenny (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) competed on the practice squads of the Bucs (2016) and Ravens (2017). Ken Bell spent the entirety of his career in Denver (1986-89) and is tied for second in franchise history with 104 kick returns totaling 2,218 yards. Williams, a 6-1, 292-pound lineman from Clemson most recently played on the Bengals’ practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 2016, he played four games for the Bengals and recorded two tackles and 0.5 sacks. Knappe, who stands at 6-8 and weighs 315 pounds, is a first-year defensive tackle who competed on the practice squads of the Falcons, Redskins and Colts last year. A native of Silkeborg, Denmark, Knappe signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent last May after playing at the University of Cincinnati. The Broncos now have 13 players signed to future contracts. Gallup to combine. Colorado State receiver Michael Gallup is headed to the Senior Bowl next week and will play on the North team coached by the Broncos. About a month later, he’ll head to Indianapolis. Gallup, who is training for the draft at Landow Performance in Centennial, told The Denver Post that he was invited to the NFL scouting combine in late February. Peyton Manning to receive Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post Jan. 18, 2018 Two-time Super Bowl champion and former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was selected as the winner of the 2018 Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football “for his positive impact to the game, both on and off the field.” Manning, the 10th recipient of the award, will be honored at a Feb. 24 banquet in Kansas City, Mo., and will be joined by AFC and NFC player and coach of the year honorees at a gala to benefit the University of Kansas Health System. “In addition to being one of the greatest to ever play the game, Peyton Manning reshaped the way the quarterback position is played and transcended the sport to become one of the most popular athletes of his generation,” said Clark Hunt, the Chiefs’ chairman and CEO, and the son of the award’s namesake. “Throughout his career and into retirement, he has handled the many demands of a superstar with class, respect and dignity. Our family is thrilled to add Peyton’s name to the outstanding list of previous recipients over this first decade of the Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football.” The Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football was established in 2008 by the 101 Awards to honor the life and legacy of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ founder. The selection committee focuses on five criteria — vision, humble leadership, integrity, fan dedication and innovation — and its group of past honorees include broadcaster Al Michaels, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy. Broncos mailbag: QB height, no forgiving Rahim, SpaceX By Mike Klis 9NEWS Jan. 18, 2018 No topic is off limits to the creative think tank that is 9NEWS Broncos mailbaggers. It’s not just which quarterback the Broncos will take – although the obvious is not overlooked – but how tall will he be? Rahim Moore was not -- repeat, NOT – taken off the hook by Marcus Williams. We look at New England and the other three remaining in the NFL postseason. A new stadium name suggestion fell from Mars. Eric Studesville, Tom Green, Bakersfield are all mentioned in this version of the Broncos Mailbag. I write you because I know your good about answering back. A Bronco statement: Could both Paxton Lynch and Brock Osweiler be too tall to be quality NFL QB's? When I look at top QB's they are 6-5 (Peyton Manning) and less. Maybe those extra two inches are too much. This is not meant as a cut, but those long legs physically could be a downgrade to running, etc. Elway WAS 6-3. Same for Terry Bradshaw. Tom Brady is 6-4. Dan Marino was 6'4." Joe Montana was 6-2. None over 6-5. Does anyone think of this? Ed Stoeckel Ed—You’re on to something. Josh McDaniels once told me the ideal height window for NFL quarterbacks is 6-foot-3 to 6-5. Yes, the 6-foot Drew Brees, who has a high, overhand release point, and 5-11 Russell Wilson, who often throws from a rolling pocket, are exceptions. Steve Young and Montana were a tad short at 6-2, but like Wilson, they could throw on the move. Aaron Rodgers is 6-2 and arguably the best pure passer, ever. It’s not that a quarterback 6-6 or taller can’t play. Joe Flacco is 6-6 and he threw 11 touchdown passes (one of which will be addressed by the following mailbagger) with 0 interceptions in his four-game postseason run to win Super Bowl 47.