Salon.com > Arnie Stapleton

Manning glad first game is out of the way

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:00:24 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Baby steps, not giant leaps. That's how Peyton Manning is marking his comeback. So, he was glad to get his first game in 19 months out of the way and use it as a building block.

Manning was uneven in Denver's exhibition opener at Chicago on Thursday night even though he didn't have to contend with Julius Peppers or Brian Urlacher and had plenty of time to throw.

His first pass was broken up, his second toss tipped and his last throw picked off at the goal line.

In between, there were some very good signs for Manning and the Broncos (No. 10 in the AP Pro32), including a 19-yard completion to Eric Decker on third-and-17, good reads, nice runs and great protection.

All in all, not a bad day's work.

"It felt good to get out there," Manning said. "We can build on this."

Plus, Manning wasn't hit in his first preseason game in two years, which came on a cool and rainy night in which the Bears held out quarterback Jay Cutler after a downpour drenched the field before kickoff.

Although Broncos coach John Fox held out rookie running back Ronnie Hillman, who's coming off a pulled hamstring, he said he never considered keeping Manning off the wet field.

Questions abound as NFL preseason opens in earnest

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:34:12 +0000

DENVER (AP) — The dog days of NFL training camps are giving way to the preseason slate of games that give fans their football fix until Labor Day rolls around and things really get serious.

The exhibition games might be meaningless in the standings, but they're the best gauge for coaches and general managers to determine which 1,696 players will survive roster cut downs to 53. Reputations of players and scouting departments alike are on the line this month.

There are plenty of changes that will take some getting used to: Peyton Manning swapping the horse shoe on his helmet for the horse head, Tim Tebow taking his buffed body and powerful but imprecise arm from the Rocky Mountains to the Big Apple. Chad Ochocinco changed his name back to Johnson, although he didn't change his ways. His foul mouth even drew coach Joe Philbin's attention during the opening episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks."

And seven teams switched coaches, plus Sean Payton has been banished for the 2012 season by commissioner Roger Goodell over the New Orleans Saints' bounty program.

Let's examine six of the top questions that will be answered in the preseason:

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WILL PEYTON MANNING RETURN TO FORM?

Manning gives big crowd some thrills

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 01:41:38 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — On his first snap, Peyton Manning went deep. He overshot Demaryius Thomas but nonetheless showed off his arm strength to any doubters that might remain.

On his 14th and final snap of the Denver Broncos' summer scrimmage Saturday, Manning found Eric Decker for a 9-yard touchdown toss that drew the largest ovation from the biggest crowd ever to watch the team practice.

In between, it was just so-so. The Broncos (No. 10 in the AP Pro32) had two three-and-outs before Manning drove them downfield for the score.

But it was another mile marker in Manning's comeback from his lost 2011 season and a tuneup for Thursday night's exhibition opener at Chicago, when the four-time MVP suits up in a game for the first time since playing in the Pro Bowl following the 2010 season.

Manning missed all of last season with a nerve injury in his neck that sapped his arm strength and led to tearful departure from Indianapolis.

He's shown no ill effects from the injury and nary any rust in his right arm this summer.

Manning's first appearance in blue and orange at Sports Authority Field drew 41,304 fans, almost double the old record of 20,782 set two years ago when a guy by the name of Tim Tebow was the main attraction.

Manning doesn’t miss a beat with Decker down

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 01:30:43 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Even with Eric Decker down, Peyton Manning didn't miss a beat.

Decker has been the star of the Broncos' training camp so far, but when he went out with a strained groin, Demaryius Thomas stepped up to solidify his standing in Manning's eyes and with Denver's refurbished offense.

Thomas made several big catches Thursday, even turning a rare wobbly pass from Manning into a 35-yard TD when he outleapt Drayton Florence and Raheem Moore at the goal line. Another time, he gave Tracy Porter a taste of the stiff-arm he used on Ike Taylor to beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

Whether on posts, curls or slants, Thomas was there to haul in Manning's fastballs during the no-huddle work to the delight of yet another record crowd — 5,034 — at Dove Valley.

"Well, I think Demaryius has had a really good camp even when Eric's been practicing," Manning said. "Demaryius is a guy that we are going to feature. His size and strength and speed just allows you to do certain things with him that other players just can't do. And so, Eric's had a really good camp. He's just got a little tweak, hopefully he'll be back this afternoon or tomorrow.

Manning shines in Broncos’ first padded practice

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 22:49:44 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning's first full practice in pads in 18 months drew rave reviews from his coaches and teammates.

Manning put on an aerial show with Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker and others Saturday morning in the latest milestone to his comeback from a nerve injury that cost him all of last season and led to his release from the Indianapolis Colts.

Although Manning threw in full pads during his tryouts at Duke University for the Broncos and other suitors during his first foray into free agency in March and again at times while working out in Denver, this was his first real action in full pads since the Pro Bowl following the 2010 season.

Manning searching for timing with his new targets

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:00:12 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning's arm strength looks just fine. It's his timing with his new targets that's the biggest question mark facing the four-time MVP as he embarks on his comeback with the Denver Broncos.

Manning doesn't appear bothered by the nerve injury in his neck that led to a series of operations, sapped his power and sidelined the league's most durable active quarterback all of last season.

Ever since he signed with the Broncos on March 20, two weeks after his tearful release from the Indianapolis Colts, Manning has been working hard to refine his rapport and rhythm with his new corps of pass catchers.

He has two old pals from his days in Indianapolis to help him adjust in wide receiver Brandon Stokley and tight end Jacob Tamme.

And he has two of the most promising young receivers in the NFL in third-year pros Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, the biggest downfield threat he's ever had.

They lead a deep group of players vying to become the next Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison in Manning's aerial show.

"We always talk the opportunities are the greatest right now," Decker said. "We have a future Hall of Famer, a guy who's been to the Super Bowl, an All-Pro, someone who wants to win, too. I think as young receivers, we're hungry, we want to make the most of this opportunity and play our best football this year."

Veteran safety Brian Dawkins retiring from NFL

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:00:28 +0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brian Dawkins says his head told him to retire, not his neck.

The veteran safety called Denver Broncos coach John Fox on Monday morning to tell him that after plenty of prayer and reflection, he'd decided that 16 seasons in the NFL was enough.

Then, Dawkins announced his retirement on Twitter, where he quickly began trending as fans worldwide expressed their admiration for the mild-mannered family man who transformed himself into a ferocious football player on Sundays.

Well-known by his alter-ego "Wolverine," and for his passionate, energetic play for 13 years in Philadelphia and three in Denver, Dawkins was one of the greatest to ever play his position, and nobody played safety in the NFL longer than he did.

Dawkins, 38, said he felt he had another year left in him after recovering from a serious neck injury that sidelined him for the stretch run and playoffs last season. But he instead fulfilled one final wish from his NFL bucket list: walking away from the game he loves before being betrayed by a battered body or one too many trips around the sun.

"It's probably going to sound crazy, but you know the fact that I could play another year gave me a lot of peace to say that this is it," Dawkins said.