Wade Phillips' Broncos a defense for the ages By Woody Paige DenverPost.com Feb. 19, 2016 Wade Phillips died with his boots on 48 years ago. But he was alive and kicking, and dancing, with his sneakers on a fortnight ago. Phillips coached the Broncos' defense to one of the most imposing performances in 50 Super Bowls. And, "we got to see Lady Gaga," he shouted afterward. At the time of the second Super Bowl in 1968, Wade was a linebacker at the University of Houston and an actor in the classic Western "Bandolero". He rode with the sheriff's posse trying to catch outlaw brothers Jimmy Stewart and Dean Martin, who had kidnapped Raquel Welch. But when the posse was ambushed by bandits, the sheriff wonders about two of his men. "Clyde Anderson ain't with us. Wade Phillips is missing, too." Wade had been, uh, picked off. His movie career was over. His coaching career was about to begin. And now, in his 14th stop in six decades, Wade finally got his man, and his championship. This time the old cowboy was responsible for the ambush, and Carolina quarterback Cam Newton never saw it coming. Was Wade's defense the greatest ever in the NFL? "I think we've got to be up there somewhere . . . this is a special, all-time defense," he said after the game. Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys' shrewd vice president of player personnel for 29 years, and others nationally agreed with Wade's assessment. After the Broncos' demolition of Carolina, Brandt selected the Broncos' defense third in the past 30 years behind only the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, and ahead of the 1986 New York Giants and the 2013 Seattle Seahawks. (The Seahawks, the Giants and the Ravens defeated Denver in those postseasons.) "Accomplishing such dominance in today's offensive-driven environment is even more impressive than what some of the big-name defenses of the past did," Brandt wrote. Pete Prisco, distinguished NFL authority for CBSsports.com, ranked the '85 Bears "as the most fearsome defense this league has ever seen," but believes this group of Broncos compares favorably to the Seahawks, the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers of 2008 in the past three decades. "What might tip the scales to this Denver defense are the teams it beat in the postseason to win it all. The Broncos beat the Steelers, the Patriots and the Panthers. They were the first-, third-and fourth-best scoring teams in the league. That's Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Newton in successive games."

Writing for ESPN.com., Jeff Legwold, formerly of The Denver Post, stated that the Broncos "carved out a slice of NFL history . . .They led the league in total defense, yards allowed per play, pass defense and sacks, and were third against the run and fourth in scoring defense. Toss in the Super Bowl win, and the Broncos are in elite company." USAToday.com's Steve Ruiz statistical comparison placed the Broncos 10th overall, but he added: "So maybe the 2015 Broncos defense's raw stats don't scream 'one of the best defenses ever,' but a deeper dive into the numbers shows this is a unit that should be celebrated as one of the best to ever win a Super Bowl." My opinion on deadline shortly after Super Bowl 50? I put the Broncos' playoff defense as No. 1 all-time. Upon further review, I maintain the same (and surely subjective) judgment, based on the opposition. The '85 Bears are the consensus No. 1 and permitted a meager 10 points in three postseason games, all to New England in the Super Bowl. but they beat quarterbacks Phil Simms, Dieter Brock (who?) and Steve Grogan in the playoffs. The 2000 Ravens beat Gus Frerotte (Brian Griese's backup), Steve McNair, Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins. The Seahawks defeated Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, but the third quarterback was Colin Kaepernick. The Broncos in this year's playoffs allowed two certain future Hall of Fame quarterbacks and the league's MVP one passing touchdown, four overall combined touchdowns and six field goals — in a pass-delirious league. Rule changes in 1978, 1994 and 2014 dramatically affected the defense's ability to defend the pass, and the NFL's concentration on player safety has aided offenses. Yet, the Broncos forced four turnovers and made seven sacks against the Panthers, and hit Brady 24 times. Having covered the NFL for 42 seasons, I would list the Broncos' defense second best for the complete season, behind the Bears and just in front of the Seahawks and the Ravens. And I'd give heralded Wade Phillips a ring, a starring role and a lifetime achievement award.

New team but same division for Malik Jackson? By Mark Kiszla DenverPost.com Feb. 19, 2016 Raid the Broncos. Oakland coach Jack Del Rio, formerly the defensive coordinator of the Broncos, has $73 million in salary cap space to spend on the Raiders. Will he acquire all Denver's defensive free agents? Peter, San Diego Kiz: Just my two cents: 1) Do not be surprised if defensive end Malik Jackson plays for Oakland in 2016; and 2) The Raiders are greatest threat to Denver in AFC West next season. Hero worship. I don't agree with you, Kiz. Peyton Manning is a hero. I don't know Manning, although I feel like we are family. It appears to me that Manning has grown quite a bit since his "full moon" incident 20 years ago at the University of Tennessee. He supports charities, sponsors a children's hospital, respects retiring NFL players and gives scholarships through his foundation. Manning owes you neither an apology nor a defense. His life is his defense. Anthony, proud Tennessean Kiz: Manning has not been accused of a crime, much less convicted. So he certainly doesn't owe me an apology. But here's the deal. You feel as if you and Manning are family. I have heard that comment countless times from fans who love how an NFL player makes them feel on Sunday, without the messy commitment of living under the same roof. If I could offer fans one humble piece of advice, it would be this: Love your family more and your sports heroes less. Men's room. After reading your column regarding Manning and former Tennessee trainer Jamie Ann Naughright, my question is: Why are women in the locker room of male athletes? I raised three boys, and what goes on in a locker room is crazy stuff. If a woman insists on being with the guys, then she needs to expect all the nonsense that goes along with it. It's a man's game. Dee, has dealt with dirty laundry ORDER NOW: "Fight to the Finish" 160-page hardcover book on the Broncos' Super Bowl season Kiz: My wife is an executive in the financial industry and our daughter does battle in Washington politics, so I am partial to women who compete in arenas traditionally dominated by men. But you make a point worthy of consideration: In 1996, when Manning was in college, a locker room was a new, untamed frontier for a female trainer. Does that excuse the sexual harassment Naughright claims she endured throughout the athletic department? No. As a woman working in football, however, she was a pioneer. I admire her for that. But the revolution is often messy. Food for thought. And today's parting shot is a reminder a newspaper (in print or online) that's shared by a family at the breakfast table can be good stuff.

Your column on Manning and sports heroes was hard for my 11-year-old son to read, but the conversation we had about it was awesome. So thank you. Jon, Denver

Is Brock Osweiler the Broncos' next great quarterback? By Mark Kiszla and Troy Renck DenverPost.com Feb. 19, 2016 Kiz: John Elway has done a remarkable job as architect of the Broncos. Now he faces a decision as tough as the one he made in 2012, when he signed Peyton Manning — then widely considered to be damaged goods — and traded the widely popular Tim Tebow. Now the Broncos must decide the worth of Brock Osweiler. I expect Elway to start with the same question as four years ago: Does Osweiler give Denver its best shot to win the Super Bowl? Renck: With the Broncos owning the NFL's top-ranked defense, adequacy at quarterback can win another championship. Osweiler can fill that role, and with an entire training camp as the starter he would help open up the playbook. The Broncos won't win back-to-back Super Bowls with an offense in which, as CBS analyst Boomer Esiason told me, "the only thing missing is three backs in the backfield." The attack will expand under a full-time Osweiler, mirroring his skill set with more deep throws and bootlegs. Kiz: NFL general managers often get in trouble by paying fair-market price. That's especially true with quarterbacks. Paying what the market will bear instead of what is best for your football team is a recipe for disaster. Recent comparable contracts for Osweiler include Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Matt Cassel. Somebody overpaid and was sorry in every single case. Based on seven starts, Osweiler is worth a maximum of $10 million per year. And not a penny more. Renck: The market determines worth, and it only takes one suitor to establish that value. The Broncos won't be able to secure Osweiler at $10 million per season, not based on what Foles received a year ago. I repeatedly have said that a three-year, $36 million deal fits. It might take a four-year deal, but the structure would include almost all guarantees in the first two seasons. If it exceeds that range, the Broncos won't engage in a bidding war, leaving them to contemplate options such as Robert Griffin III. Kiz: Osweiler is not the next great Denver quarterback. The instructive lesson here is Kevin Kolb. He was a second-round pick by a strong Philadelphia team in 2007. He sat behind Donovan McNabb until getting a shot in 2009, then threw for more than 300 yards in each of his first two starts. The Eagles gave Kolb a six-year contract worth about $10 million per season. Philly then traded Kolb to Arizona for Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie and a second-round draft choice. So there's a template for Denver: To sign Osweiler, it must be at a price that makes him attractive as trade bait. Renck: Kolb and Matt Flynn represent cautionary tales. They were backups for a reason. Osweiler brings questions, but in this offense with this team, he makes the most sense of all the available options. Osweiler possesses leadership skills, is well liked in the Broncos' locker room and has earned teammates' respect through hard work. Introducing a new quarterback into this environment carries more risk than signing Osweiler. If the price stays modest, it's an easy choice to go Brock to the future.

QB or not QB? That is question about Brock Osweiler's future with Broncos By Troy Renck DenverPost.com Feb. 19, 2016 In the weeks after he replaced Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler authored two of the Broncos' biggest victories of the season. He rallied Denver from 14-point deficits in victories over New England and Cincinnati, performances that helped secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Yet, Osweiler featured wild inconsistencies, making it hard for the Broncos to plan their postseason run around him. He became expendable, if unfairly, after the Broncos turned the ball over five times in the first 33 minutes against San Diego in the regular season finale. Manning returned, leading three consecutive scoring drives, and Osweiler never took another snap. It created an interesting dynamic: Once the great unknown, Osweiler remains a mystery. At least in this context. The Broncos like him as a prospect, but at what cost? Osweiler's free agency is clouded in uncertainty because no true comparable exists. The closest is the Los Angeles Rams' Nick Foles, who received a two-year, $24.5-million contract extension last offseason. With multiple quarterback-starved teams — Texans, Eagles, Rams, Browns — Osweiler is expected to easily trump Foles' contract on the open market. One team can establish his value, and the Broncos are not planning to negotiate with Osweiler until Manning makes his intentions known. And that's where it becomes interesting. If a suitor identifies Osweiler as a must-have with a four-year, $52-million offer, will the Broncos exercise discipline, as they have in the past with free agents, and walk away? Osweiler knows the offense, has earned the respect of teammates — not something easily dismissed on a championship club — and profiles for coach Gary Kubiak's system. But how would Osweiler weigh that against potentially more money elsewhere, especially after losing his job late in the season? The options beyond Osweiler all feature major questions, starting with Robert Griffin III, expected to be released by Washington, Colin Kaepernick, a possible trade candidate in San Francisco, free-agent Ryan Fitzpatrick or a drafted player such as Michigan State's Connor Cook in the first or second round. Again, who is Osweiler? Remember, for every Aaron Rodgers and Steve McNair, there is Kevin Kolb, Matt Flynn and Foles, who lost his job last season. Osweiler went 5-2 as a starter, and finished with 170 completions in 275 attempts for 1,967 yards. He threw 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Projected over a full season his numbers are solid for a team built on defense: 4,496 yards, 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He took a punch on several occasions — 23 sacks because of a penchant for holding onto the ball too long — and never blinked.

"You have to be mentally tough because there are a lot of things going on within the team," Kubiak said. "Everybody is like, 'Well we're missing this guy or that guy.' You have to let all of that go, go in there and focus and do your job. Boy, did he do that. He was just week to week and he worked his tail off. His toughness, battling, and he played some really good teams. I think of all of those things, what he went through this year is really going to help him with his future." And yet Osweiler, at times, played liked someone who had redshirted for three seasons. He won AFC offensive player of the week honors at Chicago, posting the highest completion percentage (74.1) in a starting debut in team history. But he completed only two passes when pressured, revealing stark contrasts that would underline his inconsistency. Against undefeated New England, in the team's most emotional regular-season victory, Osweiler connected on multiple long passes to Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in white-knuckle moments. The next week at San Diego, he failed to build on the momentum, completing only three of 11 passes beyond 9 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. This became a real issue in subsequent weeks as the offense became more constricted under his watch. Osweiler struggled with the deep ball against Oakland in an embarrassing home loss that placed the Broncos' playoff bid in jeopardy. Then he rallied against the Bengals in a must-win game, showing better accuracy on intermediate routes. That performance made Manning a backup for the first time since 1994 in the season finale, but it couldn't keep him on the bench. Osweiler was undermined by costly fumbles, in particular by Sanders. However, he misfired on two deep passes, and misread a blitz that led to a sack and turnover. The more conservative the offense became the more it fit a compromised Manning. No longer was Osweiler's big arm an asset, at least not in comparison to the advantages of a veteran game manager. Osweiler showed he could win in the NFL. Can he can continue his growth now that opponents have film and know his strengths and weaknesses? The Broncos' defense gives them a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions. However, Denver will need more from its offense. Osweiler's ability to operate under center ignited the running game as the team went from ranked 29th when he took over (86 yards) to 17th (107 yards) during his starts. He can bootleg, and owns the arm strength to throw deep passes and crossing routes, staples of Kubiak's offense. Osweiler loves Denver, saying so multiple times, and several teammates have backed Osweiler publicly. The Broncos like his future. But not at any cost, leaving questions as the sides creep toward negotiations.

Brandon Marshall of Broncos has screws removed from foot By Troy Renck DenverPost.com Feb. 19, 2016 Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall will soon receive a Super Bowl ring for his stellar play last season with the Broncos. First, he had to lose a few screws. Friday, Marshall visited Dr. Robert Anderson, a well-known foot and ankle doctor in sports, to have 1 1/2 of the two screws inserted in his right foot removed. This was a planned procedure, nearly a year to the date he had Lisfranc surgery preformed by Anderson to correct ligament damage and shifting bones. The procedure will require a month-long recovery period. "They left in the half screw because if they take it out it will be more surgery and a bigger hole in the bone," Marshall said from Charlotte, N.C. "This way I will walk out when it's done (Friday), and I'll be full speed in a month." Marshall recovered more quickly than expected last offseason, participating in training camp and starting the season opener. The foot bothered him before the Sept. 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but steadily the pain lessened. Marshall, a restricted free agent, finished with 102 tackles, second on the team to free-agent Danny Trevathan. Trevathan is expected to attract suitors on the free-agent market, most notably the Chicago Bears. Marshall called the signals and helped lead a Broncos' defense that finished ranked first in the NFL, and placed itself in the conversation among the all-time greats after allowing 40 combined points in the playoffs.

Brandon Marshall has screws removed from right foot By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Feb. 19, 2016 For much of the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl season, there was a part of linebacker Brandon Marshall that couldn't wait for it to be over. And that part would have been his right foot. It's not that Marshall wasn't enjoying his work in the league's No. 1 defense -- he did, immensely -- but the two screws in his right foot were an issue throughout the season. That was especially true after one of the screws had broken into two pieces. The screws were put in following the 2014 season as Marshall dealt with an injury down the stretch. Or as Marshall often put it, "I can't wait to get them out." Friday was the day. Marshall, an active social media participant, took to Twitter with a picture of his right foot: Marshall tweeted out a "correction" later that only 1 1/2 screws were removed. Doctors elected to leave half of the broken screw in Marshall's foot because removing the whole thing involved a three-month recovery as opposed to four weeks. So Marshall would be ready when the Broncos open their offseason program April 18 -- the date that was sent to the players this week. Even with the screws in his foot and the pain that came with them at times, Marshall started 16 games -- he played only a few plays in the regular-season finale because of an ankle injury -- and finished with his second consecutive 100-tackle season. He was second on the team with 101 tackles. Marshall is a restricted free agent, meaning he could attract an offer sheet from another team, but the Broncos are expected to tender him with among the highest available levels.

In deposition, Manning denied allegations from fellow athlete By T.J. Quinn ESPN.com Feb. 19, 2016 Court documents show that during Peyton Manning's deposition in a 2003 defamation lawsuit, he was confronted with a sworn statement by a former University of Tennessee athlete that contradicted a crucial part of Manning's testimony. The affidavit from former Volunteers cross country athlete Malcolm Saxon is a separate document from a letter Saxon sent Manning in 2002, which has been widely circulated over the past week. Manning said in his deposition he had not seen the affidavit before that day and denied Saxon's version of events. But among more than 1,000 pages of transcripts and documents from the lawsuit, Saxon's affidavit, a sworn legal statement, might be the biggest challenge to Manning's version of events. In the 2003 lawsuit, former University of Tennessee trainer Jamie Naughright accused Manning of pressing his buttocks and genitals against her face while she examined his ankle. At the time of the incident, she said Manning exposed himself and reported the incident to the university and the Sexual Assault Crisis Center as a sexual assault. She eventually settled with the school for $300,000. This case, however, wasn't over the incident itself. In 2003, Naughright, who declined numerous requests for comment, charged Manning and his father with defamation after they and ghostwriter John Underwood described their version of events in their 2001 book, "Manning." Halfway through the second day of his deposition in that case, after hours of often-combative questioning, Manning was asked to describe what happened in the University of Tennessee athletic training room on Feb. 29, 1996. According to court documents, a statement from Manning repeated a more detailed version of the same story: He had been merely "mooning" Saxon as a prank and didn't realize Naughright had seen his exposed posterior. Manning testified that Naughright (then Jamie Whited) didn't seem offended, and he was unaware that she was upset until her boss told him that night. Manning was then asked about a letter Saxon had written in 2002 to both the Manning home in Indianapolis and the University of Tennessee. Manning said he was aware that Saxon had sent a letter to his home, that his wife, Ashley, had received it and forwarded it to his father in New Orleans. Manning testified he had not seen the letter, wasn't aware of its contents and didn't know whether his wife or father had read it. Naughright's attorney, Robert Puterbaugh, the asked a series of questions based on Saxon's affidavit. Manning denied all of Saxon's charges ("Mr. Metcalf" refers to Manning's attorney, Slade Metcalf): The official university investigation in 1997 termed the incident as "horseplay that cannot be prevented" after interviewing Naughright, Manning and Saxon. Saxon, in the affidavit in the defamation case,

disputed that he was quoted accurately. The University of Tennessee has declined to discuss the investigation since it was completed in 1997 and did not return a phone call from ESPN. Saxon was not deposed in the lawsuit. Reached earlier this week, he said in a text, "I have said no comment for 20 years. I have moved on." He declined any other comment.

Broncos linebacker has 1 1-2 screws removed from right foot By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press Feb. 19, 2016 Linebacker Brandon Marshall had screws removed from his right foot on Friday, but said doctors decided to leave in half of a screw that had broken during the preseason. The Denver Broncos' second-leading tackler played all season after one of the two screws broke in half, something he at first feared would send him to the sideline in September. The pain subsided, however, and Marshall went on to post his second consecutive 100-tackle season. The screws were put in place nearly a year ago after Marshall dealt with a Lisfranc ligament injury late in 2014. At the Super Bowl, Marshall said, "I can't wait to get these out." That time came Friday. Marshall tweeted a photo of his right foot before the procedure saying he was finally getting the screws removed. He posted a "correction" afterward in which he noted that doctors had to leave in a piece of the broken screw. Otherwise, he'd be facing a much longer recovery. Marshall, set to be a restricted free agent next month, expects to be back in time for the team's offseason program, which starts April 18. He was also bothered but not hampered by a sprained right index finger that he injured when he poked the football from Jamaal Charles' grasp in Denver's last-second win at Kansas City in Week 2. Cornerback Bradley Roby scooped up the loose ball and returned it for the winning score just seconds after the Broncos had tied the game. "This has bothered me for the whole season," Marshall said on the eve of the Super Bowl, showing his splinted finger. "As soon as I did it, it was stuck (in an odd shape) and they had to pull it and it was killing me. "But it was worth it."

Peyton Manning's 2003 affidavit response to alleged assault By David Ramsey Colorado Springs Gazette Feb. 19, 2016 Tennessee TV station WATE has released Peyton Manning's 2003 response to an alleged incident from Feb. 29, 1996, between the 19-year-old Manning and Dr. Jamie Naughright. At the time, Manning was the University of Tennessee's quarterback and Naughright was a trainer. In the affidavit, Manning claims Dr. Naughright was on the ground looking at his his foot. Malcolm Saxon, another UT athlete, “made a comment to me intended as a joke regarding my then-girlfriend (now my wife), the substance of which I cannot recall. After hearing this comment, I pulled down my shorts for about one second to expose my buttocks to him, or is as colloquially know, to ‘moon’ him.” “I immediately pulled my shorts back up while (Naughright) continued to examine my foot,” Manning continues. “My shorts were never down farther than exposing my buttocks. I did not pull them down to my ankles.” The quarterback's version is vastly different from Naughright's. She says Manning “forcefully maneuvered his naked testicles and rectum directly” toward her face. Naughright says Manning “smirked” and “laughed” about it. Here is Manning's complete affidavit: https://mgtvwate.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/peytonmanningaffidavit.pdfhttps://mgtvwate.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/peytonmanningaffidavit.pdf

Chris Long one of three veterans released by Rams as they clear salary cap space By Lorenzo Reyes USA Today Feb. 19, 2016 In a salary-cap saving move, the Los Angeles Rams released three key veterans Friday: defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurianaitis and tight end Jared Cook. “This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement through the team. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community. We will always be grateful for James and Chris’ unselfish commitment to the Rams and wish them the best moving forward. “Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis. Like Chris and James, he’s been a mainstay in the community and his contributions are commendable. We hope for the best for Jared and his family as he embarks on the next steps of his career.” Long had been due a $2 million roster bonus March 11. In all, the moves save the Rams $24.525 million in cash and roughly $23 million in space on the 2016 salary cap. The Rams already were set to be more than $30 million under a projected cap of $153 million -- the cap won't be finalized until next month -- and now have more than $50 million in space. They need an answer at quarterback and have a long list of potential free agents on defense, including safeties Mark Barron and Eugene Sims, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, and defensive linemen Nick Fairley, William Hayes and Eugene Sims. After a productive three-year stretch from 2011-13 in which he racked up 33 sacks, Long’s production drastically dipped to only four sacks in 18 games. In each of his seven NFL seasons, Laurianaitis started every single game for the Rams and eclipsed the 100-tackle barrier each year. In 2015, he passed 14-time Pro Bowler Merlin Olsen as the Rams’ all-time leader in tackles. Cook spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Titans, and had two productive years with the Rams in 2013 and 2014 after signing a five-year deal with the team. After he failed to catch a touchdown in 2015, however, Los Angeles opted to move on. In an Instagram post, Long offered candid and introspective comments on his release.

“Bottom line is- this is a production business,” Long wrote in the post. “No excuses, the last two years have been (expletive). It's been painful to experience because I care deeply about my performance and my responsibility to my teammates. Before the last two years I'm very proud of what I was able to accomplish in St. Louis. I'm not surprised, but it doesn't make it any easier to leave your family.”

Significance of contradicting accounts from Manning, Naughright By Michael McCan Sports Illustrated Feb. 19, 2016 WATE-TV (Knoxville, Tenn.) has obtained and posted Peyton Manning’s affidavit that was filed in a Polk County, Fla. trial court on Oct. 3, 2003. The affidavit was in connection with Dr. Jamie Naughright’s defamation lawsuit against him, Archie Manning and ghostwriter John Underwood (a former Sports Illustrated writer, though he was not with the magazine then) over their book Manning: A Father, His Sons, and a Football Legacy. The affidavit was one of several hundred filings in a litigation that spanned from 2002 to ’05 and included two lawsuits filed by Naughright against Peyton Manning and one filed by Manning against Naughright. Earlier this week, SI.com obtained and analyzed a number of documents in the litigation, which at its core centered on a disputed incident from Feb. 29, 1996 that involved a then 19-year-old Manning and a 27-year-old Naughright and that Manning discussed in the book. In a light most supportive of Manning, he briefly mooned another University of Tennessee football player, Malcolm Saxon, while Naughright examined his foot for a possible injury. In a light most supportive of Naughright, Manning intentionally and without Naughright’s consent placed his rectum and genitals on her face and then laughed about it. As discussed earlier this week, Naughright’s account appeared to worsen (or, she might argue, increased in detail) over the years. Significance of Manning and Naughright offering contradicting sworn testimony Manning’s affidavit is a very different document from his book. The core difference is that an affidavit contains written statements that are made while under penalty of perjury, while depictions in a book are not made under oath. A person who knowingly lies in an affidavit can therefore be charged with perjury, which is a felony, whereas a person who knowingly lies in a book cannot. As a result, Manning’s affidavit is a more reliable account since he would have risked the possibility of being charged with a felony by knowingly lying. At that same time, Naughright provided her own sworn testimony, subject to the very same threat of perjury charges. Some of her testimony occurred in a deposition, which is similar to an affidavit in that both consist of sworn testimony. Deposition statements, however, are made orally and transcribed by an authorized court reporter. Manning and Naughright’s sworn accounts are inconsistent with one another, which suggests that one or both of them lied or misremembered what took place in 1996. While Naughright recalled Manning making unwanted physical contact with her and laughing about it, Manning does not. On the third page of his affidavit, Manning recalled Naughright moving behind him to examine his foot while he spoke with Saxon, who was some distance behind Manning and Naughright. Manning claimed that Saxon then made a joke about Manning’s girlfriend (now wife, Ashley), which prompted Manning to briefly moon Saxon. “My shorts were never down farther than exposing my buttocks,” Manning declared. “I did not pull them down to my ankles.” Manning’s denial in his sworn testimony is consistent with his portrayal

of the incident in his book, where he acknowledged that his behavior was “inappropriate” and “out of line” but stressed that it was lawful. Saxon—the player whom Manning says he mooned—has altered his account of the incident, which raises questions about which version ought to be believed. While court records indicate that Saxon supported Manning’s depiction for several years, he appeared to have a change of heart by Dec. 10, 2002. On that date he wrote Manning a letter saying that he no longer agreed with Manning’s portrayal of the incident. In the letter, Saxon insisted that it was “definitely inappropriate” for Manning to have “dropped [his] drawers.” Further, Saxon opined that Manning had “messed up” and urged Manning to “take some personal responsibility.” Saxon, however, did not clarify which aspects of Manning’s portrayal he no longer supported. Saxon also did not say or imply that Manning had made physical contact with Naughright. If anything, Saxon’s letter seemed factually consistent with Manning’s accounts—some sort of “mooning” occurred—although Saxon was more critical of Manning than Manning himself. (SI.com reached out to Saxon this week but he declined comment.) A 20-year-old incident won’t be re-litigated So what really happened between Manning and Naughright in 1996? Only three people were there, and they all seem to remember it differently. The legal system is not going to clarify the matter. Manning and Naughright settled their dispute in 2005. While their settlement agreement has not surfaced, it likely contained non-disclosure provisions that will bar them from publicly talking about the incident for the remainder of their lives. Saxon, for his part, presumably could talk about the incident. He does not appear to be a party in any settlement agreement. Whether Saxon would want to is another story. Also, because Saxon has altered his version of the incident, his believability would be questioned. The police are also not going to investigate whether Manning assaulted Naughright in 1996 or whether one or both of them committed perjury over a decade ago. In fact, there is no indication that a law enforcement investigation took place in ’96. Even if the police wanted to investigate, the statute of limitations for any potential criminal charges have long since passed. The only possible way the incident could resurface in court is if a Title IX lawsuit recently filed against the University of Tennessee raises it. The complaint in that lawsuit referenced the 1996 incident. The odds of Manning having to testify in the Title IX lawsuit, however, are extremely slim. The case could settle long before any former players are asked to testify. Even without a settlement, Manning’s attorneys would aggressively oppose any involvement of their client. They would stress that the ’96 incident is well beyond the scope of the statute of limitations for claims against the University of Tennessee. Some disputed incidents forever remain so. The 1996 incident between Manning and Naughright will be one such notable example.

Report: Trainer may have accused Manning of academic cheating 2 years before incident By Ray Frager FoxSports.com Feb. 19, 2016 The headline on the Washington Post's latest article about the twisting tale of Peyton Manning and a former trainer at the University of Tennessee refers to a "mysterious 1994 incident" between them. Wait, 1994? Didn't the incident in the news — when Manning did something inappropriate or perhaps much worse while trainer Dr. Jamie Naughright was checking his foot for possible injury — happen in 1996? Yes, it did. So what's this about 1994? After picking his way around redacted sections of court documents on the matter, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Will Hobson concludes Naughright "may have accused (Manning) of cheating in a class." In fact, in the documents that have sparked the current furor, and have been used as the basis for articles in the New York Daily News, Naughright's lawyers refer to what happened in 1996 as "The Second Manning Incident." From Hobson's article: The first, Naughright's lawyers wrote, happened in the fall of 1994, and is detailed in a sealed section that follows the heading "Peyton Manning's Motive & Malice." "In the fall of 1994, an incident occurred involving Peyton Manning which will not only explain the genesis for Peyton Manning's dislike for Dr. Naughright, but will be relevant to understanding the 1996 incident," Naughright's lawyers wrote. The next three-and-a-half pages are blank. Lawyers for Manning asked for the redactions in the court record, the Post reports, and Naughright's attorneys agreed. However, part of a deposition from former Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey slipped through, with Dickey asked about Naughright's being a guest lecturer in course taught by associate AD Carmen Tegano. Here's the key question asked Dickey by Naughright's lawyer: "Do you recall it ever being reported by Carmen Tegano, or anyone else, that Dr. Naughright had spoken to Carmen Tegano about the possibility of Peyton Manning having committed academic fraud in that course?" Dickey answered, "No." In a 2003 deposition, Manning said he was never in a class taught by Naughright.

Tegano was deposed, too, and he said he decided to stop using Naughright as a guest lecturer, though he couldn't recall why. What Tegano did recall in his testimony is why he avoided Naughright on campus: "Because I didn't want her energy in my karma circle." Reached by the Post this week, Tegano said it didn't make sense that Manning, then a freshman, would have cheated in the class in question, because of both the nature of the course and Manning's performance as a student. Manning, according to a Tennessee news release, graduated with a 3.61 grade-point average. "It was a one-hour pass/fail class that was required of all athletes, and under no circumstances did Peyton Manning cheat. The class was based on attendance. ... It was an orientation class," Tegano told the Post. "Do you think he needed to cheat in a pass/fail class? ... We're talking about a man who graduated with one of the highest grade-point averages in his class." Neither Manning's spokesman nor Naughright commented to the Post about the report.

The mysterious 1994 incident between Peyton Manning and a Tennessee trainer By Will Hobson The Washington Post Feb. 19, 2016 A 1996 sexual assault allegation against Peyton Manning by a female trainer at the University of Tennessee that has recently returned to the news has prompted speculation about an earlier incident — which Manning’s lawyers have worked to keep out of the public eye — that may have initiated the iconic quarterback’s hostility toward the trainer. A review of court records connected with a lengthy legal dispute between Manning and former Tennessee trainer Jamie Naughright shows a possible explanation for the acrimony: She may have accused him of cheating in a class. The 1996 incident — which Manning called a mooning and the former trainer called a sexual assault — never resulted in a criminal charge, but it gained renewed attention this month, when it was referenced in a federal lawsuit filed against Tennessee alleging a “hostile sexual environment” in the school’s athletic department toward women. Then, on Feb. 13, the New York Daily News published a story based on a court document that details Naughright’s side of a years-long saga between her and Manning. At the core of the dispute is what happened inside a Tennessee athletic training room on Feb. 29, 1996, when the 27-year-old trainer examined the foot of the 19-year-old star quarterback. Naughright’s version: Manning pulled down his shorts and placed his naked buttocks and genitals on her face. Manning’s version: He mooned a classmate in Naughright’s presence. In a 2000 book entitled “Manning,” co-written by Peyton, his father Archie Manning and the writer John Underwood, the Mannings revisited the incident and described Naughright as “vulgar-mouthed.” After the book came out, Naughright sued the Mannings, Underwood and the publisher for defamation. The court document the Daily News released last weekend came from this defamation case. The document describes Naughright’s version of the 1996 incident, and then her depiction of an ensuing cover-up orchestrated by Tennessee athletics officials — some of whom had sexually harassed her, she said. The court document calls the 1996 encounter “The Second Manning Incident.” The first, Naughright’s lawyers wrote, happened in the fall of 1994, and is detailed in a sealed section that follows the heading “Peyton Manning’s Motive & Malice.” “In the fall of 1994, an incident occurred involving Peyton Manning which will not only explain the genesis for Peyton Manning’s dislike for Dr. Naughright, but will be relevant to understanding the 1996 incident,” Naughright’s lawyers wrote. The next three-and-a-half pages are blank. Manning’s lawyers asked for all references to the 1994 event to be redacted from any court document that eventually would become public record. Naughright’s lawyers agreed. Among thousands of pages of court documents in Polk County, Fla., related to the 2002 defamation case, dozens of pages of depositions are missing chunks of testimony under “REDACTED” stamps.

There is one discussion of a 1994 incident that escaped redaction, though. It came during a deposition of former Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey, taken in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 16, 2002. Here is the exchange between Naughright’s lawyer, Bob Puterbaugh, and Dickey. Q: “Were you aware that in 1994 Dr. Naughright was a guest lecturer in a course taught by Carmen Tegano?” A: “No.” … Q: “Do you recall it ever being reported by Carmen Tegano, or anyone else, that Dr. Naughright had spoken to Carmen Tegano about the possibility of Peyton Manning having committed academic fraud in that course?” A: “No.” On March 11, 2003, Peyton Manning was deposed in New Orleans. In the transcript of his testimony — still kept in Polk County court records, and available online — 79 pages are missing. The transcript jumps from page 242 to page 321. A Polk County courts spokeswoman said this week that those pages were never filed with the court, and the only complete transcript copies left would be kept by a lawyer or party to the case. When the Manning transcript resumes on page 321, Manning denies “ever being in a class with her.” And at the very end of that transcript, there is a handwritten page detailing typos the court reporter had to go back to correct. The reporter made several corrections on the missing pages of Manning’s testimony, including the words “points” and “tests.” In the fall of 1994, Manning was an 18-year-old freshman at Tennessee. Naughright was then a 26-year-old trainer, doctoral student and a guest-lecturer in a course taught by longtime Tennessee associate athletic director Carmen Tegano. In Tegano’s deposition, several sections are also redacted. He does confirm Naughright lectured for one course he taught, and he also discusses later deciding he no longer wanted Naughright to participate in his class. Tegano told Naughright’s lawyer he couldn’t remember why he decided to end his teaching relationship with her. In his testimony, Tegano spoke glowingly of Manning, whom he called “one of the two finest student athletes to ever attend the University of Tennessee.” Tegano’s admiration for Manning was not a new development. In 1997, when Manning was a senior, Tegano was interviewed by a newspaper about Tennessee’s star quarterback. “Peyton has the brains of a lawyer, the heart of a warrior and the soul of a gentleman,” Tegano said. Tegano did not think as highly of Naughright, whom he testified he usually avoided around campus. When asked why, Tegano said: “Because I didn’t want her energy in my Karma circle.” Tegano still works at Tennessee as an associate athletics director. Reached by phone this week, he said he does not remember Naughright ever accusing Manning of cheating academically.

“It’s 20 years ago, and it’s hard to remember all this,” Tegano said. He added, however, that he remembered the specific class in which the cheating allegation would have happened. “It was a one-hour pass/fail class that was required of all athletes, and under no circumstances did Peyton Manning cheat. The class was based on attendance … It was an orientation class,” Tegano said. “Do you think he needed to cheat in a pass/fail class? … We’re talking about a man who graduated with one of the highest grade-point averages in his class.” (Manning graduated from Tennessee in three years with a degree in speech communications with a 3.61 GPA, according to a university news release.) In 1999, Tegano, who oversaw the tutoring of Tennessee athletes, was named in an ESPN story about Tennessee athletics officials ignoring reports of tutors doing schoolwork for football players. An English professor supported the allegations, but investigations by the school, the Southeastern Conference, and the NCAA found no infractions. In 2001, Tennessee moved the tutoring program from the the athletic department to the university provost office, away from Tegano’s management. “I was told … it was in the best interest of the university for the provost office to manage the academic support program,” Tegano said when the topic came up in his deposition. In 2015, Manning donated $3 million to Tennessee in honor of Tegano and another longtime athletic employee. As a result of the donation, a new dining hall on campus will be named after Tegano. Much like the uncertainty surrounding Naughright’s sexual assault allegation against Manning, the truth of the 1994 incident between the trainer and the quarterback may never come out. After Manning and Naughright settled the 2002 defamation case, all documents that had been filed under seal or redacted were returned to the lawyers and their clients. Because the courts don’t have the original, complete transcripts of anything that was redacted, a spokeswoman said, no court order can unseal them. Manning, now 39, is mulling retirement after his second Super Bowl win. His spokesman, Ari Fleischer, declined to comment for this story. Naughright, now 47, lives in Florida. She hasn’t spoken publicly since this latest spate of news coverage, and did not reply to a request to comment.

Chargers won't tag Eric Weddle, who likely wouldn't have signed anyway By Jared Dubin CBSSports.com Feb. 19, 2016 We can make it official now: Eric Weddle will not be back with the San Diego Chargers next season. General manager Tom Telesco told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the team will not be using the franchise tag this year, which will make it the fifth consecutive year the Chargers have not used the tag. Weddle, who would have received around $11 million under the tag, was the most likely candidate, but that will not be happening. "I don't foresee any scenario in which we'll use the franchise tag," Telesco said. And since Weddle has no intention of signing with the Chargers long-term (he said in January that he probably won't even speak to them ever again), his time with the team is now all but done. Weddle, 31, has been with San Diego for his entire nine-year NFL career. He has made three Pro Bowls and also been named first-team All-Pro twice. During his career, Weddle ranks fourth among safeties in Pro Football Reference's Approximate Value, which attempts to assign a single number to every player season since 1950. In other words, Weddle is really good. There are plenty of teams that will need safety help this offseason, and considering his play in 2015, Weddle likely has plenty left in the tank. He should have no shortage of suitors.

Report: Secret 1994 incident in Manning case may have dealt with alleged academic fraud By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk Feb. 19, 2016 In the six days since the New York Daily News released a 13-year-old document from a lawsuit against Peyton Manning and others, much has been said about a disputed 1996 incident involving Manning and former University of Tennessee trainer Jamie Naughright. But the 74-page document published by the Daily News also mentions an incident from 1994, the details of which had been scrubbed from the 74-page document at the request of Manning’s lawyers. Shaun King of the New York Daily News has suggested that he’s aware of the hidden details, and that he would be publishing them. He hasn’t. Will Hobson of the Washington Post has tried to connect the dots on the 1994 incident. Via Hobson, an October 2002 deposition of former Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey contains an exchange in which Naughright’s lawyer asked whether Naughright had spoken to associate A.D. Carmen Tegano “about the possibility of Peyton Manning having committed academic fraud” in a 1994 course taught by Tegano, which featured Naughright as a guest lecturer. That question appears at page 63 of Dickey’s deposition transcript. However, at no point during or after the question or before or during the answer does Manning’s lawyer request that the matter be treated as confidential. At page 77, after Naughright’s lawyer presents to Dickey two documents for inspection and questioning, Manning’s lawyer requests that the questions and answers regarding the documents be placed in the “confidential record” of the case. While it’s possible that, only 14 pages before asserting confidentiality regarding documents relating to the secret 1994 incident, Manning’s lawyers failed to make the same request regarding questions on the same topic, most lawyers don’t allow such matters to slip through the legal equivalent of the five hole. The two documents that triggered the confidentiality request at page 77 of the Dickey deposition had been introduced only one week earlier during the deposition of Jamie Naughright. Thus, Manning’s lawyer was well aware of the sensitivity of the 1994 allegation — and the lawyers undoubtedly were ready to ensure that any sensitive information would be kept out of the public record of the case. That said, it’s one thing for the lawyers to have asked general questions about possible academic fraud; it’s quite another for the lawyers to have produced a pair of documents that arguably (or actually) substantiated it. Until someone discloses the details of the 1994 incident that was removed from the 74-page document published last week by the Daily News, it will remain exactly what it has been for the last six days: A mystery. UPDATE 9:29 p.m. ET: A reader points out that page 47 of the 74-page document submitted by Naughright’s lawyers makes reference to possible academic fraud, through a question posted to Tegano at his deposition. “And isn’t it also true,” Tegano was asked, “that the plagiarism was so rampant with

student athletes, than an English professor here at the University of Tennessee threatened to bring up the entire Athletic Department on chargers of academic dishonesty?” Tegano answered, “Yes.” Neither the question nor the answer were redacted from the document.

Broncos’ Brandon Marshall has screws removed from foot By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk Feb. 19, 2016 Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall played an important role for the team on their way to a Super Bowl 50 title and he did it with a pair of screws in his right foot. Marshall had the screws surgically inserted last year after injuring his foot late in the 2014 season, but never missed any time in 2015 on his way to 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. Marshall won’t have to play with the screws in his foot again next season. Marshall sent out a picture of his foot with a caption announcing that he was “finally” going to have them removed. Things didn’t go exactly as planned as one screw broke and half of it had to remain in as a result. There’s no expectation that Marshall will miss any offseason work after having the screws removed. He’s set to be a restricted free agent, so he could miss some time if he and the Broncos can’t agree on a long-term deal but health shouldn’t be a concern for Marshall as he prepares for the fall.

Von Miller expects long term deal to get done, expects DeMarcus Ware back By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk Feb. 19, 2016 The expectation is that the Broncos are going to use the franchise tag on Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, partly because they can’t let him reach the open market and partly because that’s how they’ve always done things around there. But Miller said regardless the tag, he expects to eventually end up with a long-term deal with the Broncos, because of his relationship with executive vice president John Elway. “I put in all the work I can possibly do,” Miller said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “If I was with any other organization, if I was with any other team, maybe I’d be worried about everything, but I’ve got John Elway. He’s played, he’s had experience with this whole process. I feel comfortable. Me and John’s relationship is great: He was there when I was going through stuff and he never wavered. I feel like we won’t waver now either. “It will be a great experience, and it will be peaceful — there’s no reason for it not to be.” Well, there are millions of reasons it could be, but the Broncos have a pattern of tagging their own guys and extending them before the season starts, so it’s reasonable to expect the same thing will happen with their star pass-rusher. And Miller also believes that once he’s back, he’s going to be playing with DeMarcus Ware again. The 32-year-old Ware has a year left on his contract. “Most definitely, I definitely think he’s going to be back,” Miller said. “We need him back. You saw the job he did, not only with me, but with everybody in the locker room. That alone is worth every penny, then when you add in his pass rush, all the skill he still has, of course I would like to keep DeMarcus and think he will be back.” Ware has been important to Miller at several levels, shepherding him through a torn ACL and a substance abuse policy suspension. That, as much as the pass-rush presence he adds on the other side of the line, makes Miller hopeful they can all stay together.

Making sense of the original defamation complaint against Peyton Manning By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk Feb. 19, 2016 As the football-following world awaits new developments that may never come as to the 20-year-old allegations of improper conduct by then-19-year-old Peyton Manning, it makes sense to try to make sense of the information that has been hiding in plain sight for more than a decade. PFT has obtained the “verified complaint” in the defamation lawsuit filed in Florida by Jamie Naughright against Peyton Manning, Archie Manning, ghost-writer John Warren Underwood, Peydirt, Inc., and HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. on May 29, 2002. What follows is an attempt to explain the first filing in the case, including an attempt to show why the much-debated training-room incident from 1996 was relevant to a claim that, on the surface, was separate and distinct. In the verified complaint, Naughright made only one claim against the defendants: Defamation of character. To prove defamation, a plaintiff must prove that a false statement of fact was made, that the statement harmed the plaintiff’s reputation, and that the plaintiff suffered financial and/or emotional/mental harm as a result of the false statement. The Naughright defamation case arises exclusively from comments made by Peyton Manning in the 2001 book he wrote with his father, Archie. Long characterized by the media as a lawsuit arising only from Peyton’s belief that Naughright had a “vulgar mouth,” the verified complaint points to several other allegedly untrue statements in the book. Specifically, the verified complaint targets statement in the book regarding the “mooning” incident and Naughright’s “lawsuit” against the University of Tennessee alleging 35 separate incidents of sexual harassment. (She never actually filed a lawsuit against Tennessee, and the verified complaint repeatedly stresses that fact. Some would call this a distinction without a difference; still, she didn’t file an actual lawsuit against Tennessee.) The book allegedly downplays the “mooning” incident, saying it was “proved [to be] mostly exaggeration,” and the book contends that she was “suing the university over job grievances.” Naughright’s lawyers allege the following at paragraph 19 of the verified complaint: “The remaining quotations pertaining to the ‘mooning’ incident and the alleged ‘law suit’ falsely portray Dr. Naughright as an overly sensitive, predatory woman looking for incidents to bolster a law suit against her employer. Such portrayal is extremely damaging to her career in sports medicine in that it conveys Dr. Naughright is unsuitable for employment in her chosen field. Any future employer who accepts the Defendants’ false portrayal of Dr. Naughright as one who would be offended by such a relatively harmless action, would not even consider interviewing her for a position or hiring her for fear of being sued by her at the slightest provocation. The Defendants’ false version portrays Dr. Naughright as being too sensitive to hold any sports medicine position wherein she is required to interact with athletes or teach others how to interact with athletes and as such, is actionable per se, in that Defendant’s false version tends to subject Dr. Naughright to distrust, contempt, disgrace, odium, and ridicule, and suggests that she is unsuitable for employment in her chosen field.

This means the case arose from more than Peyton Manning calling Naughright someone with a “vulgar mouth.” It also came from his characterization of: (1) Naughright overreacting to a largely innocuous mooning; and (2) Naughright as being unreasonably litigious. For many employers, that combination is far more toxic than the question of whether a prospective or current employee uses coarse or rude language. While it’s entirely possible (as some have suggested) that Naughright pulled the 1996 “mooning” incident into the 2002 lawsuit to apply pressure to Peyton Manning, there’s potential merit to the argument that Manning (acting on a possible grudge he’d been holding since 1996) tried to make Naughright seem to be unreasonably sensitive in the workplace, and unreasonably willing to make claims arising from things that happen in a workplace. As to the so-called “mooning” incident of 1996, the verified complaint alleges at paragraph 20 that it “was not merely ‘mooning’, but was of such an egregious nature as to be beyond the pale.” At paragraph 21, the verified complaint calls the incident “of such a gross, crude, and indecent nature that it would have offended even the most callous individual,” that it was “filthy in nature,” that it “would be offensive to any reasonable individual,” and that the actions “were of a nature so bizarre and gross as to cause any reasonable person severe mental and emotional harm.” While the verified complaint at no point alleges that Peyton Manning’s genitalia and/or rectal area made contact with Naughright (she’d later make that specific claim in deposition testimony), the verified complaint is broad enough to encompass the allegation she eventually made. (Some would say that her version still conflicts with what she said about the incident in 1996, which definitely would have been an issue if the 2002 lawsuit had ever gone to trial.) Keep in mind that all of the allegations in the verified complaint are just that: Allegations. Manning later would respond to the allegations, denying all allegations that go to the question of whether he uttered false and defamatory statements about Naughright. At paragraph 27, the verified complaint claims that, “[s]hortly after the incident in 1996, Defendant Peyton Manning, in a crude attempt at humor, stated that ‘I’m glad it’s all behind me, no pun intended.'” Nearly two full decades later, the incident still isn’t behind him, due in large part to his decision to make mention of the situation in his book — and due to surprisingly renewed interest in a case that was never fully explored, understood, or resolved in its time. While there’s no way to resolve the case now (it was settled years ago), the case can at least be explored and understood. PFT has obtained other documents from the official file, which will be addressed here and, possibly, in a special PFT Live podcast that will attempt to explain the entire case in detail.

Philly D.A. on McCoy case: Goal is to get it right, not fast By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk Feb. 19, 2016 A report on Thursday indicated that the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office was “pushing back” at police recommendations about charging Bills running back LeSean McCoy with a crime for his involvement in a fight with off-duty police officers at a nightclub more than a week ago. The reason for the push-back is reportedly doubt about the behavior of the officers before, during and after the fight. During an appearance on Philadelphia radio station WIP Friday, Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police president John McNesby accused D.A. Seth Williams of “overthinking” the case. Williams released a statement defending his handling of the case later on Friday. “My team and I are continuing to investigate the incident that took place at the Recess Lounge,” Williams said. “Like with all investigations, I don’t comment about what I will or will not do until all of the evidence has been thoroughly reviewed. I understand that people are interested in the outcome of our investigation, but we’re not going to rush because some people are impatient — and to say that I am unwilling to prosecute difficult cases is a little misinformed. … The people of Philadelphia elected me to charge the right people with the right crimes nothing more and nothing less. My only goal is to get it right, not fast. The last thing we need is a rush to judgment.” McCoy’s attorney said this week that McCoy did nothing wrong, but an official determination on that front remains up in the air at least a little while longer.

Broncos Championship Stories: The cornerbacks By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com Feb. 19, 2016 Chris Harris Jr. Hardly recruited as high school prospect and undrafted after college, Chris Harris Jr. has reached an elite rank in part because he was driven by a desire for respect. He embraces the underdog status because he loves proving doubters wrong. From the small town of Bixby, Okla., Harris established himself as one of the top players at his school, but he didn't garner the attention that prospects elsewhere did. He was pegged as a two-star prospect and the only Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college that gave him an offer was Kansas University. At Kansas, Harris helped the Jayhawks reached new heights as a freshman when the team made its first BCS appearance in the 2008 Orange Bowl, a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech. Harris had one interception in that game and two on the year, and he was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He finished his collegiate career as a team captain and Kansas' defensive back of the year. But when the NFL Draft rolled around, 38 cornerbacks were drafted and Harris was not among them. Once again, Harris had been overlooked. He signed as a college free agent with the Broncos, and Harris proved himself in training camp and preseason to become a reserve defensive back and special teams gunner. It wouldn't take long for him to rise in the depth chart as Harris would start in four games in his rookie season. He would become a more consistent starter in his second season, starting 12 of 15 games, an impressive season in which Harris recorded 61 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Harris had another solid season in 2013, but as the Broncos began their playoff run to Super Bowl XLVIII, Harris' postseason ended. He suffered a torn ACL in Denver's playoff opener against the Chargers in their Divisional Round game and was placed on injured reserve. But he would make a furious recovery in the offseason to ensure he would be ready for the next season. Despite the destructive nature of ACL tears, Harris had perhaps his most dominant season just seven months removed from his injury. He didn't give up a touchdown all season and put his name on the national radar with his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selections. With Wade Phillips as the Broncos' new defensive coordinator in 2015, Harris was a key cog in the NFL's most dominant defense. Phillips had the confidence to keep Harris and Aqib Talib in man coverage, and the duo helped hold opposing offenses to a league-fewest 5.57 passing yards per play. Harris earned his second Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nod for his season. After missing the Broncos' 2013 Super Bowl playoff run, Harris persisted through a shoulder injury to ensure he wouldn't miss another and with him, the Broncos made a run to Super Bowl 50. Harris, along

with the rest of the Broncos' coverage unit, held the Panthers to a meager 4.1 yards per pass play with quarterback Cam Newton completing just 43.9 percent of his passing attempts. Aqib Talib Talib was also a two-star prospect out of high school who signed with Kansas, but his size, speed, instincts and ball skills ensured that he would not be an underdog after a stellar collegiate career. Talib declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season in 2007, a season for which he was named a consensus first-team All-American. Selected 20th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, Talib played 58 games as a Buccaneer, recording 18 interceptions and 52 passes defensed before he a midseason trade to New England. As a Patriot, Talib had five interceptions (one for a touchdown) and 15 passes defensed in 19 games. In 2014, Talib was reunited with his Kansas teammate when he signed as a free agent with the Broncos, joining Harris, the other starting cornerback. The two would combine to become one of the most dominant cornerback duos in the league. In his two seasons in Denver, Talib picked off seven passes and returned four of them for touchdowns. With eight interceptions returned for touchdowns in his career, Talib ranks seventh in NFL history and is tied for most among active players with Charles Woodson's retirement in 2015. Bradley Roby The son of a single mom, Roby began playing football as a way to get out of the house more instead of playing video games. The sport brought out his competitive nature and he fell in love with the spirit of it. At Ohio State, Roby started in all 37 games of his career, intercepting eight passes and recording 44 passes defensed. He was named an all-Big Ten selection for his junior season in which he posted 69 total tackles, three interceptions and 16 passes defensed. He declared for the NFL Draft after that year and the Broncos drafted him 31st overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Roby made an immediate impact as the Broncos' third cornerback from his first NFL game, breaking up a fourth-down pass attempt from Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter as the Colts attempted a game-tying drive against Denver in their 2014 season opener. Roby continued to make big plays as a rookie, recording two interceptions, 13 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the regular season. He also picked off Luck in the Broncos' Divisional Round game, becoming the second rookie in team history with a postseason interception. His second season also had quite the beginning when Roby finished off the Chiefs in Week 2 at Arrowhead Stadium by returning a Jamaal Charles fumble 21 yards for the game-winning touchdown. He had 40 total tackles, one interception, 10 passes defensed and one forced fumble to go along with that one fumble recovery. And in the AFC Championship Game, Roby picked off Tom Brady's two-point conversion pass attempt that could have tied the game. Kayvon Webster

A third-round (90th overall) selection in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Broncos, Webster made his mark on this Super season by consistently helping pin opponents deep in their own territory on special teams. In the Broncos' Divisional Round matchup against the Steelers, Webster made a stunning save that showcased his athleticism and awareness. Punting through tricky winds, Britton Colquitt drove the ball toward the left pylon with the hope of keeping the Steelers from decent field position as the Broncos held on to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. The ball began bouncing toward the end zone at the 12-yard line as the Steelers were happy to let it turn into a touchback. Webster caught up with it right as it bounced over the goal line. With a leap, Webster's momentum carried him past the ball without touching the ground, allowing him to bat it back into the field of play. The ball bounced out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Webster's big play turned into a Steelers three-and-out, which then led to a short punt and then a Brandon McManus field goal from 41 yards out. With season-ending injuries to safeties David Bruton Jr. and Omar Bolden, the Broncos needed leadership and brilliance from those who stepped up in their absence, and Kayvon Webster did just that. Lorenzo Doss The Broncos snagged Tulane University's two starting cornerbacks in the 2015 NFL Draft, with Doss being drafted first at 164th overall in the fifth round. Doss transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback at Tulane, and his ball skills as a receiver made him a formidable defender. He finished his three-year career with 126 total tackles, 15 interceptions, 35 passes defensed, one sacks and two fumble recoveries. He had his breakout season as a sophomore with seven interceptions, earning him first-team All-Conference USA and second-team All-America honors. As a Bronco, Doss appeared in six games on special teams and posted one tackle. Taurean Nixon The other half of the Broncos' Tulane twosome, Nixon started alongside Doss in 2014. Nixon had 31 total tackles as a senior, as well as one interception and five passes defensed. An outstanding athlete, Nixon was a Louisiana High School Athletic Association 1A champion at Southern Lab High School in the 100-meter dash. He committed to the University of Memphis, but Nixon decided to transfer after two years to be closer to home. After sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules, Nixon became a key part of the Green Wave's special-teams unit as a junior and moved into the starting lineup as a senior. He had 31 tackles, one interception and five passes defensed as a senior. Nixon spent his rookie season on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster on Jan. 19, 2016. One of Nixon's biggest impacts was his role in the community. As a practice squad player, he didn't travel with the team to away games, so he instead watched the games with sick children at a hospital. Nixon was named the Broncos' 2015 Community Rookie of the Year.