ARNIE STAPLETON
FILE - Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine addresses the media during a press conference in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, file photo. All four defensive coordinators who will be trying to shut down high-powered offenses in the NFL playoffs this weekend have been head coaches before, providing valuable experience in the conference championships. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File)
D-coordinators bring head coaching chops to NFL title games

By Arnie Stapleton 10 hrs ago
All four NFL teams playing in the conference championships have a defensive

This undated photo provided by the Minnesota Vikings shows George Paton. John Elway's replacement as Broncos general manager will be Vikings executive George Paton. Elway announced the hiring Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Paton spent the last 14 seasons with Minnesota, including the last six as vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. He's been one of the hottest names on the GM circuit in recent years. (Minnesota Vikings via AP)
Elway empowers GM as Paton promises collaboration, consensus

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 19, 2021 08:16 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — George Paton is notoriously picky, bypassing

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) call signals against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Analysis: Backup QBs saw plenty of action in NFL playoffs

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 19, 2021 02:48 AM EST
Backup quarterbacks did more than just hold clipboards in the NFL’s divisional

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts' Kenny Moore II during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Bucs, Browns, Bills out to follow footsteps of champ Chiefs

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 14, 2021 02:52 AM EST
Aside from winning the final Super Bowl before the merger in 1970, the Kansas

This undated photo provided by the Minnesota Vikings shows George Paton. John Elway's replacement as Broncos general manager will be Vikings executive George Paton. Elway announced the hiring Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Paton spent the last 14 seasons with Minnesota, including the last six as vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. He's been one of the hottest names on the GM circuit in recent years. (Minnesota Vikings via AP)
Broncos hire ex-Vikings exec Paton as Elway's GM successor

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 13, 2021 02:06 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Elway’s hand-picked successor as Broncos general

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) greets Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) after defeating them in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, late Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Column: Smith-Schuster fires up foes through jigs and digs

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 12, 2021 02:31 AM EST
Say this about Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster: he sure knows how to fire up foes through

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Elway announced a major change in the Broncos’ football operations Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, saying he will hire a general manager who will report to him but have final say on the draft, free agency and the roster. Elway, who has been GM since 2011, will remain as president of football operations in 2021, the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Broncos focus on 5 candidates for John Elway's GM successor

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 10, 2021 02:15 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Broncos are focusing on five candidates to replace

Chicago Bears' Mitchell Trubisky thorws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rodgers leads Pack to top of NFC after draft disappointment

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 07, 2021 07:15 PM EST
The NFC playoff field features the usual cast of quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers,

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 07, 2021 04:13 PM EST
So often, uneasy is the head that wears the crown. Yet the Kansas City Chiefs

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 file photo, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway, left, stands with Broncos President and CEO Joe Ellis, right, before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Denver. The Denver Broncos' new general manager will join an organization embroiled in a family ownership feud and will work in the shadow of John Elway, whom team president Joe Ellis described as "the most important and impactful person" in franchise history.(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Ellis: Broncos GM job a good gig despite ownership issues

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 05, 2021 06:08 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos’ new general manager will join an

Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts scratches his head on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philly Special gives way to QB quagmire for Doug Pederson

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 05, 2021 02:15 AM EST
DENVER (AP) — Three years ago Doug Pederson was hailed as a genius after his

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Elway announced a major change in the Broncos’ football operations Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, saying he will hire a general manager who will report to him but have final say on the draft, free agency and the roster. Elway, who has been GM since 2011, will remain as president of football operations in 2021, the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Elway takes elevated role, seeks new GM to report to him

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 04, 2021 04:06 PM EST
DENVER (AP) — Grandchild number 7 came a few days early but right on time for

Denver Broncos safety Alijah Holder (33), free safety Justin Simmons (31) and cornerback Parnell Motley celebrate after Simmons made an interception against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Derek Carr rallies Las Vegas Raiders to 32-31 win in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 03, 2021 08:20 PM EST
DENVER (AP) — This time, Shelby Harris wasn't there to knock down Derek Carr's

FILE - In this Sept.1969 file photo, Denver Broncos' Floyd Little avoids the tackle of New York Jets' Steve O'Neal (20) during a football game in Denver. Little, the Hall of Fame running back who starred at Syracuse and for the Denver Broncos, has died. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said he died Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/File)
Floyd Little, Syracuse and Broncos great, dies at 78

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 02, 2021 03:30 PM EST
Floyd Little, the versatile running back who starred at Syracuse and for the

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Justin Jones during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Broncos staying the course in 2021 after another bad year

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 01, 2021 05:57 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — It appears the Denver Broncos are all getting a

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary runs with the ball as Denver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris defends during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Knee injury ends Shelby Harris' breakout season in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 31, 2020 08:41 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Shelby Harris’ best and most eventful season came to an

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) misses a pass in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Raiders, Broncos jockeying for draft position, not playoffs

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 31, 2020 04:59 PM EST
DENVER (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos are jockeying for draft

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Melvin Gordon 107 yards shy of 1,000 in 1st season in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 06:58 PM EST
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Melvin Gordon hasn’t exactly had a memorable first

FILE - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers a question during a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami, in this Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, file photo. Playing through the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded countless lessons for a league that was born in the shadows of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Goodell said the league will confer with the players union after the Super Bowl to discuss what measures might make sense keeping once the crisis subsides. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
COVID-19 changed NFL in 2020 and some shifts are permanent

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 03:03 PM EST
Through plenty of potholes, seas of empty seats and enough piped-in crowd noise

Alvin Kamara, corredor de los Saints de Nueva Orleáns, festeja luego de realizar su sexto acarreo de anotación en el duelo ante los Vikings de Minnesota, el viernes 25 de diciembre de 2020 (AP Foto/Butch Dill)
Curious calls by Sean Payton, Jon Gruden highlight Week 16

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 29, 2020 02:26 AM EST
What was Sean Payton thinking? What was Jon Gruden thinking