Everything we learned from John Elway and Vic Fangio's press conferences to kick off training camp

DENVER — Denver Broncos training camp has finally arrived. In a drastically different fashion, of course.

On Tuesday, as veteran players reported for their first COVID-19 test, John Elway and Vic Fangio spoke to the media via Zoom to preview a training camp that will be like nothing anyone has seen before.

While COVID-19 maintains to be the most talked-about topic around the NFL, and world, there were still plenty of other headlines from Tuesday’s press conferences.

PLAYERS OPTING OUT

Veteran defensive lineman Kyle Peko kicked off the day by informing the team he has decided to opt-out of the 2020 season. Elway added the reason Peko oped out was because he had a preexisting condition.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Peko was the only Bronco to have opted out of the season, but Elway said he’s heard “rumblings” about other players potentially opting out.

Any player may opt-out of the 2020 season, but must inform their team seven days after the NFL and NFLPA agree on the specifics, which has yet to be finalized.

On Tuesday, many players across the league opted out, including numerous New England Patriots, most notably Dont’a Hightower and Patrick Chung.

LEAN ON THE D

The 2020 offseason has brought the most excitement and optimism surrounding the Broncos’ offense since Peyton Manning was in town.

But on Tuesday, the general manager who built that excitement poured some cold water, instead of gas, on the fire that was beginning to ignite.

“[Expectations are] definitely tempered,” Elway said, when asked specifically about Drew Lock. “I don’t think we can expect with no offseason for us to come out and be hitting on all cylinders [offensively]… We definitely have to give them some rope and temper it a little bit and take it one practice at a time.”

Elway added it’s “going to be a slow build” for the offense once the season starts, especially with no preseason games or a traditional offseason program, which Elway said is “very, very important” for young football players.

Yet, that doesn’t change the bottom line of winning football games, according to the general manager. That’s why more pressure will be put on the defense.

“If you look on the defensive side, for the most part, with the players and veterans that we’ve added to the defensive side, with the veterans that have been here with another year of understanding Vic defense and what it’s about, obviously, we’re going to have to lean on the defense,” Elway stated.

SIMMONS DEAL NOT CLOSE

For the first time in Elway’s tenure as the Broncos’ general manager, he was unable to get a long-term deal done with a franchised-tagged player.

While the financial uncertainty of the global pandemic certainly had a role to play in Justin Simmons and the Broncos not reaching a long-term deal before the July 15th deadline, Elway also said the two sides were “far apart” when it came to the money.

“It just didn’t feel like we were going to get there, so we didn’t get there,” Elway said on the negotiations.

Despite that, Elway hopes the two sides can get a deal done next offseason.

“Hopefully, with what we think of Justin, we can get something done next year in the offseason, and we’d like to make him a Bronco for a long time because he’s the type of person that we want, as I said before this year started,” Elway stated. “It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out.”

CHUBB WILL PRACTICE

Less than 10 months after tearing his ACL in Week 4 of the 2019 season, Bradley Chubb is almost back at full strength.

“He’s not 100 percent, but he’s pretty damn close and I think he’s had a hell of a rehab,” Fangio said. “He’s doing very well. The key for him too is he’s doing well mentally. He never let the grind and the ups and downs of rehab get to him. He fought through it.”

The former No. 5 overall pick will not start his third season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the PUP, and will practice with the team at the start of camp.

Despite only racking up one sack before sustaining his injury last year, the coaching staff was estatic about Chubb’s potential.

PRETEND BUBBLE

Unlike the NBA, the NFL season will not be conducted in a bubble. However, having the mindset of being in a bubble will make the conclusion of the season possible.

“We’re not in a bubble, but we’re going to have to act and behave like we are,” president and CEO Joe Ellis said on Tuesday.

Ellis added it’s not just the players that will have to behave this way, but all of the coaches, Elway and his staff, everyone in the facility and even himself.

“You do not have the freedom that you are normally used to having,” Fangio said. “When you’re not here, when you’re outside of our building and our fields, you can’t go to bars and restaurants, you can’t be around people you don’t know. You can’t be in gatherings of too many people.”

Fangio and Elway preached it will be the responsibility of the players to follow proper protocols once they leave the facility.

“These players have to have a commitment when they leave the building,” Elway stated firmly. “These players more than ever have to be dedicated to the cause.”

HUNGRY VON

Coming off one of the most disappointing seasons of his career, Von Miller enters the 2020 season a changed man—literally and figuratively.

“He’s put on some weight,” Fangio said, implying it in a positive way. “I know he’s worked extremely hard and I do sense that he has a hunger to his game and to his attitude that I don’t think he’s had in the last few years in the league.”

Despite being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the offseason, Fangio said he doesn’t believe that affected him much and it “didn’t really slow him down.”

“From everything I hear and know, I do think he’s had a helluva offseason,” Fangio added. “I’m anxious to see him.”