Kicker Brandon McManus has been released by the Denver Broncos. The 31-year-old kicker was the last remaining player from the Super Bowl 50 team. Sean Payton and the Broncos now have to go out and get a replacement late into the offseason. Was the decision to let him go based on performance? Is Sean Payton trying to send a message to the team?
The Denver Broncos have roughly $12 million in cap space entering the NFL’s 2023 new league year. But the team could open up significantly more cap space by moving on from many players on each side of the ball. Should Sean Payton and George Paton consider cutting Garett Bolles, Graham Glasgow, Lloyd Cushenberry and Chase Edmonds on the offensive side of the ball to free up cap space? What about Brandon McManus? Also, could trading for Derrick Henry be the best way to help turn Russell Wilson around?
The Broncos were one yard away from going for it on fourth down instead of kicking a 64-yard field goal.
But Javonte Williams got the extra yard. And the decision to kick the field goal had already been decided.
In a way, the Broncos’ 34-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was their bottle episode.
After shanking a crucial 55-yard field goal, Brandon McManus and Vic Fangio had a heated exchange on the sideline.
After the Broncos' crushing 17-13 loss, Fangio blamed the heated exchange on the officials.
“What does it mean to you to be named team captain?” Justin Simmons was asked that question Monday, and the emotion in his voice detailed the depth of the honor for the sixth-year safety.
By Tuesday afternoon, George Paton and Vic Fangio must narrow down the Broncos' roster from 80 players to the final 53.
Here's who is projected to make the final roster.
Could Fangio make a decision between the two quarterbacks in the coming days? “We might,” he said after the Broncos’ 30-3 romp over the Seahawks at Lumen Field. “I want to take a look at the tape some more.”
After throwing three interceptions on Saturday, Teddy Bridgewater was in desperate need of a bounce-back day following Sunday's off day.
He did just that on Monday to keep the Broncos' quarterback competition a true toss up.
If Drew Lock had more days like the one he had Tuesday, it might never have been necessary for the Broncos to trade for Teddy Bridgewater.
"There are some advantages personally and some team-wise as well," kicker Brandon McManus explains.
When our society emerges into a "new normal," things won't be the same. Even more of our purchases will come straight to our doorsteps. For some, remote "virtual" work is here to stay. This is the direction in which the NFL Players Association wants to take the offseason.
In order to keep Denver below the expected $180 million salary cap, tough decisions will need to be made on many of the Broncos' current players. However, there's a handful of players that are safe thanks to their contracts.
Past glories have never seemed farther away.
The Broncos learned their lesson.
“We’ve had too many negative plays in the kicking game this year," Vic Fangio said. "We’ve got to do a better job of covering."
As Vic Fangio put it after practice, defensive coaches and players loved the way the scrimmage went. On the flip side, offensive players and coaches did not.
Someday, we may look back and wonder, "Why did we play four preseason games every year?"
This would have been an ideal year for the NFL to adopt what could have been a radical change.
By a 51.5-48.5 percentage margin, the NFLPA ratified the new collective bargaining agreement Sunday.
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