Player Notes

When Sean Payton arrived on the Front Range this offseason intent on turning around the Broncos, he embarked upon a challenge that has eluded every Super Bowl-winning coach who preceded him.Since the AFL and NFL merged in 1966, a total of 35 coaches have led their teams to at least one Super Bowl title. While 14 of those have gone on to coach another franchise later in their careers, none have raised ...

It’s not just about volume. It’s volume and pitch, and people with voices that carry know how to create a frequency that pierces the air like a missile.Eric Bieniemy is a master of both.He’s typically heard before he’s seen at practices, shouting formations and plays — “Zebra! Zee-bra!” — or ordering running backs to cap each play with a score or issuing blunt reminders to his offense. “We can’t run ...

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers may have traded away Trey Lance, but Nick Bosa is definitely not available, coach Kyle Shanahan made clear Wednesday.“No. I haven’t talked to many people about that but I know I feel pretty strongly,” Shanahan said. “I think everyone would agree to that.”General manager John Lynch concurred in an ensuing media session. Asked if there’s a chance they trade Bosa, Lynch replied: ...

Former South Jersey star Jonathan Taylor remains on the physically unable to perform list with the Indianapolis Colts, who have failed to trade the former All-Pro running back.The Colts reportedly have engaged in trade discussions with the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins about Taylor, who requested a trade last month. Taylor, a standout at Salem High School and Wisconsin, will miss the first four ...

Eric Mangini learned it the hard way. So, apparently, has Peter King.If you cross Bill Belichick, the Patriots head coach is done with you.King, now a columnist for NBC Sports, told The Athletic that he hasn’t spoken to Belichick in 17 years.Why?Belichick didn’t like King’s coverage of Spygate.“That’s the cost of doing business sometimes,” King said. “He’s one of the greatest coaches of all time. I’m ...

Soon after he was drafted by the Giants this year, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was sent a video message by Odell Beckham Jr. asking him not to “break all my records in your rookie year.”Hyatt at least will match one of OBJ’s numbers, officially switching from No. 84 to No. 13 for his initial NFL campaign — the jersey number Beckham wore during his five accomplished seasons with the Giants from 2014-18.Wide ...

Rams general manager Les Snead has been to the mountain top but his vantage point at the moment might be deep in the valley as the Rams are coming off a 5-12 title defense that led to the severing of ties with significant players from a roster that won the Super Bowl just a year earlier.Snead spoke via video conference on Wednesday, addressing his 53-man roster entering the Sept. 10 season opener and ...

It’s a little early still for a Detroit Lions preview column. It’s never too early for hype, as evidenced by the deluge of coverage and anticipation for the season opener the last several months.Shoot, you could argue that the hype train, as Dan Campbell called it back in late July, began the moment his team secured a victory against the Packers in Green Bay in January.The Lions' 2022 season wasn’t ...

The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face to compete for the kicking job.The Lions re-signed kicker Michael Badgley to their practice squad Wednesday, a month after they cut him just before the start of training camp.Badgley made 20 of 24 field goals and all 33 extra point attempts in 12 games with the Lions last season after joining the team in October to help stabilize a poor kicking game.He ...

The Detroit Lions hoped to bring Starling Thomas V back on their practice squad after they cut the rookie cornerback Tuesday. The Arizona Cardinals had other ideas.The Cardinals were awarded Thomas off waivers Wednesday, the only Lions cut claimed by another team.The Lions did not make any waiver claims.Thomas had an impressive spring after signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent and played ...