John Bowlen Jr., son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, arrested on domestic violence charges By Nicki Jhabvala, Troy E. Renck and Jesse Paul DenverPost.com June 4, 2015

John Bowlen Jr., the son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was arrested Wednesday night on domestic violence charges after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend against a bathroom wall in Glendale, records show. Police say Bowlen's girlfriend was trying to call police because "of his erratic behavior," but dropped the phone when she was pushed. Investigators say Bowlen then ended the call. When dispatchers called back, he picked up the phone, an arrest warrant says. "This is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry. Nothing is wrong," Bowlen said, according to the warrant. Bowlen is a candidate to take over the team after his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, announced in July he would relinquish his duties and look to transfer ownership to one of his seven children. Bowlen, 29, was held at the Arapahoe County jail overnight on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment, two Class 3 misdemeanors. He was released Thursday on $1,000 bond on conditions of monitored sobriety and no co-habitation with the victim. His next hearing is scheduled for July 6. Glendale police say they were called to a luxury apartment building on the 4500 block of Cherry Creek Drive South about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in response to the dropped 911 call. Officers said in an arrest warrant that when they arrived at the apartment they could hear a female crying and a male yelling. "I didn't do anything wrong and I'm going to call Harvey," Bowlen said when he opened the door for police, according to the warrant. Bowlen then called a man he said was his lawyer, according to police. Attorney Harvey Steinberg is representing Bowlen. Bowlen's girlfriend told investigators he had made comments about killing someone and was under the influence of "whippets" — nitrous oxide — and alcohol. She said she had been dating him for about 10 months during which there were "previous incidences of verbal abuse," the warrant said. The Broncos have placed Bowlen, a marketing employee based out of Sports Authority Field at Mile High, on an indefinite leave of absence, per NFL protocol. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the team said in a statement. "While this is a

personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization." The Broncos were one of the first teams in the NFL to conduct domestic violence seminars for all employees last season, and Bowlen was required to attend two sessions. In 2003, Bowlen was accused in Glendale of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia, but those charges were dismissed by Arapahoe County prosecutors, court records show. In August 2005, Bowlen was arrested by Boulder police on suspicion of driving under the influence, Colorado Bureau of Investigation records show. He pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired in that case, according to court records. The Broncos' ownership is in a trust run by Broncos CEO and president Joe Ellis, team counsel Rich Slivka and Denver attorney Mary Kelly. They will make the eventual decision on who takes over the team. Pat Bowlen, 71, has two daughters from his first marriage to Sally Parker. The youngest, Elizabeth "Beth" Bowlen Wallace, 44, is the team's director of special projects and events. The oldest, Amie Bowlen Klemmer, resides in Hawaii. Pat Bowlen has five children with Annabel Bowlen, to whom he's been married 35 years. RELATED: More musings from the Denver Broncos OTAs Patrick III, 31, is the facilities coordinator of the Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium Management Company. John Jr., named after his uncle, has a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in sports and entertainment management from the University of Colorado at Denver. Brittany, 25, is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a part of the NFL's junior rotational internship program for training on the league's business side. Pat's two youngest daughters are Annabel, 22, and Christianna, 17.

Brandon Marshall planning to be ready for training camp this summer By Troy E. Renck DenverPost.com June 4, 2015

Forget the Broncos' reshuffled offensive line for a second. Equal concern remains about a player standing across from the group: inside linebacker Brandon Marshall. Last season's breakout star suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot Dec. 14 at San Diego, but has begun jogging between stations at practice and even backpedaled lightly this week. He's not cleared to run, but every step of his recovery leads him to believe he will be ready for training camp. "I just tell people to trust me," Marshall said Thursday. "I have persevered my whole life. There's nothing too big I can't handle. I am getting better every day. I have no doubts." Marshall finished last season with 113 tackles, including 91 solo stops. He had offseason surgery March 11 after under- going a second magnetic resonance imaging exam when the foot failed to heal. C.J. Anderson makes a promise Running back C.J. Anderson offered a simple solution to the Broncos' revamped offensive line. "We will make them right, that's a promise. It's on us to make the right cuts," Anderson said. "It would be unacceptable to make them look bad." Anderson occasionally will have help from a fullback. But as of yet, that doesn't include Juwan Thompson. The second-year player from Duke is working at tailback, with James Casey and Joe Don Duncan operating at fullback. Malik Jackson not worried about contract Defensive end Malik Jackson, a blossoming star, said the Broncos have not discussed a contract extension with him. He is not "worried about it," and assumes something will happen after the season. He has been one of the team's most productive defenders the past two years. ... Virgil Green is leaning on tight end Owen Daniels to help learn the offense. Daniels has spent his career with coach Gary Kubiak. "I ask him questions all the time. He's probably going to get sick of me. He knows the little details about things," Green said.

Jeff Heuerman signs with Broncos, moves forward in recovery from surgery By Troy E. Renck DenverPost.com June 4, 2015

Jeff Heuerman walked out of the Dove Valley front lobby on crutches Thursday, a symbol of an interrupted future. The Broncos believe he can be an impact player, but those plans were put on hold when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at rookie minicamp last month, sidelining him for the season. He took another step in his methodical road to recovery, signing his four-year rookie contract worth $3 million with a projected $600,000 signing bonus based on the slotting system. The Broncos have signed their entire draft class. Heuerman was expected to contend for playing time, but will instead take mental reps and help out at practice as he recovers from surgery. "It is going well," said Heuerman, carrying an Ohio State national championship backpack. Heuerman, a former top junior hockey player, caught 52 passes for 792 yards and seven touchdowns at Ohio State, serving as a premier blocker. Former Buckeyes cornerback Bradley Roby provided advice to Heuerman on navigating this lost season. "I told him, 'Don't just sulk. Things like that happen. It's football. All you can do is keep moving forward. You can't sit there and be like, 'Oh, man, I got hurt.' You have to take what life gives you and keep going," Roby said. "I just told him to keep his head up, and that I'm there for whatever he needs." C.J. Anderson looks to make right cuts The external concern about the Broncos' offensive line remains palpable. Denver will feature a minimum of three new starters, and possibly five, while employing 39-year-old Peyton Manning. Three quarterbacks have started a full season at age 39 — Brett Favre, Doug Flutie and Warren Moon, according to Football Outsiders. Can a overhauled line keep Manning from taking hits and establish a powerful running game? C.J. Anderson has adopted Hall of Famer Jim Brown's philosophy regarding the question, believing it's on the running back. "We will make them right, that's a promise. It's on us to make the right cuts," Anderson said. "It would be unacceptable to pick the wrong cuts and make them look bad." Anderson reiterated Thursday that he won't be a "one-year wonder," and that he's learned plenty about the zone blocking offense by talking to Baltimore's Justin Forsett and watching video of Houston's Arian

Foster. Anderson revealed that only James Casey and Joe Don Duncan are working at fullback. Juwan Thompson, initially viewed as a fullback candidate, is working at running back. Malik Jackson not worried about contract Malik Jackson, a blossoming star, said the Broncos have not discussed a contract extension. He said he's not "worried about it," and that he assumes something will happen after the season. Jackson has ranked as one of the team's most productive defenders over the past two seasons. ... Virgil Green is leaning on tight end Owen Daniels to help learn the offense. Daniels has spent his career with coach Gary Kubiak. "I ask him questions all the time. He's probably going to get sick of me. He knows the little details about things."

More musings from the Denver Broncos OTAs By Nicki Jhabvala DenverPost.com June 4, 2015

Phase 3 of the Broncos' organized team activities begins Thursday, wrapping up their offseason program before training camp opens in mid-July. At lot has happened in the last month and a half of workouts, most of which have been welldocumented and dissected by now. But not everything that has happened than could be printed, so here's a round up of some of the best quotes, anecdotes and more that maybe didn't deserve their due earlier in the offseason. • Emmanuel Sanders put up career numbers last season, his first in Denver. Under head coach John Fox, the Broncos' offense was centered around Peyton Manning for the first half of the season, meaning Sanders got his catches and his yardage. With Gary Kubiak at the helm now, Sanders was asked if he was concerned about his individual stats, and if he's tempered his expectations. His response: "I think a good year this year is winning the Super Bowl, first off. It doesn't matter about stats. I understand what you are saying. Obviously it's not going to be one of those offenses where you have two receivers catching over 100 passes. My goal is just to really try to get 1,000 yards and help this team win ball games." • Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware have been schooling rookie tackle Ty Sambrailo in practice with the intention of making him better and helping him to quickly transition from the college to pro game. But while they're unrelenting on Sambrailo on the field, Miller sang his praises off the field, during a Taste of the Broncos preview event Wednesday: "He's just a natural talent. He has the size, he has the quickness. It's just a different level when you get here to the league, and you need education about everything. You can tell in practice he has a whole lot of talent and he's going to be great for us. He's very receptive of everything. Going against me and DeMarcus, and then we got Lerentee (McCray) and all those guys, it's going to be great for him." • Peyton Manning, ever the stickler for details in practice, slipped up last week. Yep. After the Broncos trotted out of the locker room wearing shirts that read "Keep Your Feet," Manning was the first player to go down during 11-on-11 drills. Kubiak's recollection of the incident, of course, differed from Manning's. "The one thing the league always wants you to do is to keep players off the ground," Kubiak said. " We preach it and we give out T-shirts that say, 'Stay on your feet.' He's the first one to hit the ground. We're giving him a hard time." Manning responded with a smile: "I don't remember that. I've already gone to (video director) Steve Boxer, our video guy. It's already been erased. That's the advantage of being tight with your video guys."

• Kubiak has made a point to rest the veterans — Manning included — once a week during the offseason to give the backups more reps. Brock Osweiler has never been happier. He said he's getting more reps than he ever has as a Bronco. Maybe because he's stealing Zac Dysert's, too: "I love the extra reps," Osweiler said. "I'll take as many as they want to give me. In fact, sometimes I try to sneak in a couple extra. Zac, if I see him not running in there, I try to act like they're my reps and then I get ripped out (laughing). It's huge. I think it's huge for development in a new offense. I'll take as many as I can get." Poor Zac. • Miller said he believed the Broncos have one of the best secondaries in the league. They did last year, and with safety Darian Stewart, Chris Harris believes they got even better. "I'm loving Stewart right now," Harris said. "He's very vocal and a smart guy. I can tell that he's going to have a physical presence. When running backs come through the hole, I feel like he's going to land the hammer on them. Add that with T.J. (Ward), so I'm loving what Stewart's bringing, how fast he's picking up the defense and the chemistry that we've already built together out there on the field. I love that pickup right now." • One thing that was apparent from Day 1 is the change in running back Montee Ball. After a season of injuries, Ball has returned lighter and more determined than ever to vie for the starting job. He's also been more vocal: "It's interesting because I asked the coaches after about a month of work—I said, 'You know, he's a real quiet guy,' " Kubiak said. "One of the coaches said, 'He's really not. He's just different this year.' He's working. He's very focused in what he's doing. I think he knows C.J. (Anderson) did a heck of a job at the end of the year, but he sees himself as a starter also. I think he and Ronnie (Hillman) and all of them as a group know they're going to get a fair opportunity. I'm impressed with him. I like what he's doing. I know we don't have any pads on, but he's working extremely well." CHEW ON THIS • Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton has been talking to his new quarterback, Robert Griffin III, a lot about his old quarterback's ways. Knighton's teammates, however, can't stop talking about his size. A couple gems, courtesy of The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg: "He's the biggest person I've ever seen," tight end Logan Paulsen said. "He makes us all look like children out there," 258-pound linebacker Trent Murphy said. • If watching Stephen Curry rap in the Davidson cafeteria doesn't get you hyped for the start of the NBA Finals nothing will. (You should also read this New York Times piece on him.)

John Bowlen arrested on domestic violence charges By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com June 4, 2015

John Bowlen, son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was held in the Arapahoe County Jail overnight after an arrest Wednesday on domestic violence charges. John Bowlen was arrested around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend against a bathroom wall, police said. According to a Glendale police affidavit, they were responding to a dropped 911 call. "When [Bowlen] pushed [the caller] against the wall, she dropped the cellphone, at which point he picked it up and hung up the connection with 911," Glendale police said in a statement. Upon arrival, police heard a man yelling and a woman crying when they arrived at the apartment. After entering, Bowlen told officers, "I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't do anything and I'm going to call Harvey [Steinberg, his lawyer]," the affidavit said. Police said the woman came out of the bathroom and told them Bowlen had become enraged when she mentioned "contacting 'help' for Bowlen when he made comments to kill someone he had a prior conflict with." The woman told police that Bowlen was under the influence of alcohol and "whippets," a nitrous oxidefilled cartridge that users inhale to get high. The woman said she told Bowlen she was going to call 911 because of his behavior and went into the bathroom to make the call. She said Bowlen ran in and shoved her against the wall, causing her to drop her cellphone. She told police she wasn't hurt but feared for her safety. When the dispatcher called the number back, Bowlen answered and said he was the owner of the Broncos and that nothing was wrong. Meanwhile, a woman could be heard yelling in the background, police said. Bowlen was held overnight in lieu of bail and had a court appearance Thursday afternoon. Courthouse records show he was held on two Class 3 misdemeanor counts: third-degree assault and harassment. He was granted a pretrial release in court Thursday. Bond was set at $1,000, and his next court date is July 6. The judge said Bowlen had to stay sober, couldn't handle firearms and was allowed contact with the alleged victim but that they couldn't live together. Bowlen was placed on an "indefinite leave of absence" from the team Thursday afternoon. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization. While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies," the Broncos said in a statement. "As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization."

John Bowlen was among the Broncos employees who attended domestic violence seminars the team held last year. The Broncos held two sessions at their suburban practice complex -- one primarily for coaches and players, the other for other football staff -- and two sessions for their employees who work at the downtown stadium. The Broncos were one of the first teams in the NFL to conduct mandatory domestic violence training for all employees. Bowlen is one of Pat Bowlen's seven children. Pat Bowlen, who has Alzheimer's disease, stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the team last year. The team is currently operated by the Bowlen Family Trust, and team CEO Joe Ellis has final authority on all decisions. Ellis has said Pat Bowlen's hope was that the team would continue to operate in the trust until one of Bowlen's children was ready to run the franchise. John Bowlen, 29, has worked in a variety of departments with the team in recent years and is currently a corporate partnerships coordinator. It is the second domestic violence arrest in just over a year for a child of a Broncos executive. Jack Elway, son of Broncos executive vice president of football operations and general manager John Elway, was arrested in May 2014 on charges of disturbing the peace and assaulting his then-girlfriend. Jack Elway eventually pleaded guilty to the disturbing the peace charge. The assault charge was dropped by the Denver city attorney's office.

Some of new Broncos coaches say it loud(er) and proud By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com June 4, 2015

The Denver Broncos are the only team in the league that has won four consecutive division titles and is sporting a new coaching staff. They have a roster littered with Pro Bowl players -- eight played in the game and 11 were selected last year either in the initial voting or as injury replacements -- who are used to winning, having gone 38-10 over the last three seasons, 46-18 over the last four years. And while opinions vary about whether coaches’ volume translates into wins, as the Broncos continue through their offseason program in at least some get-to-know-you fashion for the players and coaches, it’s clear the festivities are louder. “I think it’s been cool,’’ linebacker Steven Johnson said. “Our coaching staff, they’ve got a great mixture of rowdy, rowdy yelling and just chilling around, ‘just do your job.’ But all in all, our coaching staff has done a great job so far relaying all the information to us, even in the meetings and stuff like that, even out there on the practice field and coach (Gary) Kubiak is a great coach too. I can just tell that he demands a lot. He always says he welcomes your personality but he demands your work, and when we go out there, he does demand your work.’’ Leading the way on the vocal patrol are defensive line coach Bill Kollar, linebackers coach Reggie Herring and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who now mix with the understated stylings of Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Each of the Broncos’ defensive linemen already has a story or two about the hard-nosed Kollar, whose oft-told “he-once-wrestled-a-bear’’ tale has come to Denver with him. Kollar, one of the league’s most respected position coaches by his peers, has cranked up the verbal heat in the meeting rooms and on the practice field. “He's one of the best and he's proven,’’ defensive end Malik Jackson said. “He demands respect, he demands top effort and if you don't give it to him, he lets you know he's going to cut you.’’ “Bill is loud, but he’s got a great knack for getting on people, getting them to go harder, but for them to like him,’’ Phillips said. “Normally a guy that’s as loud as he is, that hollers at you, you think, ‘wow.’ But they know it’s in their best interest when he gets on them. Now he gets on them, and they know he means it, but he’s got a great knack for that, and that’s coaching.’’ Herring, too, has made an impression, even as the Broncos go through these offseason workouts that don’t include shoulder pads and feature little contact. But the transition for the linebackers has been less drastic given their former position coach, Richard Smith, came with similar delivery. “Aw, shoot, yeah I get the wrath a little bit,’’ Johnson said. “Coach Smith, he was a yeller too. Coach Herring, his yell is a little bit different. I can tell like he loves the game. It’s just one of those things where, ‘I’ve been around this game for so long and I know how it’s done, so when I tell you how to do it,

do it and you’ll be successful.’ And when you don’t do it, it’s kind of just like, ‘Oh, man, come on, don’t slap me in my face like that.’’’ It is the same old balance. Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan once said players are far more flexible in how the coaching message gets delivered if “they believe what you say is helping them become a better player. The minute they don’t think what you’re telling them is helping them it doesn’t matter how you’re delivering because they’ll probably tune you out.’’ In the end, there are inevitable comparisons between what was and what is -- it’s the nature of coaching changes. The results, the scoreboards to come, will determine what does and doesn’t work, but for now the Broncos’ practices are a little louder as they go about their business. Or as quarterback Peyton Manning put it: “I’m not getting into the comparisons of the previous staff or whatnot. I think it’s pretty well documented how strongly I felt about our coaches that were here these first three years. I’m indebted to them. Obviously I’m getting to know the coaching staff now. I thought there was a lot of enthusiasm out there and a lot of guys flying around. I think you’ve got a lot of guys that are competing for jobs and making an impression on coaches. I’m not different. I’m in that category as well.’’

John Bowlen placed on indefinite leave after arrest By Mike Klis 9 News Sports June 4, 2015

John Bowlen Jr., son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was arrested Wednesday night on a domestic violence harassment charge and was held overnight in jail. Bowlen was also charged with interference of a phone call. He was released from Arapahoe County Jail about 7 p.m. Thursday after posting a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. The Denver Broncos placed Bowlen, who is listed as a corporate partnerships coordinator for the team, on indefinite leave of absence Thursday. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the Broncos said in a statement. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization." Wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by attorney Harvey Steinberg, Bowlen appeared in Arapahoe County Court via video monitor from the Arapahoe County Jail on Thursday afternoon. Judge Ben Leutwyler allowed the victim's request that Bowlen and the victim can continue to have contact with each other, although they cannot cohabitate. After district attorney Jay Williford pointed out prior charges against Bowlen involving alcohol and marijuana, Leutwyler set other protective order conditions of monitored sobriety and no possession of firearms. "I expect he'll be out by 7 and then we'll see where the case goes," Steinberg said in the parking lot following the hearing. Bowlen's next court hearing was set for July 6. Glendale police were dispatched around 10 p.m. to a high-rise apartment at 4550 Cherry Creek Drive South. The 29-year-old Bowlen is accused of shoving his girlfriend against a bathroom wall while she was attempting to call 911. The victim's name was published in the Glendale police report but during Bowlen's court hearing, Williford asked that her name be redacted. Steinberg argued that because Bowlen and his girlfriend will be allowed to continue to see each other, there isn't the fear element in the relationship that would warrant the redaction. The judge allowed the motion that the victim's name be redacted. (KUSA initially published the victim's name based on the Glendale police report, but removed her name following the court motion). The girlfriend told police she was trying to call for help after Bowlen made comments about killing someone he had a prior conflict with, according to a Glendale police report. The report states the victim told police that Bowlen was under the influence of alcohol and "whippits," a nitrous oxide-filled cartridge inhaled to get a high.

Bowlen became "enraged" when his girlfriend told him she was calling for help after he made the alleged threats, the report reads. The victim claims Bowlen forcefully grabbed her shoulders and shoved her against the wall, which caused her to drop her cell phone that was connected to 911. A 911 operator called the cell phone back after the call was disconnected. Bowlen answered and told the operator, "This is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry K. Nothing is wrong. This is John Bowlen: Johnny Bowlen," according to the police report. When police arrived at the Glendale apartment, the report states Bowlen told responding officers, "I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't do anything, and I'm going to call Harvey (Steinberg)." No other Bowlen family members appeared in court Thursday. Steinberg said he told family members not to show up because Bowlen was to appear only by video from jail and media may be present in the courtroom. Bowlen is one of seven Bowlen children under consideration to replace his father as team owner. Pat Bowlen stepped aside from his leadership role last July as he revealed he is battling Alzheimer's disease. Currently the team is held in the Pat Bowlen Trust with chief executive officer Joe Ellis among the three trustees overseeing the team. "It's his hope that one of the children will come along and run the team someday and it's my hope that it's sooner rather than later," Ellis said May 13 at a press conference to announce Pat Bowlen's election into the team's Ring of Fame. "There are some particular things that Pat wanted to see out of his children and we as trustees are watching and monitoring that." Last year, the Broncos became one of the first teams to hold mandatory domestic violence training for all of their employees, including John Bowlen.

Son of Broncos owner arrested on domestic violence charges Arnie Stapleton Associated Press June 4, 2015

John Bowlen Jr., the 29-year-old son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee of the team, has been placed on indefinite leave following his arrest on domestic violence charges. The younger Bowlen was arrested Wednesday night in the Denver suburb of Glendale on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment after allegedly pushing his girlfriend against a bathroom wall, police said. After being held overnight at the Arapahoe County Jail, which is next to the Broncos' suburban headquarters, Bowlen was released Thursday on $1,000 bond. The judge said he had to stay sober, couldn't handle firearms and was allowed contact with the alleged victim but that they couldn't live together. His next court hearing is scheduled for July 6. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen," the Broncos said in a statement, adding, "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization." Bowlen's lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, was in court Thursday and didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. The Broncos were one of the first teams in the NFL to conduct mandatory domestic violence training for all employees last year. They held sessions at both their suburban headquarters and at their stadium near downtown. Bowlen, who is a marketing assistant with the team based out of Sports Authority Field, was required to attend the seminars. Bowlen is a candidate to take over the team from his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Pat Bowlen relinquished his duties almost a year ago. Team president and CEO Joe Ellis is running the team in the meantime. He said last month that the transfer of ownership to one of Bowlen's seven children was still a ways off. According to a Glendale police affidavit, officers were sent to Bowlen's apartment after a report of a 911 hang-up. They heard a man yelling and a woman crying when they arrived at the apartment. Upon entering, Bowlen told officers, "I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't do anything and I'm going to call Harvey (Steinberg)," the affidavit said. Police said the woman came out of the bathroom and told them Bowlen had become enraged when she mentioned "contacting 'help' for Bowlen when he made comments to kill someone he had a prior conflict with."

The woman told police that Bowlen was under the influence of alcohol and "whippets," a nitrous oxidefilled cartridge that users inhale to get high. The woman said she told Bowlen she was going to call 911 because of his behavior and went into the bathroom to make the call. She said Bowlen ran in and shoved her against the wall, causing her to drop her cellphone. She told police she wasn't hurt but feared for her safety. When the dispatcher called the number back, Bowlen answered and said he was the owner of the Broncos and that nothing was wrong. Meanwhile, a woman could be heard yelling in the background, police said. Bowlen was arrested and taken to the Glendale Police Department for processing. He was then taken to the Arapahoe County Jail.

Son of Broncos owner placed on leave after domestic violence charge Lindsay Jones USA Today June 4, 2015

The son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has been placed on indefinite leave by the organization following his arrest Wednesday on a domestic violence charge. John Michael Bowlen, 29, who works for the Broncos in an administrative role in the marketing department, is being held without bond at the Arapahoe County Jail, according to court records. As a team employee, Bowlen is subject to the league's personal conduct policy, which covers domestic violence incidents. He was among team employees that participated in at least one mandatory domestic violence education session last fall. Bowlen, who works out of Sports Authority Field at Mile High and not at the team's headquarters in Englewood, is one of Pat Bowlen's seven children, all of whom are under consideration for taking over the franchise from their father. Pat Bowlen placed his ownership in a trust last year when his family announced he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization," the team said in a statement.

Von Miller reveals that Broncos fine him for cutting the cheese during meetings By Micah Peters USA Today June 4, 2015

Apparently the Broncos apparently levy a “fart tax” on players for breaking wind during team meetings, and linebacker Von Miller has had to come up out of pocket to pay the tax. A lot. Yes this is 100% real and not a joke. @NickiJhabvala Von Miller said the Broncos have a fine system for, um, flatulence in meetings. Said he thinks he's been fined the most. You cut the cheese you cut a check. You can fart on your own time but you MAY NOT FART DURING TEAM MEETINGS. Miller even went into detail about it. @NickiJhabvala Since I've received numerous inquires about the Broncos' Fart Tax, I'm gonna let Von explain. NFL dieting ain't easy. “They can’t fine me if I get up and walk away. It’s NOT healthy. I keep trying to tell them it’s not healthy if I just sit there and hold it in. Nobody in the world does that. I just do it more than the average person.”

Broncos enforce fart tax in meetings, Von Miller is fined most frequently By Sean Wagner-McGough CBSSports.com June 4, 2015

Since John Elway has taken over football operations in Denver, the Broncos have: somehow and someway made the playoffs with Tim Tebow playing quarterback successfully courted Peyton Manning gone to the Super Bowl started enforcing a fart tax in meetings One of those factoids is more impressive and unheard of than the rest of them (and no, I'm not talking about making the playoffs with Tebow). That would be the "fart tax," which I promise you, is not something I'm making up. Well then, how do we know this so-called fart tax? Von Miller, the team's star linebacker, was happy to talk all about it: @NickiJhabvala Von Miller said the Broncos have a fine system for, um, flatulence in meetings. Said he thinks he's been fined the most. And yes, he provided details: @NickiJhabvala Since I've received numerous inquires about the Broncos' Fart Tax, I'm gonna let Von explain. NFL dieting ain't easy. “They can’t fine me if I get up and walk away. It’s NOT healthy. I keep trying to tell them it’s not healthy if I just sit there and hold it in. Nobody in the world does that. I just do it more than the average person.” Von Miller, the Broncos' sack and fart machine, has a point. Let the man fart for free.

Denver Broncos Owner Son Arrested for Domestic Violence... Wearing Broncos Shirt Staff TMZ Sports June 4, 2015

The son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was arrested for domestic violence in Colorado on Wednesday ... while wearing a Broncos shirt ... TMZ Sports has learned. 29-year-old John Bowlen Jr. -- one of 7 Bowlen children -- is being held at the Arapahoe County jail outside of Denver on suspicion of 3rd degree assault and harassment. According to the police report, the victim told police John was under the influence of whippets and alcohol. Whippets is slang for nitrous oxide. The woman -- who says she has been dating Bowlen for 10 months -- says the two were inside of John's apartment when John began acting strange and "shoved her against the wall." The woman says she called 911, but John took the phone and hung up. When the operator called back, John reportedly answered and said, "This is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry. K. Nothing is wrong. This is John Bowlen." The woman says she had been drinking alcohol earlier in the evening. John was taken into custody for domestic violence harassment and property crimes. He's being held without bail. According to multiple reports, John has an MBA in sports and entertainment from the University of Denver and is in executive training with the Broncos. He is one of the frontrunners to take over the team when his father (who is suffering from Alzheimer's) steps down. Pat Bowlen isn't the only Broncos executive with a son who's been accused of domestic violence -- last year the son of Broncos General Manager John Elway, John Elway III, was arrested and convicted of attacking his GF during a heated argument in Arizona. The Denver Broncos have released a statement saying, "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen ... . While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization." Story developing ...

Son of Broncos owner arrested on domestic violence harassment charge Frank Schwab Yahoo.com June 4, 2015

The Denver Broncos have been wondering which of Pat Bowlen's seven children will take over ownership of the team, and John Bowlen Jr. didn't do himself any favors in that regard. John Bowlen Jr. was arrested on a domestic violence harassment charge on Wednesday night and held without bond overnight in jail, KUSA-TV's Mike Klis reported. Pat Bowlen stepped away from day-to-day operations as owner of the Broncos last year because of a battle with Alzheimer's disease. The Broncos immediately placed John Bowlen Jr. on an indefinite leave of absence. Here's the team's statement: “We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization. “While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization.” It will be interesting to see how the league comes down on John Bowlen Jr., who is named after Pat Bowlen's brother John. The league clearly is taking a hard-line stance on domestic violence, yet John Bowlen Jr. didn't seem to have a big role with the team. In a story last September outlining the possible successor among the Bowlen family, the Denver Post wrote that John Jr. "has held a variety of jobs within the Broncos organization." The ownership succession plan is very important in the organization, and last September the Post reported that the NFL wanted the Pat Bowlen Trust to have a set plan within two years, which would have been by late 2016.

John Bowlen Jr., son of Broncos owner, arrested for domestic violence Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk June 4, 2015

The Broncos are once again in the news for an offseason arrest of a member of the front office. According to Mike Klis of KUSA, John Bowlen Jr., was arrested last night on a domestic violence harassment charge. He was held without bond overnight in the Arapahoe County Jail and has a scheduled court appearance this afternoon. No other details of the arrest were included. He’s the son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who stepped down last summer, announcing he had Alzheimer’s disease. John Bowlen Jr. still works for the Broncos, and is one of seven children under consideration to take over the team. Or, was. A story in the Denver Post last year said he “works in a variety of positions” with the team. As such he’d be subject to the league’s conduct policy, as were the drinking and driving personnel men from 2013.

Woman called cops after son of Broncos owner made threats By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk June 4, 2015

When John Bowlen Jr. first spoke with law enforcement this week, he identified himself as the owner of the Broncos. After domestic violence charges, however, there’s a reasonable doubt about his ever ascending to that position. According to Mike Klis of KUSA, Bowlen made that claim while trying to stop his girlfriend from calling 911, shoving her against the wall of a bathroom. According to the police report, the woman told police she was calling for help after the 29-year-old Bowlen “made comments about killing someone he had a prior conflict with.” She also told police Bowlen was under the influence of alcohol and “whippits.” He allegedly then became “enraged” and threw her against a wall, and she dropped her phone. He picked it up when the dispatcher called the phone back. “This is the owner of the Denver Broncos,” he said. “I am sorry K. Nothing is wrong. This is John Bowlen: Johnny Bowlen.” He’s one of owner Pat Bowlen’s seven children under consideration to run the team, though this probably isn’t going to help. The elder Bowlen stepped aside last summer after revealing he has Alzheimer’s disease. He has worked in “various roles” for the team, and they have placed him on indefinite leave.

Son of Broncos owner arrested on domestic violence charges Ryan Wilson CBSSports.com June 4, 2015

John Bowlen Jr., son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was arrested Wednesday night on domestic violence harassment charges, reports KUSA's Mike Klis. The 29-year-old was held on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment before he was released on $1,000 bond on Thursday, according to the Denver Post. Via the police report, Bowlen's girlfriend said she called authorities because of Bowlen's erratic behavior. "When (Bowlen) pushed (her) against the wall, she dropped the cellphone, at which point he picked it up and hung up the connection with 911." The Post reports that Bowlen had marijuana possession charges dismissed in 2003 and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 2005. In that case, he pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired. Bowlen Jr. works for the Broncos, and is one of seven children under consideration to take over for Pat Bowlen, who stepped down last summer after announcing he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. By Thursday afternoon, the team had announced that Bowlen Jr. will take an indefinite leave of absence. “We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the Broncos said in a statement. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization." According to this Post story from July 2014, John (who was named for his grandfather) was recruited to play football at the University of San Diego but injuries forced him to give up football. He has an MBA in sports and entertainment from the University of Denver and was in executive training with the Broncos.

Son of Denver Broncos president Pat Bowlen arrested for domestic violence Ebenezer Samuel New York Daily News June 4, 2015

The Denver Broncos acted quickly on Thursday, placing John Bowlen, son of ailing team owner Pat Bowlen, on indefinite leave of absence in the wake of a domestic violence arrest. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the team said in a statement. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on indefinite leave of absence from the organization." Bowlen, 29 and the corporate partnerships coordinator for the Broncos, was arrested Wednesday night, and is currently being held in the Arapahoe County jail, according to the Denver Post, for suspicion of third-degree assault, harrassment, and two Class 3 misdemeanors. The NFL did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, although the Broncos make it clear in their statement that Bowlen, who also owns a minority stake in the team, could be subject to the league's personal conduct policy and discipline. That means all eyes will once again be on embattled league commissioner Roger Goodell, who has spent the last few years wielding a woefully inconsistent hammer of justice throughout the NFL. He's acted swiftly when dealing with players on issues of domestic violence, but this may be his first time dealing with ownership over an issue that has become a key focus of the Goodell regime. Last year, he did discipline one owner, handing Colts owner Jim Irsay a six-game suspension and barring Irsay from social media, as well as NFL meetings and team practices for the duration of the suspension. The incident occurred in March, though, and it wasn't until September that Goodell made that decision. Bowlen's arrest may hamper his long-term prospects with the Broncos. Current Broncos owner Pat Bowlen stepped down last year due to a battle with Alzheimer's disease, and all seven of his children, including Bowlen, have been under consideration to take over the team.

Broncos place John Bowlen on indefinite leave Staff NFL.com June 4, 2015

The Denver Broncos announced Thursday that they have placed John Bowlen on indefinite leave. Bowlen, an administrative employee of the team, is the son of owner Pat Bowlen. Bowlen was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of charges of harassment (an act of domestic violence) and telecommunications crime (an act of domestic violence), according to a Glendale (Colorado) Police Department report obtained by NFL Media. Bowlen was initially held at the Arapahoe County Jail, according to the report. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the team said in a statement. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization."

John Bowlen, son of ailing Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, arrested on domestic violence charges

Staff Channel 7 June 4, 2015

John Bowlen, the son of ailing Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was arrested Wednesday on two domestic violence charges. Arapahoe County Jail records indicate John Bowlen, 29, was held without bond pending a scheduled 2 p.m. court appearance on Thursday. "We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the Broncos said in a written statement. John Bowlen works as a corporate partnerships coordinator for the team and a candidate to take over the team after his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, announced in July he would relinquish his duties and look to transfer ownership to one of his seven children. Court records show John Bowlen was arrested for charges of harassment involving a strike, shove or kick and using telecommunications without authority. Both are misdemeanor charges. The 29-year-old was arrested by the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday night. "While this is a personal issue, (John Bowlen) is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization," the team's statement concluded. The Broncos were one of the first teams in the NFL to conduct domestic violence seminars for all employees last season and since Bowlen is a stadium/marketing employee , he was required to attend, the Denver Post reported. In August 2005, Bowlen was arrested by Boulder police on suspicion of driving under the influence, Colorado Bureau of Investigation records show. He pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired in that case, according to court records.

Son Of Broncos Owner Arrested On Domestic Violence Charges By Kevin Draper Deadsping June 4, 2015

John Bowlen, the son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and a corporate sponsorships coordinator for the team, was arrested last night on domestic violence charges. According to a Glendale (Co.) Police statement, dispatch received a dropped 911 call, and when they called back they heard a female screaming and a male saying “nothing is wrong” into the phone. Police were dispatched to the apartment where the call came from, and were greeted by Bowlen, who told them “I didn’t do anything wrong! I didn’t do anything and I’m going to call [my lawyer].” Inside the apartment bathroom they found a woman—who later told police she was in a relationship with Bowlen—crying and scared. She explained to police what happened: [The victim] stated Bowlen had become enraged when she mentioned contacting “help” for Bowlen when he made comments to kill someone he had a prior conflict with. [The victim] stated Bowlen was under the influence of “whippets” and alcohol. According to the victim, after she went in the bathroom to call 911, Bowlen followed her, shoved her against the wall, and picked up her dropped cell phone. As the police statement explains, this “interfered and hindered her from speaking with and rendering aid from emergency services.” She also told police that Bowlen had verbally abused her before. The statement also gave further details about the 911 call. After Glendale Police dispatch called the number back, Bowlen apparently said “this is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry K. Nothing is wrong. This is John Bowlen; Johnny Bowlen.” Bowlen isn’t actually the owner of the Broncos; that would be his father. Last year Pat Bowlen, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, stepped down from the team. It is currently operated by the Bowlen Family Trust, and run on a day-to-day basis by CEO Joe Ellis. Bowlen has seven children—including John, three of them work for the team—and the plan is for Ellis to run the team until one of them can. There is no clear successor yet, at least publicly. In a statement, the Broncos said John Bowlen was placed on a leave of absence: We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization. While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization. According to ESPN, John Bowlen attended one of the multiple domestic violence training sessions the Broncos held last year. He is the second child of a prominent Bronco to be arrested on domestic violence charges in as many years. John Elway III, the son of Broncos general manager John Elway, was arrested last May for pulling his girlfriend out of the car by her hair. You can read the police statement about Bowlen’s arrest below.

Redskins checking 'off-field situation' involving Crowder By Staff Associated Press June 4, 2015

The Washington Redskins say they are investigating what they called "an off-field situation" involving fourth-round draft pick Jamison Crowder. Crowder's Instagram feed Wednesday night briefly included photographs of a woman who claims to have been abused by the receiver. The photos show a cut on her inner lip and bruises on her arm. They have been deleted, but screenshots circulated Thursday on social media. Crowder played four years at Duke and tied the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 283 career receptions before he was drafted by Washington. The team said it has been in touch with the NFL office "and will continue to follow proper league protocol and assist them in any way we can to gather all of the facts." A spokesman for the NFL Players Association said the organization is gathering information but declined further comment. A call to Crowder's representative wasn't immediately returned. Kammie Michael, a spokeswoman for the police department in Durham County, North Carolina, said her department has no record of any complaints against Crowder. His name also does not appear in the North Carolina court system's statewide online records. The NFL said in a statement that it has been contacted by the team and is "looking into the matter." Under a revised personal conduct policy that went into effect during 2014, the NFL suspends players without pay for a minimum of six games for violations involving assault, battery, domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse, other forms of family violence, or sexual assault, with consideration given to possible mitigating or aggravating circumstances.

Out of options: 6 players from 2012 NFL draft class who can make or break themselves this season By Charles Robinson Yahoo.com June 4, 2015

In mid-March, when Cleveland Browns fans were brimming with excitement over NFL draft possibilities (two first-round picks!), a cruel photo from 2012 began to circulate. Passed around on social media, it was a sharp illustration of draft architecture gone terribly wrong. On the left, head coach Pat Shurmur held up a newly minted Trent Richardson jersey, with the firstround running back at his side. On the right, general manager Tom Heckert stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his first-round quarterback, each hoisting a crisp Brandon Weeden jersey. Less than two years later, all four of those men were gone. Shurmur and Heckert were fired eight months after that photo. Richardson was traded to the Indianapolis Colts after 17 games (for a draft pick that would essentially become Johnny Manziel), and then later released. And Weeden was cut after managing only 20 starts. Those vast disappointments were dredged up in May, when teams had to decide whether to trigger an optional fifth year on 2012 first-round picks. Richardson and Weeden didn't even qualify for the option, after both were released once and signed new deals with other teams. But they were hardly alone on the painful side of the ledger. Consider: • San Francisco 49ers first-round wideout A.J. Jenkins went 511 days before catching his first pass in the NFL. He was traded to Kansas City and subsequently cut, getting picked up this offseason by the Dallas Cowboys. • New York Giants first-round running back David Wilson was forced to retire with a neck injury. He finished his career with six starts. • Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Justin Blackmon, the fifth pick in the 2012 draft, wasn't even eligible for a fifth-year option. Blackmon has been lost in the purgatory of an indefinite drug suspension since November 2013. That means his contract advancement toward a fifth-year option (or free agency) has been frozen for over a year. Blackmon's situation is so bad, whenever he enters the league again, he'll be playing for his 2014 salary. Even the guys who did have their fifth-year options triggered aren't exactly assured of making it to 2016 with their current teams. Those fifth-year options aren't automatically guaranteed once picked up by a team, which means that after Andrew Luck, the 2012 class could see picks Nos. 2-7 all conceivably end up on the free-agent market again following potentially bad performances in 2015. Guys like Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin and Minnesota Vikings tackle Matt Kalil are most certainly playing for their jobs this season. And the others? Here are six highly acclaimed draft choices who didn't have their fifth-year options picked up, and what their outlooks are as they head toward free agency next offseason.

Cornerback Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys (sixth overall pick in 2012) The Cowboys have quieted on asking cornerback Brandon Carr to take a pay cut and he remains on the roster, so all signs point to him being in the fold in 2015. And Orlando Scandrick's contract situation was resolved. This is all bad for Claiborne, who is still working his way back from a torn patellar tendon injury. Had Carr been cut or Scandrick held out in training camp, the door could have cracked open for Claiborne to grab an opportunity and show that he's got something … or anything. With Claiborne still rehabbing, he is looking like a guy who will work in nickel or dime packages at best, and even that role isn't entirely certain with first-round pick Byron Jones in the fold. Dallas could move Jones to safety in training camp to get him on the field more quickly and resolve potential safety issues. But if Jones remains at corner, that means he is already showing he is good enough to eat into Claiborne's opportunities. So what's left? Cornerback-needy front offices will be watching Claiborne from afar this season, gauging whether he has retained the speed and athleticism that so many teams loved when he was coming out of LSU. Teams always need athletic cornerbacks, so he'll be eyed closely. But for him to remain in Dallas, something catastrophic would have to happen with one of the starting cornerbacks to open up opportunities. Safety Mark Barron, St. Louis Rams (seventh overall pick in 2012) First things first: Barron was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was never a fit in Lovie Smith's defensive scheme after he was hired in 2014. That's what got him traded in the 2014 season. That said, Barron has been an average safety with a few flashes of potential since landing in the league. He has some issues in coverages and is more of a tweener safety/linebacker. That makes him a tough fit for a lot of teams. But Rams coach Jeff Fisher is a very good defensive coach and he was already getting Barron more involved at the line of scrimmage last season (and it paid dividends). Fisher has also said that the Rams declined the Barron fifth-year option because they didn't like where the numbers were going, and that the Rams would like to extend Barron. There's every reason to believe St. Louis will try to get that done before the season starts, so don't be surprised if he has a contract extension before September. If not, there's still a shot Barron hits free agency. But considering Fisher knows how to use his safeties, the Rams will likely do everything they can to get Barron playing at a high level and then keep him. Linebacker Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks (15th overall pick in 2012) Irvin's situation in Seattle was fairly predictable. The Seahawks have a serious salary cap crunch coming with quarterback Russell Wilson, linebacker Bobby Wagner and offensive tackle Russell Okung. It doesn't help that defensive end Michael Bennett is grumbling as well. Bottom line: sacrifices will need to be made and Irvin is going to be on the low end of those priorities. If he doesn't implode, he should have a nice free-agent market waiting for him. He's a solid all-around player who can set the edge and stay on the field in almost any situation.

But teams are going to want to see Irvin on the field for a full season, something he has yet to accomplish in his career. And he's going to need to repeat or exceed his 2014 performance, which saw him become more of a factor in the backfield with 6½ sacks. This isn't a situation where a fifth-year option is being declined based on talent or fit. Irvin is good enough to have that option picked up, and he's a strong emotional leader, too. He'll very likely be a victim of the financial squeeze, and teams should be lined up for him when the offseason comes. Linebacker Shea McClellin, Chicago Bears (19th overall pick in 2012) McClellin has been a head-scratcher for three seasons in Chicago. He was a subpar defensive end for two seasons, and an average strong-side linebacker (arguably below average) last year. It doesn't help that he is changing coaching staffs and systems for the third time in four years. Yet another position change is in the offing, this time at inside linebacker. There is plenty on the line with the latest move as NFL teams are rarely enamored with defensive free agents who can't make an impact at three different spots. And if McClellin can't do it under John Fox, who knows a thing or two about scheming a defense, that will be another red flag. But he has the size and athleticism to rush the passer. He just needs to show he can do it when counted upon. His youth makes him a viable piece for the Bears, but first he needs to lock up a starting spot. That hasn't been guaranteed. Linebacker Nick Perry, Green Bay Packers (28th overall pick in 2012) Injuries, inconsistency, lack of impact and an inability to pin down a starting job, that's what kept the Packers from picking up his fifth-year option. It's particularly troubling for Green Bay (not to mention future suitors) that Perry hasn't maximized his opportunities across from a player of Clay Matthews' magnitude. He's a liability in pass coverage and probably more stiff in pass rushing opportunities than the Packers expected. Now he's in a position where his time on the field will depend on where Matthews is playing, which isn't ideal when you're trying to max out chances to turn everything around in a contract year. It says plenty that the Packers declined this fifth-year option. They weren't happy with 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod and didn't pick up his option, either. Now Sherrod is in Kansas City. Barring a sudden awakening, it's likely Perry will be elsewhere in 2016 as well. Running back Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31st overall pick in 2012) For about a season, the whole "Muscle Hamster" craze was a thing. Then came the injuries, and Martin's career has pretty much hit a wall. His fifth-year option wasn't picked up simply because he has yet to show he can stay on the field, and once again show that he has burst. Martin hasn't had a run longer than 20 yards since 2012. That's why his per-carry average plummeted under the four-yard mark. If Martin doesn't turn that around in 2015, that's a stat that will scare off a lot of free-agent suitors, too. There are too many cheap running back options in the draft nowadays.

But Martin will get his chance, with general manager Jason Licht already admitting that the starting running back spot is Martin's to lose. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter also likes what Martin brings to the table, so the support is there. If Martin can't get healthy – and fast – and turn it around this year, he's done in Tampa and will not find a robust free-agent market waiting for him, either.

Additional owners meeting on L.A. set for August 11 By Kevin Patra NFL.com June 4, 2015

During last month's Spring League Meeting, NFL executive Eric Grubman, the man in charge of handling potential relocation to Los Angeles, indicated that another meeting would be necessary to discuss the situation. We now know when that added owners meeting will take place. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the NFL has set an additional owners meeting for Aug. 11 to discuss the L.A. topic. It will take place in Chicago, per a league source. Per Rapoport, no major news is expected out of the meeting. The conference will be used as a timeline and process update, focused on the progress of home markets (Oakland, San Diego, St. Louis) to keep their teams. The NFL believes there needed to be an update between May and October owners meetings, given the interest in moving to the second-largest market in the U.S. Rams owner Stan Kroenke plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, Calif., while the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have joined forces on a project in Carson. Momentum is building toward a team returning to the L.A. market in 2016. The additional meeting will help that process along.

Column: Gary Kubiak gets what the Broncos need By Zach Fogg The Coloradoan June 4, 2015

Veteran players getting a day off so that some younger players get a chance to practice with the first team? What a novel concept! “I absolutely love it,” Denver Broncos backup quarterback Brock Osweiler told the media on Monday. “I’m getting more reps than I’ve ever gotten as a Bronco.” Wow, really? Can that possibly be true? Osweiler is entering his third year behind Peyton Manning on the depth chart. He was the Broncos’ second round selection in the 2012 draft and since that time has been widely considered to be John Elway’s hand-picked heir-apparent to the future Hall of Famer. And yet after just a few weeks of practice under new head coach Gary Kubiak, he’s ready to declare that he’s never had more reps than right now? That would seem to be startling treatment of a player deemed valuable enough to use such a high draft pick on, and therefore valuable enough to invest a not insignificant amount of money (not to mention credibility) into. Certainly when the regular season rolls around, you’d expect Manning to get virtually all of the snaps, but at this stage of the game? If Osweiler wasn’t previously getting snaps at this time of year, when on earth was he going to get them? But this is just one of the changes down at Dove Valley this offseason that just make too much sense to understand why they are new to Denver. Recently, Kubiak explained that the team’s quarterbacks are going under center “about 90 percent right now” in order to get used to the change in game planning. As the coach astutely pointed out, they’re so used to shotgun snaps that it won’t be a big deal to not practice them for a while. A few weeks ago, several players noted that the pace in practice was much higher and that everyone was always moving. All noted that it was a stark contrast to a season ago, and all were genuinely happy about the change. Hard to blame them when the team’s “fire” was called into question several times last season; most notably after losing to the St. Louis Rams for their second loss in three weeks. Manning dismissed the idea at the time, but no one could deny that the team changed following that contest. The point is, the changes are so basic and beneficial that in retrospect, it’s head-scratching that John Fox either didn’t think to or refused to enact some of these processes. A policy with young players of “get up to speed or get out” may seem like the right way to go in the uber-macho NFL world, until you realize that while that policy may get you every player’s best shot, it’s very unlikely to help you develop a high-caliber contributor. Coaching up younger players and expecting some professionalism out of your veterans would logically seem to be your best bet to net the highest number of NFL contributors.

Similarly, high-paced practices in a league of ever-shrinking organized team time would seem to be a nobrainer. Why wasn’t John Fox interested in such methods? Only he can say for sure. At the end of the day, to believe that the Denver Broncos will be better this season than last is to believe in Gary Kubiak. The roster is not better on paper, and Peyton Manning is another year older. If the team is to have similar or better success than a season ago, the offensive and defensive game plans they execute will have to be designed and orchestrated by markedly better coordinators than Denver had at the helm last season. So far, Kubiak and his staff look up to the task.

C.J. Anderson: Good is not good enough By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com June 4, 2015

In the Jan. 11 divisional playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, few, if any, gave more of themselves to the Broncos' cause than C.J. Anderson. No play showed his indefatigable effort and intensity more than the last snap of the third quarter that day, a fourth-and-1 trek that saw Anderson change directions in the backfield and elude five defenders before finally succumbing to D'Qwell Jackson's tackle after gaining seven yards. If the Broncos had rallied to win the game, Anderson's run would have taken a legendary place in franchise lore, replayed on Broncos highlight reels for decades to come. But the offense petered out on the following three plays, settled for a field goal, and then watched as the Colts seized the game by marching to a clinching field goal of their own. You might remember the play well now, but as time passes, history recalls only the winners. Moments like Anderson's run become forgotten. Perhaps that's why he looks back at the humbling 24-13 defeat and does not see the determined play he made; instead, he focuses on the ones he didn't. "I was watching the playoff game last week and I left a lot out there. I left a lot out there," Anderson said. "A lot of people came to me and said, 'You played so hard. You did this.' Man, that was unacceptable. I had 24 touches and I didn't get in the end zone to help my team win. "That's just unacceptable. I felt I left a lot out there, which means I know that I left a lot out there in other games. I'm just trying to get better every day. The only way you can do that is doing your job." On the surface, no one had less reason to absorb blame for the defeat. But Anderson doesn't see it that way. "I'm comfortable where I'm at, but I'm still hungry because I know last season I was a big key why we didn't move on to the next round," he said. You want players that are accountable and take responsibility. Those are the ones that develop into leaders, that carry entire teams to championships. Time will tell whether Anderson has that in him. But in the middle of OTAs, he's saying the right things -and, more importantly, is doing the right things -- to set an example. Take how he's adapting to the new offensive line. With at least three of five O-line starters guaranteed to be players who have never started for the Broncos before, it would be easy to use the inexperience and lack of cohesion as a reason why the ground game would struggle. Anderson refuses to buy into that notion.

"We'll make the right cut," Anderson said. "No matter who's back there, we'll make them (the offensive linemen) right. That's a promise." Losing left tackle Ryan Clady's leadership "hurts," Anderson said, but so far, the offensive line is "looking good." "There are some bumps in some roads, but I mean, it's June. We don't play until September," Anderson said. "We've got a lot of time to fix things up. We'll get it going. "It doesn't matter who's up there up front: I trust them; they trust us, and as a backfield, we'll get 'em right." To help prepare for his role, Anderson watched tape of the offenses Head Coach Gary Kubiak supervised in Denver, Houston and Baltimore, taking note of the running backs' roles. Anderson said Houston's Arian Foster was "probably my favorite out of all them," but it was his fellow Cal alumnus, Justin Forsett, who he sought for advice. His pointers? "Just be patient, pick your spots and be decisive," Anderson said. "The whole thing for me is just being smart. With me, recognizing fronts, and that's just coming from last year's offense and playing with [Manning]. Recognizing fronts, what the defense wants to do, what gaps they want to play, you can kind of anticipate what's going to happen before it happens. Kubiak has made some of the great ones, and hopefully I can do that." If Anderson does, he will show that he has staying power, and isn't a shooting star that blasts through the NFL firmament and then fades fast. "You don't want to be a one-year wonder in this league, not at all. No one wants to do that," said Anderson. "I'm going to keep my head down, keep grinding every day and keep pushing. What happened last year happened last year. That's completely over and done with. "At the end of the day, no matter what season I had last year or what season Peyton (Manning) had last year, at the end of the day we have no ring on our finger. We want to bring that Lombardi (Trophy) back here for sure."

Ward's Finals focus is on Warriors By Allie Raymond DenverBroncos.com June 4, 2015

While Denver and cities alike buzz with anticipation for Thursday night’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals, one Bronco in particular has been waiting for this day his whole life. A native of the Bay Area, safety T.J. Ward has been a Golden State Warriors fan for as long as he can remember and has attended games since he was eight years old. “I remember being able to go to the arena, walking right up and buying the ticket for like $15,” said Ward. But Ward isn’t just a typical Golden State fan. This May, he permanently showed his support for the team by inking a tattoo of the Warrior’s logo with ‘Golden State Warrior’ written around. The tattoo not only supports his hometown NBA squad but also represents how he sees himself. “The mascot alone exemplifies how I like to play - my mentality as a Warrior,” said Ward. “It’s just to show my hometown some love, representing where I’m from.” So it goes without saying that Ward was on cloud nine when his local team topped the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, earning their first Finals berth in nearly half a century. “Oh, I was ecstatic,” said Ward. “This organization hasn’t been to the finals in 40 years. It’s huge for the city, it’s huge for the entire Bay Area, and I’m very proud. I’m proud of what they’re doing this year.” When asked to weigh in on the matchup of Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Cleveland’s LeBron James, Ward was neutral, appreciating both Curry’s and James’ talent on the floor. “I think you can’t stop either one of them,” said Ward. “They’re going to get their points, so it’s pretty much going to be up to what the other eight players on the floor are doing.” One subject Ward is willing to indulge in is Curry’s young daughter, Riley, who captured the hearts of fans across the nation (and on the internet) with her post-game media antics. “I saw the postgame interviews — she’s adorable!” said Ward. “She definitely has a lot of personality.” The Warriors are set to host Game 2 of the Finals on Sunday and Ward hopes to be there to support his team. But just because he’s behind his team bringing a championship to the Bay Area doesn’t mean he’s lost sight of his own championship in Denver. “I’ll be happy about it, but I’ve got a championship that I’m trying to win right now,” said Ward. “It’s going to be all great, don’t get me wrong, but I’m looking forward to this season and winning a home championship.”

Brock Osweiler's command, composure impress teammates By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com June 4, 2015

During this year's OTAs, Brock Osweiler has received -- and enjoyed -- bearing a heavier workload than at any point during his career to date, getting first-team repetitions on days when veterans like Peyton Manning are given a respite. His teammates can see the progress. "He has a lot more command," said running back C.J. Anderson. "He wants to go out there and play. He's been confident and comfortable, and he knows what he can do. He trusts his ability." "I've always been impressed with Brock and his composure and how he commands the huddle," tight end Virgil Green added. "The more and more you play in the league, the more confident you get and the more composure you have out there." And after three years, the experience adds up, and gives Osweiler credibility as he sets up and guides his teammates. "He's that guy right now," Green said. "He's in the huddle commanding things, telling us if we're not playing so well, calming down guys, relaxing and then (moving on) to the next play. "He's learned a lot from Peyton (Manning), and it shows in the huddle." One other aspect of Osweiler's growth is his ability to play within the confines of the playcall, to trust it and his teammates to get the job done. "He tells himself sometimes before (the play), 'Look, I'm not going to do too much; I'm going to do what the play asks for,'" Anderson said. "That's all you can ask for in a leader."

Virgil Green working to learn offense inside and out By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com June 4, 2015

Virgil Green has taken quickly to the Broncos' new offense, at least with the broad strokes, but knowledge is power and he's looking to gain the finer points with the help of Owen Daniels. "I ask him questions all the time. He’s probably going to get sick of me because just the little details about things," Green said with a chuckle. As Daniels begins his 10th year with Head Coach Gary Kubiak, he brings a wealth of knowledge of the offense from which Green is hoping to glean valuable details to add to his working understanding of the offense. "I understand the plays but trying to understand the details about running routes, when to do certain things that gets a defender are questions that I ask him," Green said. "And he’s more than willing to help. He’s a great vet. All the tight ends—and I’m pretty sure a lot of the guys on the team in general— look up to him and his veteran leadership." Tight ends are essential to the new offense not only with the blocking scheme but with the reliance of a pass-run playcall mixture to keep defenses on their toes, especially with play-action, as Kubiak detailed last week: "It’s hard to get the ball down field and make big plays. You’ve got to make them to be successful, so we felt like if we run the ball well and we play pass, and it looked the same, we’ll be able to get the ball down the field." That mix of run and pass is something that Green is eagerly waiting for, too, because he doesn't want to just be known for his blocking. He caught his first career touchdown pass last season against the Raiders and when he re-signed with the team in March he said, "I just want to be efficient and a guy that teams just don’t have to say ‘Oh, well, he’s in—they’re running.’ I want to be a guy that teams say ‘He’s versatile, he can do all things, he can line up at fullback, slot receiver, tight end and be efficient at all those positions.’" He added that so far in OTAs the tight ends are certainly getting that kind of work in to ensure that. "We’ve been catching a lot of passes out there—all the tight ends, really. I think the way it complements each other is a lot of the plays look the same when we’re coming off the ball and if it happens to be a run, that’s what it is; if it happens to be a pass, that’s what it is—but it’s tough for defenses to hone in on things like that." There's competition at tight end, too, with Daniels and Green joined by Marcel Jensen, James Casey, Dominique Jones and Joe Don Duncan. But Green says they're all aware of how competition can't play into their mindset and that they'll have to focus on what they do rather than what their teammates do as they compete and work together.

However, competition aside, Green is trying to get a complete understanding of the offense under his feet in these stages of the offseason program so he can hit all the notes he needs to when the season arrives in a few months. "I'm very comfortable. I understand how things are supposed to be. Like I said, it's just understanding the little details about things and we have time to get those things down."