No warm welcome waits for Osweiler
Brock Osweiler spurned the Denver Broncos in March to sign a US$72-million deal in Houston.
On Monday night, Osweiler and the Texans play in Denver. Speculation in both camps centred on the fifthyear passer’s homecoming, and what he can expect at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
“I’m not really sure what kind of reception I’ll receive,” Osweiler said. “Obviously, you hope for a great reception … I have nothing but love and appreciation for not only the organization, the players, the coaches, but the entire city of Denver. It was a phenomenal four years that my wife and I will never forget, and that we’ll always hold very close to our heart.”
Broncos fans, and some Broncos players, are unlikely to be as sentimental. Osweiler plays for the enemy now, as linebacker Brandon Marshall pointed out.
“There’s no ill will toward Brock. I am happy he got paid,” Marshall said. “But it’s competition. We want to kill him.”
The majority of Denver fans might have agreed in the spring; the team entered spring practices with only untried second-year nobody Trevor Siemian, untried rookie Paxton Lynch and veteran hamand-egger Mark Sanchez at quarterback.
But fans seem happy, as they should, with not just solid, but good play from Siemian. Still, expect fans to lay into Osweiler for deserting ship.
“At the end of the day,” Osweiler said, “I can’t control the fans. All I can do is control how I play, what kind of teammate I am to my new teammates down here and focusing on trying to win a football game.”
In six starts Osweiler has largely stunk for the Texans, despite the team’s winning record. He’s been OK at home but truly dreadful on the road, in blowout losses at New England (27-0) and Minnesota (31-13).
The team expects a lot more than an 8-8 TD-to-interception ratio, 59 per cent completion percentage and a considerably belowaverage 74.1 pass rating.
Os wei le rand his teammates played poorly through 57 minutes last Sunday against Indianapolis, then got hot simultaneously to score two late touchdowns to tie it, then win it in overtime.
If he’s going to raise his game this season to better earn his $17-million salary, Monday night would be the ideal time to start — with everyone’s eyes upon him in prime time.
“I don’t feel like a marked man,” Osweiler said.