Broncos coach Joseph will go with Siemian as starter
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Vance Joseph was admittedly enamored of the idea of a towering, chuck-itor-tuck-it quarterback with firstround pedigree and a lightning bolt for a right arm leading the Denver Broncos in 2017.
Even more captivating for the rookie head coach was the notion of his egghead seventh-rounder with the sneaky fastball and penchant for making the right decisions calling the signals.
So, it’s Trevor Siemian and not Paxton Lynch who will start for the Broncos.
Joseph made the announcement Monday following a fivemonth audition that represented the biggest position battle in the NFL this offseason.
Joseph suggested Lynch may still represent the future in Denver, but with a team that’s just 18 months removed from a championship parade and so good on defense, he had to think about today, not tomorrow. So, Siemian is his guy.
BOLDIN: A deadly, racially charged conflict in Charlottesville, Virginia, caused Anquan Boldin to re-assess his priorities and led to the Buffalo Bills receiver’s decision to retire after 14 NFL seasons.
In an interview Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Boldin said he’s “uncomfortable” with how divided the nation is and wants to dedicate his entire focus to humanitarian and criminal justice causes.
“I always felt like football would be my passion, football would be the path to a lot of things,” Boldin said. “But just seeing the things that transpired over the last week or so, I think for me, there’s something bigger than football at this point.”
He then clarified that he was referring specifically to what happened in Charlottesville on Aug. 13, when a counter-protester and two Virginia state police officers were killed during a rally involving neo-Nazis and other rightwing groups.
“Do I think I can solve all the problems that we have in this country? Of course not,” he said. “But I think I have a duty to stand up and make my voice heard and be a voice for those who don’t have a voice.”
GOODELL: Commissioner Roger Goodell is on track to maintain his prominent place at the table for the next round of collective bargaining between NFL owners and players, a process that’s sure to be contentious.
The league is working on a five-year contract extension for Goodell, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. Sports Business Journal first reported the contract negotiations.
Goodell’s contract is up after the 2019 season. The new deal would cover the 2024 season.
JETS: Coach Todd Bowles says he will announce the team’s starting quarterback next Monday.
Veteran Josh McCown is widely expected to be under center when the Jets open their season on Sept. 10 at Buffalo. Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are also in the mix
Monday’s game
BROWNS 10, GIANTS 6: In Cleveland, New York wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a lower leg injury — on a questionable hit for an exhibition — that the Giants are hoping isn’t serious during their loss to Cleveland.
Beckham caught an 18-yard pass from Eli Manning and was undercut by cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who drove his shoulder and helmet into the receiver’s left leg. Beckham was flipped over and his head bounced off the turf.
Beckham was upset by what he thought was an unnecessary shot for a preseason game and glared at Boddy-Calhoun as he limped off the field.
The Giants (0-2) said Beckham only suffered a sprain, but the team will have further medical tests conducted Monday.
Beckham’s injury came shortly after more than a dozen Cleveland knelt in a circle on the sideline in silent protest during the national anthem.