Keenum was always our target, Elway says

Bradford hopes ‘dark times’ are over as he starts anew with Cardinals

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Kirk Cousins was the unequivocal jewel of this year’s free agent quarterback class in just about everyone’s mind but John Elway’s.

“We got our guy,” the Denver Broncos general manager said Friday at Case Keenum’s introductory news conference. “We got the guy that was our target.”

Even though Keenum was No. 1 in Elway’s eyes, he was viewed over the last several weeks as something of a runner-up even in the Broncos locker room.

Several stars such as Von Miller, Brandon Marshall and Emmanuel Sanders campaigned for Cousins, issuing public pleas for the exWashington QB who ultimately signed a three-year, $84 million deal with Minnesota.

“I applaud those guys for wanting to make their team better,” Keenum said after signing his twoyear, $36 million deal that includes $25 million in guarantees. “I want guys that want their team to be great, that want to do everything they can to help the team. So, no, it’s not awkward to me at all.”

CARDINALS: Sam Bradford has arrived in Arizona, acknowledging his difficult history with injuries but saying he feels fine now as he prepares to start at quarterback for the Cardinals under new coach Steve Wilks.

“There has been, definitely, some dark times,” Bradford said at his introductory news conference Friday. “You fight through that process and every time you turn that corner and you’re able to get yourself back on the field. I feel like I’ve come back mentally tougher and mentally stronger than I was the time before.”

RAIDERS: As soon as Jordy Nelson was released by the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders put on a full-court press to acquire the former Pro Bowler.

His former position coach and coordinator in Green Bay, Edgar Bennett, and new Raiders coach Jon Gruden immediately called to bring him out for a free-agent visit. Quarterback Derek Carr picked him up at the airport and gave him a tour of the Bay Area.

Then the Raiders offered a twoyear deal worth a reported $15 million that persuaded him to cancel his other scheduled visits and sign with Oakland.