Broncos’ offensive coordinator dismisses shots from Flacco

Redskins’ Williams reveals cancer diagnosis

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello dismissed Joe Flacco’s criticism of his conservative play-calling as heat-of-the-moment remarks made in the wake of another gut-wrenching loss.

“I just saw a quarterback that had lost a game and he was very frustrated with how it went,” Scangarello said Thursday in his public first response to Flacco’s accusations that Denver’s coaching staff wasn’t aggressive enough.

“We’ve lost a couple of heartbreakers. He’s a competitor and that stuff bothers him, whatever it might be, and I think in that moment something he said came out, but it’s nothing more than that,” Scangarello said. “He’s in the building, he’s great and everything is good.”

Flacco fumed over the Broncos’ conservative play-calling after Denver’s 15-13 loss at Indianapolis last weekend.

Flacco, who one day later was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck and will miss four to six weeks, was particularly peeved the Broncos didn’t dial up more throws to receiver Courtland Sutton, who had three catches for 72 yards and drew five flags on DB Rock Ya-Sin.

Flacco also disagreed with a safe run on third-and-5 from the Colts’ 43 with 1:55 left that was stuffed and gave the ball back to Indy for what turned out to be the winning drive.

“I think the offense needs to do what it needs to do every week to win,” Scangarello said.

Sure, Scangarello said, he regretted some calls, but that’s every game.

“Joe and I have a great relationship,” he said. “We talked after the game, we talked, he was hurt, he was injured and had a long flight back and all that stuff.”

REDSKINS: Washington tackle Trent Williams revealed a cancer diagnosis that played a part in his lengthy holdout and distrust of the team’s medical staff and the organization.

Williams, 31, on Thursday said he told the team of the medical issue six years ago, and the growth on his head grew substantially over time. He said he had a tumor removed from his skull and needs to get checked out every six months.

The seven-time Pro Bowl selection had multiple surgeries during the offseason related to the tumor’s removal and remained away from the team during that time. Williams said it got pretty serious and he was “told some scary things” by doctors that changed his outlook on life.

The riveting almost 20-minute discussion with reporters unfolded with Williams, selected fourth overall by Washington in the 2010 draft, seated by his corner locker stall.

“It was a lot of emotions; I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t,” Williams said of returning to Redskins Park on Tuesday shortly before the NFL trade deadline.

JETS: Le’Veon Bell sent a text to

Adam Gase, telling the New York coach they needed to talk.

The star RB didn’t like how little he was used in a 29-15 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday, and Bell needed to make sure Gase knew how he felt.

“I was a little frustrated,” Bell said. “I’m always frustrated at a loss, but this was a little different because I wasn’t involved and we lost.”

He carried eight times for 23 yards and had three catches for 12 yards. Hardly an ideal workload for a playmaker, especially on an offense ranked last in the NFL in total yards.

That led to a one-on-one conversation with Gase.

“We had a good little talk because I just want to be one of the main reasons for helping the team win,” Bell said. “I don’t like not being used and we end up losing the game. I felt like I couldn’t help my team out. So me and him had that conversation. Hopefully, things are better from here on out.”

STEELERS: Pittsburgh linebacker Anthony Chickillo is back at practice after being taken off the commissioner’s exempt list.