Broncos in no hurry to choose playoff QB
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Gary Kubiak isn’t ready to say who his starting quarterback is for the playoffs.
Choosing between Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, though, is a nice problem for him to have.
“I would say it’s enjoyable because of where we’re at,” Kubiak said Monday.
That would be atop the AFC playoff bracket.
The Broncos ( 12- 4) host a divisional round game Jan. 17. They avoided slipping into the wild-card round when Manning rallied the Broncos to a 27-20 win over San Diego on Sunday in his first relief appearance in 21 years, three months and 11 days.
“In this business you work really, really hard to get in the position that we’re in right now and to be a part of this next month,” Kubiak said. “There’s always going to be tough decisions to make.”
Lynch back in Seattle
RENTON, Wash. — Marshawn Lynch has rejoined the Seattle Seahawks just in time for the playoffs.
Coach Pete Carroll said on his radio show Monday morning on KIRO-AM in Seattle that Lynch was back at the team’s facility after missing the final seven games of the regular season and undergoing abdominal surgery. Lynch had been recovering and going through workouts with his personal trainers in the Bay Area with the expectation he would return this week.
Carroll said he had not spoken with Lynch but saw him working out Monday morning. The Seahawks were not practicing, so Lynch’s first chance to get back on the field and see if he’s ready to play will be Wednesday when Seattle begins preparations for Sunday’s wild- card game at Minnesota.
ESPN: Colts keep Pagano
The Indianapolis Colts have given head coach Chuck Pagano a contract extension, the team announced Monday. ESPN said the team was scheduled to announce the deal in a news conference late Monday night.
The Colts also were working to extend the contract of general manager Ryan Grigson as well, sources told ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
In four seasons with Indy, Pagano is 41-23 with three playoff appearances, three playoff wins, two division titles and last year’s appearance in the AFC championship game.
But the Colts (8-8), a trendy preseason Super Bowl pick, missed the playoffs this season.
Dolphins name GM
DAVIE, Fla. — The first step in the Miami Dolphins’ latest round of offseason changes was settled quickly Monday, when Chris Grier’s promotion to general manager was finalized.
His first task: Help the Dolphins find a coach.
With Grier in place, the biggest order of Dolphins’ offseason business — finding a coach — could get under way. Former Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith interviewed for the job Monday.