Musgrave has support of QBs
It’s unclear whether any combination of Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian will have an opportunity to compete for the Broncos’ starting quarterback job in 2018.
But as they left Dove Valley on Monday, the day after Denver completed a 5-11 season, the three quarterbacks voiced support for the man who could be guiding the Broncos’ offense next season: interim coordinator Bill Musgrave. A decision had not been reached by Monday morning on whether Musgrave will be retained, but he has the backing, whatever it’s worth, of the three quarterbacks who made starts after he took over for Mike McCoy, who was fired Nov. 20.
“I love working with Bill,” said Osweiler, who started one game, at Washington, under Musgrave and played in three quarters of a victory at Indianapolis. “I just told him in our exit meeting: ‘Thank you for you being you. You’re an incredible coach and incredible person to be around. You make playing football fun.’ Not only does he make football fun, he’s also a great coordinator.”
Siemian, whose shoulder injury in the first quarter of the Dec. 14 game at Indianapolis ended his 2017 season, said Musgrave “dialed down the volume” of the playbook after taking over for McCoy. The Broncos averaged 18.3 points during 10 games with McCoy, only 14.6 points after a 2-0 start. Denver averaged 17.7 points in Musgrave’s six games, with three different starting quarterbacks running his offense.
“He helped me a lot,” Lynch said of Musgrave. “I know it was kind of tough with the transition after McCoy left, but I think Coach Musgrave did a good job taking over and implementing his plan for us. Not completely changing the playbook, but kind of honing it down and making it simple so guys could go out there and play fast.”
Davis talks future.
After playing the 2017 season on a one-year, $2.75 million contract he signed last April as a restricted free agent, linebacker Todd Davis will enter this offseason with a chance to land a multiyear deal.
The question for the nowunrestricted free agent is whether he will sign that deal with Denver.
“I love this team,” Davis said Monday. “I love this organization. We’ll see what happens. I’m very excited for the future with this organization, but we’ll see.”
The 25-year-old Davis, starting at inside linebacker for the second straight season, finished with 82 tackles and one sack in 14 games this season. He played through numerous injuries and was the winner of the team’s Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
Anderson reflects on his 1,000yard season.
C.J. Anderson was one of nine NFL running backs this season to reach 1,000 yards rushing. His 61 yards on 18 carries in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs gave Anderson 1,007 for the season.
“It just feels good when you look back at it,” he said. “There were nine of us who rushed for 1,000. The goal was to lead the league, but you take the performance that you had and build on it.”
Anderson hit the milestone just before an offseason that will bring uncertainty for the former undrafted running back, who turns 27 in February and will be entering his sixth season in 2018. He is under contract for the next two seasons at a base salary of $4.5 million, but there are no guaran- tees left on that deal.
But Anderson made it clear he hopes to be in a Broncos uniform next season.
“Of course I’d like to stay here,” he said. “I’ve only known here. Had my good here, had my bad here. I think I put enough on tape; we’ll see. I just play hard every time. I go out there and give it my all.”