HARRIS, WOLFE WANT TO REMAIN WITH BRONCOS
POLIS» The Broncos’ INDI A N A loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday concluded about 48 hours before the NFL’s Tuesday 2 p.m. trade deadline.
Throughout this month, cornerback Chris Harris and defensive end Derek Wolfe have heard their names bandied about because they have expiring contracts and remain productive players.
In the team’s Lucas Oil Stadium locker room, both players said they hope to remain with the Broncos.
“Shoot, I have a baby coming in a couple of days so I want to be (in Denver) for my baby and I definitely want to continue to play here,” Harris said. “I have no issues. I have a great working relationship with (Coach Vic) Fangio and (defensive coordinator) Ed Donatell. It’s up to them upstairs (in the front office). I can’t really control it.”
Said Wolfe: “I don’t want to go. I want to retire a Bronco. Obviously, I want to win as well. I’m not going to ask for a trade. I’m loyal to this team. I’ll keep playing like we have a chance until we don’t.”
The Broncos traded receiver Emmanuel Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick to San Francisco last week for 2020 third- and fourth-round selections. Harris and Wolfe would likely be worth a fourth-round pick because they would be viewed as half-season rental players, a league source said.
Harris said the trade talk has weighed on him.
“I’m not going to lie, it was the hardest week for me to focus,” he said. “It was hard to play the game. But I got through it and thought I played solid.”
Penalty problems. The Broncos and Colts combined for 20 enforced penalties totaling 191 yards.
Two of the Broncos’ 10 penalties were particularly costly. In the third quarter, nose tackle Mike Purcell was called for roughing quarterback Jacoby Brissett. It turned a third-and-6 from the 20 into a first-and-goal from the 10 and running back Marlon Mack scored on the next play.
“I was just doing what I’m paid to do,” Purcell said of his first penalty this year. “I’m 315 pounds. They want me to stop on a dime? I can’t. I didn’t hit him illegally. I hit him in the strike zone (mid-section) and they still called it.”
On the Colts’ winning drive, linebacker Alexander Johnson was called for a 15-yard horse-collar tackle that following running back Nyheim Hines’ 5-yard catch. That moved the Colts to the Broncos’ 34 with 1:29 remaining. It was also Johnson’s first penalty of the year.
“I don’t want to say, ‘Tough penalty,’ ” he said. “I’ll say, ‘Bad call.’ ”
Footnotes. The game featured a rare replay decision involving pass interference. Initially, Broncos cornerback Coty Sensabaugh wasn’t flagged, but he was penalized after Colts coach Frank Reich’s challenge. It was a 1-yard penalty, but an automatic first down. “The (pass interference) thing has become a who-knows-what’s-going-to-happen? (thing),” Fangio said. … Receiver Fred Brown got his first NFL start for the Broncos. Tight end Noah Fant did not start the game when the Broncos used Jeff Heuerman as the lone tight end.