DENVER BRONCOS (5-11)
OPEN CAMP: July 27
Yu Darvish Jersey , Englewood, Colorado
LAST YEAR: Coach Vance Joseph’s first year was debacle in every phase. Denver’s anemic offense cycled through three QBs during soured season that
included eight-game skid, franchise’s longest in half-century, and featured
eight double-digit losses. Exhausted defense surrendered too many points and
special teams were anything but. GM John Elway thought about firing Joseph but
decided to give him second chance and then bolstered roster.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: QB Case Keenum, DE Bradley Chubb, RB Royce Freeman, WR Courtland Sutton, WR DeSean Hamilton, RT Jared Veldheer
Saints Elite Jerseys , LB Josey Jewell, CB Brock Tramaine, S Su’a Cravens, P Marquette King, part-time pass-rushing coach DeMarcus Ware.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: CB Aqib Talib, QB Trevor Siemian, RB C.J. Anderson, TE Virgil Green, WR Cody Latimer
James Washington Color Rush Jersey , ILB Corey Nelson, QB Brock Osweiler, strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson.
CAMP NEEDS: Broncos need Keenum to stay healthy first and foremost because behind him are two players who have combined four NFL starts, all by Paxton
Lynch. Former first-round pick will be duking it out with 2017 seventh-rounder
Chad Kelly for backup job in toned-down version of QB derby that’s been annual
rite of summer in Denver since Peyton Manning retired.
EXPECTATIONS: Broncos haven’t had back-to-back losing seasons since 1971-72, and they have every intention of returning to playoffs in 2018. Having Chubb as
cohort should make superstar LB Von Miller even better, and Denver’s infusion of
offensive talent through draft and free agency should take some pressure off
defense that’s been carrying team for three years now.
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Kyrie Irving is playing coy about the possibility of reuniting with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James next season in Boston.
The Celtics guard on Tuesday deferred when asked about the prospect of the team pursuing James this summer. The 33-year-old James has a player option to
remain in Cleveland next season but could opt for free agency.
”In this business, I’ve kind of experienced it all and I’ve seen a lot, so we’ll see what management decides,” Irving said when asked if he would be open
to playing alongside James again.
Irving was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2011 and played three seasons with James
Natrell Jamerson Jersey Saints , from 2014-17. The duo made three straight trips to the NBA Finals, winning a championship in 2016.
”Obviously, it’s a business at the end of the day,” Irving said. ”Ownership and management, they’re going to feel what’s best for our future and I’m fully
supportive of (them). We’ll see what happens.”
Irving was traded to Boston last August and averaged 24.4 points and 5.1 assists over 60 games in his first season with the Celtics.
The five-time All-Star missed the last 15 games of the regular season and the entirety of the playoffs after undergoing left knee surgery.
”To kind of have something like that unexpected, it was hurtful, because just a lot of what I wanted to accomplish with our guys and individually as one of
the leaders of the team,” Irving said.
Irving also had a separate surgery in May to repair a deviated septum, a procedure that kept him away from the sidelines for Game 7 of the Celtics’
Eastern Conference Finals series against James and the Cavaliers.
”Obviously
Edwin Diaz Seattle Mariners Jersey , it wasn’t going to feel the same (not being there), but I was just so proud of our guys and what they did,”
Irving said. ”They passed a lot of expectations, and I couldn’t be more proud of
them.”
Cleveland beat Boston 87-79 in Game 7 to send James to his eighth consecutive Finals series. The Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors, dropping
James’ personal Finals record to 3-6.
The Celtics expect Irving to be completely recovered by the start of training camp in the fall.
”I’m feeling good,” Irving said. ”It was going to be a process coming back, just making sure I’m healthy enough for September. Just trying not to push it
too hard.”
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