Broncos vs. Panthers: Cam Newton comes first, Von Miller second

Broncos vs. Panthers: Cam Newton
comes first, Von Miller second
Mike Klis
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

This week has not carried the underlying tone of revenge, or disrespect, or sore
feelings in the great 2011 draft pick matchup between Carolina Panthers
quarterback Cam Newton and Broncos pass-rushing linebacker Von Miller.

Which is too bad, perhaps, but Miller carries no such grudges.

"Of course I wanted to be No. 1, but Cam Newton, he's Superman Cam," Miller said
as he sat at his Broncos' locker Thursday. "He fit their need way more than I fit
their need. I don't have any animosity towards the Carolina Panthers. He was No. 1
and I was No. 2, but I want to go out there and win just like they want to go out
there and win."

Miller, the NFL's defensive rookie of the year in 2011, and the Broncos will meet
Newton, the league's offensive rookie of the year in 2011, and the Panthers on
Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

The teams also carry no ill-feelings or what ifs regarding who picked whom because
there was no vacillating with their respective decisions. When you're coming off a
2-14 season and your future is Jimmy Clausen, as was the case with the Panthers
as they sat there with the No. 1 draft pick in the 2011 draft, there is only one
choice to make.

"We had to establish who our franchise quarterback was going to be," said Carolina
coach Ron Rivera. "Who was going to be the guy that was going to be our leader for
the next 10 years?"

Never mind the Heisman Trophy or national championship Newton won. Think
about this: Just two years ago, Newton rallied Auburn from a 24-0 deficit to defeat
Alabama, 28-27.

The Broncos, meanwhile, had a good idea in the days leading up to the draft that
Newton would not be in play. They had done their due diligence. John Elway's first
Pro Day scouting trip as the Broncos' new vice president of football operations was
to see Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley perform at Auburn.

"He was as athletic as any quarterback I had ever seen," Elway said Thursday. "He
threw the ball every well. Tight spirals, strong arm. So physically he was as gifted
as anybody I'd ever seen."

The Broncos brought Newton to their Dove Valley headquarters for a visit. But the
Broncos were coming off a 4-12 season, with their defense ranked No. 32 in the 32-
team NFL, and the previous regime had drafted a quarterback in the first round of
the previous year's draft. When they got ready to select with the No. 2 pick, there
was but one choice to make.

Even if Tim Tebow, the first-round quarterback from the 2010 draft, carried super-
sized question marks, the Broncos had no choice but to take a defensive player.

The Elway scouting tour first visited with cornerback Patrick Peterson in Boca
Raton, Fla., then Auburn for Newton and Fairley, then Alabama for defensive tackle
Marcel Dareus, then a trip to College Station, Texas, for a private workout and
dinner with Miller.

The first night, Miller went to a Texas Roadhouse with Broncos linebackers coach
Richard Smith. The next night, those two went to Fish Daddies, where they were
joined by among others, Elway and coach John Fox.

Miller remembers he had fried catfish and rice and Fox had salmon. But the college
senior was too star-struck to notice what Elway was eating.

"I remember a lot of stuff, but I just remember how it was so surreal for me to
have John Elway across the table, and every time I look up he's looking at me,"
Miller said. "Surreal. I watched the '97, '98 seasons. And then coach Fox with Julius
Peppers. It was just all so surreal."

There were opinions in draft war rooms across the league that stated the No. 2 pick
was too high for Miller because of the position he played. A pass-rushing defensive
end at Texas A&M, Miller projected to strongside linebacker and pass rusher in the
NFL. Most draft projections had the Broncos taking Dareus.

But Miller was less Aaron Curry as a linebacker and more Derrick Thomas.

"They were all good football players, but we looked at Von's dynamic explosion and
his ability to rush the passer," Elway said. "That was really the key thing is the
speed coming off the edge. You don't find those kind of guys."

Miller had 10½ sacks through his first 11 games as a rookie and here in Year 2 has
nine sacks and an NFL-most 17 tackles for losses through eight games.

Even if Newton is struggling in his sophomore season after a record-setting rookie
year, quarterbacks come when they come. The Panthers have made many
questionable moves leading up to their 2-6 record this season, but virtually no one
within the industry second-guessed their decision to use the No. 1 pick on an
abundantly talented quarterback prospect.

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, remember, were a year away from entering the
draft.

"If certain things had come up and allowed us to, then we would most certainly look
at Von and say 'Wow, this kid's a special football player. He's got some great
ability.' " Rivera said. "He deserved to be picked where he was by Denver. The
young man is a heck of a football player.

Defending Cam Newton is not optional
for the Broncos
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

Hmmm, let's see: A former Southeastern Conference quarterback, who won the
Heisman Trophy, has brought a little option football to the NFL.

The Broncos have a some experience with that.

Denver's defense will face Cam Newton on Sunday, and the Carolina Panthers star
is second in the NFL in rushing among the league's quarterbacks — behind
Washington's Robert Griffin III.

Carolina has sprinkled in some read-option plays along the way, the same kind of
plays the Broncos' offense ran last season with Tim Tebow at quarterback.

"It's slightly different than what we did, but I think Cam is a bigger threat to throw
than Tebow was for us," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "It's really simple.
Just do your job. It's not like that it's complicated. It's just that guys try to do
things that they're not supposed to do, that's where you get in trouble."

The Panthers have dialed back their usage of the option in recent games, but the
Broncos still expect to see some Sunday.

"Do your job because once you try to do someone else's job, that's when the big
runs take place," Bailey said.

Porter update. Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter did not participate in Thursday's
practice and has not practiced this week. Porter has missed the past three games
and has not made the past two road trips with the team after experiencing similar
symptoms that he had before he suffered a seizure in August — rapid heartbeat,
dizziness and light headedness.

"We're just trying to get a grip on these seizures," Broncos coach John Fox said.
"It's a medical issue that we're not taking lightly at all. He's not an accountant. I
mean he's out here running into people, quite a bit of exercise, so it's something
we're not taking lightly and before we put him out here full speed we want to make
sure we've got that under wraps."

Asked if Porter had experienced another seizure in recent weeks, Fox said: "No,
small, just small symptoms. We want to make sure we eliminate them."

Serve and protect. When guard Chris Kuper was out of the lineup to open the
season as a fractured bone in his left forearm healed, the Broncos surrendered
eight sacks in their first three games.

The Broncos settled in some after that and didn't allow a sack in their fourth game
(Oakland), but then allowed two against New England with Kuper not yet back in
the lineup on offense.

However, in the past three games, with Kuper back in the starting lineup, the
Broncos have not surrendered a sack. Kuper has a severely sprained left ankle and
is expected to miss at least two to four weeks.

"Last week Peyton didn't really get touched," said offensive coordinator Mike
McCoy. "There were a couple hands that got on him, but it really wasn't a hit at all,
just someone running by him."

Injuries. Wide receiver Eric Decker (thigh) practiced fully after being limited in
Wednesday's workout. ... Seven Panthers who did not participate in Wednesday's
practice were listed as full participants Thursday, including defensive tackle Dwan
Edwards, tackle Jordan Gross and defensive end Charles Johnson.

Footnotes. Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will not be able to attend
Valor Christian's playoff game Saturday — Del Rio's son Luke is the quarterback —
because the Broncos will be in Charlotte, N.C. The team will leave after Friday's
practice then practice in the Charlotte area Saturday. "I'll just wish him the best
and this is just one of the times I can't be there," Del Rio said. "He understands
that.

Broncos rookie report: Danny Trevathan
seeing more fieldwork
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

The draft class

DT Derek Wolfe — Only defensive end Elvis Dumervil has played more snaps
among the Broncos' defensive linemen than Wolfe has this season. Wolfe played 68
plays against the Bengals to go with six more on special teams. He finished with six
tackles and knocked a pass down in Cincinnati, where he played his college career.
For the year, he has now played on 87 percent of the defensive plays for the
Broncos.

QB Brock Osweiler — Osweiler did not get into the game — the Broncos needed a
14-point fourth quarter with two Peyton Manning-led scoring drives to get the win
over the Bengals — since the game was not decided until the final minutes. He has
played four snaps for the season, three of those coming in the Sunday night win
over the Saints.

RB Ronnie Hillman — Hillman played 13 plays on offense against the Bengals,
finishing with just one carry for four yards. Hillman, though, should continue to get
work in some of the Broncos' passing looks at times because he continues to show
he is a willing blocker in pass protection when needed. Manning has praised the
rookie's progress there. Hillman also appeared in the backfield alongside Willis
McGahee for one play in the game, another formation the Broncos may use more as
the season wears on.

CB Omar Bolden — Bolden played two snaps in the defense when the Broncos
went to a different look in the dime package (six defensive backs) — his first
appearance in the defense this season — and got in for 14 snaps on special teams.
He has, however, likely lost the kickoff-return job as the Broncos want to put
speedster Trindon Holliday in the lineup. Bolden, however, has shown enough in
coverage that he should continue to get some spot work in the defense's specialty
packages.

C Philip Blake — He suffered a season-ending thumb injury in practice and has
been placed on injured reserve. Blake continues to take part in the team's
meetings.

DE Malik Jackson — Jackson played six plays in the defense against the Bengals,
his most activity since back-to-back games with eight plays against Atlanta and
Houston. The Broncos used all eight defensive linemen on the 53-man roster
against the Bengals.

LB Danny Trevathan — Trevathan continues to get increasing work in the
Broncos' nickel package (five defensive backs). He played a season-high 32 plays
on defense against the Bengals, finishing with six tackles and his first sack of his
career. He added three plays on special teams. The Broncos like Trevathan's work
thus far and figure to continue to pair him with Wesley Woodyard at the linebacker
spots in the nickel.

The rest of the rookie class

LS Aaron Brewer — Brewer had eight snaps in Cincinnati — three punts, a field
goal and four extra points. He also, for the second consecutive game, had a special
teams tackle, giving him two for the season.

S Duke Ihenacho — Ihenacho, having been signed to the 53-man roster when
linebacker Joe Mays went to injured reserve, was on the gameday roster in
Cincinnati and appeared on special teams. In all he played seven plays, finishing
with one tackle, and has now played 15 plays on special teams this season, with
eight of those coming against Oakland.

LB Steven Johnson — After being a gameday inactive for three consecutive
games, Johnson was in uniform against the Bengals and played 17 plays on special
teams. He finished with one special teams tackle in the game.

C/G Quentin Saulsberry, T Darrion Weems and S Blake Gideon are currently
working on the Broncos' practice squad. Gideon, who started 52 consecutive games
at Texas (second in school history), was in training camp with the Arizona
Cardinals. Weems was in training camp with both the Patriots and Vikings this past
summer and had started the season on the Colts' practice squad. Saulsberry was in
camp with the Vikings as well.

Broncos' underwhelming turnover
margin could impede their progress
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

Heading into Thursday night's game, there were just three teams in the NFL who
were among the league's top 10 in both offense and defense. Just three teams that
were among the league's statistically proficient on both sides of the ball.

The Cowboys (3-5), the Lions (4-4) and the Broncos (5-3) are the three. But what
was once considered a sign of balance for a playoff hopeful is now an uncertain
gauge at times.

Dallas has not looked like a playoff team at any point since the Cowboys' opening-
week win over the Giants. Detroit has beaten just one team that currently has a
winning record — Seattle, at 5-4.

And the Broncos have steadily climbed from 2-3 to their current spot at the top of
the wobbly AFC West with a three-game winning streak.

Which brings us to the reason a cliché becomes a cliché — because it comes up
over and over again.

And turnovers are the NFL's cliché, with coach after coach, player after player,
week after week, season after season talking about the importance of "the turnover
battle." Commence eye-rolling if you need to, but it's been true before and it's true
again.

It's also the reason the Broncos, despite all of the good they have done in winning
three of their last four games, cannot yet be considered at the front of the line in
the playoff chase. They are considered to be a potentially tough out in the
postseason because of what Peyton Manning brings to the table. But until they get
their turnover issues in order, they will not be all they can be.

At the moment, the Broncos are 23rd in the league in turnover margin at minus-4,
a total boosted significantly by 10 lost fumbles in eight games. The 10 teams at
minus-4 or worse so far are a combined 33-49 (.402).

Among those 10 teams, the Broncos and the Colts (5-3) are the only teams with a
winning record.

The league's top 10 teams in turnover margin before Thursday night's game kicked
off to open a new NFL week are a combined 55-25 (.688).

Seven of the eight division leaders at the moment are among top 10 in the
category, ranging from plus-16 to plus-3. The only division leader not among the
best in turnover margin is the AFC West-leading Broncos.

The Bears (7-1) lead the league with a staggering 28 forced turnovers. The Bears
are tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries — with New England at 11 — and
are tied for the league lead in interceptions, with the Giants.

But the Falcons (8-0) are also fourth in turnover margin, at plus-10. The Texans (7-
1) are sixth at plus-8.

"That's one thing when you look at it, that always has an effect on what you're
doing," said Broncos coach John Fox. "We'd like to get those things cleaned up.
We've done better as we've gone along and that's your goal to keep improving and
we talk about those things all the time. We'll keep working on those things."

It is a must for the Broncos because any continued improvement on offense, any
improved play on defense will be lost in the bottom line of turnovers.

At least that's what the numbers always say.

Broncos continue to evaluate cornerback
Tracy Porter
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 8, 2012

Cornerback Tracy Porter, who has missed the Broncos' past three games, was on
the field briefly during Thursday's open period of practice, but did not participate in
drills.

Porter was wearing his jersey, pulled over a hooded sweatshirt, and went back
inside the Broncos' locker room/training room when practice got underway.

"We're just trying to get a grip on these seizures, again it's a medical issue that
we're not taking lightly at all," said Broncos coach John Fox. "He's not an
accountant, I mean he's out here running into people, quite a bit of exercise, so it's
something we're not taking lightly and before we put him out here full speed we
want to make sure we've got that under wraps.".

Guard Chris Kuper, who suffered a severely sprained ankle in the Broncos' victory
in Cincinnati, also was not on the field. Kuper is expected to miss at least two to
four weeks.

Kuper was not wearing a walking boot on the ankle Wednesday or Thursday
afternoon, but is continuing to get daily treatment.

For Porter's part, the fifth-year cornerback had suffered a seizure in August then
experienced the same symptoms he had felt before the seizure — rapid heartbeat,
dizziness and light headedness — the day before the Broncos faced the Chargers in
San Diego on Oct. 15.

Asked Thursday if Porter had suffered another seizure in recent weeks, Fox said:

"No, small just small symptoms we want to make sure we eliminate."

Porter has not made the last two road trips — to San Diego and Cincinnati — and
has not practiced this week. Chris Harris is expected to start at right cornerback
against the Panthers on Sunday with Tony Carter working in the nickel package.

For Broncos safety Rahim Moore, more
maturity means better results
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

Today's question about the Broncos comes from Cliff Swanson in Minneapolis. To
submit a question for consideration, send an e-mail to The Denver Post's Jeff
Legwold.

Q: I have read over and over this season that Rahim Moore's play is light years
ahead of where it was last season. However, as I watch the Broncos on TV and
comb through their boxscores, I do not see nearly the same measurable impact as I
do from a player like Von Miller or Wesley Woodyard. Could you please explain his
improvement, particularly in the areas that do not show up on stat sheets?

A: Cliff, in the world of NFL personnel departments, there is concern in some years
with some players who are at, or near, the top of their position group coming into a
draft when the particular position group overall isn't rated very highly in that year.

The scouts say you really have to be careful to judge the player on his own skills,
on his own grade, rather than draft him above his true slot because he is among
the best at a position in a bit of a down year.

Moore, as a rookie last season, fit that category. He was generally considered one
of the top two safeties on the board in 2011, but it was also considered a very weak
draft class overall at the position.

In my top 100 that year, I had him at No. 60 because of it, which would be at the
bottom of the second round. The Broncos took him at 45th overall and immediately
inserted him into the starting lineup, so he carried expectations right away as well.

He started the first five games of the year in '11, but didn't always play with
maturity and wasn't always technically sound in his approach, whether it be
tackling or carrying out his assignments.

Physically, you could see the skills. But he often ran himself out of position and
missed tackles because he dropped his eyes before reaching the ballcarrier.
Cornerback Champ Bailey rarely misses tackles in space because his eyes rarely
leave the target as he approaches and gathers himself for contact.

Too often, Moore wanted the big hit or to force a turnover, and offenses simply took
advantage of his aggressiveness.

This season, he's brought the same athleticism to the game. But he's played with
more composure and has started seven of the Broncos' eight games. Defensive
coordinator Jack Del Rio has taken him out of the lineup in certain spots. When the
Bengals crossed the Broncos' 20-yard line in Cincinnati, for example, Jim Leonhard
was put in the game. But Moore is second on the team in tackles at the moment
with 43, or 12 more than he had in 15 games last season.

He has been better at coming to balance as he approaches the ballcarrier, keeping
his eyes on the target and finishing the tackle. It's kept him from watching people
break his arm tackles as they often did last season because he didn't have himself
in the proper position at the point of contact.

His teammates say he's also prepared better and knows far more about what to
expect schematically from an offense when he goes into a game. Part of that is
what happens with young players. They either accept the kind of effort it takes to
succeed at their job, or they don't have the job for very long.

Or as safety Mike Adams put it:

"From what I know, he's a competitor. He goes hard, he studies the opponent. He's
always the first one in here and the last one to leave. He works hard. His tackling is
tremendous. He goes down, gets his head in there. He doesn't go for the big hit
and miss the tackle. He's doing well."

More put it this way.

"Guys are evolving but it starts with the hard work. It starts way back in OTAs
when we trained," Moore said. "We trained at a high level from the days where we
were working out with our shirts off, sweating hard, just putting in the dog days.
It's paying off."

And though he plays on the other side of the ball, Moore said Wednesday he thinks
Peyton Manning's presence, with what he has accomplished in the league, sets a
tone for everybody.

"He gives us the best level we ever see," Moore said. "His presence alone is felt. It's
like when you're a kid and your mom is around or your father's around and you
have to respect his will, his mindset, that's how it is when he's around. We respect
him. There's no joking around. We're focused and when we see him out there on
the field and we come out there, we try to match it because it's a team effort. I'm
blessed to be a part of it."

Panthers receiver Steve Smith comes to
aid of Aurora theater shooting victims
Tom Kensler
The Denver Post
November 9, 2012

When Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith says the July 20 Aurora theater
shooting hit home, that's an understatement.

Smith's eldest son, Peyton, also attended a midnight screening of the Batman
movie "The Dark Knight Rises" that same night with another teenager. Peyton was
in a theater in Charlotte, N.C., but because of the coincidence, Smith said he was
shaken when hearing about the Aurora tragedy that left 12 dead and at least 58
injured.

Six days after the Aurora shootings, Smith announced he would donate $100,000 to
the Aurora Victim Relief Fund. Smith has no connection to Aurora or to the state of
Colorado.

"You think, 'That could have happened to my son,' " Smith said Thursday. "When
you're a parent, you're always thinking about keeping your children out of harm's
way. You allow them to do things or go places, and you want to mark it off in your
mind as being OK.

"When I heard about the shootings, I thought, 'If that had happened here, I would
have thought it would never have happened if I hadn't let Peyton go to that movie.'
You maybe shouldn't think like that, but as a parent, you do."

The Broncos play Sunday at Carolina. Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, leads
the Panthers with 38 catches for 630 yards.

"The Aurora tragedy touched Steve in a personal way," said his California-based
agent, Derrick Fox. "Because of the circumstances with his son also being at the
midnight showing, Steve became very emotional when he called me and said he
wanted to do something to help the victims."

As of a report last week, the fund had received $5 million in donations and the
governor's office announced that 52 claims from victims had been filed.

Smith said he received personal letters and messages from Aurora officials thanking
him for the generous donation. "I made it public because I hoped others would feel
the need to also help," Smith said.

A native of Los Angeles who played college football at Utah, Smith has received
some negative publicity over the years, including engaging in fights with
teammates in 2002 and 2008, and trash talking to opponents.

But he has been active in charitable initiatives, including establishing a coat drive in
Charlotte and funding travel expenses for a local high school band to perform
during the presidential inauguration in January 2009.

Recently, Smith helped hand out hundreds of shoes and socks to homeless people
at a shelter in Charlotte.

Jim Leonhard voted Broncos player union
rep
Mike Klis
The Denver Post
November 8, 2012

It is a time of labor peace so the responsibilities of union player rep are less
stressful.

Still, the responsibility is large and the Bronco players voted veteran safety Jim
Leonhard as their man. It says something about Leonhard that he has only been
with the Broncos for three months yet was given such a leadership role.

Alternate player reps are receiver Eric Decker, tight end Joel Dreessen and right
guard Chris Kuper.

Ashley Manning’s team has won 3 in a
row too
Mike Klis
The Denver Post
November 8, 2012

The Memphis Grizzlies, one of the two favorite NBA teams of the Denver Broncos
(the Nuggets, of course, are the other), are on a roll.

Ashley Manning, wife of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, was officially
approved as a Grizzlies’ minority owner on Oct. 25, a few days before the start of
the NBA regular season. Memphis is off to a 3-1 start having won three in a row.

The Grizzlies had an impressive road win Wednesday night in Milwaukee against the
Bucks. Ashley attended the Grizzlies home opener on Monday, a 103-94 win against
Utah. The previous day, her husband was in Cincinnati lifting the Broncos to their
third consecutive win against the Bengals.

Memphis has some nice players, most noticeably power forward Zach Randolph
(15.3 rebounds a game), center Marc Gasol (19.3 points), scorer Rudy Gay (18.8
points) and playmaker Mike Conley Jr. (7.0 assists).

Just win, baby: Peyton Manning creeping
up on Marino, Elway
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
November 8, 2012

With a win Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning can tie
Hall of Famer Dan Marino for third on the NFL’s all-time regular-season win list for
quarterbacks at 147.

With two more wins, Manning can tie his boss, Broncos vice president John Elway,
for No. 2 all-time.

Here the list of winningest NFL QBs, with career regular-season record:

Brett Favre … 186-112
John Elway* … 148-82-1
Dan Marino* … 147-93
Peyton Manning … 146-70
Tom Brady … 128-39
*Hall of Famer

Broncos’ Bailey: Cam Newton like Vick
but “with better upside”
Tom Kensler
The Denver Post
November 8, 2012

Speaking Thursday with the media at Dove Valley, veteran Broncos cornerback
Champ Bailey called Panthers quarterback Cam Newton a “freakish athlete.”

“What Cam can do, nobody can do that,” Bailey said. “He’s big. And when he runs,
he’s hard to get down. He’ll make you look stupid. And he has a cannon (for an
arm).

“When you combine all that, it’s like a bigger version of Michael Vick — but I think
(Newton) has a better upside.”

Bailey disagreed with those that say Newton is going through a sophomore slump.

“I wouldn’t say slump,” Bailey said.”I know at some point, (a young quarterback) is
going to struggle in his first year or second year. It’s just how he responds. I know
at some point he’s going to start getting it and making things click. He’s a special
talent.”

Miller takes big jump in second season in
Denver
Arnie Stapleton
Associated Press
November 8, 2012

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Von Miller was such an athletic freak coming out of
Texas A&M that his mentor, former Aggies coach Mike Sherman, joked he probably
could have crumpled quarterbacks with one hand tied behind his back.

That's sort of what the Denver Broncos strongside linebacker had to do after
tearing ligaments in his right thumb last November. He played the stretch run and
the playoffs with a cast that prevented him from grabbing and shedding offensive
linemen.

Although he faded toward the finish and was even benched in some situations, the
second overall pick in last year's draft went on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the
Year honors in a landslide and made the Pro Bowl, a validation of John Elway's first
big move as the Broncos' boss.

It's only gotten better in Year 2.

"I have no doubt that I'll be a totally different player next year," Miller declared
after running post-practice sprints one day in January. "It will be night and day
between this year and next year."

Even though he has nine sacks, including a career-best three against Cincinnati last
week, Miller isn't just Elvis Dumervil's pass-rushing partner anymore.

He's rounded out his game, dropping into coverage more and playing the run better
while still getting after the quarterback — he's tied with Houston's J.J. Watt for the
NFL lead with 17 tackles for loss, which is two shy of his entire total from his rookie
year, and he trails only Watt's 10½ sacks for the league lead.

"I think he's becoming more of a complete player," coach John Fox said. "Some
guys don't work on their weaknesses, they just kind of roll around on their
strengths. And I think in his case, he's worked on some of the things he didn't do
as much in college and that is mostly coverage and how he fits into the cover
scheme.

"He's obviously got a lot of great abilities to rush the passer. I think that was
evident a year ago, and I think it's evident again this season. He's a really terrific
young guy that's not afraid to work hard."

Miller said his thumb injury that required surgery last year was actually a blessing
because it forced him to focus on technique and not rely so heavily on his
athleticism.

"You really take for granted your hands. You don't know what you've got until it's
gone," Miller said. "Playing with one thumb and one and a-half hands, it helped me
be more technically sound. Before, I was just moving around, just using all athletic
ability."

Linebackers coach Richard Smith said he sees a more cerebral approach in Miller
this season, and he bristles at the reminder that he had to pull Miller off the field at
times last year, when rookies lacked the enormous benefits of an offseason because
of the lockout.

"Last year he was an every-down guy, OK? He had a few times where I had to take
him out of the game because of some sort of issues," Smith said. "Right now, what
I see, he's bigger, stronger and faster than he was a year ago. Even though he
would say he did yoga this summer, first of all, he's got freak athletic ability. So,
that's not coaching; that's genetics. That guy's a beast, OK? That stuff is all natural.

"What I like about him is his focus, his attention in the meetings, on details he's
getting much better. He's a much better first- and second-down player that he was
a year ago."

Miller and Dumervil, who have combined for 15 sacks, making them the most
prolific tandem in the league halfway through the season, are a younger version of
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who complemented quarterback Peyton
Manning so well in Indianapolis.

"Certainly, Von has special athletic skills," Manning said. "His ability to run, to cover
ground, certain things that he has, you just can't teach."

Miller said there's plenty for him to learn still so that he can reach the goal he laid
out for Elway, Fox and Smith before the 2011 draft.

"I want to be a linebacker, not a rush guy, not a pass specialist or run specialist,"
Miller said.

He won't say he's made big strides in that regard, however.

"Coach Smith, he'll tell you, I've got a long way to go," Miller said, adding, "I've
made steps, not too big of hurdles or jumps, but I think I have definitely taken
steps to being a great run defender."

Teams certainly no longer run roughshod over the Broncos, who rank 12th in the
league against the run a year after ranking 22nd.

On Sunday, Miller gets to face Cam Newton, the one man selected ahead of him in
last year's draft when the Broncos (5-3) visit the Carolina Panthers (2-6).

"Von is a very elusive defender," Newton said. "He's not very big in stature but he
wreaks havoc with the things he brings to the table. He plays linebacker. He plays
defensive end. He can cover. He can pressure the quarterback. He's about as all-
around a defender as you can have."

Miller and Newton became fast friends during the lockout last year, and Miller said
he'd love to sack his friend so he could imitate Newton's touchdown celebration
where he pretends to rip open his jersey like Superman.

"I'm his biggest fan. But Sunday, I definitely want to win," said Miller, who is a-half
sack shy of Dumervil's team record of 21 sacks in his first two seasons.

"If I had sons that play quarterback," Miller said, "I would tell them to watch Cam
Newton."

And hope that the film shows daddy putting him on his back a time or two.

Notes: CB Tracy Porter (seizure) remained sidelined Thursday, but WRs Eric Decker
(thigh), Demaryius Thomas (knee) and Brandon Stokley (knee) were all full
participants, as was S Jim Leonhard (calf), the team's new player rep on union
matters.

Manning, Luck succeed from 2 sides of
spectrum
Eddie Pells
Associated Press
November 9, 2012

The numbers and the standings will change, but heading into this week's games,
they were lined up too perfectly to ignore.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reached the halfway point of the season with
a 5-3 record and 2,404 yards passing.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck reached the halfway point of the season with a 5-3
record and 2,404 yards passing.

Though Manning, the 15-year veteran, and Luck, the rookie out of Stanford, are
hardly mirror images, their fates over the past 12 months have been as
interconnected as their numbers were entering this week.

And so far, this has all the makings of a win-win situation for both teams and both
quarterbacks.

Colts interim head coach and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who also worked
with Manning when he was a rookie, says Manning was great in his first year and
Luck is every bit as good.

"He's light years ahead of where we thought he would be," Arians said. "There's
nothing really left to put in the playbook that we haven't installed, and he's been
extremely good in clutch situations."

Had the Colts chosen not to part ways with Manning — the quarterback who
essentially defined the franchise for a decade and a half — they may still have
picked Luck first in the draft. But chances are he'd be watching, not playing.

There's no crystal ball to tell how that would've gone. But installing Luck as the
starter is working out just fine.

If the playoffs had begun at the season's midpoint, the Broncos and Colts, who beat
Jacksonville 27-10 on Thursday night, would have been matched up for a first-
round game. Despite that, despite the winning record and the 10 touchdown
passes, Luck only gave himself a 'C' when asked for his own midseason grade.

"I think a perfect grade would be if you won every game, didn't have any
incompletions, no interceptions, so we'll keep working until we get to there," he
said.

Some things he's doing, however, go well beyond average.

This week, Luck's jersey was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he threw
for a rookie record 433 yards in a 23-20 win over Miami on Sunday. With that
performance, he joined Manning as the only other player to throw for 300-plus
yards four times in his first year.

While many teams will dumb down offenses, or build them to fit specific skills of
rookie quarterbacks (see the Redskins and Robert Griffin III or the Seahawks and
Russell Wilson), Luck is essentially working with a complex, pro-style offense — and
is also asked to pick up the slack for a running game ranked 19th in the league.

Despite the running game, and despite receiver Reggie Wayne standing as Indy's
only "big name" playmaker, the Colts have the NFL's fourth-ranked offense. Luck
has won close games (three-point wins over Miami, Minnesota and Green Bay and
an overtime win over Tennessee), has engineered big comebacks (from 21-3 down
against the Packers) and has quickly gained the confidence of his teammates.

"He has definitely come in and helped us win games," Wayne said. "For the offense,
he's put us in good situations to make plays. He's made some unbelievable throws,
especially on the run. He's used his feet well."

While Luck has been piling up yards, his quarterback rating was only 79.0, 25th in
the NFL, in part because he completed only 56.5 percent of his passes and was
averaging an interception per game. The Colts, meanwhile, still have two games
left against AFC South leader Houston and one game at New England. Daunting.

Still, with a rookie quarterback and coming off a 2-14 season, there weren't many
people picking the Colts as playoff contenders in 2012.

"I'm really pleased with where he's at, his competitiveness, his spirit, his grit,
leadership," Arians said. "Those are things you hope you have in a quarterback, and
he's got them all."

Denver's schedule was frontloaded — Houston, New England, Atlanta and
Pittsburgh were among the first five opponents. Because of that, and because
Manning was coming off injury and starting with a new team, expectations weren't
that high for early in the season.

But after a 2-3 start, the Broncos have won three straight. It's an understatement
to say Manning has been rounding into form. He has completed nearly 76 percent
of his passes over the last five games. He leads the league in passer rating (108.6)
and has 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He says he always expected to
improve as the season wore on.

"I think you never stop learning," Manning said. "Eight games and I'm in my 15th
year, you're still learning, but I think we're working to try to get on the same page
and trying to be more productive each week than we were the week before."

When he chose Denver, Manning's ability to bounce back from his injury was every
bit as big an unknown as how Luck would respond to his first year in the NFL. As
the season has gone on and the Broncos' offense has risen to the top of the AFC
West behind the league's fourth-ranked passing game, questions about Manning's
arm strength have all but disappeared. The chemistry Manning built with Wayne,
Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark in Indianapolis is slowly seeping into the offense in
Denver, where Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Joel Dreessen are getting the
hang of doing things Manning's way.

"I think the more we get on the same page, the more we understand nonverbal
cues, certain routes and how to read defenses," said Decker, who has caught
touchdown passes in five straight games. "All of those things, you can use to your
advantage offensively. We're definitely clicking more as a unit offensively."

When Manning chose Denver, he was very clear about his goals. The decision, he
said, was about winning now. At 36 and with the injury he was returning from, he
knows there aren't many more seasons left to win another Super Bowl.

"I realize I don't have 14 years left, by any means," Manning said on the day he
signed.

Luck, on the other hand, might. And he certainly wasn't joining a team that was
one, or even two or three pieces away from Super Bowl contention.

Or so the Colts thought.

Asked to compare the quarterbacks at this stage in their careers, Arians said he'd
give Luck the nod, mainly because they've asked him to do more than they asked
from Manning.

"Peyton, we gave two or three plays in the huddle, he was great at that phase of it,
but we didn't do the no-huddle until his second year," Arians said. "I think (Luck's)
a step ahead only because of what we're asking him to do. And he's doing it with a
bunch of rookies, whereas Peyton had some really good players on that team."

NFL Capsule: Broncos at Panthers
Associated Press
November 8, 2012

DENVER (5-3) At CAROLINA (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

OPENING LINE - Broncos by 3 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Denver 5-3; Carolina 4-4

SERIES RECORD - Broncos lead 2-1

AP PRO32 RANKING - Broncos No. 8; Panthers No. 25

LAST MEETING - Panthers beat Broncos 30-10, Dec. 14. 2008

LAST WEEK - Broncos beat Bengals 31-23; Panthers beat Redskins 21-13

BRONCOS OFFENSE - OVERALL (3), RUSH (17), PASS (4)

BRONCOS DEFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (12), PASS (10)

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (12), PASS (17)

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (13), RUSH (20), PASS (13)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - John Fox spent nine seasons (2002-10) as Panthers
coach and posted 73-71 record. ... QB Peyton Manning (419) needs two TD passes
to surpass Dan Marino for second most in NFL history. Brett Favre NFL leader with
508. ... Manning registered 48th game-winning drive in fourth quarter or OT last
week, passing Marino (47) for most in NFL since 1970. ... Manning has three TD
passes in five straight games. ... RB Willis McGahee needs 14 yards rushing to
reach 8,000 for career. ... WR DeMaryius Thomas has been beneficiary of Manning,
posting career-best in catches (45) and yards receiving (756). ... WR Eric Decker
seeks sixth straight game with at least one TD reception. He has four TDs in last
two games. ... Since 2011, Joel Dreessen has 10 TD receptions, second-most
among AFC TEs. ... DE Elvis Dumervil has five sacks in past five games. ... LB Von
Miller had career-high three sacks last week vs. Bengals and has 20 1/2 sacks since
joining NFL in 2011. ... KR Trindon Holliday had 105-yard return last week, longest
in Broncos history. ... In first 24 career NFL games, QB Cam Newton only NFL
player with 5,000-plus yards passing, 25-plus TD passes, 1,000-plus yards rushing
and 15 rushing TDs in first two seasons. ... Newton 8-16 as starting QB. ... Newton
3-1 vs. AFC opponents. ... RB DeAngelo Williams had 56-yard TD run in last game

vs. Denver. ... WR Steve Smith caught first TD pass of season last week. Smith has
eight 100-yard receiving games vs. AFC in career. ... WR Brandon LaFell has
reception of 20 or more yards in six of seven games he's played. He missed last
week's game with concussion but is expected to play vs. Denver. ... DE Charles
Johnson looks for third straight game with at least two sacks. ... On other side, DE
Greg Hardy has 4 1/2 sacks in past two games. ... Panthers only NFL team with two
players (Johnson and Hardy) with at least 6 1/2 sacks.

Midseason Top 50: Watt's big leap
Matt Williamson
ESPN.com
November 8, 2012

7. Von Miller
AGE: 23 DOB: 3/26/89 HT: 6-3 WT: 237 POS: LB

Tkl 33
Solo 27
Sack 9.0
Int 0
FF 1
TD 0
Player Analysis

Miller was terrific as a rookie and has been even better this year. If it wasn't for
Watt, Miller would be the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

He is a great pass-rusher with rare initial explosion and the ability to turn his great
speed into power. But he is also solid against the run and in coverage. He is only
getting better.

11. Peyton Manning
AGE: 36 DOB: 3/24/76 HT: 6-5 WT: 230 POS: QB

Att 292
Comp 203
Yds 2,404
TD 20
INT 6
QBR 85.4
Player Analysis

Manning is back. And in a way, he has reinvented himself in a new uniform, with
less arm strength, but still with one of the sharpest minds for the game that
football has ever known.

It should only get better for him, as Denver's schedule is favorable the rest of the
way and Manning's supporting cast is becoming more accustomed to him at QB.
What he is doing right now is remarkable.

Chat wrap: Thomas over Bryant
smart pick
Bill Williamson
ESPN.com
November 8, 2012

Here are some highlights from our AFC West chat, held Thursday:

DENVER
Bill from Corona CA.: Does the pick of Thomas over Dez Bryant (taken two picks
ahead of Bryant and a GREAT pick looking back) make up for the pick of Tebow a
few picks later?

Bill Williamson: Two different things because you don't want to waste the No. 25
pick. But standing alone, the choices of Thomas over Bryant ended up being one of
the few smart things Josh McDaniels did in Denver. It was criticized at the time.
Looks brilliant now.

KANSAS CITY
Nick from York, NE.: Rumors are abound about Bill Cowher coming to KC to
coach, have you heard anything about this, or is it all hot air?

BW: Cowher would be a great choice and it would fire up the fan base. But do the
Hunts to want to swallow all the money it would take to make it happen? The way
the fan base is right now, they might not have a choice.

OAKLAND
Rob from Louisville, KY.: Do you see the Raiders getting rid of Seymour and
Kelly next year?

BW: Right now, I'd guess yes. More changes are coming and the team needs to get
younger. I'd say Seymour is a more likely chance to go, but I can see both of them
being in their final days as Raiders

SAN DIEGO
Hugh from Milwaukee: BW, outside the usual re-treads (Cowher, Gruden, etc)
and with a 7-9 season the horizon, who are some names out there to consider for
the Bolts? Not a chance Norv is back.

BW: Chip Kelly, Bruce Arians? Both may be high-radar guys. I think because of
Rivers, the Chargers will look for an offensive-minded coach if they make a change
and those guys could be possibilities.

AFC West stats to know
Bill Williamson
ESPN.com
November 8, 2012

Let’s look at key Week 10 statistics for each AFC West team courtesy of ESPN Stats
& Information:

Denver
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning has won 146 games as a starting quarterback.
Dan Marino is third on the all-time list at 147. Manning’s boss, John Elway, is
second at 148. Brett Favre is way down the line at 186. Manning plays against
Carolina and quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday. Manning was the No. 1 overall
draft pick in 1998. Newton was the top pick in 2011. Via the Elias Sports Bureau,
Manning is 27-9 against fellow top pick quarterbacks. It’s the best record in the
NFL.

Kansas City
Running back Jamaal Charles is struggling in recent weeks. He has just 83 yards on
29 carries in the past three games for a 2.9 yard average. In the first five games,
Charles -- who missed most of last season with a torn ACL in his knee -- had 551
yards on 104 rushes. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

Oakland
The Raiders have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns of at least 40 yards since the
start of the 2010 season. They allowed three last week to Tampa Bay’s Doug
Martin. The next worst three teams on the list in that category since the start of the
2010 season have surrendered 12 combined. Up next for Oakland: Baltimore
tailback Ray Rice.

San Diego
Philip Rivers misses Vincent Jackson. He will see him in Tampa Bay on Sunday, but
it won’t do Rivers any good. Jackson became a Buccaneer this season. Check out
the difference in Rivers’ downfield throws with and without Jackson:

Missing Vincent

                  2010-11 With Jackson 2012 Without Jackson
Cmp. Pct.         39.5                 30.0
TD-Int.           19-10                1-3
Dropbacks per TD 6.5                   30.0
Yards per attempt 14.1                 9.7

Top 50: AFC West surprise
Bill Williamson
ESPN.com
November 8, 2012

There is one player from the AFC West in the top 10 of Matt Williamson’s top 50
NFL players at the midseason mark .

You want to guess who it is?

Yes, right team -- but it’s not the player you are thinking of.

Williamson has Denver second-year linebacker Von Miller as the No. 7 player on his
list. Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, widely considered a leading candidate to
be the NFL MVP, as No. 11. Miller has been great, but I was surprised Manning
wasn’t in the top three on this list or any list. He’s been superb.

Meanwhile, some AFC West rookies get mentioned in Williamson’s midseason rookie
team.

In other AFC West news:

The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins are not going to be in on Stanford Routt. He
was cut by the Chiefs on Monday.

Oakland cornerback Michael Huff gets praise and Denver cornerback Champ Bailey
gets criticized for a single-game performance in the first half of the season .

One guy to watch
Bill Williamson
ESPN.com
November 8, 2012

One player to watch for each AFC West team in Week 10:

Denver, Eric Decker, receiver: The third-year receiver is thriving and has caught
a touchdown in five straight games. He can tie the team record of six straight
games Sunday at Carolina. Decker has 15 touchdowns in his career. The Denver
receiving touchdown record for a player in his first three season is 16, set by Lionel
Taylor.

Kansas City, Jon Baldwin, receiver: Earlier this week, Kansas City coach Romeo
Crennel said he expected Baldwin, a first-round pick in 2011, to produce more in
his second season. Baldwin has 15 catches halfway through the season. Crennel
said the team must work to get Baldwin more involved. It starts Monday night at
Pittsburgh. Let’s see if it works.

Oakland, Rod Streater, receiver: The undrafted rookie is getting more involved
in Oakland’s offense. Let’s see if it continues in Baltimore. Streater was on the field
for 45 plays last week against Tampa Bay. He looks like he is a favorite of Oakland
quarterback Carson Palmer, who went to Streater in key situations. This is a
promising player. It’s fun to see him get playing time.

San Diego, Larry English, linebacker: There may not be much to watch. English
was a healthy scratch last week as he fell out of the outside-linebacker rotation.
That is clearly a bad sign for 2009 first-round pick. His days in San Diego may be
numbered.

Broncos Notebook: Tracy Porter might be
Wally-Pipped
Andrew Mason
CBSSports.com
November 8, 2012

The Broncos' injury report lists CB Tracy Porter as having an "illness," but the reality is
his issues are much more complicated than that.

Porter hasn't specifically had a setback in his struggles with symptoms that led to a
seizure in August, Broncos coach John Fox said. But the team remains uncertain as to
whether he can fully handle the rigors of every-day work, so he remains sidelined.

After sitting out the last two days of practice, it appears unlikely he will play at Carolina
on Sunday. Last week, he sat out practice Friday after taking part in the work
Wednesday and Thursday and did not make the trip to Cincinnati later Friday afternoon.

The Broncos have to make a decision on Porter's status by Friday afternoon, since they
will once again leave two days before an eastern time zone game.

"Well, I think we're just trying to get a grip on these seizures," Fox said. "It's a medical
issue that we're not taking lightly at all.

"He's not an accountant. He's out here running into people (and getting) quite a bit of
exercise, so it's something we're not taking lightly. Before we put him out here full
speed, we want to make sure we've got that under wraps."

If and when Porter returns, he might not find his job waiting for him, thanks to the
recent stellar play of Chris Harris and Tony Carter.

Including the two-and-a-half quarters that he sat out against Houston after a knee
problem, the Broncos have been more effective at forcing interceptions and sacks
without Porter than with him. They had interceptions on one of 155 pass plays when
Porter was working at first-team right cornerback, but have picked off a pass every
24.9 passes without him. Their sack ratio has also increased and their yardage-per-pass
has dropped by 0.1 yard.

Porter has a one-year contract, so Carter and Harris might represent the near future of
cornerback, along with veteran Champ Bailey, who has two years left on his deal.

INJURY UPDATE: RG Chris Kuper remained sidelined after spraining his ankle Sunday.
He is expected to miss at least two games and as many as four. … WR Eric Decker fully
participated in practice after being limited Wednesday because of a thigh injury.
Everyone else worked on a full basis Thursday.

No doubt that Todd Haley, John Fox
would love to humiliate former bosses in
Week 10
Michael Silver
Yahoo!
November 8, 2012

Last week, at a campaign rally in Ohio, President Barack Obama admonished his
audience for booing Republican challenger Mitt Romney. "Don't boo — vote,"
Obama said. "Voting's the best revenge."

In the wake of his re-election Tuesday, Obama undoubtedly stands by that
sentiment. However, for NFL coaches with a chance to stick it to their former
bosses – with Denver Broncos head coach John Fox and Pittsburgh Steelers
offensive coordinator Todd Haley as this weekend's prime examples – there's an
even better form of vengeance: winning, as decisively and embarrassingly as
possible.

Fortunately for Fox and Haley, they're in a great position to do just that.

NFL coaches, as a general rule, are some of the most hyper-competitive, petty and
humorless men on the planet (and I say that with great affection). While Fox and
Haley defy the humorless part of that stereotype — they both routinely crack me
up, at least —don't even consider the possibility that their minds aren't filled with
punitive thoughts this week.

Fox, who felt he got a raw deal toward the end of his nine-year tenure with the
Carolina Panthers, returns to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday with a chance to
add to Jerry Richardson's misery.

Richardson, the Panthers' owner, allowed Fox to be a lame duck two seasons ago,
and mutually assured dysfunction ensued. Now, Fox coaches a Peyton Manning-
quarterbacked Broncos (5-3) team poised for a second consecutive AFC West title,
while Carolina (2-6) is just lame. Richardson fired longtime general manager Marty
Hurney last month and put Fox's successor, Ron Rivera, on notice that he might be
next. Good times.

Haley, attempting to rebuild his reputation with the Steelers (5-3) after a
tumultuous, three-year stint as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach, will call plays
for Ben Roethlisberger against K.C. at Heinz Field on Monday night. While
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin will be the one to decide how merciless his team
might dispatch the 1-7 Chiefs, he might at least get some lobbying from his
offensive coordinator.

Though Haley has a lesser title in Pittsburgh, he's thoroughly enjoying his role in
the organization where his father, Dick, was a highly successful player personnel
director for two decades. He is especially indebted to Tomlin for hiring him to
replace Bruce Arians despite the negative perceptions of Haley as an unhinged
hothead.

"I'm so thankful that he saw through that and gave me a chance to be evaluated on
my merits," Haley said Thursday night. "He's a smart guy — there's a reason why
he's so successful. When we decided to do this, he said, 'I want you to be you.
That's why I'm hiring you.' It's been phenomenal."

It's not hard for Haley to trace the origin of the stigma. Kansas City general
manager Scott Pioli, the man who fired Haley with three games remaining in the
2012 season, might be the basis of a character for a potential Horrible Bosses
sequel, what with the paranoia and the micro-managing and the insecurity and the
ego-driven bullying.

Now there is mounting pressure on Chiefs owner Clark Hunt to fire Pioli — some
fans paid for a plane to fly over Arrowhead Stadium displaying a banner urging the
move during a K.C. home game last month — and you can bet Haley wouldn't be
devastated to play a part in hastening the GM's descent.

Though Haley, who has been lauded for the Steelers' offensive balance during their
current three-game winning streak, wouldn't cop to vengeful motives in our phone
conversation Thursday, he didn't have to: As one NFL coach who knows him said
Wednesday, "You know he wants to put it on them. Fox too. We all think that way.
It's how we're wired."

In both cases, any lingering spite will likely stay concealed. That's because both Fox
and Haley are so thrilled with their current circumstances that it's hard to be bitter,
regardless of what happens in these potential payback scenarios.

Fox, who was not offered a new contract after nine seasons (and one Super Bowl
appearance) in Charlotte, got snapped up immediately by new Broncos executive
vice president John Elway and made the most of the opportunity. After a rocky start
in 2011, Fox made a quarterback change, gave in to Tebowmania and completely
transformed his offense in the process. The end result was an unlikely division title
and a shocking playoff upset of the Steelers.

Then, the Broncos underwent another dramatic transformation in March by signing
Manning. Again, Fox allowed the team's offensive scheme to be completely altered
to match the strengths of his starting quarterback. While it's not necessarily a
stretch to do that for one of the best ever to play the position, not every NFL coach
would be so adaptable.

The results thus far have been impressive, and Manning and the Broncos appear to
be on a mile-high trajectory.