Justin Simmons
George Paton's first draft comes with Broncos at a crossroad

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 12:28 PM EDT
9. DENVER BRONCOS (5-11) LAST SEASON: The Broncos got off to another slow start under Vic Fangio and QB Drew Lock again couldn't stay...

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 13, 2021 01:20 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2020, file photo, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's training camp facility in Berea, Ohio. The NFL's salary cap will be $182.5 million per team in the upcoming season, a drop of 8% from 2020. “If you look league-wide at the available cap dollars, it is like 40 percent of what it has been in the past,” Andrew Berry, Cleveland's executive vice president of football operations, said last week. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
NFL sets salary cap at $182.5 million, down 8% from 2020

By Barry Wilner Mar. 10, 2021 11:57 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Receivers Godwin, Robinson top franchise tag list

By Barry Wilner Mar. 09, 2021 05:32 PM EST

FILE In this Nov. 22, 2020, file photo, Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons (31) runs off the field after defeating the Miami Dolphins in an an NFL football game in Denver. Simmons is the first player franchise tagged in 2021. NFL teams have until Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at 4 p.m. ET to use their franchise tag to prevent a pending free agent from hitting the open market. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds, File)
Denver Broncos place franchise tag on Justin Simmons again

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 05, 2021 06:34 PM EST

FILE - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., in this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, file photo. The Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade not only has whet fans' appetites for big deals, it's caused a social media frenzy about which quarterbacks are headed elsewhere. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
NFL carousel will spin soon, and not just for quarterbacks

By Barry Wilner Feb. 10, 2021 12:10 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Elway announced a major change in the Broncos’ football operations Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, saying he will hire a general manager who will report to him but have final say on the draft, free agency and the roster. Elway, who has been GM since 2011, will remain as president of football operations in 2021, the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Elway takes elevated role, seeks new GM to report to him

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 04, 2021 04:35 PM EST

Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer, left, celebrates after scoring with safety Justin Simmons during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
A season often in doubt to end on time, no cancellations

By Barry Wilner Jan. 01, 2021 02:58 PM EST

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Melvin Gordon 107 yards shy of 1,000 in 1st season in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 06:58 PM EST

Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer, left, celebrates after scoring with safety Justin Simmons during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Broncos safety Justin Simmons piling up big plays, accolades

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 16, 2020 05:24 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2020, file photo, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, left, directs cornerback Essang Bassey who takes part in drills during an NFL football practice at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. Donatell made his first public comments on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, since testing positive for COVID-19 on Halloween. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Broncos' Donatell: COVID-19 both weakened and awakened him

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 10, 2020 07:36 PM EST

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce smiles before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Miami Gardens Fla., in this Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, file photo. Seattle's star quarterback Russell Wilson and Kansas City's standout tight end Travis Kelce are among the 32 finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Russell Wilson, Travis Kelce among NFL Man of Year nominees

By Barry Wilner Dec. 10, 2020 03:02 PM EST

Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson wears special My Cause My Cleats shoes before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
'My Cause My Cleats' campaign has taken a foothold in NFL

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 08, 2020 02:21 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2017, file photo, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway, left, stands with Broncos President and CEO Joe Ellis before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Denver. The Denver Broncos say that general manager John Elway and team president Joe Ellis have tested positive for COVID-19. Both were informed Tuesday, Nov. 3 of positive tests. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Slow-starting Denver Broncos aim to quit playing catch-up

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 09, 2020 05:20 PM EST

Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus kicks a field goal as Sam Martin holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
McManus driven by Fangio's refusal to let him go for record

By Arnie Stapleton Oct. 08, 2020 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 23, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football quarterback Tom Brady, far right, is seen along with other players during a private workout at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Fla. Brady is looking for a big bounce-back this season. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
A star-studded list of NFL players looking for 2020 rebound

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 10, 2020 03:43 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 file photo, Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons (31) reacts against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y. Justin Simmons had an eventful offseason, finding his voice during peaceful protests of racial and social injustice from his hometown in Florida to downtown Denver. The fifth-year safety and first-time All-Pro also failed to reach agreement on a long-term contract with the Broncos, so he's playing under the franchise tag in 2020.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Simmons had enlightening offseason despite no new contract

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 06, 2020 07:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore. A total of 66 players have opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic, including Hightower. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
66 players opt out of NFL season due to coronavirus pandemic

By Barry Wilner Aug. 06, 2020 05:23 PM EDT

Denver Broncos take part in a rally in the Greek Amphitheatre in Civic Center Park over the death of George Floyd Saturday, June 6, 2020, in downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Broncos players, coaches join Floyd demonstration in Denver

By David Zalubowski Jun. 06, 2020 05:53 PM EDT

A demonstrator wears a face mask and latex gloves while waving a placard along Lincoln Avenue during a protest Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Denver over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Broncos stop football to talk about race relations, Floyd

By Arnie Stapleton Jun. 02, 2020 09:36 PM EDT