Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer isn't going anywhere.
The team announced a contract extension for the third-year head coach Thursday, though the length of the extension was not immediately available. According to the club, Zimmer's 18 wins over his first two years were the most for any Vikings head coach to start his career other than the great Dennis Green (20).
"Mike has instilled a very positive atmosphere over the past three years and our players have thrived under his tutelage and leadership," owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement. "His focus on helping our players develop and maximize potential, individually and collectively, is critical for our current and future success. We believe the continuity established with Mike leading our football team is a very positive step for our organization."
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said extension talks with Zimmer started immediately after the playoffs. "There is no doubt Zimmer is going to be our coach for a long time," Spielman said.
After a 7-9 record during his first season, Zimmer quickly molded the team to his vision -- a brutal run-first offense and a stubborn defense full of cerebral playmakers. In just two seasons, Teddy Bridgewater rose to the precipice of stardom while defensive stalwart Harrison Smith established himself as a premier safety. The team won the NFC North last year for the first time since 2009, and posted one of the best scoring defenses in football.
These are the halcyon days for Minnesota, a team riding high off last year's success and the creation of a new landmark stadium downtown. Zimmer will be a big piece of the momentum going forward.
Browns to name No.1 QB before first preseason game.
The Cleveland Browns don't plan to waste any time naming a starting quarterback.
Coach Hue Jackson told reporters on Thursday that he plans pick his first-string signal-caller "before the first preseason game," per Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.
The Browns, who welcomed their veterans to training camp on Thursday, have four quarterbacks on the roster: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler. The assumption is that Griffin is viewed as the lead horse, but the former Redskins passer didn't play a down last season and has yet to rekindle the magic he unfurled during his rookie season in 2012. McCown has the best shot to steal the show after playing well in spurts for the team last season, but we wouldn't be surprised to see multiple quarterbacks make starts for the Browns this season.
The team plays its first preseason tilt against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 11. It would make sense to see all these arms in action before choosing a starter, but Jackson -- a proven quarterback-whisperer -- was hired to solve the team's long-standing issues under center. Per his own words, he plans to name his guy sooner than later.
The Cleveland Browns don't plan to waste any time naming a starting quarterback.
Coach Hue Jackson told reporters on Thursday that he plans pick his first-string signal-caller "before the first preseason game," per Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.
The Browns, who welcomed their veterans to training camp on Thursday, have four quarterbacks on the roster: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler. The assumption is that Griffin is viewed as the lead horse, but the former Redskins passer didn't play a down last season and has yet to rekindle the magic he unfurled during his rookie season in 2012. McCown has the best shot to steal the show after playing well in spurts for the team last season, but we wouldn't be surprised to see multiple quarterbacks make starts for the Browns this season.
The team plays its first preseason tilt against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 11. It would make sense to see all these arms in action before choosing a starter, but Jackson -- a proven quarterback-whisperer -- was hired to solve the team's long-standing issues under center. Per his own words, he plans to name his guy sooner than later.
Victor.
Training camp report date: Rookies: Tuesday; Veterans: Friday.
Training camp location: Bon Secours Training Center, Richmond, Virginia.
Offseason in a nutshell: An excellent draft by first-year GM Scot McCloughan led to a division title and a playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. Washington kept the momentum alive by signing arguably the best defensive player available in free agency (former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman) and loading up on more wide receiver talent in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. There are still plenty of question marks remaining in Washington, but for the first time in half a decade, the team seems to be pointing in the right direction.
Player to watch: Wide receiver Josh Doctson. Labeled by some scouting services as the most pro-ready wide receiver in this draft, Doctson joins a crowded house of Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder -- but that is what makes this August so fascinating. Doctson was working through some nagging injuries during minicamp so deployment is still a question. At the moment, we'd expect him to be heavily involved in short yardage and goal line-type situations (it's not difficult to learn a red zone fade and as Washington's biggest wide receiver, he'll probably need to). Jay Gruden's offense complements his personnel well, which is why we're eager to find out if Doctson is in their immediate plans or if he is waiting in the wings once free agency picks apart this wide receiver unit in 2017.
Three burning questions:
1. Can Matt Jones be trusted to carry the load?
Jones' rookie season was filled with potential and had us drooling over his combination of size, speed and receiving ability out of the backfield. However, his fumble rate was nearly 3.5 percent, or 5 in 144 carries. Jones addressed his issues head on during the team's stretch run last season and can hopefully carry his lessons over into training camp. Washington allowed Alfred Morris to walk this offseason, gambling on the development of their 2015 third-round pick.
2. Will the Redskins suffer from 2015 Colts syndrome?
Gruden's system did a wonderful job of developing tight end Jordan Reed and now Washington theoretically has five playmakers that could warrant touches on any given down. Any coach in football would want this problem, but we saw it crumble a Colts team that tried to force feed the ball in 2015. As we noted above, there's a good chance Doctson is brought along slowly enough that we don't notice the problem. However, this is a lot of weight on Kirk Cousins' shoulders as he heads into his second season as a full-time starter.
3. Can the Redskins count on Junior Galette?
Padless practices, as they often do, brought out high praise for in-shape veterans. Galette was no exception. The troubled former Saints pass rusher tore his Achilles tendon last year but could add a dynamic Washington's pass rush was missing during their brief playoff run. At the moment, there is still a chance he starts camp with a lighter workload so we might have to wait until late August to truly find out.
Way-too-early season prediction: The NFC East will be worlds better than it was last year, when Washington exploded offensively down the final stretch to take the division. Are the improvements good enough to fend off two teams with top 10 quarterbacks?
Joe Flacco, Ryan Kelly, Josh Norman in training camp spotlight.
Training camp is finally here! And thus begins an annual summer ritual in the NFL ...
The return of football means the return of football chatter. And let's be honest: Much of the chatter is, well, hot air. You have guys making headlines in late July and August who, in many cases, just won't be factors from September through February.
But not to fear: The Schein Nine is here!
Allow me to keep you focused this training camp. Avoid getting bogged down in the minutiae! Here are nine things we SHOULD be talking about in the coming weeks:
1) The QB situation we should be talking about: Joe Flacco's recovery.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets just reached an agreement. Going forward, we're certain to hear a bunch about the quarterback competitions in Denver, San Francisco and Cleveland. But I'm here to say that everyone should pay close attention to what's going on at Ravens camp. Joe Flacco's health is, quite simply, everything for Baltimore. Yes, Joe Flacco is elite. He's a Super Bowl champ with a rocket for an arm. Flacco leads by example -- and the Ravens follow.
Baltimore placed six players on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp. Flacco was not one of these players. Highly significant. The Ravens QB ripped up his ACL last November, so being ready for everything at training camp counts as a big deal.
The Ravens had incredibly bad luck with injuries last year. As USA Today recently pointed out, eight Week 1 starters in 2015 went on to suffer season-ending injuries, with Flacco, Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr. and Justin Forsett being the most prominent. No wonder Baltimore crashed and burned to 5-11 -- the first losing season in the eight-season John Harbaugh era.
If Flacco can stay healthy and be on the field for Week 1, that will be a good way to flip the script. This organization, with a great coach and front office, should return to solid ground in 2016. With a healthy Flacco, Baltimore will be in the mix for the playoffs. With an injured or compromised Flacco? Baltimore will be in trouble (again).
2) The head coach we should be talking about: Chip Kelly.
Of course it's Chip Kelly. It's always Chip Kelly.
Chip Kelly The General Manager got Chip Kelly The Coach fired in Philly. Frankly, his general personality didn't appear to help him much, either. But I digress. I was happy to see Kelly get a second chance with the San Francisco 49ers.
Say what you will about Kelly's personnel savvy (or lack thereof), but the guy can coach. In three years with Philadelphia -- a team that went 4-12 in the season prior to his arrival -- Kelly logged two 10-win seasons, one division title and an overall record of 26-21. Could do much worse than that.
Now let's see what he learned from his first pro coaching assignment. How will his relationships be with the players and the front office? What about implementing his system? Does he have a quarterback? Is Blaine Gabbert really leading this competition? Can he reboot Colin Kaepernick's once-promising career?
There's always so much intrigue with the quirky coach.
But the expectations are low around Kelly's new team. The roster is pretty bare. Honestly, San Francisco might be the worst team in the NFC. I love Chip, but the Niners are so far away from where they were just a few years ago under Jim Harbaugh.
Could Chip shock the world with his offense? Will he combust? I can't wait to find out.
3) The coordinator we should be talking about: Ken Zampese.
I thought the Bengals should've kicked Marvin Lewis up to the front office and/or promoted Hue Jackson to head coach. It didn't happen. Marvin is still the head man in Cincinnati. Jackson is now serving that role with the division-rival Browns. And consequently, Ken Zampese has been promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator of the Bengals.
Zampese is a well-respected quarterback guru. Andy Dalton's been getting his tutelage since Day 1 in Cincy -- and the Red Rifle just enjoyed a breakthrough statistical season (66.1 completion percentage, 25:7 TD-to-INT ratio, 106.2 passer rating). Now it's up to Zampese to get more out of Dalton in the biggest moments.
This is a pressure-packed job, considering the last two Bengals OCs (Jay Gruden and Jackson) have parlayed success into head-coaching gigs.
4) The contract-year player we should be talking about: Le'Veon Bell.
Bell is facing a four-game suspension for missing several drug tests, as reported by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This would be his second multi-game suspension in as many seasons. Bad look for Bell, Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The gifted running back needs to take responsibility and act like a professional. He needs to prioritize football and care about Steeler Nation. With games against the Redskins, Bengals, Eagles and Chiefs -- three of whom made the playoffs last season -- to start off the season, Pittsburgh will miss this dynamic weapon in the run and pass games. (Yes, DeAngelo Williams is a very solid backup option, but he's not Le'Veon Bell.)
There is no doubt about Bell's ability, but his availability sure leaves something to be desired. In addition to the suspensions, Bell has finished each of the last two seasons on the sideline due to injuries. This is a huge concern for the Steelers. Can Bell be trusted by the Steelers (or another team) for 2017 and beyond? That's a legit question. And right now, I highly doubt it. That's going to cost him money.
I'll be fascinated to how Bell performs this year. He is a star back in a contract year on a high-profile team. But he just doesn't seem to get it.
5) The rookie we should be talking about: Ryan Kelly.
While Ezekiel Elliott will be my preseason pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year -- and honestly, he could become an MVP candidate if the Cowboys live up to my expectations and win 10 games -- the player I'll be focusing on this August is Colts center Ryan Kelly.
Finally, Indianapolis GM Ryan Grigson spent some serious draft capital on O-line help for the great Andrew Luck. (In addition to Kelly in Round 1, the Colts took OT Le'Raven Clark in Round 3.) Kelly was a star for Nick Saban at Alabama. He should be an instant plug-and-play-well rookie. If Kelly lives up to expectations, has a good summer and it clicks when the games count, there will be a positive domino effect on the rest of the line. And, of course, Luck will be able to breathe.
Indy can win a lot of games by allowing No. 12 to get comfortable in the pocket.
Training camp is finally here! And thus begins an annual summer ritual in the NFL ...
The return of football means the return of football chatter. And let's be honest: Much of the chatter is, well, hot air. You have guys making headlines in late July and August who, in many cases, just won't be factors from September through February.
But not to fear: The Schein Nine is here!
Allow me to keep you focused this training camp. Avoid getting bogged down in the minutiae! Here are nine things we SHOULD be talking about in the coming weeks:
1) The QB situation we should be talking about: Joe Flacco's recovery.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets just reached an agreement. Going forward, we're certain to hear a bunch about the quarterback competitions in Denver, San Francisco and Cleveland. But I'm here to say that everyone should pay close attention to what's going on at Ravens camp. Joe Flacco's health is, quite simply, everything for Baltimore. Yes, Joe Flacco is elite. He's a Super Bowl champ with a rocket for an arm. Flacco leads by example -- and the Ravens follow.
Baltimore placed six players on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp. Flacco was not one of these players. Highly significant. The Ravens QB ripped up his ACL last November, so being ready for everything at training camp counts as a big deal.
The Ravens had incredibly bad luck with injuries last year. As USA Today recently pointed out, eight Week 1 starters in 2015 went on to suffer season-ending injuries, with Flacco, Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr. and Justin Forsett being the most prominent. No wonder Baltimore crashed and burned to 5-11 -- the first losing season in the eight-season John Harbaugh era.
If Flacco can stay healthy and be on the field for Week 1, that will be a good way to flip the script. This organization, with a great coach and front office, should return to solid ground in 2016. With a healthy Flacco, Baltimore will be in the mix for the playoffs. With an injured or compromised Flacco? Baltimore will be in trouble (again).
2) The head coach we should be talking about: Chip Kelly.
Of course it's Chip Kelly. It's always Chip Kelly.
Chip Kelly The General Manager got Chip Kelly The Coach fired in Philly. Frankly, his general personality didn't appear to help him much, either. But I digress. I was happy to see Kelly get a second chance with the San Francisco 49ers.
Say what you will about Kelly's personnel savvy (or lack thereof), but the guy can coach. In three years with Philadelphia -- a team that went 4-12 in the season prior to his arrival -- Kelly logged two 10-win seasons, one division title and an overall record of 26-21. Could do much worse than that.
Now let's see what he learned from his first pro coaching assignment. How will his relationships be with the players and the front office? What about implementing his system? Does he have a quarterback? Is Blaine Gabbert really leading this competition? Can he reboot Colin Kaepernick's once-promising career?
There's always so much intrigue with the quirky coach.
But the expectations are low around Kelly's new team. The roster is pretty bare. Honestly, San Francisco might be the worst team in the NFC. I love Chip, but the Niners are so far away from where they were just a few years ago under Jim Harbaugh.
Could Chip shock the world with his offense? Will he combust? I can't wait to find out.
3) The coordinator we should be talking about: Ken Zampese.
I thought the Bengals should've kicked Marvin Lewis up to the front office and/or promoted Hue Jackson to head coach. It didn't happen. Marvin is still the head man in Cincinnati. Jackson is now serving that role with the division-rival Browns. And consequently, Ken Zampese has been promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator of the Bengals.
Zampese is a well-respected quarterback guru. Andy Dalton's been getting his tutelage since Day 1 in Cincy -- and the Red Rifle just enjoyed a breakthrough statistical season (66.1 completion percentage, 25:7 TD-to-INT ratio, 106.2 passer rating). Now it's up to Zampese to get more out of Dalton in the biggest moments.
This is a pressure-packed job, considering the last two Bengals OCs (Jay Gruden and Jackson) have parlayed success into head-coaching gigs.
4) The contract-year player we should be talking about: Le'Veon Bell.
Bell is facing a four-game suspension for missing several drug tests, as reported by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This would be his second multi-game suspension in as many seasons. Bad look for Bell, Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The gifted running back needs to take responsibility and act like a professional. He needs to prioritize football and care about Steeler Nation. With games against the Redskins, Bengals, Eagles and Chiefs -- three of whom made the playoffs last season -- to start off the season, Pittsburgh will miss this dynamic weapon in the run and pass games. (Yes, DeAngelo Williams is a very solid backup option, but he's not Le'Veon Bell.)
There is no doubt about Bell's ability, but his availability sure leaves something to be desired. In addition to the suspensions, Bell has finished each of the last two seasons on the sideline due to injuries. This is a huge concern for the Steelers. Can Bell be trusted by the Steelers (or another team) for 2017 and beyond? That's a legit question. And right now, I highly doubt it. That's going to cost him money.
I'll be fascinated to how Bell performs this year. He is a star back in a contract year on a high-profile team. But he just doesn't seem to get it.
5) The rookie we should be talking about: Ryan Kelly.
While Ezekiel Elliott will be my preseason pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year -- and honestly, he could become an MVP candidate if the Cowboys live up to my expectations and win 10 games -- the player I'll be focusing on this August is Colts center Ryan Kelly.
Finally, Indianapolis GM Ryan Grigson spent some serious draft capital on O-line help for the great Andrew Luck. (In addition to Kelly in Round 1, the Colts took OT Le'Raven Clark in Round 3.) Kelly was a star for Nick Saban at Alabama. He should be an instant plug-and-play-well rookie. If Kelly lives up to expectations, has a good summer and it clicks when the games count, there will be a positive domino effect on the rest of the line. And, of course, Luck will be able to breathe.
Indy can win a lot of games by allowing No. 12 to get comfortable in the pocket.
6) The second-year player we should be talking about: Marcus Mariota.
Jameis Winston is ready for prime time under new Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. Amari Cooper is vital to the Raiders living up to my AFC West title expectations. And Todd Gurley has all the talent in the world (though he might not have much support around him in the Rams' offense). But I want to talk about Marcus Mariota.
The quarterback's 2015 season prematurely ended with a sprained MCL in December, but don't let that cloud his solid rookie effort. No, he wasn't as impressive as Winston, Cooper or Gurley, but Mariota proved he can play in the NFL. And he did so while dealing with a midseason coaching change in Tennessee. No more questions about whether or not his game will translate to Sundays.
Now, the Titans have some stability, and they added a pair of physical running backs in veteran trade acquisition DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry. Plus, they beefed up the O-line with the first-round selection of tackle Jack Conklin. Watching Mariota's development in camp is important. I want to see growth as a thrower and leader.
7) The injured player we should be talking about: J.J. Watt.
Don't overthink this. Watt's already a legendary player, an all-time great defensive lineman. He plays through pain and routinely dominates. He is Superman, a complete game-wrecker. But surgery to repair a herniated disk is a legit deal. The back is tricky. There can be complications. And think about what Watt does for a living, essentially slamming into 300-pounders each and every snap. Watt penned an open letter to fans saying he'll be back on the field "very soon." While I always give Watt the benefit of the doubt, color me a tad skeptical.
I am a huge believer in the Texans. I think they take a major jump in 2016 -- IF Watt is healthy. With Watt going full throttle, these Texans could have a top-five defense and just might be the second-best team in the AFC (behind New England). But if No. 99's not himself, all bets are off.
8) The free-agent signee we should be talking about: Josh Norman.
I still can't believe Carolina GM Dave Gettleman haphazardly jettisoned Norman and didn't get anything in return. Norman was a bona fide star for the Panthers last season, earning first-team All-Pro honors.
The spot Norman leaves behind in Charlotte is now a major void for the Panthers. But he is exactly what Washington needed to take the next step on defense -- he fills a huge hole for the Redskins.
Norman, who is never shy, will be the talk of Redskins camp. And his absence from Carolina will stimulate conversation all season long.
9) The last-chance veteran we should be talking about: Anquan Boldin.
This development just popped up this week -- and it's worthy of our attention. I really like the Lions' pickup of Boldin. He still can catch the ball. He still can block. He still can go over the middle on third down and still can score in the red zone. Anquan Boldin is a pro's pro.
The guy was solid in San Francisco, but it's clear his better days are in the rear-view mirror. Don't expect the Boldin from Arizona or Baltimore. But he can still catch 50 passes from Matthew Stafford while aiding the young receivers, tight ends and backs, and supplying Jim Caldwell with a strong leader in the locker room.
Boldin is the epitome of class and one of my favorites. And he still has a little gas left in the tank.
Jameis Winston is ready for prime time under new Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. Amari Cooper is vital to the Raiders living up to my AFC West title expectations. And Todd Gurley has all the talent in the world (though he might not have much support around him in the Rams' offense). But I want to talk about Marcus Mariota.
The quarterback's 2015 season prematurely ended with a sprained MCL in December, but don't let that cloud his solid rookie effort. No, he wasn't as impressive as Winston, Cooper or Gurley, but Mariota proved he can play in the NFL. And he did so while dealing with a midseason coaching change in Tennessee. No more questions about whether or not his game will translate to Sundays.
Now, the Titans have some stability, and they added a pair of physical running backs in veteran trade acquisition DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry. Plus, they beefed up the O-line with the first-round selection of tackle Jack Conklin. Watching Mariota's development in camp is important. I want to see growth as a thrower and leader.
7) The injured player we should be talking about: J.J. Watt.
Don't overthink this. Watt's already a legendary player, an all-time great defensive lineman. He plays through pain and routinely dominates. He is Superman, a complete game-wrecker. But surgery to repair a herniated disk is a legit deal. The back is tricky. There can be complications. And think about what Watt does for a living, essentially slamming into 300-pounders each and every snap. Watt penned an open letter to fans saying he'll be back on the field "very soon." While I always give Watt the benefit of the doubt, color me a tad skeptical.
I am a huge believer in the Texans. I think they take a major jump in 2016 -- IF Watt is healthy. With Watt going full throttle, these Texans could have a top-five defense and just might be the second-best team in the AFC (behind New England). But if No. 99's not himself, all bets are off.
8) The free-agent signee we should be talking about: Josh Norman.
I still can't believe Carolina GM Dave Gettleman haphazardly jettisoned Norman and didn't get anything in return. Norman was a bona fide star for the Panthers last season, earning first-team All-Pro honors.
The spot Norman leaves behind in Charlotte is now a major void for the Panthers. But he is exactly what Washington needed to take the next step on defense -- he fills a huge hole for the Redskins.
Norman, who is never shy, will be the talk of Redskins camp. And his absence from Carolina will stimulate conversation all season long.
9) The last-chance veteran we should be talking about: Anquan Boldin.
This development just popped up this week -- and it's worthy of our attention. I really like the Lions' pickup of Boldin. He still can catch the ball. He still can block. He still can go over the middle on third down and still can score in the red zone. Anquan Boldin is a pro's pro.
The guy was solid in San Francisco, but it's clear his better days are in the rear-view mirror. Don't expect the Boldin from Arizona or Baltimore. But he can still catch 50 passes from Matthew Stafford while aiding the young receivers, tight ends and backs, and supplying Jim Caldwell with a strong leader in the locker room.
Boldin is the epitome of class and one of my favorites. And he still has a little gas left in the tank.
Hard Knocks crew is busy at work.
Raining now at Titans HQ. Forecast for tomorrow afternoon when they are scheduled for first practice is 50 percent chance of rain. New practice bubble is up, but we don't know if it's ready for use. And if they have to go inside, it becomes closed to fans.
Saints WR Willie Snead has a new look in camp this year with the flowing golden locks. But he's out here making plays just like last summer. Having a nice practice today, in good sync with Drew Brees.
On QB reps at Patriots' second training camp practice Friday, Bill Belichick flipped the routine from Day 1 as Jimmy Garoppolo took the top reps in 7-on-7 passing drills while Tom Brady was first in 11-on-11. Each received the same number of overall reps in those drills -- 17 total.
Dion Jordan conditionally reinstated.
Training camp report date: Rookies July 24, veterans July 27.
Training camp location: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre, Englewood, Colorado.
Offseason in a nutshell: John Elway is living proof that head of personnel is one of the most thankless jobs around. Even as the team was soaking up the euphoria of a White House visit, Elway was being vice-gripped into handing away one of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history to Von Miller. Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston, and C.J. Anderson nearly left for Miami or Chicago after the low-round-tender strategy backfired. Does he have time to catch his breath now? Not really. Denver opens camp with a three-way quarterback battle -- Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch -- and a little more than $5 million in salary-cap space.
Player to watch: Quarterback Paxton Lynch. The Mile High Report recently summed up the Denver Broncos' quarterbacking situation beautifully: If we're really talking about Trevor Siemian beating out Mark Sanchez for a job, then we're talking about a world where Lynch is the favorite to start. While Denver deserves credit for developing Siemian to this point, there is no real use in sitting a player that some Broncos apparently like more than Osweiler anyway. If there is even a question in Gary Kubiak's mind between Lynch and Siemian, there shouldn't be a moment's hesitation. To be clear, we fully expect Mark Sanchez to be the opening-day starter, but Lynch needs to be a convincing enough No. 2 to earn himself some snaps if QB1 cannot perform up to par.
THREE BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Is all the Siemian rhetoric really a challenge to Sanchez?
When it comes to surviving aggravating, high-profile quarterback competitions, Mark Sanchez is the NFL's Aron Ralston. He weathered not one, but two brutal Summers of Tebow which bookended Hurricane Geno and the shoulder injury that led to his ouster from New York. All of this is to say that Sanchez doesn't need manufactured motivation at this point in his career. He's almost 30 now and understands what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. If that isn't good enough, teams need to stop digging for something that isn't there. Plus, Broncos players are already talking about Sanchez as their starting quarterback, so why create doubt?
"Right now, they're giving all three of those guys equal reps, so I don't think either one of them has created any advantage at this point, because they haven't consistently been with the ones yet," Broncos nose tackle Sylvester Williams recently told SiriusXM. "But I think, going into the camp, I think Coach Kub kind of let us know he's going to go with Mark and give Mark the opportunity to see what he can do and then go on from there."
Sanchez is a more-than-capable option for now; a quarterback who played well with a good offensive line, running game and wide receivers. This is probably the best offense he's been a part of since the 2010 Jets.
2. Will Aqib Talib take significant preseason snaps?
Talib is off crutches following a gunshot incident at a Dallas-area night club in June and is, according to the Denver Post, back running, cutting and planting. While it's easy to assume that someone can just move on -- and by all accounts, Talib was very lucky he wasn't more seriously injured -- any setback to the back end of Denver's defense could affect the balance of pressure and coverage that Wade Phillips artfully created a year ago.
3. Are the Broncos starting a rookie fifth-round pick at guard?
There are other candidates, but quietly Connor McGovern is being touted as a diamond-in-the-rough type of find for a Broncos team looking to fill some pretty hefty shoes. While this rendition of Denver's offensive line will not blow anyone away with name recognition, it's about time the Broncos decided to get younger and less expensive in the hopes of building a cohesive unit that can adequately pave the way for Kubiak's bootleg offense.
Way-too-early season prediction: It's strange seeing a team that could easily go 12-4 next year just as quickly as they could go 4-12. We all expect Denver to come back to Earth, but just how far? Last season, sub-average quarterback play did not stand in the way of a resounding Super Bowl victory. What about this year?
