JUSTIN SIMMONS

The popular narrative was that the Kansas City Chiefs signed Justin Reid in free agency to replace Tyrann Mathieu.

In the photo, each of the six students is shown holding up a large letter that spells out the N-word.

Vic Fangio's future with the Denver Broncos will soon be decided after Year 3 for him drew to a close with a 28-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Denver Broncos honored the late Demaryius Thomas with a 38-10 win over Detroit and tributes including a video montage and a moment of silence.

Cornerback Darius Slay's 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown sparked the Philadelphia Eagles to a 30-13 upset of the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Every week for the past two seasons, NFL players take the field wearing social justice messages on their helmets.

The Broncos and Broncos look a lot alike these days and it's not just their orange-toned uniforms.

Denver's offensive struggles are understandable given that their three fastest players are sidelined. Jerry Jeudy (ankle) has an outside chance of playing this week, but KJ Hamler (knee) is done for the year and Albert Okwuegbunam's pulled hamstring is still on the mend. In their three-game skid, Denver has been beaten deep over and over, allowing 17 pass plays of 20 or more yards.

Current and former NFL players and others who work in the league have varying opinions whether the attitudes expressed by Jon Gruden in emails over several years are pervasive throughout the sport these days.

The Denver Broncos are going with Teddy Bridgewater over Drew Lock as their starting quarterback.

Retired quarterback Philip Rivers has won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Good Guy Award for his cooperation with reporters.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.

Regardless, on Monday, two days before the NFL's 2021 business year begins, the 32 teams and agents for the players will be making deals. “Legal tampering, and tampering is illegal? AdOf course, free agency always is a buyer-beware situation. AdVoila: Lavonte David, a key linebacker, was re-signed, and several other key guys in the title run could be back. “We do have some money from a cap standpoint that we can spend; but again, it’s an interesting year.

(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)The big money that accompanies franchise tags for the 2021 season is going to receivers, safeties and linemen. So wideouts Chris Godwin, who helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl, and Chicago's Allen Robinson were tagged just before Tuesday's NFL deadline. Barring their teams working out long-term deals by July 15, they will earn about $19 million, $18 million and $13.7 million, respectively. The going rate for safeties under their first tag is around $10.5 million, which Maye and Marcus Williams will make in New Jersey. RECEIVERSThe 25-year-old Godwin earned $2.13 million in 2020 when he had 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. 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)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. “The 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees remind us that even in the face of adversity, players continue to raise awareness and use their voice and platform to positively impact their communities. “Being nominated as the Chiefs' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” Kelce said. As an organization captain, he directs a team of active NFL players who are committed to using their platform to help address the clean water crisis.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)DENVER – The “ My Cause My Cleats ” initiative has really established a foothold in the NFL. Five years ago, about 500 players participated in the inaugural campaign, marking the first time players could wear custom cleats during games without facing fines. Some players whose teams were on the road last week can wear their cleats at home this weekend. “You can just go out there and wear custom cleats on the field and really show off what you’ve been working so hard for in the offseason,” Chubb said. “Season after season I am inspired by the growing number of NFL players that participate in ‘My Cause My Cleats’ and the causes they represent,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles, left, congratulates kicker Brandon McManus in the second half of an NFL football game after his sixth field goal against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday’s game was originally scheduled for last week but got postponed twice, first by a day, then by seven. He was steady early, but had back-to-back interceptions in the fourth quarter to let the Patriots back into the game. It was the first game back for Newton, who returned after missing New England’s Week 4 loss at Kansas City. McManus, who connected on field goals of 52 and 54 yards, now has six games with multiple 50-yard field goals.

It was a victory, though, and Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos are relieved to finally get one — no matter how it looked. Melvin Gordon sealed the Denver Broncos’ first win of the season with a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:48 remaining, and the defense made just enough plays in the fourth quarter to beat the bumbling — and still winless — New York Jets 37-28 on Thursday night. The Jets couldn’t do anything on their next possession, and Sam Darnold was sacked by Chubb on fourth-and-3 at the two-minute warning. Brian Poole intercepted Rypien, making his first NFL start, on the Broncos’ next possession, giving the Jets the ball at Denver’s 44. Jets: look for their first win when they host Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 11.

A total of 66 players have opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly half of them linemen. Players with a medical opt out will receive a $350,000 stipend, whole those voluntarily opting out receive $150,000 as an advance against future salaries. No team has come close to New England in losing players for the upcoming season, which begins Sept. 10 with Houston at Super Bowl champion Kansas City. Those are not easy decisions to make as a player, especially when you love the game," said Broncos safety Justin Simmons, who will play this season. And Ive had a lot of difficult conversations with my wife and, yeah, its not ever going to be easy.

Dak Prescott will play whatever becomes of the 2020 season under the one-year franchise tag after the Dallas Cowboys and their star quarterback couldn't agree on a long-term contract. Clubs had until Wednesday afternoon to reach multiyear deals with players given the franchise tag. Green and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue of Jacksonville haven't signed the one-year contract that goes with the tag. If so, his fate will be different than the other two QBs who have played under the franchise tag. Anthony Harris of Minnesota and Denver's Justin Simmons are set to play under the $11.4 million tag for a safety.

Team president Joe Ellis addressed the offense and defense in separate Zoom calls that replaced the teams regular video conference sessions, which are a substitute for in-person training during the pandemic. Maybe we can get out and put together a march as a team or something like that.After the Zoom calls, the Broncos tweeted, We will stand by our players. Fangio said society could learn a lot from an NFL locker room, where skin color is no barrier. I look forward to the Broncos and the NFL leading that charge, Fangio said. We pledge our allegiance to the flag for freedom and justice for all and we do not have our justice.