#arnie stapleton

Defensive linemen dominate this year’s combine class

INDIANAPOLIS  — This year’s class of quarterback prospects isn’t as sexy as last year’s group led by Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Nor does it feature the tantalizing talents of next year’s headliners: Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jake Fromm.

There are a few passers who merit first-round consideration, but what teams will see an abundance of at the NFL scouting combine this week are the…

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. | AP source: Broncos rookie Lindsay done for season

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A person with knowledge of the MRI results tells The Associated Press that Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay’s season is over after tests showed he sustained major damage to his right wrist in Denver’s loss at Oakland.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team was off on Christmas Day, confirmed a report by 9News in Denver that medical tests Tuesday…

DENVER | Cleveland Browns beat injury-plagued Broncos 17-16

DENVER  — Baker Mayfield capitalized on Denver’s depleted cornerback corps and dubious decisions in leading the Cleveland Browns past the Broncos 17-16 on Saturday night, keeping alive their slim hopes of ending the NFL’s longest playoff drought.

Mayfield’s 2-yard TD toss to Antonio Calloway with just under 12 minutes left provided the winning margin for the Browns (6-7-1).

They snapped an…

DENVER | Broncos snap Steelers’ six-game winning streak 24-17

DENVER — Nose tackle Shelby Harris picked off Ben Roethlisberger’s 2-yard pass to Antonio Brown in the end zone with 1:03 remaining to seal Denver’s 24-17 win over Pittsburgh that snapped the Steelers’ six-game winning streak Sunday.

The Broncos (5-6) used four takeaways to counter a 97-yard touchdown toss from Roethlisberger to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Roethlisberger was 41 of 56 for 462 yards, but…

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. | Rams take in fresh air, mountains ahead of game vs. Chiefs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — This was a respite for the Los Angeles Rams but certainly no vacation.

The team kept its plans to train at the Air Force Academy and stay at the posh Broadmoor Hotel in the Rocky Mountain foothills even after the NFL moved their Monday night showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs to the Los Angeles Coliseum because of a frayed football field at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.

DENVER | Thomas wins homecoming as Texans escape Denver 19-17

DENVER— Brandon McManus missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired, leaving Demaryius Thomas a winner in his homecoming as the Houston Texans escaped Denver with a 19-17 win over the Broncos.

The Texans (6-3) won their sixth straight and the Broncos (3-6) lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Thomas finished with three receptions for 61 yards, but two of them were back-to-back for 31 and 18…

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. | Broncos trade wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to Texans

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.  — The Denver Broncos traded nine-year veteran Demaryius Thomas to the Houston Texans on Tuesday.

Thomas won’t have to wait long to play his old team — the Texans (5-3) visit the Broncos (3-5) this weekend.

The Broncos will also send a 2019 seventh-rounder to Houston and will receive fourth and seventh-round picks in the 2019 draft.

The Texans found themselves thin at wide…

DENVER | Jokic’s triple-double leads Nuggets past Suns 119-91

DENVER— Nikola Jokic scored 35 points, posted a triple-double and didn’t miss a field goal in leading the Denver Nuggets past the Phoenix Suns 119-91 Saturday night.

Jokic, who had 10 assists and 10 rebounds, joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to post a triple-double with 30 or more points without missing a field goal.

Chamberlain did it twice, in 1966 and ’67.

Jokic made…