Tag: Broncos

Aug 23, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Bill Romanowski attends the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Reports: Ex-NFL star Bill Romanowski owes $15.5 million in unpaid taxes

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A federal judge in California has ruled that former NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski and his wife owe $15.5 million in unpaid taxes, according to multiple outlets, including Sportico.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang issued a recommendation on the case brought forth by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2023, ruled that Bill and his wife, Julie, owe $15.5 million in unpaid tax assessments to go along with accrued interest. The DOJ accused the Romanowskis of not paying their owed taxes for the years 1998-2004 as well as 2007.

The couple’s company, Nutrition 53, already a subject of a separate bankruptcy case, could be held liable to contribute paying to the judgment, with the government bringing claims that the company is an alter ego for the Romanowskis, not distinct enough to be protected.

Likewise, the government is pursuing payment from other assets associated with the couple.

A two-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl champ, Romanowski, 58, was originally a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1988, playing 16 seasons for the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders.

Romanowski totaled 1,118 tackles, 39 ½ sacks and 18 interceptions over 243 career games.

Nutrition 53 is a protein/supplement company.

–Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fox Sports NFL Studio analyst Rob Gronkowski during a Fox Sports media party in advance of Super Bowl LIX at Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Report: Rob Gronkowski, 35, eyeing return to NFL

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Tight end Rob Gronkowski may be interested in coming out of retirement once again, according to a report by DenverSports.com on Tuesday.

Gronkowski spent nine years with the New England Patriots prior to retiring after the 2018 season — only to come back and play two more years with Tom Brady when the quarterback went to Tampa Bay.

A five-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro selection and four-time Super Bowl champion (three with the Patriots, one with the Buccaneers), Gronkowski will turn 36 in May.

The DenverSports.com report indicated Gronkowski may be interested in joining the Denver Broncos, where his brothers Chris and Dan Gronkowski had brief stays during their playing careers.

Rob Gronkowski currently works as an NFL analyst for Fox and overlapped there for one year with Sean Payton, now the head coach in Denver.

Gronkowski had 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns in 143 games (128 starts) over his 11-year career in New England (2010-18) and Tampa Bay (2020-21). He never finished with fewer than 540 yards in a season despite missing large parts of the 2013 and 2016 campaigns due to injury.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2023; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite talks with linebacker Nik Bonitto (42) and linebacker Frank Clark (55) and linebacker Randy Gregory (5) during training camp at Centura Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Report: Broncos assistant accused of assaulting officer

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Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite was accused of assaulting a police officer over the weekend in Denver, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Wilhoite, 38, was booked in the Denver jail on Sunday on a no-bond hold. He has a court appearance Monday on a charge of suspicion of second-degree assault of a police officer, per reports.

The Broncos issued a statement saying that they are aware of the situation and in the process of gathering more information.

The alleged incident reportedly occurred after Wilhoite dropped someone off at the Denver International Airport.

Wilhoite joined the Broncos’ staff in 2023 after previously working for head coach Sean Payton as a defensive assistant and special teams assistant from 2019-20. He was the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021-22.

Wilhoite played linebacker in the NFL for six seasons, registering 298 tackles and four interceptions in 79 games (45 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2012-16) and Seattle Seahawks (2017).

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi walks the field before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Broncos hire Darren Rizzi as AHC, special teams coordinator

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton added a familiar face to his staff on Friday, hiring former New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.

Rizzi, 54, served as special teams coordinator on Payton’s staff from 2019-21, when both were with New Orleans. Rizzi spent six seasons with the Saints, including an eight-game stint as interim head coach in 2024 when the club went 3-5.

Before joining the Saints’ staff, Rizzi began his NFL coaching career in 2009 with the Miami Dolphins, spending 10 seasons there in various roles, including special teams coordinator.

The New Jersey native spent time on the staffs of five colleges, including three seasons as New Haven’s head coach and six seasons in various coaching positions at Rutgers.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after the game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Reports: Jets decide on Darren Mougey as new GM

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The New York Jets are hiring Darren Mougey as their new general manager, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

Mougey, 39, has been with the Denver Broncos’ organization since 2012 and was assistant general manager the past three seasons. He is the NFL’s third youngest GM.

Mougey’s hiring comes in the same week the Jets hired Aaron Glenn as their new head coach. New York just finished a 5-12 season in which they missed the playoffs for the 14th straight season.

Mougey will face a tough decision right at the outset of his tenure — deciding whether to retain or part ways with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Mougey knows the quarterback position well. He was a promising quarterback recruit as part of San Diego State’s 2004 class, redshirted his first season and backed up Kevin O’Connell — now head coach of the Minnesota Vikings — the next two seasons.

He spent the final two seasons (2007-08) of his college career as a receiver.

Mougey joined the Broncos as a scouting intern in 2012 and advanced up the organization until landing the assistant GM job.

The Jets interviewed 15 general manager candidates during their search.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton takes the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Sean Payton on ending Broncos’ playoff drought: ‘We all like a challenge’

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Sean Payton has a monumental task in preparing his team for Sunday’s wild-card game at Buffalo, so the second-year Denver Broncos coach isn’t wasting time relishing in proving his doubters wrong.

The prospect of the Broncos ending a playoff drought that had dated back to their Super Bowl-winning season of 2015 appeared dim after Payton’s first year in Denver ended with an 8-9 record and a parting with quarterback Russell Wilson.

But in stepped rookie Bo Nix, who threw a career-high-tying four touchdown passes in leading Denver to its 10th victory of the season on Sunday. In doing so, the Broncos clinched the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs and a date with the second-seeded Bills on Sunday.

It has been a quick and dramatic turnaround for a franchise that was mired with massive salary cap restraints when Payton arrived just two years ago.

“We all like a challenge, right? I guess it’s like a challenge when someone says ‘X.’ The first thing I think of is, ‘Who is that someone?’” Payton said Monday. “… I think your players certainly do have a little bit of a chip when they see those initial prognostications or whatever. Then eventually when you’re in this long enough, you tune that stuff out because half those people don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

“Yes, who’s done this before with over $80 million (in dead cap) — all those things you think about. No one’s done that before. Let’s be the first one.”

Payton faces a different type of challenge in preparing his team for the Bills, who went 13-4 during the regular season and are led by quarterback Josh Allen, who many believe will win his first Most Valuable Player award.

Buffalo went 8-0 at home during the regular season, and began the week as a consensus nine-point favorite.

“Put your best foot forward in preparing to play your best game against a real good football team. That’s where the focus is,” Payton said. “I probably — as the head coach — paid attention to, ‘What are these things that can possibly distract from that process outside the building or even inside the building?’

“The euphoria of, ‘We’re back in the playoffs. We finally have gotten back in.’ Trying to monitor that and understand how that may — or try to prevent that from impacting the edge and the preparation. I think that comes up often as a head coach sometimes and vice versa during the season when the sky is falling. Making sure that your players understand that it’s really not. It’s just cloudy, rainy and stormy, but it’s going to be sunny again.”

The actual skies might be anything but sunny on Sunday in Buffalo, where the gametime forecast currently calls for clouds and temperatures in the low 30s with the potential for snow flurries. Add that to the prospect of facing Allen, who finished the regular season with 3,731 passing yards and 28 touchdowns while adding another 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

“We shift gears completely,” Payton said when asked about preparing for Allen. “Obviously there are a lot of challenges. He’s had an MVP season. He’s strong. I think it’s one thing to get to him, but then the other thing is how many times do we see him come off of the initial tackler? How do you bring him down? Who can bring him down? He does such a good job with plays that are broken down. There’s a lot that goes into that.

“The focus this week will be obviously shifting all towards Buffalo and how to slow down a team that’s as hot as anyone in the league.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) scrambles under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Joshua Uche (55) as guard Quinn Meinerz (77) defends against defensive end Malik Herring (94) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Broncos blast Chiefs to clinch playoff spot

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Bo Nix’s career day punched the Denver Broncos’ ticket to the playoffs with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.

It is the first time since the 2015 season that the Broncos have reached the postseason.

Nix completed his first 18 passes and was 26 of 29 for the game, an 89.7 completion percentage that set a new Broncos’ single-game record. Nix set a career high with 321 yards and also had four touchdown passes. He led the Broncos with 47 rushing yards as the club clinched the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs.

With the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs wrapped up, the Chiefs rested Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Chris Jones, Jawaan Taylor and George Karlaftis.

Cortland Sutton had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in five passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and Devaughn Vele had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown for Denver (10-7).

Nik Bonitto had two sacks, Jonathon Cooper, Jordan Jackson and John Franklin-Myers each had a sack for Denver. The Broncos (10-7) held the Chiefs (15-2) to five first downs and 98 total yards.

Carson Wentz was 10-of-17 passing for 98 yards for the Chiefs.

The Broncos opened the game with a six-play, 70-yard scoring drive. A play-action pass play featured a fake hand off, fake reverse and screen pass from Nix to Mims for a 32-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

After its defense forced the Chiefs into a three-and-out, Nix engineered a 10-play, 85-yard scoring drive. The big play was a 47-yard completion where Nix rolled to his right and lofted a deep pass to Sutton. Two plays later, the same duo hooked up for a 10-yard touchdown and the Broncos took a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Everything was going the Broncos’ way when Nix’s 10-yard pass ricocheted off the outstretched arm of Chiefs’ defensive back Keith Taylor into the arms of a diving Devaughn Vele for a 3-yard touchdown as Denver went up 21-0 with 6:46 left in the second quarter.

Wil Lutz nailed a 33-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter as the Broncos took a 24-0 halftime lead. It was the first time in 61 games Kansas City was held scoreless in the first half.

Late in the third quarter Nix tossed a 7-yard touchdown to Mims for a 31-0 Broncos’ lead. Audric Estime added a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:11 left as Denver extended its lead to 38.

-Field Level Media

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on in the third quarter of the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.

Broncos’ Sean Payton: Chiefs earned right to rest players

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The Broncos would clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday, and Denver coach Sean Payton isn’t concerned that the opposition won’t be at full strength.

Denver (9-7) plays host to the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who have wrapped up AFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs will hold out quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other starters in the regular-season finale to keep the squad healthy for a run at a third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Payton said Wednesday, “Like I said to the team this morning, ‘Our focus has got to be on this team in general.’ They’ll be, I’m sure, some different people in different places. …

“Credit to Kansas City, (Chiefs coach) Andy (Reid) and his team. When you go 15-1, then you’re afforded those decisions. I’ve been in that position where your team might need a break here or there. They’ve earned that and that’s part of the deal. For us, it’s about understanding what we’re seeing scheme-wise and being ready to play our best game.”

Chiefs backup QB Carson Wentz will get the start in place of Mahomes. Wentz owns a 47-45-1 record as an NFL starter but is on his fifth team in five years and has made just one start over the past two seasons, a win for the Los Angeles Rams one year ago this week.

“He’s in this league for a reason,” Payton said. “He’s big, and he’s strong. He was a first-round draft pick. We spoke during the offseason a little bit with him and his agents. It’s the player but it’s also everything around it and understanding what they’re trying to do.”

The Broncos would wrap up a wild-card berth with a victory or if both Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie this weekend.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the team,” Payton said. “Yes, it’s a big game. Like I said before, I think we’ll play in bigger, but this is a big game. It’s a division opponent. We’re playing a team with championship pedigree. They’re well-coached and we’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for what they’ve accomplished.

“We understand (that) we’re going to have to play well. That’s what gets you excited about coaching in this league. It’s what gets you excited about playing in this league. It’s important we have a good week of preparation.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) is interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Allison Williams after the game against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State beats UNLV 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Penn St. big favorite in CFP quarterfinal, but Boise St. undeterred

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sixth-seeded Penn State and No. 3 seed Boise State enter their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday with perfect records in their Fiesta Bowl history.

The Broncos, who earned a bye into the matchup in Glendale by winning the Mountain West title, are 3-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Penn State, which advanced to the quarterfinals after beating visiting SMU 38-10 last week in the opening round, is 7-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.

No other school has won more Fiesta Bowls. Arizona State and Ohio State each have five wins in the bowl’s history.

“Our guys are very aware of our history here at Penn State,” coach James Franklin said after a practice this week in Phoenix. “We spend a lot of time in the offseason talking about those things, or former players come back and talk to our guys.”

Boise State (12-1) won its three Fiesta Bowls between 2007 and 2014, including a 43-42 classic in overtime over Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma in 2007.

The Broncos were underdogs in that game and in wins over TCU in 2010 and Arizona in 2014.

They were 10.5-point underdogs to Penn State (12-2) when the Fiesta Bowl line opened.

“We might not have what everybody else has, but we definitely have enough,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “We’re going to continue to push forward.”

Boise State is the last non-Power 4 conference team to win the Fiesta Bowl.

“Boise State has been built on earning our right to play against one of the top football teams in the country like Penn State,” Danielson said. “I believe in our team … please count us out. People, media, count us out. I know how we are going to work, and I know we are going to work to play our absolute best.”

Franklin, an assistant coach at Washington State and Idaho State in 1998 and 1999, respectively, appreciates the Boise State program after coaching in the area.

“Boise State has the ingredients to succeed,” Franklin said. “It’s in the university. It’s in the community. It’s embedded there. And that’s why you’ve seen so many people be able to go there and have success.”

Franklin also praised running back Ashton Jeanty for what he means to Boise State being in the playoffs.

“I think it starts and ends with Jeanty,” Franklin said. “He can run away from you and score from a distance. Breaks a ton of tackles — 1,300 yards of his rushing yards are after contact, which is like a ridiculous stat.”

Jeanty, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, has 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. He took home the Maxwell Award as the most outstanding player in the sport and was a unanimous All-American selection.

Jeanty is 132 yards from breaking the NCAA single-season rushing record set by Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988.

Danielson is similarly in awe of Penn State senior tight end Tyler Warren.

Warren, who has a team-best six TD receptions, leads the Nittany Lions in receptions (92) and receiving yards (1,095). Both of those marks are single-season Big Ten records for tight ends. He won the Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end and finished seventh in the Heisman voting.

“Tyler Warren is elite,” Danielson said. “That’s not just my opinion; I’m very positive he’s going to be the first tight end taken off the board in the NFL draft because of that.

“He can do it all. He is extremely violent at the point of attack. He can catch every ball. He’s one of their top targets on all downs. And he can play wildcat and throw the ball. You talk about just an extremely gifted athlete, we’ve got to know where (Warren) is at all times.”

–Javier Morales, Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Broncos on doorstep of playoffs while Bengals try to stay in picture

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One team looking to secure a spot in the AFC playoffs and another trying to simply stay alive meet on Saturday afternoon when the Denver Broncos visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

With a win, the Broncos (9-6) would clinch a berth in the postseason for the first time since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2015 campaign.

Denver was on the verge of punching its ticket to the playoffs last week but blew a 21-10 lead after giving up a free-kick field goal at the end of the first half. The host Los Angeles Chargers rallied for a 34-27 win on Dec. 19, snapping Denver’s four-game winning streak, even with Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix going 29-for-40 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

The Broncos are anticipating the return of cornerback Riley Moss, who has missed the past three games due to an MCL injury. Moss was listed as a full participant during Tuesday’s practice. Denver coach Sean Payton said Moss could be available against Cincinnati.

The return of Moss would give Denver a valuable boost in the secondary alongside former All-Pro Pat Surtain II against Joe Burrow. The Cincinnati quarterback has thrown at least three touchdown passes in seven straight games.

“The guy that plays opposite of (Surtain) is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, (Moss) really rose to the occasion, battled, competed, and throughout … a good portion of the season,” Payton said.

Burrow entered this week leading the NFL in completions (384), passing yards (4,229) and passing touchdowns (39). Last Sunday, Burrow became the first quarterback in league history with seven straight games of at least three touchdown passes and 250 yards passing.

“We’ve got to correct it and move on,” Surtain said of the second-half collapse against the Chargers. “We’ve got to finish the season the right way to get toward our destiny.”

Cincinnati (7-8) has won its past three games and could reach .500 ahead of its season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Saturday marks the Bengals’ final home contest of the 2024 campaign, which coach Zac Taylor hopes will provide his team with an advantage in a must-win situation.

Cincinnati must win its final two games and hope the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts each lose once more while Denver loses its finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“We’ve just got ourselves to a point where now these games really matter,” Taylor said. “You’ve got a chance to focus on this game and not worry about anything else going on around us. It’s just focus on Denver, and we’ve got to put our best foot forward. … We know this is it, and so we’re counting on that crowd to show up (on) Saturday, be as loud as ever and make this a tough environment for a rookie quarterback and a team coming in here and give our guys the confidence and energy we need to find us a win.”

Ja’Marr Chase heads into the final two weeks of the regular season on pace for the receiving Triple Crown, as he leads the NFL in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,510) and receiving touchdowns (16). In the backfield, Chase Brown has 1,259 yards from scrimmage this season, including at least 100 in each of the past five games.

Defensively, the Bengals have totaled nine takeaways over the past two games.

Tight end Tanner Hudson (knee), defensive end Sam Hubbard (knee) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness) missed Tuesday’s practice for Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media