AFC Notes: Broncos, Ravens, Texans

Broncos

Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning had high praise for Broncos LB and star pass rusher Von Miller, calling him his favorite player to watch in retirement. Manning played alongside Miller for a few years, including in a Super Bowl win. 

“I still enjoy watching him compete,” Manning said via Ben Swanson of the official team website. “…Maybe this tells you how special he is that I’m maybe not looking at quarterbacks now; I’m watching outside linebackers and pass rushers. People ask me a lot of times, ‘Who’s the best athlete you’ve ever played with?’ And I say, ‘Von Miller.’ Just some of the things he can do physically is special. So when you come to a Broncos game and they’re on defense, you find yourself kind of locked in, seeing this might be the game-changing sack-fumble play, or interception — some kind of game-changing play he can make. I like the way he handles his business and like the way he competes out there.”

Ravens

Ravens second-year LB Kenny Young said his only expectation is to “compete hard” for a starting role and “make plays” this season. 

I’m not going to make expectations for myself so soon, but what I expect to do right from the get-go is compete hard and make plays,” Young said, via Ryan Mink of the team’s official site. “My expectation is to make plays. That’s it. Make plays.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh said that second-year LB Chris Board and Young are “playing like” starters in the offseason program. 

I think Chris Board is playing like a starter. I also think Kenny Young is playing like a starter,” Harbaugh said. “Those guys are playing really, really fast.”

Harbaugh added that he anticipates the Ravens to use a “three-man rotation” at linebacker with Patrick Onwuasor assuming the role vacated by C.J. Mosley. 

I would be anticipating us to play with a three-man rotation in there, with ‘Peanut’ [Onwuasor] taking all the reps and those other two guys playing packages with Anthony Levine,” said Harbaugh. 

Texans

  • According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans contacted former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie right after they fired Brian Gaine, but he declined to interview for the job. 
  • McClain says that word was out that the Texans were focused on pursuing Patriots executive Nick Caserio and McKenzie wanted to see how things played out. After Houston moved on from Caserio, McClains heard that McKenzie was interested.
  • If Houston ends up going in a different direction from their current management team, McClain believes McKenzie would be a candidate.
  • Although, McClain still expects the Texans to keep their current management structure in place. 
  • McClain doubts the Texans would pursue a trade for Redskins LT Trent Williams, who is unhappy in Washington. McClain explains that Houston just used a first-round pick on Tytus Howard for a reason while Williams will be 31 and looking for more money. 
  • As far as a potential trade for Browns RB Duke Johnson, McClain says he probably wouldn’t be happy having a similar to what he has in Cleveland, which would be a No. 3 option behind Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman

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