NFL Power Rankings: The way-too-early 2016 edition It's probably not fair to say the Denver Broncos' championship window was going to close, win or lose, after Super Bowl 50. But let's say that it was probably a good idea to beat the Carolina Panthers, just in case.  This will be a tricky offseason for Broncos general manager John Elway. He was very aggressive in trying to win a title … [Read more...]

Broncos' Harris: 'I would have been mad too' if he were Newton Whether you believe it influenced his behavior or not, Carolina Panthers' QB Cam Newton clearly overheard Denver Broncos' CB Chris Harris Jr. in the postgame interview area on Sunday as Harris boasted of his team's successful defensive plan to stop Newton in Super Bowl 50. Those interview "rooms" are cramped, in the bowels of the … [Read more...]

Peyton Manning praises Cam Newton for chat after Super Bowl loss Cam Newton didn't make any new friends with his sullen press conference after his Super Bowl loss, but Peyton Manning indicated that the Newton onstage bore little resemblance to the Newton he met at midfield just after the end of the game. "Cam couldn't have been nicer to me," Manning said on the Today Show. "He was extremely … [Read more...]

Do you buy this excuse for Cam Newton bailing on interview? The vultures swarmed the moment Cam Newton departed his post-Super Bowl 50 media session after roughly three minutes. [Buy Broncos championship gear at the Yahoo Sports team fan shop] No, it was not a good look for Newton who, as Yahoo's Eric Adelson so eloquently wrote, went from Superman to the "Incredible Sulk" with his postgame … [Read more...]

Super Bowl champion Wade Phillips trolls Cam Newton on Twitter Denver Broncos defensive coordaintor Wade Phillips' Twitter feed has seen him take a few good-natured jabs this season, mostly at opponents; hey, if you went from unemployed to coach of one of the most dominant defenses in recent NFL history, you might be inclined to a little gloating too. On Monday morning, after Phillips and … [Read more...]

'Hot' Super Bowl 50 ref Clete Blakeman has Twitter on fire The visual appeal of Super Bowl 50 got turned up a notch once people took notice of referee Clete Blakeman, the game's 51-year-old lead official. Aside from the usual complaints by fans who've followed Blakeman's controversial career, other Twitter users focused in on his physique. But who, exactly, is Clete Blakeman? Long before … [Read more...]

Von Miller's great play leads to the first TD of Super Bowl 50 SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Of course the Denver Broncos' top-ranked defense got the first touchdown of Super Bowl 50. The first touchdown came thanks to Von Miller and an amazing play to strip Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. On a third down (after the Panthers' challenge of what looked like a catch by Jerricho Cotchery … [Read more...]

Did Peyton Manning turn in worst game by Super Bowl-winning QB? If Peyton Manning wants to walk off into the sunset, he can do it with his head held high — and as a Super Bowl champion for the second time. But it's not as if Manning was the reason the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. In fact, you can't even say Manning managed the game, really. After all, he … [Read more...]

White House menu for Super Bowl 50 includes 'POTUS beer' Like many Americans, President Obama and the First Lady are hosting a Super Bowl party to watch the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, but they're enjoying a pretty extensive menu – and unlike most of us, they won't have to clean up afterward. Via this tweet from CBS This Morning social media manager Kevin Prince (the Obamas … [Read more...]

Jordan Norwood sets Super Bowl record with 61-yard punt return We have a Super Bowl record set early in SB50. Denver Broncos punt returner Jordan Norwood did what no one has done in the first 49 Super Bowl: return a punt longer than 45 yards. [Follow Shutdown Corner on Facebook for instant updates from Super Bowl 50] On his first return attempt of the game, Norwood caught Brad Nortman's punt … [Read more...]