Moody Broncos take out frustrations with spirited workout

Nov 24, 2017 - 9:48 PM The Denver Broncos, on a six-game losing streak with a 3-7 record, took out their frustrations with a spirited practice involving two skirmishes on Thanksgiving Day.

By dawn Friday, team officials were spinning the raucous holiday hubbub as a good thing, especially in the wake of general manager John Elway saying the team had become "soft." The party line Friday was that Elway stood first in line as the target of being soft, and the rowdy practice Thursday showed the players were responding with a spirited workout.

Sources at the Broncos' Englewood camp Thursday told The Sports Xchange that, regardless of the spin, there was obviously a lot of emotion at the practice that was closed to media. It spilled over after practice when Elway was seen huddling with defensive captain Aqib Talib and another player was crying and needed to be consoled by a teammate.

Players admitted the events of the week has the team on edge. It actually began last week with Elway calling the team soft. This week began with coach Vance Joseph firing offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Monday and naming quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave as his replacement.

Then second-year quarterback Paxton Lynch was named the starter, meaning Brock Osweiler's next move -- after a round trip through Houston via Cleveland -- is to the bench. On Wednesday he admitted he was shocked and disappointed.

Thanksgiving began with the team releasing cornerback Lorenzo Doss, a fifth-round pick from 2015, supposedly because he was late for a meeting. Outside linebacker Kasim Edebali and tight end A.J. Derby were also waived within little more than a week.

Thus the stage was set for a Thanksgiving practice.

"Just guys competing and wanting to win," Joseph said Friday. "It was competitive yesterday for a Thanksgiving practice. It was my first time experiencing that kind of practice on Thanksgiving. But that speaks to our guys wanting to win -- and how hard they've worked. It was fun to see in my opinion, guys competing for the ball and trying to make plays. It gets heated sometimes. That's OK."

There were at least two skirmishes, including a spirited one between cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was already on edge due to losing his job as a returner. After practice running back C. J. Anderson was seen talking to McKenzie, who was obviously emotional and unable to hold back tears.

Harris has been outspoken about the mood of the team, saying, "It's not a good mood at all, we lost seven straight, it's not a good mood at all."

After Thursday's practice, Joseph was asked specifically about cutting Doss.

"We're just trying to get better as a football team," Joseph said.