Bo Nix says Peyton Manning has become a steady voice in his corner, and the Broncos rookie has welcomed every bit of it.
Since Denver drafted Nix, the connection to Manning has been impossible to miss. The Broncos have gone through plenty of other options, but Nix has been viewed as the quarterback who most closely fits the lineage Manning left behind in Denver.
Now, there’s a direct line of communication between the two. It was recently revealed that Manning sends a text to both Nix and Broncos head coach Sean Payton the Monday after a game.
Nix spoke about that relationship during his weekly press conference and made clear how much he values the guidance. “I’ve referred to him on what do you do in this situation?
What do you do in that situation? You know what helped you in a situation like this, and that’s where somebody like Peyton comes in, really helpful,” Nix said.
“And for a guy like that to be available and to help is is really cool. But usually for him, it’s either keep your head up, keep going back to work or great game y’all fought hard whatever it’s usually those kind of congratulations text or the keep your head up type of text.
But it’s always exciting to hear from guys like that after [games] week in and week out because they’ve been through it.”
The Broncos offense has had its share of uneven stretches this season, and Nix is still trying to help push the unit toward a full game without needing a late rescue act.
Denver may also have a different feel on the sideline soon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Sean Payton has increased his input in offensive playcalling and will have more of a say during game-day operations.
The Broncos get their next chance to show that progress on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. CT on CBS.
In Other News...
Auburn Is Putting Too Much On Byrum Brown Right Now
Byrum Brown kept Auburn afloat on the ground in the 24-14 loss to Tennessee, piling up 107 rushing yards and accounting for more than half of the Tigers rushing production. The performance was another reminder of how often Auburn has had to lean on its quarterback to create offense when the rest of the attack stalls, especially with the line struggling to hold up and the running game never quite finding a steady rhythm.
The deeper concern is that this has not been a one-week issue. Auburns passing game has had its own problems, and even with changes in coaching staff and personnel, the offense still looks like it is asking Brown to cover for too many gaps around him. For a team trying to get back on track, the question is not whether Brown can make plays, but how long Auburn can keep expecting him to do so much on his own. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Once Had Nick Saban Hearing Something Alabama Fans Loved
After Nick Sabans first Iron Bowl loss to Auburn in 2007, he got a reminder of just how much skepticism he had to overcome in Alabama. Saban later told a story about stopping at a gas station and being challenged by a cashier who saw his LSU championship ring and still wondered whether he could ever win it all with the Crimson Tide, a snapshot of how little faith surrounded him before his run changed the states football balance.
For Auburn fans, that game still carries a little extra weight because the Tigers not only handed Saban that early setback, they did it with a strong defensive performance in the kind of rivalry game that can reshape a season. It is a small but fitting footnote in the larger Saban story, one that shows how different Alabama looked in those first months of 2007 before the winning started to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Overton Just Became A Much Bigger Auburn Storyline
Kevin Overtons role for Auburn is suddenly looking a lot bigger after the departure of Keyshawn Hall, and the junior guard is sounding like a player ready to meet the moment. Overton spent the offseason sharpening the parts of his game that could matter most in a larger role, especially his ball handling and playmaking, after already showing he can deliver when the spotlight gets brighter. He pointed back to his run as the Most Outstanding Player in last years NIT as a reminder that he has already handled meaningful responsibilities for the Tigers.
Now the attention shifts to how that work translates once Auburn gets back on the floor, beginning with the exhibition against Florida State and then into the regular season, where Alabama always looms as one of the measuring-stick games. For a team that needs answers on the perimeter, Overtons development is no longer just a side note from the offseason. It has become one of the more important storylines to watch as Auburn starts sorting out who can help carry the offense. [Read more 🡒]