Bo Nix isn’t spending much time on the outside chatter, and after another uneven outing, that’s probably the right place for his attention to stay.
The Broncos quarterback has become a magnet for opinions around the league. Some fans see a winner who gets the job done, even when the offense isn’t exactly humming. Others think Nix is leaving too much on the field, checking the ball down too often and helping Denver miss out on points.
That debate only got louder after the Broncos’ 24-14 loss to the 49ers this past weekend, a game that left Denver at 2-2 heading into Wednesday’s practice.
Asked how he handles the constant reaction that follows every game, Nix kept his answer pointed toward the people inside the building.
“For me, it’s very simple. Obviously, you don’t want to listen to too many things or too much of the noise.
It’s not going to do anything for you. But at the same time you want to make sure you’re listening to your coaches or teammates and the people that are actually collectively trying to make you better and understand a little bit more of what’s going on,” Bo Nix said.
He made the point even more directly a moment later.
“For me, it’s all about who you’re giving your attention to, who you’re listening to. I think there’s something really valuable about tuning out the noise and not listening to all the noise and the distractions. If you’re not careful that’s just what they become is just distractions,” Nix said.
That’s a quarterback making it clear where his focus lies: coaches, teammates, and the Broncos’ own work, not the opinions swirling around him.
Still, the issues in Denver go beyond one player’s ability to ignore criticism. There’s plenty for the offense to clean up, and it needs to happen quickly if a season carrying Super Bowl expectations is going to stay on track.
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