Tag: Garett Bolles

Broncos nominate Garett Bolles for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

Congrats to Broncos LT Garett Bolles for being nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award!

The Denver Broncos named left tackle Garett Bolles the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee on Tuesday.

This is Bolles’ first nomination for the award, which is given annually to the player who displays excellence on and off the field. Bolles’ work with Colorado and Utah youth with learning disabilities and youth in Colorado detention centers among other community outreach highlights the leader he is on and off the field.

Bolles finds himself in great company, with several former Broncos teammates who have been recipients of the honor. In 1992, Denver Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway won the award; in 2005, fellow Hall of Famer Peyton Manning received the award as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and current Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson won the award during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.

Each nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award gets to wear a helmet decal for the rest of the season in recognition of the honor. Those who win the award, like Wilson, get to wear a jersey patch with a silhouette of the award.

Last year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won the award.

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Garett Bolles blocking Myles Garrett is the best video you’ll watch today

This is probably the best block you’ll see in the NFL this season, and it came against one of the game’s best pass rushers!

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was leading the NFL with 13 sacks going into last week’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Garrett had a slow day at the office against the Broncos, totaling no sacks and no quarterback hits during Denver’s 29-12 victory. Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles did an exceptional job going up against one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and one of his blocks caught the attention of renowned offensive line coach Paul Alexander.

“This might be the best pass block finish I’ve ever seen,” Alexander captioned a video he posted on Twitter/X showing Bolles blocking Myles from one side of the field to the other on Sunday.

“He’s extremely athletic,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Bolles on Monday. “Man, he played his butt off [Sunday]. [He] had a tough assignment. We knew that was going to be a challenge. He was going up against one of the better defensive players.

“To his credit, when we watched the tape, man, he battled. We did a handful of things over there to help slow down Myles. He’s experienced, he’s athletic. The chemistry of that [offensive line] room has really changed and it’s really been an asset for our club.”

That one block was arguably the highlight of the game for Bolles, and the left tackle received well-deserved praise on social media.

Broncos had a perfect game plan to neutralize Myles Garrett

Going into Sunday’s game, Myles Garrett led the NFL with 13 sacks. His stat line against the Broncos: 0 sacks, 0 QB hits.

Going into Sunday’s game, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ranked first in the NFL with 13 sacks through 10 games.

Garrett has been a wrecking ball this season, totaling 23 quarterback hits while generating pressure on seemingly every play.

The Denver Broncos knew what they were up against and prepared a game plan that included tight ends and running backs chipping Garrett before running a route. Denver even had a guard occasionally slide over to help in protection against Garrett, who often lined up against Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles on Sunday.

“We spent an evening just relative to the game plan with him,” coach Sean Payton said of preparing to face Garrett. “He’s having a great year. [He] easily could be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. We just knew we couldn’t let a player like that beat us. Right from the opening play to protection, you’re going to see tight ends — there was a lot of attention, and rightfully so.”

Garrett recorded no sacks and no quarterback hits on Sunday as the Broncos cruised to a 29-12 victory at home. The game plan worked perfectly.

“Clearly, when you’re playing a guy like that, you have to have a plan because he can ruin your entire game plan,” tight end Adam Trautman said after the game. “Personally, he’s one of the best players to watch on film. Just point blank, he’s unbelievable. We had a plan and we had to shut him down for any success, and we did a pretty good job with that.”

It was perhaps Bolles’ most impressive performance of the season against arguably the biggest test he will face this season. Denver also used Garrett’s aggressive play style against him, running a read option to his side of the field that quarterback Russell Wilson kept on a keeper for a 19-yard gain.

“Obviously, they have one of the best guys in the world over there in Myles Garrett,” Wilson said after the win. “I thought Garett Bolles played great. The whole line played great across the board.”

After being held without a sack on Sunday, Garrett now ranks second in the league behind T.J. Watt, who recorded two sacks on Sunday and now has 13.5 this year. After facing Denver’s offensive line, Garrett now has some catching up to do in the race to win the NFL’s sack title.

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Broncos LT Garett Bolles cherishing being back on football field

“Just being back on the field [after] missing football for a whole year, you cherish these moments,” Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles said.

Just over a year ago, Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles broke his leg and was placed on season-ending injured reserve five weeks into the 2023 NFL season.

Bolles returned from that injury this summer and he has quickly returned to his pre-injury form. After the Broncos upset the Kansas City Chiefs 24-9 in Week 8 and snapped a 16-game losing streak to KC, Bolles said he cherished being back on a football field.

“I’m just getting better and better,” Bolles said after Sunday’s win. “I’m getting more confident with my leg, my body, my left guard [Ben] Powers next to me, and you know having ‘Russ’ [Russell Wilson] behind me, and just being back on the field for missing football for a whole year. You cherish these moments, you know?

“You don’t get these types of moments all the time. You know, I’ve been in this organization [for a while]. I’ve sweated; I’ve bled. I love this organization more than anything. My family has grown up here. So for us to win a big game like that and knowing that there’s an opportunity to play in bigger games, you know, God is good.”

Sunday marked the first time that Bolles has beaten the Chiefs in his career, and it clearly meant a lot to him. Bolles and his teammates are now on a bye this week before returning in Week 10 to face the Buffalo Bills.

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5 players the Broncos should trade away (Jerry Jeudy!) after listless loss to Chiefs

After falling to 1-5, the miserable Broncos should start their rebuild by trading these players.

The Denver Broncos are 1-5. They have one of the worst defenses in NFL history and a financial albatross at quarterback (Russell Wilson) and head coach (Sean Payton). There are more blatant flaws in their roster construction and overall weekly game plans than there are any foundational bright spots that could inspire hope for the future.

It’s time for Denver to sound the alarms after looking lethargic in a 19-8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in front of a national audience Thursday night. It’s time for Sean Payton to stop brazenly lying to the Eastern Colorado media. It’s time for a trade firesale to start a proper rebuild of one of pro football’s worst teams. There’s plenty of time before the Halloween deadline to start making some calls, too.

I know what you’re thinking.

How could the Broncos provide any value to other teams, particularly those with actual goals on the field this year? Well, dear reader, just because Denver is out of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have useful players. Playoff contenders (and other suitors) eye teams like the Broncos specifically because they know that there are still valuable pieces who could contribute in an NFL season stretch run.

Let’s dive right in and break down who the Broncos should be trading to start their rebuild with a war chest of draft picks as they, ideally, price gouge (desperate?) prospective teams.

5 veteran offensive tackles the Browns could pursue on the trade market

It is slim pickings, but there are some potential offensive tackle upgrades out there.

The season is not lost for the Cleveland Browns. While the past two weeks have been a rough roller coaster ride to sit through with the looming injury to the shoulder of quarterback Deshaun Watson, they still have eight of their last 12 games against AFC opponents, including three against their division rivals. If they want to shove another chip into the middle of the table to make a run, however, the Browns need to take a deep look at upgrading their left tackle situation as Jedrick Wills has failed to take a step in year four.

According to The OBR’s Brad Stainbrook, this is a move the Browns are already expected to look into as well. The problem? There are not a plethora of good offensive tackles just hanging out on the market. The Browns will likely have to pursue a current starting veteran on another team, and that will cost them valuable assets to do.

Sifting through who could be on their shortlist was a task as well, as the list is already short. Regardless, here are five names pulled that fit the bill from a financial and logical perspective if the Browns are looking to go out and find an upgrade to their current left tackle in Wills.

All financial figures were pulled from Over the Cap

Report: Teams calling Broncos about 5 players ahead of NFL trade deadline

Right now, the most likely trade candidate for the Broncos seems to be pass rusher Frank Clark. Teams are calling about other players, too.

As the NFL’s trade deadline approaches, teams are calling the Denver Broncos about a potential fire sale.

Going into Sunday’s showdown with the New York Jets, the Broncos are 1-3 and far outside the early playoff picture. Consequently, teams have called Denver about the trade statues of left tackle Garett Bolles, edge rusher Frank Clark, safety Justin Simmons and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, according to a report from Armando Salguero of Outkick.com.

The Broncos fielding calls for Clark was also reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who noted that Clark would only cost his new team $1.21 million because Denver has already paid his $4.2 million signing bonus.

“[M]any sources around the league believe the Broncos would be willing to listen to trade interest in almost any player on the defensive side,” according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

One call about Simmons was a “short exchange,” according to Salguero, presumably a sign that he’s not on the trade block. Denver also seems unlikely to trade star cornerback Pat Surtain.

The Broncos apparently aren’t currently interested in trading “any” offensive players, according to The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini. That suggests Denver is not interested in parting with Jeudy or Sutton, at least at the moment, despite interest from multiple teams dating back to last season.

Right now, Clark seems like the most likely trade candidate. The Broncos previously traded pass rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers last week. The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 31.

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4 Browns trade targets if Broncos decide to blow it up

Could the Browns go shopping in the bargain bin of another team’s misery?

While his record as a drafter is still a bit up in the air, the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, Andrew Berry, has been the king of acquiring talent on the trade market for cheap. And as the Denver Broncos have started the season 0-3 with head coach Sean Payton potentially wanting his own guys, could Berry and the Browns look to bargain bin shop in the graveyard of another team’s misery? Could players like offensive tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver (who the Browns have previously had interest in) find their way to the trade block?

For a team without a first round pick once again in the 2024 NFL Draft, Berry will have to get creative in adding talent to the roster. He has done so by stealing away players like wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, and defensive end Za’Darius Smith, and they will not be the last.

Who could Berry and the Browns target on the putrid roster of the Broncos should they choose to blow it up after a horrid start to their season?

All financial figures used in this article are courtesy of Over the Cap.

Russell Wilson on Broncos LT Garett Bolles: ‘He’s looking great’

“Garett Bolles is one of the best tackles in the game,” Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson said.

After missing 12 games with a broken leg last season, Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles made his return to the field in the team’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago.

Bolles played again last Saturday, playing 23 snaps against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of preseason. After shaking off some rust in Arizona, Bolles had a good performance in San Francisco.

“Garett Bolles is one of the best tackles in the game,” quarterback Russell Wilson said after the 49ers game. “He’s so athletic. Him having that severe injury last year and then to come back the first time stepping back on the field. It’s like taking that and understanding that this is a part of the process. And so he took that huge step.

“This week and over the past couple weeks in practice, he’s looking great. He’s that big left tackle over there that you trust and he can do a lot of things over there. He’s a great teammate. Garett’s a guy that will do anything for you. He’s a guy who battles, a guy who wants to win at the highest level. I’m really excited about the five guys we have up front.”

As Denver’s left tackle, Bolles is responsible for protecting Wilson’s blindside. He wasn’t able to do that for a majority of last season due to his injury, but Bolles will aim to keep Wilson upright in 2023.

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Broncos’ offensive line is a concern once again

Granted, one game is a small sample size, but the Broncos’ offensive line play is an early concern in preseason.

Yes, it’s a small sample size. Yes, it’s just preseason.

But the Denver Broncos’ offensive line play in the team’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals last Friday was alarming.

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson played well overall, but he was sacked once and hit five times. Wilson was frequently under pressure, just as he was for much of the 2022 season.

This is particularly concerning because new head coach Sean Payton made improving the offensive line a priority this offseason and signed guard Ben Powers and tackle Mike McGlinchey to big deals during free agency.

McGlinchey did not play on Friday because he is sidelined with a knee sprain, but Powers started and he was beaten multiple times in pass protection. Again, it’s a small sample size — Powers is shaking off the rust and was playing with his new teammates for the first time in a game — but Denver will need better play from their new guard during the 2023 season.

Even left tackle Garett Bolles, a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl alternate, struggled against the Cardinals. To be fair to the veteran tackle, Bolles is returning from a broken leg that prematurely ended his 2022 campaign. So perhaps Bolles should be given some grace while he works his way back into form, but the rest of the line has no such excuse.

“We are going to watch the film, break down the film and see what we need to do to improve,” Bolles said after an 18-17 loss.

If the Broncos get to Week 1 and the offensive line is clicking and playing well together, Friday’s shaky preseason opener will quickly be forgotten. Fans in Denver will hope, though, that Friday’s poor performance was not a sign of things to come in the regular season.

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