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Wednesday 7 december 2022
Deion Sanders’ arrival swipes buzz from bungling Broncos

By ARNIE STAPLETON three field goals Sunday
AP Pro Football Writer but still throttled the Ravens
DENVER (AP) — Deion all afternoon before allow-
Sanders sauntered into the ing Lamar Jackson’s back-
Arrow Touchdown Club for up, Tyler Huntley, to drive
what felt more like an old- them 91 yards in 16 plays
fashioned tent revival than for the game’s only touch-
a news conference to intro- down with 28 seconds left.
duce the University of Colo- Meanwhile, the Dallas
rado’s splashy new hire of Cowboys scored 33 points
“Coach Prime” as its head in the fourth quarter Sun-
football coach. day against the Indianapo-
At that very moment Sun- lis Colts, or 18 more points
day afternoon, the Denver than the Broncos have
Broncos were predictably managed in the third quar-
blowing another late lead ter all season.
in their death spiral under It’s “Groundhog Day” in
Nathaniel Hackett and Rus- Denver with the Broncos’
sell Wilson, who this time maladroit offense unable
couldn’t even reach the to score and its stellar de-
red zone much less the fense incapable of closing
end zone in a 10-9 loss at out opponents.
Baltimore. Folsom Field has Not helping matters was a
been college football’s Deion Sanders speaks after being introduced as the new head football coach at the University of rare slip-up by the Broncos’
wasteland for the better Colorado during a news conference Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. social media team over the
part of this century, but a Associated Press weekend after the week’s
perfect storm has brewed do suddenly can compete When the Buffs were em- Things were looking up in poster on the team’s Twit-
over Boulder that could with traditional powerhous- barking on a season that Denver before it all took a ter account showed Den-
allow the Buffaloes to turn es in luring five-star recruits would see them win just bad turn on opening week- ver’s leading tackler Alex
things around overnight and prominent players in one game and fire coach end when Hackett settled Singleton alongside Jack-
from a 1-11 team that was the transfer portal. Karl Dorrell midseason, the for a Brandon McManus son, Baltimore’s dynamic
one of the worst in the na- Suddenly it’s cool to be at Broncos were boasting 64-yard field-goal attempt starting quarterback who
tion to a relevant program Colorado, and with Coach about their acquisition of in Wilson’s horrible home- went out in the first quarter
again.The university recent- Prime’s arrival, the Buffs Wilson, whom they would coming at Seattle. with a knee injury.
ly launched a collective for have swiped the buzz that reward with a contract ex- McManus missed, just as he Critics wondered why they
donations that will create the Broncos have owned tension before the season did Sunday when he came highlighted Singleton rath-
a pool of money so that in the Centennial State for that was worth just shy of a up short on a 63-yarder at er than say, cornerback
Colorado can compete decades. quarter-billion dollars. Baltimore. Patrick Surtain II or safety
with its conference rivals Now, it’s the Broncos who Broncos fans were thrilled Wilson has thrown for just Justin Simmons, who would
in name, image and like- are at the bottom of the that the team’s new own- eight touchdowns in 11 record two interceptions
ness deals. And the school barrel in the NFL. At 3-9, ers were members of the starts, and the Broncos Sunday.
has relaxed its rules regard- they’ve lost 13 of their last wealthiest family in Ameri- have reached the end “Looks like we made some
ing transfer credits, a move 16, the franchise’s worst ca. Walmart heir Rob Wal- zone three times since Hal- new friends with our game
that will allow Sanders’ such stretch since the 1970 ton, the oldest child of loween. Detroit Lions run- poster!” read the team’s
program to compete with merger. Walmart co-founder Sam ning back Jamaal Williams response on Twitter. “Shou-
established football power- It was the state’s profession- Walton, bought the Bron- has as many touchdowns tout to the real fans who
houses across the country. al football team and not its cos for $4.65 billion, a glob- himself 14 as the entire know we do this every
Combine that with the hir- flagship university that had al record for a professional Broncos roster this season. week & always feature a
ing of Sanders and Colora- all the buzz this spring. sports franchise. The Broncos managed just different player.” q

Injury-plagued LA Rams claim QB

Baker Mayfield off waivers

By GREG BEACHAM After league-wide specula- out for the season with a
AP Sports Writer tion about Mayfield joining bruised spinal cord, and
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. the contending San Fran- backups John Wolford and
(AP) — The Los Angeles cisco 49ers or Baltimore Bryce Perkins have been
Rams have claimed quar- Ravens, Mayfield instead fairly ineffective while play-
terback Baker Mayfield off will join the injury-plagued ing three of the past four
waivers. Rams (3-9). games.
The Rams made the move Los Angeles has lost six Wolford passed for 178
Tuesday to add Mayfield, straight games during yards with no touchdowns
the No. 1 pick in the 2018 what’s shaping up as the in last Sunday’s loss to Se-
draft by Cleveland. May- worst season in NFL history attle.
field was released by the for a defending Super Bowl The Rams host the Las Ve-
Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield speaks at a news Panthers on Monday at his champion. gas Raiders on Thursday
conference after an NFL football game against the Baltimore request after seven disap- The Rams also need help night, and it’s unclear
Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Baltimore. pointing games with Caro- at quarterback: Matthew whether Mayfield could be
Associated Press lina. Stafford is almost certainly ready to participate.q