ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Wait a minute. That’s not an aggressive-looking Bronco with blue stripes and an orange mane.
That’s an aggressive-looking blue Buffalo with a red stripe.
What in the world. Why was a Buffalo Bills’ logo painted on each of the Broncos’ two practice fields Friday?
It wasn’t an overnight prank from a member of the Bills Mafia. The opposing logos were part of head coach Sean Payton’s detailed preparation for the Broncos’ road trip to Buffalo for a Monday night game against the Bills.
“We always did that in New Orleans,’’ said Broncos tight end Adam Trautman, who played two years for Payton when both were with the Saints. “Sometimes, indoor even.’’
As one Broncos employee said, Payton would replicate the 15 mph cross winds off Lake Erie if he could.
“That’s not even a question,’’ Trautman said. “I’m surprised he didn’t have fans out there blowing on us during practice.”
Trautman was accustomed to the road opponent logo, but most of his Broncos were not.
“I think they were surprised,’’ Trautman said. “I don’t know if anyone had seen that anywhere before. They were kind of like, ‘What? Why?’ But it’s about replicating the environment.’’
“I was like, what’s this about?’’ said eighth-year tight end Chris Manhertz. “First time I’d seen something like that. But Sean is very detailed about making practice game-like.”
Thanks coach Kotwica, for your service
Veterans Day is Saturday and it will mean more to Broncos special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica than most other members of the Broncos football team. Before he embarked on his NFL special teams coach career in 2007, Kotwica was a four-year linebacker for Army from 1993-96. He then served eight years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot who participated in operations in Bosnia, Korea and Iraq.
As a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army’s Aviation Branch, Kotwice both flew and led a 20-man platoon that flew an attack helicopter for the 82nd Airborne Division from 1998-2001.
“Being a veteran is something I’m really proud of,’’ Kotwica said Friday. “I had a great opportunity to serve this country in a combat zone in Iraq. (Veterans Day) just allows me the opportunity to reflect on the time I spent which was very, very rewarding.
“Just really thankful to serve with the men and women that wear the uniform. We’re very fortunate to be in a country where those men and women are providing a blanket of freedom for us. For me, it’s an opportunity to be grateful that I had that chapter in my life.”
Makes you want to run down the field and cover a punt for the guy.
Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is also a military veteran. He played tight end for the Air Force Academy and served a four-year tour of active duty as a U.S. Air Force officer upon graduation in 1994.
Samaje knows the Bills
While playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in a second-round AFC playoff game last season, Samaje Perine had a nice game at Buffalo, rushing for 33 yards off seven carries and catching five passes for 31 yards in a 27-10 victory.
“They’re a great team. You have to play pretty much a perfect game against them and even then you know it’s going to come down to the end,’’ Perine said. “We’ll have to be on our A game.”
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