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Broncos Kubiak: Talib, Norwood good after shove, wants guys to compete

Nov 28, 2016, 3:32 PM

Emotions were running high for the Denver Broncos as the Week 12 Sunday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs went back and forth. In the end, the Broncos fell short in overtime 30-27 against its division rival.

Blamed for the loss could lie in several areas: the offensive line play, the cold start by the offense in the first half, the defense letting the Chiefs move the ball late, etc.

But things came to a head after a special teams error in which returner Jordan Norwood muffed a punt with 12 minutes left in the fourth, giving the ball and the momentum back to Kansas City.

As Norwood, who had muffed but recovered a punt earlier in the game, walked off the field, television cameras caught cornerback Aqib Talib shoving the returner in the back.

During his Monday press conference, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said emotions got in the way in that situation but that Talib and Norwood were doing not much more than competing.

“We compete at the highest level and our guys compete all the time — practice, games, those types of things. I see guys competing, guys are upset. Jordan and Aqib are fine, I can tell you that. That’s not an issue,” Kubiak said.

“Obviously emotions get in the way, and that’s something we have to talk about. We’ve got to control our emotions. It’s a very competitive environment down there, but there was no harm intended. So those two guys are fine and we’ll continue to compete.”

And when Kubiak was asked whether he was fine with the dustup, Kubiak said:

“I want our guys to compete. They have to handle those situations better. I tell our players all the time, ‘We battle together; we don’t battle each other.’ They understand that, but we’re out there competing.”

It seems like things are going to be OK between the two veteran players. However, Norwood needs to play better on special teams if he wants to keep his spot on the team.

With eight wide receivers on the roster (including practice squad wide receiver Kalif Raymond), the Broncos could easily turn to another player and make Norwood expendable.

And special teams has been a blemish for the Broncos in a few games this season, especially regarding penalties.

The Broncos are tied for the league lead in accepted special teams penalties (18) along with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens. Its four special teams penalties on Sunday night led the NFL in Week 12.

It’s a troubling number for the Broncos, and one they need to clean up as the remaining games are firmly in the ‘must-win’ category.

 

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