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2016 Year In Review: Big News In Broncos Country

By Raetta Holdman

The following article is part of a series looking back at some of the biggest stories from the year in Colorado. This article focuses on the Denver Broncos.

DENVER (CBS4) - There was a bit of excitement in Broncos Country in 2016.

Actually, that's quite an understatement. There was TONS of excitement in 2016.

Of course, it all started with the drive to Super Bowl 50.

World Champions

The team marched through the playoffs to win the AFC Championship and took on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Von Miller
Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos celebrates following their win in Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Broncos took home their third Lombardi Trophy with a 24-10 win. And Von Miller took home the MVP before he waltzed off to dance with the stars.

Denver threw a big party, hosting a parade through downtown and a rally at Civic Center Park with more than 1 million attendees.

Life After The Super Bowl

After a season that saw him sidelined for multiple games due to injury and ineffectiveness, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning had an important decision to make -- stay or retire. Manning took his time, spending several weeks on his decision, finally formally announcing it on March 7.

Peyton Manning Retires
Quarterback Peyton Manning addresses the media as he announces his retirement from the NFL at Broncos headquarters on March 7, 2016. (credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

When he retired, he held a "few" NFL records including
passing touchdowns (539), career passing yards (71,940) and most passing touchdowns in a season (55).

Filling Peyton's Cleats

With Manning's decision, the expectation was backup Brock Osweiler would move into the starting position permanently. Not so much.

Brock Osweiler
Brock Osweiler on March 10 (credit: CBS)

Osweiler shocked many fans by signing a long-term, big bucks deal with the Houston Texans, leaving the Broncos quarterback position wide open.

Paxton Lynch Mark Sanchez Trevor Siemian
Paxton Lynch (left), Mark Sanchez (center) and Trevor Siemian (right) (credit: CBS)

The team traded for Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez and drafted Paxton Lynch. Plus they already had 2015's third string quarterback Trevor Siemian on the roster. After working hard both in training camp and in preseason games, Siemian got the job, Lynch got the backup gig and Sanchez moved on.

Denver Broncos v New Orleans Saints
Trevor Siemian of the Denver Broncos throws a pass during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Nov. 13, 2016. The Broncos defeated the Saints 25-23. (credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

So far, Siemian has a 7-5 record as a starter and Lynch has gone 1-1 in the two games he's started.

The Case Of The Stolen Super Bowl Ring

Demarcus Ware was actually sidelined during the Broncos Monday Night Football game on Oct. 24. But while he was watching his teammates from the sidelines in Denver, someone broke into his home and stole his SB50 ring.

ring
(credit: DeMarcus Ware/Twitter)

Police released images and video recorded by Ware's surveillance cameras and Broncos fans quickly responded. It didn't take long for a pawn shop owner to recognize one of the people in the images and call police, leading to the arrests of the suspects.

About That Stadium Name...

After the retail sporting goods chain Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy, it threw the future of the name of the stadium where the Broncos play into doubt. First those rights went on the auction block but no company purchased them. Eventually the team spent $3.6 million to take over the naming rights.

Broncos-Patriots
(credit: CBS)

In November, the team hired the entertainment company WME/IMG to facilitate that process. As the end of the year approaches, Sports Authority signage remains on the stadium.

Taking A Knee

After a number of police shootings involving black men and concerns about how those officers were treated, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee when the National Anthem was played before a preseason game. Then, for the regular season opener on Sept. 8, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a former college teammate of Kaepernick's, followed suit.

Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall takes a knee during the National Anthem before the Broncos home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 18, 2016. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

After the game Marshall told reporters he wasn't against police or America, he was just against social injustice. Marshall's kneeling continued through several more games.

Raetta Holdman is a veteran newscast producer. She's been with CBS4 for more than 25 years, coordinating events -- large and small -- from the control room. Contact her by clicking here.

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