Vernon Davis hopes to play a role in Super Bowl with …media.denverbroncos.com/images/9008/Feature Clippings/Davis_Vernon.pdfVernon Davis hopes to play a role in Super Bowl with Broncos

Vernon Davis hopes to play a role in Super Bowl with Broncos By Janie McCauley Associated Press February 2, 2016 Vernon Davis got to sleep at home for a night in the Bay Area, stay in the same hotel where he lived during 49ers training camp last summer, and the equipment staff even promised him his old locker at Levi's Stadium this weekend. No matter that he might play a bit part in this Super Bowl for the Denver Broncos, Davis is back where he has made a home for more than a decade and ready to win a championship ring after coming up just short three years ago with San Francisco. It just so happened he arrived Sunday for Super Bowl week on his 32nd birthday, too. "It hasn't been that long since I left here, so it kind of seems like I was just here," said Davis, who was traded from the 49ers to the Broncos on Nov. 2. "I'll look around a little bit and get a gauge on things and I'll come to the realization that I'm actually playing in the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium." The veteran tight end has had discussions with many a teammate already on the importance that they "just stay together, just stay in this moment, and don't get caught up on the outside because the moment you do there's a lot of risk." Davis didn't even have plans to stop by the Jamba Juice store he owns. He would love nothing more than to leave his mark on this Super Bowl, somehow. Even if he has played all of 11 snaps this postseason with one target and no catches. "You haven't seen me but there's a chance that you could see me," he said. "I don't know. I'm all about faith, anything could happen just like that. The moment it does, I have to take advantage of my opportunities. They will come. ... I'm a patient guy and I'm ready whenever the opportunity presents itself." Davis' short time in the offense — and playing with two different quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and backup Brock Osweiler — made for a challenging transition to his new team. According to Football Perspective, Davis is one of just four players to have competed in home games on the Super Bowl field during the regular season then return for the championship game with a different team. For Davis, that three-point loss to Baltimore in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season has stuck with him — just as it has for many of his former 49ers teammates. "It just weighs heavy on you when you make it to the Super Bowl and you can't pull off the victory," Davis said. "It's not a good feeling at all. I stressed that to some of my teammates, I wanted to make them aware of what it can feel like if things didn't go our way — just give them that fire and that motivation."

He has watched Manning so intently the past couple of months to learn whatever he can from the five-time NFL MVP, noting, "I even picked the seat beside him in the team meeting room just to get his energy." Davis matched his career high with 13 touchdown receptions in 2013, and believes he can still be that dominant again. He has had tough stretches before when he didn't get as many chances as he'd like. When someone suggested that Sunday might be his final game, Davis chuckled, "Oh, come on, man, no way, no way." "As long as I can run a 4.3 or a 4.4 I'm going to continue to play the game. When that leaves, then I'll stop playing," said Davis, who is still running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash. "I'm leaving on my own terms, most definitely." Davis' experience in big games and athleticism is a big reason Denver acquired him. "He's brought that," general manager John Elway said. "Obviously, the play time's been up and down, but he's made some big catches for us. He came in in a short window, too, so trying to get him comfortable with the offense, what we're doing, and also it was right around the time that Brock started and came in. He's always there, he's always a threat and the defense always has to worry about him." Davis has been providing his share of insight already about how it felt to come so close and lose on the NFL's biggest stage. His versatility also has allowed the Broncos to run more two- and three-tight end sets. "Vernon's a heck of a player. We came in together '06 class, so 10 years in the game for him," Broncos tight end Owen Daniels said. "A ton of playoff experience, Super Bowl experience, that can't be overlooked in terms of being able to relay that to guys and kind of alert us to what might be going on during the week. He lives around the corner from here. He's great for this week specifically. He's been a great addition to our team."

Vernon Davis ready for his homecoming By Paul Gutierrez ESPN.com February 2, 2016 This used to be Vernon Davis' playground. In a kinda, sorta way that makes Madonna’s early-1990’s hit ring in your ears. But if there’s no crying in baseball, what about football? Davis, the former San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl tight end who became an afterthought in Santa Clara enough to be traded mid-season to the Denver Broncos, was not shedding any tears at his lot. Rather, Davis, who turned 32 on Sunday, was being realistic while trying to keep a positive spin on things. “It’s been tough,” Davis said on the floor of the SAP Center Monday during Super Bowl week’s opening night media festivities. “It’s been tough. But I know who I am and what I stand for and what I can bring to the team.” With the Niners this season, Davis, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2006 draft, caught 18 passes on 30 targets for 194 yards in six games, five starts (his last TD catch came in the 2014 season opener). In nine games with the Broncos, four starts, he had 20 catches on 28 targets for 201 yards. He played just 11 snaps combined in Denver’s playoff victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots and did not have a catch while being targeted once. Again, this used to be Davis’ playground, the postseason, where he had 27 receptions for 700 yards and five TD catches for the 49ers, including the clutch game winner against the New Orleans Saints in the 2011 playoffs. “I always see myself having big games,” he said. And Levi’s Stadium, obviously, was Davis’ home … even if he never caught a TD pass there. “I’ll continue to do everything I’ve been doing,” he said. “Getting out there early, catching extra passes, running extra sprints. “When you have adversity of obstacle for moment, it always gets good again. Always.”

Denver Broncos' Vernon Davis likes his shot at a Super Bowl title in return to Levi's Stadium By Cam Inman San Jose Mercury News February 1, 2016 Vernon Davis couldn't deny the irony of his return to the Bay Area. The former 49ers tight end called it "very ironic" that he'll return to Levi's Stadium on Sunday, and he's even asked to suit up in his old locker, seeing how his Denver Broncos will set up in the 49ers' quarters. The Broncos are staying in the same Santa Clara hotel the 49ers -- and Davis -- bunkered in for training camp. But Davis believes he has a better shot of winning the Super Bowl on Sunday than he did three years ago with the 49ers, who traded him to the Broncos on Nov. 2. "When we went to the Super Bowl three years ago, we had a phenomenal team, phenomenal team," Davis said Monday night. "But this team I'm on right now ... I stand on the sideline and watch these guys, and these guys are really good, man. They're really good and very confident." The Broncos' quest for the Lombardi Trophy and their camaraderie has blown Davis away heading into Sunday's Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium, the 49ers' home field where Davis once roamed. In comparing these Broncos to the 2012 49ers, Davis added: "We had really good synergy, a lot of good players, and we were confident. I just see a difference. Everyone hangs out together. We have dinners on a weekly basis. It's like a real family, man. I couldn't fathom it when I got here." What also caught Davis off-guard the past three months was the Broncos constantly focused on the Super Bowl. "In the mornings I walk into the locker room and these guys are talking about a championship," Davis said. "I've never seen it before." The 49ers lost a Super Bowl for the first time in their history when the Baltimore Ravens prevailed 34-31 in New Orleans. Davis had six catches for 104 yards that game, and he had five receptions for 106 yards in the NFC Championship game at Atlanta. Those big outputs in back-to-back games came after Davis had vanished from the 49ers offense (seven catches in the previous seven games). That history gives Davis encouragement that he could resurface in the Broncos offense in Super Bowl 50. "Vernon was a great addition," Broncos tight end Owen Daniels said. "We wanted to do more two- , three-tight end sets. So having him and his athleticism really helped us out a ton." In Denver's two playoff wins, Davis totaled only 11 snaps, one target and no receptions. After a seven-catch, 74-yard outing against the Raiders, Davis had only one catch in the final three regular-season games.

"It's just all on my understanding of the playbook," Davis said. "I played with Brock (Osweiler) and Peyton (Manning) got back. He's more complex than Brock. It just takes time. "I've got a great relationship with Peyton. We talk all the time and we text. He's like the best person I've ever met in my life. He's just the nicest guy and just a leader. I've learned things from him with my short time in Denver. He's awesome." Davis also spoke highly of his former quarterback on the 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, even though he reportedly condemned his play in a 49ers team meeting earlier in the season. Davis believes Kaepernick will rebound well by being a good fit for new coach Chip Kelly's system. "I strongly believe in Colin Kaepernick," Davis added. "I think he's going to come back and have a dynamic season. I say that because I know him. He's tough, he has a strong mindset and he wants to be really, really good. I know and strongly believe he will come back and turn things around." Davis turned 32 on Sunday, and although he's slated to become a free agent, he isn't ready to retire, not when he says he can still run the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. "I'm leaving on my own terms," Davis said. This Sunday? "Oh come on -- no way, no way."

Vernon Davis makes surreal return to Bay Area on his birthday to begin Super Bowl trip By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com January 31, 2016 As the Broncos finished the final leg of their travel to Santa Clara, the five-bus convoy made its final turn to arrive at their hotel and in doing so, passed a small group of fans. A few of them had signs, but the most eye-catching one simply read "Welcome home, Vernon!" For tight end Vernon Davis, who spent the entirety of his career in San Francisco before coming to Denver in a midseason trade, the trip back to the Bay Area was an emotional one, and it came on the day of his 32nd birthday, no less. "At first it seemed surreal, and I just had to gather myself for a moment and just think about the opportunity that I have here," Davis said. "It's an amazing opportunity, it's going to be a great experience—I can feel it—and I'm just very, very thankful that I had a chance to get traded to Denver for this particular reason." It was in the aftermath of the Broncos' AFC Championship victory over New England a week ago that Davis first realized that he would be returning to the area where his professional football career began, and the opportunity to reach the sport's pinnacle here is something he relishes. "It couldn't get any better than that," Davis said on Thursday. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm very pleased, thankful and excited all at the same time for the opportunity to go in and experience this year's Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium." San Francisco and the Bay Area hold a special place in Davis' heart for personal and professional reasons. It's where he flourished on the field and off it, cultivating meaningful relationships inside the team and in the community that supported him for 10 years. "I think my tenure here as a 49er, it was great. It was a great journey for me, a great experience," Davis said. "I had an opportunity to just cultivate the relationships with my teammates, the coaches during my stay here. And I gave everything that I had, every ounce of my body and just gave it all. I gave it all to the fans, to the organization, the community, and I feel like I didn't leave anything behind." But that path led him to Denver when the Broncos were searching for a valuable addition to their tight end corps, and ultimately that has led him back to San Francisco for another shot at a Super Bowl, his second after the 49ers' loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. "It's very special, because before I left here, I knew it was for a reason," Davis said. "There had to have been a purpose for me going to Denver, and I just kept that faith and that belief and I knew that it had to be something good that would come out of it. We're back here and it's just like I imagined: We're in the Super Bowl."

Vernon Davis ready, if called upon, for Broncos game By Mike Klis 9 News January 22, 2016 It’s OK to count out Denver Broncos tight end Vernon Davis. Because he hasn’t. The tight end who became forgotten almost as soon as he was introduced has been working extra after the practice this week. He worked extra after practice last week, too. And the week before that. “This is something that I’ve been doing since I got in the NFL,’’ Davis said. “Despite what goes on, whether I’m in the game or not in the game, I still have to be prepared. My approach is to go out there and have a great game. That’s my mindset. I’ve been doing it every week since I’ve been here.’’ The difference this week is it was Peyton Manning who threw passes to him following practice Thursday. Does that mean Davis will be the Broncos’ non-so-secret weapon against the New England Patriots? Not necessarily. Jordan Taylor is Manning’s favorite private receiver but the rookie from Rice and Sherman, Texas hasn’t played yet on account he can’t. Practice squad members aren’t eligible. After Davis was acquired from San Francisco for a late-round draft pick on Nov. 2, he had six catches for 68 yards in a game three weeks later at Chicago, and seven catches for 74 yards on Dec. 13 against Oakland. But since he short-armed a ball thrown across the middle by Brock Osweiler in a Dec. 20 game at Pittsburgh, Davis got in for just 13 offensive plays, and had no catches, in the Broncos’ next three games, including the playoff rematch last week against the Steelers. “I know I had a ball I could have made but didn’t reach out for,’’ Davis said. “Let it go.’’ As for Taylor, he’s worthy of becoming an exception to the rule that practice squad players are not entitled to playoff shares. Bronco players for now will receive an extra $71,000 in playoff money ($25,000 for Division round; $46,000 for Conference Championship). Taylor is only receiving his $6,600 weekly playoff salary. After a private throwing session with Taylor two days prior to the Broncos’ game against Cincinnati on Dec. 28, Manning mentioned Taylor and his nickname, “Sunshine” and said, “remember that name next year.’’ “I hope he can tell what’s coming,’’ Taylor said while flashing his face-brightening grin. “I didn’t hear it initially but he came up to me after the game ... and said, “Hey, I gave you a shout out out there,’’ Taylor said. “I said, ‘Hey, appreciate it.’ My parents, they were watching the game, and people from my hometown, it was a pretty big deal to them. Initially when he asked me to come out there with him to get some extra throws with him when he was first injured, I was happy to jump out there and do whatever he wanted me to do. We got four weeks into it eventually. It was great to see him progress day by day and week by week and then see him get back out there.”

Vernon Davis working hard for return to larger role By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com January 21, 2016 Patience didn't always come easy for Vernon Davis, and as the Broncos prepare for what could be their final or penultimate game of the season, he has needed it now more than perhaps ever before in his career. After arriving in Denver in a midseason trade, Davis had to put his mind to quick use to learn a new offense. After playing nine snaps in his first game as a Bronco against Indianapolis in Week 9, he gradually became active, playing between 34 and 61 snaps in each of the following six games. But in the three weeks following Week 15's loss to Pittsburgh, Davis has played just 12 total snaps (five against Cincinnati, six against San Diego and one against the Steelers in the Divisional Round). "I started off playing a lot when I first got here, as you guys know," Davis said. "Then all of a sudden, they started adding more plays and the playbook started getting bigger, and it's just been tough on me." Davis has been in his fair share of big moments for the Broncos already, though with varying success. He was an essential part of the Denver's road victory over the Bears in quarterback Brock Osweiler's first NFL start in the wake of Peyton Manning stepping back to recover from a torn plantar fascia. Davis had six receptions for 68 yards, and of those six catches, five were for first downs. However, on the other side of that coin, Davis had untimely drops in losses to Oakland and Pittsburgh that could have extended key drives late in those games. "If you're out there [and] you don't really know what you're doing, you're going to be thinking, and not only that — you limit yourself," Davis said. "There's only so many places or positions [Head] Coach [Gary Kubiak] can place you because you don't know everything. This offense, it's a complex offense. It's not easy; it takes time." The 10-year veteran said he's had difficulty adjusting to learning the offense on the fly during the season, and in that process—which also included two quarterback changes—his role has lessened recently. "He’s been a real pro, obviously, the last few weeks. He hasn’t been as involved as he was a couple of other times during the year," Kubiak said. "I’m proud of Vernon. We’ve asked a lot of him. He came in here, learned a new system. He was working with Brock for a few weeks [and] now he’s working with Peyton, so there’s been some adjustments there, but he’s fine. He’s working hard. He’s ready to go and I expect him to help us out." Early expectations for Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler, were high as he joined a then-undefeated 7-0 Broncos team, and he was among those expecting big things. "Coming here, I expected myself to jump right in and be Superman, but it's not happened like that. And I'm sure everyone else expected me to do the same thing, but, unfortunately, everything doesn't go the way we plan to," he said. Davis says he still envisions that he'll be a part of helping the team win in the playoffs, just as he did previously with San Francisco, with whom he set an NFL record for touchdown receptions by a tight end

(broken by New England's Rob Gronkowski a week ago against Kansas City). And so his patience is keeping him balanced as he prepares for when he is called upon in the game. "We have to be patient and we have to know that no matter what goes on in our life, when there's adversity and when things don't seem to work, you have to continue to fight and keep working even harder, and that's one thing I learned along my career. That's when you're supposed to work even harder, and that's what I've been doing. I've been studying and catching extra balls and just taking it to that next level, because you never know when your time is going to come."

Vernon Davis takes ownership of mistakes with Broncos, determined to stop the drops By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post December 25, 2015 It's easy to play the blame game. Broncos tight end Vernon Davis had plenty of choices to shift the cause for his recent drops on someone or something else. He could have blamed the team's ever-evolving starting quarterback situation or playing in frigid temperatures on a regular basis for the first time since college as distractions. Instead, Davis has taken ownership of his struggles and their effect on Denver's two-game losing streak. "I'm thinking about the actual play rather than taking care of my assignment," Davis said. "Sometimes it shows, maybe when I drop a ball or something. I'm steady thinking about the process instead of focusing on the outcome." Football is played with energy and emotion. That part of the game is what Davis believes he is lacking. Last weekend at Pittsburgh, the Broncos had the ball deep in their territory tied 27-27 midway through the fourth quarter. On a third-and-16 play, quarterback Brock Osweiler hit Davis down the left seam for what would have been a first down against the Steelers. The pass hit Davis in the hands before plopping to the ground. The Broncos ended up losing 34-27. The week before, during a home game against the Oakland Raiders, Davis dropped a pass late in the fourth quarter that would have put the Broncos just outside of range of a score-tying field goal. Instead, they punted and ended up losing 15-12. "Vernon has been here six weeks, seven weeks as a player, so that's a lot to ask him of the role we've put him in," said Denver coach Gary Kubiak. "He's made a lot of plays. I know he'd like to have a couple back, but he's not the only guy on the team." Since coming to the Broncos from the San Francisco 49ers in Nov. 2 trade, Davis has been playing catch-up. For the first 9½ seasons of his NFL career, Davis played for one team — San Francisco. He played for four head coaches, mostly defensive minds, but each year he had an entire offseason to get comfortable with changes. According to Davis, the playbook and comfort in the system has been his toughest adjustment since joining the Broncos. "A lot of stuff around here, like the plays, it's still an ongoing battle," he said. "I got the logistics and I got the basics, but every time I turn around they are adding different things — especially on Fridays." Knowing the Denver playbook is different from being comfortable in the system. It could also explain drops by some of Davis' teammates — including wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who missed a lot of offseason work because of contract negotiations.

It hasn't been all bad for Davis. After all, he's playing for a 10-4 team. But the NFL is a "What have you done for me lately?" league. The frustrating drops stand out. Kubiak said Davis, Thomas and other receivers have been getting more work catching passes from the Jugs machine during and after practices. The coaching staff is focusing on encouragement to stop the drops. Davis spent his first Christmas off since joining the NFL with his family, and he believes relaxing will help him get back into a rhythm on the field. The Maryland product, who has NFL career totals of 461 catches for 5,841 yards and 55 touchdowns, said he always bounced back whenever he struggled or had bouts with drops while with the 49ers. He plans to do the same with the Broncos. "It's been tough. I'm not going to lie to you, it's been tough," Davis said. "Whenever you run into things that might be a struggle or don't go your way, it's just an obstacle. The best players and greatest players, they keep on going."

Vernon Davis developing speedy chemistry with Brock Osweiler By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post November 27, 2015 Vernon Davis arrived in Denver like an 8-year-old on Christmas morning, eager with anticipation at taking the next step in his career. He was going to catch passes from Peyton Manning, a dream of his since college. Except it hasn't quite happened like that. Davis hasn't caught a pass from Manning in three games with his new team. Instead, the veteran tight end has developed impeccable rhythm with quarterback Brock Osweiler, who was thrust into the starting lineup last Sunday at Chicago with Manning sidelined because of foot and rib injuries. When Davis first arrived from San Francisco he spent a lot of time working with the second team as he got acclimated to a new offense, one much different than the 49ers ran. He caught his first pass as a Bronco from Osweiler in a blowout loss against Kansas City two weeks ago. But perhaps the most important first catch came in practice a week earlier on a pass delivered by Osweiler. "It was a corner route and it was perfect," Davis said. "He said, 'Good route Vernon.' " That might be why Osweiler and Davis, who have played together only two weeks, are already in sync. Osweiler targeted Davis six times in the Broncos' 17-15 win last Sunday at Chicago, all of them catches for a total of 68 yards. "Sometimes it takes awhile to get on the same page and develop that chemistry with a quarterback," Davis said. "But with this guy, it's like we connected from Day One." When the Broncos acquired Davis via trade, everything was peachy. He was leaving a 2-6 team that was in turmoil and ready to bench its starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, to join a 7-0 Broncos team coming off their best win of the season, a 29-10 drubbing of the Packers. Then things started to go south. The Broncos lost consecutive games and lost Manning to injury. Plus, Davis wasn't getting a lot of snaps as he adjusted to a new offense. "Everything that is difficult turns out to be really good," said Davis, who had played every snap of his career in San Francisco after being drafted sixth overall in 2006. "That's the beauty of being here and I saw it right away. I was like, 'Wow, I dreamed of being in a place like this, a system, a coach who understands talent.' " He wasn't afraid of the timeshare, either. Tight end Owen Daniels began to play his best football upon Davis' arrival, but the two agreed early on that there would be enough passes to go around, especially with a coach such as Kubiak who likes to emphasis passing to the tight end.

"That's what I'm used to in my career in Coach Kubiak's offense — a lot of two-tight end, three-tight end sets," Daniels said. "That's why it's been so fun to play in this offense with him. I'm just hoping we continue to do more of it." Denver struggled to fill the gaping hole left by the departure of tight end Julius Thomas in the offseason. That's a big part of the reason general manager John Elway traded for Davis. Daniels and Davis were the Broncos' leading receivers against Chicago, providing the weapons Osweiler desperately needed with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders out because of an injury. Davis believes the best is yet to come. Chemistry, trust and timing should only get better with practice.

One incomplete pass showed potential of Vernon Davis' impact on Broncos By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 10, 2015 The Denver Broncos called one pass play to Vernon Davis on Sunday. In a perfect world, it would have resulted in the kind of scoring play the Broncos hoped for when they made the trade for Davis last week. The Broncos decided the price was right and added Davis to an offense that needs him for the postseason. And they plotted, schemed and drew on the proverbial drawing board in the hopes of using Davis plenty against the Colts. They even added a three-wide receiver, two-tight end formation to the offensive mix -- with no running back -- and utilized it twice against the Colts. “He needs to play more and he will,’’ said Broncos coach Gary Kubiak. “We had him involved early in the game.’’ And with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, one of the plays the Broncos had so carefully drawn up last week -- Davis out wide in single coverage against a safety the team believed he could run past -- was there for the taking. At the snap, he sprinted past Indianapolis safety Colt Anderson and was free up the right sideline. All quarterback Peyton Manning had to do was get the ball from point A to point B. Anderson, however, hooked Davis’ left arm, which prevented him from getting to the ball on what would have been a touchdown reception. Instead, Manning's pass bounced across the turf for an incompletion. It was the only time the Broncos threw the ball to Davis, as he played nine snaps overall in the 27-24 loss. “I spent most of my time on the sideline watching O.D. (Owen Daniels), (Virgil Green) and those guys,’’ Davis said. “I was just continuing to learn, just feed myself the game plan and get everything down so that I can go out there, be comfortable and just play ball. That's what it's about.’’ Still, this formation isn't going anywhere since Kubiak has spoken many times about the importance of working out of a two-tight end set. He believes it makes defenses more predictable, gives the Broncos additional options in pass protection and adds some bulk to the run game. The Broncos believe Davis’ speed, which he displayed on the incomplete pass, will potentially force defenses to pull a defender or two out of the middle of the field to cover him, depending on where the Broncos put him in the formation. “The ball didn't come his way due to coverage or whatever took place, but we were trying to get him the ball,’’ Kubiak said. “We got a matchup that we wanted one time that we had worked all week -- getting

him on a go route on the safety -- that we missed ... There was a conscious effort to try to get him the football.’’ Part of the issue Sunday was the Broncos found themselves behind midway through the second quarter, 17-0, and as a result, they went to more of a no-huddle approach. That limited Davis’ ability to make plays because Manning does so much at the line of scrimmage with the play calls. Davis had only practiced with the team three times before the Colts game, so his ability to work out of the no-huddle set was limited. “Coach told me prior to the game that I would be limited so that I could get comfortable with everything in the system,’’ Davis said. “I agreed. I said, 'Yeah. I'm with you 100 percent. I think that I need to get everything so that, when I go out there, I can be on the same page as Peyton. I don't have to worry about asking questions; I can just go and play.'“ Daniels finished the game with 102 yards on six catches and one touchdown -- it was his first game with Denver where he had more than 50 yards receiving -- and Kubiak believes there are more games like that in the future for Daniels and Davis. “No doubt,’’ Kubiak said. “Vernon is going to have an impact for us.’’

Vernon Davis spends Broncos debut watching Owen Daniels By Mike Klis 9 News November 8, 2015 Vernon Davis might as well take his time learning the playbook. Owen Daniels has got this. Funny how it works. Last week against Green Bay, Denver Broncos' running back C.J. Anderson got demoted from starter and he broke off his first, 100-yard rushing game of the season. This week, the Broncos acquired Davis from the San Francisco 49ers to upgrade their tight end receiving options and Daniels, the current top tight end receiving option, had his first 100-yard receiving game in the Broncos' 27-24 loss here to the Indianapolis Colts. Daniels had six catches for 102 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown. "I don't care about all that," Daniels said. "I have never won here. We're (0-10) here. It was nice to get a few more opportunities. It was good to get involved. But I'd trade all that for a win.'' From 2006-13, Daniels and his head coach Gary Kubiak were with the Houston Texans, who went 0-8 against the Colts in Indianapolis (Kubiak was fired before the Texans' game here in 2013). Daniels and Kubiak were with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 and lost here, 20-13. Kubiak was the Ravens' offensive coordinator. And now with Kubiak head coaching again for the Broncos, the result remained the same in Indy. Davis only got in for about six or so plays. He wasn't supposed to play much because after joining the Broncos on Tuesday, there wasn't enough time to learn the playbook. "It is a tough playbook," he said. "It's tough. I mean you can learn the bulk of it but there's still things like, say this is the play. OK, you've got the play but then what about when he changes the play or he signals to you? I got the bulk of it now I have to get the other things." Davis might have played more but after the Broncos got down big early, they had to start playing fast and they couldn't wait on a player who was unsure about his assignments. He did seem to have his man beat on a sideline-and-go route in the second quarter but the defender held back Davis' arm. There was no penalty. So Davis' first game for the Broncos went for zero catches and zero yards. "We'll get other opportunities," Davis said. "I'm excited. I can't wait to get out there snap after snap. Getting opportunities and helping this team win. I just want to help them win."

Vernon Davis “watching and learning” in Broncos’ first loss of season By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post November 8, 2015 Vernon Davis arrived at the Broncos’ training facility Tuesday elated to be on a Peyton Manning-led team — one that two days earlier defeated the Packers and one that also boasted the league’s top overall defense. The excitement was tempered after his debut with his team, a 27-24 loss to the Colts. Davis’ snaps were limited, as expected, after only three full days of practice with the Broncos. He was targeted only once and had zero receptions in the loss, while fellow tight end Owen Daniels caught six of nine targets for 102 yards and a game-tying, 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the loss, though hardly pleasant, had its value to Davis. “I was just absorbing it all in, watching some of my teammates, Owen Daniels and Virgil (Green),” Davis said afterward. “Watching those guys and learning from them as I continue to move forward.” Davis said he entered the game knowing “a bulk” of the Broncos’ playbook after less than a week with the team. “There’s still more that I need to know, in order to get out there and be able play fast,” he said. “You know how it is when you’re thinking. You can’t play fast. You’re worried about this, you’re worried about that, your mind’s not free. So I just got to keep attacking it, keep getting better and better.” Although Davis hopes to take what he observed and in apply it in future practices, future game days, he isn’t one to dwell. Moving on from the first loss of the season, he said, requires letting go. “It happens,” he said. “You can’t dwell on the. You just have to move forward and get ready for the next one.”

For Vernon Davis, dreams really do come true By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com November 4, 2015 Wednesday was Vernon Davis' first day in a Broncos uniform. The No. 80 jersey on his torso, the mid-autumn nip in the air, a new blue helmet on his head ... for the 10-year veteran tight end, it all felt real -- as real as it gets. But then Davis would turn to see Peyton Manning in the No. 18 jersey, and all of a sudden, the reality of a Wednesday practice gave way to surreality. "Peyton is one of those guys that every wide receiver dreams about having. I've been dreaming about Peyton since I left college," Davis said after concluding his first practice in at the UCHealth Training Center. Sometimes dreams do come true. "I don't know if [Manning] knows, but I've been dreaming about this guy," Davis said. "Where I came from, I just had to accept what I had. Not knocking those guys -- Colin [Kaepernick] and Alex [Smith] were really good. They were good at their craft. "They were good quarterbacks, but we're talking about Peyton Manning. It's a whole other level. We all know that, so it's a bit overwhelming, but once I get out there, get going and get used to the way that he's doing things it'll be all good." Denver and the chance to catch passes from a Hall of Famer at the cusp of setting two more league records is a dream. But it's not perfect, and Davis admits that he will "miss everything about being a Niner." However, he doesn't miss where the team stands now. Just 22 months removed from their third consecutive NFC Championship Game appearance, the 49ers are in free-fall, having lost six of their previous seven games leading up to this week's change from Kaepernick to journeyman Blaine Gabbert. The 49ers' descent started last year, when the 49ers limped home with an 8-8 finish that included a 42-17 Sunday Night Football throttling in Denver. And it wasn't a coincidence that Davis' production dipped last year, as well, with his lowest totals in receptions (26), yards (245) and touchdowns (two) since 2008. Davis' 2014 decline was stunning, given that in 2013 he matched his career high with 13 touchdown catches, scoring once every four receptions. “Everyone is asking that question: 'Where did I go?' If you look at San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off," Davis said, referring to 2014. "What happened with the team? They started to fall all in. There were so many things going on, so much turmoil. No one really excelled. No one really had success. As a team, we didn't have success. "If the team's not having success, the chances are that I'm not going to have success. That's what it is."

But these Broncos are 7-0 and coming off their most comprehensive performance of the season. The passing, rushing and play-action attacks worked in perfect cohesion, matching the league-leading performance of the defense. Although Davis, will need a little time to get adjusted to the offense and Manning and to settle into a role among the Broncos' collection of tight ends, this appears to be an environment that will bring out Davis' best. "To be here -- I can feel the energy. There are so many leaders on this team," Davis said. "That's what it takes. It takes that. You have to have leaders and guys that are willing to come out, work hard and just get better. Even in the locker room, everyone is extremely nice. "Everyone's together. The synergy is there. It's all there and you can feel it. The first day I walked in, I was like, 'Wow. I can feel it,' and when I got here, no one was even here. I could just feel the environment. It's just a beautiful thing. I'm ecstatic to be here today. Hopefully, I can remain here." That's a possibility to which Executive Vice President/General Manager John Elway is open. "We get a chance to know him these final nine or 10 weeks this year, and maybe he's back next year. Who knows? We'll see what we've got," Elway said. "We still think he's got a lot of football left in him -- not only this year -- whether it's here or somewhere else. We'll visit that and see what happens." For now, Davis will enjoy the moment, as his dream becomes reality -- which he hopes brings him closer to another dream, that of his first world championship. "I've never played in an offense like this before," Davis said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I know it's going to be damn good. I know that it's going to be good. I can feel it."

Broncos welcome Vernon Davis to the mix By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press November 4, 2015 Vernon Davis may need a GPS to get around Denver for a while. He's already found what was missing in his beloved San Francisco in his first full day of practices and meetings with the unbeaten Broncos on Wednesday. After getting in some extra work with Peyton Manning, the two-time Pro Bowl tight end said he felt the "energy" and "synergy" that he hadn't felt since the 49ers reached the Super Bowl following the 2012 season. "Last time I felt that energy was when we were winning those games," Davis said. "... Right now, I feel like we have that. I've never played with Peyton. I've never played in an offense like this before. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know it's going to be damn good." The Broncos (7-0) acquired Davis from the Niners (2-6) in a low-risk trade for late-round draft picks Monday. They're trying to get him up to speed so that he can play Sunday at Indianapolis — against his brother, Colts cornerback Vontae Davis. "It will be pretty cool to have my whole family come and see me compete against my brother, but this game isn't really about me and my brother. It's bigger than that," the tight end said. "It's about winning a game and just adding to what these guys have accomplished here before I arrived." Davis spent his first 9 1-2 seasons in San Francisco, where he's the career leader at his position in catches, yards and touchdowns. Asked why he went from catching 13 TD passes in 2013 to two last year and none this season, Davis said: "Everyone is asking that question, where did I go? Where did I go? Where did I go? If you look at San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off. What happened with the team? They started to fall all in. There were so many things going on, so much turmoil. No one really excelled. No one really had success. "As a team, we didn't have success. If the team's not having success, the chances are that I'm not going to have success. That's what it is," Davis said. "Look at them now. They've only won two games. It's hard and it's tough to be able to play with a team where you just don't have everything that you need." Davis said he was surprised when 49ers GM Trent Baalke asked to see him Monday and told him of Denver's interest. "I was like, 'Wow, Denver? Really? That'd be an amazing place to go to, I mean Peyton Manning's there. Are you kidding me?'" Davis recounted. "It was a very emotional day for me during that time, telling everyone goodbye and my teammates, seeing them for the last time." Working with Manning, Davis said, was "kind of overwhelming. Peyton is one of those guys that every wide receiver dreams about having. I've been dreaming about Peyton since I left college." That's not something he told Manning on their first day together.

"Where I came from, I just had to accept what I had," Davis said. "Not knocking those guys. Colin (Kaepernick) and Alex (Smith) were really good. They were good at their craft. They were good quarterbacks, but we're talking about Peyton Manning. It's a whole other level." With Davis on hand, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak finally has a full contingent to run the kind of multiple tight end sets that he prefers. He went into a game at Cleveland last month with just two tight ends in Virgil Green and Owen Daniels and only Green came out of that game healthy. The Broncos added beefy blocker Richard Gordon to the mix. His presence, along with a healthier O-line coming off the bye week, showed up in Denver's 29-10 win over Green Bay on Sunday night when the tight ends topped 100 yards on a half-dozen receptions. And now they have a speedy playmaker who can really stretch the middle of the field. "We have a good group now," Kubiak said. "We have a good group to work with and a lot more options to work with." For a tight end, Davis said Denver is nirvana. "Last night, I was just lying in my bed and I just couldn't sleep," he said. "I was like, 'I'm here in Denver with Kubiak and Peyton. This is going to be fantastic.'"

Vernon Davis feels difference after trade from 49ers to Broncos By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 4, 2015 Vernon Davis went through his first full day of meetings and practice with his new team Wednesday and as would be expected, he found a different situation waiting for him with the 7-0 Denver Broncos than the one he left with the 2-6 San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos acquired Davis in a trade Monday after he spent nine and a half seasons with the 49ers, including the first half of this season -- though he missed two games this year with a knee injury. And while Davis said he was "very, very surprised'' he was traded, he said it didn't take long to feel the difference after he arrived at the Broncos' complex Tuesday. Davis referenced the "energy'' and the "synergy'' inside the Broncos' complex and said it was something the 49ers had in 2013 when the team advanced to the Super Bowl. "Last time I felt that energy was when we were winning those games,'' Davis said. " ... We had that winning attitude to just go out and win games.'' Davis said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke asked to see him Monday and that's when Davis found out about the chance of a trade. "GM called me and said, 'Come in' ... he sat there and said, 'Denver is very, very interested in you,' and I was like, 'Really,' but I was kind of excited at the same time,'' Davis said. "Really, that would be an amazing place to go, Peyton Manning's there, are you kidding me? But it was a very emotional day for me.'' The 49ers have had no shortage of drama over the last two seasons, including Jim Harbaugh's final season as coach, the hiring of Jim Tomsula, and the travails of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was benched this week. On multiple occasions Wednesday, Davis referred to "that environment'' with the 49ers. Davis was asked how he went from the player who caught 13 touchdown passes in 2013 to one who had two touchdown catches last season and no touchdown receptions in his six starts with the 49ers this season. "Everyone's asking that question, where did I go? Where did I go? Where did I go?'' Davis said. "San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off, what happened to the team? What happened to the team? They started to fall, there were so many things going on, so much turmoil. No one really excelled, no one really had success because the team, we didn't have success. If the team's not having success, chances are I'm not going to have success. "That's what it is, look at them now,'' Davis continued. "They've only won two games and it's hard, it's tough to play with a team where [you] just don't have everything you need. Things aren't going to happen for you. To answer your question, that's where I've been.''

Moments later Davis was asked about working with Manning, who took the tight end aside several times in Wednesday's practice as the Broncos hope to get him up to speed enough to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. "It's kind of overwhelming, Peyton he's one of those guys every wide receiver dreams about,'' Davis said. "I've been dreaming about Peyton since I left college ... I don't know if he knows it, but I've been dreaming about this guy. "Where I came from, I just had to accept what I had. Not knocking those guys, Colin and Alex [Smith], those guys were, they were really good, they were good at their craft, they were good quarterbacks. We're talking about Peyton Manning, a whole other level, we all know that, so a little overwhelming.''

Vernon Davis getting speed course on Broncos offense By Mike Klis 9 News November 4, 2015 In Vernon Davis, the Denver Broncos should be a better team in December than they are today. Are they better today? It may take Davis a while to figure out this Broncos' offense, get in sync with quarterback Peyton Manning, and understand the new gibberish involved with a new playbook. "I've never played with Peyton,'' Davis said following his first practice with his new team Wednesday. "I've never played in an offense like this before. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know it's going to be damn good. I know that it's going to be good. I can feel it.'' This isn't baseball where stars get traded at the July 31 trading deadline every year. Davis is a rare midseason hired gun in the NFL. It won't be easy for Davis to assimilate. Look at Jimmy Graham. He averaged 89 catches and 12 touchdowns his previous four years with the New Orleans Saints. Graham got traded to the Seattle Seahawks in March, had all offseason to get acclimated to the offense, and was all but invisible in their first five games. Graham started to come on three weeks ago so let's manage expectations for Davis and give him a month before he starts to become a serious threat for Manning. "It's kind of overwhelming. Peyton is one of those guys that every wide receiver dreams about having," Davis said. "I've been dreaming about Peyton since I left college." Ready or not, Davis is playing Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, whose best cornerback, Vontae Davis, is his younger brother. Manning participated in half the practice Wednesday, which is mostly a running-play day. Between plays, Manning often took Davis aside for a tutorial. The practice Thursday will be a more significant learning day for Davis as that's third-down and red zone day. Davis was acquired Monday from the San Francisco 49ers in large part to help the Broncos on third down and in the red zone. Davis had 55 touchdowns in his 9 ½ seasons with the 49ers, which ranks sixth all-time among tight ends. "His head is probably swirling a little bit trying to kind of figure out where his locker is and where the meeting rooms are, but he's been around," Manning said. "We're going to try to catch him up to speed in as short an amount of time as possible and put in him in a position to help us win some football games."

Vernon Davis reunited with Broncos strength coach who helped him set combine record By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post November 4, 2015 The memorable blur of Vernon Davis took shape in a warehouse in Tempe, Ariz., in January 2006. The University of Maryland tight end was one of many at his position that year hoping to gain notice from NFL scouts at the combine. With the help of Luke Richesson, then a trainer at Athletes Performance Institute (now EXOS), Davis packed on pounds of muscle. He developed his core and he improved his stability. He put in hours of work to add inches to his vertical leap and shed time off his 40-yard dash. The next month at Lucas Oil Stadium, where cameras and scouts homed in on the 6-foot-3, 254-pound kid with braids, Davis clocked 4.38 seconds, still the fastest time by a tight end at the combine. Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler who was acquired by the Broncos in a trade with San Francisco on Monday, has in recent seasons shown signs of a player with more than nine years of pro football wear and tear on his body. But the speed hasn't dissipated, and it's one of the many reasons Broncos general manager John Elway brought Davis to Denver, where he is reunited with Richesson and where he is expected to bolster an offense in transition. "He's always been a guy that's — maybe two or three years ago he had 13 touchdown (catches) and is a guy that can really stretch the field, has tremendous speed and athletic ability," Elway said. "He's one of those guys at tight end that really catches your eye all the time." Elway got a closer look at Davis when the Broncos hosted the 49ers in two joint practices before a preseason game this year. He saw what scouts saw in 2006, confirming that the 31-year-old could help fill a void on Denver's roster. Through the first seven games of the season, the Broncos boasted an impressive defense and a shaky offense, with production from their tight ends seemingly nonexistent. After losing tight ends Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme in free agency in March, the Broncos signed Owen Daniels and re-signed Virgil Green. They drafted the young but athletic Jeff Heuerman in the third round, but the hope of using his speed and athleticism was quickly dashed by a season-ending knee injury during minicamp. The team with no Plan B had to find one. The addition of Daniels and the blocking of Green wasn't enough — especially through the first six games of the season when the two combined for only 123 receiving yards and three touchdowns. And especially in Gary Kubiak's offense, which relies heavily on tight ends and often features two- and three-tight-end packages. "We were surviving with Owen and Virgil," Kubiak said. Then Owen gets hurt in Cleveland, so we had a little problem on our hands. If anything, (signing Davis) settles us down."

For the past two seasons, after his second 13-touchdown year in 2013, Davis's performance tailed off with the 49ers, a symptom, he says, of poor play from the team as a whole. It's been 19 games since he caught a touchdown pass. In six games this season, he's caught 18 of 30 passes targeted for him for 194 yards (10.8 avg.). But the speed, the vision of that 4.38 time flashing across the time clock at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2006, hasn't been forgotten. On Sunday, when the Broncos face the Colts at Indianapolis, Davis will return to the place where it all began, with Richesson on the sideline. "I did some great things with him," Davis said. "He helped me to prepare myself for the combine and I went out there and gave it my all. It's good to see him again and be back with him again. I know that he's going to help me continue to grow. "It feels like I'm a rookie all over again.” Davis facts An inside look at the two-time Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis, who was traded from San Francisco to Denver on Monday: — His 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2006 NFL combine still is tops among tight end prospects. — Had 13 receiving touchdown catches in both 2009, 2013 — One of his brothers is Colts cornerback Vontae Davis. — Davis majored in studio art at the University of Maryland. — He started the Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts to promote art education among disadvantaged youth. — He's passionate about acting, which he has said he hopes to pursue after football. — Davis has been the honorary captain for the U.S. curling teams in two Winter Olympics. — He's been dreaming of playing with Peyton Manning since he left college.

For Broncos tight end Vernon Davis, new team is new chance By Mark Kiszla Denver Post November 4, 2015 New Broncos tight end Vernon Davis wore the smile of a man who had escaped the darkest corner of football purgatory for the bright sunshine of Colorado. And know the best thing about his first day of work in Denver? Davis no longer was a prisoner of a hopeless situation with the San Francisco 49ers, where he had little hope of catching the football and, worse, zero shot at playing for a championship. "When you get older, it's more pressing that you win, because you know your time is running short. There's a clock. If you don't get a championship now, you might never get it," said Davis, who was discouraged in San Francisco, where he was stuck on a last-place team in the final year of his contract, and the 31-year-old tight end felt like his time to win a Super Bowl ring with the Niners had expired. "The clock was running out on me. But, now, I woke up in Denver and the clock is back on." A trade landed him in a new city, with a new uniform to wear and new offense to learn. It was all so new to Davis on Wednesday that leaving the field after his first practice with the Broncos he had to ask which door led to the locker room. We stood there, as storm clouds built over the Rocky Mountains, and what struck me first about Davis is, while his body is 250 pounds of sculpted granite, inside this 6-foot-3 frame is a soft heart screaming to be told he can be somebody in this league again. When I reminded him the Niners were the NFL's best team for a 24-month span from 2011-13, only to see their dreams of a ring dashed by incomprehensible turnovers in the conference title game one year and a drive that stalled in the red zone late in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl the next season, the eyes of Davis turned stormy with the memories of what could have been. Earlier, Davis bared a little piece of his soul when I asked where he had gone, as a two-time Pro Bowler turned nearly invisible during the Niners' recent slide from elite team to laughingstock. "Everyone is asking that question: Where did I go? ... San Francisco, look at the year when I started to drop off. What happened with the team? They started to fall, there were so many things going on, so much turmoil," said Davis, who has caught a modest 44 passes and scored only two touchdowns in the 20 games since the outset of the 2014 season. "No one really excelled. No one really had success. As a team, we didn't have success. If the team's not having success, chances are I'm not going to have success. That's what it is. Look at them now. They've won only two games. It's hard, and it's tough to be able to play with a team where you just don't have everything you need." The Niners were the only pro team Davis knew. Yet they got rid of him in his 10th season, the same as San Francisco parted ways with coach Jim Harbaugh during a messy divorce only months earlier. As

Davis got comfortable in the Denver locker room, his head spun while contemplating what qualifies as loyalty in the NFL. "Loyalty? That's a hard question. I've got to think about that one," Davis said. "Loyalty is the guy next to you on the field. I think it's your teammates, being loyal to your teammates. The organization? I mean, the organization can be loyal to you. But it's also a business. This is my first time changing teams, so I'll let you know how it goes." In a Denver offense where tight end is a favored position of coach Gary Kubiak and quarterback Peyton Manning, it won't be any trouble finding ways to employ the talents of Davis. But here's the real challenge: The spirit of Davis has been dinged, and his ego has taken hits. There was evidence he emotionally checked out while still receiving a paycheck from the Niners. He lost his heart in San Francisco. The Broncos need to help Davis fall in love with football again. Manning is the stuff of a receiver's dreams, and Davis insisted he has been dreaming about catching a pass from Manning for years. Hey, maybe that's a start. "I think right now I'm in a situation where I'm able to win, first and foremost," said Davis, who needs to shine with the Broncos for the most basic financial reason in a tough business: His contract expires at season's end, and his worth on the open market is on the line. "Not only win, but I also have a chance to make plays. If you're playing with a guy like Peyton Manning, everyone is going to make plays. It's going to happen. That's just the way it works."

John Elway explains how the Vernon Davis trade came together By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com November 2, 2015 Vernon Davis knew about the trade rumors for weeks -- "particularly to the Denver Broncos," as he said in an interview with KKFN-FM 104.3 on Monday afternoon after the Broncos and 49ers announced the trade that brought the two-time Pro Bowler to Denver. But nothing was going to happen on the trade front with any team until Davis proved that he was healthy after missing two games because of a knee injury. He'd caught eight passes for 109 yards in the two games he started and finished before being injured, so his productivity level remained high for his position. But he needed to do that again to seal any potential trade. With 10 catches for 85 yards in the 49ers' last two games, it was mission accomplished. And just over 24 hours after he finished his work in the 49ers' 27-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams, the deal was done. Davis was on his way to a new start with a championship contender after nine-plus seasons in which he became the most productive tight end in the 49ers' proud 70-season history. "That was obviously the important thing: that he was healthy," Broncos Executive Vice President and General Manager John Elway said in a one-on-one interview Monday afternoon. "He's played the last three weeks, so I think he's in good shape. "He's still a good football player, and he's got the experience and can really stretch the field and he can still really run and he really creates matchup problems for the defense. So we think he's a great addition." And the price was right in the deal. The Broncos will send their sixth-round picks in the 2016 and 2017 drafts to the 49ers, while receiving their 2016 seventh-round pick and Davis. The expected haul of compensatory picks also factored into the Broncos' consideration before making the trade. They expect to receive four compensatory picks in next year's draft for the free-agent departures of TE Julius Thomas, LG/RT Orlando Franklin, NT Terrance Knighton and safety Rahim Moore. "That all goes into the equation," Elway said. "You factor that into the compensation that you're trading. I think that he's still got a lot of football ahead of him."

Davis' contract expires after this season. The Broncos could receive a compensatory pick if he departs via unrestricted free agency next spring, and Elway said that potential pick was part of the value of the trade. However, Elway did not close the door on the idea of re-signing Davis in the upcoming offseason. "We get a chance to know him these final nine or 10 weeks this year, and maybe he's back next year. Who knows? We'll see what we've got," Elway said. "We still think he's got a lot of football left in him -- not only this year -- whether it's here or somewhere else. We'll visit that and see what happens." MAKING A MOVE AT THE DEADLINE This is the Broncos' first trading deadline deal since 2011, when they sent WR Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a fifth-round pick one day before the deadline, which at the time came the Tuesday after Week 6. A year later, the deadline was pushed back two weeks, and now sits at 2 p.m. MST on the Tuesday after Week 8. The change has spurred "a little bit more" activity, Elway said, but nothing like the other major professional sports, because of the nature of football. "Just because it's always hard with the system and the way football is set up, there's a lot more that you're running offensively and defensively and the knowledge that someone would have to have," Elway said. "Whereas basketball is a little easier, and baseball is especially easier. It's a little tougher in football. "We're still not going to see a lot going on."

Vernon Davis set up for success with Denver Broncos By Chris Wesseling NFL.com November 2, 2015 Are the Denver Broncos getting the 2013 Pro Bowl version of Vernon Davis or the tight end who disappeared from the San Francisco 49ers' offense over the past 13 months? There's plenty of reason to believe the dramatic dropoff in production is more attributable to coaching schemes, subpar quarterbacking and overall dysfunction in San Francisco rather than a sudden erosion of Davis' skills. When asked why his per-catch average plummeted from 16.3 in 2013 to 9.4 in 2014, Davis explained in June that it was "just game planning." Teammates and coaches testified at the time that an "extremely fast" Davis was stretching the field like it was 2013 in offseason practices. So why is Davis averaging just 10.8 yards per reception and 32 yards per game this season? It starts with ex-49ers starter Colin Kaepernick, who has regressed as much as any quarterback in football over the same time period as Davis' decline in production. There have been Bay Area whispers of a Kaepernick-Davis feud, which might also factor into the equation. After performing due diligence, Broncos general manager John Elway believes he's getting the freakishly athletic Davis who blazed a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine. "We just thought with the opportunity to add Vernon," Elway said Monday, "to be able to add him to our roster as a weapon on the offensive side was an opportunity that we couldn't pass up. "I have always liked Vernon ... I think two years ago he had 13 touchdown passes. He's a guy that can really stretch the field, has tremendous speed and athletic ability. He's one of those guys as a tight end that really catches your eye all the time." NFL Game Pass and advanced statistics agree. Still just 31 years old, Davis has moved as well as ever in open space this season. Per Next Gen Stats, his 21.91 mph and 20.90 are the first- and third-fastest speeds by a tight end in 2015. Peyton Manning has brought out the best in tight ends such as Marcus Pollard, Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme and Julius Thomas through his career. He's also coming off his best passing performance in a calendar year. The timing couldn't be more ripe for Davis' addition after the Broncos rushed for a season-high 160 yards and held the Packers without a sack in Week 8.

With the offensive line starting to gel and Manning finally reaching a level of comfort in Gary Kubiak's offense, Davis is set up for more success in Denver than he has enjoyed in a backsliding 49ers offense.

Broncos believe Vernon Davis can help shake things loose on offense By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 2, 2015 Through all the starts and stops, ups and downs and punts and turnovers the Denver Broncos' offense has experienced this season, coach Gary Kubiak has routinely spoken about how tight ends could help unlock touchdowns. Owen Daniels and Virgil Green combined for 105 yards receiving in the win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, offering a glimpse of that as the Broncos piled up 500 offensive yards and moved to 7-0. Denver decided to push the envelope a little more Monday afternoon when they acquired two-time Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis via trade. Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway called it “an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up." In return for Davis and a 2016 seventh-round pick, the 49ers will get the Broncos' sixth-round picks in 2016 and 2017. Since Davis is due to be an unrestricted free agent following this season, the Broncos have the potential to receive a compensatory draft pick down the road if Davis performs well and is not re-signed. It is almost a no-risk deal for the Broncos. The only mild risk is adding a new player to a locker room filled with players who already have expectations about their playing time. But Elway said the Broncos did their homework and still see the player who had 13 touchdown receptions as recently as 2013. “I think what we know of Vernon and all the stuff that we've heard of him being a leader with the [49ers] and qualities that he has as a person, I think that he's going to fit perfectly," Elway said. “That was definitely something that we worked on and was important to us." Kubiak saw the production potential from tight ends in Sunday night's offensive explosion and wants more. He has steadfastly maintained the Broncos need to be a two-tight end team more often, and they have run out of three- and four-wide receivers sets so often (they've been in three-wide at least 28 snaps in each of their games) because of necessity rather than desire. A two-tight end look could balance out the formation -- making it difficult for defenses to decide which is really the strong, or weak, side -- and add some more bulk up front, creating quality matchups against linebackers and safeties in the passing game as well as protecting Peyton Manning better. Just two of the team's 12 sacks allowed this season have come in two-tight end formations. Essentially, the Broncos see this as a win-win-win-win proposition. The work of the tight ends Sunday seemed to open up the run game, increase wide receiver Demaryius Thomas' production -- he finished with a season-best 168 yards receiving -- and keep Manning from being sacked.

“The biggest thing, and you guys notice, we played in some two-tight end stuff tonight," Kubiak said. "We played in the base offense instead of all of the three-wide and four-wide. ... We were able to expand on some of the things we were doing because of getting a third tight end on our roster [Richard Gordon]." The Broncos thought Gordon could contribute and believe Davis can help them dominate. Davis arrives to the Broncos with 18 receptions for the 2-6 49ers -- second on the team. That work is more impressive considering that the 49ers are 29th in the league in passing and tied for 30th in passing touchdowns. Manning has seven touchdown passes this season, or the same number he had in the 2013 season opener. Three of those have gone to tight ends -- two to Daniels, one to Green. The Broncos need something to stop teams from bunching defenders in the middle of the field, so they made the move for Davis less than 24 hours after they dismantled the Packers. “[Davis] will be a great addition, a big weapon for us because of the speed that he has,’" Elway said. “I think we’re always trying to get better, and if we have an opportunity to get better, if the compensation is fair ... we’re not going to mortgage the future to do it, but obviously if we can add to our football team now and feel like it makes us better, we’re going to look at opportunities like that."