BigPlayShay
11-12-2005, 11:19 AM
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4233289,00.html
Devoe will be with Broncos on Sunday
STORY TOOLS
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
November 12, 2005
ENGLEWOOD - Broncos wide receiver Todd Devoe asked that his family be given time to grieve and be "left alone" in the wake of his father's death.
Devoe informed team officials Thursday that his father had been shot and killed in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that morning. Devoe was excused from practice Thursday and had been expected to return to Florida.
But Devoe stayed in Denver on Thursday night and took part in the team meetings and practice Friday. He told the team he plans to travel with the Broncos to Oakland, Calif., today and be available to play Sunday.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Devoe would be excused next week if he wished to return home.
"I'm sure it's obviously tough for Todd," Shanahan said. "His teammates know what he's going through right now, so (they) can obviously empathize with him, his situation."
No further details were available. Devoe spoke briefly after practice Friday, asking for privacy.
"Something did happen in Fort Lauderdale and me and my family would appreciate if everyone would leave my family in Fort Lauderdale alone," Devoe said. "Let them be at peace. Stop all the calls, please. We don't need it. All the speculation about, 'He's this, He's that,' just leave it alone, please. Let my family be at peace."
There had been conflicting reports about what happened Thursday night in Florida, and an obviously shaken Devoe had told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel his father had not been murdered and that it was a "private, family matter."
Devoe, 25, attended high school in Fort Lauderdale and lives there in the off-season. He had five receptions against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 30, including a 44-yard touchdown.
CATCHING ON: One of the reasons the Raiders targeted running back LaMont Jordan in free agency was his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield.
Jordan leads the Raiders in receptions with 40 and has been a difficult matchup for linebackers and safeties. With 592 yards, he is their leading rusher.
Raiders assistant head coach/ offense Jimmy Raye was assistant coach for two seasons with the New York Jets when Jordan was Curtis Martin's backup.
"Jimmy Raye coached there with the Jets, he coached La- Mont . . . and one of the things coming out was that we thought he would be an outstanding receiver," Raiders coach Norv Turner said. "(Jordan's) gotten the comfort level with what we do, and he's done a good job of once he gets the ball, of getting it turned up and going."
LYNCH HONORED: Safety John Lynch was selected as the Broncos' nominee for the Walter Payton Award, which honors one player leaguewide each season for contributions on and off the field. The winner is announced during Super Bowl week. As the Broncos' nominee, Lynch will have $1,000 donated to the organization of his choice.
Lynch and his family are active in local charitable endeavors, including his John Lynch Foundation, which promotes leadership skills among teens.
A SELLOUT: The Broncos still bring out the crowd in Oakland. After early in the week announ- cing they had "thousands" of tickets available to the game, the Raiders said it is a sellout. Since the Raiders moved back to Oakland in 1992, they have had only 29 sellouts, and six of those have come against the Broncos.
INJURY REPORT: Devoe was added to the team's injury report Friday, listed as questionable because of "personal matters."
Wide receiver Darius Watts, with a sore right ankle, also was added to the injury report, listed as questionable. Watts was held out of some team drills.
Cornerback Champ Bailey (left hamstring) went through three practices this week, including Friday, and said he expects to be fine for the game Sunday.
Safety Sam Brandon (chest), who has been held out of the past two games, said he expected to play against the Raiders.
Devoe will be with Broncos on Sunday
STORY TOOLS
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
November 12, 2005
ENGLEWOOD - Broncos wide receiver Todd Devoe asked that his family be given time to grieve and be "left alone" in the wake of his father's death.
Devoe informed team officials Thursday that his father had been shot and killed in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that morning. Devoe was excused from practice Thursday and had been expected to return to Florida.
But Devoe stayed in Denver on Thursday night and took part in the team meetings and practice Friday. He told the team he plans to travel with the Broncos to Oakland, Calif., today and be available to play Sunday.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Devoe would be excused next week if he wished to return home.
"I'm sure it's obviously tough for Todd," Shanahan said. "His teammates know what he's going through right now, so (they) can obviously empathize with him, his situation."
No further details were available. Devoe spoke briefly after practice Friday, asking for privacy.
"Something did happen in Fort Lauderdale and me and my family would appreciate if everyone would leave my family in Fort Lauderdale alone," Devoe said. "Let them be at peace. Stop all the calls, please. We don't need it. All the speculation about, 'He's this, He's that,' just leave it alone, please. Let my family be at peace."
There had been conflicting reports about what happened Thursday night in Florida, and an obviously shaken Devoe had told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel his father had not been murdered and that it was a "private, family matter."
Devoe, 25, attended high school in Fort Lauderdale and lives there in the off-season. He had five receptions against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 30, including a 44-yard touchdown.
CATCHING ON: One of the reasons the Raiders targeted running back LaMont Jordan in free agency was his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield.
Jordan leads the Raiders in receptions with 40 and has been a difficult matchup for linebackers and safeties. With 592 yards, he is their leading rusher.
Raiders assistant head coach/ offense Jimmy Raye was assistant coach for two seasons with the New York Jets when Jordan was Curtis Martin's backup.
"Jimmy Raye coached there with the Jets, he coached La- Mont . . . and one of the things coming out was that we thought he would be an outstanding receiver," Raiders coach Norv Turner said. "(Jordan's) gotten the comfort level with what we do, and he's done a good job of once he gets the ball, of getting it turned up and going."
LYNCH HONORED: Safety John Lynch was selected as the Broncos' nominee for the Walter Payton Award, which honors one player leaguewide each season for contributions on and off the field. The winner is announced during Super Bowl week. As the Broncos' nominee, Lynch will have $1,000 donated to the organization of his choice.
Lynch and his family are active in local charitable endeavors, including his John Lynch Foundation, which promotes leadership skills among teens.
A SELLOUT: The Broncos still bring out the crowd in Oakland. After early in the week announ- cing they had "thousands" of tickets available to the game, the Raiders said it is a sellout. Since the Raiders moved back to Oakland in 1992, they have had only 29 sellouts, and six of those have come against the Broncos.
INJURY REPORT: Devoe was added to the team's injury report Friday, listed as questionable because of "personal matters."
Wide receiver Darius Watts, with a sore right ankle, also was added to the injury report, listed as questionable. Watts was held out of some team drills.
Cornerback Champ Bailey (left hamstring) went through three practices this week, including Friday, and said he expects to be fine for the game Sunday.
Safety Sam Brandon (chest), who has been held out of the past two games, said he expected to play against the Raiders.