goofball, just hearing him laugh a lot and loves to tell jokes

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Mannings successor isnt Brock Osweiler or Colin Kaepernick or Mark Sanchez, all of whom had better offseason odds than NFL novice Trevor Siemian.When Broncos GM John Elway declined to overpay Osweiler, Mannings longtime backup bolted to Houston 48 hours after his mentor called it a career. Elway quickly acquired Sanchez from the Eagles but he really had his eyes fixed on Kaepernick, who rejected a pay cut to facilitate a trade from the 49ers to Denver.So, Elway moved on -- and he moved up in the first round of the draft, selecting Paxton Lynch of Memphis, who very well might be the franchises future.The present, though, belongs to Siemian, a QB who won the starting job with a mix of brains and brawn, precision and poise, steadiness and spunk.The Carolina Panthers will certainly try to unnerve Siemian in his first NFL start Thursday night in the 2016 season opener .Thing is, nobody at Broncos headquarters has ever seen the 2015 seventh-round pick get rattled.Not when he was Osweilers backup for two months last season when Manning was hurt.Not when he ran the scout team against Denvers destructive defense that brought home the Lombardi Trophy.Not even when coach Gary Kubiak named him the starter.Hes the same guy: cool, calm and collected, said wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Hes not going to change. Hes not going to waver. I know that he wants to show the world, `Hey, look at this guy out here, No. 13. I think he can make plays and make all the throws.So, just who is Trevor Siemian?(Lets start with a pronouncer: Its Sim-EE-in).He was a high school star in central Florida who could have gone to any number of schools that would have loved that strong right arm that also made him an outstanding third baseman. He chose Northwestern, though, as much for its academics as its athletics.He played in 44 games for the Wildcats but started just 14 -- yet still finished as the schools fourth-leading passer.He tore an ACL in his final college game and that scared away plenty of teams but not the Broncos, who chose him with the 250th overall pick, after which Siemian declared, I cant think of a better scenario than to learn from Manning and Osweiler.By training camp last year he was healthy enough to practice and he quickly showed Elway that he wouldnt be able to slip him through waivers to get him on the practice squad. He made the 53-man roster and spent the season soaking in all he could from his coaches and colleagues.It was a great opportunity for me last year to learn a lot from Brock and Peyton, Siemian said as the Broncos began their offseason program last spring. At this point, Im kind of getting antsy to apply some of those things I picked up from those guys.That, he did.Siemian had a years head start in Kubiaks West Coast offense, and he used that advantage to show Elway that his answer at quarterback had been under his nose all along.Siemian mixed that knowledge with accurate, strong throws and poise under pressure to win his teammates trust.Siemian may come off as humdrum in interviews, but hes actually a cutup whose locker room leadership is apparent even on a roster full of seasoned stars with new diamond-encrusted rings.Hes a guy thats very smart, he likes to laugh, he likes to have fun, but he also likes to work, tight end Virgil Green said. He goes out there every day ready to fight.Who is Trevor Siemian? kicker Brandon McManus pondered. I guess a lot of people dont see it, they kind of see him as pretty straightforward, kind of his media interviews and whatnot. Hes a pretty big goofball, just hearing him laugh a lot and loves to tell jokes. He and I play golf a decent amount, just shooting the breeze around the golf course. Hes a super funny person. But as everyone says, hes super intelligent, he knows a lot of stuff and theres a reason that they named him the starter.His demeanor didnt change when Kubiak named him the starter and said he wont have to dial down the playbook.Trevor has always been himself, left guard Max Garcia said. Hes kind of lighthearted and its good to have a guy like that. Even when he got here as a rookie he was very poised. I cant say that Ive ever seen him rattled.McManus cant even recall Siemian ever losing his cool on the golf course. He just has that slow heartbeat that coaches and teammates love.I dont know where hes learned that from, McManus said. Ive never even talked to him about it before but Ive seen it on the field and all the players talk about it. So, its just kind of a unique trait that he has that helps him stay calm throughout the game and gives us a chance to win.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap Running Shoes Ireland . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Cheap Shoes Ireland . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. http://www.clearancerunningshoesireland.com/ . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Running Shoes Ireland Outlet . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Running Shoes Ireland Good Quality . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Despite the fact that theyre coming off the best finish in franchise history (103 points), the Florida Panthers were one of the busiest teams during the offseason. Even the team logo is new (and its pretty cool, too).Former general manager Dale Tallon was promoted to president of hockey operations, while Tom Rowe took over as general manager.The Panthers acquired veteran defenseman Keith Yandle from the New York Rangers and then signed him to a seven-year deal worth $44.45 million. Florida also traded defenseman Dmitry Kulikov to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defensive prospect Mark Pysyk,?and?acquired goaltender Reto Berra from the Colorado Avalanche for center Rocco Grimaldi. The Panthers also signed goalie James Reimer, center Colton Sceviour, center Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Jason Demers. All these moves should help them build off last seasons success, but it will be interesting to see how all the changes play out in Florida.Best new facesThe additions of Yandle and Demers will bolster the blue line. Yandles presence no doubt will help the power play, too. When it was evident that the Rangers werent going to be able to sign Yandle because of cap constraints, there were plenty of suitors for the veteran blueliner.When they traded for my rights, I knew they wanted me, Yandle said. It was a great feeling for me to be wanted, especially before to get to [free agency] on July 1. I knew once something could get settled, it would be a good fit.Demers registered 23 or more points in each of the past three seasons while playing for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars?before signing a five-year deal with Florida this summer. Reimer will serve as backup to starter Roberto Luongo. The Panthers gave Reimer a five-year deal worth $17 million.Biggest unknownsJaromir Jagr seems like hes been around forever. The grizzly veteran forward -- who led the team last season with 66 points -- rolls into this season at age 44 but shows no signs of stopping. The future Hall of Famer surpassed Gordie Howe to rank third on the NHLs all-time scoring list when he reached 1,851 points last season. Its likely hell pass?Mark Messier for second on that lisst soon since Jagr begins the season only 19 points shy of that mark.ddddddddddddBut how much does Jagr have left in the tank? The game is getting younger and faster each season, and its only a matter of time before it catches up with him. To his credit, he remains in great shape. But he has to slow down at some point, right?Forward Nick Bjugstad, who dealt with an upper-body injury during the playoffs and is now out with a broken hand, is lost to the team for four weeks. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad signed an eight-year extension worth $60 million in July, but then had his World Cup of Hockey experience cut short because of whiplash he suffered while playing for Team North America. How these players react to their injuries once fully recovered will be key.Sure thingsAleksander Barkov, 21, proved during the World Cup while playing for Team Finland that hes set to continue breaking out. During 2015-16, he registered 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points in 66 games for the Panthers. Entering his fourth season in the NHL, Barkov could be one of the most dynamic players in the league.Teammate Reilly Smith, who signed a five-year extension this summer, had his best overall NHL season in 2015-16. The 25-year-old forward posted 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 82 games. Hes become a leader on and off the ice for the Panthers, who once again will rely on his production.?Second-line center Vincent Trocheck, 23, earned himself a six-year contract worth $28.5 million in July. He had 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 76 games last season and looked good in the World Cup. Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, 23, posted 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points in 76 games last season, and the Panthers rewarded him with a six-year deal worth $34.5 million during the summer. Both can be counted on to continue their development this season.PredictionThe Panthers will build on last seasons success, and now that their core of young talent has emerged as bona fide NHLers, they will again earn a postseason berth.?Third in the Atlantic. ' ' '