Byline: Sam Adams and Lynn DeBruin News Staff Writers
GREELEY -- Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen took in his first training camp session of 1999 Monday afternoon. After watching his team, Bowlen spoke about the efforts being made in Los Angeles and Houston to regain NFL franchises.
Groups vying for an expansion team in Los Angeles have a deadline of Sept. 15 to arrange a stadium financing plan. Meanwhile, businessman Robert McNair already has the pieces in place to bring a team back to Houston.
On Sunday, McNair told Houston television station KRIV that some NFL owners - including Bowlen - have given him hope that Houston beat out Los Angeles. Bowlen, McNair said, believes the financial environment isn't right for Los Angeles, and it might take several more years before it is right.
``I think that's generally what I did tell Bob McNair,'' Bowlen said. ``That was one man's opinion - not the league's opinion. Further to that, my opinion is we have to give a window of time to a group in Los Angeles to come up with a solution or proposal.
``I believe we really have to give - whether it's Eli Broad and (Michael) Ovitz combined, which has been talked about - we've got to give them a specific window of time to say either get to us with your proposal, something realistic, not necessarily all ready to go but a few months of being ready, or we're going to have to stop worrying about L.A. That's really where I'm at.''
Bowlen will join NFL owners in Chicago on Wednesday for league meetings. Any talk that doesn't favor Los Angeles is only good for McNair's bid in Houston. ``I told Bob, in one man's opinion, it appears where (Los Angeles) is at now is a long way from where they need to be,'' Bowlen said.
New deal for McCaffrey? - The Broncos have been working on redoing Ed McCaffrey's contract but coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that nothing has been finalized.
He said he couldn't comment on anything until it was signed.
General manager Neal Dahlen also said no extension has been reached.
McCaffrey's teammates and position coach, however, said the Pro Bowl receiver definitely deserves to be rewarded for his effort.
McCaffrey has yet to drop a pass in training camp, and has made several diving catches.
Receivers coach Mike Heimerdinger said McCaffrey strives to get better every day.
``He made his first mistake today and I couldn't talk to him for about 10 plays,'' Heimerdinger said. ``He missed a block. He was mad at himself. He's a perfectionist. He has a standard and works hard at that.''
Heimerdinger said of any contract discussions: ``I'm happy for him if it happens, but that won't affect him or his work habits.''
Quarterback Bubby Brister said McCaffrey is one of the best receivers in the league. ``He's proved he can get it done and deserves to be paid like a top guy,'' Brister said.
New man - Brian Griese is no track star but is convinced off-season speed drills helped with his quickness.
``It was a different kind of conditioning than I've ever done,'' said Griese, who enters the season as Denver's No. 2 quarterback behind Bubby Brister. ``It was track work. I'm not a sprinter of any kind, but I think the things we worked on should transfer to the field.''
Randy Huntington, whom the Broncos hired as a speed coach this off-season, said Griese made the biggest improvement of any player.
``I saw incredible changes in his speed, ability to move,'' Huntington said. ``He's more flexible. His strength is up. He's a different athlete today. Obviously, he was a very skilled quarterback but now he's a different athlete in general. The bar has been raised there. How that will (carry over) to quarterback remains to be seen, but I'm still impressed.''
Millennium schedule - The dates won't be set until spring, but the Broncos will play the NFC West in interconference games in 2000. Denver will face San Francisco, Atlanta, New Orleans and St. Louis, but not Carolina.
Say what? - That wasn't gibberish from Shanahan on Monday. Asked how he communicates with Jesus Angoy, a kicker from Spain, Shanahan started in with his high school Spanish.
Et cetera - Four Broncos starters missed Monday morning's practice session: tight end Shannon Sharpe (death in the family), linebacker John Mobley (hamstring), fullback Howard Griffith (ankle) and defensive end Neil Smith (ankle). A fifth starter - left tackle Tony Jones - sat out the afternoon session, not because of injury, but to give other linemen a chance to compete in drills. ``Tony's an older vet and he's got a lot of reps, so we don't feel like he needed to practice the way he's been practicing,'' Shanahan said. ``Mobley's getting a little bit better. I'm hoping (he'll practice today).'' . . . Coaches from the University of Montana have been watching practices. Another group of coaches from the Montana school are at the San Diego Chargers' training camp. The Broncos and Chargers open preseason Aug. 7 in Sydney, Australia.
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Defensive lineman Mike Lodish signs autographs for fans at Broncos training camp in Greeley on Monday. The Broncos continue two-a-day workouts today. By Marc Piscotty / News Staff Photographer.
