On Thursday night, Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made NFL history with the longest fair-catch free-kick during the Chargers 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Down 21-10, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw an interception late in the second quarter. But after Denver failed to make a first down and punted with eight seconds left in the half, Denver cornerback Tremon Smith was called for interfering with a fair catch attempted by the Chargers. The 15-yard penalty gave the Chargers the ball at their own 47-yard line, and Dicker converted a 57-yard fair-catch field goal.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Understanding the rule the Chargers utilized on the fair catch / free kick 📝 <a href="https://t.co/RsHUj06jYm">pic.twitter.com/RsHUj06jYm</a>
— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1869952220596449529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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“After a fair catch is made, or is awarded as a result of fair-catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by either: (a) fair-catch kick (dropkick or placekick without a tee) from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after the enforcement of applicable penalties) or (b) snap from the spot of the catch &#8230;” the NFL rulebook <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/media/3277/2018-nfl-rulebook_final-version.pdf">states</a>.
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The longest previous fair catch free kick was a 52-yarder by the Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung in 1962, the year the Packers went 11-1 and won the NFL championship.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the free kick was his favorite football rule.
&#8220;It was awesome,&#8221; Dicker <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43068684/obscure-rule-leads-chargers-making-nfl-first-fair-catch-kick-1976">said</a>. &#8220;It was funny to be in that scenario and just be like, &#8216;Huh, there&#8217;s no lineup there. This looks a little weird,&#8217; but it was really cool.&#8221;
“Everybody was trying to figure out what was going on,” Chargers outside linebacker Bud Dupree confessed. “We knew he could make it. We just didn&#8217;t understand. Was it going to be a two-point or three-point, or did we get the ball on the 1? We didn&#8217;t know.”
“Man, I don&#8217;t know whose idea it was to kick that, but they know ball,” Chargers running back Gus Edwards marveled. “I was confused as s***. I ain&#8217;t ever seen that before.”
Interestingly enough, the last successful fair catch free kick was made by Ray Wersching of the then-San Diego Chargers in 1976.

NFL: DEC 01 Chargers at Falcons

‘I Ain’t Ever Seen That Before’: NFL History Made On Thursday Night Football

Denver Broncos

Football

General

Los Angeles Chargers

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Broncos</a> wide receiver Josh Reynolds was shot in the arm and back of his head after he said he was followed leaving a strip club in the city on October 18.
On Thursday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1849561294979940425">reported</a> that 29-year-old Reynolds is “said to be OK after being the victim in a shooting Friday in Denver.”
According to documents obtained by <a href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/denver-bronco-josh-reynolds-shot/73-f51bf502-5129-4dd1-bad8-a4495be20909">9News</a>, Reynolds and two other men made several calls in the early morning hours into 911 saying that there had been a shooting.
The first call came in from the driver, who said he’d been shot. A second person called and said they were being followed and that two people he was with had been shot. A third call came in and said he was with people who had been shot. 
The documents noted that all three calls, via GPS tracking, came from the same basic location. When police arrived, they located the victims, with Reynolds being listed as shot twice, once in the back of his head and once in his arm, the report noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Broncos receiver Josh Reynolds shot after leaving Denver-area strip club <a href="https://t.co/GYWOBwqdO4">https://t.co/GYWOBwqdO4</a> <a href="https://t.co/cVz0pIkLTV">pic.twitter.com/cVz0pIkLTV</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1849577330064105558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
The other man had been shot in the back, and a third man was injured by shattered glass.
The documents show police spoke to three men about what happened before the shooting, and when asked if there had been any problem at the club earlier in the evening, all three said no.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1729077615157000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17Kprl74oE9DYOLREdiBPU">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28</a>
The three described how after they left the club, they were followed by several vehicles before they were shot at. Their vehicle was later located with “numerous bullet defects in the back driver-side and front windshield,” the report noted. Two men have since been arrested in the case.
Reynolds &#8212; who was already on the injured reserve list for an injured finger &#8212; had remained in Denver and did not fly out with the rest of the team to New Orleans for the Broncos game against the Saints last Thursday. On October 12, he suffered an injury against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Josh Reynolds was a victim of a shooting on Friday in Denver and received treatment for minor injuries,” a statement from the NFL team read. “Out of respect for the legal process, we will defer further comment on this matter to the authorities.”
Reynolds was picked up in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. Two years later, he signed on with the Tennessee Titans before he joined the Detroit Lions. In March 2024, he joined the Broncos after signing a two-year, $9 million contract.
The wide receiver has 12 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown so far this season, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/10/24/sports/broncos-josh-reynolds-shot-after-leaving-denver-area-strip-club/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a> noted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-russell-wilson-to-denver-broncos-in-blockbuster-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Report: Russell Wilson To Denver Broncos In Blockbuster Trade</a>

Josh Reynolds

Broncos Wide Receiver Shot In Denver

Crime

Denver

Broncos QB <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/denver-broncos-head-coach-makes-major-announcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell Wilson</a>&#8216;s time is up in Denver. According to reports, the team notified the quarterback that they will be moving on from him after just two seasons.
ESPN Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter announced the news on <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1764762970142228755?s=20">X</a>, saying, &#8220;Broncos notified QB Russell Wilson that he will be released after the league year begins March 13.&#8221;
In a second <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1764763603645685928?s=20">post</a>, Schefter shared a statement from Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton and Denver&#8217;s GM George Paton about moving past Wilson and making the team stronger for the 2024 season.
&#8220;On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career,&#8221; Paton and Payton said in a joint statement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Russell Wilson will get $39M in cash from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Broncos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Broncos</a> in 2024. This means he could potentially sign with a new team for the NFL minimum, as any new contract he signs would be coming off that $39M.
That alone makes him one of the most fascinating QB free agents in a long time.… <a href="https://t.co/s0cnSdJFom">https://t.co/s0cnSdJFom</a> <a href="https://t.co/aAFQyePrmi">pic.twitter.com/aAFQyePrmi</a>
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1764796686449221895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;As we move forward, we are focused on building the strongest team possible for the 2024 season and beyond,&#8221; the statement added. &#8220;We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.&#8221;
A short time later, the former Seattle Seahawks QB posted a letter on <a href="https://x.com/DangeRussWilson/status/1764764382716731840?s=20">X</a> to Broncos fans and the community he had called home, even though it was just for a short time. 
&#8220;Over the last two years you have welcomed my family and me with open arms and have embraced us as members of the Denver community,&#8221; Wilson&#8217;s statement read. &#8220;This city will always hold a special place in my heart.&#8221;
&#8220;Our family grew here,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We made countless memories and friendships and formed relationships that will last a lifetime.&#8221;
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He then thanked his teammates and closed out his lengthy letter by writing, &#8220;Tough times don&#8217;t last, but tough people do. God&#8217;s got me. I am excited for what&#8217;s next.&#8221;
Noticeably absent from Wilson&#8217;s letter to the city and fans was anything about the Broncos head coach or GM.
By releasing Wilson in March, Denver will avoid a $37 million guaranteed trigger for the 2025 season that would&#8217;ve taken effect this month, but they still will owe him the $39 million he&#8217;s guaranteed this season regardless, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/russell-wilsons-best-team-fits-now-that-broncos-are-moving-on-221645334.html">Yahoo Sports</a> noted.
And the team will take on $85 million in total dead salary cap over the next two years by releasing him, the <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-inform-quarterback-russell-wilson-he-will-be-released">NFL</a> reported.
In March 2022, Seattle traded Wilson to the Broncos. He is 35 years old and is entering his 13th season in the NFL.

Sean Payton

Broncos QB Russell Wilson Out In Denver

Russell Wilson

Sports

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/denver-broncos-and-houston-texans-both-hire-new-head-coaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Broncos</a> head coach Sean Payton made a major announcement on Wednesday that he&#8217;s benching starting quarterback <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-russell-wilson-to-denver-broncos-in-blockbuster-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell Wilson</a> ahead of the team&#8217;s game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter wrote on X that Payton &#8220;met this morning with&#8221; Wilson to inform him and then told the team that Jarrett Stidham is the team&#8217;s starting QB.
&#8220;Change in Denver: Broncos&#8217; HC Sean Payton has informed his team that Jarrett Stidham will start Sunday vs. the Chargers, with Russell Wilson as the backup, per sources,” Schefter&#8217;s post read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sean Payton met this morning with Russell Wilson to inform him of his decision, then told the team.
Jarrett Stidham is Denver’s new starting QB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1740055635579015226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
&#8220;With a 1-3 record in the last four games, Denver is looking to spark its offense and see what it has in Stidham,&#8221; his post added.
In a follow-up <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1740056684825899444?s=20">post</a>, the NFL insider noted that the move will prevent millions of dollars from being guaranteed to Wilson if he gets hurt.
&#8220;Russell Wilson already has $39 million [fully] guaranteed for 2024, but he has an additional $37M [for 2025] that would become guaranteed if he can&#8217;t pass a physical by early March,&#8221; Schefter wrote. 
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&#8220;Denver&#8217;s move to sit him assures that money won&#8217;t trigger,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And Denver does this at a time when Wilson is the NFL&#8217;s seventh-rated passer, with 26 touchdown passes and eight INTs.&#8221;
Denver could still get into the postseason as they currently sit on a 7-8 season, but it depends on other teams&#8217; losses. The Broncos suffered a 26-23 to the struggling New England Patriots on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after the loss, Wilson said, &#8220;I&#8217;m just worried about next week and playing great football. I came here to win and win a championship for us and find a way to do that. Obviously, I love being here with these guys, these teammates. I&#8217;m excited to keep playing ball and playing hard for us.&#8221;
The team has two more games left in the season, with Stidham starting against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos&#8217; final game is against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The team acquired Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks in March 2022.

Denver Broncos Head Coach Makes Major Announcement

Former Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe, who claimed he killed a predatory mountain lion using a bow and arrow, has been harshly criticized for posing with the carcass.
Wolfe claimed on Instagram on Thursday that he fell from a 10-foot rockface as he descended from the mountain with the carcass. He said he got a call from someone asking if he wanted to stalk a mountain lion that had been “wreaking havoc in a rural neighborhood.”
“He had already killed two of her dogs and was living under her porch, nervous [about] what he might do next,” Wolfe, who is 6’5”, wrote. “We found a fresh 4&#215;4 mule deer he had just killed. We hiked straight up 2500 ft and down the other side, then back up again, back down the other side and then back up again to 9600 ft.”
“Exhausted, dehydrated, cramping I drew back my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hoytbowhunting/">@hoytbowhunting</a> and sent an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sevrbroadheads/">@sevrbroadheads</a> through him,” Wolfe <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnm8rzyPS7r/">continued</a>. “Then I had to crawl backwards down the mountain with him to get him to the truck I fell 10 ft off a rock face on the way down lol. Any guess how big this thing was?”
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Some social media users <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ_Sports/status/1616182042365935643" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took Wolfe to task</a>, with comments such as these:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Mountain lions don’t terrorize. They survive. Humans, like one of the most disappointing high draft choices of the Broncos terrorize. Shame on you for celebrating this.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Imagine living in a &#8216;rural neighborhood&#8217; of a &#8216;mountain town&#8217; and thinking that your [sic] being &#8216;terrorized&#8217; by a mountain lion.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Grant is not a city. When you live in rural Colorado you sign up for living WITH wildlife. There are guidelines for NOT making your dogs a food source. Go back to Kentucky.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
Others had a different perspective:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Get him back on the team right now.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;I guess a Wolfe is more bad*** than a lion.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Mountain lion hunting season is now. He had a permit. The state of Colorado manages the mountain lion population thru hunting permits. Pertinent details that should’ve been included in the report.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
Wolfe played for the Denver Broncos between 2012-2019, then signed with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2022, he signed a one-day contract with the Broncos so he could retire in Denver.
“I&#8217;m happy to be done with the game because (the injuries) were piling up and I know my wife is very happy not to have to watch me crawl into the shower every morning,” he <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nfl/article/derek-wolfe-signs-one-day-deal-to-retire-as-a-denver-bronco/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “It was just getting bad, so it was time to call it &#8230; I get to be a father; I get to be a husband. I get to focus on those things now. &#8230; My daughter, she just turned 3 years old and I get to play with her and hang out with her.”

Chicago Bears v Denver Broncos

Former Denver Bronco Says He Killed Predatory Mountain Lion. Then He Gets Slammed For Posing With Carcass.

Hunting