New Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is attempting to put to bed the idea that he is bitter toward the Denver Broncos.
“There is no grudge,” Osweiler said, via MMQB. “I have tremendous respect for coach Gary Kubiak. I love that guy. In fact, I talked to him last weekend. He is a tremendous person, and he is a tremendous football coach.”
After starting seven games for the Broncos in 2015, Osweiler bolted Denver for Houston this offseason. The Texans gave him a four-year, $72 million deal, with $37 million guaranteed.
A rift with the Broncos wasn’t part of his decision to leave.
“I could probably stand up and have a press conference and thank 100 guys within that Denver organization, along with all those teammates I played with,” Osweiler said. “So there is no grudge. I have nothing but love for my time I spent in Denver, and appreciation, and gratitude.”
You can also cross off an unwillingness to play in the shadow of Peyton Manning and John Elway.
“I have tremendous respect for both John Elway and Peyton Manning as people and as quarterbacks in the NFL, but I was not concerned one bit with playing in their shadow,” Osweiler said. “That didn’t weigh into my decision whatsoever. Bottom line, I made my decision off where I felt like I could have the most success playing quarterback in the NFL and where I could go and win long term.”
So why didn’t Osweiler return to lead the reigning Super Bowl champions?
The 25-year-old quarterback said he prefers the Texans offense, which is similar to the one he ran in Denver during his first three seasons.
“I was fortunate to be able to spend three years in it, and then get a taste of something else for a year, and then going into free agency really be able to sit back and say, well, this is what I liked about Denver and Gary Kubiak’s system last year; this is what I didn’t like,” Osweiler said.
The Broncos have since moved on at quarterback, signing veteran Mark Sanchez and drafting Paxton Lynch in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Happy in Houston, Osweiler isn’t thinking about Denver.
“I am not there anymore, and I am moving forward with the Houston Texans, and I love everything we are doing here.”
