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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 Marvin Williams Hornets Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Dell Curry Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Malik-Monk-Hornets-Jersey/ . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Muggsy Bogues Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Nicolas Batum Hornets Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday.SAN FRANCISCO - Juan Perez is trying to convince the San Francisco Giants to keep him around when injured centre fielder Angel Pagan returns from the disabled list. A couple more performances like this one, and its going to be hard to return him to the minors. Perez threw out a runner at the plate and then hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth, helping the Giants end the San Diego Padres seven-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night. "Hes been quite the sparkplug that we seemed to have needed," said Sergio Romo, who pitched the ninth for his 17th save. "Hes showing us who he is and what he can do, and thats what you like to see out of young guys like that." Perez was initially called up as a temporary fix while Pagan recovered from a hamstring strain, but the rookie is batting .421 (8 for 19) in seven games since joining the Giants on June 7. Defensively, he already has four assists. With Pagan possibly beginning a rehabilitation assignment this week, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy could have a dilemma on his hands. "Well cross that bridge when we get to it but you have to like the things that (Perez) is doing," Bochy said. "Hes doing all he can to stay here, Ill say that. As soon as Angels ready to go, well probably have a tough decision to make." Buster Posey started the San Francisco comeback with a leadoff single. After Hunter Pence struck out, Brandon Belt doubled in pinch runner Andres Torres. Nick Noonan was intentionally walked and Joaquin Arias lined out to centre before Perez rolled a single just past second baseman Logan Forsythe for the go-ahead score. "I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen," Perez said. "I just have to keep enjoying myself and try to help the team win. After that theyll make the decision." Belt finished with three hits for the Giants, who moved into a second-place tie with Colorado in the NL West. Jean Machi (2-0) retired one batter for the win. Perezs clutch swing came after pinch hitter Jesus Guzman gave San Diego a 4-3 lead with a two-run homer in the top half of the inning. "Every game we lose is tough; this is more so because we just moved into third place," Guzman said. "This was a game we had to win, but in this ballpark its hard to beat those guys." Nick Hundley and Logan Forsythe homered for San Diego. The Padres entered with an NL-leading 17 come-from-behind wins and were in position to add to that total before the Giants rallied. Perez also made a key play in the seventh when he threw out Mark Kotsay at home plate after Kotsay had doubled leading off the inning. "Hes come up and really been a shot in the arm for us," Bochy said of Perez. "Hes something we need right now." Marco Scutaro had two hits in his retturn to San Franciscos lineup.dddddddddddd Gregor Blanco and Posey also had two hits apiece. The wild finish was in stark contrast to the first part of the game, when San Francisco ace Matt Cain and Andrew Cashner were locked in a pitchers duel. Cain had a season-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings and was charged with two runs and six hits. He retired 15 straight at one point. Cashner scattered 10 hits over 6 2-3 innings and allowed three runs. He struck out six and walked one. "I threw the ball well, though there were a couple of pitches Id like back," Cashner said. "The big thing for me was to keep the ball on the ground because the wind was blowing out." San Francisco beat Cashner in his first start of the season and jumped on him early in this one. Blanco drew a leadoff walk, stole second and took third on Scutaros comebacker. Posey then blooped a single into short right to drive in Blanco. Belt and Noonan opened the fourth with back-to-back singles. Belt then scored on a double-play grounder to make it 2-0. Cain was unable to hold onto the lead. Coming off an impressive outing against Pittsburgh in his previous start, the right-hander retired 15 straight after allowing a single to Forsythe in the first. He was cruising until the sixth. Hundley ended Cains run with his fifth homer of the season, a towering shot to left that made it 2-1. One out later, Forsythe belted a drive to left-centre. San Franciscos defence provided a spark after Kotsays hit in the seventh. Chris Denorfia followed with a single to centre but Perez threw out a sliding Kotsay at home. Blanco hit an RBI single off Cashner in the seventh but the Padres grabbed the lead on Guzmans second pinch-hit homer of the season. NOTES: San Francisco SS Brandon Crawford left with two sprained fingers on his right hand after getting thrown out attempting to steal second in the second. ... Giants All-Star 3B Pablo Sandoval (left foot strain) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Class-A San Jose on Friday. The reigning World Series MVP took batting practice and fielded grounders before the game. ... The Padres signed OF Ben Francisco to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Tucson. ... San Diego OF Carlos Quentin (left shoulder) sat out his fourth straight game but is improving, manager Bud Black said. ... Padres SS Everth Cabreras left hamstring showed no signs of improvement so the Padres plan to place him on the disabled list. ... LHP Eric Stults (6-5) pitches the series finale for San Diego and has a 2.26 ERA over his last nine starts. LHP Madison Bumgarner (6-4) will go after his team-leading seventh win for the Giants. ... San Francisco signed first-round draft pick Christian Arroyo. Arroyo, the 25th overall selection in the draft, batted .524 for Hernando High School in Brooksville, Fla. ' ' '