Wartezimmer » 12, 2014.A big step, coach Ben McAdoo said. [

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Pundits predicted a decline for Denvers defense after Malik Jackson jumped to Jacksonville in free agency.Jacksons six-year, $90 million contract with the Jaguars dwarfed Derek Wolfes four year, $37.5 million deal that hed signed three months earlier to stick around Denver and continue working under coordinator Wade Phillips and renowned D-line coach Bill Kollar.Yet, Wolfe has emerged as more than just the guy who does all the dirty work as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme so his teammates can get all the sacks and accolades.His four sacks so far include a career-best 2 1/2 last week at Tampa and are tied for second in the AFC behind teammate Von Millers league-leading 5 1/2.His teammates, coaches and general manager are all calling Wolfe a big reason the Broncos are 4-0 heading into their showdown with the Atlanta Falcons (3-1) Sunday.In his last 14 games, counting the playoffs, Wolfe has a dozen sacks, all the more impressive given that he has to constantly outrace Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett to the quarterback.To me, Derek is a real man, coach Gary Kubiak said. We can count on him every week.Miller credits some of his pass rushing prowess to having Wolfe as his wingman.Its like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. We just get each other, Miller said Thursday, a day after he compared himself and Wolfe to Kobe and Shaq.Hes just selfless, Miller said. If this was basketball, he would be a true, dominant center.This being football, Wolfe is a dominant D-lineman.Miller has 72 career sacks, counting playoffs, since GM John Elway spent his first draft pick on him in 2011. Wolfe has 23 1/2 since coming into the league a year later, more than half of which have come since last season.Its great to see him get a lot of sacks, Miller said. About 10 of my sacks that Ive gotten throughout my career Ive stolen from Derek. So, its been a great partnership, especially for me.Wolfe has benefited, too.There have been sacks Ive gotten because of him, as well, Wolfe said.Denvers No Fly Zone secondary gets a lot of kudos but cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said Wolfe is a big reason the Broncos have throttled Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston.Wolfe makes everybodys life easier, Harris said. Its great when you have a guy that can take on two blockers or a guy that can push the quarterback up the middle and make him scramble outside. Youve got to have a guy like Wolfe or the quarterback just steps up.The Broncos, who doled out $115 million in guarantees to Miller, Brandon Marshall and Emmanuel Sanders this offseason, are glad they were able to keep Wolfe off the market with a deal that included $17.5 million in guarantees.He did his contract before the season was over with, Miller said. He believed in us before we believed in ourselves.Wolfe called it a no-brainer, even after watching Jackson get almost triple what he did three months later.For me it was about creating a legacy. I had already put in four hard years here. Why would I go somewhere else and start over? Wolfe said. Id rather stay here, where I know everybody and the organization had been through rough times with me through a serious (neck) injury (in 2013) and they had my back in that. They took care of me. So, when it came time to sign my contract, I gave them a pretty good discount and decided it was more about the legacy than the money.More than half of Wolfes sacks have come since the arrival last year of Phillips and Kollar, a 28th-year NFL assistant who said tutoring a guy who works that hard and wants to be a hell of a player keeps him young at heart.Why would you ever want to leave that core group, let alone the players that I had here? Wolfe said. Obviously, I knew that if I took less money, there was a better chance we could keep Von and Brandon and Emmanuel. I just knew that it was the right move.Game notes QB Trevor Siemian (bruised left shoulder) returned to practice Thursday. I think we took a big step forward today, Kubiak said, adding that however Siemian feels Friday will go a long way toward determining whether hell start over Paxton Lynch this weekend.---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 Ryan Tannehill Youth Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Bruce Matthews Jersey . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-99-Jurrell-Casey-Womens-Jersey/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Curley Culp Youth Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Tennessee Titans Jerseys . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz returned to game action Saturday night after 685 days away due to injuries.Cruz had one catch in 29 snaps in the teams 21-20 win against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.The 29-year-old had missed most of the past two seasons with knee and calf injuries. He also was sidelined for two weeks this summer with a groin problem.It felt great, man, just to be with my teammates and put this 80 jersey back on and to get the love of the crowd and the people again and go out there and be in position to make a few plays as well, he said.Despite being on the field for all of the Giants first-team snaps Saturday night, Cruz was targeted twice by quarterback Eli Manning. He caught his only pass on the first play of the second half -- a quick 4-yard out -- against the Jets backups.Cruz said he escaped the contest unscathed. He accomplished his two goals: getting on the field with his teammates and making an impact.It did, it felt like old times, Cruz said. I caught the ball in the flat and tried to make something happen, but I got to feel a little bit of contact, which was a great feeling.Cruzs only other target came on third down early in the second quarter when he got a step on cornerback Buster Skrine deep downfield. But Mannings pass was underthrown and too far inside, and it was almost intercepted by safety Marcus Gilchrist.On a night when the first-team offense managed three first downs and 56 totaal yards in two-plus quarters, the Giants can at least take solace that Cruz held up physically in his first game since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee on Oct.dddddddddddd 12, 2014.A big step, coach Ben McAdoo said. [He] got back on the field, had a chance to win on a double move. We couldnt get the ball off cleanly and [he] caught another ball and looked comfortable and confident.Cruz admitted earlier in the week that this wasnt just a normal preseason game; given his journey and struggles, it meant much more. After exiting the tunnel before the game, Cruz went to the far end zone and took a knee. After several seconds to himself, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.?came over and had some words for the well-respected veteran.Cruz then trotted to the sideline and patted his chest as the fans in the end zone cheered and chanted his name. The trademark Cruuuuz was back at MetLife Stadium.It was unreal. It kind of gave me goose bumps, especially that first walk out on the field, Cruz said. To have the fans do that, it was just humbling, and it really showed how much I mean to the fan base here in this tri-state area and to all Giants fans across the world how much they have anticipated this moment and how much I anticipated this moment to be back in front of them.And it was a pretty surreal moment for me, to say the least. ' ' '