ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Wes Welker angrily declared he was “as shocked as everyone” when the NFL banned him for the first month of the season for violating the league’s drug-abuse policy.
Peyton Manning wasn’t shocked.
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ARE YOU READY?
WHAT: NFL season opener
WHO: Packers at Seahawks
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Thursday
TELEVISION: NBC
Neither was John Elway.
John Fox, maybe just a little.
“Uh, I guess I wasn’t shocked,” Manning said Wednesday during a news conference in which he was asked a half-dozen questions about Welker’s suspension and just once about playing his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, in Denver’s opener Sunday night.
“I guess I had an idea that it might be happening,” Manning said. “Somewhat we were prepared for it.”
Eleven miles up the road, Elway, the Broncos’ general manager, was on his way to the pro-am at the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills when he was asked about Welker’s suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
“There’s going to be more bumps in the road as we go,” Elway said. “There’s always bumps. It’s a matter of how you handle those bumps, and we’ll handle this one. The next guy in line will step in and we’ll be ready to go against the Colts.”
Asked if he were shocked it was Welker, Elway simply repeated, “We’ll be ready to go against the Colts.”
Fox had this to say about the discipline handed down to the 11th-year pro who’s the best slot receiver of this generation: “If you do this long enough, you’re surprised but not totally. We were disappointed but we’ll move on.”
Welker apologized to his teammates Wednesday before beginning his suspension that will keep him away until Oct. 6.
Welker is one of the 29 players suspended by the league heading into the season, including 17 for substance abuse and 10 for PED use.
PACKERS: Green Bay placed center/guard JC Tretter on injured reserve-designated for return and signed center Garth Gerhart from the practice squad.
WASHINGTON: A group campaigning for Washington to change its name is sending a letter to broadcasters requesting that Redskins not be uttered on the public airwaves.
The letter is signed by more than 100 Native American, religious and civil rights organizations. It’s being sent by the Change the Mascot movement headed by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York.
SEAHAWKS: Cornerback Tharold Simon is expected to have surgery on an injured knee in the coming days, Coach Pete Carroll said.
JETS: Cornerback Dee Milliner sat out practice as he recovers from a high ankle sprain, and it’s uncertain whether he will be able to play in the season opener against the Oakland Raiders.
• A member of the practice squad was arrested this week after being accused of fighting at a New Jersey hotel near the team’s practice facility.
Florham Park police said Quincy Enunwa was charged Sunday with simple assault and later released on his own recognizance after “an altercation with an individual.”
SAINTS: New Orleans gave outside linebacker Junior Galette a four-year extension worth $41.5 million and brought back receiver Robert Meachem.
Meachem, entering his eighth season, was cut Saturday but the Saints were able to find a roster spot for him when they placed linebacker Khairi Fortt on short-term injured reserve.
GIANTS: New York placed starting guard Geoff Schwartz on recallable injured reserve and signed veteran lineman Adam Snyder.
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