From his eye-rolling gesture toward Peyton Manning during a 41-17 blowout of the Oakland Raiders in 2014 to his stunning and sudden exit from Denver, there has always been a perception that Brock Osweiler and the Broncos didn't get along.
He has denied as much at every turn, and tried to put a bow on the situation this week in an interview with The MMQB.
"I am really just speaking the truth. There is no grudge," he said. "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. I have great respect for Greg Knapp, who was my quarterbacks coach in Denver for three years. He taught me so much about playing quarterback in the NFL and made me a better football player.
"John Elway, for giving me my opportunity for coming into the National Football League. 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. So there is no grudge. I have nothing but love for my time I spent in Denver, and appreciation, and gratitude. But now we are beginning a new chapter, and I couldn't be more excited to be here in Houston."
The rest of Osweiler's interview is worth reading. It touches on his personality and preparation techniques. His move was undeniably the biggest storyline of free agency, and he did so without ever meeting Texans coach Bill O'Brien face-to-face.
Scheme, and not underlying frustration, seemed to be the motivation for his change. Osweiler said he enjoyed Kubiak's system, but he likes that O'Brien places more in the quarterback's hands at the line. Of course, when the Texans and Broncos clash Oct. 24 on Monday Night Football, no one will be asking about the playbook.
Osweiler will have to beat the grudge factor down again.
