WILDFIRES THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE DEALT WITH.
CALIFORNIA HAVE DEALT WITH. THANKS FOR LISTENING IN.
THANKS FOR LISTENING IN. WE’RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
WE’RE GOING TO MOVE ON. >>> LEGENDARY JOHN E LLS WAY,
>>> LEGENDARY JOHN E LLS WAY, THE GM OF THE DENVER BRONCOS.
THE GM OF THE DENVER BRONCOS. ELWAY IS WITH NBC NEWS NATASHA
ELWAY IS WITH NBC NEWS NATASHA BURNS TO TELL HIS STORY.
BURNS TO TELL HIS STORY. >> HEY, ALISON.
>> HEY, ALISON. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WITH
SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WITH FOOTBALL ON THE HORIZON.
FOOTBALL ON THE HORIZON. I WANT TO GET INTO WHY YOU’RE
I WANT TO GET INTO WHY YOU’RE HERE TODAY.
HERE TODAY. YOU’RE SHARING SOMETHING VERY
YOU’RE SHARING SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL THAT YOU’VE BEEN
PERSONAL THAT YOU’VE BEEN DEALING WITH.
DEALING WITH. >> I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
>> I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CONTRACTION, A PROBLEM WITH YOUR
CONTRACTION, A PROBLEM WITH YOUR HANDS.
HANDS. YOU CAN GO TO HAND SS ON BLANKET
YOU CAN GO TO HAND SS ON BLANKET ON --
ON -- >> GO ONLINE.
>> GO ONLINE. >> BUT, YEAH.
>> BUT, YEAH. GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE, LET
GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE, LET PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2005 AND
I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2005 AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY AND THAT
THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY AND THAT WAS SURGERY.
WAS SURGERY. IT’S A DISEASE THAT CONTINUES TO
IT’S A DISEASE THAT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND WORSE AND PULLS
GET WORSE AND WORSE AND PULLS YOUR FINGERS IN TO WHERE IT GETS
YOUR FINGERS IN TO WHERE IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT TO USE YOUR
VERY DIFFICULT TO USE YOUR HANDS.
HANDS. I FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS
I FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT THERE’S AN ALTERNATIVE
AGO THAT THERE’S AN ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY AND HAVE THAT
TO SURGERY AND HAVE THAT PROCEDURE DONE.
PROCEDURE DONE. MY HANDS ARE GREAT NOW.
MY HANDS ARE GREAT NOW. >> LOOKING GOOD.
>> LOOKING GOOD. >> WORKING GOOD.
>> WORKING GOOD. I’M EXCITED ABOUT T I’M GLAD TO
I’M EXCITED ABOUT T I’M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE ISSUE AND
BE ABLE TO HELP THE ISSUE AND ALSO BE PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW
ALSO BE PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW HANDS ON.
HANDS ON. FACTS ON HANDS.
FACTS ON HANDS. IT TELLS UL ABOUT IT.
IT TELLS UL ABOUT IT. >> YOU’RE A PAID SPOKESPERSON
>> YOU’RE A PAID SPOKESPERSON FOR PHARMACEUTICALS, WHO YOU’VE
FOR PHARMACEUTICALS, WHO YOU’VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THIS
BEEN WORKING WITH ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN. SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE MOST
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE MOST OF HIS LIFE, IT MUST HAVE BEEN
OF HIS LIFE, IT MUST HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING.
CHALLENGING. >> IT WAS.
>> IT WAS. IT AFFECTED MY GOLF GAME IS
IT AFFECTED MY GOLF GAME IS WHERE IT STARTED GOING.
WHERE IT STARTED GOING. WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED IT WAS
WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PICK UP A
DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PICK UP A FOOTBALL AND THROW A FOOTBALL.
FOOTBALL AND THROW A FOOTBALL. >> THAT’S TOUGH.
>> THAT’S TOUGH. >> THAT WAS TOUGH FOR ME AND I
>> THAT WAS TOUGH FOR ME AND I KNEW IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GET
KNEW IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.
WORSE. FACTS ON HAND TO GET ALL THE
FACTS ON HAND TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND REALLY GET THE
INFORMATION AND REALLY GET THE WORD OUT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
WORD OUT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. >> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT’S
>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT’S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT CAUSES
NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT CAUSES IT.
IT. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL PLAYERS, I THINK THERE’S A LOT
PLAYERS, I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF PLAYERS WHO ARE USED TO
OF PLAYERS WHO ARE USED TO GETTING BANGED UP ON THE FIELD
GETTING BANGED UP ON THE FIELD AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH
AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH LONG-TERM INJURY SIES, CT AND HE
LONG-TERM INJURY SIES, CT AND HE INJURIES ARE BIG CONVERSATION IN
INJURIES ARE BIG CONVERSATION IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW.
THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW. DO YOU HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE
DO YOU HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF YOUR
LONG-TERM HEALTH OF YOUR PLAYERS?
PLAYERS? I KNOW THAT THE LEAGUE HAS DONE
I KNOW THAT THE LEAGUE HAS DONE A LOT TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY ON
A LOT TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY ON THE FIELD.
THE FIELD. IT’S STILL AN ISSUE.
IT’S STILL AN ISSUE. >> IT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN
>> IT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN FOOTBALL.
ISSUE IN FOOTBALL. IT’S A PHYSICAL SPORT.
IT’S A PHYSICAL SPORT. THE LEGAL HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS
THE LEGAL HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB TRYING TO CREATE MORE SPACE.
JOB TRYING TO CREATE MORE SPACE. YOU HAVE BIG GUYS RUNNING INTO
YOU HAVE BIG GUYS RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER.
EACH OTHER. IT’S NEVER GOING TO BE TOTALLY
IT’S NEVER GOING TO BE TOTALLY SAFE.
SAFE. THE LEAGUE CHANGES THAT THEY’VE
THE LEAGUE CHANGES THAT THEY’VE GONE THROUGH, UNNECESSARY OUT OF
GONE THROUGH, UNNECESSARY OUT OF THE GAME AND WORKING ON TRYING
THE GAME AND WORKING ON TRYING TO TAKE THE HEAD OUT OF THE GAME
TO TAKE THE HEAD OUT OF THE GAME SO PEOPLE AREN’T USING THEIR
SO PEOPLE AREN’T USING THEIR HEAD TO TACKLE, RATHER USING
HEAD TO TACKLE, RATHER USING SHOULDERS AND THE EQUIPMENT IS
SHOULDERS AND THE EQUIPMENT IS GETTING MUCH BETTER, TOO.
GETTING MUCH BETTER, TOO. THE GAME IS GETTING MUCH SAFER.
THE GAME IS GETTING MUCH SAFER. IT WILL NEVER BE AS SAFE AS WE
IT WILL NEVER BE AS SAFE AS WE LIKE IT TO BE.
LIKE IT TO BE. IT IS A PHYSICAL GAME.
IT IS A PHYSICAL GAME. >> HOW DO PLAYERS RESPOND TO
>> HOW DO PLAYERS RESPOND TO THOSE CHANGES THAT, ON ONE HAND,
THOSE CHANGES THAT, ON ONE HAND, ARE MAKING THEM SAFER BUT CHANGE
ARE MAKING THEM SAFER BUT CHANGE ISN’T NECESSARILY EASY.
ISN’T NECESSARILY EASY. >> THEY’VE DONE A NICE JOB.
>> THEY’VE DONE A NICE JOB. WE’RE PROTECTING THE QUARTERBACK
WE’RE PROTECTING THE QUARTERBACK MUCH BETTER AND TAKING THE
MUCH BETTER AND TAKING THE UNNECESSARY HITS WE TALKED
UNNECESSARY HITS WE TALKED ABOUT.
ABOUT. >> ISSUES LIKE THE HELMET AND --
>> ISSUES LIKE THE HELMET AND -- >> HELMETS ARE SAFER, MORE
>> HELMETS ARE SAFER, MORE PROTECTED THERE AND ALSO WITH
PROTECTED THERE AND ALSO WITH THE WAY WE PRACTICE NOW AND CUT
THE WAY WE PRACTICE NOW AND CUT DOWN NORMAL PRACTICES,
DOWN NORMAL PRACTICES, ESPECIALLY IN TRAINING CAMP.
ESPECIALLY IN TRAINING CAMP. IT’S ONE PRACTICE A DAY.
IT’S ONE PRACTICE A DAY. TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE THINGS
TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE THINGS THAT WEREN’T NECESSARY.
THAT WEREN’T NECESSARY. >> YOU’RE A PARENT.
>> YOU’RE A PARENT. WHAT DO YOU THINK PARENTS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK PARENTS. >> IT’S BECOME MUCH SAFER SPORT.
>> IT’S BECOME MUCH SAFER SPORT. MY SON PLAYED FOOTBALL.
MY SON PLAYED FOOTBALL. I DID NOT WORRY ABOUT HIM
I DID NOT WORRY ABOUT HIM PLAYING FOOTBALL WHEN HE WAS
PLAYING FOOTBALL WHEN HE WAS PLAYING.
PLAYING. BECAUSE I THINK THE LESSONS YOU
BECAUSE I THINK THE LESSONS YOU LEARN BEING PART OF A TEAM AND
LEARN BEING PART OF A TEAM AND IN THE GAME OF FOOTBALL, HOW TO
IN THE GAME OF FOOTBALL, HOW TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE. KNOWING THAT IN FOOTBALL YOU
KNOWING THAT IN FOOTBALL YOU HAVE TO HAVE 11 PLAYERS GOING
HAVE TO HAVE 11 PLAYERS GOING THE SAME DIRECTION.
THE SAME DIRECTION. I THINK THE LIFE LESSONS THEY
I THINK THE LIFE LESSONS THEY CAN LEARN ARE SO VALUABLE, IT
CAN LEARN ARE SO VALUABLE, IT CAN HELP YOU.
CAN HELP YOU. NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL PART BUT
NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL PART BUT WHAT THEY LEARN PLAYING THE GAME
WHAT THEY LEARN PLAYING THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.
OF FOOTBALL. >> AND FANS EVERYWHERE ARE SO
>> AND FANS EVERYWHERE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THE START OF
EXCITED FOR THE START OF FOOTBALL SEASON.
FOOTBALL SEASON. THERE’S A LOT GOING ON FROM THE
THERE’S A LOT GOING ON FROM THE CONCERNS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT,
CONCERNS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, PROTEST IN POLITICS TO ISSUES IN
PROTEST IN POLITICS TO ISSUES IN THE GAME ITSELF.
THE GAME ITSELF. LAST SEASON ONE OF THE MOST
LAST SEASON ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CALLS IN FOOTBALL
CONTROVERSIAL CALLS IN FOOTBALL HISTORY WITH THAT RAMS/SAINTS
HISTORY WITH THAT RAMS/SAINTS PLAYOFF GAME.
PLAYOFF GAME. WHERE IS YOUR HEAD AT THIS
WHERE IS YOUR HEAD AT THIS PLAYOFF SEASON WITH ALL OF THIS
PLAYOFF SEASON WITH ALL OF THIS SWIRLING AROUND?
SWIRLING AROUND? >> A LOT OF THINGS GET TALKED
>> A LOT OF THINGS GET TALKED ABOUT IN THE OFFSEASON.
ABOUT IN THE OFFSEASON. TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES THAT
TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES THAT GO ON WITH THE NFL.
GO ON WITH THE NFL. THE GREAT THING IS ONCE WE
THE GREAT THING IS ONCE WE FINALLY GET TO PRESEASON AND
FINALLY GET TO PRESEASON AND OPENING WEEKEND, WE GET TO WATCH
OPENING WEEKEND, WE GET TO WATCH FOOTBALL.
FOOTBALL. I THINK THAT’S WHAT EVERYBODY
I THINK THAT’S WHAT EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT, TO GET TO WATCH
EXCITED ABOUT, TO GET TO WATCH FOOTBALL AGAIN.
FOOTBALL AGAIN. YOU LOOK AT THE NEW ORLEANS RAMS
YOU LOOK AT THE NEW ORLEANS RAMS GAME LAST YEAR, WE CHANGED THE
GAME LAST YEAR, WE CHANGED THE RULES TO WHERE YOU CAN NOW, YOU
RULES TO WHERE YOU CAN NOW, YOU KNOW, REVIEW PASS INTERFERENCE,
KNOW, REVIEW PASS INTERFERENCE, WHETHER IT BE OFFENSIVE OR
WHETHER IT BE OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE.
DEFENSIVE. WE’RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT.
WE’RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT. >> THE GAME IS ADAPTING AND IT’S
>> THE GAME IS ADAPTING AND IT’S ALWAYS EVOLVING.
ALWAYS EVOLVING. TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD
TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD IN THAT GAME LAST YEAR.
IN THAT GAME LAST YEAR. I THINK THAT’S WHERE WE FINALLY
I THINK THAT’S WHERE WE FINALLY DID THIS.
DID THIS. THERE’S SO MUCH TALK ABOUT IT.
THERE’S SO MUCH TALK ABOUT IT. SO MANY PREDICTIONS ON WHO IS
SO MANY PREDICTIONS ON WHO IS GOING TO BE GOOD, WHO IS NOT
GOING TO BE GOOD, WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD.
GOING TO BE GOOD. WHEN WE FINALLY GET TO OPENING
WHEN WE FINALLY GET TO OPENING WEEKEND WE GET TO START PLAYING
WEEKEND WE GET TO START PLAYING THE GAME.
THE GAME. >> THEN IT’S ABOUT THE GAME.
>> THEN IT’S ABOUT THE GAME. >> IT’S ABOUT THE GAME AND
>> IT’S ABOUT THE GAME AND WATCHING THE GAME.
WATCHING THE GAME. >> AND BUT EVEN IN THE GAME, THE
>> AND BUT EVEN IN THE GAME, THE CONTROVERSY IS STILL SOMETHING
CONTROVERSY IS STILL SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE BRONCOS ARE ONE OF MANY
THE BRONCOS ARE ONE OF MANY TEAMS WHO HAD PLAYERS KNEEL IN
TEAMS WHO HAD PLAYERS KNEEL IN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON WHERE
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON WHERE PLAYERS SHOULD EXPRESS THEIR
PLAYERS SHOULD EXPRESS THEIR POLITICAL CAUSES?
POLITICAL CAUSES? >> WE’RE PAST THAT AS A LEAGUE.
>> WE’RE PAST THAT AS A LEAGUE. EVERYONE WAS GIVEN THEIR CHOICE
EVERYONE WAS GIVEN THEIR CHOICE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN
TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THAT.
IT CAME DOWN TO THAT. IT’S SOMETHING WE’RE PAST AS A
IT’S SOMETHING WE’RE PAST AS A LEAGUE AND NOW WE CAN REALLY
LEAGUE AND NOW WE CAN REALLY CONCENTRATE ON FOOTBALL.
CONCENTRATE ON FOOTBALL. >> BIG STAR JAY-Z GETTING
>> BIG STAR JAY-Z GETTING INVOLVED IN THE NFL NOW.
INVOLVED IN THE NFL NOW. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON HIS
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON HIS PARTNERSHIP?
PARTNERSHIP? >> IT’S GREAT THAT HE WILL GET
>> IT’S GREAT THAT HE WILL GET INVOLVED.
INVOLVED. ALL THAT DOES IS HELP THE GAME
ALL THAT DOES IS HELP THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.
OF FOOTBALL. WHATEVER OWNERSHIP GROUP, IF HE
WHATEVER OWNERSHIP GROUP, IF HE GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN
GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN OWNER AND THAT’S WHAT HE WANTS
OWNER AND THAT’S WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.
TO DO. >> HE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF SLACK.
>> HE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF SLACK. DO YOU THINK THAT’S FAIR?
DO YOU THINK THAT’S FAIR? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE FLACK.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE FLACK. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BE AN OWNER
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BE AN OWNER OF AN NFL TEAM, THEY SHOULD HAVE
OF AN NFL TEAM, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN OWNER
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN OWNER OF THE NFL TEAM IF HE’S PART OF
OF THE NFL TEAM IF HE’S PART OF THE GROUP.
THE GROUP. >> I HAVE TO ASK.
>> I HAVE TO ASK. MY FIANCE AND FUTURE
MY FIANCE AND FUTURE FATHER-IN-LAW ARE DIE-HARD
FATHER-IN-LAW ARE DIE-HARD BRONCOS FANS.
BRONCOS FANS. THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE THE
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE THE BRONCOS LOOKING?
BRONCOS LOOKING? SHOULD THEY BE EXCITED?
SHOULD THEY BE EXCITED? >> I THINK SO.
>> I THINK SO. OBVIOUSLY, WE’VE HAD TWO TOUGH
OBVIOUSLY, WE’VE HAD TWO TOUGH YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS YEAR STARTED.
GETTING THIS YEAR STARTED. FLACCO WILL BE OUR QUARTERBACK
FLACCO WILL BE OUR QUARTERBACK THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR. WE HAVE A TOUGH DIVISION.
WE HAVE A TOUGH DIVISION. KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY. RANGERS.
RANGERS. IT’S GOING TO BE A DOG FIGHT
IT’S GOING TO BE A DOG FIGHT WITHIN THE DIVISION.
WITHIN THE DIVISION. WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANCE
WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANCE TO GET STARTED IN A COUPLE OF
TO GET STARTED IN A COUPLE OF THREE, TWO WEEKS NOW.
THREE, TWO WEEKS NOW. WE’LL FIND OUT WHERE EVERYTHING
WE’LL FIND OUT WHERE EVERYTHING FALLS AND THAT’S EXCITING ABOUT
FALLS AND THAT’S EXCITING ABOUT THE NFL.
THE NFL. YOU NEVER KNOW.
YOU NEVER KNOW. >> GET STARTED AGAIN.
>> GET STARTED AGAIN. GETTING THE FIRST WEEK AND
GETTING THE FIRST WEEK AND WATCHING THE GAMES PLAY.
WATCHING THE GAMES PLAY. WE WORK SO HARD ON THE PERSONNEL
WE WORK SO HARD ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE TO TRY TO PUT THE BEST OF
SIDE TO TRY TO PUT THE BEST OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN FRONT OF THE
FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN FRONT OF THE COACHES TO GIVE THEM THE BEST
COACHES TO GIVE THEM THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS OUR TEST, AFTER ALL THE
THIS IS OUR TEST, AFTER ALL THE WORK WE’VE DONE, GONE THROUGH
WORK WE’VE DONE, GONE THROUGH THE DRAFT, FREE AGENCY, THE TRUE
THE DRAFT, FREE AGENCY, THE TRUE TEST OF HOW WE PLAYED DURING THE
TEST OF HOW WE PLAYED DURING THE SEASON.
SEASON. I’M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE.
I’M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE. >> CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE
>> CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE SEASON GOES.
SEASON GOES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE IT. >> DASHA, SO EXCITED FOR
>> DASHA, SO EXCITED FOR FOOTBALL SEASON.
FOOTBALL SEASON. LET HIM KNOW WE’VE GOT FAMILY
LET HIM KNOW WE’VE GOT FAMILY FRIENDS WHO NAMED THEIR DOG JOHN
FRIENDS WHO NAMED THEIR DOG JOHN ELWAY, THEY LOVE THE BRONCOS SO
