CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- John Elway has no plans to move. He emphasized Wednesday night that "Colorado will always be my home." But what about the Broncos? How are those contract negotiations going? As the Broncos general manager has indicated for months, Elway believes firmly a new deal will get ironed out.
"(It's) good. We continue to work at it," Elway said. "I don't see any problems with that. I don't think there will be any doubt (it will get done before the season begins)."
Elway spoke prior to a gala where he received the prestigious Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award. A record 2,077 people attended the event.
"I am proud and obviously humbled. A lot of great people have won this award. (Owner) Pat (Bowlen) won it. The list is tremendous," Elway said. "For how much support Colorado has given me for the 34 years I have been here, to be able to have the platform of the Broncos and the opportunity they've given me to give something back, it's special. To be recognized with all that Larry (Mizel) and the Mizel Institute has done, it's great to be part of this."
Elway sits three weeks removed from arguably his most important draft. The Broncos missed the playoffs for the first time in six years under his watch last season. The reboot began with new coach Vance Joseph and a talent infusion.
"He's been tremendous with the players. He's going to continue to get better," Elway said. "We are in a good spot right now, but we've got to continue to keep working."
While the Broncos must improve their ability to run the ball and stop ground attacks, attention centers on Denver's quarterbacks. For the second consecutive spring the Broncos feature a quarterback derby. Who, Elway was asked, is leading the competition between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch?
"No lead. We are going to throw it out there and they are going to keep playing. We have a long time to go until we get to that opener in September," Elway said of the quarterbacks, who are alternating the 10 OTA practices with the starting unit.
"Vance and his staff will pick the right guy. We are very fortunate in the fact that we've got two young quarterbacks that can really play. ... It's over the long haul. It's a new offense and Paxton and Trevor have both looked tremendous the first couple of days. It's been very encouraging. Obviously with the football team we have and the strides they are making we are excited with where we are. But we still have a lot of work to do."
Elway continues to keep an eye peeled on the Rockies. As a former New York Yankees outfield prospect, Elway follows the game. He talked with Rockies owner/general partner Charlie Monfort at Wednesday's gala, telling him how impressed he was with Colorado's 31-17 start.
"(Manager) Bud Black has done a hell of a job," Elway told Denver7.
So, too, has Elway. It makes it feel like a formality that his contract will eventually get done.
"This will always be my home," Elway said. "I am not going anywhere."