The Broncos will practice at the Jets training center all week. The question is what kind of condition the outdoor fields are in after the below-freezing temperatures and last week’s snowstorm. If the fields are frozen, the Broncos may have to practice inside the Jets’ fieldhouse or on their turf field.
“We practice there [Monday],” Fox said. “It will be my first look at it. It’s fairly new. It wasn’t around when I was here. They were still on the other side of the river. I’ve heard great things about the facility. I’ve heard it’s a phenomenal facility. Really, until we look at the fields, test the fields, we brought our grounds people.
“You prefer grass because it saves the players’ legs, but if need be we’ll go indoors or on their synthetic surface.”
Manning said the Broncos practiced outdoors last week. But the fields at Denver’s training center are heated. That is not the case in Florham Park.
The Seahawks will practice at the Giants’ training center, which has a full-length indoor field house. There are multiple grass fields and one turf field, but they probably won’t be available.
“I understand there’s snow on the field and they’re somewhat frozen so we’ll likely be indoors for most of the week,’’ Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We like to get out when we can.’’
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is no stranger to Fox or Manning.
Fox said he first met Wilson while he was the Panthers coach and Wilson was playing at North Carolina State.
“He’s a tremendous young man,” Fox said. “I think what he’s accomplished in a very short time in our league doesn’t surprise me at all. Just his makeup, his leadership ability and the type of competitor he is.”
Shortly after Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012, Wilson was at the team’s training center on a pre-draft visit.
“I was actually in the film room watching some tape and someone brought Russell in,” Manning said. “He was in town for a visit. I had a chance to shake a hand. It was an exciting time in his life, getting ready for the draft. I wished him luck and told him I enjoyed watching his college career.”
Carroll’s first Super Bowl press conference was interrupted by someone who identified himself thusly: “Coach, I’m from the city council.’’ He went on to chastise Carroll for saying he was glad to be back in New York when in fact he was in New Jersey, where the Seahawks will stay, practice and then play Super Bowl XLVIII.
Carroll wasn’t thrown off at all.
“There’s a lot of people on the West coast who don’t care about that,’’ Carroll said. “You’re right. It’s great to be here, we’re going to be playing in New Jersey as well. Even when I was with the Jets we were the New York Jets even though we were playing in New Jersey.’’
GET TO KNOW
Broncos QB Brock Osweiler
Yes, the Broncos have a quarterback not named Peyton Manning.
Denver’s backup quarterback stands 6-feet-8, making him the tallest player currently in the NFL. Drafted in 2012, Osweiler has yet to make a start because Manning has been under center for every game in a Broncos uniform.
However, Osweiler has seen the field on special teams; he unsuccessfully tried to block a game-winning field goal from the Patriots earlier this season.
Osweiler played football and basketball in Kalispell, Mont., and committed to Gonzaga University to play hoops for coach Mark Few before deciding to focus on football at Arizona State.
BOLDFACE PREDICTION
John McEnroe, tennis legend: “Broncos, 24-17. Two words: Peyton Manning.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“He told me he couldn’t help me much on Seattle. That wasn’t one of the Giants’ better days.”
— Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on his brother Eli helping him prepare for the Seahawks. The Giants lost to the Seahawks, 23-0, this season.
SUPER FORECAST
Chance of snow: 30%
High: 36; Low: 32
Considerable cloudiness with a couple of rain or snow showers; winds: 11 mph
Source: Accuweather