A source said that Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen "suffered a blood clot and spent a lengthy stay in a hospital before the Broncos' playoff run." Bowlen, 71, is "battling Alzheimer's and has since returned home" (DENVER POST, 2/6). Bowlen will be watching Super Bowl 50 "on TV in his Denver-area home" (N.Y. POST, 2/7). But Bowlen's fingerprints are "all over" this team (ESPN.com, 2/7).
Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations & GM John Elway is a "rarity in that he's a Hall of Fame player who may be as good behind a desk as he was under center" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/6). Elway "gives everybody in his world the impression that he invented football, perfected it or both." Elway's approach has "produced splendid results for the Broncos since he took over" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 2/5).
Panthers GM Dave Gettleman is "not quite cut from the same cloth as most NFL personnel executives," as his "easygoing, open-minded style has rubbed off on the rest of the Panthers" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/7). Meanwhile, a story on Panthers QB Cam Newton "wouldn't be complete" without mentioning the "ball giveaways to kids" after touchdowns. He also grants surprises like "visiting an auditorium full of children at a local school" (USATODAY.com, 2/7).
