ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Linebacker Brandon Marshall said the Broncos want to kill Brock Osweiler -- metaphorically, of course. The Texans quarterback tried to kill his former teammates -- with kindness.The ex-Broncos QB said more than a dozen times during a conference call with Denver media Thursday that he had nothing but love, gratitude, respect or appreciation for his old teammates, organization, coaches, city and its fans.He conceded that maybe he should have chosen his words more carefully when he declared at his introductory news conference in Houston that he chose the Texans over the Super Bowl champs because they gave him the best opportunity to be successful.He defended his decisions to skip the Broncos White House trip and their ring ceremony last summer, saying he was too busy learning a new offense with a new team in a new city to celebrate Super Bowl 50 with them once again.And he said the reason he didnt attend Peyton Mannings retirement news conference was that he was on vacation but did reach out to his mentor, thanked him and wished him well.The Broncos (4-2) host the Texans (4-2) on Monday night in Osweilers first game against the team that drafted him in 2012 and groomed him to replace Manning only to watch him spurn them for Houstons four-year, $72 million offer, about $8 million higher than they were willing to pay.Osweiler, who went 5-2 when Manning was injured last year, said he understands fans shock at his departure from Denver but said leaving wasnt something he did lightly.Im not lying when I tell you, it was the hardest decision of my life, Osweiler said. It was the hardest decision because I have nothing but gratitude, love, respect, appreciation for not only the organization but the fan base, the entire city of Denver because everybody was nothing but great to me in my four years.Osweiler insisted that getting benched during the regular-season finale against San Diego and then watching the playoff run from the sidelines played no role in his decision to sign with Houston.He said he was frustrated at getting pulled at first but quickly came to accept the decision because coach Gary Kubiak always did what was best for the team and I trusted that and I believed in that.And then then final thing I would say on that topic, in the San Diego game, I got replaced by PEYTON MANNING. To make a playoff run. With a great football team. And I think any coach for that matter or any team in the National Football League, if they had Peyton Manning healthy and ready to play, I mean, I think we all know whos going to play in the game.He said his relationship with Broncos general manager John Elway was still great but he did take a shot at the Broncos for not making a contract offer until free agency was about to begin.Many former teammates say they dont begrudge Osweiler for leaving them.I dont think anybody in this locker room cares, honestly, that he left, Marshall said earlier this week. I think everybodys happy that he got his money. When youre a player in this league, youre happy when another player gets his money, when he gets what hes due. So, everybody in this locker room, nobody has any ill will toward Brock.But at the same time, its competition and we want to shut him down, just because its Brock. We know Brock. He came from here and we want to kill him.That comment has stirred a lot of reaction, but Osweiler said he doesnt feel like a marked man coming back to Denver.Osweilers departure 48 hours after Mannings retirement sent Elway and Gary Kubiak on a six-month search for Mannings successor . That ended up being Trevor Siemian, last years No. 3 QB.Osweiler said that while he enjoyed playing in Kubiaks system, the chance to play for Bill OBrien in Houston seemed like a phenomenal opportunity ... I was able to see Peyton play in similar systems in 2012, `13 and `14. Thats why he said the Texans gave him the best chance at success, he said.Asked what the Broncos could have done to keep him, he said: I really dont want to get into hypotheticals or anything like that. Bottom line, Denver had the opportunity to extend an offer. In fact, they had a great, very long period of time to extend an offer.They waited until Manning announced his retirement, and by then the Texans had decided they were going to outbid the Broncos and make Osweiler the crown jewel of the 2016 free agency class.Im not mad at him for anything, Super Bowl MVP Von Miller said. I want him to be the quarterback that the Houston Texans brought him in to be. I just want that much for Brock. I want the world for him -- just not on Monday.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Youth Red Sox Jerseys . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseyschina.com/ .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Red Sox Jerseys From China . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Red Sox Jerseys Outlet . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. DALLAS -- Texas athletic director Mike Perrin joined president Greg Fenves in expressing his support for coach Charlie Strong on Friday and insisted there is no magic number of wins Strong needs to reach this year in order for his third season at Texas to be considered a success.I support Charlie Strong. Hes my coach. Hes a friend. I respect him as a man, Perrin said in a meeting with reporters in Dallas, the day before the Longhorns play rival Oklahoma.?I really cant speculate or answer hypothetical questions here of what might be put before us later in the year. I just cant.When asked specifically whether he would ever make a coaching change during the season, Perrin replied: Thats something Ive never considered.Perrin, Texas athletic director since September 2015, said hes been getting more calls and emails from fans who are greatly in support of Strong than those who arent in favor of him. The former Texas letterman said hes excited about the direction of Texas offense but conceded that the teams struggle in the kicking game in a 49-31 loss to Oklahoma State bothers me, and he called the issues Texas defense is facing troublesome.The Longhorns have given up at least 47 points in three of their first four games. Strong took oover the defense from defensive coordinator Vance Bedford this week.ddddddddddddWhen asked what he would consider a successful season for the 2-2 Longhorns, Perrin offered no specific goal. I dont have a magic number of wins, yardage, honors, he said. I want to see an improved program from top to bottom.He was asked specifically whether eight wins is enough and joked: Eight wins would be, from a math majors standpoint, three more than last year.Fenves, Texas president, posted a message on his Twitter account on Wednesday extending his support for Strong and his players as they prepare for OU and rest of the season.Perrin shared Fenves optimism going into Texas Red River Showdown with the No. 20-ranked Sooners.I feel real good about the people weve recruited the last two years and the coaches who have succeeded at every level, Perrin said. I remain very excited about the football team, I really do. Its Oct. 7. Well be playing for two more months, so weve got a lot of football ahead of us. I havent given up on the football team or any aspect of it. I believe in our players, and I believe in our coaches. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '