The Broncos on Monday lured a three-time Super Bowl champion back to the NFL to help coach Denver’s defense.
The team said it hired Roman Phifer as assistant coach of linebackers. Phifer is a 15-year NFL veteran who retired in 2005. This is his first pro coaching job.
The 40-year-old Phifer won three NFL titles as a linebacker with New England. He earlier played eight seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, two for the New York Jets and was with the Giants when he retired.
• The Broncos also retained Keith Burns as coaching assistant for special teams. Burns has helped coach the Broncos’ special teams the past two seasons. The moves complete Josh McDaniels’ staff for next season.
Rams set season-ticket prices.
Colorado State will not increase prices for the 2009 six-game home football schedule. Sideline tickets top out at $199, compared with last season when $225 also included the Colorado game at Invesco Field at Mile High. End-zone seats are unchanged at $125.
The home schedule includes Front Range rivals Wyoming and Air Force and defending Mountain West champ Utah. Nonleague opponents are Weber State and Nevada.
Season ticket renewals begin Feb. 24. All others go on sale March 2. Payments can be spread out on credit cards. Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Kircus enters into plea deal.
Former Broncos receiver David Kircus is serving two years’ unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid trial on an assault charge.
Kircus pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to misdemeanor assault. He was scheduled for trial this week on a felony assault charge, which carries a sentence of five to 16 years in prison.
Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies said Kircus punched a 26-year-old man in the eye after Kircus was asked to leave a party in suburban Denver in May 2007.
Seven track athletes sign with CSU.
Defending girls Class 5A 400-meter state champ Ashly Lester of Rocky Mountain High School is one of seven track and cross country athletes to sign letters of intent with Colorado State.
Others include Fort Collins distance specialist Miranda Benzel, who led her team to the state cross country title; Poudre sprint teammates Jessie Evitt and Meagan Robinson; Wyoming state high jump champ Cate Brus of Cody; and Montana state sprint champion Whitney Henderson. The lone male is Class 2A 3,200-meter champ Andrew Roberts of Lyons.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
NLL all-star voting underway.
Fans can vote for players for the National Lacrosse League All-Star Game at . The game will be played in Denver at the Pepsi Center on Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased at .
