John Elway's much-celebrated 2018 draft class is turning heads at the Broncos' training camp Logan Cooke Color Rush Jersey , particularly ex-SMU receiver Courtland Sutton, a second-round pick whose spectacular catches have become a daily occurrence.

Big applauses also greet draft picks Bradley Chubb, Josey Jewell and DaeSean Hamilton along with another rookie who went undrafted.

Phillip Lindsay , a 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back who was born in Denver, grew up in adjacent Aurora, attended Denver South High School and the University of Colorado and is drawing praises from coaches and teammates.

"No. 2 has shown explosion," coach Vance Joseph said, referring to the rookie by his jersey number.

"He's a shifty little back," said linebacker Todd Davis. "He can definitely make people miss."

"We're definitely going to have some things planned for Phillip," predicted Von Miller, who sees Lindsay carving a niche in a diverse backfield that includes veteran Devontae Booker, second-year speedster De'Angelo Henderson and rookie draft picks Royce Freeman of Oregon and David Williams of Arkansas.

Lindsay is leading the way in plays that draw reactions from the crowd.

"Guys like that in the league, you just can't cover them," Miller said. "They're just assets to the offense. You have to have a back like that and we definitely have one."

Uninvited to the NFL combine and bypassed on draft weekend A.J. Green Jersey , Lindsay signed a contract with his hometown team that would pay him $480,000 this season and included a $15,000 signing bonus.

By comparison, Freeman's signing bonus was $997,020 and Williams' was $93,900.

A Colorado alum himself, Joseph was no stranger to Lindsay's talents.

"It's hard to believe he didn't go to the combine," Joseph said. "Obviously he's a Buff, so I've watched Phillip for three years as a starter in a major conference. He was a great player. We were all surprised he didn't go to the combine, and obviously signing him as a free agent was tough because we drafted two backs. We pursued him heavy and he stayed home."

Lindsay's college coach, Mike MacIntyre, said he has no doubt his former pupil will make it in the NFL because of his versatility, tenacity and willingness to make the most of any morsel of playing time he gets.

"In college he covered kicks, returned kicks, he could play on all four big phases Davante Adams Jersey Youth ," MacIntyre said. "And then he's a guy that can catch the ball really well, so he could be a third-down back. He's a guy that could block well, could run well, so when you take him to the game, even if he doesn't play a lot of running back early, he's going to play a lot of plays for you. So he's valuable for you as a coaching staff and a team.

"He'll be the special team coaches' dream, I promise you that."

MacIntyre got that right.

"I love Phillip," Broncos special teams coordinator Tom McMahon declared. "Phillip works his butt off."

He garnered the nickname "Tasmanian Devil" in college because of the frenetic energy he brings to the team as the undersized underdog he's been all his life.

"I always bring a chip on my shoulder, not because I'm mad but because I know what I have to do," Lindsay said. "For me, I'm a running back that's 5-8 and 190 pounds and I have to go and get my respect for the NFL now."

It's nothing new.

"I mean, since when have I not been the underdog?" Lindsay said.

NOTES: In honor of owner Pat Bowlen and his wife, Annabel, both of whom are fighting Alzheimer's, the Broncos handed out purple towels to their fans and wore purple-and-gray T-shirts Saturday to raise funds and awareness of the disease. ... The Broncos will hold a 45-play scrimmage Sunday.

Mitch Kupchak is confident Michael Jordan’s Hornets will become an NBA playoff team again soon Kevin Hogan Color Rush Jersey , possibly even next season.

But just how he intends to help Charlotte get there remains unclear – for now.

The Hornets new general manager and president of basketball operations said during his introductory news conference Tuesday this is a job he coveted. But the 63-year-old Kupchak was vague when it came to pressing questions surrounding the futures of the franchise’s top player Kemba Walker, eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard and coach Steve Clifford – as well as whether the team needs to undergo a complete rebuilding process.

”I’m limited in my knowledge other than what I have seen on TV and learned in the last 48 hours,” said Kupchak, who accepted the job on Sunday. No details have been released about the terms of his contract.

He helped the Los Angeles Lakers win seven NBA titles and has spent 30 years as a front office executive, including 17 as the Lakers’ general manager.

He hopes to build a winner in Charlotte too – with Jordan’s help.

”I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek out his opinion,” said Kupchak, adding that Jordan is arguably the greatest player ever to play the game.

Kupchak said Jordan is still very passionate about not only the NBA game, but the college game as well – and keeps up on the talent.

”I hope that most of the time we are on the same page and there may be a couple of times we are not,” Kupchak said. ”He may look at me and say, `You know Mitch, we don’t see eye-to-eye on this but you do what is best.’ Or he maybe he will look at me and say, `Mitch we don’t see eye-to-eye on this one but this is my decision.’ And that is his right as an owner.”

In Los Angeles, Kupchak inherited a roster from Jerry West where he acknowledged ”the cupboards were full.”

Behind Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers became a dynasty.

Things are little different in Charlotte, which lacks the glitz of a big market like Los Angeles Youth Troy Niklas Jersey , the talent of a Golden State and the history of franchise like Boston.

Kupchak inherits a team with 10 players under contract next season leaving the Hornets close the luxury tax threshold – making turning over the roster a little difficult.

Charlotte’s most tradable commodity is Walker, who has played in the last two All-Star games and is making just $12 million a year with one season left on his contract before becoming a free agent.

Walker is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, but he’s also stated that he would prefer to win playoff games rather than go through a rebuilding process.

”I like a player that doesn’t want to be somewhere where they’re going to lose,” Kupchak said. ” … I know he’s had an All-Star year. It’s tough to answer the question with any certainty.”

He said the same goes for the 32-year-old Howard, who rebounded from two lackluster seasons in Houston and Atlanta with a solid campaign this season for the Hornets averaging 16.7 points, 12.4 rebound and 1.6 blocks in 80 games played.

Howard played for Kupchak in Los Angeles when he was GM there, and Kupchak said he didn’t want the big man to leave for Houston as a free agent.

He said he’s watched Howard play recently and likes what he’s seen.

”He is as lively and energetic as I have seen him play in years and years and years,” Kupchak said. ”I know next year is the last year of his deal so there is some uncertainty with some of the players going forward.”

There is also uncertainty surrounding Clifford’s future.

Charlotte has made the playoffs twice in five seasons under Clifford, but has never advanced out of the first round. Clifford missed a large portion of this past season dealing with headaches related to sleep deprivation.

Clifford spent one season with the Lakers and Kupchak felt at that time he had head coaching potential.

But when asked directly about Clifford’s future with the Hornets, Kupchak struck a popular refrain, saying he just got the job two days ago, ”so in all fairness I have not had the time” to assess.

As for whether the Hornets need to rebuild, Kupchak said, ”I don’t know if that is the right word or not. I think our actions in the next three months might answer that question.”

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