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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 Kings Jerseys China . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Custom Kings T-shirts . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. http://www.customnhlkingsjersey.com/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Cheap Kings Jerseys . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Custom Kings Jerseys . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. CHICAGO -- Kyle Hendricks began the season as the Cubs No. 5 starter. Hes on pace to finish it as the major leagues ERA leader and -- if manager Joe Maddon has his way -- potentially with an even bigger trophy.Hendricks threw seven dominant innings to lower the majors best ERA to 2.09 and Anthony Rizzo homered to lead the Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night for Chicagos 21st victory in August.He has to be in Cy Young contention, Maddon said. Put the radar gun in your back pocket and look at what hes doing. There has to be strong consideration, not just consideration.Hendricks (13-7) allowed three hits and has given up three or fewer runs in 18 straight starts. He didnt allow a hit until Gregory Polancos bloop to left-center in the fifth and faced the minimum 17 batters until John Jasos two-out double in the sixth.Not bad for a guy who doesnt often hit 90 mph with his fastball.Hes not the guy whos getting away with plus-plus stuff. Hes just executing his game plan and he knows how to attack hitters, Rizzo said. He studies hitters and he went to Dartmouth and he has a really good education. So he out-tricks guys.Rizzo belted a two-run homer off Chad Kuhl (3-2) in the first and Miguel Montero added an RBI single an inning later as the Cubs improved to 84-47 despite only five hits.Carl Edwards Jr. worked the eighth and Aroldis Chapman hit 103 mph in a perfect ninth to finished the four-hitter for his 31st save. The Cubs improved to 21-6 this month, one win shy of the best August in franchise history set in 1932.Hendricks is well ahead of No. 2 Madison Bumgarner of San Francisco (2.49) in the ERA race. He only struck out four, but the Pirates had little solid contact as he kept them off-balance with a mix of pitches, including two- and four-seam fastballs.My fastball command was really good, Hendricks said. My curveball may have been the best its been all year. I threw a lot of good ones today.Andrew McCutchens one-out single in the seventh was the other hit off the right-hander. Hendricks is seeking too become the first Cubs pitcher to win the major league ERA title since Bill Lee in 1938.ddddddddddddSince Sept. 1, 2015, Hendricks is 18-7 with a 2.25 ERA, Cy Young Award-type numbers.Where I was at last year and my goals coming into this year, what I was trying to do, I definitely didnt see myself as being a part of that, Hendricks said. I had my sights set a little lower.Kuhl, in his ninth major league start, allowed three runs and four hits in five innings as the Pirates lost their second straight after winning four in a row.Jordy Mercer doubled with two outs off Edwards in the eighth before pinch-hitter Matt Joyce flied deep to center to end Pittsburghs best threat.The Pirates fell 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card as they flailed away against Hendricks.The command, the execution, manager Clint Hurdle said. I thought I was back in 1987 with Greg Maddux on the mound.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (elbow inflammation) played catch, a day after being put on the 15-day disabled list. He could return as soon as Sept. 9. Hopefully, (the rehab) will go quickly, Cole said. . INF Jung Ho Kang (shoulder), working out with Indianapolis, is expected to begin an official rehab stint with the Triple-A team this week.Cubs: RHP John Lackey (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Thursday. If it goes well, he could start Sunday vs. San Francisco.SUSPECT FIELDA large chunk of the outfield in center and right fields was re-sodded and looks chewed up after Wrigley Field hosted Pearl Jam and Billy Joel concerts while the Cubs were away.Its like a field after a concert, RF Jason Heyward said.UP NEXTRHP Jason Hammel (13-7, 3.21) was moved up to start Wednesday nights series finale against RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-3, 3.02). LHP Mike Montgomery was pushed to Thursday. Hammel was lifted after allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings Saturday. He wants to get back out there, Maddon said. ' ' '