Denver Broncos: “Cold” is the Word Surrounding the Hottest Team in the NFL

Broncos head coach John Fox watches from the sidelines during the game against the Washington Redskins at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports)

Jolly Old St. Nicholas had nothing on John Fox Wednesday. Fox, rosy cheeks and all walking from the team bus to the indoor practice facililty, was back with the Broncos for the team’s first full practice since his heart surgery four weeks ago.

Fox has lost 10 lbs. thanks to exercising “pretty hard” post surgery.

“I definitely missed it,” Fox said. “I have a great passion for it. Missed the guys—that relationship. And then, the football part of it—with the staff and, I mean, the whole building and staff. You miss everybody and it was a lot of fun being back.”

Fox hasn’t made a decision yet whether he will coach on the field or from the press box on Sunday.

“I don’t think it is a tremendous effect one way or another,” Fox said. “I communicate with the same people. I spent half of my career in the press box and another half on the field. I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest with you.”

The forecast for Sunday is a high between 15-18 degrees. Talk about being thrown right into the (icy) fire should Fox decide to coach from the sidelines.

Sunday will be great January practice for the Broncos, and particularly Manning. Manning said that he doesn’t believe he’s a different player in cold weather, but the stats prove otherwise.

"Manning hasn’t won a single game when the game-time temperature has been below 27 (0-5 all-time).” – Chris Bianchi (ESPN Denver)"

Fox quickly came to the defense of Manning when asked about his performance against the Patriots and against the Ravens last January.

“You’ve got to remember they were both almost five quarters—one of them was going into the sixth quarter—losses,” Fox said. “If we won those games, we wouldn’t be talking about weather right now. And we could have easily won either one of those games.”

Regardless of how Manning plays, if the Broncos win (and secure a playoff berth) and remain relatively injury free, that’s the only thing that matters right now.

Let it snow.