Boswell not unknown to Broncos’ Kubiak

DENVER – Steelers placekicker Chris Boswell might have been an unknown in Pittsburgh prior to signing with the team following Josh Scobee’s release in October.
But Boswell, who made 29 of 32 field goal attempts for the Steelers, was well known to Denver head coach Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak’s son, Klein, was a wide receiver at Rice University where he also doubled as the team’s holder on extra points and field goals. The kicker he held for was Boswell. The two were roommates for three years.
“I know the family very well,” said Boswell.
Klein Kubiak now works as an advance scout for the Broncos and was at the New England-Kansas City game Saturday, so the two didn’t get an opportunity to meet on the off day.
“We’ll see each other a little bit before the game,” said Boswell. “He’s supposed to fly back that morning.”
When the Steelers hosted the Broncos last month at Heinz Field, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning was still sidelined with a foot injury.
That didn’t stop the future Hall of Fame quarterback from signing autographs for Steelers fans before the game.
One thing he wouldn’t sign, however, was a Terrible Towel.
“I signed for a ton of Pittsburgh fans that day. I think it’s wrong for me to be signing their towel,” said Manning, who will start for the Broncos against the Steelers. “That’s their towel. I don’t sign Giants hats. I see people that have a Eli (Manning) signature on a Giants hat and I’ve said, ‘Hey, that’s his team.’ That’s what he should be signing for.
“I signed tickets and I’ve signed a lot of different things in my lifetime. I’ll sign a towel, but it’s the Pittsburgh Steeler towel. That’s reserved for (Terry) Bradshaw, Ben (Roethlisberger), (Lynn) Swann, Franco (Harris) and (John) Stallworth. That’s their towel. I’ve signed a lot of orange in my lifetime going back to Tennessee and here with the Broncos. I’ve signed a lot blue and a little bit of green back in high school. I think the Terrible Towel is for Pittsburgh Steelers.”
The Broncos were upset following that first meeting with Pittsburgh, after Steelers center Cody Wallace barreled into safety David Bruton near a pile of players and delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Wallace was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and fined by the league, but the Broncos haven’t forgotten the play.
“It’s not going to be anything as far as cheap or anything, (but) we’re going to get him between the lines, between the whistles,” said Denver safety Darian Stewart. “He’s going to be sore after the game. That’s how I see it. He comes out on a screen, he better not come at (me). I’m cutting him. That’s where I’m at with it.”
The Steelers, who just played a physical rematch with Cincinnati last week, were upset with that talk.
“I thought bounties were illegal,” said guard Ramon Foster. “They’re sending shots or warnings. I don’t understand that. For a guy to put that out there, I find that unnecessary.”
Wallace, who was fined $23,000, understood the Broncos’ displeasure.
“I knew at the time it happened that I was in the wrong,” he said. “The league handled it the way they wanted to, and I paid my fine. Just move on and see what happens.”
There have been nine head coaches who have led their respective teams to the No. 1 seed in the postseason in their first season with that team, including Denver’s Gary Kubiak.
Those coaches went 6-2 in their first playoff game, with the Steelers’ Bill Cowher (1992) being one of those losers.
Denver’s Red Miller won his playoff debut in 1977 against the Steelers, 34-21.
The Steelers are 4-0 in AFC Divisional Round games with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback and 2-0 under head coach Mike Tomlin. … Denver has played Pittsburgh more times (7) than any other playoff opponent. The Broncos lead the playoff series, 4-3. … The Steelers are 15-8 all-time in AFC Divisional games. … Roethlisberger needs 121 passing yards to move past Terry Bradshaw (3,833) for the most in team postseason history. … Roethlisberger is 11-5 in playoff games. Manning is 11-13.