The Broncos had to come into work on Christmas day, but Head Coach Mike Shanahan cut the team a little break. Practice was moved up an hour to end at noon, and the players didn’t have meetings afterward.

So what were the players going to do with the extra time on Christmas afternoon?

“My wife and I, we’re going to open up some presents that we got each other, and we’re going to decorate cookies — kind of start our own traditions for when we start a family,” Brett Kern said. “Then her sister and brother-in-law are driving from Ohio, went non-stop all through the night, so they’re coming in tonight and we’re going to have a little Christmas ham dinner. I’m looking forward to it.”

Cory Boyd said he wasn’t leaving the facilities right away, but he’s certainly ready to kick his feet up a little later in the day.

“To be honest with you, I’m about to go in there and watch some film of the day’s practice, then I’ll probably get on the bike a little bit and run,” he said. “Then I’ll go home, be with the fiance and just relax today. Then get back to work.”

Kenny Peterson said his family is too far away to fly into town, so he’ll hang out with some of his friends on the team. He also had the right idea — find the house with food.

“I’ll probably go to Ebenezer’s house or somebody who cooked.”