ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jack Del Rio only wanted to talk about the Cowboys, not the Trojans. In his first for-the-record comments since his names been bandied about as a possible replacement for Lane Kiffin at USC, Del Rio declined Thursday to address speculation he might return to his alma mater. Asked if hed been contacted by USC, the Denver Broncos defensive co-ordinator said, "No. No. No, theres nothing to speak on that subject. Im really here to talk about the Cowboys and our preparation in getting ready for them." That was it. No outright denial of interest. No reiteration that hes committed to seeing this thing through in Denver. Thats how his players see it, though. "We feel like hes going to be here," safety David Bruton said. "We have a great thing going here and weve definitely thrived under his tutelage, so it cant be anything we worry about." The Broncos (4-0), owners of the NFLs stingiest run defence, visit Dallas (2-2) this weekend. Kiffin was fired Sunday and replaced by interim coach Ed Orgeron, but Del Rios name quickly rose to the top of the rumour mill as a potential replacement because of his ties to USC, where he was an All-American linebacker in the 1980s and also teammates with Mark McGwire and Randy Johnson on the Trojans baseball team. There was even an erroneous sighting of Del Rio at LAX Sunday night that set Twitter abuzz, which Broncos coach John Fox got a big kick out of, seeing how he was sitting across from him at a Denver steakhouse celebrating their big win over the Eagles. Earlier this week, Fox said Del Rio, who is under contract through February, was "definitely qualified" for the USC position but was focused on his current job. Asked whether hed allow Del Rio to pursue the position if hes interested, Fox demurred, saying: "Ive seen plenty of job openings in my life in football. Like always, there are 8,000 candidates. Any point that it gets serious and potential, well keep you posted." Although it generally works the other way around, there is precedent for NFL coaches going to the college ranks. Bill OBrien finished out his contract as the New England Patriots offensive co-ordinator before going to Penn State last year. In 2007, Bobby Petrino resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after 13 games to become Arkansass head coach. Del Rio joined Foxs staff in Denver last year after serving as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-11, and the Broncos had the leagues No. 2 defence last year. By returning to Denver this year, he became the first Broncos defensive co-ordinator to serve consecutive seasons since Larry Coyer in 2006. Without having to learn a new scheme, Denvers defenders built upon that foundation and have served as productive partners to Peyton Mannings high-powered offence. The Broncos are outscoring opponents by an average of 45-23 and theyve won 15 straight regular-season games by seven or more points, the second-longest streak behind the 1941-42 Bears (16). Del Rio has done a deft job of keeping the Broncos rolling without their two superstars. All-Pro linebacker Von Miller is serving a six-game drug suspension and perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey (foot) missed the first month of the season. Keep this up and Del Rios name could surface for any number of head coaching jobs in the NFL this off-season. "Thats just the nature of the business," Bruton said. "You expect change and if theres not change, its a great thing." Chatter about Del Rios potential candidacy at USC apparently stops at the locker room door, though. "We dont think or talk about stuff like that," defensive end Robert Ayers said. "Were in the here and now. Thats where he is, thats where we are." Del Rios style is a big hit with the Broncos, Ayers said: "I think hes a great NFL defensive co-ordinator. Hes proven that over his long time here as a great defensive mind in the pro game. And heck, weve done nothing but improve each year. So, his resume speaks for itself." Bruton said that while Del Rio hasnt addressed the USC speculation directly with the players, he certainly doesnt seem distracted at all, and neither do the players. "We know its a business. We know that hes going to take care of it professionally, whatever the situation may bring," Bruton said. "His top priority, and hes definitely shown it, is us." Notes: LB Danny Trevathan was a full participant at practice 24 hours after being carted off the field with a knee injury. ... WR Eric Decker (ankle) returned to practice. ... K Matt Prater was limited with a right calf injury. UGG Boots Cyber Monday UK DEALS. Who knew then that the Bombers would be 2-12 and facing playoff elimination when they returned to Montreal three months later? Watch the game on TSN starting at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. UGG Boots Cyber Monday UK.J. Burnett attempts to bounce back from his first loss of the season this afternoon when the New York Yankees continue their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. http://www.uggblackdriday.co.uk/. -- Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic lost 6-4, 7-6(4) to Americans Jack Sock and Ryan Harrison in a mens doubles quarterfinal at the Sony Open on Wednesday. UGG Boots Cyber Monday UK CHEAP.C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. UGG Boots Black Friday UK Sale. Votto had an MRI on his left knee Friday in Cincinnati and wasnt with the team in Philadelphia for the start of a three-game series against the Phillies.BOSTON - For the Boston Red Sox, bushy beards are so last year. Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship. "It was a pretty cool experience. Want to bottle it up and enjoy it," he said on Thursday, still with his recognizable chin scruff. "Ill start 2014 pretty clean." Some of the Red Sox players already have shaved their beards, but Jon Lester was sporting a trimmed-back style before the 75th annual dinner of the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Designated hitter David Ortiz and outfielder Shane Victorino cut theirs off for charity shortly after the World Series. Manager John Farrell said the rest will soon follow. "Weve come to an agreement that when we get on the field well be cleaned up," he said. All three of the teams recent World Series trophies were on display in the ballroom before the dinner, where former Atlanta Braves pitcher and newly elected Hall of Famer Tom Glavine was to receive the organizations highest honour, the Judge Emil Fuchs Award for long and meritorious service to baseball. Red Sox pitcher John ;Lackey was honoured with the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity.dddddddddddd Other honorees at the dinner were to include: —Miguel Cabrera, the Ted Williams Award for the top hitter in baseball. —Ortiz, the Thomas A. Yawkey Award as the Red Sox MVP. Only Carl Yastrzemski, who won the award six times, has more than Ortizs four Yawkey awards. —Lester, Red Sox pitcher of the year. —Koji Uehara, Red Sox fireman of the year. —David Ross, good guy award. —Craig Breslow, Tim Wakefield Award for a Red Sox unsung hero. —Xander Bogaerts, the minor league player of the year. —Jose Iglesias, Red Sox rookie of the year. —Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram, the Dave OHara Award for his service to the chapter. Farrell was selected manager of the year and Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington was the organizations executive of the year after guiding the team from worst to first. Working toward next season, Cherington gave oft-injured outfielder Grady Sizemore a $750,000, one-year contract this week. The three-time All-Star has not played since 2011. Sizemore, 31, is a .269 career hitter with 139 homers and 458 RBIs. "Everyone knows who he was in his prime," Cherington said. 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