DENVER (AP) — The boos only brought out the best in Jerry Jeudy as he returned to Denver.
"They only boo you,” Jeudy reasoned, “when they know there’s something great in you.”
The explosive Cleveland Browns wideout turned in an electric performance Monday night with nine catches for 235 yards — the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team. He also had a 70-yard touchdown in a 41-32 loss to the Broncos.
Jeudy, who played his first four seasons with Denver, was jeered every time he caught the ball. He loved all the noise directed at him, even motioning at times for the crowd to get even louder.
His only regret? The Browns (3-9) couldn't close out the win, as quarterback Jameis Winston threw a pair of pick-6s to go with four TD passes and a franchise-best 497 yards passing.
“Came up short,” Jeudy said. “Got to find a way to finish, find a way to win.”
Jeudy has formed quite a connection with Winston, catching 28 passes over the last four games.
Winston and Jeudy got rolling early against Denver with a 44-yard completion on the Browns’ first offensive play. Jeudy reminded Broncos fans of his vast potential when he caught a deep pass and raced 70 yards for a score. He paused at the goal line before falling backward into the end zone to punctuate the play.
Jeudy, a first-round draft pick in 2020, was traded to Cleveland this spring after an up-and-down tenure in the Mile High City.
“He’s phenomenal. Beginning of the week he knew what time it was," said Winston, who threw three interceptions. "He was hungry, he was prepared, he was ready to get back here and show up and show off. And he did that. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get this win for him, but I’m happy he had a career day. I’m happy he did amazing. He’s an amazing receiver.”
For Winston, it was a game in which many things went right — and wrong.
Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing touchdown with 1:48 remaining. Nik Bonitto also intercepted Winston and took it 71 yards to the house late in the second quarter. Winston became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards with four or more TD passes and two pick-6s.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. "I’ve got to play better.”
The plan by the Browns was to target Jeudy often. They did, too — 13 times. He averaged 26.1 yards per catch.
“Jerry executed the plan really well,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Got him open. Jameis made some throws. It’s hard in the losing effort to feel good about anything.”
No matter who lined up on him, even star Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II, Jeudy found a way to get open.
“It’s always great going against Pat,” said Jeudy, who played at Alabama with Surtain. "He’s a great corner in this league, been going against him my whole life. He’s always going to give you a challenge.”
Jerry said there's no lingering bitterness or animosity toward the Broncos (8-5).
“At the end of the day, it’s football. It’s competitive,” Jeudy said. "Everybody has juice when it’s time to play. Everybody wants to be great. Everybody wants to win. That’s it. No beef.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) celebrates his 70-yard pass reception for a touchdown with wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy reacts after his successful 2-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) celebrates his 5-yard reception for a touchdown with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy waves to fans as he exits the field after an NFL football game against his former team, the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A group led by left-wing activists filed a second impeachment complaint against the Philippine vice president on Wednesday over her alleged misuse of government funds and demanded that she be permanently barred from holding public office.
The impeachment complaint filed by at least 74 activists, including human rights, labor and student leaders, before the House of Representatives reflects the extent of the political hostilities faced by Vice President Sara Duterte. She did not immediately comment on the new impeachment complaint or an earlier one filed Monday.
Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, is the daughter of also-controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte, who oversaw a bloody anti-drug crackdown while in office. The killing of thousands of suspects during the crackdown is being investigated by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity.
Her No. 1 political adversary has been President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom she publicly threatened with death in a Nov. 23 online news conference.
Government investigators have launched a criminal investigation into her threat against the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives, a cousin and ally of Marcos. Duterte has tried to walk back her comments by saying they were not a direct death threat but rather an expression of concern for her own safety.
The complaint filed Wednesday accused the vice president of “betrayal of public trust over the illegal use and mishandling of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential funds,” according to a statement by the complainants.
The impeachment complaint said that in addition to the alleged misuse of the confidential and intelligence funds, the vice president and her staff allegedly tried to cover up the irregularities by submitting fabricated reports, receipts and documents to the Commission on Audit and deliberately obstructing a congressional investigation.
It said that in December 2022, the vice president’s office spent 125 million pesos ($2 million) in 11 days during the Christmas holidays for suspicious expenditures, including renting “safe houses,” paying for unspecified confidential information and financing rewards, which it said were not clearly explained by Duterte.
“Wasting the confidential funds is a big betrayal of the people,” said Liza Maza, a leading complainant from the Makabayan political coalition. “This is not just a simple technical violation but a systematic misuse and robbery of public funds.”
“The impeachment is the antidote to impunity,” said Renato Reyes of Bayan, another left-wing political coalition. “Citizens and taxpayers need to hold public officials accountable.”
On Monday, a group of civil society activists, including Roman Catholic priests and pro-democracy activists, filed an initial impeachment case that contained about 24 alleged crimes and irregularities, including her death threats against Marcos and her alleged role in the extra-judicial killings of drug suspects under her father's crackdown. She was also accused of failing to stand up to Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
The impeachment complaints will be examined by the House of Representatives, which is dominated by allies of Marcos and his cousin and key backer, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who also has been politically at odds with the vice president.
The process could take weeks or months. Congress is to start its Christmas recess on Dec. 20 and resume on Jan. 13. Many legislators will then start campaigning for reelection ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.
The House has been investigating the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds received by Duterte’s offices as vice president and education secretary. She has since left the education post.
She has refused to respond to questions in detail in tense televised hearings. Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in an altercation in Congress over the brief detention of her chief of staff, who was accused of hampering the congressional inquiry into the alleged misuse of funds.
The National Bureau of Investigation subpoenaed Duterte to face investigators on Dec. 11 about her threats against the president.
Marcos and Duterte won landslide victories as running mates in the 2022 election but have since fallen out over key differences. The two offices are elected separately in the Philippines, which has resulted in rivals occupying the country’s top political posts.
Associated Press journalists Aaron Favila and Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report.
House Secretary General, Reginald Velasco, left, receives a second impeachment complaint filed against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday Dec. 4, 2024 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
