Kenny McKinley: Latest Update and Reaction To the Broncos WR Death

Since the news broke on Monday night, there has just been shock and disbelief as the passing of Denver Broncos' wideout Kenny McKinley.

McKinley committed suicide and for someone who by all accounts was always so happy and a joy to be around, the news couldn't be any more shocking. Yesterday, members of the Broncos' organization and some of the people closest to McKinley spoke to the media about their reaction to the tragedy.

Inside you'll find those reactions along with some news updates about the incident.

Reaction: Friends

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to facing the Arizona Cardinals during preseason NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Card

Brittany Boyd, the wife of former Broncos running back Cory Boyd commented about the sheriff's report that said McKinley had mentioned suicide before Monday's tragic incident.

"If it had been said to me, I probably would have been like, 'Yeah, whatever, Kenny.' It would have completely gone over my head," Boyd told the Associated Press. "That's not the type of thing he would say and if he did say it, that's not the type of thing that you would take seriously coming from him.

"Because of his personality, because of who he is, nobody would have ever believed he would have done it."

Reaction: Friends

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos makes a reception and cornerback Greg Toler #32 of the Arizona Cardinals tries to strip the ball away during preseason NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3,

Boyd went on to tell the Associated Press that McKinley showed no signs of depression, but she could tell that he was struggling with not being able to play football or be around his teammates.

However, she said she felt that he wasn't struggling with it to the point where anyone needed to be concerned for his safety.

Reaction: Teammates

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DENVER - AUGUST 30: Wide reciever Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos makes a reception against the Chicago Bears during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 30, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Bears defeated the Broncos 27-17.

Those who played with McKinley just could not stop talking about how friendly and happy he was as a person.

"I actually saw Kenny a week and a half ago. He was over here picking up some stuff out of his locker," Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard said in an ESPN.com report. "He was always a guy that used to love to joke with me and I would joke back and forth with him. But he had a big smile on his face. He just walked out of the building.

"And that's the last thing we remember, that huge smile. Like coach said, he always showed every tooth in his mouth, just smiling and being happy."

Reaction: Teammates

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DENVER - AUGUST 30: Wide reciever Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos makes a reception against the Chicago Bears during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 30, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Bears defeated the Broncos 27-17.

The praise for McKinley didn't stop with those comments as more teammates praised McKinley's personality.

"We became so close so quickly," said former Broncos quarterback Tom Brandstater in a Denver Post report. "And although it was an unlikely bond, it was as tight as you could get."

His teammates also spoke of how down to Earth and polite McKinley was as a person.

"I think of one moment where he had everybody on the team come over for a cookout and there were a couple of guys in front of his house making a lot of noise," Wesley Woodyard said in the Post report. "And he was like, 'Hey, man, you guys come inside. I've got neighbors, and you guys have got to be respectful.' "

Reaction: Coaches

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - SEPTEMBER 21: Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniel addresses the media during a press conference to discuss the death of Bronco wide receiver Kenny McKinley at the Denver Broncos Headquarters at Dove Valley on September 21, 2010 in Eng

One of the hardest members of the Broncos organization hit by the news of McKinley's passing was coach Josh McDaniels, who drafted McKinley.

McDaniels struggled through the press conference yesterday, choking back tears as he spoke of his player to the media.

"I'm not sure any one of those kids, enjoyed the phone call [to be drafted] as much as Kenny did," McDaniels said to the media.

News Updates

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - SEPTEMBER 21: A poster is placed on the plaza outside stadium for fans to sign in memory of Denver Bronco wide receiver Kenny McKinley at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 21, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. McKinley, 23, was found dead i

According to the sheriff's report on the incident, McKinley was found in his room with a pillow over his head and a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol on top of it. There was also the smell of freshly burned marijuana in the room.

When McKinley was found, the NFL Network was on the TV in the room.

News Updates

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos drops a touch down pass in the end zone broken up by cornerback Greg Toler #32 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL preseason game at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denv

The report also said that the wideout was was taking 500 mg naproxen tablets, which is a type of anti-inflammatory called NSAID.

There were no other medications listed on the report.

News Updates

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - JUNE 12: Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos participates in minicamp practice at the Broncos Dove Valley training facility on June 12, 2009 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Prior to the incident, McKinley had brought his son into town from Columbia, S.C., on Sunday so the two could spend time together. During that visit, no one noticed anything odd about the tone of the visit.

"He was just excited about having his son here. He showed no signs of depression, no signs of awkwardness. He was 100 percent himself," Brittany Boyd said to the Associated Press. "He was 100 percent Kenny, laughing and joking, playing. And he was absolutely normal, he was fine."

Record Holder

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Linebacker Brandon Spikes #51 and defensive end Justin Trattou #94 of the Florida Gators bring down wide receiver Kenny McKinley #11 of the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 15, 2008 in Gaines

McKinley is South Carolina's all-time leading receiver with 207 catches for 2,781 yards. The wideout returned to visit the Gamecocks for their matchup against Georgia.

During that visit, his former coach, Steve Spurrier, noticed nothing different about his player.

"No, all of our players said the same thing. When he was here, he was happy, smiling, the usual Kenny," Spurrier said to the media during a press conference.

NFL Career

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos drops a touch down pass in the end zone broken up by cornerback Greg Toler #32 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL preseason game at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denv

McKinley played in eight games as a rookie  with seven kick returns for 158 yards before suffering a knee injury late in the season.

The wideout rehabbed the injury and participated during offseason workouts, only to get injured again in training camp and was placed on injured reserve in August.