BOCA RATON, Fla. — NFL coaches and general managers arrived at the Boca Raton Beach and Resort Club prepared to enforce rules, talk shop and perhaps slip in a round of golf.

The question on a tee: How are the Broncos going to defend their Super Bowl title with uncertainty at quarterback? Few executives believe the Broncos are done at the position after acquiring Mark Sanchez for a conditional seventh-round pick.

Even the Broncos insist it is the first step in a process. Potential competition for Sanchez offers intrigue. Yet patience stood as the operative word Sunday for the Broncos. The trade for Sanchez allowed them to put down the Bat Phone, to silence the alarms, to take a deep breath and assess the situation with caution.

The connection to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains. Denver likes him for well-worn reasons. The Broncos hosted Kaepernick before the 2011 draft. They considered drafting him, and watching him during joint practices last summer at Dove Valley enforced opinions about his athleticism. But the Broncos have a quarterback, Sanchez, who is capable of running coach Gary Kubiak’s system for a team defined by its defense. While the Broncos want someone to push Sanchez for the starting job, they’re not inclined to surrender a second- or a third-round draft pick.

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Why? Kaepernick’s $11.9 million salary this year becomes guaranteed April 1. San Francisco has said it will keep him, if necessary. Skepticism remains. Denver would prefer to take a chance on Kaepernick as a free agent. The Broncos continue to explore all options, including Houston’s Brian Hoyer and the draft. Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Memphis’ Paxton Lynch could be available when the Broncos select in the first round, or in Prescott’s case, the second.

The Broncos’ pursuit of a quarterback is methodical. Having one in place continues to influence the pace of finding another.

Footnotes. The NFL’s competition committee will discuss proposed changes, including the ejection of a player for two personal fouls and the banning of all chop blocks. … Determined to win, Super Bowl MVP Von Miller begins “Dancing With the Stars” competition Monday. Miller has yet to sign his exclusive franchise tag, which guarantees he will be a Bronco this season at a salary of about $14 million. If a long-term contract isn’t completed over the next month — the sides have until July 15 to strike a deal — it’s possible Miller won’t attend the beginning of Denver’s offseason workouts April 18.

Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or @troyrenck