Before becoming a star on offense or defense, every Denver Broncos rookie will be asked to contribute on special teams.
“It’s just the way the league is,” coach Sean Payton said on Aug. 15. “I think they understand it.”
Even former running back Terrell Davis, now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, earned a spot on the 53-man roster after a big hit on a kickoff during preseason.
“The Terrell Davis story is well known, but there are so many of those stories. There are countless Pro Bowl players who started earning their keep in the kicking game. I think there will be a good tick up this week with special teams, especially for some of those younger guys that know these evaluations are important.”
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders, a third-round pick, will likely have a key role on special teams as a rookie. Denver’s second-round pick, wide receiver Marvin Mims, will make an impact on special teams as a returner long before becoming a primary receiver on offense.
That’s just the way the league works. If you want to win a bigger role on offense or defense, you must first “earn your keep” on special teams.
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