We’ve got to start with my man J.R. from Jupiter, Florida.
First of all, I thank FroHawk27 for standing up for me. Appreciate it.
But anyway, something I expect in my position is to have to deal with things like this and respond to it and it’s not something I shy away from. Something my dad taught me about being a man is to take responsibility when you don’t do so well and be proud when you do do well. So I’ve always been willing to take responsibility and I can think of a plethora of plays in games throughout my life from the time I was playing in Pop Warner to now where I wish I had done things differently and I wish I had played better.
The one that comes to mind first is actually my sophomore year in high school. The last play of the game, we were playing against the best running back in the state. He was a really good running back and also a really good linebacker. I was a sophomore, he was a senior. We were really close to beating them. There was no time left, we were on like the 3-yard line.
I was our running back so they handed me the ball and it was just me and him in the hole to win the game. He probably weighed about 210-220 and I was about 135. My ego got the best of me and I decided to try and run him over and score the touchdown.
Didn’t work.
We lost that game and ended up going 1-9 that season. From that experience I definitely learned that you should play to your strengths. And power was not my strength – especially in that situation.
The following season my junior year we were 8-2 and I won a bunch of awards, so I learned from that experience. And I definitely learned from that AFC Championship game my rookie year.
I took a lot of heat for that game, and I don’t mind taking it. It’s part of the game. The only thing is I would venture to say that the criticism I received was unjust.
Football is a complicated, complicated game. When people watch it from the outside a lot of times they try to simplify it and they try to find a scapegoat. I think with most things in life it’s easier to say “this guy messed it up” when there’s a lot more to it than that.
I definitely wish looking back that I would have done some things differently in that game. But to be honest I played 100% within the scheme of our defense. We’d been playing pretty much the same scheme defensively from about Week 6 or so, and it won us 13 games and beat the Patriots the week before.
Different defenses are meant to accomplish different things. So I would say that the Steelers were able to take what we were giving them. I’d say selecting a defense is kind of like buying a car. If you want a real fast car sometimes you have to give up some storage space. So, the same way that having a certain defense has certain weaknesses. We understood that going in and the Steelers capitalized on our weaknesses. So, while to the untrained eye it looked like a certain player wasn’t doing what he was supposed to be doing, it worked exactly the way it was supposed to.
Being a rookie you don’t always have the autonomy to deviate from the plan. While I wish I played better — and all of us do — I also have to recognize that there are ups and downs in a season and in a career and not to let any particular game linger. Thanks for your constructive criticism.
We had the bowling tournament and the offense was able to get their first win in the history of the Broncos bowling tournament. Yay for them. It was a lot of fun.
We have some great bowlers. I think David Terrell was one of the higher scoring bowlers. The best time of the bowling is heckling the coaches and the offense as they go for their final bowls in the championship round. It’s a real good time to make lots of jokes – yelling from the back so you don’t get fired. A lot of coaches came through in the clutch and a lot of offensive guys came though. It’s a lot like INVESCO because we line up down the lane and call out a bunch of names and yell and those types of things.
We got some good laughs at some of the poor technique of some of our bowlers. And it’s also funny when people show up with their own shoes and their own balls and bowl under 100. Coach Slow is pretty funny. He was a pretty good bowler. He was in the championship round and I think he got a spare for his team but as you see him approach it looks like it’s going to be about 500 mph. He throws it as hard as he can but it just eases down the lane. You laugh until it knocks down a bunch of pins.
That’s enough of bowling.
I went to the Black Arts Festival yesterday which was cool. I’ve been all to the art festivals in Denver, actually.
Hamza had his daughter and Nick had his son, so a lot of my close friends on the team are having kids. So I’m officially friendless. I’ll be on the market for new friends and am accepting applications. They’re going to be spending a lot of time with the new babies.
I guess we can leave the hockey team out this week because they lost.
I have a date tonight. I auctioned myself at the Boys and Girls Club Gala. So I have a date with some people that donated some money to the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center. I went for a few G’s actually so I was pretty proud of myself… I think it was around $5,000 or so.
By the way, to lizhunt03, thanks for the book offer. I’ll be in touch. If anyone else thinks they can help these kids or can contribute to building the Darrent Williams Teen Center I’d love to hear from you.
Tags: AFC Championship, Art festivals, Bob Slowik, Bowling, Boys and Girls Club, David Terrell, Hamza Abdullah, Nick Ferguson
Wow, I hadn’t checked the blog since J.R. posted. What a jerk thing to say. Way to respond with dignity and class, Fox. That’s a lot of the reason I’ve enjoyed having you on the Broncos so much, your maturity and the way you carry yourself. And as if that wasn’t enough, you’re also an excellent football player, despite what fools like J.R. might think. Here’s hoping that you stay with the team for years to come.
Wow I almost forgot about this blog! I didn’t think you would update it so frequently. I love it!
Man, I would like to contribute to the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center but living all the way in Ohio it makes things very hard. You are such a great person to do what you do! Like when I got that book from you, and you hand signed it. That was just great.
Friendless, haha, I’m sure you have many friends!!
I’d be your friend but I am only 14 and have never met you before except by email. Sora799@aol.com
I also really like the way you handled criticism. I am going to really think about that this season in football. I’m playing WR and CB and K. I will think about what you said in this blog for sure.
If you happen to read this you mind telling me how I could contribute to the teen center all the way from Ohio?
—Jad
Also that J.R. guy is a real butt….
Hey there Fox. I don’t care what anyone else says… that AFC Championship game was a team loss. You gave it your all (as did many others) and that’s all that counts!
I’ll have to send in my friend application, if I end up moving back to Denver this year, haha. Man… the same thing is happening to me, since we’re the same age. Aw heck, you should just have a Friend Draft!
Have fun on your date tonight. What a great cause!
-C
p.s. what # did you bowl?!
Hey Fox, what a classy response to jj from pluto my friend way to let it roll off of your back. if someone tells you that they have never made a mistake, well then i can show you someone who has accomplished nothing in life. keep your head up.
matt from PA
just so you know Fox, Pittsburgh is BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!
Way to “man up” Fox.
Any mindless jerk can get behind a keyboard and post that kind of BS.
Once again thanks for the updates.
Fox, you’re all class with dignity, integrity, and righteous person. The mocker is what he is a fool. Keep us posted on the latest and have a great 07 season.
Way to go Foxy, I must say that having met Foxy’s mom, the apple has not fallen to far from the tree…
it ws last season during a game at Invesco, (i think it was against the Colts) and a clerk at the Broncos store was sick with the flu, and Fox’s mom was nice enough to run and get this clerk a cup of hot chocolate to help survive the mass of Broncos fans that were attacking the store.. first class family!!
have a great 07 season Domonique!!
Where do we send the apps for your friendship?
Instead of the media solely focusing on the troubled athletes of the NFL, they should highlight intelligent, thoughtful athletes like our Foxworth.
Keep up the good work on and off the field.
–Brent from Utah
Foxy,
You are freakin money. Keep up the hard work and thx for the blogs. JR..you are an idiot. Do you recall champ biting on Ben’s pump fake to H. Ward for a touchdown? Prob not. Cause that was what happened, and that pretty much blew the game open.
James
San Diego
Well I could be your online friend.
Like IM and email.
You’re my role model.
My wife and I have a cheer team, icheer elite ( http://www.icheer-elite.com ). One of our young women also participates in the Bronco’s Junior Cheerleader program. I’ll ask our team if they can think of anything they’d be able to do to help with the new center. It’s a great cause and the perfect way to remember Darrent. Props to you for all you’re doing, Foxy. Class act.
Man I am really enjoying this BLOG Fox!!! With the season several weeks away this really helps my football itch. Way to “man up”! JJ is a bump!! You are a class act. Will you be doing this BLOG throughout the season?
And once again…I’m impressed!
A great player AND a humble spirit…..
Your priceless, Fox.
ChocolateQT
i love reading your blogs! they are my favorite thing to read every week! thank you for writing them!
that was good that the offence got their first win in bowling! but defense DEFINETLY should of won! LOL!
im sorry all your friends are having babies and your “friendless” i will be your friend!
oh and i am very sorry the hockey team lost
Hey Fox,
i will be a senior this year and i play corner. i was just wondering if you could share some tips on baiting a high school quarterback or anything else that could help me play better. your blog is awsome and this season looks like a super bowl season.
thanks
tigerwrestler41
Where do we send our applications??
No, but seriously, another great entry.
Have a great weekend.
H*~
Your blog is very enjoyable to read even for a girl! You will have to keep us up tp date on your hopefully new business venture outside of football. I hope that works out well for you. Real Estate is a great business and can be exciting. I have been in the commercial real estate business for over 8 years!
Look at you going for $5,000, that is awesome and so is the donation!
I am sorry you guys lost in bowling again, maybe next year!
You will have to tell Hamza congrats on his little girl, I have not seen him in over a week. Although I do not know him that well all the time we have chatted it has been a pleasure. I too guess I am now in the market for new friends…LOL!! Hey I can play video games too!
Take care!
Domonique, I understand what your talking about with the whole playing to your strengths, when I played football I would try to run everybody over because all the bigger kids did it, but i realized that if I could just utilize my speed and quickness I would have a better chance. Also I think its great what your doing for the boys and girls club… not alot of pro athletes now a days take time to remember the small organizations and what means most. You are deffinatly one of my favorite players on the Broncs and I look forward to seeing you in action this year. I wish I had one of your jerseys so I could wear it on Sundays when I go to my neighbors house there all Patriot fans and I love to get them rowdy when I wear my Bronco jerseys!!! Anyways keep up the good work Domonique I’m looking forward to the 07 season!
Real Estate Guide…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
Car Donations
The main benefit of donating your car instead of selling it is obvious — you get to assist organizations such as the American Red Cross and many others. These charitable groups can maximize your car’s useful life by using it for such activities a…