Where do we start?
I want to address my friend TerpsFan. First of all, go Terps. Just wondering what class we had together back in the day. Tell me a little about yourself.
I guess we can get right down to what people really care about: the start of camp. It’s camp. Everybody has things in their job that are not quite their favorite. This is the toughest time of the year for coaches and players, and our day starts at about 7:30. That’s what time I get up.
I normally go to bed around 10, get home around 9:30, so it’s a pretty long day we spend over here. It’s not always a lot of fun, but the great thing is you get to spend a lot of time with your teammates. It’s when you start to build that team bond.
One of the real exciting things for me is to get to meet the fans. We get to practice right in front of the fans, we’re real close to them, and I’m not sure, but I think we’re one of the few professional teams that are that close. I think we’re about five yards from our fans throughout the course of the entire practice.
And we get to interact with them, it’s really fun. If you get here early, you get to witness the Nick Ferguson show every morning during warm-ups. Nick gets a little crowd participation going, gets some chants going. Today I think he got the wave. Gets the crowd real riled up before practice. It’s a lot of fun. We’re fortunate to have guys like Nick.
I think most of our team really, really appreciate the fans, and like having them out here, and like being able to be this close to them and interact.
I’m hoping that some of the “blog nation” I guess it would be called can make it out if you haven’t already. Feel free to yell at me; I’ll give you a wave or something. So that I know who you are you gotta go by your blog name though, because I don’t know anybody’s real name.
And as far as practice is going, I think all the expectations that we have had this year are still as high as they’ve ever been And they’re probably rising, just seeing how well everybody’s coming together, especially defensively.
I think we’re finally starting to work through all the kinks, and starting to feel comfortable in all the things we have to learn individually, and starting to jell as a team.
Personally, it’s been a lot for me to learn. Right now, I’m still learning all the techniques and defenses from a corner’s perspective, a nickel’s perspective, free safety and strong safety’s perspective. There’s a lot on my plate, and still having to be focused on special teams because Scott O’Brien, our new special teams coach, is a stickler for details. You can really tell that he’s serious about getting special teams right. And that type of stuff carries over to the entire team, and everybody is, I think, a little more focused on special teams this year than we have been in the past.
For the next couple weeks, it’s going to be more of the same. We’re able to get in pads for most of the practice, and start to hit, which is always kind of a double-edged sword. We all play football because we’re not afraid of contact, and we might actually enjoy it. But those first couple hits, you start to feel them in your neck and in your back and in your shoulders. No matter how long you’ve been playing, those first couple days of hitting, it’s rough to get into the groove.
I laid a big hit on Brandon Stokley yesterday. I was really ticked off. Midway through yesterday’s practice, I was having fun, everything was going good, and I was pursuing to the ball full speed and Nate Jackson gave me a solid hit, right in the back. It didn’t hurt so bad, but it just ticked me off because he hit me in the back, so it put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
I never could find Nate again, but I ended up taking it out on the rest of the receivers and tight ends or running backs I could get my hands on. I had to hand out a few apologies afterwards.
I think I threw number 16 (Marquay McDaniel) into the crowd a little bit because I was trying to get my hands on Nate and he was the closest man.
I think I gave Mike Bell a nice blindside hit and gave it to him pretty good. And then to end off practice, I really, really got underneath Stokley. I felt bad because he’s gonna be an important part of our offense this coming year, and I definitely had to apologize. It was completely clean, but I gave him all he wanted and lifted him off his feet.
The fans liked it, but I don’t know if they really liked it, or if it was one of those sympathy things. Like because we’re on defense they feel like they have to cheer for us sometimes.
It was probably more of an “ahh” than an “ooh.” I’m not sure.
But we’ve had some big hits out here since practice has been going on, which all the fans enjoy. It’s tough, though, because fans really like offense. And they pretend like they like us on defense, and they cheer every now and then when we make a play, but they really want to see somebody beat us and score a touchdown. That’s really what they’re out here for.
But fortunately, we have a lot of big-name superstars on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary, and the fans enjoy seeing them.
I actually think I caught about three or four fans cheering for Champ tying his shoe, which is a true story. It’s amazing.
Every time I think that the love for Champ has reached its peak, somebody else pushes it to the limit and it reaches a new high.
The man was tying his shoe. “Way to go Champ, good job tying your shoe!” is verbatim what I heard. Then about five or six fans jumped on the bandwagon, “Yeah, Champ!” which is hilarious.
We have a really good time out here. One of the good things about us spending so much time together is we get to make fun of each other, which is one of my favorite things to do.
Myself and Hamza Abdullah, I think, have been named the resident jokesters of the team. When we get a break, we normally just sit at our lockers, which just about everybody has to pass our lockers to get to their locker. We just sit there and everybody walks by, and we got a joke or two for them.
About 10, 20 minutes in, we get a little crowd, and everybody wants to sit by us. I don’t know if it’s to get laughs, or if it’s in order to dodge the jokes because they’re not directly in our line of sight.
But camp is a fun, but not fun time. It’s good hard work and you feel good about yourself every night, like you’ve gotten a lot accomplished, which is good. You get a good night’s sleep.
The food — I guess it’s tough to properly season food when it’s mass-produced. That’s also difficult to deal with. It’s really hard when some of the veteran guys don’t have to do special teams, so when we have a special teams practice, they all leave the Dove Valley facility and come back with Cheesecake Factory bags full of delicious snacks while we’re in here eating the same goulash that we had the day before.
I mean, everybody loves a good leftover, so that’s one thing about here, you get delicious leftovers often.
I think we got Swiss steak yesterday. I don’t know the Swiss people, but if that’s what they call steak, I feel really sorry for them.
But that’s just me being a good jokester, like I’ve been known to do, because I recognize that our food staff works really hard, and we really do appreciate it. It’s just a joke.
Tags: Brandon Stokley, Champ Bailey, Food, Hamza Abdullah, Marquay McDaniel, Mike Bell, Nate Jackson, Nick Ferguson, Scott O'Brien, Training Camp
Do you really understand as a player not from colorado how much the fans actually do love you guys. I happen to love you guys like family, and I want to see you suceed. I would really like your feelings and the fans here, and if there different or not from other ones.
Hey Fox,
First off, I’m so happy that camp is back in full swing. I have a sister coming in from Las Vegas and one coming up from Colorado Springs so that we can come watch our boys practice on Thursday. We will be there in full effect!
So happy to hear and read that things are going well. We love you guys and wish you an abundance of success this season!
Blessings,
ChocolateQT
…Oh and I’ve always been partial to Defense so when I cheer it’s “OOOhhhhh”. No sympathy here! Nothing BUT love!!!!!
Hey man! Glad to hear camp is going good! Got another defense lover here. Offense is fun to watch but DEFENSE wins championships! I’m glad you guys appriciate the fans. We love our Broncos!!! Don’t worry, camp will be over before you know it and it will be time for the run to the AFC championship!!!
I haven’t commented before but I’ve been reading the blogs for quite sometime now and I wanted to say I really enjoy them.
I hope to get out to training camp one of these days but I am in the stands for every game and I’ll tell you that I cheer for the defense just as much as the offense. There is nothing like a great hit or a turnover to get me excited!
Keep up the good work!
Hey Fox,
I was able to make it to my first Broncos Training camp this year. I am 23 years old, and I have been a Broncos fan since I was born. My grandpa always wanted to take me to training camp when it was in Greeley, but he fell ill and passed away. Since camp has moved to Englewood, I just never could get out of work to make it out there.
I set my alarm clock Sunday morning for 5:30. I showered, had some breakfast, and made my way to Dove Valley. I was the first person in line. I was stoked.
When they finally opened the gates and I saw your pracitce fields I was amazed. It was just so beautiful. I was in complete awe. I then made my way over to find a good seat. I found a nice lil sectin right around the 40 yard line on your west field. To my suprise you, Champ, Nick, John Lynch, and some other players for the defense came and streched within 5 yards from where I was sitting. I was so extatic. I fely like a lil kid again. Then Nick starting talking to me and the people around me. I couldnt believe that you guys even interacted with the fans like that. Players always say they value their fans, but I had never truly believed them when they said that.
Fox, I wish you the best of luck this season. Thank you for making me believe that I mean something to you and the Broncos. I am going to try to go to camp again next week. I hope I get the chance to a game this year, I’m really going to try hard. Thank you again.
Go Broncos!!!
Domonique,
Hey man I’ll be there for the last Saturday practice on August 11th. I’m a defensive nerd and love it. Played corner/safety in HS so I feel you. Everyone’s looking for that big play and the DB to get burnt. And yes, I’m a Champ fanatic although I don’t think I’d cheer for him tying his shoes.
Anyway, have a great camp and I’ll be yelling at you on the 11th. Remember “Yardo!!!”
Yeah Fox I agree with stormontheplains I really do consider you guys like my family but the funny thing is I am not from Denver I am from Rhode Island aka Pats land with a fam full of Pats fans.They always make fun of the way I am on game day I out on my helmet and my Champ jersey if its orange (only once on sunday night against Oakland in the snow in 2004) I wear orange if Blue i wear blue and if whit i wear white all I need are the home away and alternate blue pants and some socks and I am in the game. Fox last x-mas my Parents orderd 2 autos from you and D-Will from Denver autographs I have them both hangin in my room with my Champ auto. You guys are my insperation to do as good as I can and try my hardest and also to be a good person. ………………………I wish the best of luck and you always have a fan in me through the good times and not so good times.
Foxy,
I’ve always favored Defense over Offense, nothing like a great defensive play but hey, I grew up with the Orange Crush so, who would expect anything less? My Broncos heroes in the 80′s were Tom Jackson and Louis Wright. Elway, he was OK, but I really loved that Orange Crush. Oh, and Foxy, I’m looking forward to our ex-Colt Brandon Stokely playing this season however so don’t beat him up too much before our game in Buffalo!
And you do know, don’t you, how much we really do love you guys? We love you guys! We love our Broncos with all our hearts, just like stomrontheplains says, you are family to us.
I sure had fun at camp on Sunday, too bad we didn’t get a wave going. Did the fans really do the save yesterday at practice? Too crazy! Are we ready for football season or what?
And one more thing, Champ tying his shoes, yes that is reason to cheer! Go Champ! Tie those shoes! Whooo-hoo!
Lisa
aka champ24girl
yo foxworth, thank you for the camp update. i live in utah and so i just live on the computer from now until opening day. its blogs like yours that i love to read, and i appreciate it immensly. oh, and go D, i just live for defense, big hits, int’s, sacks, etc., etc. D is what makes the world go round.
Hi Foxy- I love reading your blog! We are so ready for Bronco season to start here in Denver. This was one of the longest off season’s us fans had- especially after the Darrent tragedy and the way the season ended last year. Our hearts are all with you guys and we wish you the best!!!
Love, JakeGirl (I don’t have my Jake anymore, but I hear this jay guy is pretty good!
What up foxworth thanks for the inside info in to a players perpescetive for what camp is really like. Glad to hear you dishing out punishment just make sure they are already to go kick off on sept 9 We (the broncos) have the best freckin defense I have ever seen I have a friend who likes the colts he says we can’t match-up he says harrison i say Champ he goes wayne I go bly he says rookie anthony gonzeles i say we have foxy he says te clark i say ian he said addiai i say big DJ if we can shut them down we can tear apart anybody and that isn’t even considersing the D line which is bad a$$ going all the way for D-WILL 27# and bronco country
Defense lover here. Keep up the good work, Fox!
Its nice to see that your hitting guys pretty hard. I’m coming down all the way from Northern Wyoming for the pre season game against the Browns so I’ll be cheering you and the rest of the broncos up in section 316. And just like the fellow bronco fans above I love watching you guys play defense way more than offense. Ever since i was 5 or 6 I have been watching every game either on TV or at Mile High or Invesco. Just wondering if you intercept a pass during the game against the Browns can you point toward section 316. you can do it if you want to but you dont have too.
Thanks and Good Luck this season and in training camp.
Matt
Great blog entry Foxy!
I seriously look forward to them every week.
You inspire me to wanna start writing
I was out at camp this morning with my son, my bro and my parents. I like the morning practices because EVERYONE participates…But i think I’ll check out a couple afternoon practices since you’ll be out there workin hard.
It is great when you guys interact with the fans. I got a wave from Mr Bly this morning…It was like we knew each other..haha!
Oh & Mike Bell got brownie points too for giving the ball to whoever he fell on..I couldnt see if it was a kid or what…Im sure it was.
So, I dont like to write too much on here so…anyway good luck with camp, stay healthy.
Oh, and I should be out there for Thurs morning practice, 50 yard line…say hello
Later,
H*~
Fox,
What do you think about the new D? Are the rookies turning any heads? Also, what do you see as your place on the team? I know that everyone wants to start, and that Nickel isn’t were you saw yourself. I want to know what do you see as your niche, is this defense stronger than last year’s?
Hey Fox,
I love the blog. Good up the good work and I hope you wear the orange and blue for a long time.
Man, I wish I could be there in Dove Valley watching you guys so badly!!!! I know I’ll meet you one time Fox! I’ll do it!
About hits in the back, they REALLY tick me off too. For two reasons mainly:
1. It is illegal
2. It is really dangerous
But, if you turned it in to motivation good for you.
Now I do doubt you will answer the question in your next blog, but, is there a position battle with you and Bly or does the #2 CB spot seem out of reach?
Also I got my number last in football because I was goen during number pickings in FLA on vacation. I wanted 22 so bad but I got the worst number ever. I got 93! And I am a CB/WR/K haha
Okay, Wishing you the best of luck!
Jad/champbronc2
Hey Fox,
I want you to know that your blog entries and the tidbits I get from other sources about training camp are the only things that keep me going until the season begins. I live and breathe Broncos football and Im not even in Denver! Im from Houston Texas and I have always been a Broncos fan because of players like you who make the team special. Ill be at the game on December 13 in Houston (I circled it on my calendar the day that the schedule was released). Anyways, keep up the hard work and thank-you for showing appreciation for us fans!
Good blog Fox, Im a fan from vegas and we dont get much media about you guys out here so its good to get the little details keep up the good work.
Hey Fox
man it’s funny how the fan where chreeing on Champ when he was tying his shoes..if i was there i would have done the same thing lol
it nice to hear that everything he going well, but when is Rod going to be able to practice with the rest of the family.
well i’ll be there this upcoming weekend if not this one, next one can’t wait to watch you guys in action.
Hey there Fox,
Another great entry, keep up the good work. I wish I could go to one of the camps this year, but I’ll have to settle for when you guys beat some Raider butt on Sep. 16th! Even though I won’t get to see you all up close (will be on the outer rim of the stadium), it’s still going be a great experience, since this will be my sister’s first visit to a Broncos game. She can’t wait!
Sounds like you had one heck of a practice, I’m sure ‘Graham will get what’s coming to him, haha. As far as how I feel about either the offense or defense making plays; I think they’re all great to watch. I used to be more of an offense oriented guy, but now I enjoy each about the same.
Well keep up that intensity, I know you have a lot in store for us fans this season. Take care and the best of luck to ya, Domonique.
-CB123
Oops, I meant ‘Jackson up there^
Just read this on Yahoo Sports:
“Stokley said he hasn’t even thought about his Achilles’ on the field and actually appreciated a big hit delivered by cornerback Domonique Foxworth toward the end of the morning workout.
“I hadn’t been hit in so long that it was good to get a little pop in there,” Stokley said. “Better Foxy than (John) Lynch.”
I suppose you can always help him out again, haha.
Another question I think many of us would like to know is, are you still running your website?
Hey Fox the insite on camp you are giving is awesome. I love the Broncos period but I want to see the D do so well because the offense is always good. You guys started so well last season!!! I just want to see you guys DOMINATE!!! Shanny always produces good offenses. Even last year when the O was struggling they were averaging 17 points a game. That is a lot of points when the D is playing like you all were at the start of the season. We have the players and the scheme is a proven one. The line looks good (especially with my guy Dumervil) but right now it is just potential. I am ready to see gam action and see what the line does (as far as pressuring the qb) because the LB’s and Secondary has already shown what it can do. Go Fox!!! Go Defense!!! Go Broncos!!! ALL READY!!!!
Trevin aka
Tjames238
Yeah FOX, i know what you’re saying about how everyone wants to see the O, but i honestly think that watching the D this year is going to be more entertaining.. With Champ, Bly and yourself back there i wouldn’t doubt at all that you guys get 20 ints between the 3 of you..
With our new Dline we should be able to create some pressure and that will lead to more rushed throws, thus leading to more INTS.. But with you at nickel cb, no doubt we have the top 3 cbs in all of football.. Keep up the great work, can’t wait for the season to start!!
hey Fox, I’m a lifelong Bronco, grew up going to Mile High and I’ve been living in San Diego for about 15 years… I need a little help man. For the first 12 years I lived here, I didn’t have to listen to any smack talking from Bolt fans because A, they didn’t have any and B, the three they had didn’t have much to talk about… You guys got swept by the Bolt for the first time in forever last year and now everybody seems to think this is a football town, I’m not hearing the end of it. The media, radio, TV and print are the worst homers I’ve have ever heard and seem to already have their chargers penned in as AFC Champs and Big Dance contenders. I need my boys to put a woopin on the Bolt this year, hopefully two of them and help me shut these fair weather fans up…. Go Broncos!!!!
HI FOXY!!!!!!!! i was at camp on sunday and i had so much fun! you guys are so funny and so nice!!!!! while i was sitting there though you almost ran over me and my mom! it was great though! we yelled at you “WE LOVE YOU FOX!!!!!!!!!” i cant wait until friday when i get to go back to camp and watch you guys some more!!!! i will make sure to yell and wave at you!!!!!!!!
-PARIS (the #1 bronco fan!!!)
broncofandiego, they did the same thing up in Seattle before they went over to the NFC, its pretty funny. Show up at Qualcomm, wear your orange and blue, make lots of noise, watch the Broncos win, and don’t say a word on the way out, it’s classy and it drives the home fans bananas. SCOREBOARD!!
Ill be going to the SD/DEN game on XMAS eve. spoiling the Bolts holiday!!!
have fun and Fox,
keep up the great writing and Defense rules!!!
Broncoholic here. I grew up in SD and really enjoyed the sea of Orange and Blue in the stadium during the Super Bowl years. I’m not sure where all these Charger fans came from, but I pormise you they ain’t nothin like Bronco fans. Win or lose we’re with you…just make sure you win more than you lose. ha!
I would never think to root against either the Bronco offense or defense. Although I care more about 3 and outs forced by the defense than I do one burn for a TD from the offense. It’s hard to lose a game when the opposing team doesn’t score.
go bronocos and i will be at you guys pre-season game against dallas……i am the nuber one bronco fan in the world ..laters playa..
Fox, excellent as always. Once the team finds you the starting spot you deserve so much and signs you to a long-term deal, the first thing I’m going to do is get me a 22 jersey. I’ll admit that in the past, I’ve been a big offense guy (But in my defense, at that point, I was seeing TD, Elway, Rod, Shannon, and Eddie at the top of their games behind an all-world offensive line and a fantastic FB in the person of Howard Griffith, can you blame me for loving that offense?) But in recent years, starting with Trevor Pryce and Big Al Wilson, I’ve really come around to loving the Defense again. And from everything I can tell, this defense has a chance to be really, really special. I can’t wait to see how you guys come out of the gate. And for my money, there just isn’t anything better in all of sports than an interception return for a touchdown.
Greetings Domonique
You might just be surprised at how many of us love the defensive players!! Without the defense … offense would be boring. Besides … tightends are not the only players with nice butts
!
You apologize for hitting too hard in practice … Are you serious or was that a joke? What is football about then? The offense? Not a chance! You just keep on hitting!
Hugs Domonique and thanks for your thoughts. Wonderful to see that some of you guys can read and write as well as play football.
Kisses
Penny Sue
Yo fox, this was my first blog of your’s ive read. I usually skip over them, but once i checked it out, i think ill become a usual reader. I live in IL so i cant come see training camp, but i went last year and it was a blast. If i was there id go ahead and give you a holler for tyin your shoe, champ get’s alot of love, and dre is the new kid who everyone is growing close to, but no one else in the secondary is as versatile as you. you mean alot to this team!! just showin the love for my BOYS!!! good luck this season fox!!
Most of us Bronco Fans do not PRETEND! to like Defense. WhiLe I do love the Denver Bronco offense to light up the scoreboard, I also have great, great memories of Denvers Defense. Randy Gradishar, Lyle Alzado, Simon Fletcher, Karl Mecklenburg. Receivers were wide-eyed going across the middle when Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater were lurking back there, ready to punish them if they even thought about catching the ball. Steve Atwater CRUSHING Christian Okoye – the Nigerian Nightmare on Monday Night Football! Head on collision and microphones on the Smiling Assassin! Bronco fans do love defense, Crushing Defense, and we think you are doing a fantastic job. It has got to be much harder moving around from corner to safety and back like that. Like running a triathlon in 100 degree weather all day long, then going in and taking college finals. You gotta be tough. You gotta be smart. Keep up the good work.
Brian in Evans
Hi Domonique,
Please, bottle that anger and save it for San Diego, Kansas City, and Oakland. Then let it all out.
I’m glad O’Brien is getting everybody to pay attention to special teams. One of the greatest DBs in Broncos history was Louis Wright. Once against San Diego he blocked a FG at the end of the game that would have won it for the Chargers. But IT DIDN’T COUNT! The Broncos had called time-out just before the play started! So what happened? They lined-up and did it again. Wright blocked it again and returned it for a touchdown. That was ‘special’ special teams. You ought to cherish the opportunity to play special teams, take advantage of if and embrace the Broncos legacy.
We love our DBs. Everybody remembers Dennis Smith, but one of my favorite DBs was Billy Thompson. We had a special nickname for him. He was a safety in the Orange Crush. He punished recievers and running backs. Every single play.
I’m more excited about this team this year than I’ve been in a long time. The front-office has put a lot of the pieces together to make this a great team, one for the ages. The special teams need to be special, the defense needs to be disruptive, and the offence needs to click but all the pieces are there. Just don’t kill each other in training camp… Save some of that anger for San Diego.
Broncos R Best
Dom,
My name is Jon and I had Women’s Health (Dr. Reynolds) with you during your last semester. I sat in the back corner with you and Emily (Donnie Wood’s ex-girlfriend).
I have lived in Colorado for a little over a year now. I live in the mountains (9,000 ft.) between Boulder and Golden. I work in special education for Boulder Valley Schools. I am doing the Boulder Long Course Triathlon (1/2 Ironman) this Sunday.
Good luck in training camp and don’t have too much fun,
TERPSFAN
Weight Loss Hypnosis…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
Sports Illustrated
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Weather Network
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Travel Search Engines
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
lil kim com
Real Estate Guide
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Weight Loss Guide
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Family Christian Bookstore
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting