On their final day of practice at Dove Valley before heading to Oakland for the season opener on Monday Night Football, the Broncos selected their team captains for 2008.
Champ Bailey and Jay Cutler will again don the big “C” patch on their jerseys, but they will be joined by three more of their teammates as well. Daniel Graham and D.J. Williams will also be captains for the offense and defense, respectively, and Mike Leach will represent the special teams.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan said that the special teams captain will vary from week-to-week.
Though only his third year in the league, this is the second year in a row that Cutler has been elected captain by his teammates. During this afternoon’s press conference, Shanahan said that his quarterback’s youth does not even come into play.
“Well as a quarterback in that third year, you’re not too young anymore, especially when you’re the starter,” Shanahan said. “It just shows the amount of respect the rest of the team has for him.”
Captains are elected solely by the players, and during the open locker room period, Graham, Leach and Williams each spoke about what it means to have their teammates show faith in them.
“When your teammates elect you a captain, it must mean that they respect you and think highly of you,” Graham told reporters. “It’s an honor of me, and I’m happy to be a captain on this team.”
Though this is the first time Williams will wear the “C” patch, he has always been in a position of leadership.
“Especially last year playing the mike linebacker,” Williams said. “That’s kind of like the quarterback on defense.”
Now, his teammates have made it official.
“This year, I was voted team captain so I’m just going to lead to the best of my ability,” said the fifth year linebacker. “It’s definitely a great honor. I’m privileged that my teammates chose me to go out there and lead for the defense.”
And though the special teams captain will change each week, Leach is every bit as appreciative as his fellow captains.
“Well you always want to have the respect of your teammates,” Leach said. “When it comes from them, it means a lot.”
This marks just the second year that the NFL has recognized captains in this manner.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Adam Zinser, Captains, Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams, Daniel Graham, Jay Cutler, Mike Leach, Uncategorized
great choices for captians, i would love to see brandon marshall change his ways and earn that captian spot form graham next year. i think somehting like that would be an honor for marshall and would make him want to be that much more responsable.
I agree – but captain patches are earned, and B.Marsh needs to earn it… It takes more than play on the field to do that.
I thought Nalen will get a C on his jersey, but Graham is a good choice too. I don’t see who else can be a ST captain other than Leach, who deserves it greatly, by the way…
I thought Ben Hamilton would have gotten the ‘C’
Eh well, i like the choices made regardless
If Brandon Marshall acts half as professionally as Rod Smith, he’ll have earned it.
Great choices. My Cutler jersey lives with the “C” for another season. All Ready!
Mike Leech is perfect. He has never made a mistake (bad snap). He completely deserves to be a team captain.
Do they sell the jerseys with the capitain patch on it, i cant find them anywhere, well 2 more days and i get to see the broncos smash the raiders, im from bakersfield so there are alot of raider fans but i support my bronco jerseys flags tattoo everything cant wait til monday night go broncos……
Man j cutler, champion bailey sure do look something fierce with those C’s on there jersey. Scott2212 i agree with yea budd im so ready for us too kick raider fanney. And show the rest of the nfl the raiders are still not as good as us. Us bronco fans are awsome
I can’t wait till Monday. I have a co-worker who is a raider fan, we have a small wager going and with those Capts, I will be eating lunch on him Tuesday. I know we will win cause he said it himself that they won’t win against us, GO BRONCOS!!!!
I live in Sacramento CA and I have broncos a broncos steering wheel cover, license plate frame, and matts in my truck. I wear a Broncos watch and have my company badge on a Broncos lanyard. I get a lot of grief from the plethora of Raider fans in my town, so I can’t wait until Monday night when Jay and the boys take it to the Raiders.
Cant wait for monday, on another note i saw domonique foxworth’s team pic and it felt wrong seeing him in red and black. I dunno not seeing college in colorado with foxworth in it is going to take some time to get used too but i hope him the best i hope he becomes a great corner. GO BRONCOS
I’m not cool like Champ, Cutler, Graham or D.J., but back at Manti High nine years ago, I was the captain of our football team. It is a position of great responsibility. People think it’s just about going to midfield for the coin toss, but it’s much more. Team captains must be leaders not only on the football field, but in the community as well for team functions. All of them will do a great job. A successful season awaits us and thus may we all rejoice! GO BRONCOS!!!
Perfect choices!
Please ask Webster to add 1 more strap to his helmet so the helmet that will be flying will be silver and black! DJ Williams please be easy on us with your contract extension and lets get it done ASAP pls!! One last thing I keep asking and really hope it find it’s way to Slow and Shanahan… pls show some 3-4 looks! We have the personnel. RE: Thomas NT Robertson LE: Peterson LOLB:Dumerviel MLB: Williams MLB: Winborn/Webster/Bailey and ROLB: Moss/Bailey!!! Please just Try 1 snap…it will make every team we play have to prepare more every week and it gets more weight and athleticism on the front 7.
When your teamates are the ones that select you , you have earned the right to be called a captain. Congrats to the 5 Broncos that the other members of the team look up to , it is certainly a great honor.
I saw Hank the Hammer and another progastinator picking the Raiders for Monday night suggesting they have more talent than the Broncos. That may or may not be true. The only thing I know is that the Broncos have something more important this year than talent, they have team. They will earn some of the respect they deserve this Monday night when they put the Raider’s in there place! Go Broncos!
Can anyone tell me what’s the story right now with Nalen? On aug. 20th they said he will ha a knee scope, but I can’t find anything after that. On the Message Board someone said he is on the PuP list, but on the home page he is in the active roster. Please, someone say something useful!
Thanks!
Nalen is still on the 53 man roster. He will not play against the Raiders. I just can’t see him ever playing another down for the Broncos. This knee thing just keeps dragging out like Rod Smmith and his hip problem did. Tom, you’re a future Ring of Fame, maybe even HOF, but ther fat lady has been singing so long her voice is almost gone.
Great choices for captains. I couldn’t think of better choices.
did anybody hear that denver signed dj williams to a five-year, $32 million extension that included $13 million in guaranteed money? i just read that off of the nfl.com web site
i agree with Atwaters da man. just try 3-4 and then go from there
I actually dissagree with you a bit about the 3 – 4.
Look, the broncos have to prove they can stop the run. Prove it to themselves. They have all talked about it, so DO IT!
I say stack the box and play aggressive run defense. Make Russell throw it on you. The “B” boys will be fine. Look, we’ve all heard it for so long. Ever since Bates was let go, everyone said it was the scheme. It didn’t fit the players on the field. EXACTLY! Champ, Bly and Co. are in the business to defend the pass, stop making them stop the run because the front 7 can’t. We’ve fixed that by playing to player talents and not systems. Slovik, knows this.
There’s nothing else to say….stack the box, make them throw and see if the all pro tandum is indeed all pro this year.
Just a thought……..
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Great choice for captains. I have been a die hard Bronco fan since pre Elway days and will forever be a bronco fan