Philip Blake’s story has been well-covered.
The Baylor offensive lineman grew up in Canada, playing one year of high school football — his senior year.
Immediately he knew it was the sport for him.
But getting to play it at a Division I college was quite a process.
“It’s a long story,” Blake smiled.
He started by playing two years at Champlain Regional College in Quebec, Canada, and got recruited by Baylor Head Coach Art Briles and his staff.
The NCAA clearing house didn’t accept his high school and Canadian regional college grades, so he thought going to a school without football for a semester — University of Houston-Downtown would allow him to transfer to Baylor.
But he wasn’t academically eligible to play at Baylor, so instead he spent a year-and-a-half at Tyler Junior College in Texas, graduated and then joined the Baylor Bears as a 23-year-old sophomore.
“The funny thing is I wasn’t even the oldest on the team,” said Blake, now 26.
As the lineman said, it’s a long story, but he doesn’t mind telling it.
“It’s my story, so I don’t get tired of it,” he smiled.
After all that, Blake is now a Denver Bronco, and he’s been lining up at center during the team’s rookie minicamp. He doesn’t know if that’s where he’ll line up once the veterans join the fray, but he said he’s happy to play wherever the coaches want him.
“He has played multiple positions, so he understands offensive line play throughout,” Head Coach John Fox said after the 2012 NFL Draft. “I thought he was an excellent pass protector as far as when he got his hands on you, you weren’t going very far.”
The mild-mannered Blake said he flips a switch when he gets on the field — “I guess you can say I change,” he said, — and he’s anxious to start playing alongside quarterback Peyton Manning and the rest of his teammates.
“I try to stay humble through it,” he said. “A lot of my friends or ex-teammates always tell me, ‘You played with RGIII (Robert Griffin III) and now you’re possibly going to play with Manning,’ but I don’t think about it too much. Just trying to do my job here.”
Tags: 2012 Rookie minicamp, Philip Blake
Not butt hurt just try to say Kobe is no MJ and will never be no MJ….
And I’ll give you Pippen in the top 20 but definitely not Rodman. And BOTH Kobe and Shaq are top 10 so do the math on that one
I can’t wait until tomorrow when skills says Kobe is the best of all time again…LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
BFE
LMAO Rodman was and is one of the best Defensive players to ever EVER play the game. Not to mention MJ had Horace Grant also. Also Shaq was great but not that great. Lol Theres 10 better players than him to have played LOL.
Kobe is #3 best to ever play the game. MJ #2. But its a close one LOL.
MM15…..you know KB is top 3 all time bro!
http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-nba-players-of-all-time
Rodman was the best Defensive player to ever play the game,imo!!!!!!!!!!
MJ #1
Kobe #7
Shaq #10
Pippen #20
Rodman #41
LMAO so he goes to ONE website about it. Lol. Ever heard of NBA players? Ever hear them talk about how they rank players? LMAO Nope instead you go to one website LMAO.
Melo you showed just had sad you Basketball info is by going to one website where they get voted on by fans LMAO.
MM15 he ain’t done yet,he will be the best of all time before it is all said and done!!!!!!!!!!
The fact that MJ was rated #1 is actually really sad. Bill Russel best to ever play the game! MJ and Kobe are close 2 and 3. LMAO
Guess what the Lakers beat the Nuggets in game 7 tonight……BOOOYAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
if you can find a website that isnt voted on by the fans I’d like to see it.
Nope I cant but I actually listen to former player interviews and all that. Lol. Many will say Pippen Rodman and Shaq adn top 10-20 where MJ and Kobe are top 5 LMAO.
and once again you said above that MJ and Kobe are a close 2 and 3, which proves my initial point (the only thing I was trying to prove) is that Kobe is no MJ.
wheres the proof??
I can say the same thing
Not yet LOL. You talk like its not even close. Which it is. Kobe is better than MJ in some ways MJ in others. Lol. Kobe is very close to surpassing MJ.
Wheres the proof that they said that? LMAo you want me to post a good 500+ videos about it? LMAO get real dude.
not yet and not ever
Thats your opinion LOL. Kobe has a lot left. LMAO A little early to write him off. Lol
I watch a lot of interviews by players also and I have never heard any of them say Rodman is one of the greatest ever….
LOL Ok Melo. LMAO Your just butt hurt cause the Nuggs lost. Lol.
at 34 years old I would question how much he has left… can’t play forever
Have you ever watched any with Jordon Stockton or Malone? All three of them talk about how great Rodman was. LOL And thats just three. Get out of here dude. Stop being butt hurt.
No he cant but he has a good 4-5 years left. So he isnt done and I mean 31 points with the stomach flu showed he still can ball. LMAO.
Kobe Bryant……..He’s a baller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeah I have watched stockton malone and jordan interviews. I grew up watching those guys. and once again not butt hurt… If you’re so irritated then quit responding to my posts. or maybe you should get out of here. I have every right to post just as much as you do. we are equals..
Sorry to all the Nugget fans in the blog,sorry that Kobe and the Lakers kicked your A$$….boo hoo….like you guys wouldn’t have rub it in me and AB’s face,so deal with it,get over it,and boo Freaking hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO BFE Hes now telling me im irritated and apparently im saying he doesnt have a right to post! LMAO
You have every right to post as I do LMAO. Never said you didnt LOL. You have your opinion I disagree and think its wrong. Thing is we just wont know till after Kobe retires. LOL. I just find it funny that you say Pippen and Rodman wernt great. Lol. I can tell you as a fact that Stockton and Malone have both said that Rodman and Pippen were harder to defend against than Jordon and are top 20 players. My cousin actually works for the Jazz and has had lunch and talked to them both. I have met them both also. Malone has actually been to my dads bar. Lol.
Just saying.
BFE.. I’ll say it for the last time… NOT HURT… Its kinda hard to hurt when I expected the Lakers to win. I know my Nuggets would not win and could not finish games… so there you go
Hell Pippen and Rodman are the reason that the Bulls won all the Championships..MJ couldn’t do it all by himself,just as Kobe can’t…the ballers need a couple of players to help them out,and Pippen and Rodman were the reason for the season!!!!!!!
AB… You said “Get out of here dude” . So i don’t know how you meant it but i took it as exactly what its says to get out of here. and by leaving that would mean no posting…. so just my reaction to what you said
MM15 I’ll take that!!!!!
Conclusion: I think bloggers like to argue! Blogging is an opportunity to get in someones face who you don’t know and who more importantly doesn’t know you, and then let off steam until tired of doing so. Then all bloggers must apologize because they don’t really wish anyone to be offended and not come back to be blown up at all over again.
Lol Just a heads up when I say get out of here isnt telling you to stop posting. Lol. I was meaning with the BS that Pippen and Rodman wernt great. Get out of here with that BS meaning its just that BS. Lol
If I were to tell you to stop posting Id do it stright up and tell you to stop posting. Period. Lol. Not get out of here.
Oh and I have a cousin who’s friends uncles grandmas sisters boyfriend has a restaurant which Jordan went to… once again that’s what they call in court as “hear, say”…
Just saying.
mm15…we have been Bronco Bros for a loooong time bro,not trying to disgrace you bro,but I’ve had so many Nuggs fans putting my Lakers down all week….I’m just glad they shut up bro!
MM15 and BFE will always be Bronco Bros!!!!!!!!!!!
I already ate my words and said I’ll give you pippen…. Rodman however, agree to disagree….
Melo you dont have to believe me. LMAO. I have actually talked about my cousin working for the Jazz before LOL. So to you it may be new but not to the blog. My cousin is the Jazz captologist basically now and has worked with the Jazz for 20+ years since he was 15. Lol.
So go ahead and dont believe me.
Funny thing though whenever Malone comes into the bar he always comes in the back door because he doesnt want to be hounded by fans. He is pretty stuck up. When I stood next to him I felt like I was a very short person. Lol.
I guess I’ll take it bro!!!!!!!!
If that’s all I can get!!!!!!
BFE… You’re absolutely right we have been Bronco bros for a long time and will continue to be.. I have no beef with you at all, because we share a great passion for the GREATEST SPORTS FRANCHISE OF ALL TIME…. THE DENVER BRONCOS!!!
BFE… WE SALUTE YOU!! Rock on Brother!!!
Where did Turtle and Skillz sneak off too?????????//
Skillz said he was off the bed a while ago and I dont know where BT went off to.
MM15…..A big mile high salute to you too bro….and AC/DC ROCKS!!!!!!!!!
BT went back into his shell…lmao!!!!!!!!!
I’m not saying I don’t believe that your cousin works for the Jazz… I’m saying that doesn’t prove that Rodman was a great player
AB…it’s great to win bro….yo know how that feels!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yet two players who faced him time and time again have said that he was tough to play against and that hes a top 20 player. Lol. OK.
Yeah AC/DC kicks A$$!!!