With the 2009 NFL Draft just two days away, many of the current Broncos are thinking back to the experiences they had when they were the prospects heading into this weekend.
We asked players in the locker room what they remember most from the experience, and here is what they had to say.
“Hearing my name called. You’re sitting there anxious, nervous the whole time, then you finally get a phone call. You’ve got your friends calling you, so you never really know, but then when you see that number that you don’t recognize, that out of state number, that was the best feeling in the world. I just remember hugging my mother — she was in tears. So that was probably the best memory for me.”
-Eddie Royal, drafted in 2008
“I was back home. I was invited to go to New York but I stayed back home with my family — the whole community was there. Boss did the same. I don’t know why guys like going to New York, I’d rather be around my people. So it was great for me.”
-Champ Bailey, drafted in 1999
“I was actually surprised that the Broncos drafted me. During the whole process you usually visit teams, meet or talk to them at the Combine — Denver didn’t speak to me one time. My best friend, (Jonathan) Vilma, he got picked at 12. New Orleans called me and they said, ‘We’ve got the 18th pick and we’re going to draft you.’ Blah, blah, blah, this and that. I looked at the board with my agent, my mom and my family, and we figured no other teams need a linebacker and every team’s going to go this way. I was actually on the phone with New Orleans and Denver traded down to 17 and picked me up.”
-D.J. Williams, drafted in 2004
“My draft weekend was horrible. I mean horrible. I thought I was going to be up here, and I ended up way down here at the bottom. Nah, but for real it was stressful. Trying to see where you’re going to go, and once you get there, no matter what round it is, you’re just happy to be there. Once everything is over with then you just try to gel with the team and get ready to play.”
-Marcus Thomas (with a smile), drafted in 2007
“Just being with my family, sitting in the house with a lot of my close friends watching it on TV — real anxious. (When I got drafted) it was great. Mom was jumping up and down, my dad was excited, and right after they called they showed it on the TV. I got a lot of phone calls and text messages of congratulations, so it was a good time.”
-Carlton Powell, drafted in 2008
“I had a lot of mixed feelings — personally I felt I should’ve been higher. Everyone wants to be a higher pick. But the bottom line is I was drafted, and that’s a very rare deal for people. I’m blessed. I was very fortunate and I’m just thankful. I just want to be able to continue this ride.”
-Elvis Dumervil, drafted in 2006
“I guess just getting the call from Coach Shanahan. It was a real stressful time. I was expecting a lot better than what I got, but once I got that call and knew I was going to be in the NFL, plus I think a Hall-of-Fame coach calling you, that’s a pretty big deal.”
-Peyton Hillis, drafted in 2008
“I didn’t get drafted, I was a free agent. It was crazy — I got a call from Cleveland, actually, telling me they were going to pick me fifth round, then they go pick another D-tackle. … (As a free agent) you’ve got teams calling you, so you can compare which one you want to go with and choose. … But it’s all good — I’m here, and I’m here for a reason.”
-J’Vonne Parker, undrafted free agent in 2005
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2009 NFL Draft
he would play inside and dj would be outside where he belongs. simple.
DJ went to the Pro Bowl 2 years ago playing inside have we for got? In a 3-4 and with havin Doom, Moss and Crowder plus Boss to crowded.
Well middle LB
dj williams plays best as a weakside linebacker. not middle linebacker. i dont think he made the probowl. and he was good at MLB just better at OLB. no doubt about that. he also prefers OLB.
Louis I fill you. They have so much money invested in DJ, BOSS, Jarvis and to them their all LBs so i know they were going DE. I just thought it was Orakpo! If I would have bet my house i’d be homeless.
I really don’t know how to see this years first two rounds…I’m hoping it’s the scheme and the fact we just don’t know how it will translate onto the field. I know the TE was a surprise, but McD did show he wanted a blocking TE and now he has him. Hopefully this keeps Tony here longer and he’s now off the trading block.
I think DJ goes inside, I mean he is great outside but he was always better outside when he had a good MLB next to him i.e. Al Wilson! When we moved him inside he did great but the new scheme that year kept leaving a linemen to block him which is not you want, you want your mike blowing up RB’s! I really think that was part of why he didn’t like inside because without saying it, someone was constantly missing their assignment!
We will really be so diverse at the LB core!
Bet in the 3-4 we have DJ and Anda inside with Woodyard and Larsen mixing in, then outside Doom and Moss rushing then Boss playing coverage.
Just think I mean Boss wants and loves to blitz so he can, plus he covers. Moss and Doom will obviously blitz, but you also have Andra who does both, Woodyard who just flies, Larsen who flat out occupies blockers into the ball, and DJ who I think will have his best season yet! “i.e. look what Nolan did with Patrick Willis”
Not to mention that Woodyard, and DJ for sure can play inside or out with great ability, and Doom and Moss who can drop down into the D Line, same with the guy from the Colts. I just hope we gel cuz we can have some crazy formations this year, scheme diverse here we come!
I know I left out Ayers, but we will see where we plug him in at, just another diverse player to mix it up.
I have to say though that I don’t like trading next years 1st rounder to move up in the 2nd. Like the player and the pick, but the only thing McDenver could have been thinking is we will be going far this year and it’s not that far of a drop for Alphonso. I like that thinking, just think we should have got atleast another 3rd or atleast a 4th or 5th with it. Would have been more upset if we traded the bears 1st rounder next year rather than ours!
Well what do everyone think were gonna do today.After I sleep on it fill more better about yesterday. Just took it as we need more good character Guys that can be coached up. Instead of raw talent at other position that we have that in we can already coach instead of taking them.(thinking that sounds better than what I thought yesterday)lol Maybe Knowshawn can do to the Chargers what LT been doing to us for years now. Maybe Alphonso can bring that competitive natural out of Jack so we could have the best young corners in the game. We traded the 3rd round pick probably the guys their targeting they can get in the 4th. I though Mc Bath was a CB, I know he was when he first started playing for Texas Tech. Now I see they moved him to S. Could be a Tyron Braxton type. The hits I saw if they coach him up. He could be that hard hitting S we need for the future. As for the TE well let see. Never know D. Gram getting big money. So when Tony contract come up I hope we wanna sign him back. Maybe D. Gram wont take a pay cut. So I look at the TE as a young version of him. They know from the combine he can catch. I hope that shoulder blade he broke in 2006 is ok.
I don’t think that the reason he caught so few balls. I hope we did our homework on the next picks we have. I don’t really have to comment on the Ayers pick with what was left at OLB/DE I thought was the best.
Two Words… Grahm Harrell