When cornerback Drayton Florence signed with Denver, he said it was all about timing.
The Broncos are coming off a strong defensive season, quarterback Peyton Manning has joined the team and Florence has a chance to compete for a championship in his 10th NFL season.
“I’ve got a great group of DBs I’ve been working with and a lot of competition back there,” Florence said Tuesday during OTAs. “So I’ve enjoyed it so far. A little competition is good for everybody. The situation that they brought me in, to compete for a starting job, possibly playing nickel, is something that I thought was a great opportunity for me. With Peyton Manning being here and it being my 10th year in the league, I’m trying to win a Super Bowl ring. I’ve enjoyed it so far, everything is going smooth. I’m getting comfortable, getting settled in and into the community, and things are going pretty good so far.”
When asked if he’s expecting to play the nickel cornerback position, Florence made it clear that everyone — with one exception — is battling for a starting spot.
“(Head) Coach (John) Fox told me that if I come here, everyone is going to be competing,” he said. “Nobody in the secondary has a job except for Champ Bailey, which is obvious, and everyone else is out there competing. That is what we’re going to do. All the good teams have competition at every position and that is how you build a successful team.”
Florence spent the past three seasons with Buffalo after one year with Jacksonville and five with San Diego.
The cornerback played under Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville, and he said a little of the defensive scheme is familiar, but there’s plenty different, and the club is in the early stages of installation.
Regardless of the scheme, Florence knows what he and the rest of the defense has to do this season.
“Football is football — it hasn’t changed in one hundred years and it’s not going to change,” he said. “It’s about tackling the football, getting turnovers, and this year since we have one of the better quarterbacks in the league, turnovers are going to be a thing that we are really focusing on. If we can get Peyton as many opportunities to go down and get us six points, it’s going to put us in the win column a lot this year.”
The 10th-year pro has 17 interceptions for his career — including three last season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. It marked the second interception return for a touchdown in his career.
In addition, Florence has accumulated 441 tackles, 87 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries — one for another defensive touchdown — in his career.
Even with nine years of NFL experience, the veteran said he won’t hesitate to learn from fellow vets like cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Mike Adams, to “take a few of the things that they do well and put it in my toolbox.”
And he doesn’t feel he’s slowing down.
“The older you get the smarter you should be getting,” Florence said. “You’ve seen a lot, nothing should really be new. Week-in and week-out you should know how to prepare for teams. Like I said, being around veteran guys is only going to make me better, guys like Champ Bailey and Mike Adams in the secondary. In this business you have to keep improving, and if you don’t, you all know how that goes.”
Florence said he brings “a physical presence” at the corner position, and prides himself on getting his hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage.
With so many other talented players on both sides of the ball, Florence is excited for what 2012 could bring.
“The opportunity came up for me where I had a chance to come out here to Denver and play with Champ Bailey — obviously a guy I’ve looked up to my whole career — and then Peyton Manning,” he said. “So it was an easy decision for me to make.”
Tags: Drayton Florence
Just remember these three things:
Always keep the roof polished….
Don’t be afraid to gaze into the looking glass….
And Never, EVER forget to take your silver spoon to a contract signing…
Well, I’m off to take my Trans Am for a memorial cruse to commemorate all the birds that flew before her…
Have a peaceful and SAFE holiday friends…..
!!!!!ILMSDB!!!!!
that IS part I don’t agree with………winning is the ultimate goal………..I would rather win ugly than not win at all. But I think lbf’s point was that we shouldn’t have to endure horrible football for 55 minutes and then get lucky. We should take the game by the balls and just win it outright…………leading from the start.
man turtle ive just never been hurt so deep. you do know your code talk isnt brilliant, right? and it doesnt make sense? you cant just say stuff and because your so smart that its automatically right, understood only by you of course, even tho it has nothing to do with anything? you cant transfer imagined brain power into truths or you would be just as impressive as you think you are… hey wait i think that explains your delusion actually. but i bet ‘this just proves what youre talking about’, your favorite line that is backed by nothing but that delusion i was just talking about, but somehow you think it just blows your foes outta the water. your pretty retarted but entertaining! i bet you type that stuff and then sit back and look at it for hours wondering if its the most brilliant thing ever put on a blog.
thought you were directing at me as I was in the conversation…………my bad turtle………sorry for jumping on ya……..just standing my ground.
btw you started it
Peace OC!!! I broke out the Camaro for the first time this year and man does it feel good to have the old girl out in the Sunshine!!!
I also am going to take a cruise!!! Peace Broncos Country!!!
No Worries KK!!! Don’t stand too Close to LBF… I heard that sort of thought process can be contagious!!!!
Make sure to wear your seat belt and keep it below 55 Turtle…..
NOT!!!! hahahahaha
Spin those wheels and shread some rubber Broncos Country!!!!
GOD BLESS THE NECK!!!!!!!
One thing’s for sure…………if we have a great season it’ll be Tebow who? And if we have a horrible season, we’ll never hear the end of it about letting Tebow go……….
I’m banking on the first option!
yes kod that is what i meant. and i’m glad you agree. i guess you and i are just on the same low level if you understood me. glad to have you man! too bad you wont be able to enjoy turtles brilliance either. i’m pretty sure we cant even see it from down here.but pay no mind, he’s after only me.
DUHHHHHHHHHHH………I’m whatchu call over-under-edumacated! lmao
ya good point. it must be contagious. cuz its going around! ya kk the minute we win a shootout with an elite team or get that dominating playoff win it’ll be full speed ahead with manning in the fan base. i cant wait to see it. its already almost there just because of the name but i want the wins to pour in and solidify it.
Winning is Winning always any which way it comes the ride wasn’t fun for 55 minutes but those last five made them the best imo but then again i cannot wait till we stomp somebody from the opening drive till the end put it in fifth gear and burn rubber on those suckas that would have never happened with tebow and i love the guy
and turtle be nice it is a holiday after all grow up a little
you still my boy blue
Fired my Camaro(Blue Bast) up a while ago,let her run for a while,man she rattles the ground,HA!
BFE
*Beast
i call my torino JUICE lol
bfe u awake from your drunken stuper already i say amen
and when did i say playing well is more important than winning? (see: retarded) i said i would rather we have played 60 minutes of good football IF we were to lose.
‘i wanna see good football for 60 minutes and if we lose at least we fought hard and looked good trying’
whats wrong with that? if we do lose then ya i’d rather do it fighting hard and playing well, not looking like a ametuer team getting killed for 55 minutes. thats not at all saying i’d rather play well than win. what kind of a moron would see that in what i said? oh wait! i think i just answered my own question…
lol just messing with you bud gtg ttyl and bronc on broncos country
Hey skillz how bout an old fashion drag race for pinks dude?
My Blue Beast vs JUICE………..HAHA!…lol j/k.
BFE
I wished I could figure out how to post a pic of my Blue Beast,I would!
hey bfe whats up man? good to see your internet working!
amateur* (retarded)*
lol just joking but when calling people retarded see 1017 post
try and spell retarded correctly
and have a good day!
Skillz,bro it’s Memorial Day,time to drink a few cold ones,it ain’t over yet,lol.
I got 2 brothers to remember today,and all the men and women who served our great country,and gave their lives so we can be free..A BIG MILE HIGH SALUTE……from The Beast From the East!!!!!!!!!
ILMSDB
BFE
lol i cannot spell at all i am calling the kettle black lol
Amen bfe MILE HIGH SALUTE TO ALL and for your bros as well hope you are ok today
Hey LBF what up bro,been trying to get on since 7:am,it’s still messed up,I guess I’ll call the dumbases tomorow to come and fix it,they have been here like 5 times!
BFE
tlc,sorry I missed you last night,maybe catch you on tonight!
BFE
Fine bro,I hope all the families of fallen soldiers are alright today,and my poor mother,losing 2 sons is tragic.
I have one brother that is buried like 4 miles from where I live,I put a 6 pack of Buds long “NECKS”on his grave Saturday night(I hate flowers).
peace out Broncos Country
BFE
ya i would hate to lose service like that. mine does pretty well though. its through my phone service.
haha skillz i did spell those wrong. typin too fast. but good point. cant call someone retarded and spell it wrong, crap! but i do know how to spell amatuer and retarded i promise….
lol i know ya do just thought it was funny was all
your typing is far more eloquent then mine
Ya its all about the troops today folks. amen to all the sentiments posted here today. and again rip for bfe’s brother, i bet he’d rather have beer than flowers anyday!!
ya well skillz as long as your on these blogs as a bronco fan you can type however you want and your ok with me!! even turtle’s a bronco fan so he’s doin something right..
i cant imagine the colts woulda given a third for orton. i wonder if polian is just stirring the pot a lttle. a third? when they knew they were getting a high pick in the draft? at that point i fully believe the owner had one thing in mind: keep losing for luck. polian couldve tried all he wanted to to trade for orton but i think irsay wouldve said no way. he secretly wanted to lose. fun to think about tho. elway wouldve drooled all over himself if the opportunity for luck had been there in any way. but once the colts locked up that 1st pick, things were gonna go the way they did no matter what. and i dont blame the colts, just hate em!!
LOU,LOU,LOU,LOU,LOU, – buddy – there you go again admitting that you don’t know entertaining football – though it bite you!!!LOL
I loved last season – best football ever – and while it is always more entertaining to win – people watch football for the entertainment value. I guarantee that the Broncos would have made more money and had more fans in the stands with Tebow than without. Bad business decision JE – Bad – Bad – Bad.
Sorry to stir it up and run but …. God bless our troops….God bless the USA….God bless all you Broncos fans. See you all soon.
ok db you got me. if that was entertaining football then youre right, i dont know it!! and no way we make more money with tebow. they wouldve lost multiple games and the tebow magic wouldve wore off really quickly once the losing started.. then we woulda been in trouble. i disagree totally. but i bet you knew that!! plus if tebow would make the team so much money and do so well then why wasnt he sought after like manning was? why were teams not lining up and ready to pay him many millions and let him be their starting qb? if he was gonna be so good for a team why did the jets almost cancel the deal when they found out they owed tebow 4 million? we had to pay half of that so they wouldnt pull out of the trade. why was he only worth a 4th even after we added a 7th to the deal? and why o why is tebow on the punt team if he is such a money making, stellar, game winning quarterback? absolutely nothing points to you being right about any of that. i do respect it as your opinion but i just cannot see it anywhere else.
So, when as many fans show up to see Peyton Manning and the seats are still filled this season what are you all going to say? This is so ridiculous. We are all Broncos fans and were still gonna be no matter if Tebow is here or not, so y’all just need to stop talking about Tebow because he isn’t going to be here and focus on the current Broncos. Stop saying that there is no way this season can’t be as exciting as last and just focus on that there are only 104 days until Broncos football. PLEASE???????????
Def not saying that Peyton won’t fill the stands and def not saying that the Broncos are in trouble. I am saying that Tebow and Tebow football are a bigger draw than Manning. I can also say unequivocally that Tebow has brought more people into watching the NFL than any other player in recent history including Manning. Sorry Cat – I love you but I can’t. LOL
Lou – we are just going to have to wait for the rest of the career – Ten years from now I get to tell you “I told you so”. But I’ll never get to say that because you will admit it first. cuz you’re a good guy!!! LOL (I call it being sold out myself – give Tebow an O-Line and see what transpires!!!)
ok. the problem is tebow wont be given an oline because he’s gonna be a backup qb and PUNT TEAM MEMBER FOREVER!!!!! OH MY GOD WHY IS THAT NOT SINKING IN HERE???!!!???
tebows brought more fans thats for sure. football fans? no way. tebow fans. and the sooner theyre gone the better! thankfully we dont have to deal with them anymore. u cant say that some of them werent annoying db. you just cant. and sorry cat. i think the tebow talk will go on for this whole offseason and part of the season. then it’ll go away. also theres nothing much to talk about really, and thats a contributing factor for sure.
and yes db if tebow does well as an nfl qb i will admit i was wrong. but i’m not overly worried. he wont be. he may be a good special teamer tho, really. he is athletic and i bet if taught he could tackle well. he’s a big guy. i would even give him a shot at te or hback. the wildcat package they were doing with brad smith will be good for him too. he should do well in that. thats what i was hoping we could do with him. thats why the jets wanted tebow. for special teams and wildcat. i hope he does well he’s a good guy. just not a qb guy.