UPDATE: Helton went on to hit a grand slam in the first inning of the Rockies’ game Wednesday night.
Last week it was Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki that came out to watch a Broncos practice.
Today his teammate, first baseman Todd Helton, stopped by Dove Valley to take in a Broncos minicamp session.
Helton is no stranger to the football field, as he was a starting quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers before he was injured and replaced by another quarterback who also attended Wednesday’s practice.
Peyton Manning took over for Helton as the Volunteers’ quarterback in 1994 and Helton never played another snap of football, concentrating his efforts on the baseball diamond instead.
Manning and Helton have remained close friends over the years and Manning has been a guest of Helton’s in the Rockies’ clubhouse and has taken in a few games at Coors Field this season.
Helton became the fifth Tennessee Volunteer on the practice field Wednesday, joining Manning, Britton Colquitt, Robert Ayers and Malik Jackson.
Colquitt took time during a break from special teams drills to talk to Helton, who he had never met before despite having a hometown connection of Knoxville, Tenn.
“Of course, I grew up watching him,” Colquitt said. “It was cool, I’ve always wanted to meet him and since I’ve been out here, I’ve been like, ‘I’ve got to meet that guy.’ He’s awesome and he’s a legend. It’s just cool to be in the same town as him since he’s from the same place that I’m from.”
Colquitt said he enjoys when other Denver professional athletes come out to watch a practice.
“It’s definitely cool to see the (Rockies) guys come out and sometimes the (Nuggets),” he said. “Sometimes you forget that you’re in professional sports, too. It’s definitely cool to see them.”
-Stuart Zaas
I hope you’re right OT. If we can get Carter to pick and cause fumbles like Moore ….and Moore to not miss tackles or take 5 yards in his take-downs like Carter…could be good. Man, I’m having a hard time imagining a Bronco team without Dawkins!!!
anyone on earth would take it his way in a half a second. …. thats a fact!
We ought to have a blog discussion on what constitutes a fact. LOL cuz what you asserted – isn’t it!
Dawkins was a great player, but honestly, he was hurt a lot last year and he made the right choice IMO. I think Mike Adams will be the Bunkley of this year – a non-sexy pickup during the offseason, who will contribute significantly, and become a fan favorite.
I think Safety is a tough position, and there is probably more of a jump from college to the pro’s than other positions. That, together with no offseason, I think both Carter and Moore did OK last year. I expect both to improve from here on out, and Mike Adams will help bring them along.
ya well i just figured i’d call it a fact and then i’d be right.
LOL – good job Lou – I’ll buy that!
Trying to read an NFL QB is a totally different ball game than reading a college QB IMO
OT – I’m interested in what makes you think that about the safety position? Never had that thought myself. (Never played safety either – interested)
I’ve never played it either, so feel free to disagree. But I can imagine it being a difficult jump to have the pick up on all the nuances that go on in an NFL offense, having only been exposed to a simple college offense. Much could be said for any position I guess, but the safety has to read several things at once, there are lot of moving parts, and being the last line of defense, there is little margin for error. Just a thought..
It depends on what college you attend. Some colleges ask very little from their safeties. Basically very simple coverage schemes and run support. Its a very easy transition from HS to College so also some colleges dont spend a lot of time prepping S for NFL which makes it harder on them plus the simplicity of what their asked to do in college goes to very complicated in the NFL.
Also like OT says College offenses are simple (Which is why their asked to do very simple things) but NFL is very complex even when facing poor offenses the complexity is higher than most colleges. Except for maybe the elite college programs.
I think you could be right in that the safety is really the guy that has to cover every type of ball carrier including the backs, the receivers and TE’s – and a few QB’s – LOL If the read is too slow they are a step behind. They blitz and they cover. Sometimes they play zone and others they play man. It does take an extremely versatile player.
He doesn’t have to be as fast as the corners, or as beefy as the LB’s or line.
Don’t know – I’d love to hear Dawkins address the question.
Take care all!
Daddy is out.
hard transition? yes. one of the hardest? maybe but not the hardest. i would say qb and oline would be tougher and the mlb position i’d have a hard time believing was any easier than safety. also are we talking free safety or strong safety? i’d say strong safety would be harder, especially physically. closer to the line theres alot of options. but like db, i dont claim to know for sure. it is an interesting subject tho. we discussed hardest position to play before now its the hardest position to transition from college to the nfl.
ya i’ll try to check in later, got some paperwork to do!!
Hi folks! Slow day here, I see. Could use a little downtime myself, but it’s a busy time for me right now, so I’ll be scarce until probably TC or preseason.
Not sure how many of you read The Huddle, but here’s a nice read on Manning, and don’t let the title fool you. It’s more about what he can do, than he can’t.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/06/broncos-qb-peyton-manning-still-not-100-but-medical-checkup-encouraging/1#.T9k5TMU7Vk8
Yeah, trust me, I don’t claim to know either.. Never really thought about it, until my rant on defending Carter and Moore. Lol. I was talking about defense, and I’d agree that MLB is a tough transition as well. Of course QB on offense, and basically any position that relies heavily on instincts would have a hard transition IMO.
*as well as reading offenses/defenses
Also, for those of you debating earlier whether or not Tebow should be talking to the media, here is Tim’s response to Tedy Bruschi’s remark that he “should just disappear.”
Take it or leave it.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/06/jets-tim-tebow-on-tedy-bruschis-advice-i-just-do-what-im-told/1#.T9k69cU7Vk8
Hey there Tide. How’s everything down in Bama?
Are you dropping Tebow bombs and running??
Hey, OT!! No, not dropping bombs, just answering some email
You know I don’t run from a fight, especially if I start it.
How are you doing? Things are hopping down here, and some of it has been in National news. The guy who abducted and killed those 9 year old twins and their elderly caretaker was only about 10 miles from me, and when he was on the loose everyone was on pins and needles. Then the Auburn football player shooting/killing this past weekend, and the guy on the loose in Montgomery was too close for comfort. Thank goodness he turned himself in. You may have read about all of it, but it’s been a sad couple of weeks for some families around here. Crazy folks in this world.
Yep. High Tide does creep up on ya ’round here..
I’m well thanks, just busy, but I’ll manage. I did hear about those stories, crazy folks indeed..
Thanks for the articles, Tide (-;
DB, read both articles, for sure, but the first one… He asked the doctors if they thought he should play and they all said “yes”
LBF, I love your fact. I’m going to tweet it! LOL
Broncos Country:
Has any body heard anything from Buzzin. I have not seen a post from him after his B-day?
FTR
FTR, me either ;-( he hasn’t emailed me either.
Glad The Neck and Helton are close friends. When Helton went down and Payton as a back up steped up history wrote the rest.
FTR
B F E come out, come out, where ever you are!!
You’re welcome Cat. The Huddle on USA Today, to me, generally has a lot more insight/information than a lot of the ESPN or NFLN articles, and I like the way Nate Davis writes his articles, as well as Jarrett Bell. Good stuff there, most of the time.
Catch you guys later…..
Cat
I am not thinking he is banned but might be in Jail. Our worse I hope he is OK! Lets hope he shows up soon.
Keep on posting like reading your guys day time posts!!
ILMSDB
FTR
He`ll be around. sometimes in the offseason, B F E will go on a hiatus. He did it last year for a few months.
Oh no
I am definitely prayin that’s not the case, FTR! and Tide, I will keep that in mind… I always love Bronco news!
I think the beast was itching to go camping and such, I’m sure he’s fine. I’m out too, looking forward to reading all 7 comments tomorrow…
Broncos Country:
Not football but I though all our Rancher Bronco Bros would like this. Get a six pack of Bud light and get a RC truck and enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ4hmKGKjbM
ILMSDB
FTR
OT
Now that you mention it I think he did say he was going camping.
FTR
Yeah, he did say he`s going camp sometime soon. Thats right!
Better than chasseing heifers that get through a fence. Or liming the milking barn!! LOL!
FTR
Buzzin was on the blogs late with me this past Saturday. I am sure he is fine. He’s been on and off here recently. He probably just had something come up or maybe work this week has been difficult. He’ll be on soon I’m sure.
Well 4 am comes quick. So FTR family is out for the night!
So Peace out.
ILMSDB!!!!
FTR
Soooo… just believe it! Tap tap tap those cleats three times, yeah yeah so just believe it.
Someday soon I am not going to think I’m living in a dream.
Soon.
Really soon…
@ 13.5 GB,….. the Toddfather shud go to Donkey practice every day if it means grand $lams ! ; ) GO ROX
Grand slams mean absolutely nothing if you aren’t winning!!! Bottom line is the Rockies pitching is horrendous and it doesn’t matter how many runs we put up because our pitching always seems to give up more… Rockies suck this year and I think some whole sale changes are needed in the coaching and pitching departments…. Our bats are our only strong point this year
Woody Paige at DP addressing DJ’s concerns and the fact he must go…….
http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_20852836/woody-paige-d-j-williams-needs-tackle-his
Lindsay Jones from DP on DT Ty Warren. Good to read he’s slimmed down and getting ready to roll…
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20852837/broncos-dt-ty-warren-ready-football-k-easy
Good Morning Broncos Country!
It’s me……….here again to try and jump start the blog. lol
So I just read Woody’s article on banishing DJ from the Broncos. And the more I read it, the more I started to agree with it. Yes, DJ is a good LB, no doubt……….but like I said yesterday, IMO he doesn’t seem to put in the total effort it takes to be elite and doesn’t always play to his full potential. We don’t have a lot of depth at this position right now, which is prob the only reason he’s still here. But if he ends up having to miss a bunch of games this season, should we keep him or just cut him? Tough decision, I know……….why does he have to be such a bone-head sometimes.
Great to read that PM is zipping the ball. I’m sure none of these guys will be taking much of a break between now and training camp. I’m sure PM and the receivers will be scheduling their own practices together.
Anonymous…………you beat me to the first post! lol
I type too slow! LMAO
Good morning kod – that was me rbf1 – for some reason I was signed out on 2nd link posted.
I did post Woody link at DP just prior to Lindsay Jones article on Ty Warren.
Yeah – sounds like a catch 22 right now with Williams….. not good.
I’m referring to where Woody mentions no team will give the Broncos anything for him, and if he’s cut, the team would take a $5 million salary cap hit.
Morning rbf1!
Yuppers…………the organization is kinda caught between a rock and a hard place with the whole DJ situation. I have a feeling JE would like nothing more than to just tell DJ to pack his bags cause he’s not the type of player they want representing the Broncos………..but a $5 million salary cap hit is a pretty substantial hit at the same time. And no doubt another team would pick him up.
I think the outcome on his appeal will have a huge impact on how the organization handles things.
What do you think the odds are of the suspension being overturned?