Chris Gronkowski thought his first snaps as Peyton Manning’s fullback were imminent when he signed with the Colts in 2011. But due to Manning’s well-documented health issues during his final season in Indianapolis, Chris’ first snaps in the same backfield as No. 18 came last week, after the Broncos dealt cornerback Cassius Vaughn to Indy in exchange for the middle Gronkowski brother.
“When I went into Indy last year, I was kind of shocked by it,” Gronkowski said. “I haven’t gotten to play with Peyton yet because once I got to Indy, he was already out. I know he always wanted a fullback, that’s what they told me when I got to Indy. I hope I do what he expects.”
“This is my first time on the field with him and so far it’s been great. He’s making sure everyone’s doing the right thing.”
Naturally, one of the first people Chris heard from after hearing he was Denver-bound was his older brother Dan, who spent the 2010 season in Denver.
“I was at practice [when I heard I had been traded to Denver],” Chris said. “It was right after practice and [Colts General Manager Ryan] Grigson came up to me and told me he had good news for me.”
“My brother Dan had a lot to say,” he continued. “He was the first one to call me. I made sure I talked to him right away. He told me loved it here and that it was a great place, that he was sad that he was gone.”
As for making a name for himself as one of three brothers playing in the NFL, Chris said he’d rather focus on enjoying the ride and earning a reputation of his own.
“I’m right in between Rob and Dan,” Gronkowski said. “Dan’s real conservative and quiet. He stays to himself and doesn’t really go out to the media and go crazy like my younger brother Rob. I like to have fun too, but I just don’t go to the level that Rob goes to. It’s cool. It’s more about my brother Rob, but it feels good to get my name thrown in there too every once in a while. We’re just having fun with it. Having three brothers in the league has been real fun for the whole family, and we’re just trying to keep it going.”
O-LINE BUILDING CHEMISTRY
Dating back to his sophomore season at Boise State, Offensive Tackle Ryan Clady has missed just two games over the past seven seasons. At a position as rigorous as offensive tackle, Clady finds offseason OTAs beneficial for a number of reasons.
He believes that every second the offensive line is able to spend together provides a valuable opportunity to work on the unit’s chemistry.
“Yeah, I think OTAs definitely help out, especially younger guys,” Clady said. “I had OTAs my rookie year and it definitely helped me out a lot. I would’ve been lost come training camp without one. So OTAs definitely help out for younger guys.”
“There’s chemistry coming along, just getting used to the offense. Remembering things and what not.”
In addition to Offensive Line Coach Dave Magazu, Broncos linemen also are taking advantage of the insight of guard Chris Kuper, who has become a bit of a player-coach throughout an offseason he has spent rehabilitating from an injury he sustained during the final regular season game of 2011.
“I’ve seen him on and off the whole offseason,” Clady said. “He’s definitely progressing, starting to jog now, stuff like that. It’s nice to see him. Hopefully he’ll be ready for training camp.”
“We call him ‘Coach Kuper’ right now,” Clady smiled. “He’s coaching up the young guys for the most part and just watching.”
Tags: Chris Gronkowski, Ryan Clady
Hill man said something on twitter about how he didn’t know that a contract could be this complicated. Dunno what that means!
Yeah, I don’t understand the stand off with Prater. We’d be stupid to let him go. He won so many games for us last year!
Hilarious. I ink so. Classic! LOL
ya i remember your liking tebow strand. was tough for me to go after his play when you and other bloggers i liked were on the blog. i had to be rough sometimes due to the tebowites doing their thing. but i too liked tebow for who he was. he was good in so many ways it was tough to say the things i said sometimes but i had to get the point across because my love for the broncos is stronger that anything else. and i could see what tebow was doing to the fans. and to the blogs and the perception of the broncos. i couldnt stand it. sad such a great guy was in the middle of it. i hated how likable he was but at the same time a HORRIBLE quarterback. i thought i had to be the voice of reason and be the bad guy if it kept things balanced. whether good or bad i thought i had to do it. i am all orange and blue my friends. pure bronco fan. its all about the team for me.
Wolfe comes Thursday…. I cannot wait to see that kid play!!
I bet the hold up is money from the Warren restructuring his contract or just being flat out cut.
I think we should cut him and keep Thomas. Just MO.
LBF, blinders on don’t help. I’m bleed orange and blue too.
LBF, your real about the situation bro. I`ve always appriciated your honosty. I`m a Broncos fan first as you know of course. You never tore me down dude. I knew were my heart was. we`re on the same page LBF.
That’s why I say it’s been a bitter sweet offseason, but now I’m really excited!
Bro, I always am comforable talking to you about anything. Your easy to post with.
Me too Cat. It`ll be here soon enough.
Catch yall later. I`m gonna go watch the Rockies game. Nice talking Football with ya Cat and LBF. Be Cool!
Yeah… I don’t really want to wish the time away because then I’ll miss this off time and rejuvenation. I have some fun things planned this summer that should keep my mind off how long it’s taking for the season to get here.
Yeah, halftimes almost over on this Thunder game. Got to catch the second half. Ttyl!
Lastly, I`m going to Cheyenne Wyoming in a few weeks to go do some fishing. I`m gonna go hit some Beaver ponds out in the mountains. I can hardly wait.
ya i was glad to the ones who understood like you strand. i’m not gonna lie though it was tough sometimes feeling like the bad guy! but i’m glad you saw it for what it was- honesty. and things have worked out SO well now. i mean who woulda thought after mcd was fired we would be this well off this quick? i cant stand to see some of the negativity towards john elway and the job hes doing. i just cant see how someone could not see how well he’s done by the team. the feeling about the team is we’re well on the way up and thats exciting!! the moves and the environment are just so different now than just 3 years ago. its hard to explain but you just know the moves being made are making us so much better where as before it was just a numb ‘lets see how this goes cuz i have no idea’ approach.
Nah, your not the bad guy. Tough Broncos love bro. I put it in balance.
see ya cat and strand i’m off as well!
LBF, hey. There is a completely different atmosphere around the Broncos now. I understand what you’re saying and we all have to gain a little perspective and sometimes we can’t do that without people like you. John Elway has a plan.l. His plans have always worked for us in the past, so I’m along for the ride. It’s been real fun with him at the helm? see y’all later!
How do you fish in Cheyenne? Just wondering, seeing as there aren’t many places to do that there!
Oh in the mountains, gotcha. Should read through your post! LOL
Cat, in between Cheyenne and Laramie are those mountains. Lots of Beaver ponds. I camp and fish there a few times in the summer months. Absolutely beautiful there. I live in Colorado Springs, so its about a 1 1/2 hour drive. I got some friends in Cheyenne. Its so relxing to fish up there, my God!
Rockies up 4-zip.
I forgot about that place. I love Wyoming. It is my favorite place on earth, but I might just be bias!
Thunder is destroying the Spurs all the sudden. It is awesome! LOL
And now the Spurs come back! This is insanity!
Crazy!
Strand… it’s called Veadavoo if you are talking about the place with the stacked rocks… beautiful country!
LP, that is hilarious you calling yourself the voice of reason last season when all you did was Echo anything Bay said!!! but hey, it’s your story so tell it how you like!
I’m on my way to the Kearney hospital in the morning, my grandpa on my moms side had a PET scan today after they found a malignant tumor in his lungs so I want to be there for the results…
and Hola Strandsky!
GUTS.
Is it a lost art on this blog anymore?
It’s so few and far between I can’t remember the last time somebody really stood up for what they believed (but for a few long time hardcores from time to time).
Whenever anyone speaks out their mind and upsets anyone, it’s only to kiss and make up in the end, good thing none of you guys are playing professional football since it’s become enough of a sissy game as is…
I guess today’s game fits today’s fans profile.
Not manly whatsoever.
More like politically correct b.s.
Old school hardcore fan all the way here, glad to be part of the past!
MAN UP!
Enjoy whatever rocks your boat though, just had to chime in on this lollipop of a profesional football world and Denver Bronco Football blog.
Again it’s time to “MAN UP” or maybe more accurately “MANNING UP”!?
That man has still got it!!!!!! And he can still tell you how real men do it!!!! On a football field no less!
No church or Godly platform needed.
Tebow’s platform is not a football field, by any stretch of the imagination, not in NFL football anyway, the college days are over, he is all religious business now.
It’s God sent that he is no longer occupying a football spot on our team.
Elway saw to that.
That was high football IQ.
So goes Tebow and here comes Manning, out go the religious faithful followers, in come the football faithful once again!
Who knows, it might actually be a good thing for our FOOTBALL team!
I’m psyched!
You guys be good and represent Bronco Country with honor, don’t take the fanhood for granted, it is something that you earn over time and proudly show off, don’t be jerks about it, the blog is your voice. Peace out.
I may have asked you this before, but what state are you in?
LOL!!! Speaking of!!! Hola Bay!!! I thought we had to say your name 3 times in a mirror before you poked your head out!!!
Bay, I just didn’t like how disrespectful things got. It’s cool to have different opinions, but to outright insult people is not cool.
Wyoming!
God wins every battle! Gods in everything, even football, We`re everywhere so get over it!!!
Your right about only one comment. In ten years the NFL will be FLAG FOOTBALL. Now thats Politically Corrcet B.S.!!!!
Anybody seen DB tonight?
Turtle, thanks for the heads up about that area. Its a great place to fish for brookies, lots of fun.
I hope that your grandpa is okay, Turtle. That can be real scary. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please keep us updated.
Ticat, people who are haughty and arrogant are always brought low and fall into a pit. Pay it no mind. God is not a respecter of persons, we`re all equals.
Anytime Strand! I’ve always been fascinated by the landscape there… like gods toy box where he literally stacked big rocks on little rocks! You know what I learned this year?!? Brookies are not Trout, rather members of the Char family!!! Doesn’t change how good they taste by any means but I’ve been calling them Brooke Trout since I could talk/fish!
I`m going up on the 20th bro. Never a dull moment up there in Gods country.
Strand, if you ever desire to come further up north there are some really great fishing ponds on Casper Mountain and in the Big Horns.
That would be nice but I can`t come up to Wyoming until the week after.
I`ve never been to Casper.
Have fun branding, Turtle! My uncles own ranches in Sheridan. That’s a great experience if you ever get the chance to go branding.
I`ve got a friend of mine in Colorado Springs who owns a restaurant in Thermopolis Wyoming.
My aunt lives in Colorado Springs! I love visiting her!!!
Time to hit the hay.