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
Ok… if we get rained out or have to postpone for any reason then I’ll let you know!
Its a nice city to live in.
Good to know Turtle. You might not like Peyton Manning, but we are still Bronco Bros Bro. LOL
Cat… probably be best if you and I don’t talk… I don’t really have nice things to say to you, it’s not personal but I can’t really get down with the ‘Mother Hen’ type… I appreciate your sentiment for my grandfather and I don’t say that lightly so thank you, but as far as conversing I’m good
Strand, turtle likes Manning just fine. He’s just not convinced he’s healthy. No worries! Good night! Bronco fans 4 life!
Night all for the tenth time. LOL
LOL! Sounds good to me.
I’ll back you up Bay,buddy you told the truth,some people can’t handle it tho!
I might not be a role model,but I agree with your post bro!
Tebow lovers tough!!!!!
Manning for QB in 2012 followers(Bronco followers) HOORAY FOR US!!!!!!!
ALL HAIL THE NECK
ILMSDB!!!!!!!!!!!
B.F.E.
Goodnight Strandsky!!!
One Love in Broncos Country!!!
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
What up BUZZ!
You get that gun sighted in?
Good Morning Broncos Country!
Time for a new blog, don’t ya think there blog admin? Something must’ve been post worthy news from yesterday.
Great to see PM throwing deep balls………..his comment to the reporter was priceless. I think we’ll have a well of sound bites from him after this season!
Nice to see you chime in again bay…………miss ya round here brother and I hope as the season begins you’ll blog more regularly. I know you’re still reading!
Cat……..I haven’t a sense a “mother hen” type from any of your posts………..so I don’t know where that came from. lol Turtle says it’s not personal, but he doesn’t have nice things to say to you……….hahaha if that’s not personal, I don’t know what is. I’m sure you won’t lose any sleep over it.
I read somewhere that they’re getting closer to a deal with prater……..and are hopeful to have it locked up before the manditory camp……….I hope that’s true cause we need this guy! MAKE IT HAPPEN! Goes both ways too……..I mean the Broncos need to pay the man, but Prater can’t be too greedy at the same time.
GO BRONCOS!
Killer, it’s surprising. Doesn’t seem like a very Christian thing to do, but I forgive him!
I might just be PMSing but he sure is hilarious! I can’t wait until he is miccedup during a game.
I would love to see a Prater deal today!
Gave Tracy Porter a hard time last night because Champ picked off Manning yesterday and he has yet to! LOL he said it almost happened yesterday, but that he’s working on it!
Peyton is way goofier and funnier than his brother………and was way better on SNL. That sketch with Peyton and the kids is still one of my faves….
My mom was appalled and all I could do was laugh!!! That is still my favorite episode of SNL… funny stuff! Nice new article on the Denver Post website… its been four days since we had a new blog, we will probably have 4 today! LOL
Maybe the Broncos brass feels that we only need a guy to kick extra points cause all we’ll be doing is scoring TD’s! haha Nothing more important than having a clutch kicker on your side. Prater does need to be better between 20-40 yards though………that was his weakness last year. But that’s all overshadowed by his massively long kicks in the clutch to win games…………and I’ll take that!
I don’t think Peyton would’ve given up Adam Vineteri for anything!!!!! I think we should go for a 70 yarder this year. I think he can do it!!!
http://www.denverpost.com/broncosmailbag/ci_20622421/broncos-mailbag-after-denver-drafted-need-john-fox
Heres pretty good article by Mike Klis. If what he says is true Doug Martin was Denvers #2 rated RB but they had a mid 2nd round grade on him.
AB, I knew it! Dang it. I really liked that kid!
I think we got ourselves a pretty darn good back in Hillman so I’m not worried we didn’t get Martin. Time will tell how both pan out soon enough. Draft picks are like a box of chocolates……..you never know what you’re gonna get. lol
That’s true killer. Should be interesting. It’s not that I don’t like Hillman, I do. Both were in my college division… they’re both good backs. Hope they’re successful!
you just might pick a booze-hound who likes to drive drunk as your top pick! lmao Dumb kids man……….a bright future sitting right in front of them and they go and do stupid stuff like that. Like seriously! Makes me shake my head!
Seriously…Bay strikes again…
Each time he comes and “GRACES” us with his presence, he has to insult people. Seriously dude, we are dealing with less drama since you’ve left so please leave it that way. If you don’t have anything nice to say then just say nothing at all!! No one wants to read your derogatory comments!!!! People do speak their minds on these blogs and other people respect their opinion. I know that is hard for you to comprehend but that is how it is now so leave it alone!!
Hello Bronco Fans!!!
It was good to hear from Bay, though it sounded as though maybe Mrs. Bay had been having at him or maybe he just got up on the wrong side of the bed??? So here I firmly stand on the fact that I still love and miss Bay though he doesn’t like Tebow and / or fans that get along!!! LOL
Ended up with 6 new kittens but one didn’t make it. (I’m allergic to cats as well but only minorly. When I begin a reaction I just up my water intake and it solves the problem.)
I cant stand people, that just say, well these kids are just young, we all make mistakes. Dont these rookies have parents or didnt they listen in high school about anything that was tought to them. Oh wait, what about that four yr college they just graduated from, what the hell did they learn. People please dont blame this on age, its complete ignorance and non-respect for anything or anyone around them, thats how theve been raised, sorry you call it like you see, you can take the kid out of the hood, but bye – god youll never take the hood out of the kids.
I was reading some of the comments on the NFL site, people actually just saying hes young, we all make mistakes. I remember making that mistake, and , I was in county jail, their wasnt any next time, and, hes on his 3rd really whats wrong with letting these guys know that its not ok to do these things. Sorry just venting think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed also.
yah miller, I hear ya. Some people are bad apples who happen to be able to play football at an elite level. I mean, there are countless rookies who enter the league without incidents and continue to do so through their entire career. I think the onus is on the team to decide the types of players they will tolerate and let them suffer the consequences if they choose to ignore character issues. It will come back to bite them in the end.
Man o man do I agree with you Miller. I am sick unto death of DUI and rape and assault and battery…on and on it goes the idiot things that some pros athletes do.
I think that because these folks are high profile, and because of the fact that their high profile makes their stupidity more detrimental to all of society, that the punishments need to be more severe. I still believe in second chances, but only after much more than a hand slap.
Hey, DB, were you able to get the hockey game lastnight, I couldnt find it anywhere, thinkin it was blacked out in so.ca.
I didn’t try to get it. With my daughter getting married on Sat. and walking through ‘death of close family’ with a dear friend – I don’t have time this week.
Should have been able to get it online regardless.
Lets go CELTICS, cant stand James, been a CELTICS fan since Byrd and Parrish, Mckale, Ainge. Dont know why im a boston fan, never been their, love the red sox but cant stand the patriots go figure.
Thanks DB, didnt even think about online.
How can they blackout the nhl finals? That’s brutal!
The thing about athletes much like pretty women is they have been enabled all thier lives. They have been told they are the hot stuff and regular rules don’t apply to them. They receive preferential treatment and skate through school and developmental part of their lives never learning real life skills, women throw themselves at them and people give them free stuff. They are spoiled beyond reason. Its the parents fault to instill values in them but some of them never had the right structure. Some of it is the “hood” in them, some is just being told “They are ‘god’ thier whole lives” this goes back to pretty women who are stupid and only base their existence on thier looks. We the people are the ones that enable alot of these people. Not sure which criminal activity was being spoken of. Haven’t followed much football this off season but I agree the criminal activity is just too much but weather its sports or celebrities of other kinds, you will always have DUIs, assaults and rapes, its less about the NFL and more about celebrities in general. Its not even about the hood per se either. At the end of the day, its mathematics. If there are 53 men on a team, at least 1 2 or 3 of them are gonna be head cases or just bad.
Good afternoon Broncos Country. I see its never a dull moment wit you guys. Have a great one.
Later days,
TRB out…
Hey TRB – been missing you on the blogs!
Great assessment though I would excuse the two or three bad eggs because of the mathematics. I’d look forward to having those two or three bad eggs so that an example could be made out of them and thereby assist the rest of the ‘momma’s boys’ to learn to ‘man-up’ and do the right stuff. (I mean how difficult is it to have someone looking out for you to make certain you’re not driving drunk, or help you to exit early when situations look tense and headed for trouble. Most folks do this naturally. There’s no excuse.)
“wouldn’t excuse”
tlcat, I know Rt. I live in SO.CAL and couldnt find the game anywhere and it was sold out. I was looking at the Headlines on espn, you know the bottom bar, NHL doesnt have a channel as does basketball its weird
I really think that Derick Wolfe was a great choice for the broncos, were getting good character guys on the roster. Look at Nick Fairley and Suh WOW
http://www.tu.org/conservation/eastern-conservation/brook-trout/education/biology-habitat-needs
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are part of the trout and salmon (Salmonid) family and the Char (Salvelinus) genus that include Bull Trout, Lake Trout and Artic Char.
There you are Turtle. Not to worry – your brookies can remain authentic trout.
Looks like trout….taste like trout….smells and fights like trout…must be trout!!!
Nothin’ better…gut it leaving the head and tail – put a pat of butter in the body cavity – wrap it up in aluminum foil and place down around the edges of your hot bed of coals – pick up and eat holding head and tail like it was corn-on-the-cob – suck the meat off those tiny skeletons – best fish ever!!!
ok – so we’re approaching 1000 posts on this blog. New blog please! ???
DaddyBronc!
How R U Strand!
Doing good. Hows the homestead in your Neck of the woods. LOL
Having trouble with internet connection. It’s really slow this afternoon. Can wind effect internet? I have cable connection.
‘affect’
It got cold in the desert today.
My fourth child who just turned 19 is getting married on Saturday. She is marrying a really sharp 23 year old young man that has been a family friend or years. He is one of those techy dudes that thinks of himself as an outdoors-man. Incredibly energetic and original in his thinking and entrepreneurial. – but it still feels like he is taking my baby away from me. This is not a part of parenting that I have prepared myself for very well – though I have prepared my kids well.
So anyhow, after Sat. it’ll be two down – 11 to go…here come the grandchildren!!!! gonna change my name to granddaddyBronc!!! LOL
DB, got pretty cold today, great day for big pot of beans with ham honks and fresh corn bread. Yes!
Ham Hocks lol
Hey Daddy! You and Strand seem to be all alone here, but it looks as though it’s been a slow day anyway. And yes, we do need a new blog! Hope you guys are doing good….
Since you’re on cable, the slowness you’re having may be due to packet loss, due to congestion or corruption in the network. I used to deal with that frequently when I had a cable modem and wireless router, but the transmission from the server is what it affected. However, since we moved back to the country, I’m on a wireless 4G card, and it’s slow as molasses sometimes compared to my former cable modem. If you call your provider they can check your bandwidth and see if that is the problem, but I can’t imagine that wind has any effect on it.
Poor you. Having to go through two weddings for two daughters almost back to back. I promise you though, your future grandchildren will make up for you loss to your household. They are the most wonderful gift in the world, and I have enjoyed my little almost seven year old granddaughter more than I ever dreamed. She’s my heart, and the most precious child in this world…..to me!
Wild ham hocks!!! Good idea!!! Luv it!
Yeah, Miller…..them ham “honks” is good eatin’!