Vonnie Holliday, who signed with the Broncos on Saturday, met with members of the media Thursday morning from inside the Broncos’ locker room, and the 12-year veteran addressed a number of topics.
First, Holliday explained the lengthy process that ended with him arriving in Dove Valley.
“I’d been in touch throughout the whole offseason (with Denver), ever since I was let go down in Miami, I’ve been in contact,” Holliday said. “I had a surgery in my knee back in the early part of January. I got a knee clean-up, so it’s just been a long process, and they just wanted to make sure I was healthy before coming in here.”
Now healthy, the 33-year-old is busy playing catch-up at team headquarters. Holliday said it was unfortunate he had to miss training camp due to injury, but — after a few days of work at the high altitude — said he feels like he is in good football shape.
As for integrating himself into defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s system, Holliday said his familiarity with the scheme should lessen his learning curve, as he played in a 3-4 defensive scheme the past four seasons in Miami.
“For me it’s just a matter of getting the terminology down,” he said. “It’s a different language here — but the defenses are the same.”
Less than a week into his Broncos career, Holliday appears to be jelling well with his new team. On the field, he has been busy knocking rust off his game. In the locker room, he has quickly gotten aquainted with his new teammates. At the moment, he says the only thing holding him back is the team’s playbook.
“That’s my only restriction right now,” he said.
As for his status for Sunday’s season opener at Cincinnati? Holliday said he’ll leave that up to Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
“I’m not sure how that’s going to work,” he said. “I’ll just go out and compete, work hard in practice and spend a lot of time with Coach and in the playbook. I guess Coach will make that decision come Friday or Saturday.”
Holliday’s defensive counterpart, Ronald Fields, also spoke from within the team’s locker room at Dove Valley on Thursday morning.
Fields talked about the importance of the club’s front seven being able to get into the trenches and stop Cincinnati’s rushing attack, which led the NFL in preseason rushing yards.
In particular, Fields said the team needs to be ready for Bengals starting running back Cedric Benson.
“He’s a good down-hill runner,” Fields said. “He cuts it back from time to time, but he’s very good. He’s proven a lot since he’s been in Chicago. He’s like a totally different player now. “
-Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Here are a few more pictures from the onset of Thursday afternoon’s practice:
Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Ronald Fields, Vonnie Holliday, Week 1
The dark horse.
Oh yeah…the Bengals….
Anyone know how to change their username without creating a whole new account?? Ive navigated throughout my Bronco Country profile and can’t find any options to change it.
hey, i just wanted you guys to see what this .
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10054620/Week-1-preview:-Edwards-in-for-a-wake-up-call
I think this guy is an idiot
Sunday, at 11am MT, we will see how much these so called analyst know about THE DENVER BRONCOS!
Besides, they love to hate us, and hate to love us!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BRONCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSS!!!!!!!!!!
Hold on to your hats, boys… here comes the “Orange Hurricane” on Sunday!! haha
I’m getting restless… I need Sunday to get here and NOW!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
I’m wit you 07elway
burt… You are right, Kevin Hench is a total football idiot, which does suck for the Bungholes. But then again, everything sucks for them.
GO BRONCOS !!!!
“Marshall, who was reinstated Sunday after a nine-day suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, could be subject to a fine for failing to make himself available to reporters at least once during the week of practice leading up to Sunday’s opener at Cincinnati”
Really??? They can fine you for not talking to the media…I swear….its like a lose-lose situation lol. Since when were WR required to talk to the media…..coulda sworn it was mainly coach and QB. Keep silent marshall, those mud slingers are just gonna have to find their dirt else where lol
ooops forgot this one as well….from same article
“Typically, though, the league first sends a letter to the offending player advising him of the NFL regulations mandating his minimum availability to the media. He could be fined if the behavior persists.”
Im restless 2, i keep looking at the tickets on my dresser 4 sunday’s game. I will be there with my marshall or royal jersey. maybe yal can help me decide? MAN I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!
tav true bronco - grrr, you lucky duck! lol Wish I could be there. I’d go with the Royal jersey for now… more likely he’ll play on Sunday. I would wait till you start showing off that #15 jersey. Be loud & proud!!!
07 Elway -
I had heard on good authority that you are a gorgeous lady, and have the name HOT HOT HOT and the number 10 on your jersey, and that actually you are a cheerleader in disguise.
However now I see somebody has had me on and you are actually an Eddie Royal fan.
What I really want to know is why you haven’t got a ticket for the game, surely there is a gentleman in Denver who would only be too willing to take you to the game?
I just checked and Delta have a flight tomorrow. You could stay at the Cincinattian Hotel for 2 nights, with return flight monday afternoon. Best tickets left are $283 and the whole package comes to $1,130 (a mere bagatelle). Now if I were in Denver instead of London I could have taken you to the game. Trouble is to earn enough money to pay for these things I have to work in London.
For whatever it means I thought I should write it here too. I did a research of this year’s opening day roster with last year’s opening day roster to answer some question to a blogger on the “captains announced” blog. I found out that out of last year’s 53 roster players, only 21 returned, that’s 40%!!! Meaning 60 % of this year’s roster are new! McD got rid of 32 players!!!
Back in January, on another site (I just joined here recently), I said McD would get rid of up to 23 players, everyone thought I was off my rockers, man, was I off. Numbers don’t lie and this just reinforces the fact that, as I always say, we are in a total rebuild, one unlike any other one seen in the NFL. If we can pull out a winning record this year, McD is truly a genius, on the other hand if we go 8-8 I’ll be totally satisfied.
07, you don’t have to give me the third degree on if we go 8-8, it’s no improvement over last year thing, I heard it and I don’t buy it, considering the rebuild, it would be awesome.
However, I hope we make the playoffs and the super bowl. First thing at hand, win at Cinci. In order for us to go 8-8, I have it in my predictions that we need to win the first three. Hang in there folks, the sailing probably won’t be as smooth as we hope. I’ ll love my Broncos this season the same as I have in the previous 35 seasons, regardless of the record. New direction on D (agressive instead of wait and react), and team spirit invading the team is all I need to see to be satisfied.
Bush, this isn’t a hitting on girls blog. I don’t know how you do it in London, but here we respect 07 for being a great Bronco fan, not for how hot she might be. Please keep it in London. O7, sorry for jumping in, couldn’t help myself.
LOL HAHAHA, me… a cheerleader in disguise??? LOL That is too funny. I’m too athletic to be a cheerleader. And actually I fly for free cause my mom works for an airline but that’s not my problem getting to a game. I have my school work to worry about and it keeps me plenty busy and plus I don’t have a dime to go and buy tickets. I’m a college kid… I odn’t have money. lol And I live in KC… so I’m surrounded by crazy Chiefs fans, not exactly a prime place to find a friend to go to a Broncos game with.
Ash, tell them, “So what’s wrong with brains AND beauty?” Me, I was blessed with brains, talent, but definately not beauty. I’m so ugly I could put my face in batter and make gorilla cookies. But hey, I mean well….