As the dust settled after the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, former Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe remained at home after not receiving a call from an NFL head coach welcoming him to the team.
While that might be the norm for many NFL prospects, it is anything but that for Wolfe.
For one, Wolfe’s home isn’t that of the typical family. He has lived with a foster family since his freshman year of high school after he had a falling out with his stepfather, who was divorced from Wolfe’s mother. Wolfe doesn’t know his real father.
But more noteworthy for the Broncos is that Wolfe was still on the board, something that peeved the 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman and something that he will use as motivation on the field.
“I was a little, I can say, upset,” Wolfe said on a conference call after his pick. “I feel a little selfish for getting upset last night because I didn’t get taken. I just take it as a chip on my shoulder. I know I can make a difference, and I’m ready for the opportunity.”
It’s an opportunity that Wolfe never saw coming.
“When you talk about contact (from Denver before the draft), there wasn’t a lot of contact there like there was from the other teams,” Wolfe said. “It was kind of put under wraps; there was kind of a shock when they took me. I’m pretty excited.”
Wolfe joins a defense that includes Pro Bowlers such as cornerback Champ Bailey, fellow defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil and linebacker Von Miller.
“It’s a huge privilege,” Wolfe said. “I couldn’t ask for better spot to be going into than the best defense in the NFL right now. Hopefully, I can just learn from those guys, and hopefully, contribute to getting the quarterback down.”
As the first Broncos pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, Wolfe hopes he can make an immediate impact on the team.
“I’m not the type of guy to sit around and wait,” Wolfe said. “I want to get ready right away.”
-Kenny Legan
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, Derek Wolfe
I have been really happy with most of what EFX have done . . . BUT this has to be the worst draft of all time for DENVER!!!
A QB are you F%^&ing serious!?!?!?
Plus he is a terrible QB at that!!! MY BSU team throttled those guys and Brock looked like a PUNK A$$ B!tch!!!
This is BS – Come on Denver your better than this!!!
BY THE WAY I LIKE “D WOLFE”!!!
Great pick
Hell ya! I love it. Stay hungry my friend!!
What are you talking about O27C? I went to high school with Brock. He was rated above Weeden (who the Browns took in round 1) on most boards. Raw, but tons of upside. I’m thrilled. Almost makes up for trading Tebow. Now if they’ll only draft Trumaine Johnson…
Watch his pops try to come back in his life now. As a dad to 3, I have no respect for parents that abandon their kids. Stay strong Wolfe, you’ve come to the right place!
MANIAC What are YOU talking about??? Brock has been a 3rd round projection since January. Hasnt moved up or down. Weeden has been a early 2nd round project solidly.
LMAO @ Brock being rated higher than Weeden. So FALSE
Haha apparently you weren’t watching ESPN. One of their guys gave all the QBs numeric ratings from 0-100. He had Brock as his 4th QB rated 89. Above Weeden. Don’t know how to source it with a link, since it was on tv, but it was either on last Thursday/Friday or Tuesday. How many mocks have you checked? A decent number of the ones I saw had Denver taking Brock.
I predicted Denver taking Brock a long friggen time ago.
Yet Brock wasnt rated higher than Weeden. Never has been. Weeden at one point was above Tannehill. Brock barely BARELY cracked the top 5 QBs in this draft. Just cause you went to school with the kid doesnt mean hes so great.
We have Orsweiler now so lets welcome him with open arms. He needs all the support he can get being as how he has been chosen to replace a Legend.
Royalt two legends basically lol.
Also MANIAC Many had Cousins rated higher than Brock.
And 3rd round is bull:
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1181315.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/andrew-luck-robert-griffin-III-matt-kalil-nfl-draft-seven-round-mock-042412
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d828a8579/article/secondround-mock-draft-fleener-osweiler-still-available (this one has denver taking him)
Love the wolf pick but wish we would’ve taken Lavonte David over Osweiler. David is a tackling machine, I think Brock will be a bust. People thought Tebow threw weird, this dude throws weird!
I used a word also meaning male cow and the website is angry. Bye. I’ll try to show you sources later.
jsizzla im with you one Lavonte David over Brock. I think we could have gotten Brock where we got Hillman.
Darren Sproles who??? Hillman is a COMPLETE BEAST!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNWPk7Oq90
I love this guy!!
Hey boys just to let you know, I did my homework on our boy Hillman!!!
INSANE!!
He is a SOPHOMORE!!! He broke MARSHALL FAULKS COLLEGE RECORD AS A FRESHMAN!!!!
Freshman year ran for 1532 yards. Last year ran for 1711 yards!!
This guy left college EARLY and his potential is just going up! I project him being a 2000 yard rusher sometime in his NFL career!!!
Preach on freak! I wanna hear good news about a guy I know nothing about. I wouldn’t mind seeing us get Crick or Rainey.
That Ronnie Hillman Hauls some serious tail….blazin fast. Love the pick!!! I know Marshall Faulk really talked this kid up during the combine if I remember correctly. I really dont care for the QB pick this early, probably should have waited until 4th to get a QB. Elway and Fox must have seen something in Brock. Love the Wolfe pick, did have him on my radar but now we have a guy who really has something to prove, love that!!!! Keep em coming EFX.
Freak – that footage is crazy on Hillman. Just what we need in those third down situations… little screen to Hillman —-> BAM!!!! homerun baby!
Everyone is freaking out over who they thought we would get but lets be realistic if two or three of these guys end up being starters now or down the road it’s a success. Fact remains that only a handful of guys in this entire draft regardless of round will be impact players next year.. We have Peyton Manning and he wants to win a superbowl badly, end of story..
jsizzla the thing is that they (FO) want to win NOW. So many are upset over Brock cause he doesnt help us win now and felt there were a good many other choices that wouldve.
I also like what San Diego is doing so far. Defense, Defense, Defense. They have to get ready for Manning twice a year.
I agree 100% ab. I think Foles throws a better ball but Elway is a QB and he obviously saw something in Osweiler that I didn’t. I would’ve taken many a player over Brock at that pick. There was always next year to take a QB. I thought we were going to load up on D and take a RB.
Gotta get another DT or DE, DB, ILB. And Marvin McNutt if we could sneak him in would make me happy!
Couple new blogs.
hey just wanted to say how proud i am of u derek and i will be watching u cuz now i am offically a broncos fan.