Training camp starts in two days, and it is a very exciting time for us, as it is everywhere in pro football.
This is the time of year when every team is undefeated, and very excited about prospects for the new year. We have made dramatic moves, as all fans know, and this is the time when the players finally put on helmets and pads (sometimes) and get after it on the practice field.
Mike Shanahan runs a strict meritocracy. The best players play. Regardless of how low or high he was drafted, how big or small, the right to play is always determined by performance on the field.
And invariably, there are some lesser-known players who begin to make their marks as soon as camp begings. That is very exciting, as coupled with the performance of steady veterans and the development of well-known young guys.
This year we will have a short camp–it ends here in Denver on August 11, when we break camp to go to San Francisco for our preseason opener. After that game we travel to Dallas to practice with the Cowboys for four days, so when we get back after the Dallas game, camp is over!
We are all pretty excited about that. It does not take too many days of watching practice in 95-degree weather before we are all ready to watch real games.
Also, when people put down the preseason games as not counting for much, I consider that baloney. Certainly, some of the older vets don’t play too much, and are just tuning themselves up for the regular season, but these games are critical for every young player or newcomer who is trying to gain a foothold on the Broncos roster.
For those guys, every play is critical, every practice is critical, and every game is staggering in its importance.
It all starts on the field with two practices this Sunday.
Thanks for reading.
Mr. Saccomano,
This comment has nothing to do with your blog entry, which was great by the way, but I have a question in regards to Terrell Davis, more specifically his induction into the Ring of Fame. If I have been counting right, this should be the season he is eligible to be inducted into the ROF, and since he was the engine behind winning the two Lombardi’s, I was just wondering will their an announcement soon regarding his induction, or did the 2002 season, which he spent entirely on IR, count as a season? (which would mean his induction would come next season, yet I don’t think that should be the case because the Pro Football HOF recognized this year as his 5 years since his retirement).
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Rohit K
Terrell Davis is my all time favorite player and athleit and do doubt about it does he deserve to be in the ring of fame and even more importantly the hall of fame and there is no doubt in my mind that he wont be
Mr. Saccomano,
i also have have a question if i want to write a letter to one of the players like jay cutler or someone who would i send it to? please write back in a blog or email me at yankeefan22214@aim.com thank you
You know I am sad Mike is gone from the team , but I am happy for the chance at a new coach bringinh in a different perspective to the future and I feel like Pat Bowlin may have been correct in sayin gthat after 21 years with the organization(14 as head coach) maybe “we did get a little stale, BUT one thing I hope does happen is: I HOPE THE ORGANIZATION IS SMART ENOUGH TO BRING MIKE SHANNAN IN AT LEAST TO ONE HOME GAMES SO WE (THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS) AND THE FANS AT HOME CAN SHOW OUR REAL TRIBUTE TO HIM. THIS IS NOT LIKE IT WAS WHEN AN REEVES LEFT, WE KIND OF FORSAW THAT, BUT MIKE DESERVES TO HEAR THE CHEERS AND ACCOLADES HE EARNED WITH TWO SUPERBOWL TROPFIES AND MANY ,MANY NEAR MISSES. LETS SEND HIM OFF WITH THE PROPER ENDING, NOT SOME QUIET PRESS CONFERENCEAND THEN WORDS IN THE PAPER OR ON COMPUTER. I KNOW PAT BOWLIN HAS THE SAME REGARD FOR MIKE TOO, SO LETS GET IT DONETHIS YEAR SOON!