Before the 2009 season, the Broncos signed running back J.J. Arrington (JJ) as a free agent. Unfortunately, he missed the entire season because of a knee injury.
The Broncos stayed in contact and have brought Arrington back again. This time around, things figure to be different. Arrington is healthy and ready to make a difference with the 2010 Broncos.
Recently during mini-camp, we caught up with J.J.
850 KOA: How good does it feel just to be on the field again?
JJ: It feels great. Words can’t express how good it feels to be out here with my teammates, smelling the grass, putting cleats on. It’s been so long but I’m thankful everything is coming together.
850 KOA: How does the knee feel?
JJ: The knee is about 80, 85 percent. I’m just working the kinks out. Before I was just running straight. Now I’m doing some turns and stuff so the kinks should be out.
850 KOA: Are there any doubts you’ll be full strength for training camp?
JJ: No doubts. I’ll be pretty good in about two to three weeks.
850 KOA: How frustrating was it to miss last season with the knee injury?
JJ: Oh man. It was hard for about the first two months, sitting on the couch, going to rehab every morning and then seeing the team come out and go 6-0. It hurt, man. It hurt so bad. I just learned to take it as it was and sat back and watched to see what I could learn by watching.
850 KOA: Was it gratifying that the Broncos kept in touch and kept an interest in you?
JJ: Oh yeah, definitely. I wanted to come here all along. That’s why I signed here last year. I was excited about Coach (McDaniels) being here, a first-year coach, and being with him in his first year. I’m glad he kept in touch with me, checking on me and seeing how I was doing. It means a lot to me.
850 KOA: What kind of work have you and the team done during these offseason workouts? Assess the progress.
JJ: I think we’ve been doing pretty good. We’ve come off the offseason conditioning and coming out here and putting the helmets on and cleats, everybody has been looking good right now. We have a lot of high expectations for the season coming up.
850 KOA: Do you look at this year as a new start for you?
JJ: Definitely. You take a year off (and) it’s starting all over again pretty much. But once I get back in and get to see the defenses, I’ll be fine.
850 KOA: Thanks, J.J.
As always, thanks for reading. Feel free to post your thoughts about how you think Arrington might fit in this year.
We’re getting close to the countdown to training camp. It won’t be long. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer.
I’ll have another installment of the interview series next week.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Broncos, Denver, J.J. Arrington, McDaniels, Mike, Rice
Old Al shares his birthday with our great USA?? Well, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth… like vinegar. LOL Hope he sabotages his team yet again so they have another horrible season, that will be good enough for me. haha
Happy Independence Day to all of my Bronco brothers on here. lol
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!
Since birthdays of famous (or infamous) people is the topic, here is more:
1847 – James Bailey, circus founder
1872 – Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States
1918- Ann Landers and Abigain Van Buren, twin sisters, and both advice columnists
1920 – The infamous Leona Helmsley
1924- actress Eva Marie Saint in 1924
1927 – Neil Simon, playwright
1928 – Actress Gina Lollobrigida
1929 – Al Davis, Oakland Raiders owner
1930 – George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees owner
1943 -The TV reporter everyone loved to hate for a while, Geraldo Rivera
1951 – Ralph Johnson, the ever talented percussionist of the band Earth, Wind and Fire.
1955 – Singer John Waite
1958 – Kirk Pengilly, guitarist for the rockin’ band INXS
1962 – Tennis player (retired) Pam Shriver
1963 – Matt Malley, bassist for the band Counting Crows.
1971 – Andrew Creeggan of the band, The Barenaked Ladies
Meant to say birthdays of famous peole born on July 4th, duh.
Lollobrigida would be my clear favorite, LOL.
Gina Lollobrigida for voluptuousness and Eva Marie Saint for beauty…
LOL I forgot about that, well being a memeber of the Commonwealth we have our national day but no Independence Day. Im not really bother if we become a republic. Nothing changes other than we won’t be at the CW Games.
Happy ID you guys and gals!
Lollobrigida almost has a Pohia Loren and Elizabeth taylor look to her. EMS looks a little like Grace Kelly.. All absolute stunners in thier prime!
**Sophia Loren**
WTF…..The 4th of July is for everybody in the USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got back from a shindig from my inlaws and had a blast,HIP HIP HOORAY for INDEPENDANCE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
GREAT TO BE ALIVE AND KICKING IN THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO BRONCS
People down under don’t celebrate the 4th of July BFE, Samoan is from NZ, by the way Samoan, QLD 3-0 I think.
BUT WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET A LONG NECK ???????????????.
LETS GO BRONCOS!!!! WHOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!
Correcto-mondo BA.
YEah its almost like it doesn’t matter, but a 3-0 wouls send Bellamy home with his tail between his legs and scare any future NSW coaches from trying lol
BFE – I’ll grab a Long Neck too! mmmmmmm
Haha love the long necks BFE, samoan I will have a few of those at the game haha and yes I think QLD will win and bye bye Bellamy.
Good to see BFE survived the in-laws, however it seems long necks probably had a lot to do with it, LOL. BTW, I thought all they drink down under are the oil cans, good old 32 ounces Fosters… I even enjoy them here myself.
Glad ya all had a good 4th. It`s my favorite holiday. My gramps was born on the 4th. Anyway, you Bronco fans want to hear something scary? Hang on to your seat belts. Al Davis`s mother lived to be over 100 years old. If Al lives that long It`s gonna be a long ride for the NFL. He will not let go until his dying day, which could be a curse for the Raiders.
ESPN published a short article on the punt/kickoff return game, under AFC West.
Eddie Royal is our return man, featured in this article. It goes on to state Royal is better at returning punts than kickoffs, as he had two punts returned vs. SD for scores last season.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought Royal had a punt and kickoff returned vs. Bolts in SD last year.
The article goes on to state that if healthy, JJ Arrington could field kickoffs with rookie Parrish Cox spelling Royal in punt return game.
Article has Darren Sproles rated 1st with Royal 2nd in AFC West.
rbf1, I concurr, the way I remember it Royal had a punt return and a kick off return for TD’s at San Diego last year.
Yeah, I checked it out, he had a 93 yard Kick off return and a 71 yard Punt return, which made him the first Bronco ever to return both a KO and Punt for scores in the same game.
If I remember correctly Darrien Gordon had two punt returns in one game during the SuperBowl years. Can`t remember what game or year though. He sure was exciting to watch.
That’s what I was thinking…. thanks baylinor for looking it up. It was Royals best game, and it came on ST. I’m looking forward to seeing him become a bigger part of the offense this season.
It would be great to see Syd’quan Thompson or Alfonso Smith possibly contribute on ST. Kenny McKinley also chipped in with kickoff return game last season.
Darrien Gordon also had two Int’s for us vs. the Falcons in Super Bowl during ’98 season. He went to 4 Super Bowls with three different Teams. All AFC West Teams. His only two rings came with the Broncos.
Chargers – ’95
Broncos – ’97 – ’98
Raiders – ’02
Good point strandoftds, he played great for us during his time here.
I am pretty sure it was darrien gordon who returned two on special teams in the super bowl years, and I am 99% sure it was against carolina and that they were punt returns as stated above.
But, Gordon wasn’t the first Bronco to return two punts for TD’s in the same game. Rick Upchurch (Best return man Broncos have ever had) returned one for 80+ and 90+ in the same game. He would have set the NFL record for punt return yardage in a year, but the final game of the year late in the game against the Raiders he broke off a big one to set a new record only to have it called back on a penalty.
It was easy to spot Rick, his uniform was a “slightly” different color that the rest of the Broncos. Obviously before the NFL became the No Fun League.
And Rick Upchurch’s girlfriend back then was Condolezza Rice.
A stud I tell you, LOL.
This is the list for returning two punts in a game all the way:
Most Touchdowns on Punt Returns
2 Jack Christiansen, Detroit vs. Los Angeles, Oct. 14, 1951
2 Jack Christiansen, Detroit vs. Green Bay, Nov. 22, 1951
2 Dick Christy, NY Titans vs. Denver, Sept. 24, 1961
2 Rick Upchurch, Denver vs. Cleveland, Sept. 26, 1976
2 LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles vs. Atlanta, Oct. 11, 1981
2 Vai Sikahema, St. Louis vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 21, 1986
2 Todd Kinchen, LA Rams vs. Atlanta, Dec. 27, 1992
2 Eric Metcalf, Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 24, 1993
2 Eric Metcalf, San Diego vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 2, 1997
2 Darrien Gordon, Denver vs. Carolina, Nov. 9, 1997
2 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore vs. Seattle, Dec. 7, 1997
2 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore vs. NY Jets, Dec. 24, 2000
2 Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 8, 2002
You will notice three guys did it twice, Metcalf, Christiansen and J. Lewis, pretty remarquable and TWO BRONCOS!!!!
Nice Oldsouthstander, I was 12 years old during the 77 Superbowl. Whenever Upchurch had the ball in his hands on special teams he was the best. One crease and he was gone.
Rick Upchurch no doubt was our all time Special Teams ace. Didn’t he make the 50th Anniversary Team as KR/PR?
The Broncos lost Super Bowl XII to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10 in their first appearance, but he had a good performance in the game. Upchurch amassed 125 total offensive yards (94 kickoff return, 22 punt return, 9 receiving), including a then Super Bowl record 67-yard kickoff return in the 3rd quarter that set up Denver’s only touchdown of the game.
Overall, Upchurch gained 10,081 total yards and scored 35 touchdowns: 8 punt return, 24 receiving, 3 rushing. He was also selected All-Pro 5 times. At the time of his retirement, his 8 punt returns for touchdowns tied the NFL record shared by Jack Christiansen. He is one of five players to record a career average of over 12 yards per punt return.
He was named Head Coach of East High School in Pueblo Co back in 2005.
Upchurch was briefly engaged to Condolezza Rice.
royalbroncofan1, now thats what I`m talking about. Now how about 2 taco`s for 2 TD`S. LOL SIGN DOOM!!!
Bay, I see that the Carolina game was week 10 when Gordon had those 2 punt return TDS. Great memories. I just looked at the old schedule of 97. One of my prized posessions is a large 1997 Bronco`s schedule that I bought at a used Levi`s store. It takes up about 1/3 of my wall in my bedroom. It most likely came from some sports bar. I`m glad I found It.
Nice strandoftds, I don’t want to rain on your parade, but my most worthy Bronco possession comes from the 1997 season when at the Falcons game that year I got an old football of mine signed by, ready for this, Pat Bowlen, Mike Shanahan, Barney Chavous, Keith “Tractor” Traylor and Trevor Pryce.
Trevor Priced walked into my office in Orlando, saw my Broncos banner on the office wall. I looked at him and he looked at me. I just grabbed the sharpie and handed it to him. With a small laugh he signed it and and handed me the sharpie back. By the end of the day we had exchanged email addresses. Really cool guy…..but racked himself getting in his car when he left. I said “I hope that won’t keep you out of the probowl”. It didn’t and he came in a lot that summer….I think he went to Balt the next year…very sad.
Pryce’
Awesome Bay, totally awesome. That`s some to cherrish. One things for sure. Were on the same team. I`m so proud to be a BRONCO FAN win or lose. I know we are going through some tough decisions right now but I`d have to say Pat Bowlen is still the best owner in Pro Ball. In my book he`s a glass act. Also, camp is around the corner. Man, it is almost here. I can smell it. Let the signings begin.
I hope J.J can contribute this year, especially on Kickoff returns, the less we use Eddie Royal on spectial teams the more effective i think he can be at wideout. Maybe throw J.J in to change the pace a little bit, or give a different look. Also Hoping perrish cox battles for punt returner, maybe Eddie could just focus on being a Receiver, i think the Broncos would benefit from that. Tear it up J.J ,and Go Cos’
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