ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- July happens fast in football.
Sometime in the middle of June, every National Football League team finished their last minicamp, the coach maybe let the guys go a half day early, and everyone took off to enjoy and embrace a few weeks of relaxation.
But nothing moves so fast as time when you are simultaneously enjoying yourself and keeping one eye peeled on the calendar.
The Denver Broncos have released our list of training camp practices, and really, everyone is in that nether world of getting ready to get ready.
When it comes, it is like a tidal wave.
A football team works every day to get ready for the next thing, the next meeting, practice, game, film review, ad infinitum, and so too does the horde of media that files daily reports and updates for an audience that is football crazed -- and within reason, that is certainly not a bad thing.
Right now it is as quiet as a school in the middle of summer, but we all know that day is coming when the new school year is upon us.
It has changed a lot over the years. Teams all used to go away to camp. My first few were at Colorado State in Fort Collins; then we went to Greeley for two decades.
Back then (my first year was 1978) it was two practices, every day, full pads, lots of contact. It has changed a lot since then, with very reasonable guidelines agreed to be the NFL and the Players Association. There are so many good offseason activities that the need for a long camp is over, and many teams, including the Broncos, have it right in their main headquarters.
But it is still camp.
Very soon we will be in the midst of sweat, aches, pains, stress, passion, and even a little panic now and then.
Just think, we are only one month away from the first preseason game, with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game taking place one week prior to the Broncos hosting Seattle in Denver for the opening preseason contest.
Then it is a game a week with no respite other than everyone's bye.
For now, everyone should enjoy sunshine and cool beverages, as soon enough, the sunshine will make sweat and the cool beverage will feel best being poured over one's head after practice.
Football is coming.
