The Lead
Friends, how good does it feel to hear from Demaryius Thomas again?
To quote Thomas during his appearance 104.3 The Fan’s “Stokley and Zach” show on Wednesday, "What kind of question is that?"
Thomas, now a free agent after a season with the Jets, said that in response to being asked whether he still wants to play in the NFL. After 10 seasons in the league battling through injuries, he has helped one team achieve the ultimate goal, but now he wants to chase a personal ambition to reach 10,000 career receiving yards.
Looking backward, though, Thomas also spent a significant portion of the wide-ranging interview reflecting on his time in Denver — including what his two favorite moments were as a Bronco (outside of winning Super Bowl 50). He was stuck between two: the game-winning touchdown vs. Pittsburgh in the 2011 playoffs and catching Peyton Manning's then-record setting 509th career touchdown pass.
"That one and 509 is kind of neck-and-neck for me," Thomas said. "But that one right there kind of started off defining myself for who I was in the NFL, and people started paying attention. Because not only did I have that play, but I had four catches for [204 yards] that game. … I came into the league off an injury and then I got hurt again with the Achilles, and that was the season after the Achilles. So I was happy and excited for what was next."
When it's all said and done and Thomas' career is in the books, he said a potential election to the Ring of Fame is something he thinks about.
"It is," Thomas said. "I was there for eight-and-a-half years. I put up a lot of good ball. I learned from a lot of greats that played there, from Brandon Stokley to Rod Smith, Champ Bailey to even Brian Dawkins, Peyton, Kyle Orton, those guys. Some of those guys will be in there and I hope I would be able to be up there and deserve a spot with those guys because they're so special. And it was something special when I got to be a Bronco and know I was going to be there for a while."
Be sure to check out the rest of the entirety of the interview, which starts at 24:46 in the clip. There's so much more, including why he thinks the Broncos should draft a wide receiver early next week.
Broncos fans may also be interested to know they'll be able to hear more from D.T. about that incredible game against the Steelers later this week as we approach CBS Sports Network’s re-airing of the game on Saturday.
Below the Fold
Dalton Risner is not happy just to have made the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team, Denver7’s Troy Renck writes. "By no means did I dominate every single game," Risner told Renck. "That's what I want to do -- put guys in the ground. I want to be an All-Pro for the Broncos."
Even though Derek Wolfe is moving on to Baltimore in free agency, Denver clearly still holds a special place in his heart. Wolfe and his wife, Abigail, are donating $10,000 to YMCA of Metro Denver’s emergency COVID-19 relief efforts.
The wheels are in motion for the Broncos' voluntary virtual offseason program, DenverBroncos.com’s Aric DiLalla writes. The team will be able to host virtual meetings and workouts and non-football educational elements.
