After "Behind the Broncos: No Shortcuts" took you through the Broncos' draft process this spring, the series is back to give you a look at the team's 2021 training camp.
And unlike in the spring, you don't have to wait to see any of the interviews or behind-the-scenes moments; it's all here in one expanded episode.
Over the course of the episode, you'll hear from General Manager George Paton, Head Coach Vic Fangio, President of Football Operations John Elway, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, outside linebacker Von Miller, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, cornerback Pat Surtain II and several other members of the Broncos.
There's plenty to dig into over the course of the more than 22-minute episode, but we've pulled out a few of our favorite moments.
Soon, we'll turn our attention to the New York Giants and the regular season. For now, though, we'll re-live how we got to this moment in "Behind the Broncos: Training Camp."
SURTAIN CHECKS OUT MALL OF AMERICA
Ahead of his pick-six against the Vikings, ninth-overall pick Pat Surtain II headed over the Minneapolis' Mall of America for some shopping and fun. In the segment, we see Surtain on a pair of amusement park rides, and the roller coaster seems to be quite the thrill for the young player.
"They got the loops too?" Surtain said. "They got all the loops. This is like a real roller coaster."
Later, as he's shopping, Surtain discusses the value of having veterans to learn from on the team.
"First thingsfirst, you know, I just want to build team camaraderie around the guys. I think that's the biggest thing, especially evolving into the NFL as a rookie, you want to build team chemistry. I just want to go out there and do what's best for the team, you know, first year, make some plays. I'm just excited. Having them vets, especially in the DB room. I think it's a great experience for me. You know they've been through the ins and outs of the league, and you know just gaining insight from them, I think it helped me a lot.
"First NFL game — I'm looking forward to it. … I might be a little nervous but like once … I get out there I'm going to be good."
Surtain certainly was, as he started his career in style.
ELWAY WEIGHS IN
While Paton has assumed the day-to-day responsibilities of leading the team's football operations, Elway remains a resource as Paton guides the Broncos forward. As he explains in this episode, the time was right for him to step into that role.
"It was time for me to kind of step out the GM role," Elway said. "I think the timing was right. Obviously I feel like we've really hired a tremendous general manager in George Paton. We've had a tremendous offseason but I'm really excited about where I am. I'm still excited to be involved with the Broncos and overseeing the football operations and being involved in some of the decisions. I've really enjoyed that. I enjoy having a different relationship with the coaches and the players, not being the decision maker day to day anymore and so I'm excited about where I am and excited about, giving my advice of what I gained over my career with the Broncos as well as in the NFL."
Paton said he knows how valuable that advice can be as he begins his career as a GM.
"He's a sounding board for me and you need that in my role," Paton said. "You need a sounding board, and what better sounding board [than] a GM that's won a Super Bowl, [than] a quarterback that's won two Super Bowls. So I'm very fortunate in my seat, and then Vic, as well. Vic's been in the league. You know, I don't want to say [how long] because it'll reveal how old he is. But I mean to have Vic and John, it's two great sounding boards for me. And so it's been really good."
A KEY TO THE QUARTERBACK DECISION
One of the many focuses in "Behind the Broncos: Training Camp" was the team's quarterback competition between Bridgewater and Drew Lock.
In the episode, Bridgewater explained the value of the competition and how it helped him improve as a player.
"Yeah, we're competing against the each other, but at the same time, I'm a man who wants to see everyone have success, I want to see everyone succeed, want to see everyone at their best," Bridgewater said. "So in a competition where it's like, 'Yeah, I want the job.' You know it's one of those deals where it's like, 'Well, I'm going to compete in a way that if I don't get the job, I'm going to make sure that this guy's ready in every aspect.' And that's just how I approach it. It's one of those deals where whatever's meant to happen is going to happen, so I can't make it about me. It's about the team and you compete a certain way, to where you're elevating yourself and elevating the guy next to you."
The more newsworthy comment, though, may have come from Fangio. As he talked about Bridgewater winning the job, he pointed to a particular couple of practices that were particularly important.
"It was a total body of work starting with the first day of training camp, all the way through the Seattle game," Fangio said, "but I would say that some time in the practices against Minnesota may have been more important and telling than even the game was, because it was more ones against ones a good bit of the time. And so all of that combined led us to the decision we made."
Bridgewater was particularly effective in at least one of those practices in Minnesota. Now, it seems like that may have been a deciding factor in tipping the scales toward Bridgewater.
