Roche: Broncos Embracing Underdog Role In AFC Championship
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS) - The Broncos practiced for the second straight day Wednesday out here at their Training facility in Englewood, Colorado. Here are some thoughts and observations on the Broncos as we ready for Sunday's AFC Championship game:
--We were only allowed to watch 5 minutes or so of the Broncos practice, but it seemed as if the the players were in high spirits. They seem to be embracing the role of underdog more and more with some players seeming quite surprised by it.
RB CJ Anderson on being disrespected:
"Oh, you know, 'We don't have a chance.' If that doesn't motivate you, then you are in the wrong business. We are supposed to go out there and get killed on Sunday, which is funny to me."
Safety TJ Ward on being an underdog:
"I try not to listen to all of the noise. You hear some of it, but it is what it is. We have to go out there and prove it. We're not the World Champs. We haven't been the World Champs. We're going against the defending World Champs, so it's only right."
--I also think that the going low on tackling Gronk is a whole bunch of nothing. I think we would all agree that there is no good way to tackle Gronk. He's such a unique player at 6-6, 260 pounds that he's nearly impossible to get an angle on. Broncos players are right when they say there's no guide on how to tackle him. I will say though - that you can tell when guys are taking shots at other players (Bernard Pollard, Ndamukomg Suh) and you can tell when guys are just trying to desperately make a tackle. Players need to police themselves and in this case I do feel like the Broncos have a tremendous amount of respect for Gronk.
--It was fun to listen to Aqib Talib talk about his old team and teammates:
On explaining the Patriots' success:
"Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That's the common denominator to two things that have been there the whole time. It's Tom Brady and Bill Belichick."
On facing Gronk:
"Total package. Best tight end I've ever seen play the game. It's definitely going to be tough covering him any time he splits out wide."
On his conversations with Gronk:
"Gronk is a character. He's one of the funniest dudes. Even in my time there, I used to go over to the house and chill with him and stuff. He's a good guy, real good. Exactly how he is on commercials and everything, that's how he is in real life. It's funny."
--All the players we've talked to out here say that Edelman is a difference-maker. He's tough, can catch everything, and runs well after the catch. Makes huge difference when in the lineup - which he and Amendola weren't in meeting here in November. You pats certainly know that though.....
--Biggest question mark health-wise for Denver is CB Chris Harris, Jr. He has a shoulder injury and has been a full participant in two days of practice. He said Wednesday on what it would take for him NOT to play Sunday:
"Just not being able to be anywhere to 60 percent really. If I could go out there and feel like I could get my job done, I'm definitely going to go out there and play."
--I would be shocked if Harris doesn't give it a try Sunday....
--Just a reminder, we have a live edition of Patriots All-Access from here in Denver Saturday night at 7pm on WBZ TV Ch 4....and on Sunday, we have a two hour Patriots Gameday a Special from Noon-2pm followed by The NFL Today from 2-3pm...the AFC Championship Game at 3pm....all on WBZ TV Ch 4....and then our Patriots 5th Quarter Postgame Show right after the game over on MyTV38......
