Reasonable. It’s been a while.
The Denver Broncos tight end returned to the field in full gear Tuesday for the first time since tearing his right ACL against Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 Youth Justin Jones Jersey , 2016.
”I kind of thought about it when I put on the pants. It was like, `Man, I haven’t put on the pads in almost two years,”’ the Michigan standout said. ”It was exciting. It felt good out there.”
Next order of business: Jerseys .
Butt and his family don’t mind having a little fun with their last name. And now that he’s fully healthy, those No. 80 uniforms will be going fast – taken by his clan and completely customized (his father had ”Papa Butt ” on his jersey when Jake was at Michigan).
”We’re ordering in bulk,” Butt said. ”We’re building the `Butt Army’ out here, for sure.”
It was on hold last season as the 23-year-old recovered from the knee injury that caused him to slip to the fifth round of the 2017 draft. The Broncos were hopeful to have him back for the second half last season, but he wasn’t ready and went on injured reserve.
Butt declared Tuesday his knee feels ”100 percent” again. He wasn’t wearing a protective brace when the team donned full pads.
He could be a big boost to the tight end corps. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Butt won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end his senior season at Michigan. He had three catches for 28 yards against Florida State in the Orange Bowl before tearing his knee.
His recovery has been somewhat slower than he anticipated. The rehab has been filled with plenty of ups and downs.
”It’s not just you’re getting better and better every day. You have some days that are better than others,” said Butt, who had 138 catches for 1,646 yards while with the Wolverines. ”In that sense Justin Bethel Color Rush Jersey , you have a mental component. But once you’re on the field, for me personally, you’re playing football. You’re not thinking about any bumps and bruises you might have.”
He used the down time in 2017 memorizing his routes and reads. He’s putting it to good use now.
”I had a year to observe how pro football really works,” Butt said. ”Going back to the spring, I really got into the playbook so I can hit the ground running in camp.”
Butt has plenty of competition in camp among a tight end group that’s got deep Big Ten Conference roots. There’s rookie Troy Fumagalli, a fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin. There’s also Jeff Heuerman, a third-round pick in 2015 from Ohio State who’s currently sidelined by a balky knee. Not to be left out: Matt LaCosse attended Illinois, and Austin Traylor went to Wisconsin.
Fumagalli has an easy explanation for the league’s representation.
”Well-rounded,” he said. ”I can’t speak for all of the Big Ten, but a lot of the schools they expect you to be a pass catcher, a pass blocker and a run blocker. They expect you to be well-rounded.”
Butt’s hoping to display that throughout camp.
”You know you can’t come in and take a day off because that next guy up is hungry,” Butt said. ”Everyone in our room is making plays and doing a great job. That’s going to help us in the long run.”
He’s already developing a solid rapport with quarterback Case Keenum.
Then again Authentic Jonathan Toews Jersey , Butt said that’s not difficult.
”Case is doing a great job connecting with a lot of guys out there,” Butt said. ”That’s the advantage of having a veteran quarterback. He understands where to go with the ball, where to put the ball, what reads to make. We’re trying to take advantage of that.”
NOTES: DE Derek Wolfe briefly left practice Tuesday with what coach Vance Joseph described as a small stinger. ”He’s fine. He came back out. He’s OK,” Joseph said. … OT Garett Bolles returned to practice after taking a hit to the chin. ”When you have these head injuries, any type of a head injury, it’s always going to be on the safe side to check him out,” Joseph said. … CB Tramaine Brock will miss about a week with a hamstring ailment, Joseph said. … OG Ron Leary on his scuffle with LB Todd Davis during practice: ”It’s all love.”
—
The daughter of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen announced her desire to take over the leadership role of the team and was informed she hasn’t met the criteria.
The Pat Bowlen Trust issued a statement Thursday saying Beth Bowlen Wallace ”is not capable or qualified at this time.”
The team was placed in a trust when Pat Bowlen stepped down in 2014 because of Alzheimer’s. The trust is overseen by three people, including team president and CEO Joe Ellis, who has final say on day-to-day operations until one of Bowlen’s seven children can succeed him as controlling owner.
Bowlen Wallace said in a statement that it is her desire to ”lead this team with the same passion my father did and help the Broncos become Super Bowl champions again.”
The Broncos have made 18 of their 22 playoff appearances during the Pat Bowlen era. Since he was introduced as the majority owner on March 23, 1984 Authentic Vladimir Tarasenko Jersey , the team has the second-most regular-season wins (behind New England) and captured three Super Bowl titles.
”I have advised the Trustees that I am ready and have done everything they said I need to do to take this step,” the 47-year-old Bowlen Wallace said. ”Working in management at the Broncos is something I have prepared for and dreamed of doing.”
The stipulations to be controlling owner of the Broncos included completion of a business or law degree and five years in management in the NFL or another major business organization.
Bowlen Wallace graduated from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law in 2016. She also worked with the Broncos as the director of special projects before her employment was ended in 2015.
She’s assisted with Colorado-based nonprofits and charitable organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association. She’s also worked as an executive in the oil and gas industry since 2016.
”My father’s number one goal was to win,” Bowlen Wallace said. ”He understood that took financial commitment, hard work, dedication, the right leadership, and drive. He was motivated to win not only for himself and the team but for the pride of Broncos Country, our beloved and loyal fans.”
Bowlen Wallace has the support of Amie Bowlen Klemmer, the oldest Bowlen child; Bill Bowlen, Pat Bowlen’s brother; and minority owners of the team, Kerry and John Bowlen (John is Pat Bowlen’s brother).
”Pat Bowlen’s wish and his legacy was to have one of his children run this team Adidas Brad Marchand Jersey ,” Kerry and John Bowlen said in a joint statement. ”That is what he always wanted. Beth is the best positioned of all the children to take over now. Her plan is just right – to take over as managing owner now and in the future allow the other children to mature, learn and grow into the position, keeping this team in her family and in Denver, where the Broncos belong.”
The Trust said Pat Bowlen made it clear that his children ”were not automatically entitled to a role with the team and that they would have to earn that opportunity through their accomplishments, qualifications and character.”
In the statement, the Trust said it had communicated this with her.
”Although Beth has declined our invitations to discuss her qualifications for the last two years, we will continue to proactively engage and meet with any of the Bowlen children who express a desire to earn the right to succeed their father,” the statement said. ”We will vigorously defend Pat’s plan in responding to these and any statements that are contrary to Pat’s words and intentions.”
Added Ellis: ”As a trustee and someone Pat designated to oversee his team, I have an enormous responsibility to carefully administer his succession plan and make decisions in the best interests of the Broncos. We will continue to follow Pat’s blueprint – and nobody else’s – while keeping our focus as an organization on having a successful season.”
—
