Mile High Report: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Defend That, Digger! The Overrated/underrated edition

Royal Signed 1 to go

Mike Klis, The Denver Post:

The Broncos haven't yet had their first day of training camp, and already Eddie Royal has had a big day.

First, the Broncos gave him a new number Wednesday. Then they gave him a new four-year contract.

The new jersey number is 19. He had been wearing No. 3 during the offseason minicamps. The contract numbers are much larger: The guarantee is worth nearly $2.25 million, with the total package coming in at around $3.9 million.

More important, Royal will be back deep, ready to catch the first punt and kickoff of training camp Friday as he bids to become the Broncos' top returner in 25 years.

Rarely has the return game been a Broncos strength since Rick Upchurch retired in 1983. Darrien Gordon had a nice two-year run during their Super Bowl championship years. Deltha O'Neal was effective earlier this decade.

But rarely have the Broncos placed the kind of emphasis in their return game they did during this offseason, when they selected Royal with their second-round draft pick, No. 42 overall.

With Royal signed, the Broncos have all 80 players under contract except first-round pick Ryan Clady. Considerable progress in negotiations has been made in recent days, and an agreement on a six-year contract with the left tackle is expected to be reached by tonight. The guaranteed portion of Clady's contract is expected to be from $10.7 million to $11 million.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

0 recs  |  Comment 3 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Let this be a day of no regret!

Second round receiver picked way ahead of his projection. People scratching their heads saying “who?” during draft day… They will know his name after he dances in the end zones after his 90 yard sprints!

Run fast my Royal friend … run fast!

by YellowStoneBronco on Jul 24, 2008 1:32 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Show us the Royal treatment!

I’m really hoping Eddie Royal will conjure up memories I have of the way the old Mile High Stadium would shake when Rick Upchurch would step on the field for a punt return! One cut left, a spin right, and he would lift the entire crowd out of the seats sending an explosion of crackerjacks and beverages flying through the air!

Back to reality! When I heard Eddie’s name called in the second round on draft day my rear slipped off the end of the couch cushion and I landed with a thud on the floor. The Broncos needed a #2 wide receiver and when the Broncos made their selection players like Limas Sweed (TX) and Malcolm Kelly (OK) were still on the board. DeSean Jackson was another smaller WR available at the pick many draft analysts and fans alike thought had better upside. By passing on players like that it seems fairly obvious the move wasn’t made to fill a starting WR position. We all know the Broncos special teams haven’t been anything to rave about over the past decade but the real question in my mind was, “why take a return specialist so high?”

I think it would be a stretch to say I’m coining this but call it the “Devon Hester” syndrome. Etched in Shanny’s memory is last Novemer’s game against the Bears. Although Hester had already had a big day (1 punt return for touchdown and several other big returns) the Broncos had easily outplayed the Bears. Hester added a kickoff return to tie the game 20-20, the Bears finally found a semblance of an offense, and Chicago went on to win the game 37-34 in OT.

With that said, the deal in now done, and Eddie is now inked. The one thing I can safely say about great returners is when you see one… you know it. It won’t take long to see if Eddie has the “it” the Broncos desperately hope he has. I really don’t see Eddie turning into and every down player in the NFL as a WR. I think the best we could hope is that he’ll become an exception slot WR like Brandon Stokely. Unless he turns out to be an exceptional returner like Andre Hall, Hester, or Upchurch it will be really hard not to consider this pick a true, dare I say, B-U-S-T.

Time will tell. in the meantime I’m looking for Eddie to lay some real ankle-breakers on people. I long for the day I can take a cold drink of beer and feel my palm get sweaty because Manning came up 2-inches short on 3rd down at the Colts 30 and some “idiot” kicker decides to kick it to Eddie “makin’ em’ miss’” Royal. Oh there’s nothing better than watching an opponents stadium go deathly silent when all the momentum shifts when the returner touches that endline! That said, I’m anxiously anticipating hearing the Mile High fans roar when Eddie boldly proclaims at the end of a TD return with a mile high salute, “This is our house!!!!”

Go Broncos!!!!

"There's one thing I want you to do for me. Win. Win!" - Rocky II

by MileHighFros on Jul 25, 2008 12:51 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Good call!

Good thoughts, good sig, good fro. Welcome!

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Jul 26, 2008 8:30 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

MileHighReport(MHR) is the ultimate independent resource for the Denver Broncos on the web. Along with MHR Radio, the official podcast of MHR, we look to provide hardcore Denver Broncos fans positive, independent insight about the Broncos, 24/7/365!
Start posting about the Broncos »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Comcast NFL RedZone Moments from SB Nation

Music City Miracles
Tennessee Titans Red Zone Report
Bleeding Green Nation
Comcast NFL Red Zone stat of the week - Something doesn't have to give
Niners Nation
49ers Red Zone numbers: How effective are they?

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Bronco-pride_small
Sharing the Wealth
Small
To MHR. The Staff. The Fans. The Cynics. And The Koolaiders.
Rmthunder-98logo_small
How to Scout Players and Mock the Draft
20091006_115413_mcdaniels_small
2010 NFL Draft Watch: Defensive Tackles (part 2)
Johnelwayvortexhowler_small
The Front 3: Where we are. Where we're going

Recent FanPosts

Bronco-pride_small
Drew, A Feel Good Story, and A Broncos Connection
Broncoman_1__small
Dan LeFevour - Bronco QB of the Future?
Christmas_09_015_small
This Broncos Fan Is Intrigued by Adding Donovan McNabb
20091006_115413_mcdaniels_small
2010 NFL Draft Watch: Defensive Ends
003_small
Mike Mayocks take on a couple of DT's.
003_small
Denver Broncos 1 of 3 teams looking to trade for Donovan McNabb
Milehighreport_small
Don't book your trip to Dallas just yet...
Asmith_small
The Machinations of a Certified Homer—Early Draft Edition
Rex_small
Favorite Superbowl Commercials
Iwillownu2-flyingbroncoflag-72x72_small
March 5, New Years Day

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Getting Social With MHR

Facebook_badge_medium_medium
Black_generated_button

Milehighreport_email_medium

MHR Radio

SPONSORS

Web Stuff


General Manager/Head Coach

Milehighreport_small John Bena

Cyborg_small Jeremy Bolander

Asst. Head Coach

Mhr_small Steve Nichols

Tahoetim_small Tim Lynch

Tjpic1_small TJ Johnson

Christmas_09_015_small Sayre Bedinger

Quality Control

800px-john_brown_painting_small mdierk