You may or may not have already known that Denver Broncos Tight End Joel Dreesen spent the first week of his "Summer Break" at the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp. Well today, at the Camp site in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, it was announced that he was one of the four players who will be guest co-hosts on SiriusXM NFL Radio later this year. Along with Dreesen, Lions Wide Receiver Nate Burleson and former players Troy Brown and Mark Tauscher will get a chance to show what they've learned working with one of the NFL's United Kingdom affiliates. The dates have yet to be determined and will be announced before the 2012 season.
Entering his seventh NFL season in 2012, Dreessen has totaled 110 receptions for 1,364 yards and 13 touchdowns in 91 games (34 starts) for the New York Jets (2005) and Houston Texans (2007-11).
Joel said that he'd dabbled in broadcasting a little bit when he was in Texas, but it might have been in self defense too.
"My wife always says I get super grumpy during July because the anticipation for training camp is worse than actually going through it itself. I have that feeling right now, that anticipation for two-a-days and 14-hour days. I don’t feel good already."
Each summer for the last 5 years, the NFL has held a broadcasting "Boot Camp" for players interested in the field. Last year, former Bronco Nick Ferguson completed the 4-day crash-course and got to serve as a studio analyst for a 2011 NFL regular-season Sunday on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
The Camp provides hands-on instruction from representatives of the television Networks affiliated with the NFL, such as CBS, FOX and ESPN, as well as local radio. Each player gets to tape segments as a studio and game analyst and take part in a networking session with television executives.
The participants get a comprehensive look at what broadcasting is all about. It also allows them to build contacts and develop the skills it will take to work in front of the camera.
Other former Broncos who have made it through Boot Camp are Reggie Hayward, Micheal Young, Mitch Berger and Bertrand Berry.
There are other former Broncos who have made a second career in the broadcasting business -- Mark Schlereth, Tom Jackson, Shannon Sharpe, John Lynch, Dave Logan, David Diaz-Infante and Brian Griese all come to mind, though I doubt any of them have Broadcast Boot Camp credentials.
Congratulations and a Mile High Salute to Joel Dreesen for representing the Orange and Blue.
Go Broncos!
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