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"I faced so many challenges. The chances of me making the NFL were tiny. Tiny. Do you know how many times on my two-year [Air Force] commitment the alarm rang at 4 a.m. and I got up and worked out before I had to do my duty for the day? Every day. Not one day did I miss. I'd make up football drills and go out in the middle of winter in Illinois and do them, day after day. I would think, ‘Who am I trying to kid?' But I wanted it. And the Air Force helped me so much. You're on an elite team in the Air Force trying to be the best they can be at a certain specific task. And that's the same thing in football. The training I did for those two years perfectly prepared me....
"People asked me, ‘You had a good career path in the Air Force. A guaranteed career. Why leave that for something that's not guaranteed?' Because I loved it, and because I felt it was something I just had to do. Even if I didn't make it, I'd be a better person for it."
It's hard to focus on guys like Ben Garland and Mitch Unrein sometimes. At different points this offseason, I had written them off the Broncos roster-casualties of deep team depth and a completely ignorant view of just how hard these players have worked to become successful.
There's been a lot of negative news coming out of Dove Valley lately but both Ben Garland and Mitch Unrein are prime examples of the good men John Elway has stocked this roster with.
Ben Garland shouldn't be on this team. He has defied all odds. When you hear of players switching positions in camp, it's usually an indication of how the team has lost confidence in that prospect and are trying to salvage the talent by testing whether or not the player can flourish under a different set of circumstances. These stories don't normally end up happily ever after for the player, but for Ben Garland all the hard work paid off.
For his lot, all Mitch Unrein did was keep working. He had lost footing in the DT depth chart due to a very deep class of talent at the position. Demoted and in tenuous position, Mitch kept chopping away, kept coming to work, kept improving. And with a final preseason audition and his job on the line, delivered a performance that saved his football life--his light shone brightest when the pressure was at maximum capacity.
Unrein and Garland are what you can call lunch-pail type players. They are grinders who make their bones by coming to work every day and outperforming their peers with sheer hustle.
Championship teams are built with a solid foundation; the Broncos are fortunate to have guys like Ben Garland and Mitch Unrein on their team.
Horse Tracks
Kevin McDermott is considered one of the best pure snappers in the league - The Denver Post
Kevin McDermott already has won one snap-off competition at Broncos' headquarters this week. Besides McDermott, the Broncos brought in longsnappers Danny Aiken, recently cut by New England, and Jake Ingram, who has snapped for four NFL teams, for a tryout Tuesday morning.
CBS' Jack Ford offers behind-the-scenes details on "60 Minutes" film on Peyton Manning, David Cutcliffe
CBS correspondent Jack Ford detailed his time with Peyton Manning and David Cutcliffe while filming a "60 Minutes Sports" documentary.
Kiszla: Broncos need to pass on shameful pattern - The Denver Post
Whether it is alcohol, marijuana or amphetamines, our local football heroes do not discriminate. Denver is known as the Mile High City, and the Broncos are its punch line. This is not funny. It's a habit the team needs to kick.
AFC West Rundown: Preseason
Take a look at how the Broncos' AFC West rivals fared in the preseason.
Adapting in the wake of Wes Welker's suspension
Losing Wes Welker is a blow to the Broncos' offense, but the pass-catching corps was built to withstand it.
Wes Welker calls drug policy system “clearly flawed” | ProFootballTalk
After learning that he would be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's performance enhancing drugs policy, Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker elected to express issues over the policies themselves while expressing ignorance over his violation of those policies.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Seahawks, Broncos reign - NFL.com
Percy Harvin's Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champs, but do they still rule the Power Rankings roost? At the outset of the 2014 NFL season, Elliot Harrison puts the league in order.
Tom Brady: 'When I suck, I'll retire' - NFL.com
At 37 years old, Tom Brady's in the tail end of his career -- but the New England Patriots QB has no delusions of when he should call it quits. But how much longer does he want to play?
Colts' Jim Irsay suspended six games, fined $500K - NFL.com
The NFL levied a six-game suspension on Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on Tuesday and fined him $500,000 for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
Jerry Jones 'damn mad' about missing Johnny Manziel - NFL.com
Jerry Jones recently admitted that he is still upset about the Dallas Cowboys passing on Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft. Find out why Jones listened to his scouts and coaches.
Jerry Jones 'damn mad' about missing Johnny Manziel - NFL.com
Jerry Jones recently admitted that he is still upset about the Dallas Cowboys passing on Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft. Find out why Jones listened to his scouts and coaches.