Denver Native (Carol)
09-24-2010, 08:54 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/ Video - #1 - Celebrating the life of Kenny McKinley
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16167135?source=rss
A photo of the Broncos' Kenny McKinley was recently placed in the Kay and Eddie Floyd Football Building at the University of South Carolina, where it is surrounded by flowers. McKinley played at USC from 2005-08 and was drafted by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. (Erik Campos, erikcampos.com)
Before every Broncos player and coach, Ken McKinley spoke about his son's inhibited love of football.
When Kenny McKinley was 5, he was standing near his father, who wanted to give a neighbor his business card. For several minutes, Ken McKinley looked but couldn't find a card.
"I've got a business card, dad," Kenny McKinley said.
He gave his dad an index card. It read, in a 5-year-old's handwriting: Kenny McKinley. Football player.
The Broncos and McKinleys gathered Friday afternoon at the team's indoor football field to celebrate the life of McKinley, a 23-year-old receiver who died Monday afternoon.
The team arranged to have eight members of the McKinley family — including his parents, Ken and Karen, and sisters, Kimberly and Kayla — fly into Denver to attend the 65-minute private memorial.
Kicker Matt Prater talked about his close friend's smile and ease in the way he made others do the same.
Locker neighbor and fellow 2009 draft class member Richard Quinn spoke about how McKinley always dressed well, a fashion sense that included attention to accessories.
Special teams captain Wesley Woodyard said that as the guy who is often considered the funniest guy on the team, he would turn to McKinley for laughs.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels also spoke and became emotional, saying there was something about Kenny that made him "tough to yell at." McDaniels later momentarily broke down as he communicated the pride he had in his team for the way his players handled McKinley's death this week.
The memorial service helped bring closure to much of the Broncos' family. McKinley's funeral in his hometown of Mabelton, Ga. will be held Monday.
The Broncos will hold a moment of silence to honor McKinley prior to Sunday's home game against Indianapolis. The players will wear his No. 11 in a decal on their helmets.
The most gripping testimony from the service Friday came from McKinley's father. Ken McKinley said Kenny's first football jersey was a Doug Williams' Washington Redskins No. 17. There's a good story on how Kenny came to wear No. 11.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wanted to pull out all the recruiting stops during a visit to the McKinley household. Spurrier said he wanted McKinley to wear the No. 11 that Spurrier wore when he won the Heisman Trophy while playing for Florida in 1966.
That de facto business card Kenny created when he was 5? It came full circle on draft day. McDaniels recalled how his conversation with McKinley, who was chosen in the fifth round, was the longest he's had with a draftee.
McDaniels remembered McKinley asking one question: "Does this mean I have my own football card?"
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16167135?source=rss
A photo of the Broncos' Kenny McKinley was recently placed in the Kay and Eddie Floyd Football Building at the University of South Carolina, where it is surrounded by flowers. McKinley played at USC from 2005-08 and was drafted by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. (Erik Campos, erikcampos.com)
Before every Broncos player and coach, Ken McKinley spoke about his son's inhibited love of football.
When Kenny McKinley was 5, he was standing near his father, who wanted to give a neighbor his business card. For several minutes, Ken McKinley looked but couldn't find a card.
"I've got a business card, dad," Kenny McKinley said.
He gave his dad an index card. It read, in a 5-year-old's handwriting: Kenny McKinley. Football player.
The Broncos and McKinleys gathered Friday afternoon at the team's indoor football field to celebrate the life of McKinley, a 23-year-old receiver who died Monday afternoon.
The team arranged to have eight members of the McKinley family — including his parents, Ken and Karen, and sisters, Kimberly and Kayla — fly into Denver to attend the 65-minute private memorial.
Kicker Matt Prater talked about his close friend's smile and ease in the way he made others do the same.
Locker neighbor and fellow 2009 draft class member Richard Quinn spoke about how McKinley always dressed well, a fashion sense that included attention to accessories.
Special teams captain Wesley Woodyard said that as the guy who is often considered the funniest guy on the team, he would turn to McKinley for laughs.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels also spoke and became emotional, saying there was something about Kenny that made him "tough to yell at." McDaniels later momentarily broke down as he communicated the pride he had in his team for the way his players handled McKinley's death this week.
The memorial service helped bring closure to much of the Broncos' family. McKinley's funeral in his hometown of Mabelton, Ga. will be held Monday.
The Broncos will hold a moment of silence to honor McKinley prior to Sunday's home game against Indianapolis. The players will wear his No. 11 in a decal on their helmets.
The most gripping testimony from the service Friday came from McKinley's father. Ken McKinley said Kenny's first football jersey was a Doug Williams' Washington Redskins No. 17. There's a good story on how Kenny came to wear No. 11.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wanted to pull out all the recruiting stops during a visit to the McKinley household. Spurrier said he wanted McKinley to wear the No. 11 that Spurrier wore when he won the Heisman Trophy while playing for Florida in 1966.
That de facto business card Kenny created when he was 5? It came full circle on draft day. McDaniels recalled how his conversation with McKinley, who was chosen in the fifth round, was the longest he's had with a draftee.
McDaniels remembered McKinley asking one question: "Does this mean I have my own football card?"